第14章 TRUE HONOURS(2)
Why,my Philip had fulfilled it,And I loved it best in him!
Max meanwhile--ah,you,my darling,Can his loving words recall -'Mid the bravest and the noblest,Braver,nobler,than them all.
How I loved him!how my heart thrilled When his sword clanked by his side.
When I touched his gold embroidery,Almost SAW him in his pride!
So we parted;he all eager To uphold the name he bore,Leaving in my charge--he loved me -Some one whom he loved still more:
I must tend this gentle flower,I must speak to her of him,For he feared--Love still is fearful -That his memory might grow dim.
I must guard her from all sorrow,I must play a brother's part,Shield all grief and trial from her,If it need be,with my heart.
Years passed,and his name grew famous;
We were proud,both she and I;
And we lived upon his letters,While the slow days fleeted by.
Then at last--you know the story,How a fearful rumour spread,Till all hope had slowly faded,And we heard that he was dead.
Dead!Oh,those were bitter hours;
Yet within my soul there dwelt A warning,and while others mourned him,Something like a hope I felt.
His was no weak life as mine was,But a life,so full and strong -No,I could not think he perished Nameless,'mid a conquered throng.
How she drooped!Years passed;no tidings Came,and yet that little flame Of strange hope within my spirit Still burnt on,and lived the same.
Ah!my child,our hearts will fail us,When to us they strongest seem;I can look back on those hours As a fearful,evil dream.
She had long despaired;what wonder That her heart had turned to mine?
Earthly loves are deep and tender,Not eternal and divine!
Can I say how bright a future Rose before my soul that day?
Oh,so strange,so sweet,so tender -
And I had to turn away.
Hard and terrible the struggle,For the pain not mine alone;I called back my Brother's spirit,And I bade him claim his own.
Told her--now I dared to do it -
That I felt the day would rise When he would return to gladden My weak heart and her bright eyes.
And I pleaded--pleaded sternly -
In his name,and for his sake:
Now,I can speak calmly of it,Then,I thought my heart would break.
Soon--ah,Love had not deceived me,(Love's true instincts never err,)Wounded,weak,escaped from prison,He returned to me;to her.
I could thank God that bright morning,When I felt my Brother's gaze,That my heart was true and loyal,As in our old boyish days.
Bought by wounds and deeds of daring,Honours he had brought away;Glory crowned his name--my Brother's;
Mine too!--we were one that day.
Since the crown on him had fallen,"VICTOR IN A NOBLE STRIFE,"I could live and die contented With my poor ignoble life.
Well,my darling,almost weary Of my story?Wait awhile;For the rest is only joyful;
I can tell it with a smile.
One bright promise still was left me,Wound so close about my soul,That,as one by one had failed me,This dream now absorbed the whole.
"SINGER OF A NOBLE POEM,"-
Ah,my darling,few and rare Burn the glorious names of Poets,Like stars in the purple air.
That too,and I glory in it,That great gift my Godfrey won;I have my dear share of honour,Gained by that beloved one.
One day shall my darling read it;
Now she cannot understand All the noble thoughts,that lighten Through the genius of the land.
I am proud to be his brother,Proud to think that hope was true;Though I longed and strove so vainly,What I failed in,he could do.
I was long before I knew it,Longer ere I felt it so;Then I strung my rhymes together Only for the poor and low.
And,it pleases me to know it,(For I love them well indeed,)They care for my humble verses,Fitted for their humble need.
And,it cheers my heart to bear it,Where the far-off settlers roam,My poor words are sung and cherished,Just because they speak of Home.
And the little children sing them,(That,I think,has pleased me best,)Often,too,the dying love them,For they tell of Heaven and rest.
So my last vain dream has faded;
(Such as I to think of fame!)
Yet I will not say it failed me,For it crowned my Godfrey's name.
No;my Angel did not cheat me,For my long life HAS been blest;He did give me Love and Sorrow,He will bring me Light and Rest.