书城英文图书澳大利亚语文(第4册)
21496500000025

第25章 the graves of a household

they grew in beauty, side by side,

they filled one home with glee;-

their graves are severed, far and wide, by mount, and stream, and sea.

the same fond mother bent at night o"er each fair sleeping brow;she had each folded flower1 in sight-where are those dreamers now?

one, "midst the forests of the west2, by a dark stream is laid-the indian knows his place of rest, far in the cedar shade.

the sea, the blue lone sea, hath one- he lies where pearls lie deep;1folded flower: the sleeping child compared to a flower which closes at eventide.

2the west: refers to america.

he was the loved of all, yet none o"er his low bed may weep.

one sleeps where southern vines1 are drest above the noble slain;he wrapped his colours round his breaston a blood-red field of spain.

and one-o"er her the myrtle2 showers its leaves, by soft winds fanned;she faded "midst italian flowers-the last of that bright band.

and parted thus they rest, who played beneath the same green tree;whose voices mingled as they prayed around one parent knee;they that with smiles lit up the hall, and cheered with song the hearth-alas for love, if thou weft all, and naught beyond, o earth!

-mrs. hemans

1southern vines: vineyards of spain.

2myrtle: a beautiful evergreen shrub that grows in the south of europe.