首页 >出版文学> M119>第35章

第35章

  Kinglesswasthearmyleft:
  Ofitsheadtheracebereft。
  EveryfuryofthepitTorturedanddismemberedit。
  Lo,uponasilenthour,Whenthepitchoffrostsubsides,DanubewithashoutofpowerLoosenshisimprisonedtides:
  WidearoundthefrightedplainsShaketohearhisrenchains,Dreadfullerthanheaveninwrath,Ashemakeshimselfapath:
  Highleaptheice-cracks,toweringpileFloestobergs,andgiantpeersWrestleonadriftedisle;
  Islandonice-islandrears;
  Dissolutionbattlesfast:
  BigthesenselessTitansloom,ThroughamistofcommondoomStringwhichshalldiethelast:
  Tillagentle-breathingmornFreesthestreamfrombanktobank。
  SotheEmpirebuiltofscornAgonized,dissolvedandsank。
  OftheQueennomorewastoldThanofleafonDanuberolled。
  MakethebedforAttila!
  PrinceofBardswasoldAneurin;
  HethegrandGododinsang;
  Allhisnumbersthrewsuchfirein,Struckhisharpsowildatwang;-
  StillthewakefulBritonborrowsWisdomfromitsancientheat:
  Stillithauntsoursourceofsorrows,Deepexcessofliquorsweet!
  HeretheBriton,theretheSaxon,Facetoface,threefieldsapart,ThirstforlighttolaytheirthwacksonEachtheotherwithgoodheart。
  DrytheSaxonsits,’middinfulNoiseofironknitshissteel:
  Freshandroaringwithaskinful,Britonsroundthehirlasreel。
  Yellowflamedthemeadysunset;
  Redrunsuptheflagofmorn。
  SignalfortheBritishonsetHiccupsthroughtheBritishhorn。
  DownthesehillmenpourlikecattleSniffingpasture:grimbelow,Showingeagerteethofbattle,Inhisspear-headsliesthefoe-
  Monsterofthesea!wedrehimBackintohishungrybrine-
  Youshalllodgehim,feedhim,wehim,Lookonus;westandinline-
  Palesea-monster!foulthewatersCasthim;foulheleavesourland-
  Youshallyielduslandanddaughters:
  Staythetongue,andtrythehand。
  Swiftastorrent-streamsourwarriors,Tossingtorrentlights,findway;
  Bursttheridges,crowdthebarriers,Piercethemwherethespear-headsplay;
  Turnthemastheclodsinfurrow,Topthemliketheleapingfoam;
  Sorrowtothemother,sorrow,Sorrowtothewifeathome!
  Stags,theybutted;bulls,theybellowed;
  Hounds,webaitedthem;oh,brave!
  Everysecondman,unfellowed,Tookthestrokesoftwo,andgave。
  Bareashop-stakesinNovember’sMiststheymetourbattle-flood:
  Hoary-redasWinter’sembersLaytheirdeadlinesdoneinblood。
  Thou,myBard,didsthangthylyreinOak-leaves,andwithcrimsonbrandRhythmicfuryspent,Aneurin;
  Songsthechurlscouldunderstand:
  ThrummingontheirSaxonsconcesStraight,theinvariableblow,Tilltheysnortedtrueresponses。
  EverthustheBardtheyknow!
  Buterenightfall,harperlusty!
  WhenthesunwaslikeaballDroppingonthebattledusty,Whatwasyondiscordantcall?
  Cambria’soldmetheglindemonBreathedagainstourrushingtide;
  Cloveusmidstthethreshingseamen:-
  Gashed,wesawourranksdide!
  BritainthenwithvaledictoryShriekveiledoffherfaceandknelt。
  Fullofliquor,fullofctory,Chiefonchiefoldvengeancedealt。
  Backwardswungtheirhurly-burly;
  Nonebutdeadmenkeptthefight。
  Theythatdrinktheircuptooearly,Darknesstheyshallseeerenight。
  LoudweheardtheyellowroverLaughtosleep,whileweragedthick,Thickasantstheant-hillover,Askingwhohasthrustthestick。
  Lo,asfrogsthatWintercumbersMeettheSpringwithstiffen’dyawn,WefromourhardnightofslumbersMarchedintothebloodydawn。
  Dayondaywefought,thoughshattered:
  Pushedandmetrepulsessharp,TillourRaven’splumeswerescattered:
  All,saveoldAneurin’sharp。
  HearitwailinglikeamotherO’erthestringsofchildrenslain!
  Heinonetongue,inanother,Alien,I;oneblood,yettwain。
  OldAneurin!droopnolonger。
  Thatsquatocean-scum,weown,Hadfinestoutness,madeusstronger,Broughtusmuch-requiredbackbone:
  ClaimedofPowertheirdues,andgrantedDuestoPowerinturn,whenroseMightierrovers;theythatplantedSovereignheretheNormannose。
  Gloriousmen,withheadsofeagles,Choppingarms,andcupboardlips;
  Warriors,hunters,keenasbeagles,Mountedayeonhorseorships。
  Acte,beinghungrycreatures;
  Silent,hangnoughttosay:
  Hightheyraisedthelordoffeatures,Saxon-worshippedtothisday。
  Hearitsdeeds,thegreatrecital!
  StoutasbergsofArcticiceOnceitled,andled;atitleNowitis,andnamesitsprice。
  ThisourSaxonbrotherscherish:
  This,whenbytheworthofwitsLandsarerearedaloft,orperish,Soleillumestheirlucre-pits。
  Knowwenotourwrongs,unwrittenThoughtheybe,Aneurin?Sword,Song,andsubtlemind,theBritonBringstomarket,allignored。
  ’GainsttheSaxon’sboneimpinging,StillisourGododinplayed;
  ShamedweseehimhumblycringingInashadowynose’sshade。
  BitteristheweightthatcrushesLow,myBard,thyraceoffire。
  HerenofairyoungfutureblushesBridaltoaman’sdesire。
  Neitherchief,noraim,norsplendourDressingdistance,wepercee。
  Neitherhonour,northetenderBloomofpromise,mornoreve。
  Joinedweare;atideofracesRolledtomeetacommonfate;
  EnglandclaspsinherembracesMany:whatisEngland’sstate?
  EnglandherdistendedmiddleThumpswithprideasMammon’swife;
  Saysthatthusshereadsthyriddle,Heaven!’tisheaventoplumpherlife。
  OmyBard!ayellowliquor,Liketothatwedrankofold-
  Goldishermetheglinbeaker,Shedestructiondrinksingold。
  Warnher,Bard,thatPowerispressingHotlyforhisduesthishour;
  TellherthatnodrunkenblessingStopstheonwardmarchofPower。
  HassheearstotakeforewarningsShewillcleanseherofherstains,FeedandspeedforbravermorningsValorouslythegrowthofbrains。
  Power,thehardmanknitforaction,Readseachnationonthebrow。
  Cripple,fool,andpetrifactionFalltohim——arefallingnow!
  MentheAngelseyed;
  Andheretheywerewildwaves,Andthereasmarshdescried;
  MentheAngelseyed,AndlikedthepicturebestWheretheyweregreenlydressedInbrotherhoodofgraves。
  MantheAngelsmarked:
  Heledahostthroughmurk,Onfearfulseasembarked;
  MantheAngelsmarked;
  Tothinkwithoutanay,Thathewasgoodasthey,Andhelphimathiswork。
  ManandAngels,yeAsluggishfenshalldrain,Shallquellawarringsea。
  ManandAngels,ye,Whomstainofstrifebefouls,AlighttokindlesoulsBearradiantinthestain。
  Youngcaptainofacrazybark!
  Otamelessheartinbatteredframe!
  Thysailingordershaveamark,Andhersisnotthename。
  ForactionallthineironclanksIncrangsforasplendidprize;
  AgaintoraceorbumpthyplanksWithanyflagthatflies。
  Consultthem;theyareeloquentForsensesnotinebriate。
  Theytrusttheeonthestarintent,Thatleadstolandtheirfreight。
  AndtheyhaveknowntheehighperuseTheheavens,anddeeptheearth,tillthouDidstintotheflushedcirclecruiseWherereasonquitsthebrow。
  Thouanimatestancienttales,Toproveourworldoflinearseed:
  Thyveryrtuenowassails,Atemptertomislead。
  ButthouhastanswerIamI;
  Mypassionhallows,bidscommand:
  Andsheisgracious,sheisnigh:
  Onemotionofthehand!
  Itwillsuffice;awhirlytuneThesewindswillpipe,andthouperformThenoddedpartofpantaloonInthycreatedstorm。
  AdmirestheeNaturewithmuchpride;
  Sheclaspstheeforagiftofmorn,Tillthouartsetagainstthetide,Andthenbewareherscorn。
  Sadissue,shouldthatstrifebefallBetweenthymortalshipandthee!
  ItwritesthemelancholyscrawlOfwreckageoversea。
  Thisladyofthelutingtongue,Theflashindarkness,billow’sgrace,Fortheetheworship;fortheyoungInmuscletheembrace。
  SoaronthymanhoodclearfromthoseWhosetoothlessWinterclawsatMay,AndtakeherastheveinofroseAthwartaneveninggrey。
  HowdiedMelissanonedaresshapeinwords。
  AwomanwhoiswifedespoticlordsCountfaggotatthequestion,Shallshele!
  Herson,becausehisbrowswereblackofher,Runsbarkingforhisbread,afugite,AndCorinthfrownsonthemthatfeedthecur。
  ThereisnoCorinthsavethewhipandcurbOfCorinth,highPeriander;thesuperbInmagnanimity,inrulesevere。
  Uponhismarblefortress-towerhesits,Thecityunderhim:awhiteyokedsteer,Thatbearshisheartforpulse,hisheadforwits。
  BloomofthegenerousfiresofhisfairSpringStillcolouredhimwhenmenforboretosting;
  AdmiringmeeklywheretheorderedseedsOfhisgoodsovereigntyshowedgardenstrim;
  AndowningthatthehoehestruckatweedsWasauthoroftheflowersraisedfacetohim。
  HisCorinth,toeachmoodsubserentInhomage,madeheasaninstrumentToyieldhimmusicwithscarcetouchofstops。
  Hebreathed,itpiped;hemoved,itrosetofly:
  Atwhilesabloodhorseracingtillitdrops;
  Atwhilesacrouchingdog,onhimalleye。
  Hiswisdommenacknowledged;onlyone,Thecreature,issueofhim,Lycophron,Thatrebelwithhismotherinhisbrows,Contested:suchaninfamouswouldfoulPirene!LittleheedwherehemighthouseTheprincegave,hearing:sothefox,theowl!
  ToprovetheGodsbenignanttohisrule,Theyears,whichfastenrigidwhomtheycool,Reewing,sawhimholdtheseatofpower。
  Agreyoneasked:Whonext?noranswerhad:
  OnegreyerpointedonthepallidhourTocome:arerdriedofwatersglad。
  ForwhichofhismaleissuepromisedgripTostrideyonpeople,withthecurbandwhip?
  ThisLycophron!hesole,thefatherlike,Firedprospectofalineinonestrongtide,Byrightofmastery;sternwilltostrike;
  Pridetosupportthestroke:yea,Godlikepride!
  Himselftheprincebeheldafailingfount。
  Hislinestretchedbackuntoitsholymount:
  Thethirstyonwardwavedforhimnosign。
  Thenstoodbeforehissionthathardson。
  TheseizureofapassionforhislineImpelledhimtothepathofLycophron。
  Theyouthwastossingpebblesinthesea;
  Afigureshunnedalongthebusyquay,PerforceoftheharshedictforwhodaredAddresshimoutcast。Namingit,hecrossedHisfather’slookwithlookthatprovedthempairedForstiffness,andanotherpebbletossed。
  X
  AneletotheIslanderenightfallHepassedfromsight,fromthehushedmouthsofall。