 | Carol and Cadence |  |
183
A NEW YEAR'S CHIME.
Bells of the newborn year,
Shattering the silence, sudden to mine ear
Your clamours come in the midnight mirk and drear.
Shattering the silence, sudden to mine ear
Your clamours come in the midnight mirk and drear.
Vehement, vagabond voice,
Thou that our sleep usurpest without our choice,
Willing the weary waken, the wretch rejoice,
Thou that our sleep usurpest without our choice,
Willing the weary waken, the wretch rejoice,
What dost thou bring us, say?
What from the Future's desolate, darkling way?
What is thy tale of the cloud-cloaked coming day?
What from the Future's desolate, darkling way?
What is thy tale of the cloud-cloaked coming day?
We, that are dead to hope,
We, that, like cattle fast in the clogging rope,
Fare, on our fruitless round, Life's lessening scope,
We, that, like cattle fast in the clogging rope,
Fare, on our fruitless round, Life's lessening scope,
We, that nor feel nor think,
But, without cease, for our sorry meat and drink
Grope on Eternity's ever-narrowing brink,
But, without cease, for our sorry meat and drink
Grope on Eternity's ever-narrowing brink,
Why do ye rouse us thus,
Bells, with your midnight chorus clamorous?
What can ye have of hope and cheer for us?
Bells, with your midnight chorus clamorous?
What can ye have of hope and cheer for us?
All that ye have to tell,
Voices of vaunt and void, we know too well.
How shall one speak of Heaven to souls in Hell?
Voices of vaunt and void, we know too well.
How shall one speak of Heaven to souls in Hell?
184
Year after idle year,
Songs have ye sung of solace in our ear,
Chanted of bliss to be and coming cheer.
Songs have ye sung of solace in our ear,
Chanted of bliss to be and coming cheer.
Still was your promise vain;
Still on your rainbow followed faster rain;
Still were our lives the selfsame stress and strain.
Still on your rainbow followed faster rain;
Still were our lives the selfsame stress and strain.
Hence with your lying tale!
Better to know and face Fate's utmost bale,
Better than hope deceived, that doubles ail.
Better to know and face Fate's utmost bale,
Better than hope deceived, that doubles ail.
Gibbet and cross and stake
Those, whom they claim for prey at morning-break,
Grant until then to sleep, unstirred of wake.
Those, whom they claim for prey at morning-break,
Grant until then to sleep, unstirred of wake.
We, too, are doomed to die;
Every fresh flush of sunlight in the sky
Leaves our day darker, brings our night more nigh.
Every fresh flush of sunlight in the sky
Leaves our day darker, brings our night more nigh.
One only boon we crave;
Trouble ye not for us Time's weary wave;
Call not for us the dead up from the grave.
Trouble ye not for us Time's weary wave;
Call not for us the dead up from the grave.
Grant us the last poor grace
Still the fierce Fates vouchsafe the basest base,
When to the wall to die they turn the face.
Still the fierce Fates vouchsafe the basest base,
When to the wall to die they turn the face.
Lone with Dark's mimic death
Leave us till dawn the phantom day foresaith;
Jar not our joyless calm with brazen breath.
Leave us till dawn the phantom day foresaith;
Jar not our joyless calm with brazen breath.
Stir not Night's silent deep:
We that too soon must wake to work and weep,
Ban not our solace sole, our blesséd sleep!
We that too soon must wake to work and weep,
Ban not our solace sole, our blesséd sleep!
| Carol and Cadence | |