r. f. murray-his poems with a memoir-第14部分
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Not good to look upon was he； in life； nor yet when dead。
The driver of the cart drove on； and never turned his head。
When next the nobles throng at night the royal banquet…hall；
Another King will rule the feast； the drinking and the brawl；
While Walter Tyrrel walks alone upon the Norman shore；
And the Red King in the forest will chase the deer no more。
AFTER WATERLOO
On the field of Waterloo we made Napoleon rue
That ever out of Elba he decided for to come；
For we finished him that day； and he had to run away；
And yield himself to Maitland on the Billy…ruffium。
‘Twas a stubborn fight； no doubt； and the fortune wheeled about；
And the brave Mossoos kept coming most uncomfortable near；
And says Wellington the hero； as his hopes went down to zero；
‘I wish to God that Blooker or the night was only here！'
But Blooker came at length； and we broke Napoleon's strength；
And the flower of his armythat's the old Imperial Guard …
They made a final sally； but they found they could not rally；
And at last they broke and fled； after fighting bitter hard。
Now Napoleon he had thought； when a British ship he sought；
And gave himself uncalled…for； in a manner； you might say；
He'd be treated like a king with the best of every thing；
And maybe have a palace for to live in every day。
He was treated very well； as became a noble swell；
But we couldn't leave him loose； not in Europe anywhere；
For we knew he would be making some gigantic undertaking；
While the trustful British lion was reposing in his lair。
We tried him once before near the European shore；
Having planted him in Elba； where he promised to remain；
But when he saw his chance； why； he bolted off to France；
And he made a lot of troublebut it wouldn't do again。
Says the Prince to him； ‘You know； far away you'll have to go；
To a pleasant little island off the coast of Africay；
Where they tell me that the view of the ocean deep and blue；
Is remarkable extensive； and it's there you'll have to stay。'
So Napoleon wiped his eye； and he wished the Prince good…bye；
And being stony…broke； made the best of it he could；
And they kept him snugly pensioned； where his Royal Highness
mentioned；
And Napoleon Boneyparty is provided for for good。
Now of that I don't complain； but I ask and ask in vain；
Why me； a British soldier； as has lost a useful arm
Through fighting of the foe； when the trumpets ceased to blow；
Should be forced to feed the pigs on a little Surrey farm；
While him as fought with us； and created such a fuss；
And in the whole of Europe did a mighty deal of harm；
Should be kept upon a rock； like a precious fighting cock；
And be found in beer and baccy； which would suit me to a charm？
DEATH AT THE WINDOW
This morning； while we sat in talk
Of spring and apple…bloom；
Lo！ Death stood in the garden walk；
And peered into the room。
Your back was turned； you did not see
The shadow that he made。
He bent his head and looked at me；
It made my soul afraid。
The words I had begun to speak
Fell broken in the air。
You saw the pallor of my cheek；
And turnedbut none was there。
He came as sudden as a thought；
And so departed too。
What made him leave his task unwrought？
It was the sight of you。
Though Death but seldom turns aside
From those he means to take；
He would not yet our hearts divide；
For love and pity's sake。
MAKE…BELIEVES
When I was young and well and glad；
I used to play at being sad；
Now youth and health are fled away；
At being glad I sometimes play。
A COINCIDENCE
Every critic in the town
Runs the minor poet down；
Every criticdon't you know it？
Is himself a minor poet。
ART'S DISCIPLINE
Long since I came into the school of Art；
A child in works； but not a child in heart。
Slowly I learn； by her instruction mild；
To be in works a man； in heart a child。
THE TRUE LIBERAL
The truest Liberal is he
Who sees the man in each degree；
Who merit in a churl can prize；
And baseness in an earl despise；
Yet censures baseness in a churl；
And dares find merit in an earl。
A LATE GOOD NIGHT
My lamp is out； my task is done；
And up the stair with lingering feet
I climb。 The staircase clock strikes one。
Good night； my love！ good night； my sweet！
My solitary room I gain。
A single star makes incomplete
The blackness of the window pane。
Good night； my love！ good night； my sweet！
Dim and more dim its sparkle grows；
And ere my head the pillows meet；
My lids are fain themselves to close。
Good night； my love！ good night； my sweet！
My lips no other words can say；
But still they murmur and repeat
To you； who slumber far away；
Good night； my love！ good night； my sweet！
AN EXILE'S SONG
My soul is like a prisoned lark；
That sings and dreams of liberty；
The nights are long； the days are dark；
Away from home； away from thee！
My only joy is in my dreams；
When I thy loving face can see。
How dreary the awakening seems；
Away from home； away from thee！
At dawn I hasten to the shore；
To gaze across the sparkling sea …
The sea is bright to me no more；
Which parts me from my home and thee。
At twilight； when the air grows chill；
And cold and leaden is the sea；
My tears like bitter dews distil；
Away from home； away from thee。
I could not live； did I not know
That thou art ever true to me；
I could not bear a doubtful woe；
Away from home； away from thee。
I could not live； did I not hear
A voice that sings the day to be；
When hitherward a ship shall steer；
To bear me back to home and thee。
Oh； when at last that day shall break
In sunshine on the dancing sea；
It will be brighter for the sake
Of my return to home and thee！
FOR SCOTLAND
Beyond the Cheviots and the Tweed；
Beyond the Firth of Forth；
My memory returns at speed
To Scotland and the North。
For still I keep； and ever shall；
A warm place in my heart for Scotland；
Scotland； Scotland；
A warm place in my heart for Scotland。
Oh； cruel off St。 Andrew's Bay
The winds are wont to blow！
They either rest or gently play；
When there in dreams I go。
And there I wander； young again；
With limbs that do not tire；
Along the coast to Kittock's Den；
With whinbloom all afire。
I climb the Spindle Rock； and lie
And take my doubtful ease；
Between the ocean and the sky；
Derided by the breeze。
Where coloured mushrooms thickly grow；
Like flowers of brittle stalk；
To haunted Magus Muir I go；
By Lady Catherine's Walk。
In dreams the year I linger through；
In that familiar town；
Where all the youth I ever knew；
Burned up and flickered down。
There's not a rock that fronts the sea；
There's not an inland grove；
But has a tale to tell to me
Of friendship or of love。
And so I keep； and ever shall；
The best place in my heart for Scotland；
Scotland； Scotland；
The best place in my heart for Scotland！
THE HAUNTED CHAMBER
Life is a house where many chambers be；
And all the doors will yield to him who tries；
Save one； whereof men say； behind it lies
The haunting secret。 He who keeps the key；
Keeps it securely； smiles perchance to see
The eager hands stretched out to clutch the prize；
Or looks with pity in the yearning eyes；
And is half moved to let the secret free。
And truly some at every hour pass through；
Pass through； and tread upon that solemn floor；
Yet come not back to tell what they have found。
We will not importune； as others do；
With tears and cries； the keeper of the door；
But wait till our appointed hour comes round。
NIGHTFALL
Let me sleep。 The day is past；
And the folded shadows keep
Weary mortals safe and fast。
Let me sleep。
I am all too tired to weep
For the sunlight of the Past
Sunk within the drowning deep。
Treasured vanities I cast
In an unregarded heap。
Time has given rest at last。
Let me sleep。
IN TIME OF SICKNESS
Lost Youth； come back again！
Laugh at weariness and pain。
Come not in dreams； but come in truth；
Lost Youth。
Sweetheart of long ago；
Why do you haunt me so？
Were you not glad to part；
Sweetheart？
Still Death； that draws so near；
Is it hope you bring； or fear？
Is it only ease of breath；
Still Death？
Footnotes：
｛1｝ Mr。 Butler lectures on Physics； or； as it is called in
Scotland； Natural Philosophy。
End
