WALDEN

第39章

Whenthegroundwaspartiallybareofsnow,andafewwarmdayshaddrieditssurfacesomewhat,itwaspleasanttocomparethefirsttendersignsoftheinfantyearjustpeepingforthwiththestatelybeautyofthewitheredvegetationwhichhadwithstoodthewinter——life-everlasting,goldenrods,pinweeds,andgracefulwildgrasses,moreobviousandinterestingfrequentlythaninsummereven,asiftheirbeautywasnotripetillthen;evencotton-grass,cat-tails,mulleins,johnswort,hard-hack,meadow-sweet,andotherstrong-stemmedplants,thoseunexhaustedgranarieswhichentertaintheearliestbirds——decentweeds,atleast,whichwidowedNaturewears。Iamparticularlyattractedbythearchingandsheaf-liketopofthewool-grass;itbringsbackthesummertoourwintermemories,andisamongtheformswhichartlovestocopy,andwhich,inthevegetablekingdom,havethesamerelationtotypesalreadyinthemindofmanthatastronomyhas。Itisanantiquestyle,olderthanGreekorEgyptian。ManyofthephenomenaofWinteraresuggestiveofaninexpressibletendernessandfragiledelicacy。Weareaccustomedtohearthiskingdescribedasarudeandboisteroustyrant;butwiththegentlenessofaloverheadornsthetressesofSummer。

Attheapproachofspringtheredsquirrelsgotundermyhouse,twoatatime,directlyundermyfeetasIsatreadingorwriting,andkeptupthequeerestchucklingandchirrupingandvocalpirouettingandgurglingsoundsthateverwereheard;andwhenI

stampedtheyonlychirrupedthelouder,asifpastallfearandrespectintheirmadpranks,defyinghumanitytostopthem。No,youdon’t——chickaree——chickaree。Theywerewhollydeaftomyarguments,orfailedtoperceivetheirforce,andfellintoastrainofinvectivethatwasirresistible。

Thefirstsparrowofspring!Theyearbeginningwithyoungerhopethanever!Thefaintsilverywarblingsheardoverthepartiallybareandmoistfieldsfromthebluebird,thesongsparrow,andthered-wing,asifthelastflakesofwintertinkledastheyfell!Whatatsuchatimearehistories,chronologies,traditions,andallwrittenrevelations?Thebrookssingcarolsandgleestothespring。Themarshhawk,sailinglowoverthemeadow,isalreadyseekingthefirstslimylifethatawakes。Thesinkingsoundofmeltingsnowisheardinalldells,andtheicedissolvesapaceintheponds。Thegrassflamesuponthehillsideslikeaspringfire——“etprimitusoriturherbaimbribusprimoribusevocata“——asiftheearthsentforthaninwardheattogreetthereturningsun;notyellowbutgreenisthecolorofitsflame;——thesymbolofperpetualyouth,thegrass-blade,likealonggreenribbon,streamsfromthesodintothesummer,checkedindeedbythefrost,butanonpushingonagain,liftingitsspearoflastyear’shaywiththefreshlifebelow。Itgrowsassteadilyastherilloozesoutoftheground。Itisalmostidenticalwiththat,forinthegrowingdaysofJune,whentherillsaredry,thegrass-bladesaretheirchannels,andfromyeartoyeartheherdsdrinkatthisperennialgreenstream,andthemowerdrawsfromitbetimestheirwintersupply。Soourhumanlifebutdiesdowntoitsroot,andstillputsforthitsgreenbladetoeternity。

Waldenismeltingapace。Thereisacanaltworodswidealongthenortherlyandwesterlysides,andwiderstillattheeastend。

Agreatfieldoficehascrackedofffromthemainbody。Ihearasongsparrowsingingfromthebushesontheshore——olit,olit,olit——chip,chip,chip,chechar——chewiss,wiss,wiss。Hetooishelpingtocrackit。Howhandsomethegreatsweepingcurvesintheedgeoftheice,answeringsomewhattothoseoftheshore,butmoreregular!Itisunusuallyhard,owingtotherecentseverebuttransientcold,andallwateredorwavedlikeapalacefloor。Butthewindslideseastwardoveritsopaquesurfaceinvain,tillitreachesthelivingsurfacebeyond。Itisglorioustobeholdthisribbonofwatersparklinginthesun,thebarefaceofthepondfullofgleeandyouth,asifitspokethejoyofthefisheswithinit,andofthesandsonitsshore——asilverysheenasfromthescalesofaleuciscus,asitwerealloneactivefish。Suchisthecontrastbetweenwinterandspring。Waldenwasdeadandisaliveagain。Butthisspringitbrokeupmoresteadily,asIhavesaid。

Thechangefromstormandwintertosereneandmil

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