首页 >出版文学> Forty—Two Poems>第3章
  MELCHIOR
  Iamthedarkman,Melchior,AndIshalllivebutlittlemoreSinceIamoldandfeeblymove。
  MykingdomisaburntuplandHalfburiedbythedriftingsand,SohotApolloshinesabove。
  WhatcouldIbringbutsimplemyrrhWhiteblossomofthecordialfire?
  Hail,PrinceofSouls,andLordofLove!
  CHORUSOFANGELS
  OPrinceofsoulsandLordofLove,O'ertheethepurplebreasteddoveShallwatchwithopensilverwings,ThouKingofKings。
  SuavioleoflosVirginum,ApparuitRexGentium……
  "Whoartthou,littleKingofKings?"
  Hiswonderingmothersings。
  THEBALLADOFHAMPSTEADHEATH
  FromHeaven'sGatetoHampsteadHeathYoungBacchusandhiscrewCametumblingdown,ando'erthetownTheirburstingtrumpetsblew。
  Thesilvernightwaswildlybright,AndmadlyshonetheMoonTohearasongsoclearandstrong,Withsuchalovelytune。
  FromLondon'shouses,hutsandflats,Camebusmen,snobs,andEarls,AnduglymeninbowlerhatsWithcharminglittlegirls。
  SirMosescamewitheyesofflame,Judd,whoislikeabloater,ThebraveLordMayorincoachandpair,KingEdward,inhismotor。
  FarinarosymistwithdrawnTheGodandallhiscrew,Silenuspulledbynymphs,afaun,Asatyrdrenchedindew,SmiledastheyweptthoseshiningtearsOnlyImmortalsknow,Whosefeetaresetamongthestars,Abovetheshiftingsnow。
  Andonespakeoutintothenight,Beforetheyleftforever,"Rejoice,rejoice!"andhisgreatvoiceRolledlikeasplendidriver。
  HespakeinGreek,whichBritonsspeakSeldom,andcircumspectly;
  ButMr。Judd,thatmanofmud,Translateditcorrectly。
  Andwhentheyheardthathappyword,Policemenleaptandambled:
  Thebusmenpranced,themaidensdanced,Themeninbowlersgambolled。
  AwistfulEchostayedbehindTojointhemortaldances,ButMrJudd,withwordsunkind,Rejectedheradvances。
  AndpassingdownthroughLondonTownShestopped,forallwaslonely,AttractedbyabigbrassplateInscribed,FORMEMBERSONLY。
  AndsoshewenttoParliament,ButthoseungainlymenWokeupfromsleep,andturnedabout,Andfellasleepagain。
  LITANYTOSATAN(fromBaudelaire。)
  OgrandestoftheAngels,andmostwise,OfallenGod,fatedrivenfromtheskies,Satan,atlasttakepityonourpain。
  Ofirstofexileswhoendurestwrong,Yetgrowest,inthyhatred,stillmorestrong,Satan,atlasttakepityonourpain!
  OsubterraneanKing,omniscient,Healerofman'simmortaldiscontent,Satan,atlasttakepityonourpain。
  TolepersandtooutcaststhoudostshowThatPassionistheParadisebelow。
  Satan,atlasttakepityonourpain。
  ThoubythymistressDeathhastgiventomanHope,theimperishablecourtesan。
  Satan,atlasttakepityonourpain。
  ThougivesttotheGuiltytheircalmmienWhichdamnsthecrowdaroundtheguillotine。
  Satan,atlasttakepityonourpain。
  ThouknowestthecornersofthejealousEarthWhereGodhashiddenjewelsofgreatworth。
  Satan,atlasttakepityonourpain。
  ThoudostdiscoverbymysterioussignsWheresleeptheburiedpeopleofthemines。
  Satan,atlasttakepityonourpain。
  ThoustretchestforthasavinghandtokeepSuchmenasroamupontheroofsinsleep。
  Satan,atlasttakepityonourpain。
  ThypowercanmakethehaltingDrunkard'sfeetAvoidtheperilofthesurgingstreet。
  Satan,atlasttakepityonourpain。
  Thou,toconsoleourhelplessness,didstplotThecunninguseofpowderandofshot。
  Satan,atlasttakepityonourpain。
  ThyawfulnameiswrittenaswithpitchOntheunrelentingforeheadsoftherich。
  Satan,atlasttakepityonourpain。
  InstrangeandhiddenplacesthoudostmoveWherewomencryfortortureintheirlove。
  Satan,atlasttakepityonourpain。
  FatherofthosewhomGod'stempestuousireHasflungfromParadisewithswordandfire,Satan,atlasttakepityonourpain。
  PRAYER
  Satan,totheebepraiseupontheHeightWherethouwastkingofold,andinthenightOfHell,wherethoudostdreamonsilently。
  GrantthatonedaybeneaththeKnowledgetree,Whenitshootsforthtogracethyroyalbrow,Mysoulmaysit,thatcriesupontheenow。
  THETRANSLATORANDTHECHILDREN
  WhileItranslatedBaudelaire,Childrenwereplayingoutintheair。
  Turningtowatch,IsawthelightThatmadetheirclothesandfacesbright。
  IheardthetunetheymeanttosingAstheykeptdancinginaring;
  ButIcouldnotforgetmybook,AndthoughtofmenwhosefacesshookWhenbabiespassedthemwithalook。
  Theyareasterribleasdeath,Thosechildrenintheroadbeneath。
  TheirwitlesschatterismoredreadThanvoicesinamadman'shead:
  Theirdancemoreawfulandinspired,Becausetheirfeetarenevertired,ThansilentrevelwithsoftsoundOfpipes,onconsecratedground,Whenalltheghostsgoroundandround。
  OPPORTUNITY(fromMachiavelli。)
  "Butwhoartthou,withcuriousbeautygraced,Owoman,stampedwithsomebrightheavenlysealWhygothyfeetonwings,andinsuchhaste?"
  "Iamthatmaidwhosesecretfewmaysteal,CalledOpportunity。IhastenbyBecausemyfeetaretreadingonawheel,Beingmoreswifttorunthanbirdstofly。
  AndrightlyonmyfeetmywingsIwear,Toblindthesightofthosewhotrackandspy;
  RightlyinfrontIholdmyscatteredhairToveilmyface,anddownmybreasttofall,LestmenshouldknowmynamewhenIamthere;
  AndleavebehindmybacknowispatallForeagerfolktoclutch,whattimeIglideSonear,andturn,andpassbeyondrecall。"