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第13课 |
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旅程的第二天，他们来到海兰德。
这是一个寂静、闷热的下午，他们随着海浪的起伏，在峻峭的群山间漂浮。在夏日的炙烤下，万物沉寂无声。木板的转动声，或是船桨偶尔碰在甲板上的声音，都在群山间引起回荡，回声沿着海岸一遍遍激荡着。而且每次船长喊出一道指令之后，好像无数无形的舌头就会从每处悬崖中伸出来，重复着他刚才的话。
道尔夫瞪大眼睛四处张望，默默地欣赏着大自然的奇观，品味其中的愉悦和奇妙。左边，顿德斯堡高耸着树木茂密的峭壁，一层高过一层，树林层层叠叠，直抵高远的夏日天际。右边，矗立着安东尼岬
，一只孤独的雄鹰正展翅飞过。远处，山峦叠嶂，绵延起伏。
这时，道尔夫注意到一堆明亮、雪白的云朵，在西山顶上向他窥望着。云朵一层压着一层，每一层都好像将前面的一层用力往前推着，最上面的一直垒进茫茫的蓝天里。隐约可以听到群山后面雷声滚滚。水面刚才还像镜子一样平静光滑，倒映着蓝天和高山，这时也被一阵风吹起暗色的波浪。鱼鹰盘旋鸣叫着，飞上干燥的树顶栖息。乌鸦乱作一团，飞向岩石的缝隙。自然界的万物都意识到，一场暴风雨就要来临了。
山顶的云朵这时聚做一团，虽然云尖还是明亮雪白的，但其余的地方已经是泼墨般乌黑。大颗雨点没头没脑地砸下来，风儿清新，卷起浪花。不久，厚厚的云朵好像被尖耸的山峰刺穿了一样，大雨倾泻而下。闪电在云层之间滚来滚去，岩石都跟着颤抖起来，林中的树木也东摇西摆。雷声接踵而至，在群山中回响着。它们先冲上了顿德堡，又沿着山间隘路上了海兰德，沿途在每个山头都留下了新的回声，老布尔山
也向暴风雨吠叫着。
有一段时间，疾风、迷雾和倾盆大雨遮蔽了眼前的一切。四周是一片让人恐惧的昏暗，大雨中不时闪耀的闪电更让人心惊。道尔夫还从未见识过如此狂暴的自然界，就好像暴雨在山崖中撕开一道裂缝，并且汇集了所有天堂的武器开始作战。
（华盛顿·欧文）
华盛顿·欧文（1783～1859年），著名作家，其作品在美国文学中占有重要地位。他出生于纽约市，接受了普通学校教育，19岁时为他兄弟的报纸写文章，从此开始了文学生涯。他的第一本书《杂录》出版于1807年。两年后他出版了《纽约的早期历史》。 1815年，他到了欧洲，并在那里度过了17年，其间完成了几部著作。1842年到1846年，他担任西班牙大臣。他生命的最后时光在纽约塔利顿附近的“萨尼塞德”（意为光明的地方）度过。他终生未婚，《华盛顿的生活》是他后期的作品，同年去世。欧文先生的作品幽默、朴素、优美，表达准确。本文选自《布雷斯布里奇大厅》。
In the second day ofthe voyage, they came to the Highlands.It was the latter part of a calm, sultry day, that they floated gently with the tide between these stern mountains.There was that perfect quiet which prevails over nature in the languor of summer heat.The turning of a plank, or the accidental falling of an oar, on deck, was echoed from the mountain side and reverberated along the shores; and, ifby chance the captain gave a shout of command, there were airy tongues that mocked it from every cliff.
Dolph gazed about him, in mute delight and wonder, at these scenes of natures magnificence.To the left, the Dunderberg reared its woody precipices, height over height, forest over forest, away into the deep summer sky.To the right, strutted forth the bold promontory ofAntony's Nose, with a solitary eagle wheeling about it; while beyond, mountain succeeded to mountain, until they seemed to lock their arms together and confine this mighty rive in their embraces.
In the midst of this admiration, Dolph remarked a pile of bright, snowyclouds peering above the western heights.It was succeeded by another, and another, each seemingly pushing onward its predecessor, and towering, with dazzling brilliancy, in the deep blue atmosphere; and now muttering peals of thunder were faintly heard rolling behind the mountains.The river, hitherto still and glassy, reflecting pictures of the sky and land, now showed a dark ripple at a distance, as the wind came creeping up it.The fishhawks wheeled and screamed, and sought their nests on the high, dry trees; the crows flew clamorously to the crevices ofthe rocks; and all nature seemed conscious ofthe approaching thunder gust.
The clouds now rolled in volumes over the mountain tops; their summits still bright and snowy, but the lower parts of an inky blackness.The rain began to patter down in broad and scattered drops; the wind freshened, and curled up the waves; at length, it seemed as ifthe bellying clouds were torn open by the mountain tops, and complete torrents of rain came rattling down.The lightning leaped from cloud to cloud, and streamed quivering against the rocks, splitting and rending the stoutest forest trees.The thunder burst in tremendous explosions; the peals were echoed from mountain to mountain; they crashed upon Dunderberg, and then rolled up the long defile ofthe Highlands, each headland making a new echo, until old Bull Hill seemed to bellow back the storm.
For a time the scudding rack and mist and the sheeted rain almost hid the landscape from the sight.There was a fearful gloom, illumined still more fearfully by the streams oflightning which glittered among the raindrops.Never had Dolph beheld such an absolute warring ofthe elements; it seemed as ifthe storm was tearing and rending its way through the mountain defile, and had brought all the artillery ofheaven into action.
（ Washing Irving ）
