dreams & dust(梦与尘)-第3章
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looking on Creation at her miracles； His soul…sight pierced the
earthly shells And saw the spirit weave its spells； The veil of
clay withdrawn； A little while； with love and youth； He wandered；
singing！
A little while； with age and death； He wanders； dreaming；
No more the thunder and the urge Of earth's full tides that
storm the verge Of heaven with their sweep and surge Shall
lift； shall bear him on； Where is the golden hope that led Him
comrade with the mighty dead？ The love that aureoled his head？
The glory is withdrawn！ How shall one soar with broken wings？
The leagued might of futile things Wars with the heart that dares and
sings； It is not always Dawn！ A little while； with age and death；
He wanders； dreaming。
WORDS ARE NOT GUNS
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Put by the sword （a dreamer saith）； The years of peace draw nigh！
Already the millennial dawn Makes red the eastern sky！
Be not deceived。 It comes not yet！ The ancient passions keep
Alive beneath their changing masks。 They are not dead。 They sleep。
Surely peace comes。 As sure as Man Rose from primeval slime。
That was not yesterday。 There's still A weary height to climb！
And we can dwell too long with dreams And play too much with
words； Forgetting our inheritance Was bought and held with swords。
But Truth （you say） makes tyrants quail Beats down embattled
Wrong？ If truth be armed！ Be not deceived。 The strife is to the strong。
Words are not guns。 Words are not ships。 And ships and guns
prevail。 Our liberties； that blood has gained； Are guarded； or they fail。
Truth does not triumph without blows； Error not tamely yields。 But
falsehood closes with quick faith； Fierce； on a thousand fields。
And surely； somewhat of that faith Our fathers fought for clings！
Which called this freedom's hemisphere； Despite Earth's leagued kings。
Great creeds grow thews； or else they die。 Thought clothed in deed
is lord。 What are thy gods？ Thy gods brought love？ They also
brought a sword。
Unchallenged； shall we always stand； Secure； apart； aloof？ Be not
deceived。 That hour shall come Which puts us to the proof。
Then； that we hold the trust we have Safeguarded for our sons； Let
us cease dreaming！ Let us have More ships； more troops； more guns！
WITH THE SUBMARINES
ABOVE； the baffled twilight fails； beneath； the blind snakes
creep； Beside us glides the charnel shark； our pilot through the deep；
And； lurking where low headlands shield from cruising scout and
spy； We bide the signal through the gloom that bids us slay or die。
All watchful； mute； the crouching guns that guard the strait sea
lanes Watchful and hawklike； plumed with hate； the desperate
aeroplanes And still as death and swift as fate； above the darkling
coasts； The spying Wireless sows the night with troops of stealthy
ghosts；
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DREAMS & DUST
While hushed through all her huddled streets the tide…walled city
waits The drumming thunders that announce brute battle at her gates。
Southward a hundred windy leagues； through storms that blind
and bar； Our cheated cruisers search the waves； our cap… tains seek
the war； But here the port of peril is； the foeman's dread… noughts
ride Sullen and black against the moon； upon a sullen tide。 And only
we to launch ourselves against their stark advance To guide
uncertain lightnings through these treach… erous seas of chance！
。 。 。 。 。 。
And now a wheeling searchlight paints a signal on the night； And
now the bellowing guns are loud with the wild lust of fight。
。 。 。 。 。 。
And now； her flanks of steel apulse with all the power of hell；
Forth from the darkness leaps in pride a hateful miracle； The flagship
of their Admiraland now God help and save！ We challenge Death
at Death's own game； we sink beneath the wave！
。 。 。 。 。 。
Ah； steady nowand one good blowone straight stab through
the gloom Ah； good！the thrust went home！she founders
flounders to her doom！ Full speed ahead！those damned quick…firing
guns but let them bark What's thatthe dynamos？they've got us；
men！ Christ！ in the dark！
NICHOLAS OF MONTENEGRO
（1912）
HE speaks as straight as his rifles shot； As straight as a thrusting
blade； Waiting the deed that shall trouble the truce His savage guns
have made。
〃You have dared the wrath of a dozen states；〃 Was the challenge
that he heard； 〃We can die but once！〃 said the grim old King As he
gripped his mountain sword。
〃For I paid in blood for the town I took； The blood of my brave
men slain； And if you covet the town I took You must buy it with
blood again！〃
Stern old King of the stark； black hills； Where the lean； fierce
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eagles breed； Your speech rings true as your good sword rings And
you are a king indeed！
DICKENS
〃The only book that the party had was a volume of Dickens。 During
the six months that they lay in the cave which they had hacked in the ice；
waiting for spring to come； they read this volume through again and
again。〃From a newspaper report of an antarctic expedition。
HUDDLED within their savage lair They hearkened to the
prowling wind； They heard the loud wings of despair 。 。 。 And madness
beat against the mind。 。 。 。 A sunless world stretched stark outside As if it
had cursed God and died； Dumb plains lay prone beneath the weight Of
cold unutterably great； Iron ice bound all the bitter seas； The brutal hills
were bleak as hate。 。 。 。 Here none but Death might walk at ease！
Then Dickens spoke； and； lo！ the vast Unpeopled void stirred into
life；
The dead world quickened； the mad blast Hushed for an hour its
idiot strife With nothingness。 。 。 。
And from the gloom； Parting the flaps
of frozen skin； Old friends and dear came trooping in； And light and
laughter filled
