Alas1! That breathing Vanity should go
Where Pride is buried — like its very ghost,
Uprisen from the naked bones below,
In novel flesh, clad in the silent boast
Of gaudy2 silk that flutters to and fro,
Shedding its chilling superstition3 most
On young and ignorant natures — as it wont4
To haunt the peaceful churchyard of Bedfont!
2.
Each Sabbath morning, at the hour of prayer,
Behold5 two maidens6, up the quiet green
Shining, far distant, in the summer air
That flaunts8 their dewy robes and breathes between
Their downy plumes10 — sailing as if they were
Two far-off ships — until they brush between
The churchyard’s humble11 walls, and watch and wait
On either side of the wide open’d gate,
3.
And there they stand — with haughty12 necks before
God’s holy house, that points towards the skies —
Frowning reluctant duty from the poor,
And tempting13 homage14 from unthoughtful eyes:
And Youth looks lingering from the temple door,
Breathing its wishes in unfruitful sighs,
With pouting15 lips — forgetful of the grace,
Of health, and smiles, on the heart-conscious face; —
4.
Because that Wealth, which has no bliss16 beside,
May wear the happiness of rich attire17;
And those two sisters, in their silly pride,
May change the soul’s warm glances for the fire
Of lifeless diamonds; — and for health denied —
With art, that blushes at itself, inspire
Their languid cheeks — and flourish in a glory
That has no life in life, nor after-story.
5.
The aged18 priest goes shaking his gray hair
In meekest20 censuring21, and turns his eye
Earthward in grief, and heavenward in pray’r,
And sighs, and clasps his hands, and passes by,
Good-hearted man! what sullen22 soul would wear
Thy sorrow for a garb23, and constantly
Put on thy censure24, that might win the praise
Of one so gray in goodness and in days?
6.
Also the solemn clerk partakes the shame
Of this ungodly shine of human pride,
And sadly blends his reverence25 and blame
In one grave bow, and passes with a stride
Impatient:— many a red-hooded dame27
Turns her pain’d head, but not her glance, aside
From wanton dress, and marvels29 o’er again,
That heaven hath no wet judgments30 for the vain.
7.
“I have a lily in the bloom at home,”
Quoth one, “and by the blessed Sabbath day
I’ll pluck my lily in its pride, and come
And read a lesson upon vain array; —
And when stiff silks are rustling31 up, and some
Give place, I’ll shake it in proud eyes and say —
Making my reverence — ‘Ladies, an you please,
King Solomon’s not half so fine as these,’”
8.
Then her meek19 partner, who has nearly run
His earthly course — “Nay, Goody, let your text
Grow in the garden. — We have only one —
Who knows that these dim eyes may see the next?
Summer will come again, and summer sun,
And lilies too — but I were sorely vext
To mar28 my garden, and cut short the blow
Of the last lily I may live to grow,”
9.
“The last!” quoth she, “and though the last it were —
Lo! those two wantons, where they stand so proud
With waving plumes, and jewels in their hair,
And painted cheeks, like Dagons to be bow’d
And curtsey’d to! — last Sabbath after pray’r,
I heard the little Tomkins ask aloud
If they were angels — but I made him know
God’s bright ones better, with a bitter blow!”
10.
So speaking, they pursue the pebbly32 walk
That leads to the white porch the Sunday throng33,
Hand-coupled urchins34 in restrain?d talk,
And anxious pedagogue35 that chastens wrong,
And posied churchwarden with solemn stalk,
And gold-bedizen’d beadle flames along,
And gentle peasant clad in buff and green,
Like a meek cowslip in the spring serene36;
11.
And blushing maiden7 — modestly array’d
In spotless white — still conscious of the glass;
And she, the lonely widow, that hath made
A sable37 covenant38 with grief — alas!
She veils her tears under the deep, deep shade,
While the poor kindly-hearted, as they pass,
Bend to unclouded childhood, and caress39
Her boy — so rosy40! — and so fatherless!
And she, the lonely widow,
12.
And she, the lonely widow,
Thus, as good Christians41 ought, they all draw near
The fair white temple, to the timely call
Of pleasant bells that tremble in the ear. —
Now the last frock, and scarlet42 hood26, and shawl
Fade into dusk, in the dim atmosphere
Of the low porch, and heav’n has won them all,
— Saying those two, that turn aside and pass,
In velvet43 blossom, where all flesh is grass.
And she, the lonely widow,
13.
And she, the lonely widow,
Ah me! to see their silken manors44 trail’d
In purple luxuries — with restless gold —
Flaunting45 the grass where widowhood has wail’d
In blotted46 black — over the heapy mould
Panting wave-wantonly! They never quail’d
How the warm vanity abused the cold;
Nor saw the solemn faces of the gone
Sadly uplooking through transparent47 stone:
And she, the lonely widow,
14.
And she, the lonely widow,
But swept their dwellings48 with unquiet light,
Shocking the awful presence of the dead;
Where gracious natures would their eyes benight,
Nor wear their being with a lip too red,
Nor move too rudely in the summer bright
Of sun, but put staid sorrow in their tread,
Meting49 it into steps, with inward breath,
In very pity to bereaved50 death.
And she, the lonely widow,
15.
And she, the lonely widow,
Now in the church, time-sober’d minds resign
To solemn pray’r, and the loud chaunted hymn51 —
With glowing picturings of joys divine
Painting the mist-light where the roof is dim;
But youth looks upward to the window shine,
Warming with rose and purple and the swim
Of gold, as if thought-tinted by the stains
Of gorgeous light through many-color’d panes52;
And she, the lonely widow,
16.
And she, the lonely widow,
Soiling the virgin53 snow wherein God hath
Enrobed his angels — and with absent eyes
Hearing of Heav’n, and its directed path,
Thoughtful of slippers54 — and the glorious skies
Clouding with satin — till the preacher’s wrath55
Consumes his pity, and he glows and cries
With a deep voice that trembles in its might,
And earnest eyes grow eloquent56 in light:
And she, the lonely widow,
17.
And she, the lonely widow,
“Oh, that the vacant eye would learn to look
On very beauty, and the heart embrace
True loveliness, and from this holy book
Drink the warm-breathing tenderness and grace
Of love indeed! Oh, that the young soul took
Its virgin passion from the glorious face
Of fair religion, and address’d its strife57,
To win the riches of eternal life!”
And she, the lonely widow,
18.
And she, the lonely widow,
“Doth the vain heart love glory that is none,
And the poor excellence58 of vain attire?
Oh go, and drown your eyes against the sun,
The visible ruler of the starry59 quire,
Till boiling gold in giddy eddies60 run,
Dazzling the brain with orbs61 of living fire;
And the faint soul down-darkens into night,
And dies a burning martyrdom to light.”
And she, the lonely widow,
19.
And she, the lonely widow,
Oh go, and gaze — when the low winds of ev’n
Breathe hymns62, and Nature’s many forests nod
Their gold-crown’d heads; and the rich blooms of heav’n
Sun-ripen’d give their blushes up to God;
And mountain-rocks and cloudy steeps are riv’n
By founts of fire, as smitten63 by the rod
Of heavenly Moses — that your thirsty sense
May quench64 its longings65 of magnificence!
And she, the lonely widow,
20.
And she, the lonely widow,
“Yet suns shall perish — stars shall fade away —
Day into darkness — darkness into death —
Death into silence; the warm light of day,
The blooms of summer, the rich glowing breath
Of even — all shall wither66 and decay,
Like the frail67 furniture of dreams beneath
The touch of morn — or bubbles of rich dyes
That break and vanish in the aching eyes.”
And she, the lonely widow,
21.
And she, the lonely widow,
They hear, soul-blushing, and repentant68 shed
Unwholesome thoughts in wholesome69 tears, and pour
Their sin to earth — and with low drooping70 head
Receive the solemn blessing71, and implore72
Its grace — then soberly with chasten’d tread,
They meekly73 press towards the gusty74 door
With humbled75 eyes that go to graze upon
The lowly grass — like him of Babylon.
And she, the lonely widow,
22.
And she, the lonely widow,
The lowly grass! — O water-constant mind!
Fast-ebbing holiness! — soon-fading grace
Of serious thought, as if the gushing76 wind
Through the low porch had wash’d it from the face
For ever! — How they lift their eyes to find
Old vanities! — Pride wins the very place
Of meekness77, like a bird, and flutters now
With idle wings on the curl-conscious brow!
And she, the lonely widow,
23.
And she, the lonely widow,
And lo! with eager looks they seek the way
Of old temptation at the lowly gate;
To feast on feathers, and on vain array,
And painted cheeks, and the rich glistering state
Of jewel-sprinkled locks — But where are they,
The graceless haughty ones that used to wait
With lofty neck, and nods, and stiffen’d eye? —
None challenge the old homage bending by.
To feast on feathers, and on vain array
24.
To feast on feathers, and on vain array
In vain they look for the ungracious bloom
Of rich apparel where it glow’d before —
For Vanity has faded all to gloom,
And lofty Pride has stiffen’d to the core,
For impious Life to tremble at its doom78 —
Set for a warning token evermore,
Whereon, as now, the giddy and the wise
Shall gaze with lifted hands and wond’ring eyes.
To feast on feathers, and on vain array
25.
To feast on feathers, and on vain array
The aged priest goes on each Sabbath morn,
But shakes not sorrow under his gray hair;
The solemn clerk goes lavender’d and shorn
Nor stoops his back to the ungodly pair; —
And ancient lips that pucker’d up in scorn,
Go smoothly79 breathing to the house of pray’r;
And in the garden-plot, from day to day,
The lily blooms its long white life away.
To feast on feathers, and on vain array
26.
To feast on feathers, and on vain array
And where two haughty maidens used to be,
In pride of plume9, where plumy Death had trod,
Trailing their gorgeous velvets wantonly,
Most unmeet pall80, over the holy sod;
There, gentle stranger, thou may’st only see
Two sombre Peacocks.
Age, with sapient81 nod
Marking the spot, still tarries to declare
How they once lived, and wherefore they are there.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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2
gaudy
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| adj.华而不实的；俗丽的 | |
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3
superstition
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| n.迷信，迷信行为 | |
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wont
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| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
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5
behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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6
maidens
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| 处女( maiden的名词复数 )； 少女； 未婚女子； （板球运动）未得分的一轮投球 | |
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7
maiden
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| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
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8
flaunts
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| v.炫耀，夸耀( flaunt的第三人称单数 )；有什么能耐就施展出来 | |
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9
plume
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| n.羽毛；v.整理羽毛，骚首弄姿，用羽毛装饰 | |
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10
plumes
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| 羽毛( plume的名词复数 )； 羽毛饰； 羽毛状物； 升上空中的羽状物 | |
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11
humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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12
haughty
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| adj.傲慢的，高傲的 | |
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13
tempting
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| a.诱人的, 吸引人的 | |
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14
homage
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| n.尊敬，敬意，崇敬 | |
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15
pouting
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| v.撅（嘴）( pout的现在分词 ) | |
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16
bliss
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| n.狂喜，福佑，天赐的福 | |
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17
attire
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| v.穿衣，装扮[同]array；n.衣着；盛装 | |
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18
aged
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| adj.年老的，陈年的 | |
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19
meek
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| adj.温顺的，逆来顺受的 | |
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20
meekest
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| adj.温顺的，驯服的( meek的最高级 ) | |
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21
censuring
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| v.指责，非难，谴责( censure的现在分词 ) | |
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22
sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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23
garb
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| n.服装，装束 | |
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24
censure
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| v./n.责备；非难；责难 | |
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25
reverence
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| n.敬畏，尊敬，尊严；Reverence:对某些基督教神职人员的尊称；v.尊敬，敬畏，崇敬 | |
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26
hood
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| n.头巾，兜帽，覆盖；v.罩上，以头巾覆盖 | |
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27
dame
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| n.女士 | |
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28
mar
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| vt.破坏，毁坏，弄糟 | |
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29
marvels
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| n.奇迹( marvel的名词复数 )；令人惊奇的事物（或事例）；不平凡的成果；成就v.惊奇，对…感到惊奇( marvel的第三人称单数 ) | |
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30
judgments
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| 判断( judgment的名词复数 )； 鉴定； 评价； 审判 | |
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31
rustling
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| n. 瑟瑟声，沙沙声 adj. 发沙沙声的 | |
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32
pebbly
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| 多卵石的，有卵石花纹的 | |
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33
throng
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| n.人群，群众；v.拥挤，群集 | |
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34
urchins
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| n.顽童( urchin的名词复数 )；淘气鬼；猬；海胆 | |
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35
pedagogue
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| n.教师 | |
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36
serene
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| adj. 安详的，宁静的，平静的 | |
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37
sable
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| n.黑貂；adj.黑色的 | |
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38
covenant
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| n.盟约，契约；v.订盟约 | |
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39
caress
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| vt./n.爱抚，抚摸 | |
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40
rosy
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| adj.美好的，乐观的，玫瑰色的 | |
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41
Christians
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| n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 ) | |
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42
scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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43
velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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44
manors
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| n.庄园（manor的复数形式） | |
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45
flaunting
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| adj.招摇的，扬扬得意的，夸耀的v.炫耀，夸耀( flaunt的现在分词 )；有什么能耐就施展出来 | |
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46
blotted
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| 涂污( blot的过去式和过去分词 )； （用吸墨纸）吸干 | |
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47
transparent
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| adj.明显的，无疑的；透明的 | |
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48
dwellings
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| n.住处，处所( dwelling的名词复数 ) | |
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49
meting
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| v.（对某人）施以，给予（处罚等）( mete的现在分词 ) | |
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50
bereaved
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| adj.刚刚丧失亲人的v.使失去（希望、生命等）( bereave的过去式和过去分词)；（尤指死亡）使丧失（亲人、朋友等）；使孤寂；抢走（财物） | |
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51
hymn
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| n.赞美诗，圣歌，颂歌 | |
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52
panes
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| 窗玻璃( pane的名词复数 ) | |
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53
virgin
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| n.处女，未婚女子；adj.未经使用的；未经开发的 | |
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54
slippers
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| n. 拖鞋 | |
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55
wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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56
eloquent
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| adj.雄辩的，口才流利的；明白显示出的 | |
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57
strife
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| n.争吵，冲突，倾轧，竞争 | |
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58
excellence
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| n.优秀，杰出，(pl.)优点，美德 | |
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59
starry
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| adj.星光照耀的, 闪亮的 | |
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60
eddies
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| （水、烟等的）漩涡，涡流( eddy的名词复数 ) | |
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61
orbs
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| abbr.off-reservation boarding school 在校寄宿学校n.球，天体，圆形物( orb的名词复数 ) | |
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62
hymns
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| n.赞美诗，圣歌，颂歌( hymn的名词复数 ) | |
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63
smitten
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| 猛打，重击，打击( smite的过去分词 ) | |
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64
quench
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| vt.熄灭，扑灭；压制 | |
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65
longings
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| 渴望，盼望( longing的名词复数 ) | |
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66
wither
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| vt.使凋谢，使衰退，(用眼神气势等)使畏缩；vi.枯萎，衰退，消亡 | |
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67
frail
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| adj.身体虚弱的；易损坏的 | |
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68
repentant
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| adj.对…感到悔恨的 | |
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69
wholesome
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| adj.适合；卫生的；有益健康的；显示身心健康的 | |
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70
drooping
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| adj. 下垂的，无力的 动词droop的现在分词 | |
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71
blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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72
implore
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| vt.乞求，恳求，哀求 | |
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73
meekly
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| adv.温顺地，逆来顺受地 | |
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74
gusty
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| adj.起大风的 | |
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75
humbled
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| adj. 卑下的，谦逊的，粗陋的 vt. 使 ... 卑下，贬低 | |
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76
gushing
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| adj.迸出的；涌出的；喷出的；过分热情的v.喷，涌( gush的现在分词 )；滔滔不绝地说话 | |
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77
meekness
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| n.温顺，柔和 | |
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78
doom
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| n.厄运，劫数；v.注定，命定 | |
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79
smoothly
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| adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地 | |
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80
pall
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| v.覆盖，使平淡无味；n.柩衣，棺罩；棺材；帷幕 | |
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81
sapient
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| adj.有见识的，有智慧的 | |
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