men, women and ghosts(男人、女人和鬼魂)-第2章
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the ground。
I would be the pink and silver as I ran along the paths； And he would
stumble after； Bewildered by my laughter。 I should see the sun flashing
from his sword…hilt and the buckles on his shoes。 I would choose To
lead him in a maze along the patterned paths； A bright and laughing maze
for my heavy…booted lover； Till he caught me in the shade； And the buttons
of his waistcoat bruised my body as he clasped me； Aching； melting；
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unafraid。 With the shadows of the leaves and the sundrops； And the
plopping of the waterdrops； All about us in the open afternoon I am very
like to swoon With the weight of this brocade； For the sun sifts through the
shade。
Underneath the fallen blossom In my bosom； Is a letter I have hid。 It
was brought to me this morning by a rider from the Duke。 〃Madam； we
regret to inform you that Lord Hartwell Died in action Thursday
se'nnight。〃 As I read it in the white； morning sunlight； The letters squirmed
like snakes。 〃Any answer； Madam；〃 said my footman。 〃No；〃 I told him。
〃See that the messenger takes some refreshment。 No； no answer。〃 And I
walked into the garden； Up and down the patterned paths； In my stiff；
correct brocade。 The blue and yellow flowers stood up proudly in the sun；
Each one。 I stood upright too； Held rigid to the pattern By the stiffness of
my gown。 Up and down I walked； Up and down。
In a month he would have been my husband。 In a month； here；
underneath this lime； We would have broke the pattern； He for me； and I
for him； He as Colonel； I as Lady； On this shady seat。 He had a whim That
sunlight carried blessing。 And I answered； 〃It shall be as you have said。〃
Now he is dead。
In Summer and in Winter I shall walk Up and down The patterned
garden…paths In my stiff； brocaded gown。 The squills and daffodils Will
give place to pillared roses； and to asters； and to snow。 I shall go Up and
down； In my gown。 Gorgeously arrayed； Boned and stayed。 And the
softness of my body will be guarded from embrace By each button； hook；
and lace。 For the man who should loose me is dead； Fighting with the
Duke in Flanders； In a pattern called a war。 Christ！ What are patterns
for？
Pickthorn Manor
I
How fresh the Dartle's little waves that day！ A steely silver；
underlined with blue； And flashing where the round clouds； blown away；
Let drop the yellow sunshine to gleam through And tip the edges of the
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waves with shifts And spots of whitest fire； hard like gems Cut
from the midnight moon they were； and sharp As wind through leafless
stems。 The Lady Eunice walked between the drifts Of blooming cherry…
trees； and watched the rifts Of clouds drawn through the river's azure
warp。
II
Her little feet tapped softly down the path。 Her soul was listless；
even the morning breeze Fluttering the trees and strewing a light swath
Of fallen petals on the grass； could please Her not at all。 She brushed a
hair aside With a swift move； and a half…angry frown。 She stopped
to pull a daffodil or two； And held them to her gown To test the colours；
put them at her side； Then at her breast； then loosened them and tried
Some new arrangement； but it would not do。
III
A lady in a Manor…house； alone； Whose husband is in Flanders with
the Duke Of Marlborough and Prince Eugene； she's grown Too apathetic
even to rebuke Her idleness。 What is she on this Earth？ No woman
surely； since she neither can Be wed nor single； must not let her mind
Build thoughts upon a man Except for hers。 Indeed that were no dearth
Were her Lord here； for well she knew his worth； And when she
thought of him her eyes were kind。
IV
Too lately wed to have forgot the wooing。 Too unaccustomed as a
bride to feel Other than strange delight at her wife's doing。 Even at the
thought a gentle blush would steal Over her face； and then her lips would
frame Some little word of loving； and her eyes Would brim and
spill their tears； when all they saw Was the bright sun； slantwise Through
burgeoning trees； and all the morning's flame Burning and quivering round
her。 With quick shame She shut her heart and bent before the law。
V
He was a soldier； she was proud of that。 This was his house and she
would keep it well。 His honour was in fighting； hers in what He'd left her
here in charge of。 Then a spell Of conscience sent her through the
orchard spying Upon the gardeners。 Were their tools about？ Were
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Men； Women and Ghosts
any branches broken？ Had the weeds Been duly taken out Under the
'spaliered pears； and were these lying Nailed snug against the sunny bricks
and drying Their leaves and satisfying all their needs？
VI
She picked a stone up with a little pout； Stones looked so ill in well…
kept flower…borders。 Where should she put it？ All the paths about Were
strewn with fair； red gravel by her orders。 No stone could mar their sifted
smoothness。 So She hurried to the river。 At the edge She stood
a moment charmed by the swift blue Beyond the river sedge。 She
watched it curdling； crinkling； and the snow Purfled upon its wave…tops。
Then； 〃Hullo； My Beauty； gently； or you'll wriggle through。〃
VII
The Lady Eunice caught a willow spray To save herself from
tumbling in the shallows Which rippled to her feet。 Then straight away
She peered down stream among the budding sallows。 A youth in leather
breeches and a shirt Of finest broidered lawn lay out upon An
overhanging bole and deftly swayed A well…hooked fish which shone In
the pale lemon sunshine like a spurt Of silver； bowed and damascened；
and girt With crimson spots and moons which waned and played。
VIII
The fish hung circled for a moment； ringed And bright； then flung
itself out； a thin blade Of spotted lightning； and its tail was winged With
chipped and sparkled sunshine。 And the shade Broke up and splintered
into shafts of light Wheeling about the fish； who churned the air
And made the fish…line hum； and bent the rod Almost to snapping。
Care The young man took against the twigs； with slight； Deft mov
