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And it seemed to me at most
As a phantom； or a ghost。
But at length the feverish day
Like a passion died away；
And the night； serene and still；
Fell on village； vale； and hill。
Then the moon； in all her pride；
Like a spirit glorified；
Filled and overflowed the night
With revelations of her light。
And the Poet's song again
Passed like music through my brain；
Night interpreted to me
All its grace and mystery。
THE JEWISH CEMETERY AT NEWPORT
How strange it seems！ These Hebrews in their graves；
Close by the street of this fair seaport town；
Silent beside the never…silent waves；
At rest in all this moving up and down！
The trees are white with dust； that o'er their sleep
Wave their broad curtains in the south…wind's breath；
While underneath such leafy tents they keep
The long； mysterious Exodus of Death。
And these sepulchral stones； so old and brown；
That pave with level flags their burial…place；
Seem like the tablets of the Law； thrown down
And broken by Moses at the mountain's base。
The very names recorded here are strange；
Of foreign accent； and of different climes；
Alvares and Rivera interchange
With Abraham and Jacob of old times。
〃Blessed be God！ for he created Death！〃
The mourners said； 〃and Death is rest and peace〃；
Then added； in the certainty of faith；
〃And giveth Life that never more shall cease。〃
Closed are the portals of their Synagogue；
No Psalms of David now the silence break；
No Rabbi reads the ancient Decalogue
In the grand dialect the Prophets spake。
Gone are the living； but the dead remain；
And not neglected； for a hand unseen；
Scattering its bounty； like a summer rain；
Still keeps their graves and their remembrance green。
How came they here？ What burst of Christian hate；
What persecution； merciless and blind；
Drove o'er the seathat desert desolate
These Ishmaels and Hagars of mankind？
They lived in narrow streets and lanes obscure；
Ghetto and Judenstrass； in mirk and mire；
Taught in the school of patience to endure
The life of anguish and the death of fire。
All their lives long； with the unleavened bread
And bitter herbs of exile and its fears；
The wasting famine of the heart they fed；
And slaked its thirst with marah of their tears。
Anathema maranatha！ was the cry
That rang from town to town； from street to street；
At every gate the accursed Mordecai
Was mocked and jeered； and spurned by Christian feet。
Pride and humiliation hand in hand
Walked with them through the world where'er they went；
Trampled and beaten were they as the sand；
And yet unshaken as the continent。
For in the background figures vague and vast
Of patriarchs and of prophets rose sublime；
And all the great traditions of the Past
They saw reflected in the coming time。
And thus for ever with reverted look
The mystic volume of the world they read；
Spelling it backward； like a Hebrew book；
Till life became a Legend of the Dead。
But ah！ what once has been shall be no more！
The groaning earth in travail and in pain
Brings forth its races； but does not restore；
And the dead nations never rise again。
OLIVER BASSELIN
In the Valley of the Vire
Still is seen an ancient mill；
With its gables quaint and queer；
And beneath the window…sill；
On the stone；
These words alone：
〃Oliver Basselin lived here。〃
Far above it； on the steep；
Ruined stands the old Chateau；
Nothing but the donjon…keep
Left for shelter or for show。
Its vacant eyes
Stare at the skies；
Stare at the valley green and deep。
Once a convent； old and brown；
Looked； but ah！ it looks no more；
From the neighboring hillside down
On the rushing and the roar
Of the stream
Whose sunny gleam
Cheers the little Norman town。
In that darksome mill of stone；
To the water's dash and din；
Careless； humble； and unknown；
Sang the poet Basselin
Songs that fill
That ancient mill
With a splendor of its own。
Never feeling of unrest
Broke the pleasant dream he dreamed；
Only made to be his nest；
All the lovely valley seemed；
No desire
Of soaring higher
Stirred or fluttered in his breast。
True； his songs were not divine；
Were not songs of that high art；
Which； as winds do in the pine；
Find an answer in each heart；
But the mirth
Of this green earth
Laughed and revelled in his line。
From the alehouse and the inn；
Opening on the narrow street；
Came the loud； convivial din；
Singing and applause of feet；
The laughing lays
That in those days
Sang the poet Basselin。
In the castle； cased in steel；
Knights； who fought at Agincourt；
Watched and waited； spur on heel；
But the poet sang for sport
Songs that rang
Another clang；
Songs that lowlier hearts could feel。
In the convent； clad in gray；
Sat the monks in lonely cells；
Paced the cloisters； knelt to pray；
And the poet heard their bells；
But his rhymes
Found other chimes；
Nearer to the earth than they。
Gone are all the barons bold；
Gone are all the knights and squires；
Gone the abbot stern and cold；
And the brotherhood of friars；
Not a name
Remains to fame；
From those mouldering days of old！
But the poet's memory here
Of the landscape makes a part；
Like the river； swift and clear；
Flows his song through many a heart；
Haunting still
That ancient mill；
In the Valley of the Vire。
VICTOR GALBRAITH
Under the walls of Monterey
At daybreak the bugles began to play；
Victor Galbraith！
In the mist of the morning damp and gray；
These were the words they seemed to say：
〃Come forth to thy death；
Victor Galbraith！〃
Forth he came； with a martial tread；
Firm was his step； erect his head；
Victor Galbraith；
He who so well the bugle played；
Could not mistake the words it said：
〃Come forth to thy death；
Victor Galbraith！〃
He looked at the earth； he looked at the sky；
He looked at the files of musketry；
Victor Galbraith！
And he said； with a steady voice and eye；
〃Take good aim； I am ready to die！〃
Thus challenges death
Victor Galbraith。
Twelve fiery tongues flashed straight and red；
Six leaden balls on their errand sped；
Victor Galbraith
Falls to the ground； but he is not dead；
His name was not stamped on those balls of lead；
And they only scath
Victor Galbraith。
Three balls are in his breast and brain；
But he rises out of the dust again；
Victor Galbraith！
The water he drinks has a bloody stain；
〃O kill me； and put me out of my pain！〃
In his agony prayeth
Victor