威廉。华兹华斯

在这里你会发现长诗赖尔斯通的白母鹿,或者,诺顿一家的命运-第七章诗人威廉·华兹华斯

赖尔斯通的白母鹿,或者,诺顿一家的命运-第七章

“有一种力量,以一种世人无法察觉、灵魂无法梦想的方式,彼此触碰得如此之快。”灵魂啊,你天使般的手对竖琴发出了强有力的命令,你召唤那些顺从的琴弦,为这少女的缘故,在光荣中醒来,说,灵魂!她逃到哪里去藏她困苦的头呢。是什么巨大的森林笼罩着她?——她的座位在旷野中的坟墓里吗?一个被狂浪拍打的小岛——那是受苦者最后的退路吗?或者是一些有抱负的岩石,把它危险的锋面笼罩在云雾之中?高耸的岩石,阴暗的山谷,大海,沙漠,这些有什么用?哦,把她的痛苦和恐惧带到岁月的深处吧!——劫掠与荒凉,在赖尔斯通美丽的领地上吹起; Pools, terraces, and walks are sown With weeds; the bowers are overthrown, Or have given way to slow mutation, While, in their ancient habitation The Norton name hath been unknown. The lordly Mansion of its pride Is stripped; the ravage hath spread wide Through park and field, a perishing That mocks the gladness of the Spring! And, with this silent gloom agreeing, Appears a joyless human Being, Of aspect such as if the waste Were under her dominion placed. Upon a primrose bank, her throne Of quietness, she sits alone; Among the ruins of a wood, Erewhile a covert bright and green, And where full many a brave tree stood, That used to spread its boughs, and ring With the sweet bird's carolling. Behold her, like a virgin Queen, Neglecting in imperial state These outward images of fate, And carrying inward a serene And perfect sway, through many a thought Of chance and change, that hath been brought To the subjection of a holy, Though stern and rigorous, melancholy! The like authority, with grace Of awfulness, is in her face,-- There hath she fixed it; yet it seems To o'ershadow by no native right That face, which cannot lose the gleams, Lose utterly the tender gleams, Of gentleness and meek delight, And loving-kindness ever bright: Such is her sovereign mien:--her dress (A vest with woollen cincture tied, A hood of mountain-wool undyed) Is homely,--fashioned to express A wandering Pilgrim's humbleness. And she 'hath' wandered, long and far, Beneath the light of sun and star; Hath roamed in trouble and in grief, Driven forward like a withered leaf, Yea like a ship at random blown To distant places and unknown. But now she dares to seek a haven Among her native wilds of Craven; Hath seen again her Father's roof, And put her fortitude to proof; The mighty sorrow hath been borne, And she is thoroughly forlorn: Her soul doth in itself stand fast, Sustained by memory of the past And strength of Reason; held above The infirmities of mortal love; Undaunted, lofty, calm, and stable, And awfully impenetrable. And so--beneath a mouldered tree, A self-surviving leafless oak By unregarded age from stroke Of ravage saved--sate Emily. There did she rest, with head reclined, Herself most like a stately flower, (Such have I seen) whom chance of birth Hath separated from its kind, To live and die in a shady bower, Single on the gladsome earth. When, with a noise like distant thunder, A troop of deer came sweeping by; And, suddenly, behold a wonder! For One, among those rushing deer, A single One, in mid career Hath stopped, and fixed her large full eye Upon the Lady Emily; A Doe most beautiful, clear-white, A radiant creature, silver-bright! Thus checked, a little while it stayed; A little thoughtful pause it made; And then advanced with stealth-like pace, Drew softly near her, and more near-- Looked round--but saw no cause for fear; So to her feet the Creature came, And laid its head upon her knee, And looked into the Lady's face, A look of pure benignity, And fond unclouded memory. It is, thought Emily, the same, The very Doe of other years!-- The pleading look the Lady viewed, And, by her gushing thoughts subdued, She melted into tears-- A flood of tears, that flowed apace, Upon the happy Creature's face. Oh, moment ever blest! O Pair Beloved of Heaven, Heaven's chosen care, This was for you a precious greeting; And may it prove a fruitful meeting! Joined are they, and the sylvan Doe Can she depart? can she forego The Lady, once her playful peer, And now her sainted Mistress dear? And will not Emily receive This lovely chronicler of things Long past, delights and sorrowings? Lone Sufferer! will not she believe The promise in that speaking face; And welcome, as a gift of grace, The saddest thought the Creature brings? That day, the first