第 13 节
作者:管他三七二十一      更新:2021-10-16 18:45      字数:9321
  VERSE:                  THE UNKNOWN
  GRAVE
  No name to bid us know Who rests below; No word of death or birth;
  Only the grass's wave; Over a mound of earth; Over a nameless grave。
  Did this poor wandering heart In pain depart? Longing; but all too late;
  For the calm home again; Where patient watchers wait; And still will wait
  in vain。
  Did mourners come in scorn; And thus forlorn; Leave him; with grief
  and   shame。   To   silence   and   decay;   And   hide   the   tarnished   name   Of   the
  unconscious clay?
  It may be from his side His loved ones died; And last of some bright
  band;   (Together   now   once   more;)   He   sought   his   home;   the   land   Where
  they had gone before。
  No   matterlimes   have   made As   cool   a shade; And   lingering   breezes
  pass As tenderly and slow; As if beneath the grass A monarch slept below。
  No grief; though loud and deep; Could stir that sleep; And earth and
  heaven tell   Of   rest   that shall   not   cease; Where   the   cold   world's   farewell
  Fades into endless peace。
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  VERSE:                    GIVE ME THY HEART
  With echoing steps the worshippers Departed one by one; The organ's
  pealing voice was stilled; The vesper hymn   was done; The shadows   fell
  from   roof   and    arch;   Dim   was   the   incensed   air;   One  lamp   alone    with
  trembling ray; Told of the Presence there!
  In the dark church she knelt alone; Her tears were falling fast; 〃Help;
  Lord;〃 she cried; 〃the shades of death Upon my soul are cast! Have I not
  shunned   the   path   of   sin; And   chosen   the   better   part?〃 What   voice   came
  through the sacred air? … 〃My child; give me thy Heart!〃
  〃Have   I not   laid   before Thy  shrine   My  wealth;   oh   Lord?〃   she   cried;
  〃Have I kept aught of gems or gold; To minister to pride? Have I not bade
  youth's joys retire; And vain delights depart?〃 … But sad and tender was the
  voice … 〃My child; give me thy Heart!〃
  〃Have I not; Lord; gone day by day Where Thy poor children dwell;
  And   carried   help;   and   gold;   and   food?   Oh   Lord;   Thou   knowest   it   well!
  From many a house; from many a soul; My hand bids care depart:〃 … More
  sad; more tender; was the voice … 〃My child; give me thy Heart!〃
  〃Have I not worn my strength away With fast and penance sore? Have
  I not watched and wept?〃 she cried; 〃Did Thy dear Saints do more? Have I
  not gained Thy grace; oh Lord; And won in Heaven my part?〃 … It echoed
  louder in her soul … 〃My child; give me thy Heart!〃
  〃For I have loved thee with a love No mortal heart can show; A love so
  deep; my Saints in heaven Its depths can never know: When pierced and
  wounded on the Cross; Man's sin and doom were mine; I loved thee with
  undying love; Immortal and divine!
  〃I love thee ere the skies were spread; My soul bears all thy pains; To
  gain   thy   love   my   sacred   Heart   In   earthly   shrines   remains:   Vain   are   thy
  offerings; vain   thy sighs; Without one  gift   divine; Give  it; my  child;  thy
  Heart to me; And it shall rest in mine!〃
  In awe she listened; and the shade Passed from her soul away; In low
  and trembling voice she cried … 〃Lord; help me to obey! Break Thou the
  chains of earth; oh Lord; That bind and hold my heart; Let it be Thine; and
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  Thine alone; Let none with Thee have part。
  〃Send down; oh Lord; Thy sacred fire! Consume and cleanse the sin
  That lingers still within its depths: Let heavenly love begin。 That sacred
  flame Thy Saints have known; Kindle; oh Lord; in me; Thou above all the
  rest for ever; And all the rest in Thee。〃
  The blessing fell upon her soul; Her angel by her side Knew that the
  hour   of   peace   was   come;   Her   soul   was   purified: The   shadows   fell   from
  roof and arch; Dim was the incensed air … But Peace went with her as she
  left The sacred Presence there!
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  VERSE:                     THE WAYSIDE INN
  A  little   past   the   village   The   Inn   stood;   low   and   white;   Green   shady
  trees behind it; And an orchard on the right; Where over the green paling
  The red…cheeked apples hung; As if to watch how wearily The sign…board
  creaked and swung。
  The heavy…laden branches; Over the road hung low; Reflected fruit or
  blossom   From   the   wayside   well   below;   Where   children;   drawing   water;
  Looked   up   and   paused   to   see; Amid   the   apple…branches; A  purple   Judas
  Tree。
  The road stretched winding onward For many a weary mile … So dusty
  foot…sore   wanderers   Would   pause   and   rest   awhile;   And   panting   horses
  halted;   And   travellers   loved   to   tell   The   quiet   of   the   wayside   inn;   The
  orchard; and the well。
  Here Maurice dwelt; and often The sunburnt boy would stand Gazing
  upon   the   distance; And   shading   with   his   hand   His   eyes;   while   watching
  vainly For travellers; who might need His aid to loose the bridle; And tend
  the weary steed。
  And once (the boy remembered That morning; many a day … The dew
  lay   on   the   hawthorn;   The   bird   sang   on   the   spray) A  train   of   horsemen;
  nobler   Than   he   had   seen   before;   Up   from   the   distance   galloped;   And
  halted at the door。
  Upon a milk…white pony; Fit for a faery queen; Was the loveliest little
  damsel His eyes had ever seen: A serving…man was holding The leading
  rein; to guide The pony and its mistress; Who cantered by his side。
  Her   sunny   ringlets   round   her   A   golden   cloud   had   made;   While   her
  large hat was keeping Her calm blue eyes in shade; One hand held fast the
  silken reins To keep her steed in check; The other pulled his tangled mane;
  Or stroked his glossy neck。
  And   as   the   boy   brought   water;   And   loosed   the   rein;   he   heard   The
  sweetest voice that thanked him In one low gentle word; She turned her
  blue   eyes   from   him;   Looked   up;   and   smiled   to   see   The   hanging   purple
  blossoms Upon the Judas Tree;
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  And   showed   it   with   a   gesture;  Half   pleading;  half command; Till   he
  broke the fairest blossom; And laid it in her hand; And she tied it to her
  saddle With a ribbon from her hair; While her happy laugh rang gaily; Like
  silver on the air。
  But the champing steeds were rested … The horsemen now spurred on;
  And down the dusty highway They vanished and were gone。 Years passed;
  and many a traveller Paused at the old inn…door; But the little milk…white
  pony And the child returned no more。
  Years passed; the apple…branches A deeper shadow shed; And many a
  time   the   Judas   Tree;   Blossom  and   leaf;   lay  dead;   When   on   the   loitering
  western breeze Came the bells' merry sound; And flowery arches rose; and
  flags And banners waved around。
  Maurice      stood   there   expectant:    The   bridal   train  would    stay   Some
  moments at the inn…door; The eager watchers say; They comethe cloud
  of dust draws near … 'Mid all the state and pride; He only sees the golden
  hair And blue eyes of the bride。
  The same; yet; ah; still fairer; He knew the face once more That bent
  above   the   pony's   neck Years   past   at   that   inn…door:   Her   shy   and   smiling
  eyes   looked   round;   Unconscious   of   the   place;   Unconscious   of   the   eager
  gaze He fixed upon her face。
  He   plucked   a   blossom   from   the   tree   …   The   Judas   Treeand   cast   Its
  purple fragrance towards the Bride; A message from the Past。 The signal
  came;   the   horses   plunged   …   Once   more   she   smiled   around:   The   purple
  blossom in the dust Lay trampled on the ground。
  Again the slow years fleeted; Their passage only known By the height
  the   Passion…flower   Around   the   porch   had   grown;   And   many   a   passing
  traveller Paused at the old inn…door; But the bride; so fair and blooming;
  The bride returned no more。
  One   winter   morning;   Maurice; Watching   the  branches   bare;   Rustling
  and waving dimly In the grey and misty air; Saw blazoned on a