A DREAM. WILLIAM ALLINGHAM.

 I heard the dogs howl in the moonlight night;

I went to the window to see the sight;

All the Dead that ever I knew

Going one by one and two by two.

On they pass'd, and on they pass'd;

Townsfellows all, from first to last;

Born in the moonlight of the lane,

Quench'd in the heavy shadow again.

Schoolmates, marching as when we play'd

At soldiers once—but now more staid;

Those were the strangest sight to me

Who were drown'd, I knew, in the awful sea.

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Straight and handsome folk; bent¹ and weak, too;

Some that I loved, and gasp'd to speak to;

Some but a day in their churchyard bed;

Some that I had not known were dead.

A long, long crowd—where each seem'd lonely,

Yet of them all there was one, one only,

Raised a head or look'd my way.

She linger'd a moment,—she might not stay.

How long since I saw that fair pale face!

Ah! Mother dear! might I only place

My head on thy breast, a moment to rest,

While thy hand on my tearful cheek were prest!

On, on, a moving bridge they made

Across the moon-stream, from shade to shade,

Young and old, women and men;

Many long-forgot, but remember'd then.

And first there came a bitter laughter;

A sound of tears the moment after;

And then a music so lofty² and gay,

That every morning, day by day,

I strive³ to recall it if I may.

1 bent   

n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的

参考例句：

• He was fully bent upon the project.他一心扑在这项计划上。
• We bent over backward to help them.我们尽了最大努力帮助他们。

2 lofty   

adj.崇高的，高尚的，高耸的，极高的

参考例句：

• This mountain is lofty.这座山极高。
• His lofty spirit has greatly attracted and activated others.他的崇高精神大大地吸引并且激励了别人。

3 strive   

vi.努力，奋斗，力争

参考例句：

• Don't strive merely for quantity of production.在生产中不要单纯地追求数量。
• The scientists strive for a breakthrough in cancer research.科学家们力争在癌症研究方面有个突破。