按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
some disaster； for this period of sacred calm。 For a week or so I have been one of a small number； chosen out of the whole human race by fate's supreme benediction。 It may be that this es to every one in turn； to most； it can only be once in a lifetime； and so briefly。 That my own lot seems so much better than that of ordinary men； sometimes makes me fearful。
XXV
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。
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。
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 mon 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。
SUMMER
I
To…day； as I was reading in the garden； a waft of summer perfume…… some hidden link of association in what I read……I know not what it may have been……took me back to schoolboy holidays； I recovered with strange intensity that lightsome mood of long release from tasks； of going away to the seaside； which is one of childhood's blessings。 I was in the train； no rushing express； such as bears you great distances； the sober train which goes to no place of importance； which lets you see the white steam of the engine float and fall upon a meadow ere you pass。 Thanks to a good and wise father； we youngsters saw nothing of seaside places where crowds assemble； I am speaking； too； of a time more than forty years ago； when it was still possible to find on the coasts of northern England； east or west； spots known only to those who loved the shore for its beauty and its solitude。 At every station the train stopped； little stations； decked with beds of flowers； smelling warm in the sunshine where country…folk got in with baskets； and talked in an unfamiliar dialect； an English which to us sounded almost like a foreign tongue。 Then the first glimpse of the sea； the excitement of noting whether tide was high or low……stretches of sand and weedy pools； or halcyon wavelets frothing at their furthest reach； under the sea… banks starred with convolvulus。 Of a sudden； OUR station！
Ah； that taste of the brine on a child's lips！ Nowadays； I can take holiday when I will； and go whithersoever it pleases me； but that salt kiss of the sea air I shall never know again。 My senses are dulled； I cannot get so near to Nature； I have a sorry dread of her clouds； her winds； and must walk with tedious circumspection where once I ran and leapt exultingly。 Were it possible； but for one half…hour； to plunge and bask in the sunny surf； to roll on the silvery sand…hills； to leap from rock to rock on shining sea…ferns； laughing if I slipped into the shallows among starfish and anemones！ I am much older in body than in mind； I can but look at what I once enjoyed。
II
I have been spending a week in Somerset。 The right June weather put me in the mind for rambling； and my thoughts turned to the Severn Sea。 I went to Glastonbury and Wells； and on to Cheddar； and so to the shore of the Channel at Clevedon； remembering my holiday of fifteen years ago； and too often losing myself in a contrast of the man I was then and what I am now。 Beautiful beyond all words of description that nook of oldest England； but that I feared the moist and misty winter climate； I should have chosen some spot below the Mendips for my home and resting…place。 Unspeakable the charm to my ear of those old names； exquisite the quiet of those little towns； lost amid tilth and pasture； untouched as yet by the fury of modern life； their ancient sanctuaries guarded； as it were； by noble trees and hedges overrun with flowers。 In all England there is no sweeter and more varied prospect than that from the hill of the Holy Thorn at Glastonbury； in all England there is no lovelier musing place than the leafy walk beside the Palace Moat at Wells。 As I think of the golden hours I spent there； a passion to which I can give no name takes hold upon me； my heart trembles with an indefinable ecstasy。
There was a time of my life when I was consumed with a desire for foreign travel； an impatience of everything familiar fretted me through all the changing year。 If I had not at length found the opportunity to escape； if I had not seen the landscapes for which my soul longed； I think I must have moped to death。 Few men； assuredly； have enjoyed such wanderings more than I； and few men revive them in memory with a richer delight or deeper longing。 But… …whatever temptation es to me in mellow autumn； when I think of the grape and of the olive……I do not believe I shall ever again cross the sea。 What remains to me of life and of energy is far too little for the enjoyment of all I know； and all I wish to know； of this dear island。
As a child I used to sleep in a room hung round with prints after English landscape painters……those steel engravings so mon half a century ago； which bore the legend； 〃From the picture in the Vernon Gallery。〃 Far more than I knew at the time； these pictures impressed me； I gazed and gazed at them； with that fixed attention of a child which is half curiosity； half reverie； till every line of them was fixed in my mind； at this moment I see the black…and…white landscapes as if they were hanging on the wall before me； and I have often thought that this early training