the three taverns(三家酒店)-第4部分
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bringing when I came。
Give as I will； I cannot give you sight Whereby to see that with you
there are some To lead you； and be led。 But they are dumb Before the
wrangling and the shrill delight Of your deliverance that has not come；
And shall not； if I fail you as I might。
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Demos II
So little have you seen of what awaits Your fevered glimpse of a
democracy Confused and foiled with an equality Not equal to the envy it
creates； That you see not how near you are the gates Of an old king who
listens fearfully To you that are outside and are to be The noisy lords of
imminent estates。
Rather be then your prayer that you shall have Your kingdom
undishonored。 Having all； See not the great among you for the small； But
hear their silence； for the few shall save The many； or the many are to fall
Still to be wrangling in a noisy grave。
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The Flying Dutchman
Unyielding in the pride of his defiance； Afloat with none to serve or to
command； Lord of himself at last； and all by Science； He seeks the
Vanished Land。
Alone； by the one light of his one thought； He steers to find the shore
from which we came； Fearless of in what coil he may be caught On seas
that have no name。
Into the night he sails； and after night There is a dawning； though there
be no sun； Wherefore； with nothing but himself in sight； Unsighted； he
sails on。 At last there is a lifting of the cloud Between the flood before him
and the sky； And then though he may curse the Power aloud That has no
power to die
He steers himself away from what is haunted By the old ghost of what
has been before； Abandoning； as always； and undaunted； One fog…
walled island more。
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Tact
Observant of the way she told So much of what was true； No vanity
could long withhold Regard that was her due： She spared him the familiar
guile； So easily achieved； That only made a man to smile And left him
undeceived。
Aware that all imagining Of more than what she meant Would urge an
end of everything； He stayed； and when he went； They parted with a merry
word That was to him as light As any that was ever heard Upon a starry
night。
She smiled a little； knowing well That he would not remark The ruins
of a day that fell Around her in the dark： He saw no ruins anywhere； Nor
fancied there were scars On anyone who lingered there； Alone below the
stars。
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On the Way
（Philadelphia； 1794）
Note。 The following imaginary dialogue between Alexander
Hamilton and Aaron Burr； which is not based upon any specific incident in
American history； may be supposed to have occurred a few months
previous to Hamilton's retirement from Washington's Cabinet in 1795 and
a few years before the political ingenuities of Burr who has been
characterized； without much exaggeration； as the inventor of American
politics began to be conspicuously formidable to the Federalists。 These
activities on the part of Burr resulted； as the reader will remember； in the
Burr…Jefferson tie for the Presidency in 1800； and finally in the Burr…
Hamilton duel at Weehawken in 1804。
BURR
Hamilton； if he rides you down； remember That I was here to speak；
and so to save Your fabric from catastrophe。 That's good； For I perceive
that you observe him also。 A President； a…riding of his horse； May dust a
General and be forgiven； But why be dusted when we're all alike； All
equal； and all happy。 Here he comes And there he goes。 And we； by your
new patent； Would seem to be two kings here by the wayside； With our
two hats off to his Excellency。 Why not his Majesty； and done with it？
Forgive me if I shook your meditation； But you that weld our credit should
have eyes To see what's coming。 Bury me first if …I… do。
HAMILTON
There's always in some pocket of your brain A care for me； wherefore
my gratitude For your attention is commensurate With your concern。 Yes；
Burr； we are two kings； We are as royal as two ditch…diggers； But owe me
not your sceptre。 These are the days When first a few seem all； but if we
live； We may again be seen to be the few That we have always been。 These
are the days When men forget the stars； and are forgotten。
BURR
But why forget them？ They're the same that winked Upon the world
when Alcibiades Cut off his dog's tail to induce distinction。 There are dogs
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yet； and Alcibiades Is not forgotten。
HAMILTON
Yes； there are dogs enough； God knows； and I can hear them in my
dreams。
BURR
Never a doubt。 But what you hear the most Is your new music；
something out of tune With your intention。 How in the name of Cain； I
seem to hear you ask； are men to dance； When all men are musicians。 Tell
me that； I hear you saying； and I'll tell you the name Of Samson's mother。
But why shroud yourself Before the coffin comes？ For all you know； The
tree that is to fall for your last house Is now a sapling。 You may have to
wait So long as to be sorry； though I doubt it； For you are not at home in
your new Eden Where chilly whispers of a likely frost Accumulate already
in the air。 I think a touch of ermine； Hamilton； Would be for you in your
autumnal mood A pleasant sort of warmth along the shoulders。
HAMILTON
If so it is you think； you may as well Give over thinking。 We are done
with ermine。 What I fear most is not the multitude； But those who are to
loop it with a string That has one end in France and one end here。 I'm not
so fortified with observation That I could swear that more than half a score
Among us who see lightning see that ruin Is not the work of thunder。 Since
the world Was ordered； there was never a long pause For caution between
doing and undoing。
BURR
Go on； sir； my attention is a trap Set for the catching of all
compliments To Monticello； and all else abroad That has a name or an
identity。
HAMILTON
I leave to you the names there are too many； Yet one there is to sift
and hold apart； As now I see。 There comes at last a glimmer That is not
always clouded； or too late。 But I was near and young； and had the reins
To play with while he manned a team so raw That only God knows where
the end had been Of all that riding without Washington。 There was a
nation in the man who passed us； If there was not a world。 I may have
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driven Since then some restive horses； and alone； And through a splashing
of abundant mud； But he who made the dust that sets you on To coughing；
made the road。 Now it seems dry； And in a measure safe。
BURR
Here's a new tune From Hamilton。 Has your caution all at once； And
over night； grown till it wrecks the cradle？ I have forgotten what my father
said When I was born； but there's a rustling of it Among my memories；
and it makes a noise About as loud as all that I have held And fondled
heretofore of your same caution。 But that's affairs； not feelings。 If our
friends Guessed half we say of them； our enemies Would itch in our
friends' jackets。 Howsoever； The world is of a sudden on its head； And all
are spilled unless you cling alone With Washington。 Ask Adams about
that。
HAMILTON
We'll not ask Adams about anything。 We fish for lizards when we
choose to ask For what we know already is not coming； And we must eat
the answer。 Where's the use Of asking when this man says everything；
With all his tongues of silence？
BURR
I dare say。 I dare say； but I won't。 One of those tongues I'll borrow for
the nonce。 He'll never miss it。 We mean his Western Majesty； King
George。
HAMILTON
I mean the man who rode by on his horse。 I'll beg of you the meed of
your indulgence If I should say this planet may have done A deal of weary
whirling when at last； If ever； Time shall aggregate again A majesty like
his that has no name。
BURR
Then you concede his Majesty？ That's good； And what of yours？ Here
are two majesties。 Favor the Left a little； Hamilton； Or you'll be
floundering in the ditch that waits For riders who forget where they are
riding。 If we and France； as you anticipate； Must eat each other； what
Caesar； if not yourself； Do you se
