I never see a clear stream running through the fields at this beautiful time of the year but I wish, like old Izaak Walton, to take rod and line and a pleasant book, and wander away into some sylvan1, or romantic region, and give myself up wholly to the influence of the season; to angle, and read, and dream by the ever-lapsing water, in green and flowery meadows, for days and weeks, caring no more for all that is going on in this great and many-coloured world, than if there was no world at all beyond these happy meadows so full of sunshine and quietness. Truly that good old man had hit on one of the ways to true enjoyment2 of life. He knew that simple habits and desires were mighty3 ingredients in genuine happiness; that to enjoy ourselves, we must first cast the world and all its cares out of our hearts; we must actually renounce4 its pomps and vanities; and then how sweet becomes every summer bank; how bright every summer stream; what a delicious tranquillity5 falls upon our hearts; what a self-enjoyment reigns6 all through it; what a love of God kindles7 in it from all the fair things around. They may say what they will of the old prince of anglers, of his cruelty and inconsistency; from those charges I have vindicated8 him in another place,—we know that he was pious9 and humane10. We know that, in the stillness of his haunts, and the leisure of his latter days, wise and kind thoughts flowed in upon his soul, and that the beauty and sweetness[160] of nature which surrounded him, inspired him with feelings of joy and admiration11, that streamed up towards the clear heavens above him in grateful thanksgiving. It is these things which have given to his volume an everlasting12 charm; and that affect me, at this particular time of the year, with a desire to haunt like places It may be the green banks of the beautiful streams of Derbyshire—the Wye, or the Dove; for now are they most lovely, running on amongst the verdant13 hills and bosky dales of the Peak, surrounded by summer’s richest charms. Their banks are overhung with deep grass, and many a fair flower droops14 over them; the foliage15 of the trees that shroud16 their many windings17, is most delicate; and above them grey rocks lift their heads, or greenest hills swell18 away to the blue sky. And as evening falls over them what a softness clothes those verdant mountains! what a depth of shadow fills those hollows! what a voice of waters rises on the hushed landscape! But even here, in the vale of Trent, it is beautiful. There are a thousand charms gathered about one of these little streams that are hastening towards our fair river. They are charms that belong to this point of time, and that in a week or two will be gone. The spring is gone, with all her long anticipated pleasures. The snowdrop, the crocus, the blue-bell, the primrose20, and the cowslip, where are they? They are all buried children of a delicate time, too soon hurried by.
But see! here are delights that will presently be as irrevocably gone. It is evening. What a calm and basking21 sunshine lies on the green landscape. Look round,—all is richness, and beauty, and glory. Those tall elms which surround the churchyard, letting the grey tower get but a passing glimpse of the river, and that other magnificent arcade22 of similar trees which stretch up the side of the same fair stream,—how they hang in the most verdant and luxuriant masses of foliage! What a soft, hazy23 twilight24 floats about them! What a slumberous25 calm rests on them! Slumberous did I say? no, it is not slumberous; it has nothing of sleep in its profound repose26. It is the depth of a contemplative trance; as if every tree were a living, thinking spirit, lost in the vastness of some absorbing thought. It is the hush19 of a dream-land; the motionless majesty27 of an enchanted28 forest, bearing the spell of an infrangible silence. And see, over those wide meadows, what an[161] affluence29 of vegetation! See how that herd30 of cattle, in colour and form, and grouping, worthy31 of the pencil of Cuyp or Ruysdael, graces the plenty of that field of most lustrous32 gold; and all round, the grass growing for the scythe33 almost overtops the hedges in its abundance. As we track the narrow footpath34 through them, we cannot avoid a lively admiration of the rich mosaic35 of colours that are woven all amongst them—the yellow rattle—the crimson36 stems and heads of the burnet, that plant of beautiful leaves—the golden trifolium—the light quake-grass—the azure38 milkwort, and clover scenting39 all the air. Hark! the cuckoo sends her voice from the distance, clear and continuous:—
Hail to thee, shouting Cuckoo! in my youth
Thou wert long time, the Ariel of my hope,
To listen to thee on some sunny slope,
Where the high oaks forbade an ampler scope,
Than of the blue skies upward—and to sit,
Which thou, my planet, flung—a pleasant fit,
And thus I love thee still—thy monotone,
The selfsame transport flashes through my frame,
And when thy voice, sweet sibyl, all is flown
My eager ear, I cannot choose but blame.
O may the world these feelings never tame!
If age o’er me her silver tresses spread,
I still would call thee by a lover’s name,
And deem the spirit of delight unfled,
Nor bear, though grey without, a heart to Nature dead!
Wiffen’s Aonian Hours.
And lo! there are the mowers at work! there are the hay-makers! Green swaths of mown grass—haycocks, and wagons44 ready to bear them away—it is summer, indeed! What a fragrance45 comes floating on the gale46 from the clover in the standing47 grass, from the new-mown hay; and from those sycamore trees, with all their pendant flowers. It is delicious; and yet one cannot help regretting that the year has advanced so far. There, the wild rose[162] is putting out; the elder is already in flower; they are all beautiful, but saddening signs of the swift-winged time. Let us sit down by this little stream, and enjoy the pleasantness that it presents; without a thought of the future. Ah! this sweet place is just in its pride. The flags have sprung thickly in the bed of the brook48, and their yellow flowers are beginning to shew themselves. The green locks of the water-ranunculuses are lifted by the stream, and their flowers form snowy islands on the surface; the water-lilies spread out their leaves upon it, like the palettes of fairy painters; and that opposite bank, what a prodigal49 scene of vigorous and abundant vegetation it is. There are the blue geraniums, as lovely as ever; the meadow-sweet is hastening to put out its foam-like flowers, that species of golden-flowered mustard occupies the connecting space between the land and water; and hare-bells, the jagged pink lychnis, and flowering grass of various kinds, make the whole bank beautiful. Every plant that is wont50 to shew itself at this season, is in its place, to give its quota51 of the accustomed character to the spot; every insect, to beautify it with its hues52, and enliven it with its peculiar53 sound:—
There is the grashopper, my summer friend,—
The minute sound of many a sunny hour
Passed on a thymy hill, when I could send
Nodding too dangerously above the crag,
Not to excite the passion and the power
To climb the steep, and down the blossom drag:—
Them the marsh-crocus joined, and yellow water-flag.
All flying things a like delight have found—
Where’er I gaze, to what new region turn,
Flitting on glancing wings that yield a summer’s sound.
Wiffen’s Aonian Hours.
[163]
The May-flies, in thousands, are come forth65 to their little day of life, and are flying up, and dropping again in their own peculiar way. The stone-fly is found head downwards66 on the bole of that tree. The midges are celebrating their airy and labyrinthine67 dances with an amazing adroitness68. These little creatures pass through a metamorphosis, as they settle on you in your summer walks by river sides, that must strike the careful observer with admiration. You may sometimes see a column of them by the margin69 of the river, like a column of smoke; and when you come near, numbers of them will settle upon your clothes—small, white, and fleecy creatures. Observe them carefully, and you will see them shake their wings, as in a little convulsive agony, press them to the sides of their body, and fairly creep out of their skins. These skins, fine white films, drawn70 like a glove from their bodies, and from their very legs, which are but like fine hairs themselves, they leave behind, and dart71 off into the air as to a new life, and with an accession of new beauty. Dragon-flies of all sizes and colours are hovering72, and skimming, and settling amongst the water-plants, or on some natural twig73, evidently full of enjoyment. The great azure-bodied one, with its filmy wings, darts74 past with reckless speed; and slender ones—blue and purple, and dun, and black, with long jointed75 bodies, made as of shining silk by the fingers of some fair lady, and animated76 for a week or two of summer sunshine by some frolic spell, now pursue each other, and now rest as in sleep. The whitethroat goes flying with a curious cowering77 motion over the top of the tall grass from one bush to another, where it hops78 unseen, and repeats its favourite “chaw-chaw.” The willow-warbler, the mocking-bird of England, maintains its incessant79 imitations of the swallow, the sparrow, the chaffinch, and the whitethroat, flitting and chattering80 in the bushes that overhang the stream. The landrail repeats its continuous “crake-crake” from the meadow grass, and the water itself ripples81 on, clear and musical, and chequered with small shadows from many a leaf and bent82 and moving bough83. We lift up our heads—and in the west what a ruby84 sun—what a gorgeous assemblage of sunset clouds!
Readers and friends, are these not the characters of June fields and June brook-sides? Do they not recal to your memory many a[164] pleasant walk, many a pleasant place, and many pleasant friends? They must: for there is nothing gives us so vivid a sense of the careering of time as the passing of spring and summer.
点击收听单词发音
1 sylvan | |
adj.森林的 | |
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2 enjoyment | |
n.乐趣;享有;享用 | |
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3 mighty | |
adj.强有力的;巨大的 | |
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4 renounce | |
v.放弃;拒绝承认,宣布与…断绝关系 | |
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5 tranquillity | |
n. 平静, 安静 | |
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6 reigns | |
n.君主的统治( reign的名词复数 );君主统治时期;任期;当政期 | |
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7 kindles | |
(使某物)燃烧,着火( kindle的第三人称单数 ); 激起(感情等); 发亮,放光 | |
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8 vindicated | |
v.澄清(某人/某事物)受到的责难或嫌疑( vindicate的过去式和过去分词 );表明或证明(所争辩的事物)属实、正当、有效等;维护 | |
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9 pious | |
adj.虔诚的;道貌岸然的 | |
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10 humane | |
adj.人道的,富有同情心的 | |
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11 admiration | |
n.钦佩,赞美,羡慕 | |
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12 everlasting | |
adj.永恒的,持久的,无止境的 | |
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13 verdant | |
adj.翠绿的,青翠的,生疏的,不老练的 | |
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14 droops | |
弯曲或下垂,发蔫( droop的名词复数 ) | |
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15 foliage | |
n.叶子,树叶,簇叶 | |
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16 shroud | |
n.裹尸布,寿衣;罩,幕;vt.覆盖,隐藏 | |
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17 windings | |
(道路、河流等)蜿蜒的,弯曲的( winding的名词复数 ); 缠绕( wind的现在分词 ); 卷绕; 转动(把手) | |
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18 swell | |
vi.膨胀,肿胀;增长,增强 | |
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19 hush | |
int.嘘,别出声;n.沉默,静寂;v.使安静 | |
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20 primrose | |
n.樱草,最佳部分, | |
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21 basking | |
v.晒太阳,取暖( bask的现在分词 );对…感到乐趣;因他人的功绩而出名;仰仗…的余泽 | |
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22 arcade | |
n.拱廊;(一侧或两侧有商店的)通道 | |
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23 hazy | |
adj.有薄雾的,朦胧的;不肯定的,模糊的 | |
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24 twilight | |
n.暮光,黄昏;暮年,晚期,衰落时期 | |
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25 slumberous | |
a.昏昏欲睡的 | |
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26 repose | |
v.(使)休息;n.安息 | |
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27 majesty | |
n.雄伟,壮丽,庄严,威严;最高权威,王权 | |
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28 enchanted | |
adj. 被施魔法的,陶醉的,入迷的 动词enchant的过去式和过去分词 | |
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29 affluence | |
n.充裕,富足 | |
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30 herd | |
n.兽群,牧群;vt.使集中,把…赶在一起 | |
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31 worthy | |
adj.(of)值得的,配得上的;有价值的 | |
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32 lustrous | |
adj.有光泽的;光辉的 | |
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33 scythe | |
n. 长柄的大镰刀,战车镰; v. 以大镰刀割 | |
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34 footpath | |
n.小路,人行道 | |
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35 mosaic | |
n./adj.镶嵌细工的,镶嵌工艺品的,嵌花式的 | |
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36 crimson | |
n./adj.深(绯)红色(的);vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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37 urn | |
n.(有座脚的)瓮;坟墓;骨灰瓮 | |
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38 azure | |
adj.天蓝色的,蔚蓝色的 | |
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39 scenting | |
vt.闻到(scent的现在分词形式) | |
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40 marvel | |
vi.(at)惊叹vt.感到惊异;n.令人惊异的事 | |
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41 soothe | |
v.安慰;使平静;使减轻;缓和;奉承 | |
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42 canopied | |
adj. 遮有天篷的 | |
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43 kindling | |
n. 点火, 可燃物 动词kindle的现在分词形式 | |
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44 wagons | |
n.四轮的运货马车( wagon的名词复数 );铁路货车;小手推车 | |
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45 fragrance | |
n.芬芳,香味,香气 | |
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46 gale | |
n.大风,强风,一阵闹声(尤指笑声等) | |
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47 standing | |
n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的 | |
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48 brook | |
n.小河,溪;v.忍受,容让 | |
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49 prodigal | |
adj.浪费的,挥霍的,放荡的 | |
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50 wont | |
adj.习惯于;v.习惯;n.习惯 | |
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51 quota | |
n.(生产、进出口等的)配额,(移民的)限额 | |
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52 hues | |
色彩( hue的名词复数 ); 色调; 信仰; 观点 | |
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53 peculiar | |
adj.古怪的,异常的;特殊的,特有的 | |
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54 bower | |
n.凉亭,树荫下凉快之处;闺房;v.荫蔽 | |
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55 lured | |
吸引,引诱(lure的过去式与过去分词形式) | |
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56 shrill | |
adj.尖声的;刺耳的;v尖叫 | |
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57 drowsy | |
adj.昏昏欲睡的,令人发困的 | |
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58 dome | |
n.圆屋顶,拱顶 | |
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59 grassy | |
adj.盖满草的;长满草的 | |
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60 wilderness | |
n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等,荒漠 | |
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61 ivy | |
n.常青藤,常春藤 | |
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62 sojourn | |
v./n.旅居,寄居;逗留 | |
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63 chalices | |
n.高脚酒杯( chalice的名词复数 );圣餐杯;金杯毒酒;看似诱人实则令人讨厌的事物 | |
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64 abound | |
vi.大量存在;(in,with)充满,富于 | |
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65 forth | |
adv.向前;向外,往外 | |
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66 downwards | |
adj./adv.向下的(地),下行的(地) | |
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67 labyrinthine | |
adj.如迷宫的;复杂的 | |
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68 adroitness | |
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69 margin | |
n.页边空白;差额;余地,余裕;边,边缘 | |
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70 drawn | |
v.拖,拉,拔出;adj.憔悴的,紧张的 | |
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71 dart | |
v.猛冲,投掷;n.飞镖,猛冲 | |
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72 hovering | |
鸟( hover的现在分词 ); 靠近(某事物); (人)徘徊; 犹豫 | |
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73 twig | |
n.小树枝,嫩枝;v.理解 | |
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74 darts | |
n.掷飞镖游戏;飞镖( dart的名词复数 );急驰,飞奔v.投掷,投射( dart的第三人称单数 );向前冲,飞奔 | |
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75 jointed | |
有接缝的 | |
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76 animated | |
adj.生气勃勃的,活跃的,愉快的 | |
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77 cowering | |
v.畏缩,抖缩( cower的现在分词 ) | |
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78 hops | |
跳上[下]( hop的第三人称单数 ); 单足蹦跳; 齐足(或双足)跳行; 摘葎草花 | |
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79 incessant | |
adj.不停的,连续的 | |
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80 chattering | |
n. (机器振动发出的)咔嗒声,(鸟等)鸣,啁啾 adj. 喋喋不休的,啾啾声的 动词chatter的现在分词形式 | |
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81 ripples | |
逐渐扩散的感觉( ripple的名词复数 ) | |
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82 bent | |
n.爱好,癖好;adj.弯的;决心的,一心的 | |
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83 bough | |
n.大树枝,主枝 | |
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84 ruby | |
n.红宝石,红宝石色 | |
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