第 5 节
作者:管他三七二十一      更新:2021-10-16 18:45      字数:9321
  brought   from   some   well…won   field;   Where   thou   wouldst   only   faint   and
  yield。
  The look; the air; that frets thy sight; May be a token; that below The
  soul has closed in deadly fight With some infernal fiery foe; Whose glance
  would scorch thy smiling grace; And cast thee shuddering on thy face!
  The   fall   thou   darest   to   despise   …   May   be   the   angel's   slackened   hand
  Has suffered it; that he may rise And take a firmer; surer stand; Or; trusting
  less to earthly things; May henceforth learn to use his wings。
  And judge none lost; but wait; and see; With hopeful pity; not disdain;
  The depth of the abyss may be The measure of the height of pain And love
  and glory that may raise This soul to God in after days!
  19
  … Page 20…
  LEGENDS AND LYRICSFIRST SERIES
  VERSE:                    FRIEND SORROW
  Do not cheat thy Heart and tell her; 〃Grief will pass away; Hope for
  fairer times in future; And forget to…day。〃 … Tell her; if you will; that sorrow
  Need not come in vain; Tell her that the lesson taught her Far outweighs
  the pain。
  Cheat her not with the old comfort; 〃Soon she will forget〃 … Bitter truth;
  alasbut matter Rather for regret; Bid her not 〃Seek other pleasures; Turn
  to other things:〃 … Rather nurse her caged sorrow 'Till the captive sings。
  Rather   bid   her   go   forth   bravely。 And   the   stranger   greet;   Not   as   foe;
  with   spear   and   buckler;   But   as   dear   friends   meet;   Bid   her   with   a   strong
  clasp hold her; By her dusky wings … Listening for the murmured blessing
  Sorrow always brings。
  20
  … Page 21…
  LEGENDS AND LYRICSFIRST SERIES
  VERSE:                 ONE BY ONE
  One by one the sands are flowing; One by one the moments fall; Some
  are coming; some are going; Do not strive to grasp them all。
  One by one thy duties wait thee; Let thy whole strength go to each; Let
  no future dreams elate thee; Learn thou first what these can teach。
  One by one (bright gifts from Heaven) Joys are sent thee here below;
  Take them readily when given; Ready too to let them go。
  One by one thy griefs shall meet thee; Do not fear an armed band; One
  will fade as others greet thee; Shadows passing through the land。
  Do not look at life's long sorrow; See how small each moment's pain;
  God will help thee for to…morrow; So each day begin again。
  Every hour that fleets so slowly Has its task to do or bear; Luminous
  the crown; and holy; When each gem is set with care。
  Do not linger with regretting; Or for passing hours despond; Nor; the
  daily toil forgetting; Look too eagerly beyond。
  Hours are golden links; God's token; Reaching Heaven; but one by one
  Take them; lest the chain be broken Ere the pilgrimage be done。
  21
  … Page 22…
  LEGENDS AND LYRICSFIRST SERIES
  VERSE:                    TRUE HONOURS
  Is my darling tired already; Tired of her day of play? Draw your little
  stool   beside   me;   Smooth   this   tangled   hair   away。   Can   she   put   the   logs
  together; Till they make a cheerful blaze? Shall her blind old Uncle tell her
  Something of his youthful days?
  Hark!     The wind among the cedars Waves their white arms to and fro;
  I remember how I watched them Sixty Christmas Days ago: Then I dreamt
  a   glorious   vision   Of   great   deeds   to   crown   each   year   …   Sixty   Christmas
  Days have found me Useless; helpless; blindand here!
  Yes; I feel my darling stealing Warm soft fingers into mine … Shall I
  tell her what I fancied In that strange old dream of mine? I was kneeling
  by  the   window;   Reading   how   a   noble   band;  With   the   red   cross   on   their
  breast…plates; Went to gain the Holy Land。
  While with eager eyes   of wonder Over the   dark page I bent;  Slowly
  twilight shadows gathered Till the letters came and went; Slowly; till the
  night was round me; Then my heart beat loud and fast; For I felt before I
  saw it That a spirit near me passed。
  Then   I   raised   my   eyes;   and   shining   Where   the   moon's   first   ray   was
  bright Stood a winged Angel…warrior Clothed and panoplied in light: So;
  with Heaven's love upon him; Stern in calm and resolute will; Looked St。
  Michaeldoes the picture Hang in the old cloister still?
  Threefold   were   the   dreams   of   honour   That   absorbed   my   heart   and
  brain; Threefold   crowns   the Angel   promised;   Each   one   to   be   bought   by
  pain:   While   he   spoke;   a   threefold   blessing   Fell   upon   my   soul   like   rain。
  HELPER         OF    THE      POOR       AND      SUFFERING;         VICTOR        IN    A
  GLORIOUS STRIFE; SINGER OF A NOBLE POEM: Such the honours
  of my life。
  Ah; that dream!       Long years that gave me Joy and grief as real things
  Never touched the tender memory Sweet and solemn that it brings … Never
  quite effaced the feeling Of those white and shadowing wings。
  Do those blue eyes open wider? Does my faith too foolish seem? Yes;
  my darling; years have taught me It was nothing but a dream。 Soon; too
  22
  … Page 23…
  LEGENDS AND LYRICSFIRST SERIES
  soon; the bitter knowledge Of a fearful trial rose; Rose to crush my heart;
  and sternly Bade my young ambition close。
  More and more my eyes were clouded; Till at last God's glorious light
  Passed away from me for ever; And I lived and live in night。 Dear; I will
  not   dim   your   pleasure;   Christmas   should   be   only   gay   …   In   my   night   the
  stars have risen; And I wait the dawn of day。
  Spite   of   all   I   could   be   happy;   For   my   brothers'   tender   care   In   their
  boyish pastimes ever Made me take; or feel a share。 Philip; even then so
  thoughtful; Max so noble; brave and tall; And your father; little Godfrey;
  The most loving of them all。
  Philip reasoned down my sorrow; Max would laugh my gloom away;
  Godfrey's little arms put round me; Helped me through my dreariest day;
  While the promise of my Angel; Like a star; now bright; now pale; Hung
  in blackest night above me; And I felt it could not fail。
  Years passed on; my brothers left me; Each went out to take his share
  In the struggle of life; my portion Was a humble oneto bear。 Here I dwelt;
  and learnt to wander Through the woods and fields alone; Every cottage in
  the village Had a corner called my own。
  Old   and   young;   all   brought   their   troubles;   Great   or   small;   for   me   to
  hear; I have often blessed my sorrow That drew others' grief so near。 Ah;
  the people needed helping … Needed love(for Love and Heaven Are the
  only gifts not bartered; They alone are freely given) …
  And   I   gave   it。 Philip's   bounty;   (We   were   orphans;   dear;)   made   toil
  Prosper; and want never fastened On the tenants of the soil。 Philip's name
  (Oh; how I gloried; He so young; to see it rise!) Soon grew noted among
  statesmen As a patriot true and wise。
  And his people all felt honoured To be ruled by such a name; I was
  proud too that they loved me; Through their pride in him it came。 He had
  gained   what   I  had   longed   for;   I  meanwhile   grew  glad   and   gay;   'Mid   his
  people; to be serving Him and them; in some poor way。
  How his noble earnest speeches; With untiring fervour came; HELPER
  OF THE POOR AND SUFFERING; Truly he deserved the name! Had my
  Angel's promise failed me? Had that word of hope grown dim? Why; my
  Philip had fulfilled it; And I loved it best in him!
  23
  … Page 24…
  LEGENDS AND LYRICSFIRST SERIES
  Max   meanwhileah;   you;   my   darling;   Can   his   loving   words   recall   …
  'Mid   the   bravest   and   the   noblest;   Braver;   nobler;   than   them   all。   How   I
  loved   him!   how   my   heart   thrilled   When   his   sword   clanked   by   his   side。
  When I touched his gold embroidery; Almost SAW him in his pride!
  So we parted; he all eager To uphold the name he bore; Leaving in my
  chargehe loved me … Some one whom he loved still more: I must tend
  this gentle flower; I must speak to her of him; For he fearedLove still is
  fearful … That his memory might grow dim。
  I must guard her from all sorrow; I must play a brother's part; Shield