第32章作者自述(1)
&hor’sAself
华盛顿·欧文Washingt
Iwasalwaysfondofvisitingnewsdstraersandmanners。EvenwhenamerechildIbeganmytravels,aoursofdistnpartsandunknionsofmyothefrequentalarmofmyparents,aofthetrewintoboyhoodIextendedmyrangeofobservations。Myholidayafterihesurroundingademyselffamiliarlacesfamousinhistoryorfable。Ikwhereamurderorrobberyhadbeenitted,hostseen。Ivisitedtheneighbvillages,alytomystoowledge,bysands,ahtheirsagesamen。Ievenjourneyedoneloothesummitofthemostdistanthill,whereIstretchedmyeyeovermaerrainita,andwasastoof?indhowvastaglobeIinhabited。
Thisramblirehyears。Booksofvoyagesandtravelsbecamemypassion,aheirtsIheregularexercisesoftheschools。HowwistfullywouldIwahepier-headsiherandartingshipsboundtodistahwhatlongingeyeswouldIgazeaftertheirlesseningsails,andwaftmyselfinimaginatioheearth!
Furtherreadingandthinking,thoughtheybroughtthisvagueinorereasonablebounds,oomakeitmoredecided。Ivisitedvariouspartsofmyowntry;andhadIbeenmerelyaloveroff?inesery,Ishouldhavefeltlittledesiretoseekelsewhereitsgratif?i,foronnotryhavethecharmsofnaturebeenmallylavished。Hermightylakeslikeosofliquidsilver;hermountainswiththeirbrightaerialtints;hervalleys,teemingwithwildfertility;hertremendouscataraderiudes;herboundlessplains,wavingwithspontaneousverdure;herbroaddeeprivers,rollinginsolemheo;hertracklessforests,wherevegetationputsforthallitsmagnif?ice;herskies,kindlingwiththemagierdglorioussunshine,—no,neverneedanAmerilookbeyondhisowntryforthesublimeaifulofnaturalsery。
ButEuropeheldforththecharmsofstoriedaicalasso。Thereweretobeseeerpiecesofart,theref?iofhighly,cultivatedsociety,thequaiiesofaandloyrywasfullofyouthfulpromise;Europewasritheaccumulatedtreasuresofage。Herveryruinstoldthehistoryoftimesgoneby,andeverymstonewasaigedtowahesesofrenowotread,asitwere,iepsofantiquity—toloiterabouttheruiateonthefallioesshort,fromtheoiesofthepresent,andlosemyselfamongtheshadowygrahepast。