第 13 节
作者:翱翔1981      更新:2021-04-30 15:55      字数:3645
  You fainting soul who could not see
  That I was near。
  ‘‘Why vex me crying day and night? …
  You call on me to hark!
  But when I bless your world with light;
  Who makes it dark?
  ‘‘Is there a ravelled riddle left
  That you would have undone?
  What other doubts are there to sift?''
  I answered … ‘‘None。''
  ‘‘My son; look up; if you would see
  The Promise on your way;
  And turn a trustful face to me。''
  I whispered … ‘‘Yea。''
  GERALDINE
  MY head is filled with olden rhymes beside this moaning sea;
  But many and many a day has gone since I was dear to thee!
  I know my passion fades away; and therefore oft regret
  That some who love indeed can part and in the years forget。
  Page: 63
  Ah! through the twilights when we stood the wattle trees between;
  We did not dream of such a time as this; fair Geraldine。
  I do not say that all has gone of passion and of pain;
  I yearn for many happy thoughts I shall not think again!
  And often when the wind is up; and wailing round the eaves;
  You sigh for withered Purpose shred and scattered like the leaves;
  The Purpose blooming when we met each other on the green;
  The sunset heavy in your curls; my golden Geraldine。
  I think we lived a loftier life through hours of Long Ago;
  For in the largened evening earth our spirits seemed to grow。
  Well; that has passed; and here I stand; upon a lonely place;
  While Night is stealing round the land; like Time across my face;
  But I can calmly recollect our shadowy parting scene;
  And swooning thoughts that had no voice … no utterance; Geraldine。
  ACHAN
  (From ‘‘Jephthah''。)
  HATH he not followed a star through the darkness;
  Ye people who sit at the table of Jephthah?
  Oh! turn with the face to a light in the mountains;
  Behold it is further from Achan than ever!
  ‘‘I know how it is with my brothers in Mizpeh;''
  Said Achan; the swift…footed runner of Zorah;
  ‘‘They look at the wood they have hewn for the altar;
  And think of a shadow in sackcloth and ashes。
  ‘‘I know how it is with the daughter of Jephthah;
  (O Ada; my love; and the fairest of women!)
  She wails in the time when her heart is so zealous
  For God who hath stricken the children of Ammon。
  ‘‘I said I would bring her the odours of Edom;
  And armfuls of spices to set at the banquet!
  Behold I have fronted the chieftain her father;
  And strong men have wept for the leader of thousands!
  Page: 64
  ‘‘My love is a rose of the roses of Sharon;
  All lonely and bright as the Moon in the myrtles!
  Her lips; like to honeycombs; fill with the sweetness
  That Achan the thirsty is hindered from drinking。
  ‘‘Her women have wept for the love that is wasted
  Like wine; which is spilt when the people are wanting;
  And hot winds have dried all the cisterns of Elim!
  For love that is wasted her women were wailing!
  ‘‘The timbrels fall silent! And dost thou not hear it;
  A voice; like the sound of a lute when we loiter;
  And sit by the pools in the valleys of Arnon;
  And suck the cool grapes that are growing in clusters?
  ‘‘She glides; like a myrrh…scented wind; through the willows;
  O Ada! behold it is Achan that speaketh:
  I know thou art near me; but never can see thee;
  Because of the horrible drouth in mine eyelids。''
  The End