legends and lyrics- first series(传奇和抒情歌谣1)-第6章
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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
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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！
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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
all grief and trial from her； If it need be； with my heart。 Years passed； and
his name grew famous； We were proud； both she and I； And we lived upon
his letters； While the slow days fleeted by。
Then at lastyou know the story； How a fearful rumour spread； Till all
hope had slowly faded； And we heard that he was dead。 Dead！ Oh； those
were bitter hours； Yet within my soul there dwelt A warning； and while
others mourned him； Something like a hope I felt。
His was no weak life as mine was； But a life； so full and strong … No； I
could not think he perished Nameless； 'mid a conquered throng。 How she
drooped！ Years passed； no tidings Came； and yet that little flame Of
strange hope within my spirit Still burnt on； and lived the same。
Ah！ my child； our hearts will fail us； When to us they strongest seem； I
can look back on those hours As a fearful； evil dream。 She had long
despaired； what wonder That her heart had turned to mine？ Earthly loves
are deep and tender； Not eternal and divine！
Can I say how bright a future Rose before my soul that day？ Oh； so
strange； so sweet； so tender … And I had to turn away。 Hard and terrible the
struggle； For the pain not mine alone； I called back my Brother's spirit；
And I bade him claim his own。
Told hernow I dared to do it … That I felt the day would rise When he
would return to gladden My weak heart and her bright eyes。 And I
pleadedpleaded sternly … In his name； and for his sake： Now； I can speak
calmly of it； Then； I thought my heart would break。
Soonah； Love had not deceived me； （Love's true instincts never err；）
Wounded； weak； escaped from prison； He returned to me； to her。 I could
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thank God that bright morning； When I felt my Brother's gaze； That my
heart was true and loyal； As in our old boyish days。
Bought by wounds and deeds of daring； Honours he had brought away；
Glory crowned his namemy Brother's； Mine too！we were one that day。
Since the crown on him had fallen； 〃VICTOR IN A NOBLE STRIFE；〃 I
could live and die contented With my poor ignoble life。
Well； my darling； almost weary Of my story？ Wait awhile； For the
rest is only joyful； I can tell it with a smile。 One bright promise still was
left me； Wound so close about my soul； That； as one by one had failed me；
This dream now absorbed the whole。
〃SINGER OF A NOBLE POEM；〃 … Ah； my darling； few and rare Burn
the glorious names of Poets； Like stars in the purple air。 That too； and I
glory in it； That great gift my Godfrey won； I have
