the complete poetical works-第32部分

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Opens　a　passage　rude　to　the　wheels　of　the　emigrant's　wagon；

Westward　the　Oregon　flows　and　the　Walleway　and　Owyhee。

Eastward；　with　devious　course；　among　the　Wind…river　Mountains；

Through　the　Sweet…water　Valley　precipitate　leaps　the　Nebraska；

And　to　the　south；　from　Fontaine…qui…bout　and　the　Spanish　sierras；

Fretted　with　sands　and　rocks；　and　swept　by　the　wind　of　the

desert；

Numberless　torrents；　with　ceaseless　sound；　descend　to　the　ocean；

Like　the　great　chords　of　a　harp；　in　loud　and　solemn　vibrations。

Spreading　between　these　streams　are　the　wondrous；　beautiful

prairies；

Billowy　bays　of　grass　ever　rolling　in　shadow　and　sunshine；

Bright　with　luxuriant　clusters　of　roses　and　purple　amorphas。

Over　them　wandered　the　buffalo　herds；　and　the　elk　and　the

roebuck；

Over　them　wandered　the　wolves；　and　herds　of　riderless　horses；

Fires　that　blast　and　blight；　and　winds　that　are　weary　with

travel；

Over　them　wander　the　scattered　tribes　of　Ishmael's　children；

Staining　the　desert　with　blood；　and　above　their　terrible

war…trails

Circles　and　sails　aloft；　on　pinions　majestic；　the　vulture；

Like　the　implacable　soul　of　a　chieftain　slaughtered　in　battle；

By　invisible　stairs　ascending　and　scaling　the　heavens。

Here　and　there　rise　smokes　from　the　camps　of　these　savage

marauders；

Here　and　there　rise　groves　from　the　margins　of　swift…running

rivers；

And　the　grim；　taciturn　bear；　the　anchorite　monk　of　the　desert；

Climbs　down　their　dark　ravines　to　dig　for　roots　by　the

brook…side；

And　over　all　is　the　sky；　the　clear　and　crystalline　heaven；

Like　the　protecting　hand　of　God　inverted　above　them。



　　Into　this　wonderful　land；　at　the　base　of　the　Ozark　Mountains；

Gabriel　far　had　entered；　with　hunters　and　trappers　behind　him。

Day　after　day；　with　their　Indian　guides；　the　maiden　and　Basil

Followed　his　flying　steps；　and　thought　each　day　to　o'ertake　him。

Sometimes　they　saw；　or　thought　they　saw；　the　smoke　of　his

camp…fire

Rise　in　the　morning　air　from　the　distant　plain；　but　at　nightfall；

When　they　had　reached　the　place；　they　found　only　embers　and

ashes。

And；　though　their　hearts　were　sad　at　times　and　their　bodies　were

weary；

Hope　still　guided　them　on；　as　the　magic　Fata　Morgana

Showed　them　her　lakes　of　light；　that　retreated　and　vanished

before　them。



　　Once；　as　they　sat　by　their　evening　fire；　there　silently　entered

Into　the　little　camp　an　Indian　woman；　whose　features

Wore　deep　traces　of　sorrow；　and　patience　as　great　as　her　sorrow。

She　was　a　Shawnee　woman　returning　home　to　her　people；

From　the　far…off　hunting…grounds　of　the　cruel　Camanches；

Where　her　Canadian　husband；　a　Coureur…des…Bois；　had　been

murdered。

Touched　were　their　hearts　at　her　story；　and　warmest　and

friendliest　welcome

Gave　they；　with　words　of　cheer；　and　she　sat　and　feasted　among

them

On　the　buffalo…meat　and　the　venison　cooked　on　the　embers。

But　when　their　meal　was　done；　and　Basil　and　all　his　companions；

Worn　with　the　long　day's　march　and　the　chase　of　the　deer　and　the

bison；

Stretched　themselves　on　the　ground；　and　slept　where　the　quivering

fire…light

Flashed　on　their　swarthy　cheeks；　and　their　forms　wrapped　up　in

their　blankets

Then　at　the　door　of　Evangeline's　tent　she　sat　and　repeated

Slowly；　with　soft；　low　voice；　and　the　charm　of　her　Indian　accent；

All　the　tale　of　her　love；　with　its　pleasures；　and　pains；　and

reverses。

Much　Evangeline　wept　at　the　tale；　and　to　know　that　another

Hapless　heart　like　her　own　had　loved　and　had　been　disappointed。

Moved　to　the　depths　of　her　soul　by　pity　and　woman's　compassion；

Yet　in　her　sorrow　pleased　that　one　who　had　suffered　was　near　her；

She　in　turn　related　her　love　and　all　its　disasters。

Mute　with　wonder　the　Shawnee　sat；　and　when　she　had　ended

Still　was　mute；　but　at　length；　as　if　a　mysterious　horror

Passed　through　her　brain；　she　spake；　and　repeated　the　tale　of　the

Mowis；

Mowis；　the　bridegroom　of　snow；　who　won　and　wedded　a　maiden；

But；　when　the　morning　came；　arose　and　passed　from　the　wigwam；

Fading　and　melting　away　and　dissolving　into　the　sunshine；

Till　she　beheld　him　no　more；　though　she　followed　far　into　the

forest。

Then；　in　those　sweet；　low　tones；　that　seemed　like　a　weird

incantation；

Told　she　the　tale　of　the　fair　Lilinau；　who　was　wooed　by　a

phantom；

That；　through　the　pines　o'er　her　father's　lodge；　in　the　hush　of

the　twilight；

Breathed　like　the　evening　wind；　and　whispered　love　to　the　maiden；

Till　she　followed　his　green　and　waving　plume　through　the　forest；

And　nevermore　returned；　nor　was　seen　again　by　her　people。

Silent　with　wonder　and　strange　surprise；　Evangeline　listened

To　the　soft　flow　of　her　magical　words；　till　the　region　around　her

Seemed　like　enchanted　ground；　and　her　swarthy　guest　the

enchantress。

Slowly　over　the　tops　of　the　Ozark　Mountains　the　moon　rose；

Lighting　the　little　tent；　and　with　a　mysterious　splendor

Touching　the　sombre　leaves；　and　embracing　and　filling　the

woodland。

With　a　delicious　sound　the　brook　rushed　by；　and　the　branches

Swayed　and　sighed　overhead　in　scarcely　audible　whispers。

Filled　with　the　thoughts　of　love　was　Evangeline's　heart；　but　a

secret；

Subtile　sense　crept　in　of　pain　and　indefinite　terror；

As　the　cold；　poisonous　snake　creeps　into　the　nest　of　the　swallow。

It　was　no　earthly　fear。　　A　breath　from　the　region　of　spirits

Seemed　to　float　in　the　air　of　night；　and　she　felt　for　a　moment

That；　like　the　Indian　maid；　she；　too；　was　pursuing　a　phantom。

With　this　thought　she　slept；　and　the　fear　and　the　phantom　had

vanished。



　　Early　upon　the　morrow　the　march　was　resumed；　and　the　Shawnee

Said；　as　they　journeyed　along；　〃On　the　western　slope　of　these

mountains

Dwells　in　his　little　village　the　Black　Robe　chief　of　the　Mission。

Much　he　teaches　the　people；　and　tells　them　of　Mary　and　Jesus；

Loud　laugh　their　hearts　with　joy；　and　weep　with　pain；　as　they

hear　him。〃

Then；　with　a　sudden　and　secret　emotion；　Evangeline　answered；

〃Let　us　go　to　the　Mission；　for　there　good　tidings　await　us！〃

Thither　they　turned　their　steeds；　and　behind　a　spur　of　the

mountains；

Just　as　the　sun　went　down；　they　heard　a　murmur　of　voices；

And　in　a　meadow　green　and　broad；　by　the　bank　of　a　river；

Saw　the　tents　of　the　Christians；　the　tents　of　the　Jesuit　Mission。

Under　a　towering　oak；　that　stood　in　the　midst　of　the　village；

Knelt　the　Black　Robe　chief　with　his　children。　　A　crucifix

fastened

High　on　the　trunk　of　the　tree；　and　overshadowed　by　grapevines；

Looked　with　its　agonized　face　on　the　multitude　kneeling　beneath

it。

This　was　their　rural　chapel。　　Aloft；　through　the　intricate　arches

Of　its　aerial　roof；　arose　the　chant　of　their　vespers；

Mingling　its　notes　with　the　soft　susurrus　and　sighs　of　the

branches。

Silent；　with　heads　uncovered；　the　travellers；　nearer　approaching；

Knelt　on　the　swarded　floor；　and　joined　in　the　evening　devotions。

But　when　the　service　was　done；　and　the　benediction　had　fallen

Forth　from　the　hands　of　the　priest；　like　seed　from　the　hands　of

the　sower；

Slowly　the　reverend　man　advanced　to　the　strangers；　and　bade　them

Welcome；　and　when　they　replied；　he　smiled　with　benignant

expression；

Hearing　the　homelike　sounds　of　his　mother…tongue　in　the　forest；

And；　with　words　of　kindness；　conducted　them　into　his　wigwam。

There　upon　mats　and　skins　they　reposed；　and　on　cakes　of　the

maize…ear

Feasted；　and　slaked　their　thirst　from　the　water…gourd　of　the

teacher。

Soon　was　their　story　told；　and　the　priest　with　solemnity

answered：

〃Not　six　suns　have　risen　and　set　since　Gabriel；　seated

On　this　mat　by　my　side；　where　now　the　maiden　reposes；

Told　me　this　same　sad　tale　then　arose　and　continued　his　journey！〃

Soft　was　the　voice　of　the　priest；　and　he　spake　with　an　accent　of

kindness；

But　on　Evangeline's　heart　fell　his　words　as　in　winter　the

snow…flakes

Fall　into　some　lone　nest　from　which　the　birds　have　departed。

〃Far　to　the　north　he　has　gone；〃　continued　the　priest；　〃but　in

autumn；

When　the　chase　is　done；　will　return　again　to　the　Mission。〃

Then　Evangeline　said；　and　her　voice　was　meek　and　submissive；

〃Let　me　remain　with　thee；　for　my　soul　is　sad　and　afflicted。〃

So　seemed　it　wise　and　well　unto　all；　and　betimes　on　the　morrow；

Mounting　his　Mexican　steed；　with　his　Indian　guides　and

companions。

Homeward　Basil　returned；　and　Evangeline　stayed　at　the　Mission。



　　Slowly；　slowly；　slowly　the　days　succeeded　each　other；

Days　and　weeks　and　months；　and　the　fields　of　maize　that　were

springing

Green　from　the　ground　when　a　stranger　she　came；　now　waving　above

her；

Lifted　their　slender　shafts；　with　leaves　interlacing；　and　forming

Cloisters　for　mendicant　crows　and　granaries　pillaged　by

squirrels。

Then　in　the　golden　weather　the　maize　was　husked；　and　the　maidens

Blushed　at　each　blood…red　ear；　for　that　betokened　a　lover；

But　at　the　crooked　laughed；　and　called　it　a　thief　in　the

corn…field。

Even　the　blood…red　ear　to　Evangeline　brought　not　her　lover。

〃Patience！〃　the　priest　would　say；　〃have　faith；　and　thy　prayer

will　be　answered！

Look　at　this　vigorous　plant　that　lifts　its　head　from　the　meadow；

See　how　its　leaves　are　turned　to　the　north；　as　true　as　the

magnet；

This　is　the　compass…flower；　that　the　finger　of　God　has　planted

Here　in　the　houseless　wild；　to　direct　the　traveller's　journey

Over　the　sea…like；　pathless；　limitless　waste　of　the　desert。

Such　in　the　soul　of　man　is　faith。　　The　blossoms　of　passion；

Gay　and　luxuriant　flowers；　are　brighter　and　fuller　of　fragrance；

But　they　beguile　us；　and　lead　us　astray；　and　their　odor　is

deadly。

Only　this　humble　plant　can　guide　us　here；　and　hereafter

Crown　us　with　asphodel　flowers；　that　are　wet　with　the　dews　of

nepenthe。〃



　　So　came　the　autumn；　and　passed；　and　the　winter；yet　Gabriel

came　not；

Blossomed　the　opening　spring；　and　the　notes　of　the　robin　and

bluebird

Sounded　sweet　upon　wold　and　in　wood；　yet　Gabriel　came　not。

But　on　the　breath　of　the　summer　winds　a　rumor　was　wafted

Sweeter　than　song　of　bird；　or　hue　or　odor　of　blossom。

Far