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。
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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