按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
the great light came down； yet I am he That fell； and he that saw； and he
that heard。 And I am here； at last； and if at last I give myself to make
another crumb For this pernicious feast of time and men Well； I have
seen too much of time and men To fear the ravening or the wrath of either。
Yes； it is Paul you see the Saul of Tarsus That was a fiery Jew； and
had men slain For saying Something was beyond the Law； And in
ourselves。 I fed my suffering soul Upon the Law till I went famishing； Not
knowing that I starved。 How should I know； More then than any； that the
food I had What else it may have been was not for me？ My fathers
and their fathers and their fathers Had found it good； and said there was no
other； And I was of the line。 When Stephen fell； Among the stones that
10
… Page 11…
The Three Taverns A Book of Poems By Edwin Arlington Robinson
crushed his life away； There was no place alive that I could see For such a
man。 Why should a man be given To live beyond the Law？ So I said then；
As men say now to me。 How then do I Persist in living？ Is that what you
ask？ If so； let my appearance be for you No living answer； for Time writes
of death On men before they die； and what you see Is not the man。 The
man that you see not The man within the man is most alive； Though
hatred would have ended； long ago； The bane of his activities。 I have lived；
Because the faith within me that is life Endures to live； and shall； till soon
or late； Death； like a friend unseen； shall say to me My toil is over and my
work begun。
How often； and how many a time again； Have I said I should be with
you in Rome！ He who is always coming never comes； Or comes too late；
you may have told yourselves； And I may tell you now that after me；
Whether I stay for little or for long； The wolves are coming。 Have an eye
for them； And a more careful ear for their confusion Than you need have
much longer for the sound Of what I tell you should I live to say More
than I say to Caesar。 What I know Is down for you to read in what is
written； And if I cloud a little with my own Mortality the gleam that is
immortal； I do it only because I am I Being on earth and of it； in so far
As time flays yet the remnant。 This you know； And if I sting men； as I do
sometimes； With a sharp word that hurts； it is because Man's habit is to
feel before he sees； And I am of a race that feels。 Moreover； The world is
here for what is not yet here For more than are a few； and even in Rome；
Where men are so enamored of the Cross That fame has echoed； and
increasingly； The music of your love and of your faith To foreign ears that
are as far away As Antioch and Haran； yet I wonder How much of love
you know； and if your faith Be the shut fruit of words。 If so； remember
Words are but shells unfilled。 Jews have at least A Law to make them sorry
they were born If they go long without it； and these Gentiles； For the first
time in shrieking history； Have love and law together； if so they will； For
their defense and their immunity In these last days。 Rome； if I know the
name； Will have anon a crown of thorns and fire Made ready for the
wreathing of new masters； Of whom we are appointed； you and I； And
you are still to be when I am gone； Should I go presently。 Let the word fall；
11
… Page 12…
The Three Taverns A Book of Poems By Edwin Arlington Robinson
Meanwhile； upon the dragon…ridden field Of circumstance； either to live or
die； Concerning which there is a parable； Made easy for the comfort and
attention Of those who preach； fearing they preach in vain。 You are to
plant； and then to plant again Where you have gathered； gathering as you
go； For you are in the fields that are eternal； And you have not the burden
of the Lord Upon your mortal shoulders。 What you have Is a light yoke；
made lighter by the wearing； Till it shall have the wonder and the weight
Of a clear jewel； shining with a light Wherein the sun and all the fiery
stars May soon be fading。 When Gamaliel said That if they be of men
these things are nothing； But if they be of God they are for none To
overthrow； he spoke as a good Jew； And one who stayed a Jew； and he
said all。 And you know； by the temper of your faith； How far the fire is in
you that I felt Before I knew Damascus。 A word here； Or there； or not
there； or not anywhere； Is not the Word that lives and is the life； And you；
therefore； need weary not yourselves With jealous aches of others。 If the
world Were not a world of aches and innovations； Attainment would have
no more joy of it。 There will be creeds and schisms； creeds in creeds； And
schisms in schisms； myriads will be done To death because a farthing has
two sides； And is at last a farthing。 Telling you this； I； who bid men to live；
appeal to Caesar。 Once I had said the ways of God were dark； Meaning by
that the dark ways of the Law。 Such is the glory of our tribulations； For the
Law kills the flesh that kills the Law； And we are then alive。 We have eyes
then； And we have then the Cross between two worlds To guide us； or to
blind us for a time； Till we have eyes indeed。 The fire that smites A few on
highways； changing all at once； Is not for all。 The power that holds the
world Away from God that holds himself away Farther away than all
your works and words Are like to fly without the wings of faith Was not；
nor ever shall be； a small hazard Enlivening the ways of easy leisure Or
the cold road of knowledge。 When our eyes Have wisdom； we see more
than we remember； And the old world of our captivities May then become
a smitten glimpse of ruin； Like one where vanished hewers have had their
day Of wrath on Lebanon。 Before we see； Meanwhile； we suffer； and I
come to you； At last； through many storms and through much night。
Yet whatsoever I have undergone； My keepers in this instance are not
12
… Page 13…
The Three Taverns A Book of Poems By Edwin Arlington Robinson
hard。 But for the chance of an ingratitude； I might indeed be curious of
their mercy； And fearful of their leisure while I wait； A few leagues out of
Rome。 Men go to Rome； Not always to return but not that now。
Meanwhile； I seem to think you look at me With eyes that are at last more
c