第 9 节
作者:翱翔1981      更新:2021-04-30 15:55      字数:9322
  And our thoughts were all in mourning for the dear; dead Long Ago!
  In a night like this we parted。 Hearts were sad though they were young;
  And you left me very lonely; dark…haired Maid of Gerringong。
  Said my darling; looking at me; through the radiance of her tears:
  ‘‘Many changes; O my loved One; we will meet in after years;
  Changes like to sudden sunbursts flashing down a rainy steep …
  Changes like to swift…winged shadows falling on a moony deep!
  And they are so cheerless sometimes; leaving; when they pass us by;
  Deepening dolours on the sweet; sad face of our Humanity。
  But you'll hope; and fail and faint not; with that heart so warm and true;
  Watching for the coming Morning; that will flood the World for you;
  Listening through a thirsty silence; till the low winds bear along
  Eager footfalls … pleasant voices;'' said the Maid of Gerringong。
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  Said my darling; when the wind came sobbing wildly round the eaves:
  ‘‘Oh; the Purpose scattered from me; like the withered autumn leaves!
  Oh; the wreck of Love's ambition! Oh; the fond and full belief
  That I yet should hear them hail you in your land a God…made chief!
  In the loud day they may slumber; but my thoughts will not be still
  When the weary world is sleeping; and the moon is on the hill;
  Then your form will bend above me; then your voice will rise and fall;
  Though I turn and hide in darkness; with my face against the wall;
  And my Soul must rise and listen while those homeless memories throng
  Moaning in the night for shelter;'' said the Maid of Gerringong。
  Ay; she passed away and left me! Rising through the dusk of tears;
  Came a vision of that parting every day for many years!
  Every day; though she had told me not to court the strange sweet pain;
  Something whispered … something led me to our olden haunts again:
  And I used to wander nightly; by the surges and the ships;
  Harping on those last fond accents that had trembled from her lips:
  Till a vessel crossed the waters; and I heard a stranger say;
  ‘‘One you loved has died in silence with her dear face turned away。''
  Oh! the eyes that flash upon me; and the voice that comes along …
  Oh! my light; my life; my darling dark…haired Maid of Gerringong。
  。
  。
  。
  。
  。
  Some one saith; ‘‘Oh; you that mock at Passion with a worldly whine;
  Would you change the face of Nature … would you limit God's design?
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  Hide for shame from well…raised clamour; moderate fools who would be wise;
  Hide for shame … the World will hoot you! Love is Love; and never dies''
  And another asketh; doubting that my brother speaks the truth;
  ‘‘Can we love in age as fondly as we did in days of youth?
  Will dead faces always haunt us; in the time of faltering breath?
  Shall we yearn; and we so feeble?'' Ay; for Love is Love in Death。
  Oh! the Faith with sure foundation! … let the Ages roll along;
  You are mine; and mine for ever; dark…haired Maid of Gerringong。
  Last night; dear; I dreamt about you; and I thought that far from men
  We were walking; both together; in a fragrant seaside glen;
  Down where we could hear the surges wailing round the castled cliffs;
  Down where we could see the sunset reddening on the distant skiffs;
  There a fall of mountain waters tumbled through the knotted bowers
  Bright with rainbow colours reeling on the purple forest flowers。
  And we rested on the benches of a cavern old and hoar;
  And I whispered; ‘‘this is surely her I loved in days of yore!
  False he was who brought sad tidings! Why were you away so long;
  When you knew who waited for you; dark…haired Maid of Gerringong?
  ‘‘Did the strangers come around you; in the far…off foreign land?
  Did they lead you out of sorrow; with kind face and loving hand?
  Had they pleasant ways to court you … had they silver words to bind?
  Had they souls more fond and loyal than the soul you left behind?
  Do not think I blame you; dear one! Ah! my heart is gushing o'er
  With the sudden joy and wonder; thus to see your face once more。
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  Happy is the chance which joins us after long; long years of pain:
  And; oh; blessed was whatever sent you back to me again!
  Now our pleasure will be real … now our hopes again are young:
  Now we'll climb Life's brightest summits; dark…haired Maid of Gerringong。
  ‘‘In the sound of many footfalls; did you falter with regret
  For a step which used to gladden in the time so vivid yet?
  When they left you in the night…hours; did you lie awake like me;
  With the thoughts of what we had been … what we never more could be?
  Ah! you look but do not answer while I halt and question here;
  Wondering why I am so happy; doubting that you are so near。
  Sure these eyes with love are blinded; for your form is waxing faint;
  And a dreamy splendour crowns it; like the halo round a saint!
  When I talk of what we will be; and new aspirations throng;
  Why are you so sadly silent; dark…haired Maid of Gerringong?''
  But she faded into sunset; and the sunset passed from sight;
  And I followed madly after; through the misty; moony night;
  Crying; ‘‘do not leave me lonely! Life has been so cold and drear;
  You are all that God has left me; and I want you to be near!
  Do not leave me in the darkness! I have walked a weary way;
  Listening for your truant footsteps … turn and stay; my darling; stay!''
  But she came not though I waited; watching through a splendid haze;
  Where the lovely Phantom halted ere she vanished from my gaze。
  Then I thought that rain was falling; for there rose a stormy song;
  And I woke in gloom and tempest; dark…haired Maid of Gerringong!
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  WATCHING
  LIKE a beautiful face looking ever at me
  A pure bright moon cometh over the sea;
  And I stand on the crags; and hear the falls
  Go tumbling down; through the black river…walls;
  And the heart of the gorge is rent with the cry
  Of the pent…up winds in their agony!
  You are far from me; dear; where I watch and wait;
  Like a weary bird for a long…lost mate;
  And my life is as dull as the sluggish stream
  Feeling its way through a world of dream;
  For here is a waste of darkness and fear;
  And I call and I call; but no one will hear!
  O darling of mine; do you ever yearn
  For a something lost; which will never return?
  O darling of mine; on the grave of dead Hours;
  Do you feel; like me; for a handful of flowers?
  Through the glens of the Past; do you wander along;
  Like a restless ghost that hath done a wrong?
  And; lying alone; do you look from the drouth
  Of a thirsty Life with a pleading mouth?
  When the rain's on the roof; and the gales are abroad;
  Do you wash with your tears the feet of your God?
  Oh! I know you do; and he sitteth alone;
  Your wounded Love; while you mourn and moan …
  Oh! I know you do; and he never will leap
  From his silence with smiles; while you weep … and weep!
  Your coolness shake down; ye gathered green leaves;
  For my spirit is faint with the love that it grieves!
  Is there aught on the summit; O yearner through Night;
  Aught on the summit which looks like the light;
  When my soul is a…wearied and lone in the land;
  Groping around will it touch a kind hand?
  There are chasms between us as black as a pall;
  But bring us together; O God over all!
  And let me cast from me these fetters of Fear;
  When I hear the glad singing of Faith so near;
  For I know by the cheeks; which are pallid and wet;
  And a listening life we shall mingle yet!
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  Oh! then I will turn to those eloquent eyes;
  And clasp thee close; with a sweet surprise;
  And a guest will go in by the heart's holy door;
  And the chambers of Love shall be left no more。
  THE OPOSSUM…HUNTERS
  HEAR ye not the waters beating where the rapid rivers; meeting
  With the winds above them fleeting; hurry to the distant seas;
  And a smothered sound of singing from old Ocean upwards springing;
  Sending hollow echoes ringing like a wailing on the breeze?
  For the tempest round us brewing; cometh with the clouds pursuing;
  And the bright Day; like a ruin; crumbles from the mournful trees。
  When the thunder ceases pealing; and the stars up heaven are stealing;
  And the Moon above us wheeling throws her pleasant glances round;
  From our homes we boldly sally 'neath the trysting tree to rally;
  For a night…hunt up the valley; with our brothers and the hound!
  Through a wild…eyed Forest; stari