legends and lyrics- first series(传奇和抒情歌谣1)-第8章
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eyes？
I strove how best to give； and when； My blood to save my fellow…men
… How could I turn aside； to look At snowdrops laid upon my book？
Now Time has fledthe world is strange； Something there is of pain
and change； My books lie closed upon the shelf； I miss the old heart in
myself。
I miss the sunbeams in my room … It was not always wrapped in gloom：
I miss my dreamsthey fade so fast； Or flit into some trivial past。
The great stream of the world goes by； None care； or heed； or question；
why I； the lone student； cannot raise My voice or hand as in old days。
No echo seems to wake again My heart to anything but pain； Save
when a dream of twilight brings The fluttering of an angel's wings！
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LEGENDS AND LYRICSFIRST SERIES
VERSE： A KNIGHT ERRANT
Though he lived and died among us； Yet his name may be enrolled
With the knights whose deeds of daring Ancient chronicles have told。
Still a stripling； he encountered Poverty； and struggled long； Gathering
force from every effort； Till he knew his arm was strong。
Then his heart and life he offered To his radiant mistressTruth； Never
thought； or dream； or faltering； Marred the promise of his youth。
So he rode forth to defend her； And her peerless worth proclaim；
Challenging each recreant doubter Who aspersed her spotless name。
First upon his path stood Ignorance； Hideous in his brutal might； Hard
the blows and long the battle Ere the monster took to flight。
Then； with light and fearless spirit； Prejudice he dared to brave；
Hunting back the lying craven To her black sulphureous cave。
Followed by his servile minions； Custom； the old Giant； rose； Yet he；
too； at last was conquered By the good Knight's weighty blows。
Then he turned； and； flushed with victory Struck upon the brazen
shield Of the world's great king； Opinion And defied him to the field。
Once again he rose a conqueror； And； though wounded in the fight；
With a dying smile of triumph Saw that Truth had gained her right。
On his failing ear re…echoing Came the shouting round her throne；
Little cared he that no future With her name would link his own。
Spent with many a hard…fought battle； Slowly ebbed his life away； And
the crowd that flocked to greet her Trampled on him where he lay。
Gathering all his strength； he saw her Crowned and reigning in her
pride！ Looked his last upon her beauty； Raised his eyes to God； and died。
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LEGENDS AND LYRICSFIRST SERIES
VERSE： LINGER； OH；
GENTLE TIME
Linger； oh； gentle Time； Linger； oh； radiant grace of bright To…day！ Let
not the hours' chime Call thee away； But linger near me still with fond
delay。
Linger； for thou art mine！ What dearer treasures can the future hold？
What sweeter flowers than thine Can she unfold？ What secrets tell my
heart thou hast not told？
Oh； linger in thy flight！ For shadows gather round； and should we part；
A dreary starless night May fill my heart； … Then pause and linger yet ere
thou depart。
Linger； I ask no more； … Thou art enough for everthou alone； What
future can restore； When thou art flown； All that I hold from thee and call
my own？
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LEGENDS AND LYRICSFIRST SERIES
VERSE： HOMEWARD BOUND
I have seen a fiercer tempest； Known a louder whirlwind blow； I was
wrecked off red Algiers； Six…and…thirty years ago。 Young I was； and yet
old seamen Were not strong or calm as I； While life held such treasures for
me； I felt sure I could not die。
Life I struggled forand saved it； Life aloneand nothing more；
Bruised； half dead； alone and helpless； I was cast upon the shore。 I feared
the pitiless rocks of Ocean； So the great sea roseand then Cast me from
her friendly bosom； On the pitiless hearts of men。
Gaunt and dreary ran the mountains； With black gorges； up the land；
Up to where the lonely Desert Spreads her burning； dreary sand： In the
gorges of the mountains； On the plain beside the sea； Dwelt my stern and
cruel masters； The black Moors of Barbary。
Ten long years I toiled among them； Hopelessas I used to say； Now I
know Hope burnt within me Fiercer； stronger； day by day： Those dim
years of toil and sorrow Like one long dark dream appear； One long day of
weary waiting … Then each day was like a year。
How I cursed the landmy prison； How I cursed the serpent sea … And
the Demon Fate that showered All her curses upon me； I was mad； I think…
…God pardon Words so terrible and wild … This voyage would have been
my last one； For I left a wife and child。
Never did one tender vision Fade away before my sight； Never once
through all my slavery； Burning day or dreary night； In my soul it lived；
and kept me； Now I feel； from black despair； And my heart was not quite
broken； While they lived and blest me there。
When at night my task was over； I would hasten to the shore； （All was
strange and foreign inland； Nothing I had known before；） Strange looked
the bleak mountain passes； Strange the red glare and black shade； And the
Oleanders； waving To the sound the fountains made。
Then I gazed at the great Ocean； Till she grew a friend again； And
because she knew old England； I forgave her all my pain： So the blue still
sky above me； With its white clouds' fleecy fold； And the glimmering stars；
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LEGENDS AND LYRICSFIRST SERIES
（though brighter；） Looked like home and days of old。
And a calm would fall upon me； Worn perhaps with work and pain；
The wild hungry longing left me； And I was myself again： Looking at the
silver waters； Looking up at the far sky； Dreams of home and all I left
there Floated sorrowfully by。
A fair face； but pale with sorrow； With blue eyes； brimful of tears； And
the little red mouth； quivering With a smile； to hide its fears； Holding out
her baby towards me； From the sky she looked on me； So it was that last I
saw her； As the ship put out to sea。
Sometimes； （and a pang would seize me That the years were floating
on；） I would strive to paint her； altered； And the little baby gone： She no
longer young and girlish； The child； standing by her knee； And her face；
more pale and saddened With the weariness for me。
Then I saw； as night grew darker。 How she taught my child to pray；
Holding its small hands together； For its father； far away； And I felt her
sorrow； weighing Heavier on me than my own； Pitying her blighted
spring…time； And her joy so early flown。
Till upon my hands （now hardened With the rough； harsh toil of years）
Bitter drops of anguish falling； Woke me from my dream； to tears； Woke
me as a slave； an outcast。 Leagues from home； across the deep； Sothough
you may call it childish … So I sobbed myself to sleep。
Well； the years sped onmy Sorrow； Calmer； and yet stronger grown；
Was my shield against al
