約翰‧格林利夫‧惠蒂埃
巴巴拉‧弗裏徹
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涼爽的九月早晨,氣清天朗, 在那盛產玉米的草地上, 矗立著一群群弗雷德裏克城的塔尖,
在它們周圍到處是果園,
在那些飢餓的叛軍眼裏,
在那個涼爽的初秋早晨,
他們騎馬步行遍佈山峰。
四十面飾著銀色五星的旗。
晨風中飄動星條旗四十面,
這時老巴巴拉‧弗裏徹站起來,
她是弗雷德裏克城最勇敢的人,
她把旗竿插在她家頂樓的窗上, 叛軍的隊伍從大街上走過來,
他戴著垂邊軟帽左看右視,
「停!」──風塵僕僕的隊伍立定不前,
窗戶、玻璃和窗框都在顫動,
當旗從斷竿上迅速落下時,
她將身體遠遠傾出窗臺,
她說,「如果你們必須開槍,就朝我這頭髮灰白人打吧,
指揮官的臉上露出一點悲哀, 那個女人的言行,
他說,「誰碰那位白髮老人一根毛, 整個弗雷德裏克城的街上,
那面自由的旗幟,
就連它被撕破的褶條也在上下起伏,
夕陽的光輝透過山間的縫隙,
巴巴拉‧弗裏徹的工作已完畢,
向她致敬!而且為了她,
在巴巴拉‧弗裏徹的墳墓上,
你是光明和法律的象徵,
天上的星星朝下看星星,
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Up from the meadows rich with corn, Clear in the cool September morn, The
clustered spires of Frederick stand
Round about them orchards sweep,
Fair as the garden of the Lord
On that pleasant morn of the early fall
Over the mountains winding down,
Forty flags with their silver stars,
Flapped in the morning wind: the sun
Up rose old Barbara Frietchie then,
Bravest of all in Frederick town,
In her attic window the staff she set,
Up the street came the rebel tread,
Under his slouched hat left and right
"Halt!"-the
dust-brown ranks stood fast
It shivered the window, pane and sash;
Quick, as it fell, from the broken staff
She leaned far out on the window-sill,
"Shoot, if you must, this old gray head, A shade of sadness, a blush of shame, Over the face of the leader came; The nobler nature within him stirred To life at that -woman's deed and word;
"Who touches a hair on yon gray head All day long through Frederick street Sounded the tread of marching feet:
All day long that free flag tost
Ever its torn folds rose and fell
And through the hill-gaps sunset light
Barbara Frietchie's work is o'er,
Honor to her! and let a tear
Over Barbara Frietchie's grave
Peace and order and beauty draw
And ever the stars above look down
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