I heard, above the rest, and sometimes inter16 twined only with each other, a brave, jubilant voice, and a voice steadfast27 and tender. Neither know I which was the fairer, so ministrant were both, so helpful and unfailing. The soft, starlit voice might touch an over-eager soul with calm; to the soul distressed28, the strong voice would come like a great noon-tide wind, impelling29 it towards the height where the sun dwelt, and all the fountains of the day. Clear as thought was the bright voice, striving, surmounting30, and instinct with truth; but like the first sigh of passion was the sad voice, thrilling, too, with memories of yesterdays that cannot return forever; fond, sensitive, dedicated31 to the deep recesses32 of the heart, where there is search after hidden meanings, and mourning over the inscrutable laws through which not even Love's anointed eyes can see. I recognized the battle-call, the rush of the wings of the morning, the pæan of young ambition in the victor-voice, whose very petition was a conquest, in the irresistible33 faith and strength of its asking; but the lowly voice sang with unspeakable pathos34, in whose every plea the greater grief of rejection35 was already apprehended36. A grateful spirit would fain bestow37 on the glorious voice an ardent38 welcome, and on the gentle voice a lingering caress39. Both I loved, and unto both my soul hearkened; for they were the voices of angels, and one was Joy, and one was Peace.
Then, as in a vision, I beheld40 a fair prospect41 before me, and in the centre of its green beauty arose two hills, from whose separate summits the voices ruled perennially42, showering blessings43, healing sorrow, banishing44 care, cheering and solacing45 the earth. Now the weak needed not to rely on the strong; and pity and protection were scarcely asked or given; for music, "the most divine striker of the senses,"—music alone was the arbitress of the world. And all day, past twilight46 into the deep gloom, were the voices singing, not incapable47 of being wearied, but revivified forever by the smiles and tears of pilgrims who departed from the hill-top with hearts made whole.
I marked that the little children were drawn48 frequently to the abode49 of the melancholy50 voice, because it was soft and weird51, like a gypsy mother's lullaby, or the rustle52 of aspens in serene53 weather. Thither54 also came youth, nursing its first grief with wilful55 indulgence, and manhood, yearning56 for summer melodies that should soothe57 all unrest, and close "tired eyelids58 over tired eyes." But I knew the babes were there only because of the sweet, curious affinity59 of childhood with sombre influences; and the young palmers, through some sophistry60 of love and honor; and the strong workers, overwrought, since there was no courage left for self-invigoration, and no guide to help them towards the city of the cordial voice, whither they should have turned. One I saw coming forth61 from the field, with a scroll62 under his arm, pale and worn with "glimpses of incomprehensibles, and thoughts of things which thoughts do but tenderly touch," who stood a moment, rapt in rash delight at the voice which betokened63 tears and infinite longing64 and regret; and who, straightway remembering that the poet's mission is gladness, incessant65 belief and prophecy of good, betook him, albeit66 with a sigh, to that other abiding-place, where he might learn of the happy voice. All the afflicted67, with wild and doleful steps, sought to climb the dolorous68 mountain towards the setting sun; and often a friend's strong hand intervened, and led them, rather, with inspiring speech, into the land of healing. I watched, time on time, soldiers marching to the wars, sustained by the glad voice, and hastening forwards with its spell upon them like a consecration69; and again, the weary troops returning, with tattered70 colors and broken ranks, pausing in the lovely courts of the grave voice, to chant with it a song of memory and reparation and thanksgiving. I came to understand, though but slowly and confusedly, that the entire universe was swayed by these voices; and that, while each was best in its holy office, the strong voice was that which nerved us to our duty, and the kind voice that which rewarded us for duty done. Always within hearing of them, we travel towards the ampler day, loyal to one-155- until we have merited the loving offices of the other; holding them sweetly correlative, even as are labor71 and repose72, or life and death.
So soon as I was filled with the glory and significance of the voices, they faded imperceptibly away, and I heard them no longer. Moreover, I found my lifted eye resting anew on the village church, where the dying light fell across the aisles73, and the bare clematis-vine waved at the near window; and whence the last worshipper had departed. Had I indeed been on a strange road, and among strange sounds? It may be that even in my day-dream I might have called my beloved singers by their earthly names; and that so I might this hour, were it not for a clinging scruple74. For I have been made wiser, and know verily that both are angels, and that one is Joy, and one is Peace.

点击
收听单词发音

1
tranquil
![]() |
|
adj. 安静的, 宁静的, 稳定的, 不变的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
2
drowsy
![]() |
|
adj.昏昏欲睡的,令人发困的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
3
bondage
![]() |
|
n.奴役,束缚 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
4
laden
![]() |
|
adj.装满了的;充满了的;负了重担的;苦恼的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
5
fragrance
![]() |
|
n.芬芳,香味,香气 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
6
persuasive
![]() |
|
adj.有说服力的,能说得使人相信的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
7
awakened
![]() |
|
v.(使)醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 );(使)觉醒;弄醒;(使)意识到 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
8
aspiration
![]() |
|
n.志向,志趣抱负;渴望;(语)送气音;吸出 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
9
touching
![]() |
|
adj.动人的,使人感伤的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
10
imminent
![]() |
|
adj.即将发生的,临近的,逼近的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
11
onward
![]() |
|
adj.向前的,前进的;adv.向前,前进,在先 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
12
solitary
![]() |
|
adj.孤独的,独立的,荒凉的;n.隐士 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
13
saluted
![]() |
|
v.欢迎,致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 );赞扬,赞颂 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
14
exquisite
![]() |
|
adj.精美的;敏锐的;剧烈的,感觉强烈的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
15
ushered
![]() |
|
v.引,领,陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
16
inter
![]() |
|
v.埋葬 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
17
costly
![]() |
|
adj.昂贵的,价值高的,豪华的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
18
nave
![]() |
|
n.教堂的中部;本堂 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
19
edifice
![]() |
|
n.宏伟的建筑物(如宫殿,教室) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
20
precisely
![]() |
|
adv.恰好,正好,精确地,细致地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
21
delicacy
![]() |
|
n.精致,细微,微妙,精良;美味,佳肴 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
22
granite
![]() |
|
adj.花岗岩,花岗石 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
23
kindly
![]() |
|
adj.和蔼的,温和的,爽快的;adv.温和地,亲切地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
24
deserted
![]() |
|
adj.荒芜的,荒废的,无人的,被遗弃的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
25
lapses
![]() |
|
n.失误,过失( lapse的名词复数 );小毛病;行为失检;偏离正道v.退步( lapse的第三人称单数 );陷入;倒退;丧失 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
26
utterly
![]() |
|
adv.完全地,绝对地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
27
steadfast
![]() |
|
adj.固定的,不变的,不动摇的;忠实的;坚贞不移的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
28
distressed
![]() |
|
痛苦的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
29
impelling
![]() |
|
adj.迫使性的,强有力的v.推动、推进或敦促某人做某事( impel的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
30
surmounting
![]() |
|
战胜( surmount的现在分词 ); 克服(困难); 居于…之上; 在…顶上 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
31
dedicated
![]() |
|
adj.一心一意的;献身的;热诚的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
32
recesses
![]() |
|
n.壁凹( recess的名词复数 );(工作或业务活动的)中止或暂停期间;学校的课间休息;某物内部的凹形空间v.把某物放在墙壁的凹处( recess的第三人称单数 );将(墙)做成凹形,在(墙)上做壁龛;休息,休会,休庭 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
33
irresistible
![]() |
|
adj.非常诱人的,无法拒绝的,无法抗拒的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
34
pathos
![]() |
|
n.哀婉,悲怆 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
35
rejection
![]() |
|
n.拒绝,被拒,抛弃,被弃 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
36
apprehended
![]() |
|
逮捕,拘押( apprehend的过去式和过去分词 ); 理解 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
37
bestow
![]() |
|
v.把…赠与,把…授予;花费 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
38
ardent
![]() |
|
adj.热情的,热烈的,强烈的,烈性的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
39
caress
![]() |
|
vt./n.爱抚,抚摸 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
40
beheld
![]() |
|
v.看,注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 );瞧;看呀;(叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现)哎哟 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
41
prospect
![]() |
|
n.前景,前途;景色,视野 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
42
perennially
![]() |
|
adv.经常出现地;长期地;持久地;永久地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
43
blessings
![]() |
|
n.(上帝的)祝福( blessing的名词复数 );好事;福分;因祸得福 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
44
banishing
![]() |
|
v.放逐,驱逐( banish的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
45
solacing
![]() |
|
v.安慰,慰藉( solace的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
46
twilight
![]() |
|
n.暮光,黄昏;暮年,晚期,衰落时期 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
47
incapable
![]() |
|
adj.无能力的,不能做某事的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
48
drawn
![]() |
|
v.拖,拉,拔出;adj.憔悴的,紧张的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
49
abode
![]() |
|
n.住处,住所 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
50
melancholy
![]() |
|
n.忧郁,愁思;adj.令人感伤(沮丧)的,忧郁的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
51
weird
![]() |
|
adj.古怪的,离奇的;怪诞的,神秘而可怕的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
52
rustle
![]() |
|
v.沙沙作响;偷盗(牛、马等);n.沙沙声声 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
53
serene
![]() |
|
adj. 安详的,宁静的,平静的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
54
thither
![]() |
|
adv.向那里;adj.在那边的,对岸的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
55
wilful
![]() |
|
adj.任性的,故意的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
56
yearning
![]() |
|
a.渴望的;向往的;怀念的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
57
soothe
![]() |
|
v.安慰;使平静;使减轻;缓和;奉承 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
58
eyelids
![]() |
|
n.眼睑( eyelid的名词复数 );眼睛也不眨一下;不露声色;面不改色 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
59
affinity
![]() |
|
n.亲和力,密切关系 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
60
sophistry
![]() |
|
n.诡辩 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
61
forth
![]() |
|
adv.向前;向外,往外 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
62
scroll
![]() |
|
n.卷轴,纸卷;(石刻上的)漩涡 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
63
betokened
![]() |
|
v.预示,表示( betoken的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
64
longing
![]() |
|
n.(for)渴望 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
65
incessant
![]() |
|
adj.不停的,连续的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
66
albeit
![]() |
|
conj.即使;纵使;虽然 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
67
afflicted
![]() |
|
使受痛苦,折磨( afflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
68
dolorous
![]() |
|
adj.悲伤的;忧愁的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
69
consecration
![]() |
|
n.供献,奉献,献祭仪式 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
70
tattered
![]() |
|
adj.破旧的,衣衫破的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
71
labor
![]() |
|
n.劳动,努力,工作,劳工;分娩;vi.劳动,努力,苦干;vt.详细分析;麻烦 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
72
repose
![]() |
|
v.(使)休息;n.安息 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
73
aisles
![]() |
|
n. (席位间的)通道, 侧廊 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
74
scruple
![]() |
|
n./v.顾忌,迟疑 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
欢迎访问英文小说网 |