《四季隨筆》節(jié)選 - 冬 06

《四季隨筆》是吉辛的散文代表作。其中對隱士賴克羅夫特醉心于書籍、自然景色與回憶過去生活的描述，其實(shí)是吉辛的自述，作者以此來抒發(fā)自己的情感，因而本書是一部富有自傳色彩的小品文集。

吉辛窮困的一生，對文學(xué)名著的愛好與追求，以及對大自然恬靜生活的向往，在書中均有充分的反映。本書分為春、夏、秋、冬四個(gè)部分，文筆優(yōu)美，行文流暢，是英國文學(xué)中小品文的珍品之一。

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One of the shining moments of my day is that when, having returned a little weary from an afternoon walk, I exchange boots for slippers, outof-doors coat for easy, familiar, shabby jacket, and, in my deep, softelbowed chair, await the tea-tray. Perhaps it is while drinking tea that I most of all enjoy the sense of leisure. In days gone by, I could but gulp down the refreshment, hurried, often harassed, by the thought of the work I had before me; often I was quite insensible of the aroma, the flavour, of what I drank. Now, how delicious is the soft yet penetrating odour which fl oats into my study, with the appearance of the teapot! What solace in the first cup, what deliberate sipping of that which follows! What a glow does it bring after a walk in chilly rain! The while, I look around at my books and pictures, tasting the happiness of their tranquil possession. I cast an eye towards my pipe; perhaps I prepare it, with seeming thoughtfulness, for the reception of tobacco. And never, surely, is tobacco more soothing, more suggestive of humane thoughts, than when it comes just after tea—itself a bland inspirer.

我一天中最輕松的時(shí)刻之一，是下午散步略帶一絲疲憊地回來，脫下靴子和外出時(shí)穿的外套，換上拖鞋和輕便破舊的家居服，坐在扶手柔軟的大座椅中，等著茶盤送來。我也許是在喝茶的時(shí)候，最能享受悠閑的感覺了。在過去，我會(huì)將茶一口吞下，常常是因?yàn)橄氲矫媲暗墓ぷ鞫械骄o迫和焦慮；我對所喝飲料的香氣和味道常常是沒有察覺的?，F(xiàn)在，隨著茶壺的出現(xiàn)飄進(jìn)我書房里的那種柔軟而沁人心脾的味道是多么美妙??！那第一杯茶里有多大的慰藉，之后更要細(xì)細(xì)品味個(gè)中滋味??！在冷雨中散步后，這茶會(huì)怎樣地讓人精神一振啊！與此同時(shí)，我環(huán)顧四周，看著我的書和畫，品味著和平擁有這一切的幸福感。我的目光落在煙斗上，也許我用心地準(zhǔn)備它是為了放置煙草的。平時(shí)享用煙草總不如在茶后用那么使人寬心和富有人情味——它本身只是一個(gè)平淡無奇的給人靈感的東西。

In nothing is the English genius for domesticity more notably declared than in the institution of this festival—almost one may call it so—of afternoon tea. Beneath simple roofs, the hour of tea has something in it of sacred; for it marks the end of domestic work and worry, the beginning of restful, sociable evening. The mere chink of cups and saucers tunes the mind to happy repose. I care nothing for your five o'clock tea of modish drawing-rooms, idle and wearisome like all else in which that world has part; I speak of tea where one is at home in quite another than the worldly sense. To admit mere strangers to your teatable is profanation; on the other hand, English hospitality has here its kindliest aspect; never is friend more welcome than when he drops in for a cup of tea. Where tea is really a meal, with nothing between it and nine o'clock supper, it is—again in the true sense—the homeliest meal of the day. Is it believable that the Chinese, in who knows how many centuries, have derived from tea a millionth part of the pleasure or the good which it has brought to England in the past one hundred years?

英國人家庭生活中的天賦，在下午茶的儀式（人們幾乎可以如此來稱呼它）上可以最明顯地得到體現(xiàn)。在簡樸的寒舍中，品茶時(shí)間蘊(yùn)含著某種神圣的東西；因?yàn)樗鼧?biāo)志著家務(wù)活和煩惱的結(jié)束，和一個(gè)寧靜和諧夜晚的開始。杯碟叮當(dāng)作響，讓頭腦也變得愉快寧靜。我對時(shí)髦客廳里的五點(diǎn)鐘茶不感興趣，它單調(diào)乏味如同世俗皆有份的所有事物一樣；我說的是與平常意義完全不同的在家里飲茶。讓陌生人上你的茶桌是一種褻瀆；但是，英國人的好客在這里也體現(xiàn)出最和善的一面，一個(gè)朋友在喝茶的時(shí)間來訪是最受歡迎的。如果下午茶真正成為一頓飯，在它和九點(diǎn)鐘晚飯之間什么都不吃，它就是真正意義上最家常的一頓飯。中國人在不知道多少個(gè)世紀(jì)中從品茶得到的樂趣和好處，還不及它在過去一百年中帶給英格蘭的百萬分之一，這令人置信嗎？

I like to look at my housekeeper when she carries in the tray. Her mien is festal, yet in her smile there is a certain gravity, as though she performed an office which honoured her. She has dressed for the evening; that is to say, her clean and seemly attire of working hours is exchanged for garments suitable to fireside leisure; her cheeks are warm, for she has been making fragrant toast. Quickly her eye glances about my room, but only to have the pleasure of noting that all is in order; inconceivable that anything serious should need doing at this hour of the day. She brings the little table within the glow of the hearth, so that I can help myself without changing my easy position. If she speaks, it will only be a pleasant word or two; should she have anything important to say, the moment will be AFTER tea, not before it; this she knows by instinct. Perchance she may just stoop to sweep back a cinder which has fallen since, in my absence, she looked after the fire; it is done quickly and silently. Then, still smiling, she withdraws, and I know that she is going to enjoy her own tea, her own toast, in the warm, comfortable, sweet-smelling kitchen.

我喜歡看我的管家端茶盤進(jìn)來的樣子。她的表情帶著節(jié)日氣氛，但是在她的笑容中有一種莊重，似乎她在做一件榮耀的工作。她已經(jīng)換上了晚裝，就是說，她換下了工作時(shí)穿得干凈得體的衣服，穿上了適合爐火旁悠閑時(shí)刻的服裝；她的臉頰是溫暖的，因?yàn)樗恢痹诳鞠銍妵姷拿姘?。她的眼睛很快掃視了一下我的屋子，看到一切井井有條，眼神里有了一絲愉悅；在今天的這個(gè)時(shí)候，想不出還有什么重要的事情需要做。她把小桌搬到壁爐的火光可以照到的地方，這樣我不用改變舒適的姿勢就能享用茶點(diǎn)了。如果她說話，那也只會(huì)是令人愉快的一兩句話；如果有什么重要的事要說，她會(huì)等到茶后，而不是之前，這一點(diǎn)她本能地知道。偶爾她會(huì)俯身把一塊煤渣掃回壁爐中，那是在我外出她照看爐火時(shí)掉落的；這件事她會(huì)迅速而安靜地完成。然后，她會(huì)微笑著走出去，我知道她要到溫暖舒適、香味彌漫的廚房里享受自己的茶、自己的面包了。