首页 >出版文学> M119>第67章

第67章

  Thelipstolipsandthebreasttobreast;
  Allinagloryofecstasy,swiftAsaneagleatprey,andpureastheprayerOfaninfantbiddenjoinedhandsupliftTobeguardedthroughdarknessbyspiritsofair,Eresettingthesailsofsleeptillday。
  Slowlythelowcloudswung,andfarItpantedalongitsmirroredway;
  Aboveloosethreadsonesanctioningstar,Thewonderofwhathadbeenwitnessed,sealed,AndwithmestillasincrystalglassedArethedepthsalight,theheavensrevealed,WhereontotheAlpsthemutenesspassed。
  Whatsplendourofimperialstationman,TheTreeofLife,mayreachwhen,rootedfast,HisbranchingstempointswaytoupperairAndskywardstillaspires,weseeinhimWhosangforustheArchangelicalhost,MadeMorning,byoldDarknessurgedtotheabyss;
  Avoicethatdownthreecenturiesonwardrolls;
  OnwardwillrollwhilelesourEnglishtongue,InthedevoutofmusicunsurpassedSincePietywonHeaven’searonIsrael’sharp。
  ThefaceofEarth,thesoulofEarth,hercharm,Herdreadausterity;thequaveringfateOfmortalswithblindhopebypassionswayed,Hismindembraced,thewhileontroddensoil,DefenderoftheCommonwealth,hejoinedOurtemporalfray,whereofistalfruit,And,choosingarmouryoftheScholar,stoodBesidehispeerstoraisethevoiceforFreedom:
  NorhasfairLibertyachampionarmedTomeetonheightsorplainstheSophisterThroughouttheages,equaltothisman,WhosespiritbreathedhighHeaven,anddrewthenceTheetherealswordtosmite。
  WereEnglandsunkBeneaththeshiftingtides,herheart,herbrain,Thesmileshewears,thefaithsheholds,herbest,Wouldlefull-tonedinthegranddeleryOfhiscathedralspeech:anutteranceAlmostdine,andsuchasHellespont,CrashingitsbreakersunderIda’sfrown,Inspired:yetworthierhe,whoseinstrumentWasbycomparisonthecoarsereed-pipe;
  Whereofhavecomethemarvellousharmonies,Which,withhisloftytheme,ofinfiniterange,Abash,entrance,exalt。
  Weneedhimnow,ThislatestAgeinrepetitioncries:
  ForBelial,theadroit,isinourmidst;
  Mammon,moreswolntosqueezetheslashsweatFromhopelesstoil:andovershadowinglyAggrandized,monstrousinhisgrinningmaskOfhypocriticalPeace,inveterateMolochRemainsthegreatexample。
  HomagetohimHisdebtorband,innumerableaswavesRunningallgoldenfromaneasternsun,Joyfullyrender,indeepreverenceSubscribe,andastheyspeaktheirMilton’sname,Raysofhisgloryontheirforeheadsbear。
  IRELAND
  FireinherashesIrelandfeelsAndinherveinsaglowofheat。
  Toherthelostoldtime,appealsForresurrection,goodtogreet:
  Notasashapewithspectraleyes,Buthumanlymaternal,youngInallthatquickenspride,andwiseTospeakthebestherbardshavesung。
  Youreadherasalanddistraught,Wherebitterestrebelpassionsseethe。
  Lookwithacoreofheartinthought,Forsoisknownthetruthbeneath。
  Shecametoyoualoathingbride,Andithasbeennohappybed。
  Believeinherasfriend,alliedBybondsascloseasthosewhowed。
  Herspeechisheldforhatred’scry;
  Hersilencetellsoftreasonhid:
  Wereitheraimtoburstthetie,Sheseeswhatironlawsforbid。
  ExcessofheartobscuresfromewAheadaskeenasyourstocount。
  Trusther,thatshemayprovehertrueInlinkswhereofislovethefount。
  Mayshenotcallherselfherown?
  Thatishercry,andthenceherspitsOffury,thencehergracelesstoneAtjusticegeninbitsandbits。
  ThelimbsoncerawwithgnawingchainsWillfretatsilkenwhenGod’sbeamsOfFreedombeckono’ertheplainsFrommountsthatshowitmorethandreams。
  She,generous,cravesyourgenerousdole;
  Thatwillnotrousethecrackofdoom。
  ItendstheblunderingpastcontrolSimplytogeherelbow-room。
  Heroffspringfeelstheyarearace,Tobeanationistheirclaim;
  YetstrongerboundinyourembraceThanwhenthetiewasbutaname。
  Anationshe,andformedtocharm,Withheartforheartandhandsallround。
  NolongerEngland’sbrokenarm,WouldEnglandknowwherestrengthisfound。
  Andstrengthto-dayisEngland’sneed;
  To-morrowitmaybeforbothSalvation:heedtheportents,heedThewarnings;freethemindfromsloth。
  Toolongthepairhavedancedinmud,Withnoadvancefromsuntosun。
  Ah,whataboundingcourseofbloodHasEnglandwithanIrelandone!
  Beholdyonshadowcrossthedowns,Andoffawaytoyeastyseas。
  Lightlywillflyoldrancour’sfrownsWhensolidwithhighheartstandthese。
  THEYEARSHADWORNTHEIRSEASONS’BELT
  Theyearshadworntheirseasons’belt,Frombudtorosyprime,SinceNelliebythelarch-polekneltAndhelpedthehoptoclimb。
  Mostdiligentofteachersthen,Butnowwithalltolearn,Shebreathedbeyondathoughtofmen,Thoughformedtomakemenburn。
  Shedweltwhere’twtlow-beatenthornsTwomill-blades,likeasnail,Enormous,withinquiringhorns,Lookeddownonhalfthevale。
  YouknowthegreyofdewongrassErewiththeyoungsunfired,AndyouknowwellthethirstonehasForthecominganddesired。
  Quickinourringsheleapt,andgaveHerhandtoleft,toright。
  Noclaimonherhadany,saveTofeedthejoyofsight。
  FormanandmaidalaughingwordShetossed,innotesasclearAswhentheFebruarybirdSingsoutthatSpringisnear。
  Ofwhatbefellbehindthatscone,Letnonewhoknowsreveal。
  InballaddaysshemighthavebeenAheroinerousingsteel。
  Onusdidshebestowthehour,Andfeditfirminthought;
  HerspiritlikeameadowflowerThatges,andasksfornought。
  SheseemedtomakethesunlightstayAndshowherinitspride。
  OshewasfairasabeechinMayWiththesunontheyonderside。
  Therewasmorelifethanbreathcange,Inthelooksinherfairform;
  ForlittlecanwesayweleUntiltheheartiswarm。
  Openhorizonsround,Omountingmind,toscenesunsung,WhereinshallwalkalustyTime:
  OurEarthisyoung;
  Ofmeasurewithoutbound;
  Infinitearetheheightstoclimb,Thedepthstosound。
  AwildinglittlestubbleflowerThesicklescornedwhichcutforwheat,SuchwasourhopeinthatdarkhourWhennoughtsaveusesheldthestreet,Anddailypleasures,dailyneeds,Withbarrension,lookedahead。
  AndstillthesameresultofseedsGavelikeness’twttheleanddead。
  Fromlaboursthroughthenight,outworn,AbovethehillsthefrontofmornWesee,whoseeyestoheightsareraised,Andtheworld’swisemaydeemuscrazed。
  Whileyetherlordliesunderseas,Shetakesusasthewindthetrees’
  Delightedleafage;allinsongWemounttoher,toherbelong。
  Thisloveofnature,thatallurestotakeIrregularityforharmonyOflargerscopethanourhardmeasuresmake,CherishitasthyschoolforwhenontheeTheillsoflifedescend。
  ThatmarchofthefunerealPastbehold;
  HowGlorysatonBondageforitsthrone;
  Howmen,likedazzledinsects,throughthemouldStillworkedtheirway,andbledtokeeptheirown。
  Weknowthem,astheystroveandwroughtandyearned;
  Theirhopes,theirfears;whatpageofLifetheywist:
  Atwhilestheirsionuponuswasturned,Baffledbyshapeslimmedlooselyonthickmist。
  BeneaththefortressbulkofPowertheybentBluntheads,adoringorinshackledhate,Allsavetherebelhymnedhim;anditmeantAworldsubmittingtoincarnateFate。
  Fromthishedrewfreshappetiteforsway,Andofitfell:whereatwaschorusraised,HowsurelyshallamadambitionpayDuestoHumanity,erewhileamazed。
  ’Twasdreamedbysomethedelugewouldensue,Sotremblingwasthetensionlongconstrained;
  Aspiritoffaithwasinthechosenfew,Thatstepstothemillenniumhadbeengained。
  Butmainlytherichbusinessofthehour,Theirsight,madeblindbyurgencyofblood,Embraced;andfacts,thepassingsweetorsour,Tothemweresolidthingsthatnoughtwithstood。
  Theirfactsaregoingheadlongonthetides,LikecommasonalineofHistory’spage;
  NorthatwhichoncetheytookforTruthabides,Saveintheformofyouthenlargedfromage。
  Meantimegeeartowoodlandnotesaround,LookonourEarthfull-breastedtooursun:
  Sowasitwhentheirpoetsheardthesound,Beheldthescene:inthemourdaysareone。
  Whatfigureswillbeshownthecenturyhence?
  Whatlandsintact?WedobutknowthatPowerFrompietydorced,thoughseenimmense,Shallsinkonenvyofthehumblestflower。
  OurcryforcradledPeace,whilemenarestillThethree-partsbrutewhichsmothersthedine,Heavenanswers:Guarditwithforethoughtfulwill,Orbuyit;allyourgainsfromWarresign。
  Aland,notindefensiblyalarmed,Maysee,unwarnedbyhintoffriendlygods,Betweenahermitcrabatallpointsarmed,Andonewithoutashell,deciseodds。
  OnceIwaspartofthemusicIheardOntheboughsorsweetbetweenearthandsky,ForjoyofthebeatingofwingsonhighMyheartshotintothebreastofthebird。
  IhearitnowandIseeitfly,Andalifeinwrinklesagainisstirred,Myheartshootsintothebreastofthebird,Asitwillforsheerlovetillthelastlongsigh。
  WhenIremember,friend,whomlostIcall,Becauseamanbelovedistakenhence,ThetenderhumourandthefireofsenseInyourgoodeyes;howfullofheartforall,Andchieflyfortheweakerbythewall,Youborethatlampofsanebenevolence;
  ThenseeIroundyouDeathhisshadowsdenseDide,andatyourfeethisemblemsfall。
  Forsurelyareyouonewiththewhitehost,Spirits,whosememoryisourtalair,ThroughthegreatloveofEarththeyhad:lo,these,Likebeamsthatthrowthepathontossingseas,Canbidusfeelwekeepthemintheghost,Partakersofastrifetheyjoyedtoshare。
  M。M。
  WhocallherMotherandwhocallsherWifeLookonhergraveandseenotDeathbutLife。
  Tothemthatknewher,thereistalflameInthesethesimplelettersofhername。
  Tothemthatknewhernot,beitbutsaid,Sostrongaspiritisnotofthedead。
  ThouourbelovedandlightofEarthhastcrossedTheseaofdarknesstotheyondershore。
  Theredostthoushinealighttransferred,notlost,Throughlovetokindleinoursoulsthemore。
  Ofmenhewouldhaveraisedtolighthefell:
  Insoulheconqueredwiththosenervelesshands。
  Hiscountry’sprideandherabasementknellTheManofEnglandcircledbythesands。
  Afountainofoursweetest,quicktospringInfellowshipabounding,heresubsides:
  AndneverpassageofacloudonwingTogladdenblueforgetshim;nearhehides。
  THEEMPERORFREDERICKOFOURTIME
  WithAlfredandSt。LouishedothwinGranderthancrownedhead’smortuarydome:
  HisgentleheroicmanhoodentersinTheever-floweringcommonheartforhome。
  OurIsletoutofHelgoland,dismissedFromhisquainttenement,quitshatesandloves。
  ThereledwithusawagginghumouristInthathound’sarchdwarf-leggedonbong-gloves。
  Nowdumbishewhowakedtheworldtospeak,Andvoicelesshangstheworldbesidehisbier。
  Ourwordsaresobs,ourcryofpraiseatear:
  Wearethesmittenmortal,wetheweak。
  WeseeaspiritonEarth’sloftiestpeakShine,andwinghencethewayhemakesmoreclear:
  SeeagreatTreeofLifethatneversereDroppedleafforaughtthatageorstormsmightwreak。
  SuchendingisnotDeath:suchlingshowsWhatwideilluminationbrightnessshedsFromonebigheart,toconquerman’soldfoes:
  Thecoward,andthetyrant,andtheforceOfallthoseweedymonstersraisingheadsWhenSongismurkfromspringsofturbidsource。
  December
  WhencomesthelighteddayformentoreadLife’smeaning,withtheworkbeforetheirhandsTillthisgoodgiftofbreathfromdebtisfreed,Earthwillnothearherchildren’swailfulbandsDeplorethechieftainfall’ninsobanddirge;
  Northeylookwhereisdarkness,butonhigh。
  Thesunthatdroppeddownourhorizon’svergeIllumeshislaboursthroughthetravelledsky,Nowseeninsum,mostglorious;and’tisknownBywhatourwarriorwroughtweholdhimfast。
  Asplendidimagebuiltofmanhasflown;
  HisdeedsinspiredofGodoutstepaPast。
  OursthegreatprilegetohavehadoneAmonguswhocelestialtaskshasdone。
  Hersacredbodybear:thetenementOfthatstrongsoulnowrankedwithGod’sElectHerheartuponherpeople’sheartshespent;
  HenceissheRoyalty’slodestartodirect。
  Thepeaceishers,ofwhomalllandshavepraisedMajesticrtuesereherdayunseen。
  AloftthenameofWomanhoodsheraised,AndgavenewreadingstotheTitle,Queen。
  Longwithus,nowsheleavesus;shehasrestBeneathoursacredsod:
  AwomanvowedtoGood,whomallattest,ThedaylightgiftofGod。
  Thevariedcoloursareafitfulheap:
  Theypassinconstantsercethoughtheysleep;
  Theselfgoneoutofthem,therewiththepain:
  Readthat,whostilltospellourearthremain。
  End