legends and lyrics- first series(传奇和抒情歌谣1)-第21章
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blue silence of the sky； Fresh stars shine out； and more and more； Where I
could see so few before； So； the more steadily I gaze Upon those far…off
misty days； Fresh words； fresh tones； fresh memories start Before my eyes
and in my heart。 I can remember how one day （Talking in silly childish
way） I said how happy I should be If I were like her sonas fair； With just
such bright blue eyes as he； And such long locks of golden hair。 A strange
smile on her pale face broke； And in strange solemn words she spoke： 〃My
own； my darling oneno； no！ I love you； far； far better so。 I would not
change the look you bear； Or one wave of your dark brown hair。 The mere
glance of your sunny eyes； Deep in my deepest soul I prize Above that
baby fair！ Not one of all the Earl's proud line In beauty ever matched with
thine； And； 'tis by thy dark locks thou art Bound even faster round my
heart； And made more wholly mine！〃 And then she paused； and weeping
said； 〃You are like one who now is dead … Who sleeps in a far…distant
grave。 Oh may God grant that you may be As noble and as good as he； As
gentle and as brave！〃 Then in my childish way I cried； 〃The one you tell
me of who died； Was he as noble as the Earl？〃 I see her red lips scornful
curl； I feel her hold my hand again So tightly； that I shrink in pain … I seem
to hear her say； 〃He whom I tell you of； who died； He was so noble and so
gay； So generous and so brave； That the proud Earl by his dear side Would
look a craven slave。〃 She paused； then； with a quivering sigh； She laid her
hand upon my brow： 〃Live like him； darling； and so die。 Remember that
he tells you now； True peace； real honour； and content； In cheerful pious
toil abide； That gold and splendour are but sent To curse our vanity and
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pride。〃 One day some childish fever pain Burnt in my veins and fired my
brain。 Moaning； I turned from side to side； And； sobbing in my bed； I cried；
Till night in calm and darkness crept Around me； and at last I slept。 When
suddenly I woke to see The Lady bending over me。 The drops of cold
November rain Were falling from her long； damp hair； Her anxious eyes
were dim with pain； Yet she looked wondrous fair。 Arrayed for some great
feast she came； With stones that shone and burnt like flame； Wound round
her neck； like some bright snake； And set like stars within her hair； They
sparkled so； they seemed to make A glory everywhere。 I felt her tears upon
my face； Her kisses on my eyes； And a strange thought I could not trace I
felt within my heart arise； And； half in feverish pain； I said： 〃Oh if my
mother were not dead！〃 And Walter bade me sleep； but she Said； 〃Is it not
the same to thee That _I_ watch by thy bed？〃 I answered her； 〃I love you；
too； But it can never be the same； She was no Countess like to you； Nor
wore such sparkling stones of flame。〃 Oh the wild look of fear and dread！
The cry she gave of bitter woe！ I often wonder what I said To make her
moan and shudder so。 Through the long night she tended me With such
sweet care and charity。 But should weary you to tell All that I know and
love so well： Yet one night more stands out alone With a sad sweetness all
its own。
The wind blew loud that dreary night： Its wailing voice I well
remember： The stars shone out so large and bright Upon the frosty fir…
boughs white； That dreary night of cold December。 I saw old Walter silent
stand； Watching the soft white flakes of snow With looks I could not
understand； Of strange perplexity and woe。 At last he turned and took my
hand； And said the Countess just had sent To bid us come； for she would
fain See me once more； before she went Awaynever to come again。 We
came in silence through the wood （Our footfall was the only sound） To
where the great white castle stood； With darkness shadowing it around。
Breathless； we trod with cautious care Up the great echoing marble stair；
Trembling； by Walter's hand I held； Scared by the splendours I beheld：
Now thinking； 〃Should the Earl appear！〃 Now looking up with giddy fear
To the dim vaulted roof； that spread Its gloomy arches overhead。 Long
corridors we softly past； （My heart was beating loud and fast） And reached
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the Lady's room at last： A strange faint odour seemed to weigh Upon the
dim and darkened air； One shaded lamp； with softened ray； Scarce showed
the gloomy splendour there。 The dull red brands were burning low； And
yet a fitful gleam of light； Would now and then； with sudden glow； Start
forth； then sink again in night。 I gazed around； yet half in fear； Till Walter
told me to draw near： And in the strange and flickering light； Towards the
Lady's bed I crept； All folded round with snowy white； She lay； （one
would have said she slept；） So still the look of that white face； It seemed
as it were carved in stone； I paused before I dared to place Within her cold
white hand my own。 But； with a smile of sweet surprise； She turned to me
her dreamy eyes； And slowly； as if life were pain； She drew me in her
arms to lie： She strove to speak； and strove in vain； Each breath was like a
long…drawn sigh。 The throbs that seemed to shake her breast； The
trembling clasp； so loose and weak； At last grew calmer； and at rest； And
then she strove once more to speak： 〃My God； I thank thee； that my pain
Of day by day and year by year； Has not been suffered all in vain； And I
may die while he is near。 I will not fear but that Thy grace Has swept away
my sin and woe； And sent this little angel face； In my last hour to tell me
so。〃 （And here her voice grew faint and low；） 〃My child； where'er thy life
may go； To know that thou art brave and true； Will pierce the highest
heavens through； And even there my soul shall be More joyful for this
thought of thee。〃 She folded her white hands； and stayed； All cold and
silently she lay： I knelt beside the bed； and prayed The prayer she used to
make me say。 I said it many times； and then She did not move； but seemed
to be In a deep sleep； nor stirred again。 No sound woke in the silent room；
Or broke the dim and solemn gloom； Save when the brands that burnt so
low； With noisy fitful gleam of light； Would spread around a sudden glow；
Then sink in silence and in night。 How long I stood I do not know： At last
poor Walter came； and said （So sadly） that we now must go； And
whispered； she we loved was dead。 He bade me kiss her face once more；
Then led me sobbing to the door。 I scarcely knew what dying meant； Yet a
strange grief； before unknown； Weighed on my spirit as we went And left
her lying all alone。
We went to the far North once more； To seek the well…remembered
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home； Where my poor kinsman dwelt before； Whence now he was too old
to roam； And there six happy years we past； Happy and peaceful till the
last； When poor old Walter died； and he Blessed me and said I now might
be A sailor on the deep blue sea。 And so I go； and yet in spit
