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Then said I； 〃From its consecrated cerements
I will not drag this sacred dust again；
Only to give me pain；
But； still remembering all the lost endearments；
Go on my way； like one who looks before；
And turns to weep no more。〃
Into what land of harvests； what plantations
Bright with autumnal foliage and the glow
Of sunsets burning low；
Beneath what midnight skies； whose constellations
Light up the spacious avenues between
This world and the unseen！
Amid what friendly greetings and caresses；
What households； though not alien； yet not mine；
What bowers of rest divine；
To what temptations in lone wildernesses；
What famine of the heart； what pain and loss；
The bearing of what cross！
I do not know； nor will I vainly question
Those pages of the mystic book which hold
The story still untold；
But without rash conjecture or suggestion
Turn its last leaves in reverence and good heed；
Until 〃The End〃 I read。
THE BRIDGE OF CLOUD
Burn； O evening hearth； and waken
Pleasant visions； as of old！
Though the house by winds be shaken；
Safe I keep this room of gold！
Ah； no longer wizard Fancy
Builds her castles in the air；
Luring me by necromancy
Up the never…ending stair！
But； instead； she builds me bridges
Over many a dark ravine；
Where beneath the gusty ridges
Cataracts dash and roar unseen。
And I cross them； little heeding
Blast of wind or torrent's roar；
As I follow the receding
Footsteps that have gone before。
Naught avails the imploring gesture；
Naught avails the cry of pain！
When I touch the flying vesture；
'T is the gray robe of the rain。
Baffled I return； and； leaning
O'er the parapets of cloud；
Watch the mist that intervening
Wraps the valley in its shroud。
And the sounds of life ascending
Faintly； vaguely； meet the ear；
Murmur of bells and voices blending
With the rush of waters near。
Well I know what there lies hidden；
Every tower and town and farm；
And again the land forbidden
Reassumes its vanished charm。
Well I know the secret places；
And the nests in hedge and tree；
At what doors are friendly faces；
In what hearts are thoughts of me。
Through the mist and darkness sinking；
Blown by wind and beaten by shower；
Down I fling the thought I'm thinking；
Down I toss this Alpine flower。
HAWTHORNE
MAY 23； 1864
How beautiful it was； that one bright day
In the long week of rain！
Though all its splendor could not chase away
The omnipresent pain。
The lovely town was white with apple…blooms；
And the great elms o'erhead
Dark shadows wove on their aerial looms
Shot through with golden thread。
Across the meadows； by the gray old manse；
The historic river flowed：
I was as one who wanders in a trance；
Unconscious of his road。
The faces of familiar friends seemed strange；
Their voices I could hear；
And yet the words they uttered seemed to change
Their meaning to my ear。
For the one face I looked for was not there；
The one low voice was mute；
Only an unseen presence filled the air；
And baffled my pursuit。
Now I look back； and meadow； manse； and stream
Dimly my thought defines；
I only seea dream within a dream
The hill…top hearsed with pines。
I only hear above his place of rest
Their tender undertone；
The infinite longings of a troubled breast；
The voice so like his own。
There in seclusion and remote from men
The wizard hand lies cold；
Which at its topmost speed let fall the pen；
And left the tale half told。
Ah！ who shall lift that wand of magic power；
And the lost clew regain？
The unfinished window in Aladdin's tower
Unfinished must remain！
CHRISTMAS BELLS
I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old； familiar carols play；
And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth； good…will to men！
And thought how； as the day had come；
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along
The unbroken song
Of peace on earth； good…will to men！
Till； ringing； singing on its way；
The world revolved from night to day；
A voice； a chime；
A chant sublime
Of peace on earth； good…will to men！
Then from each black； accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South；
And with the sound
The carols drowned
Of peace on earth； good…will to men！
It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth…stones of a continent；
And made forlorn
The households born
Of peace on earth； good…will to men！
And in despair I bowed my head；
〃There is no peace on earth；〃 I said：
〃For hate is strong；
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth； good…will to men！〃
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep：
〃God is not dead； nor doth he sleep！
The Wrong shall fail；
The Right prevail；
With peace on earth； good…will to men！〃
THE WIND OVER THE CHIMNEY
See； the fire is sinking low；
Dusky red the embers glow；
While above them still I cower；
While a moment more I linger；
Though the clock； with lifted finger；
Points beyond the midnight hour。
Sings the blackened log a tune
Learned in some forgotten June
From a school…boy at his play；
When they both were young together；
Heart of youth and summer weather
Making all their holiday。
And the night…wind rising； hark！
How above there in the dark；
In the midnight and the snow；
Ever wilder； fiercer； grander；
Like the trumpets of Iskander；
All the noisy chimneys blow！
Every quivering tongue of flame
Seems to murmur some great name；
Seems to say to me； 〃Aspire！〃
But the night…wind answers； 〃Hollow
Are the visions that you follow；
Into darkness sinks your fire！〃
Then the flicker of the blaze
Gleams on volumes of old days；
Written by masters of the art；
Loud through whose majestic pages
Rolls the melody of ages；
Throb the harp…strings of the heart。
And again the tongues of flame
Start exulting and exclaim：
〃These are prophets； bards； and seers；
In the horoscope of nations；
Like ascendant constellations；
They control the coming years。〃
But the night…wind cries： 〃Despair！
Those who walk with feet of air
Leave no long…enduring marks；
At God's forges incandescent
Mighty hammers beat incessant；
These are but the flying sparks。
〃Dust are all the hands that wrought；
Books are sepulchres of thought；
The dead laurels of the dead
Rustle for a moment only；
Like the withered leaves in lonely
Churchyards at some passing tread。〃
Suddenly the flame sinks down；
Sink the rumors of renown；
And alone the night…wind drear
Clamors louder； wilder； vaguer；
〃'T is the brand of Meleager
Dying on the hearth…stone here！〃
And I answ