Alice Cary，1820—1871，was born near Cincinnati.One of her ancestors was among the “Pilgrim Fathers，”and the first instructor of Latin at Plymouth，Mass.Miss Cary commenced her literary career at her western home，and，in 1849，published a volume of poems，the joint work of her younger sister，Phoebe，and herself.In 1850，she moved to New York.Two of her sisters joined her there，and they supported themselves by their literary labor.Their home became a noted resort for their literary and artistic friends.Miss Cary was the author of eleven volumes，besides many articles contributed to periodicals.Her poetry is marked with great sweetness and pathos.Some of her prose works are much admired，especially her “Clovernook Children.”
Among the beautiful pictures
That hang on Memory's wall，
Is one of a dim old forest，
That seemeth best of all；
Not for its gnarled oaks olden，
Dark with the mistletoe；
Not for the violets golden，
That sprinkle the vale below；
Not for the milk-white lilies，
That lean from the fragrant hedge，
Coquetting all day with the sunbeams，
And stealing their golden edge；
Not for the vines on the upland，
Where the bright red berries rest，
Nor the pinks，nor the pale，sweet cowslip，
It seemeth to me the best.
I once had a little brother，
With eyes that were dark and deep；
In the lap of that dim old forest，
He lieth in peace asleep:
Light as the down of the thistle，
Free as the winds that blow，
We roved there the beautiful summers，
The summers of long ago；
But his feet on the hills grew weary，
And，one of the autumn eves，
I made for my little brother，
A bed of the yellow leaves.
Sweetly his pale arms folded
My neck in a meek embrace，
As the light of immortal beauty
Silently covered his face；
And when the arrows of sunset
Lodged in the tree tops bright，
He fell，in his saintlike beauty，
Asleep by the gates of light.
Therefore，of all the pictures
That hang on Memory's wall，
The one of the dim old forest
Seemeth the best of all.
译文 TRANSLATION
爱丽丝·凯莉（1820—1871），生于辛辛那提附近。她的一位先祖是“清教徒前辈移民”之一，马萨诸塞州普利茅斯的第一位拉丁语教师。凯莉在她的家乡开始写作生涯，1849年，和她妹妹菲比合作出版了一部诗集。1850年，她搬到纽约，和她的两个姐妹住在一起，以卖文为生。她们的家成为名闻遐迩的文艺沙龙。凯莉著有11部诗集，此外，她还为很多期刊撰写了大量文章。她的诗甜美、富于爱心。她的一些散文作品也颇受推崇，其中尤以《苜蓿角的孩子们》著称。
记忆的墙上挂着很多美丽的老照片，
最好的那张画面上是片古老、幽暗的森林。
这倒不是因为那些长了树瘤的老橡树，
它们身上爬满了槲寄生，暗暗的。
也不是因为金色的紫罗兰，
开满了山谷。
乳白色的百合，倚在芬芳的篱边，
与日光嬉笑，自己也染上了一缕金色。
更不是因为高处的葡萄树，
结满鲜红的浆果；
或者粉红的石竹，苍白的、甜甜的樱草，
尽管它是我的最爱。
那是因为从前我有个小弟弟，
黑黑的眼睛，长长的睫毛，
在幽暗、古老的森林中，
他静静地安睡。
像蓟的绒毛一样轻，
像风一样自由，
我们在森林里游荡，
消磨多少美丽的夏天。
哦，那遥远的夏天；
而他留在丘峦上的脚印已模糊，
一个秋日的黄昏，
我用黄色的树叶为我的弟弟做了一张床。
多甜蜜，他苍白的双臂搂着我的脖颈，
给我一个怯怯的拥抱，
那时永恒之美的光静静地照耀着他的面庞；
而夕阳的余晖栖居在树顶。
他轻轻倒下，沐着圣者的美。
在光明之门的旁边安眠。
所以，在记忆墙上的所有照片中这张最好。
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