II

O mother, my mother, this thing I must say:
There is a rose in the garden;

Ere he lies on the breast where that other lay:
And the bird sings over the roses.

Now, folly, my daughter, for men are men:
There is a rose in the garden;

You marry them blindfold, I tell you again:
And the bird sings over the roses.

O mother, but when he kisses me!
There is a rose in the garden;

My child, 'tis which shall sweetest be!
And the bird sings over the roses.

O mother, but when I awake in the morn!
There is a rose in the garden;

My child, you are his, and the ring is worn:
And the bird sings over the roses.

Tall Margaret sighed and loosened a tress:
There is a rose in the garden;

Poor comfort she had of her comeliness
And the bird sings over the roses.

My mother will sink if this thing be said:
There is a rose in the garden;

That my first betrothed came thrice to my bed;
And the bird sings over the roses.

He died on my shoulder the third cold night:
There is a rose in the garden;

I dragged his body all through the moonlight:
And the bird sings over the roses.

But when I came by my father's door:
There is a rose in the garden;

I fell in a lump on the stiff dead floor:
And the bird sings over the roses.

O neither to heaven, nor yet to hell:
There is a rose in the garden;

Could I follow the lover I loved so well!
And the bird sings over the roses.

III
The bridesmaids slept in their chambers apart:

There is a rose that's ready;
Tall Margaret walked with her thumping heart:

There's a rose that's ready for clipping.
The frill of her nightgown below the left breast:

There is a rose that's ready;
Had fall'n like a cloud of the moonlighted West:

There's a rose that's ready for clipping.
But where the West-cloud breaks to a star:

There is a rose that's ready;
Pale Margaret's breast showed a winding scar:

There's a rose that's ready for clipping.
O few are the brides with such a sign!

There is a rose that's ready;
Though I went mad the fault was mine:

There's a rose that's ready for clipping.
I must speak to him under this roof to-night:

There is a rose that's ready;
I shall burn to death if I speak in the light:

There's a rose that's ready for clipping.
O my breast! I must strike you a bloodier wound:

There is a rose that's ready;
Than when I scored you red and swooned:

There's a rose that's ready for clipping.
I will stab my honour under his eye:

There is a rose that's ready;
Though I bleed to the death, I shall let out the lie:

There's a rose that's ready for clipping.
O happy my bridesmaids! white sleep is with you!

There is a rose that's ready;
Had he chosen among you he might sleep too!

There's a rose that's ready for clipping.
O happy my bridesmaids! your breasts are clean:

There is a rose that's ready;
You carry no mark of what has been!

There's a rose that's ready for clipping.
IV

An hour before the chilly beam:
Red rose and white in the garden;

The bridegroom started out of a dream:
And the bird sings over the roses.

He went to the door, and there espied:
Red rose and white in the garden;

The figure of his silent bride:
And the bird sings over the roses.

He went to the door, and let her in:
Red rose and white in the garden;

Whiter looked she than a child of sin:
And the bird sings over the roses.

She looked so white, she looked so sweet:
Red rose and white in the garden;

She looked so pure he fell at her feet:
And the bird sings over the roses.

He fell at her feet with love and awe:
Red rose and white in the garden;

A stainless body of light he saw:
And the bird sings over the roses.

O Margaret, say you are not of the dead!
Red rose and white in the garden;

My bride! by the angels at night are you led?
And the bird sings over the roses.

I am not led by the angels about:
Red rose and white in the garden;

But I have a devil within to let out:
And the bird sings over the roses.

O Margaret! my bride and saint!
Red rose and white in the garden;

There is on you no earthly taint:
And the bird sings over the roses.

I am no saint, and no bride can I be:
Red rose and while in the garden;

Until I have opened my bosom to thee:
And the bird sings over the roses.

To catch at her heart she laid one hand:
Red rose and white in the garden;

She told the tale where she did stand:
And the bird sings over the roses.

She stood before him pale and tall:
Red rose and white in the garden;

Her eyes between his, she told him all:
And the bird sings over the roses.

She saw how her body grow freckled and foul:
Red rose and white in the garden;

She heard from the woods the hooting owl:
And the bird sings over the roses.

With never a quiver her mouth did speak:
Red rose and white in the garden;

O when she had done she stood so meek!
And the bird sings over the roses.

The bridegroom stamped and called her vile:
Red rose and white in the garden;

He did but waken a little smile:
And the bird sings over the roses.

The bridegroom raged and called her foul:
Red rose and white in the garden;

She heard from the woods the hooting owl:
And the bird sings over the roses.

He muttered a name full bitter and sore:
Red rose and white in the garden;

She fell in a lump on the still dead floor:
And the bird sings over the roses.

O great was the wonder, and loud the wail:
Red rose and white in the garden;

When through the household flew the tale:
And the bird sings over the roses.

The old grey mother she dressed the bier:
Red rose and white in the garden;

With a shivering chin and never a tear:
And the bird sings over the roses.

O had you but done as I bade you, my child!
Red rose and white in the garden;

You would not have died and been reviled:
And the bird sings over the roses.

The bridegroom he hung at midnight by the bier:
Red rose and white in the garden;

He eyed the white girl thro' a dazzling tear:
And the bird sings over the roses.

O had you been false as the women who stray:
Red rose and white in the garden;

You would not be now with the Angels of Day!
And the bird sings over the roses.

MARIAN
I

She can be as wise as we,
And wiser when she wishes;

She can knit with cunning wit,
And dress the homely dishes.

She can flourish staff or pen,
And deal a wound that lingers;

She can talk the talk of men,
And touch with thrilling fingers.

II
Match her ye across the sea,

Natures fond and fiery;
Ye who zest the turtle's nest

With the eagle's eyrie.
Soft and loving is her soul,

Swift and lofty soaring;
Mixing with its dove-like dole

Passionate adoring.
III

Such a she who'll match with me?
In flying or pursuing,

Subtle wiles are in her smiles
To set the world a-wooing.

She is steadfast as a star,
And yet the maddest maiden:

She can wage a gallant war,
And give the peace of Eden.

BY MORNING TWILIGHT
Night, like a dying mother,

Eyes her young offspring, Day.
The birds are dreamily piping.

And O, my love, my darling!
The night is life ebb'd away:

Away beyond our reach!
A sea that has cast us pale on the beach;

Weeds with the weeds and the pebbles
That hear the lone tamarisk rooted in sand

Sway
With the song of the sea to the land.

UNKNOWN FAIR FACES
Though I am faithful to my loves lived through,

• chilly [´tʃili] a.凉飕飕的 (初中英语单词)
• quiver [´kwivə] v.抖动 n.颤动(声) (初中英语单词)
• midnight [´midnait] n.午夜；漆黑 (初中英语单词)
• cunning [´kʌniŋ] a.&n.狡猾(诡诈)的 (初中英语单词)
• flourish [´flʌriʃ] v.茂盛；挥动 n.挥舞 (初中英语单词)
• gallant [´gælənt, gə´lænt] a.英勇的；华丽的 (初中英语单词)
• faithful [´feiθfəl] a.忠实的；可靠的 (初中英语单词)
• earthly [´ə:θli] a.地球的；世俗的 (高中英语单词)
• homely [´həumli] a.朴素的；不漂亮的 (高中英语单词)
• loving [´lʌviŋ] a.爱的，有爱情的 (高中英语单词)
• thrice [θrais] ad.三倍地；三次 (英语四级单词)
• bridegroom [´braidgru:m] n.新郎 (英语四级单词)
• freckled [´frekld] a.有雀斑的，有斑点的 (英语四级单词)
• steadfast [´stedfɑ:st, -fæst] a.坚定的，不动摇的 (英语六级单词)