第4章

Forsurelyallisnotinvain，Thisgallantshowshebrings;

Butsealofhopeandsignofgain，BeareththisSpringofsprings.

NolongernowtheseasonswearDull，withoutanytaleOfhowthechainthetoilersbearIsgrowingthinandfrail.

ButhopeofplentyandgoodwillFliesforthfromlandtoland，NoranynowthevoicecanstillThatcriethonthehand.

AlittlewhileshallSpringcomebackAndfindtheAncientHomeYetmarredbyfoolishwasteandlack，Andmostenthralledbysome.

Alittlewhile，andthenatlastShallthegreetingsoftheyearBeblentwithwonderofthepastAndallthegriefsthatwere.

Alittlewhile，andtheythatmeetThelivingyeartopraise，ShallbetothemasmusicsweetThatgriefofbye—gonedays.

Sobewemerrytoourbest，Nowthelandissweetandsheen，AndSpringwithSummeratherbreastGoesdownthemeadowsgreen.

THEMESSAGEOFTHEMARCHWIND{1}

Fairnowisthespringtide，nowearthliesbeholdingWiththeeyesofaloverthefaceofthesun;

Longlasteththedaylight，andhopeisenfoldingThegreen—growingacreswithincreasebegun.

Nowsweet，sweetitisthroughthelandtobestrayingMidthebirdsandtheblossomsandthebeastsofthefield;

Lovemingleswithlove，andnoevilisweighingOnthyheartormine，whereallsorrowishealed.

Fromtownshiptotownship，o"erdownandbytillageFar，farhavewewanderedandlongwastheday，Butnowcometheveattheendofthevillage，Whereoverthegreywallthechurchrisethgrey.

Thereiswindinthetwilight;inthewhiteroadbeforeusThestrawfromtheox—yardisblowingabout;

Themoon"srimisrising，astarglitterso"erus，Andthevaneonthespire—topisswingingindoubt.

Downtheredipsthehighway，towardthebridgecrossingoverThebrookthatrunsontotheThamesandthesea.

Drawcloser，mysweet，weareloverandlover;

Thiseveartthougiventogladnessandme.

Shallwebegladalways？Comecloserandhearken：

Threefieldsfurtheron，astheytoldmedownthere，Whentheyoungmoonhasset，iftheMarchskyshoulddarken，Wemightseefromthehill—topthegreatcity"sglare.

Hark，thewindintheelm—boughs！FromLondonitbloweth，Andtellingofgold，andofhopeandunrest;

Ofpowerthathelpsnot;ofwisdomthatknoweth，Butteachethnotaughtoftheworstandthebest.

Oftherichmenittelleth，andstrangeisthestoryHowtheyhave，andtheyhanker，andgripfarandwide;

Andtheyliveandtheydie，andtheearthanditsgloryHasbeenbutaburdentheyscarcemightabide.

Hark！theMarchwindagainofapeopleistelling;

Ofthelifethattheylivethere，sohaggardandgrim，ThatifweandourloveamidstthemhadbeendwellingMyfondnesshadfaltered，thybeautygrowndim.

ThislandwehavelovedinourloveandourleisureForthemhangsinheaven，highoutoftheirreach;

Thewidehillso"erthesea—plainforthemhavenopleasure，Thegreyhomesoftheirfathersnostorytoteach.

Thesingershavesungandthebuildershavebuilded，Thepaintershavefashionedtheirtalesofdelight;

Forwhatandforwhomhaththeworld"sbookbeengilded，Whenallisforthesebuttheblacknessofnight？

Howlongandforwhatistheirpatienceabiding？

Howoftandhowoftshalltheirstorybetold，WhilethehopethatnoneseekethindarknessishidingAndingriefandinsorrowtheworldgrowethold？

Comebacktotheinn，love，andthelightsandthefire，Andthefiddler"soldtuneandtheshufflingoffeet;

Forthereinawhileshallberestanddesire，Andthereshallthemorrow"suprisingbesweet.

Yet，love，aswewendthewindblowethbehindusAndbeareththelasttaleittellethto—night，Howhereinthespring—tidethemessageshallfindus;

Forthehopethatnoneseekethiscomingtolight.

Liketheseedofmidwinter，unheeded，unperished，Liketheautumn—sownwheat"neaththesnowlyinggreen，Likethelovethato"ertookus，unawaresanduncherished，Likethebabe"neaththygirdlethatgrowethunseen，Sothehopeofthepeoplenowbuddethandgroweth—

Restfadethbeforeit，andblindnessandfear;

Itbiddethuslearnallthewisdomitknoweth;

Ithathfoundusandheldus，andbiddethushear：

Foritbeareththemessage："RiseuponthemorrowAndgoonyourwaystowardthedoubtandthestrife;

Joinhopetoourhopeandblendsorrowwithsorrow，Andseekformen"sloveintheshortdaysoflife."

Butlo，theoldinn，andthelightsandthefire，Andthefiddler"soldtuneandtheshufflingoffeet;

Soonforusshallbequietandrestanddesire，Andto—morrow"suprisingtodeedsshallbesweet.

Footnotes{1}Afterconsultingvarioussourcesitisnotclearastowhether"TheMessageoftheMarchWind"wasoriginallypublishedwith"ChantsforSocialists".ChantsforSocialistsconsistsofpoemsthatMorriswroteforvariousoccasionsandwhichwerecollectedtogetherandpublishedbytheSocialistLeaguein1885.IfanyreaderhasaccesstotheoriginalChantsI（DavidPrice）wouldbeverygladifyoucouldclearuptheuncertaintyontheexactcontents.——DavidPrice