The Complete Poetical Works of George MacDonald. George MacDonald
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Название: The Complete Poetical Works of George MacDonald

Автор: George MacDonald

Издательство: Bookwire

Жанр: Языкознание

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isbn: 9788075837844

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      THE CHRYSALIS.

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      Methought I floated sightless, nor did know

       That I had ears until I heard the cry

       As of a mighty man in agony:

       "How long, Lord, shall I lie thus foul and slow?

       The arrows of thy lightning through me go,

       And sting and torture me—yet here I lie

       A shapeless mass that scarce can mould a sigh!"

       The darkness thinned; I saw a thing below

       Like sheeted corpse, a knot at head and feet.

       Slow clomb the sun the mountains of the dead,

       And looked upon the world: the silence broke!

       A blinding struggle! then the thunderous beat

       Of great exulting pinions stroke on stroke!

       And from that world a mighty angel fled.

      THE SWEEPER OF THE FLOOR.

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      Methought that in a solemn church I stood.

       Its marble acres, worn with knees and feet,

       Lay spread from door to door, from street to street.

       Midway the form hung high upon the rood

       Of him who gave his life to be our good;

       Beyond, priests flitted, bowed, and murmured meet,

       Among the candles shining still and sweet.

       Men came and went, and worshipped as they could—

       And still their dust a woman with her broom,

       Bowed to her work, kept sweeping to the door.

       Then saw I, slow through all the pillared gloom,

       Across the church a silent figure come:

       "Daughter," it said, "thou sweepest well my floor!"

       It is the Lord! I cried, and saw no more.

      DEATH.

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      Mourn not, my friends, that we are growing old:

       A fresher birth brings every new year in.

       Years are Christ's napkins to wipe off the sin.

       See now, I'll be to you an angel bold!

       My plumes are ruffled, and they shake with cold,

       Yet with a trumpet-blast I will begin.

       —Ah, no; your listening ears not thus I win!

       Yet hear, sweet sisters; brothers, be consoled:—

       Behind me comes a shining one indeed;

       Christ's friend, who from life's cross did take him down,

       And set upon his day night's starry crown!

       Death, say'st thou? Nay—thine be no caitiff creed!— A woman-angel! see—in long white gown! The mother of our youth!—she maketh speed.

      ORGAN SONGS.

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       TO A. J. SCOTT

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      WITH THE FOLLOWING POEM.

      I walked all night: the darkness did not yield.

       Around me fell a mist, a weary rain,

       Enduring long. At length the dawn revealed

      A temple's front, high-lifted from the plain.

       Closed were the lofty doors that led within;

       But by a wicket one might entrance gain.

      'Twas awe and silence when I entered in;

       The night, the weariness, the rain were lost

       In hopeful spaces. First I heard a thin

      Sweet sound of voices low, together tossed,

       As if they sought some harmony to find

       Which they knew once, but none of all that host

      Could wile the far-fled music back to mind.

       Loud voices, distance-low, wandered along

       The pillared paths, and up the arches twined

      With sister arches, rising, throng on throng,

       Up to the roof's dim height. At broken times

       The voices gathered to a burst of song,

      But parted sudden, and were but single rimes

       By single bells through Sabbath morning sent,

       That have no thought of harmony or chimes.

      Hopeful confusion! Who could be content

       Looking and hearkening from the distant door?

       I entered further. Solemnly it went—

      Thy voice, Truth's herald, walking the untuned roar,

       Calm and distinct, powerful and sweet and fine:

       I loved and listened, listened and loved more.

      May not the faint harp, tremulous, combine

       Its ghostlike sounds with organ's mighty tone?

       Let my poor song be taken in to thine.

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