按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Of Austrian war and strife； Each day she rose contented； To the calm toils
of life。
Yet； when her master's children Would clustering round her stand； She
sang them ancient ballads Of her own native land； And when at morn and
evening She knelt before God's throne； The accents of her childhood Rose
to her lips alone。
And so she dwelt： the valley More peaceful year by year； When
suddenly strange portents； Of some great deed seemed near。 The golden
77
… Page 78…
LEGENDS AND LYRICSFIRST SERIES
corn was bending Upon its fragile stalk； While farmers； heedless of their
fields； Paced up and down in talk。
The men seemed stern and altered； With looks cast on the ground；
With anxious faces； one by one； The women gathered round； All talk of
flax； or spinning； Or work； was put away； The very children seemed afraid
To go alone to play。
One day； out in the meadow With strangers from the town； Some
secret plan discussing； The men walked up and down。 Yet； now and then
seemed watching； A strange uncertain gleam； That looked like lances 'mid
the trees； That stood below the stream。
At eve they all assembled； Then care and doubt were fled； With jovial
laugh they feasted； The board was nobly spread。 The elder of the village
Rose up； his glass in hand； And cried； 〃We drink the downfall 〃Of an
accursed land！
〃The night is growing darker； 〃Ere one more day is flown； 〃Bregenz；
our foemen's stronghold； 〃Bregenz shall be our own！〃 The women shrank
in terror； （Yet Pride； too； had her part；） But one poor Tyrol maiden Felt
death within her heart。
Before her； stood fair Bregenz； Once more her towers arose； What
were the friends beside her？ Only her country's foes！ The faces of her
kinsfolk； The days of childhood flown； The echoes of her mountains；
Reclaimed her as their own！
Nothing she heard around her； （Though shouts rang forth again；） Gone
were the green Swiss valleys； The pasture； and the plain； Before her eyes
one vision； And in her heart one cry； That said； 〃Go forth； save Bregenz；
And then； if need be； die！〃
With trembling haste and breathless； With noiseless step she sped；
Horses and weary cattle Were standing in the shed； She loosed the strong
white charger； That fed from out her hand； She mounted； and she turned
his head Towards her native land。
Outout into the darkness … Faster； and still more fast； The smooth
grass flies behind her； The chestnut wood is past； She looks up； clouds are
heavy： Why is her steed so slow？ … Scarcely the wind beside them； Can
pass them as they go。
78
… Page 79…
LEGENDS AND LYRICSFIRST SERIES
〃Faster！〃 she cries； 〃Oh faster！〃 Eleven the church…bells chime： 〃Oh
God；〃 she cries； 〃help Bregenz； And bring me there in time！〃 But louder
than bells' ringing； Or lowing of the kine； Grows nearer in the midnight
The rushing of the Rhine。
Shall not the roaring waters Their headlong gallop check？ The steed
draws back in terror； She leans upon his neck To watch the flowing
darkness； The bank is high and steep； One pausehe staggers forward；
And plunges in the deep。
She strives to pierce the blackness； And looser throws the rein； Her
steed must breast the waters That dash above his mane。 How gallantly；
how nobly； He struggles through the foam； And seein the far distance；
Shine out the lights of home！
Up the steep banks he bears her； And now； they rush again Towards the
heights of Bregenz； That tower above the plain。 They reach the gate of
Bregenz； Just as the midnight rings； And out come serf and soldier To
meet the news she brings。
Bregenz is saved！ Ere daylight Her battlements are manned；
Defiance greets the army That marches on the land。 And if to deeds heroic
Should endless fame be paid； Bregenz does well to honour The noble
Tyrol maid。
Three hundred years are vanished； And yet upon the hill An old stone
gateway rises； To do her honour still。 And there； when Bregenz women Sit
spinning in the shade； They see in quaint old carving The Charger and the
Maid。
And when； to guard old Bregenz； By gateway； street； and tower； The
warder paces all night long； And calls each passing hour； 〃Nine；〃 〃ten；〃
〃eleven；〃 he cries aloud； And then （Oh crown of Fame！） When midnight
pauses in the skies； He calls the maiden's name！
79
… Page 80…
LEGENDS AND LYRICSFIRST SERIES
VERSE： A FAREWELL
Farewell； oh dream of mine！ I dare not stay； The hour is come； and
time Will not delay： Pleasant and dear to me Wilt thou remain； No future
hour Brings thee again。
She stands； the Future dim； And draws me on； And shows me dearer
joys … But thou art gone！ Treasures and Hopes more fair； Bears she for me；
And yet I linger； Oh dream； with thee！
Other and brighter days； Perhaps she brings； Deeper and holier songs；
Perchance she sings； But thou and I； fair time； We too must sever … Oh
dream of mine； Farewell for ever！
80
… Page 81…
LEGENDS AND LYRICSFIRST SERIES
VERSE： SOWING AND
REAPING
Sow with a generous hand； Pause not for toil or pain； Weary not
through the heat of summer； Weary not through the cold spring rain； But
wait till the autumn comes For the sheaves of golden grain。
Scatter the seed； and fear not； A table will be spread； What matter if
you are too weary To eat your hard…earned bread： Sow； while the earth is
broken； For the hungry must be fed。
Sow；while the seeds are lying In the warm earth's bosom deep； And
your warm tears fall upon it … They will stir in their quiet sleep； And the
green blades rise the quicker； Perchance； for the tears you weep。
Then sow；for the hours are fleeting； And the seed must fall to…day；
And care not what hands shall reap it； Or if you shall have passed away
Before the waving corn…fields Shall gladden the sunny day。
Sow； and look onward； upward； Where the starry light appears …
Where； in spite of the coward's doubting； Or your own heart's trembling
fears； You shall reap in joy the harvest You have sown to…day in tears。
81
… Page 82…
LEGENDS AND LYRICSFIRST SERIES
VERSE： THE STORM
The tempest rages wild and high； The waves lift up their voice and cry
Fierce answers to the angry sky； … Miserere Domine。
Through the black night and driving rain； A ship is struggling； all in
vain To live upon the stormy main； … Miserere Domine。
The thunders roar； the lightnings glare； Vain is it now to strive or dare；
A cry goes up of great despair； … Miserere Domine。
The stormy voices of the main； The moaning wind； and pelting rain
Beat on the nursery window pane：… Miserere Domine。
Warm curtained was the little bed； Soft pillowed was the little head；
〃The storm will wake the child；〃 they said：… Miserere Domine。
Cowering among his pillows white He prays； his blue eyes dim with
fright； 〃Father； save those at sea to…night！〃 Miserere Domine。
The morning shone all clear and gay； On a ship at anchor in the bay；
And on a little child at play； … Gloria tibi Domine！
82
… Page 83…
LEGENDS AND LYRICSFIRST SERIES
VERSE： WORDS
Words are lighter than the cloud…foam Of the restless ocean spray；
Vainer than the trembling shadow That the next hour steals away。 By the
fall of summer raindrops Is the air as deeply stirred； And the rose…leaf that
we tread on Will outlive a word。
Yet； on the dull silence breaking Wit