第 11 节
作者:管他三七二十一      更新:2021-10-16 18:45      字数:9322
  show;  distinct   and   quaint; The   kneeling   figure   of   some   marble   saint:   Or
  lighting   up   the   carvings   strange   and   rare;   That   told   of   patient   toil;   and
  reverent care; Ivy that trembled on the spray; and ears; Of heavy corn; and
  slender bulrush spears; And all the thousand tangled weeds that grow In
  summer;   where   the   silver   rivers   flow; And   demon…heads   grotesque;   that
  seemed to glare In impotent wrath on all the beauty there: Then the gold
  rays up pillared shaft would climb; And so be drawn to heaven; at evening
  time。 And deeper silence; darker shadows flowed On all around; only the
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  windows glowed With blazoned glory; like the shields of light Archangels
  bear; who; armed with love and might; Watch upon heaven's battlements at
  night。   Then   all   was   shade;   the   silver   lamps   that   gleamed;   Lost   in   the
  daylight; in the darkness seemed Like sparks of fire in the dim aisles to
  shine; Or trembling stars before each separate shrine。 Grown half afraid;
  the   child   would   leave   them   there;   And   come   out;   blinded   by   the   noisy
  glare That burst upon him from the busy square。
  The church   was thus   his home   for rest or play; And as he came   and
  went again each day; The pictured faces that he knew so well; Seemed to
  smile   on   him   welcome   and   farewell。   But   holier;   and   dearer   far   than   all;
  One sacred spot his own he loved to call; Save at mid…day; half…hidden by
  the   gloom;   The   people   call   it   The   White   Maiden's   Tomb:   For   there   she
  stands; her folded hands are pressed Together; and laid softly on her breast;
  As if she waited but a word to rise From the dull earth; and pass to the
  blue skies; Her lips expectant part; she holds her breath; As listening for
  the angel voice of death。 None know how many years have seen her so; Or
  what the name of her who sleeps below。 And here the child would come;
  and strive to trace; Through the dim twilight; the pure gentle face He loved
  so   well;   and   here   he   oft   would   bring   Some   violet   blossom   of   the   early
  spring; And climbing softly by the fretted stand; Not to disturb her; lay it
  in her hand; Or; whispering a soft loving message sweet; Would stoop and
  kiss   the   little   marble   feet。   So;   when   the   organ's   pealing   music   rang;   He
  thought amid the gloom the Maiden sang; With reverent simple faith by
  her he knelt; And fancied what she thought; and what she felt。 〃Glory to
  God;〃 re…echoed from her voice; And then his little spirit would rejoice; Or
  when the Requiem sobbed upon the air; His baby tears dropped with her
  mournful prayer。
  So   years   fled   on;   while   childish   fancies   past;   The   childish   love   and
  simple faith could last。 The artist…soul awoke in him; the flame Of genius;
  like the light of Heaven; came Upon his brain; and (as it will; if true) It
  touched his heart and lit his spirit; too His father saw; and with a proud
  content Let him forsake the toil where he had spent His youth's first years;
  and on one happy day Of pride; before the old man passed away; He stood
  with quivering lips; and the big tears Upon his cheek; and heard the dream
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  of years Living and speaking to his very heart … The low hushed murmur at
  the   wondrous   art   Of   him;   who   with   young   trembling   fingers   made   The
  great church…organ answer as he played; And; as the uncertain sound grew
  full and strong; Rush with harmonious spirit…wings along; And thrill with
  master…power the breathless throng。
  The old man died; and years passed on; and still The young musician
  bent his heart and will To his dear toil。           St。 Bavon now had grown More
  dear   to   him;   and   even   more   his   own;   And   as   he   left   it   every   night   he
  prayed A moment by the archway in the shade; Kneeling once more within
  the sacred gloom Where the White Maiden watched upon her tomb。 His
  hopes of travel and a world…wide fame; Cold Time had sobered; and his
  fragile   frame;   Content   at   last   only   in   dreams   to   roam;   Away   from   the
  tranquillity of home; Content that the poor dwellers by his side Saw in him
  but the gentle friend and guide; The patient counsellor in the poor strife
  And   petty   details   of   their   common   life;  Who   comforted   where   woe   and
  grief might fall; Nor slighted any pain or want as small; But whose great
  heart took in and felt for all。
  Still   he  grew    famousmany        came    to  be   His   pupils   in  the  art  of
  harmony。 One day a voice floated so pure and free Above his music; that
  he turned to see What angel sang; and saw before his eyes; What made his
  heart leap with a strange surprise; His own White Maiden; calm; and pure;
  and mild; As in his childish dreams she sang and smiled; Her eyes raised
  up to Heaven; her lips apart; And music overflowing from her heart。 But
  the   faint   blush   that   tinged   her   cheek   betrayed   No   marble   statue;   but   a
  living   maid;   Perplexed   and   startled   at   his   wondering   look;   Her   rustling
  score of Mozart's Sanctus shook; The uncertain notes; like birds within a
  snare; Fluttered and died upon the trembling air。
  Days passed; each morning saw the maiden stand; Her eyes cast down;
  her lesson in her hand; Eager to study; never weary; while Repaid by the
  approving   word   or   smile   Of   her   kind   master;   days   and   months   fled   on;
  One day the pupil from the choir was gone; Gone to take light; and joy;
  and   youth   once   more;   Within   the   poor   musician's   humble   door; And   to
  repay; with gentle happy art; The debt so many owed his generous heart。
  And   now;   indeed;   was   one   who   knew   and   felt   That   a   great   gift   of   God
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  within   him   dwelt;   One   who   could   listen;   who   could   understand;   Whose
  idle    work    dropped      from    her   slackened      hand;    While     with    wet   eyes
  entranced   she   stood;   nor   knew   How   the   melodious   winged   hours   flew;
  Who loved his art as none had loved before; Yet prized the noble tender
  spirit   more。  While   the   great   organ   brought   from   far   and   near   Lovers   of
  harmony   to   praise   and   hear;   Unmarked   by   aught   save   what   filled   every
  day;   Duty;   and   toil;   and   rest;   years   passed   away:   And   now   by   the   low
  archway in the shade Beside her mother knelt a little maid; Who; through
  the   great   cathedral   learned   to   roam;   Climb   to   the   choir;   and   bring   her
  father home; And stand; demure and solemn by his side; Patient till the last
  echo softly died; Then place her little hand in his; and go Down the dark
  winding      stair  to  where     below    The    mother     knelt;  within    the   gathering
  gloom Waiting and praying by the Maiden's Tomb。
  So their life went; until; one winter's day; Father and child came there
  alone   to   pray   …   The   mother;   gentle   soul;   had   fled   away!   Their   life   was
  altered   now;   and   yet   the   child   Forgot   her   passionate   grief   in   time;   and
  smiled; Half wondering why; when spring's fresh breezes came; To see her
  father was no more the same。 Half guessing at the shadow of his pain; And
  then contented if he smiled again; A  sad cold smile; that passed in   tears
  away; As re…assured she ran once   more to play。 And now   each year   that
  added grace to grace; Fresh bloom and sunshine to the young girl's face;
  Brought a strange light in the musician's eyes; As if he saw some starry
  hope   arise;   Breaking   upon   the   midnight   of   sad   skies。   It   might   be   so:
  more   feeble   year   by   year;   The   wanderer   to   his   resting…place   drew   near。
  One day the Gloria he could play no more; Echoed its grand rejoicing as
  of yore; His hands were clasped; his weary head was laid; Upon the tomb
  where the White Maiden prayed: Where the child's love first dawned; his
  soul first spoke; The old man's heart there throbbed its last and broke。 The
  grave cathedral that had nursed his youth; Had helped his dreaming; and
  had   taught   him   truth;   Had   seen   his   boyish   grief   and   baby   tears;   And
  watched the sorrows and the joys of years; Had lit his fame and hope with
  s