第 15 节
作者:管他三七二十一      更新:2021-10-16 18:45      字数:9322
  The half…forgotten record Of bygone things and days。
  Bring here the ancient volume; The clasp is old and worn; The gold is
  dim and tarnished; And the faded leaves are torn。
  The dust has gathered on it … There are so few who care To read what
  Time has written Of joy and sorrow there。
  Look at the first fair pages; YesI remember all: The joys now seem so
  trivial; The griefs so poor and small。
  Let us read the dreams of glory That childish fancy made; Turn to the
  next few pages; And see how soon they fade。
  Here; where still waiting; dreaming; For some ideal Life; The young
  heart all unconscious Had entered on the strife。
  See how this page is blotted: Whatcould those tears be mine? How
  coolly I can read you; Each blurred and trembling line。
  Now I can reason calmly; And; looking back again; Can see divinest
  meaning Threading each separate pain。
  Here   strong   resolvehow   broken;   Rash   hope;   and   foolish   fear;  And
  prayers; which God in pity Refused to grant or hear。
  NayI   will   turn   the   pages To   where   the tale   is   told   Of   how   a   dawn
  diviner Flushed the dark clouds with gold。
  And see; that light has gilded The storynor shall set; And; though in
  mist and shadow; You know I see it yet。
  Herewell; it does not matter; I promised to read all; I know not why I
  falter; Or why my tears should fall;
  You see each grief is noted; Yet it was better so … I can rejoice to…day
  the pain Was over; long ago。
  I readmy voice is failing; But you can understand How the heart beat
  that guided This weak and trembling hand。
  Pass over that long struggle; Read where the comfort came; Where the
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  LEGENDS AND LYRICSFIRST SERIES
  first time is written Within the book your name。
  Again it comes; and oftener; Linked; as it now must be; With all the
  joy or sorrow That Life may bring to me。
  So all the restyou know it: Now shut the clasp again; And put aside
  the record Of bygone hours of pain。
  The dust shall gather on it; I will not read it more: Give me your hand…
  …what was it We were talking of before?
  I  know    not  whybut   tell  me  Of   something    gay  and   bright。  It  is
  strangemy heart is heavy; And my eyes are dim to…night。
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  LEGENDS AND LYRICSFIRST SERIES
  VERSE:                   A CHAIN
  The   bond   that   links   our   souls   together;   Will   it   last   through   stormy
  weather? Will it moulder and decay As the long hours pass away? Will it
  stretch if Fate divide us; When dark and weary hours have tried us? Oh; if
  it look too poor and slight Let us break the links to…night!
  It   was not   forged by  mortal   hands;  Or   clasped   with golden   bars   and
  bands; Save thine and mine; no other eyes The slender link can recognise:
  In the bright light it seems to fade … And it is hidden in the shade; While
  Heaven nor Earth have never heard; Or solemn vow; or plighted word。
  Yet what no mortal hand could make; No mortal power can ever break:
  What words or vows could never do; No words or vows can make untrue;
  And if to other hearts unknown The dearer and the more our own; Because
  too sacred and divine For other eyes; save thine and mine。
  And see; though slender; it is made Of Love and Trust; and can they
  fade? While; if too slight it seem; to bear The breathings of the summer air;
  We know that it could bear the weight Of a most heavy heart of late; And
  as each day and hour flew The stronger for its burthen grew。
  And; too; we know and feel again It has been sanctified by pain; For
  what   God   deigns to   try  with   sorrow   He   means   not   to   decay  to…morrow;
  But through that fiery trial last When earthly ties and bonds are past; What
  slighter things dare not endure Will make our Love more safe and pure。
  Love shall be purified by Pain; And Pain be soothed by Love again: So
  let   us   now   take   heart   and   go   Cheerfully   on;   through   joy   and   woe;   No
  change the summer sun can bring; Or the inconstant skies of spring; Or the
  bleak winter's stormy weather; For we shall meet them; Love; together!
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  LEGENDS AND LYRICSFIRST SERIES
  VERSE:                   THE PILGRIMS
  The way is long and dreary; The path is bleak and bare; Our feet are
  worn and weary; But we will not despair。 More heavy was Thy burthen;
  More   desolate   Thy   way;   …   Oh   Lamb   of   God   who   takest   The   sin   of   the
  world away; Have mercy on us。
  The snows lie thick around us In the dark and gloomy night; And the
  tempest wails above us; And the stars have hid their light; But blacker was
  the   darkness   Round   Calvary's   Cross   that   day;   …   Oh   Lamb   of   God   who
  takest The sin of the world away; Have mercy on us。
  Our hearts are faint with sorrow; Heavy and hard to bear; For we dread
  the bitter morrow; But we will not despair: Thou knowest all our anguish;
  And Thou wilt bid it cease; … Oh Lamb of God who takest The sin of the
  world away; Give us Thy Peace!
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  LEGENDS AND LYRICSFIRST SERIES
  VERSE:                     INCOMPLETENESS
  Nothing   resting   in   its   own   completeness   Can   have   worth   or   beauty:
  but alone Because it leads and tends to farther sweetness; Fuller; higher;
  deeper than its own。
  Spring's real glory dwells not in the meaning; Gracious though it be; of
  her blue hours; But is hidden in her tender leaning To the Summer's richer
  wealth of flowers。
  Dawn is fair; because the mists fade slowly Into Day; which floods the
  world with light; Twilight's mystery is so sweet and holy Just because it
  ends in starry Night。
  Childhood's smiles   unconscious   graces borrow  From  Strife;  that   in  a
  far…off future lies; And angel glances (veiled now by Life's sorrow) Draw
  our hearts to some beloved eyes。
  Life   is   only   bright   when   it   proceedeth   Towards   a   truer;   deeper   Life
  above;   Human   Love   is   sweetest   when   it   leadeth   To   a   more   divine   and
  perfect Love。
  Learn   the    mystery   of   Progression   duly:    Do   not   call   each  glorious
  change; Decay; But know we only hold our treasures truly; When it seems
  as if they passed away。
  Nor  dare  to   blame   God's   gifts   for incompleteness;   In   that   want   their
  beauty lies:     they roll Towards some infinite depth of love and sweetness;
  Bearing onward man's reluctant soul。
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  LEGENDS AND LYRICSFIRST SERIES
  VERSE:                   A LEGEND OF
  BREGENZ
  Girt round with rugged mountains The fair Lake Constance lies; In her
  blue heart reflected Shine back the starry skies; And; watching each white
  cloudlet Float silently and slow; You think a piece of Heaven Lies on our
  earth below!
  Midnight   is   there:    and   Silence;   Enthroned   in   Heaven;   looks   down
  Upon   her   own   calm   mirror;   Upon   a   sleeping   town:   For   Bregenz;   that
  quaint   city   Upon   the   Tyrol   shore;   Has   stood   above   Lake   Constance;   A
  thousand years and more。
  Her battlements and towers; From off their rocky steep; Have cast their
  trembling shadow For ages on the deep: Mountain; and lake; and valley; A
  sacred    legend    know;   Of   how    the  town    was   saved;   one   night;  Three
  hundred years ago。
  Far from her home and kindred; A Tyrol maid had fled; To serve in the
  Swiss   valleys; And   toil   for   daily   bread; And   every   year   that   fleeted   So
  silently and fast; Seemed to bear farther from her The memory of the Past。
  She   served   kind;   gentle   masters;   Nor   asked   for   rest   or   change;   Her
  friends seemed no more new ones; Their speech seemed no more strange;
  And when she led her cattle To pasture every day; She ceased to look and
  wonder On which side Bregenz lay。
  She spoke no more of Bregenz; With longing and with tears: Her Tyrol
  home seemed faded In a deep mist of years; She heeded not the rumours
  Of Austrian war and strife; Each day she rose contented; To the calm toils
  of life。
  Yet; when her master's chil