網頁圖片
PDF
ePub 版

Right opposite to Dungeon-Gill,
Seeing, that he should lose the prize,

66

Stop!" to his comrade Walter cries— James stopp'd with no good will:

Said Walter then, "Your task is here, "Twill keep you working half a year.

V.

Till

you

have cross'd where I shall cross,

Say that you'll neither sleep nor eat."

James proudly took him at his word,
But did not like the feat.

It was spot, which you may see

If ever you to Langdale go:

Into a chasm a mighty Block

Hath fallen, and made a bridge of rock;

The gulph is deep below,

And in a bason black and small

Receives a lofty Waterfall.

VI.

With staff in hand across the cleft

The Challenger began his march;

And now, all eyes and feet, hath gain'd
The middle of the arch.

When list! he hears a piteous moan-
Again! his heart within him dies-
His pulse is stopp'd, his breath is lost,
He totters, pale as any ghost,
And, looking down, he spies

A Lamb, that in the pool is pent
Within that black and frightful rent.

VII.

The Lamb had slipp'd into the stream,

And safe without a bruise or wound

The Cataract had borne him down

Into the gulph profound.

His dam had seen him when he fell,

She saw him down the torrent borne ;

And while with all a mother's love

She from the lofty rocks above

Sent forth a cry forlorn,

The Lamb, still swimming round and round Made answer to that plaintive sound.

VIII.

When he had learnt, what thing it was,

That sent this rueful cry ; I ween,

The Boy recover'd heart, and told
The sight which he had seen.
Both gladly now deferr'd their task;
Nor was there wanting other aid-
A Poet, one who loves the brooks
Far better than the sages' books,
By chance had thither stray'd;
And there the helpless Lamb he found
By those huge rocks encompass'd round.

IX.

He drew it gently from the pool,

And brought it forth into the light:

The Shepherds met him with his charge
An unexpected sight!

Into their arms the Lamb they took,

Said they,

"He's neither maim'd nor scarr'd"

Then up the steep ascent they hied

And placed him at his Mother's side;

And gently did the Bard

Those idle Shepherd-boys upbraid,

And bade them better mind their trade.

'Tis said, that some have died for love :
And here and there a church-yard grave is found
In the cold North's unhallow'd ground,

Because the wretched man himself had slain,
His love was such a grievous pain.

And there is one whom I five years have known;

He dwells alone

Upon Helvellyn's side.

He loved

The pretty Barbara died,

And thus he makes his moan:

Three years had Barbara in her grave been laid

When thus his moan he made.

« 上一頁繼續 »