美丽英文(散文卷)-第24章
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《河谷寻幽》是一篇意境优美的散文，文章清晰地刻画了作者在河谷的所见所感。文章开篇介绍前往河谷的道路，如梦如幻，仿佛跟随作者一起领略了河谷的风采。随后对河谷进行了生动的描述，它犹如一幅幅栩栩如生、苍翠欲滴的风景画。所有的景致构成了一个和谐的整体，毫无散漫之感，同时也深化了文章的主题：在河谷里，寻找一份悠然的心境。
Down the Valley
William Cobbett
I came off this morning on the Marlborough road about two miles； or three； and then turned off； over the downs； in a northwesterly direction； in search of the source of the Avon river； which goes down to Salisbury。 I had once been at Netheravon； a village in this valley； but I had often heard this valley described as one of the finest pieces of land in all England； I knew that there were about thirty parish churches； standing in a length of about thirty miles； and in an average width of hardly a mile； and I was resolved to see a little into the reasons that could have induced our fathers to build all these churches； especially if； as the Scotch would have us believe； there were but a mere handful of people in England until of late years。
In steering across the down； I came to a large farm； which a shepherd told me was Milton Hill Farm。 This was upon the high land； and before I came to the edge of this Valley of Avon； which was my land of promise； or at least； of great expectation； for I could not imagine that thirty churches had been built for nothing by the side of a brook （for it is no more during the greater part of the way） thirty miles long。 The shepherd showed me the way towards Milton； and at the end of about a mile； from the top of a very high part of the down； with a steep slope towards the valley； I first saw this Valley of Avon； and a most beautiful sight it was！ Villages； hamlets； large farms； towers； steeples； fields； meadows； orchards； and very fine timber trees； scattered all over the valley。 The shape of the thing is this： on each side downs； very lofty and steep in some places； and sloping miles back in other places； but each outside of the valley are downs。 From the edge of the downs begin capital arable fields generally of very great dimensions； and； in some places； running a mile or two back into little crossvalleys； formed by hills of downs。 After the cornfields e meadows on each side； down to the brook or river。 The farmhouses； mansions； villages； and hamlets are generally situated in that part of the arable land which es nearest the meadows。
河谷寻幽（3）
Great as my expectations had been； they were more than fulfilled。 I delight in this sort of country； and I had frequently seen the vale of the Itchen； that of the Bourn； and also that of the Teste in Hampshire； I had seen the vales amongst the South Downs； but I never before saw anything to please me like this valley of the Avon。 I sat upon my horse and looked over Milton and Easton and Pewsey for half an hour； though I had not breakfasted。 The hill was very steep。 A road； going slanting down it； was still so steep； and washed so very deep by the rains of ages； that I did not attempt to ride down it； and I did not like to lead my horse； the path was so narrow。 So seeing a boy with a drove of pigs going out to the stubbles； I beckoned him to e up to me； and he came and led my horse down for me。 But now； before I begin to ride down this beautiful vale； let me give； as well as my means will enable me； a plan or map of it； which I have made in this way。 A friend has lent me a very old man of Wiltshire describing the spots where all the churches stand； and also all the spots where manor…houses or mansion…houses stood。 I laid a piece of very thin paper upon the map； and thus traced the river upon my paper； putting figure to represent the spots where churches stand； and putting stars to reprent the spots where manor…houses or mansion…houses formerly stood。 Endless is the variety in the shape of the high lands which from this valley。 Sometimes the slope is very gentle； and the arable lands go back very far。 At others； the downs e out into the valley almost like piers into the sea； being very steep in their sides； as well as their ends： indeed they have no back ends； but run into the main high land。 There is also great variety in the width of the valley； great variety in the width of the meadows； but the land appears all to be of the very best； and it must be so； for the farmers confess it。
It seemed to me that one way； and that not； perhaps； the least striking； of exposing the folly； the stupidity； the inanity； the presumption； the insufferable emptiness and insolence and barbarity； of those numerous wretches who have now the audacity to propose to transport the people of England； upon the principle of the monster Malthus； who has furnished the unfeeling oligarchs and their toad…eaters with the pretence that man has a natural propensity to breed faster than food can be raised for the increase； it seemed to me that one way of exposing this mixture of madness and of blasphemy was to take a look； now that the harvest is in； at the produce； the mouths； the condition； and the changes that have taken place； in a spot like this； which God has favoured with every good that he has had to bestow upon man。书 包 网 txt小说上传分享
河谷寻幽（4）
From the top of the hill I was not a little surprised to see； in every part of the valley that my eye could reach； a due； a large； portion of fields of Swedish turnips； all looking extremely well。 I had found the turnips of both sorts by no means bad from Salt Hill to Newbury； but from Newbury through Burghclere； Highclere； Uphusband； and Tangley； I had seen but few。 At and about Ludgarshall and Everley I had seen hardly any。 But when I came this morning to Milton Hill Farm； I saw a very large field of what appeared to me to be fine Swedish turnips。 In the valley； however； I found them much finer； and the fields were very beautiful objects； forming； as their color did； so great a contrast with that of the fallows and the stubbles； which latter are； this year； singularly clean and bright。
Having gotten to the bottom of the hill； I proceeded on to the village of Milton； the church of which is； in the map； represented by the figure（3）； I left Easton （2） away at my right； and I did not go up to Watton Rivers （1） where the river Avon rises； and which lies just close to the south； west corner of Marlborough Forest； and at about 5 or 6 miles from the town of Marlborough。 Lower down the river； as I thought； there lived a friend； who was a great farmer； and whom I intended to call on。 It being my way； however； always to begin making inquiries soon enough； I asked the pig…driver where this friend lived； and； to my surprise； I found that he lived in the parish of Milton。 After tiding up to the church； as being the center of the village； I went on towards the house of my friend； which lay on my road down the valley。 I have many； many times witnessed agreeable surprise； but I do not know that I ever in the whole course of my life saw people so much surprised and pleased as this farmer and his family were at seeing me。 People often tell you that they are glad to see you； and in general they speak truth。 I take pretty good care not to approach any house； with the smallest appearance of a design to eat or drink in it； unless I be quite sure of a cordial reception； but my friend at Fifield （it is in Milton parish） and all his family really seemed to be delighted beyond all expression。
八月
＇英国＇查尔斯·狄更斯
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查尔斯·狄更斯（1812—1870），英国著名散文家、小说家。早年以“Boz”为笔名在报章杂志上发表作品，文章深刻探讨社会病态、道德沦丧等现象。狄更斯一生创作了大量的作品，除了小说以外，他在散文、游记、诗歌等各种体裁上均有涉猎。但成就最高的还是长篇小说。其代表作有《双城记》《匹克威克外传》《大卫·科波菲尔》《荒凉山庄》《艰难时世》。
一年之中，没有任何一个月的自然风光比得过八月的风采。春天美不胜收，而五月也是—个清新、花开的月份，由于有冬季的对比，所以每年的此刻更显得魅力四射。八月就没有这样的优势。它来的时候，我们只记得明朗的天空、绿绿的田野，还有芳香四溢的花朵——记忆中的冰雪、寒风都已完全消失，仿佛它们在地球上了无踪迹—�
