介绍:
Walden [ˈwɔldən] (Issue 193)
16. The Pond in Winter(1)
AFTER A STILL winter night I awoke with the impression that some question had been put to me, which I had been endeavoring in vain to answer in my sleep, as what - how - when - where? But there was dawning Nature, in whom all creatures live, looking in at my broad windows with serene[sɪˈriːn] and satisfied face, and no question on her lips. I awoke to an answered question, to Nature and daylight. The snow lying[ˈlaɪɪŋ] deep on the earth dotted with young pines, and the very slope of the hill on which my house is placed, seemed to say, Forward! Nature puts no question and answers none which we mortals ask. She has long ago taken her resolution. "O Prince, our eyes contemplate with admiration and transmit[trænzˈmɪt] to the soul the wonderful and varied spectacle of this universe. The night veils without doubt a part of this glorious creation; but day comes to reveal to us this great work, which extends from earth even into the plains of the ether[ˈiːθə]."
[2] Then to my morning work. First I take an axe and pail and go in search of water, if that be not a dream. After a cold and snowy night it needed a divining-rod to find it. Every winter the liquid and trembling surface of the pond, which was so sensitive to every breath, and reflected every light and shadow, becomes solid to the depth of a foot or a foot and a half, so that it will support the heaviest teams, and perchance the snow covers it to an equal depth, and it is not to be distinguished from any level field. Like the marmots[ˈmaːməts]旱獭 in the surrounding hills, it closes its eyelids and becomes dormant[ˈdɔːmənt] for three months or more. Standing on the snow-covered plain, as if in a pasture amid the hills, I cut my way first through a foot of snow, and then a foot of ice, and open a window under my feet, where, kneeling to drink, I look down into the quiet parlor of the fishes, pervaded[pəˈveɪdid] by a softened light as through a window of ground glass, with its bright sanded floor the same as in summer; there a perennial waveless serenity reigns as in the amber twilight sky, corresponding to the cool and even temperament of the inhabitants. Heaven is under our feet is well as over our heads.
经过了一个寂静的冬夜我醒来，明显感到有某个问题对我提出，在睡梦里我徒然寻找答案，比如“是什么——如何——什么时候——在哪里？” 但是这里有正在破晓的大自然，所有的生灵活在其中，顶着凝重和满足的脸从我大敞的窗户往里望，在她的嘴唇上没有问题。我醒来面对大自然和白昼，面对一个已经回答了的问题。大雪深埋的大地点缀着年轻的松树，就在我房子坐落的山坡，仿佛在说，向上！大自然不会提问，也不会回答我们人类的问题。她好早以前就下定决心。“哦，王子，我们的眼睛钦佩地凝视，并把这宇宙奇妙和形形色色的景观传递入我们的灵魂。那夜晚无疑对我们遮盖了这辉煌创造的一部分；但是白昼到来为我们揭示了这伟大的工作，它甚至从大地扩展进入了苍天的平原。”【原注：引自印度史诗《摩诃婆罗多》的附录，梭罗熟悉一个法文译本。】
接下来就是我早晨的工作。首先我带了把斧子提了只水桶去找水，如果那不是梦，经过了一个寒冷落雪的晚上需要一根探测杖才能发现它。那湖的液体和颤动的水面对于每一种呼吸是那样敏感，反射着光与影，每年冬天的现在，会变得凝固成一或一英尺半深，那就能撑得起最沉的马车；偶尔雪也会盖上同样的厚度，那它就与任何平畴莫辨，像那群山中的旱獭，它合上眼睑就进入三或更多个月的休眠。站在白雪覆盖的平原，就如同身置于群山环绕的草场，我先在一英尺的雪中开出我的道路，接着是一英尺的冰，在我的脚下开一扇窗户，在那里，跪下喝。我望进了鱼们静静的客厅，弥漫了一片柔光就如同透过一扇带毛玻璃的窗户，那里闪亮的沙床还和夏天一样；那里多年生植物以无波的宁静统治着，就如同置身于琥珀[pò]色黄昏的天穹，回应那冷冷甚至动静适度的居民。天堂就在我们脚下，恰如同在我们头顶。
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