m; compose and dissipate; a thousand times on a summer day。 the mystery; the terror ; and the music of the sea; the secret and subduing charm of the woods; so full of healing for the spent mind or the restless spirit; the majesty of the hills; holding in their recesses the secrets of light and atmosphere; the infinite vari ety of landscape; never imitative or repetitious; but always appealing to the im agination with some fresh and unsuspected loveliness;— who feels the full power of these marvelous resources for the enrichment of life; or takes from them all the health; delight; and enrichment they have to bestow。
扫帚把上的沉思
乔纳森。斯威夫特
乔纳森。斯威夫特(1667—1745),英国18世纪杰出的讽剌文学作家,也是著名的散文家 。他在本篇中由扫帚把联想到人生,文笔幽默,发人深省。
请看看这根扫帚把,它现在灰溜溜地躺在偏僻的角落,而以前我曾在树林里碰见过它, 那时它风华正茂,汁『液』充沛,枝叶繁盛。如今它完全变了样,却还有人自作聪明,想靠人类 的手工同大自然竞争,拿来一束枯枝捆在它那早已干瘪的身上,结果是枉费心机,不过颠倒 了它原来的位置,使它枝干朝地,根梢朝天,成为一株头朝下的树,然后落在干脏活累活的 女仆们的手里使用。从此它受命运的摆布,把别人打扫干净,而自己却变得又脏又臭,在女 仆们手里折腾多次之后,最后被扔出门外,或者作为引火的柴禾被投进火里。
目睹了这一切,我不禁叹息一番,自言自语道:人不也是一根扫帚把么?当大自然刚把 他送到人间时,他是强壮而有力的,精力充沛,头上是满头黑发。如果把人比作一株有理『性』 的植物,那就是枝繁叶茂。但是,没过多久,酒『色』就如同一把斧子,砍掉了他的青枝绿叶, 只留给他一根枯枝。于是他赶紧求助于人工,戴上扑满香粉的假发,并以之为荣。要是我们 这把扫帚也这样登场,由于把一些别的树条收集到身上而得意洋洋,其实这些树条上尽是尘 土,即使是最高贵的夫人的房里的尘土,我们一定会笑它是如何虚荣吧!我们就是这种偏心 的审判官,偏向于自己的优点、别人的『毛』病!
或许你会说,一根扫帚把不过象征着一棵头冲下的树而已,那么请问:人又是什么?不 也是一个颠倒的动物吗?他的兽『性』总是骑在理『性』的背上,他的头去了该脚应去的地方,总是 在土里趴着。可是尽管有这么多『毛』病,他还自命为天下的改革家、除弊者、伸冤者,把手伸 进人世间每个藏污纳垢的角落,扫出来一大堆从未暴『露』过的脏物,把原来干净的地方弄得尘 土满天,非但没扫走脏物,还把自己弄得满身污垢。到了晚年,他又变成女人的奴隶,通常 是一些最不堪的女人,直到他被折磨得只剩下一根枯枝,于是他也像他的扫帚老弟一样,或 者是被扔出门外,或者是被拿来生火,用于温暖别人了。
a meditation upon a broomstick
jonathan swift
this single stick; which you now behold ingloriously lying in that neglected corner; i once knew in a flourishing state in a forest; it was full of sap; ful l of leaves; and full of boughs; but now; in vain does the busie art of man pret end to vye with nature; by tying that wither'd bundle of twigs to its sapless tr unk; 'tis now at best but the reverse of what was; a tree turn'd upside down; th e branches on the earth; and the root in the air; 'tis now handled by every dirt y wench; condemn'd to do her drudgery; and by a capricious kind of fate; destin' d to make other things clean; and be nasty it self: at length; worn to the stump s in the service of the maids; 'tis either thrown out of doors; or condemn'd to its last use of kindling fires。
when i beheld this; i sigh'd; and said within my self; surely man is a broom stick; nature sent him into the world strong and lusty; in a thriving conditio n; wearing his own hair on his head; the proper branches of this reasoning veget able; till the axe of intemperance has lopt off his green boughs; and left him a wither'd trunk: he then flies unto art; and puts on a peruque; valuing himself upon an unnatural bundle of hairs; all cover'd with powder that never grew on hi s head; but now should this our broomstick pretend to enter the scene; pround of those birchen spoils it never bore; and all cover'd with dust; tho'the sweepi ngs of the finest lady's chamber; we should be apt to ridicule and despise its v anity; partial judges that we are! of our own excellencies; and other men's faul ts。
but a broomstick; perhaps you'll say; is an emblem of a tree standing on i ts head; and pray what is man; but a topsyturvy creature; his animal faculties p erpetually acockhorse and rational; his head where his heels should be; grov eling on the earth; and yet with all his faults; he sets up to be an universal r eformer and corrector of abuses; a remover of grievances; rakes into every slut' s comer of nature; bringing hidden corruptions to the light; and raises a mighty dust where there was none before; sharing deeply all the while; in the very sam e pollutions he pretends to sweep away: his last days are spent in slavery to wo men; and generally the least deserving; 'till worn to the stumps; like his broth er bezom; he's either kickt out of doors; or made use of to kindle flames; for o thers to warm themselves by。
天人合一
拉尔夫。沃尔多。爱默生
拉尔夫。沃尔多。爱默生(1803—1882),美国19世纪著名的思想家、散文家、演说家、 诗人,超验主义的代表人物之一。他崇尚自然主义、强调个人价值,代表作有《论自然》、 《美国学者》等。
从真正的意义上来讲,很少有成年人能够看得见自然。甚至很多人并没有真正看见太阳 。至少,他们只有一种非常肤浅的视觉感受。太阳只能照亮成年人的眼睛,但对于孩子们来 说,它还可以照进他们的心灵。对挚爱自然的人来说,内在和外在的感官可以真正地契合, 就算已是成年,还依然保持着童稚之心。与天地交流,是他每天不可或缺的精神滋养。他们 置身自然,任一种狂喜在全身流畅,真正的痛楚逃遁无形。自然说,他是我的孩子,尽管他 有许多莫名的痛苦,但与我在一起,他将快乐无比。不仅仅是晴天和夏日,每一个时辰,每 一个季节,自然都奉献着快乐,因为每一个时辰,每一个变化,从无声的正午到可怕的子夜 ,都暗合着不同的心境。自然就是一个大背景,上演喜剧或悲剧一样适宜。在身心爽朗的日 子,空气就如同一杯醇美得令人难以置信的甜酒。踏着雪泥,走过平滑的广场,在光明与黑 暗交合之际,伫立于云天之下,脑海中没有一丝期盼好运突然降临的杂念,欣欣然如入仙境 。我几乎不敢想自己是多么快乐。
在森林中也同样如此,人们挣脱岁月的羁绊,如蛇蜕去它那羁绊自身的皮,无论处于人 生的哪一个阶段,总是犹如稚子。在森林中,青春可以永驻,这是上帝的御苑,其中充溢着 礼仪和圣洁,一年四季无论何时都装点得如同节日,在这里待上一千年也不会感到厌倦。置 身森林,我们会再次对理『性』和信念充满向往。在这里,我不会感到任何痛苦的压迫——没有 耻辱,没有不幸,而且这些缺憾是自然所无法修复的。站立在林中空地,我的思绪沐浴在快 乐的空气中,宛如升入无垠的太空,一切卑微自私的想法都随风而去。我似乎化作一个透明 的眼球,虽然无影无形,但却看到一切。宇宙之流在我周身循环,我成为上帝的一部分或一 个粒子。此时此刻,最亲近的朋友的名字听起来也那么陌生,那么无足轻重。不管是同胞兄 弟,还是点头之交的熟人,不管是主人,还是仆人,这一切都成了徒增烦扰的琐事。我对充 盈勃发、无声无息的美顶礼膜拜。在旷野中,我发现了比城镇或村落更亲切、更贴近的东西 。在宁静的风景中,尤其在遥远的地平线上,人们终于看到了像他的天『性』一样美好的东西。
nature and man in one
ralph waldo emerson
to speak truly; few adult persons can see nature。 most persons do not see th e sun。 at least they have a very superficial seeing。 the sun illuminates only th e eye of the man; but shines into the eye and the heart of the child。 the lover of nature is he whose inward and outward senses are still truly adjusted to each other; who has retained the spirit of infancy even into the era of manhood。 his intercourse with heaven and earth becomes part of his daily food。 in the presen ce of nature; a wild delight runs through the man; in spite of real sorrows。 nat ure says; he is my creature; and maugre all his impertinent griefs; he shall be glad with me。 not the sun or the summer alone; but every hour and season yields its tribute of delight; for every hour and change corresponds to and authorizes a different state of mind; from breathless noon to grimmest midnight。 nature is a setting that fits equally well a comic or a mourning piece。 in good health; th e air is a cordial of incredible virtue。 crossing a bare common; in snow puddles ; at twilight; under a clouded sky; without having in my thoughts any ocomurrence of special good fortune; i have enjoyed a perfect exhilaration。 almost i fear t o think how glad i am。
in the woods too; a man casts off his years; as the snake his slough; and at what period soever of life; is always a child。 in the woods; is perpetual youth 。 within these plantations of god; a decorum and sanctity reign; a perennial fes tival is dressed; and the guest sees not now he should tire of them in a thousan d years。 in the woods; we return to reason and faith。 there i feel that nothing can befall me in life;— no disgrace; no calamity; which nature cannot repair。 s tanding on the bare ground;— my head bathed by the blithe air; and uplifted int o infinite space;— all mean egotism vanishes。 i become a transparent eyeball。 i am nothing。 i see all。 the currents of the universal being circulate through me; i am part or particle of god。 the name of the nearest friend sounds then for eign and acomidental。 to be brothers; to be acquaintances;— master or servent; i s then a trifle and disturbance。 i am the lover of uncontained and immortal beau ty。 in the wilderness; i find something more dear and connate than in streets or villages。 in the tranquil landscape; and especially in the distant line of the horizon; man beholds somewhat as beautiful as his own nature。
无垠的宇宙
布鲁斯。迈舍尔
布鲁斯。迈舍尔原为会计师,后因感于世人争相夺利之愚昧无知,转而专心研读宗教作 品。这篇文章即是迈舍尔赞咏神恩,反思人类为政治斗争而自相残害的家喻户晓之作。
涌动的海水,就像是牧师在为地球上人类的海岸进行圣洁的洗礼。
——济慈
无论开心还是悲伤的时候,我都常会想到这两行诗。悲伤的时候我想到它,是因为根据 诗中所描写的海水节奏得知,上帝永恒的耐心将通过大海这面镜子反『射』出来。无论城市或会 议室里的人们有多么愚昧无知,海浪依然歌唱,唱着赞美诗。在成吉思汗之前他们就开始歌 唱了,在原子弹时代之后,它们还会继续歌唱。那些想法使我高兴,所以我又低诵这两行诗 ,因为我心中充满了感激之情。
world without end
bruce marshall
“the moving waters at their priest — like task of pure ablution round eart h's human shores…〃
——keats
i think often of these lines; both when i am sad and when i am glad。 i think of them when i am sad; because their rhythm teaches me that the timeless patien ce of god is reflected in the mirror of the sea。 w