To me that seems a little paradoxical.
But it is true that sometimes an enveloping2 darkness aids one to clearer vision; as in a panorama3 building, for example, where the obscurity about the entrance prepares one better for the climax4, and gives the scene depicted5 a more real and vivid appearance.
In the course of my life I would without doubt have been less impressed by the ever shifting phantasmagoria of existence had I not begun my journey in a place almost without distinctive6 color, in a tranquil7 corner of the most commonplace little town, receiving an education austerely8 pious9; and where my longest journey was bounded by the forests of Limoise (as wonderful to me as a primeval forest) and by the shores of the island of Oleron, that seemed very immense when I went to it to visit my aged10 aunts.
But after all is said, it was in the yard about our house that I passed the happiest of my summers—it seemed to me that that was my particular kingdom, and I adored it.
It was in truth a beautiful yard, much more sunny and airy than the majority of city gardens. Its long avenue of green and flowery branches, that overtopped the heads of the neighboring fruit trees, was bordered on the south by a low and ancient wall over which grew roses and honeysuckles. The long leafy avenue gave the impression of great depth, and its perspective melted into a bower11 of vines and jasmine bushes that in turn became a great verdant12 place, which came to an end at a storehouse of ancient construction, whose gray stones were hidden under ivy13 vines.
Ah! How I loved that garden, and how much I still love it!
I believe the keenest, earliest memories are of the beautiful long summer evenings. Oh! the return from a walk during those long, clear twilights that certainly were more delicious than are those of to-day. What joy to re-enter that yard which the thorn-apples and the honeysuckles filled with the sweetest odor, to enter and see from the gate all the long avenue of tangled14 greenness. Through an opening in a bower of Virginia Creeper I could see the rosy15 splendor16 of the setting sun; and somewhat removed in the gathering17 shadows of the foliage18, there were distinguishable three or four persons. The persons, it is true, were very quiet and they were dressed in black, but they were nevertheless very reassuring19 to me, very familiar and very much beloved: they were the forms of mother, grandmother and aunts. Then I would run to them hastily and throw myself upon their laps, and that was always one of the happiest moments of my day.
点击收听单词发音
1 misty | |
adj.雾蒙蒙的,有雾的 | |
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2 enveloping | |
v.包围,笼罩,包住( envelop的现在分词 ) | |
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3 panorama | |
n.全景,全景画,全景摄影,全景照片[装置] | |
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4 climax | |
n.顶点;高潮;v.(使)达到顶点 | |
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5 depicted | |
描绘,描画( depict的过去式和过去分词 ); 描述 | |
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6 distinctive | |
adj.特别的,有特色的,与众不同的 | |
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7 tranquil | |
adj. 安静的, 宁静的, 稳定的, 不变的 | |
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8 austerely | |
adv.严格地,朴质地 | |
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9 pious | |
adj.虔诚的;道貌岸然的 | |
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10 aged | |
adj.年老的,陈年的 | |
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11 bower | |
n.凉亭,树荫下凉快之处;闺房;v.荫蔽 | |
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12 verdant | |
adj.翠绿的,青翠的,生疏的,不老练的 | |
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13 ivy | |
n.常青藤,常春藤 | |
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14 tangled | |
adj. 纠缠的,紊乱的 动词tangle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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15 rosy | |
adj.美好的,乐观的,玫瑰色的 | |
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16 splendor | |
n.光彩;壮丽,华丽;显赫,辉煌 | |
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17 gathering | |
n.集会,聚会,聚集 | |
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18 foliage | |
n.叶子,树叶,簇叶 | |
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19 reassuring | |
a.使人消除恐惧和疑虑的,使人放心的 | |
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