《四季隨筆》是吉辛的散文代表作。其中對隱士賴克羅夫特醉心于書籍、自然景色與回憶過去生活的描述,其實是吉辛的自述,作者以此來抒發(fā)自己的情感,因而本書是一部富有自傳色彩的小品文集。
吉辛窮困的一生,對文學名著的愛好與追求,以及對大自然恬靜生活的向往,在書中均有充分的反映。本書分為春、夏、秋、冬四個部分,文筆優(yōu)美,行文流暢,是英國文學中小品文的珍品之一。
以下是由網(wǎng)友分享的《四季隨筆》節(jié)選 - 春 25的內(nèi)容,讓我們一起來感受吉辛的四季吧!
Walking in a favourite lane to-day, I found it covered with shed blossoms of the hawthorn. Creamy white, fragrant even in ruin, lay scattered the glory of the May. It told me that spring is over.
今天,在喜愛的一條小路上漫步,我發(fā)現(xiàn)上面鋪滿了山楂的落英。乳白色的花瓣,零落成泥而芳香如故,五月的絢爛就這樣散落一地。它也告訴我:春天已經(jīng)結(jié)束了。
Have I enjoyed it as I should? Since the day that brought me freedom, four times have I seen the year's new birth, and always, as the violet yielded to the rose, I have known a fear that I had not sufficiently prized this boon of heaven whilst it was with me. Many hours I have spent shut up among my books, when I might have been in the meadows. Was the gain equivalent? Doubtfully, diffidently, I hearken what the mind can plead.
我問心無愧地享受了這個春天嗎?從得到解脫的那一天起,這已經(jīng)是我第四次看到一年的新生了。每當紫羅蘭凋謝,玫瑰花開的時節(jié),我總會感到一種恐懼,擔心春天還在的時候,自己沒有充分珍惜上天的賜福。很多時間我都埋頭在書本中,而這些時候我本該到草地上去的。這兩種收獲是相等的嗎?我懷疑又膽怯地傾聽著心靈的辯解。
I recall my moments of delight, the recognition of each flower that unfolded, the surprise of budding branches clothed in a night with green. The first snowy gleam upon the blackthorn did not escape me. By its familiar bank, I watched for the earliest primrose, and in its copse I found the anemone. Meadows shining with buttercups, hollows sunned with the marsh marigold held me long at gaze. I saw the sallow glistening with its cones of silvery fur, and splendid with dust of gold. These common things touch me with more of admiration and of wonder each time I behold them. They are once more gone. As I turn to summer, a misgiving mingles with my joy.
我想起那些愉快時刻,憶起自己辨認每朵綻放花兒的快樂,還有看到抽芽樹枝一夜之間披上綠裝的驚喜。黑刺李樹上的第一縷雪白花色沒有逃脫我的眼睛。在迎春花常生的河岸,我欣賞了最早綻放的一朵;在灌木叢中,我發(fā)現(xiàn)了銀蓮花。閃耀著毛茛花的草地,金盞花照亮的溪谷,都讓我的目光長久地流連。我看到闊葉柳的枝條上銀色絨毛球果閃閃發(fā)亮,金粉輝煌奪目。這些尋常事物每次映入眼簾,都會在我心中觸發(fā)更多仰慕和驚奇的感受。它們都又一次消逝了。轉(zhuǎn)身面對夏天時,我的心情是惴惴不安混雜著快樂。