狄更斯的《八月》全文

There is no month in the whole year, in which nature wears a more beautiful appearance than in the month of August. Spring has many beauties, and May is a fresh and blooming month, but the charms of this time of year are enhanced by their contrast with the winter season. August has no such advantage. It comes when we remember nothing but clear skies, green fields, and sweet-smelling flowers—when the recollection of snow, and ice, and bleak winds, has faded from our minds as completely as they have disappeared from the earth ----and yet what a pleasant time it is! Orchards and cornfields ring with the hum of labours; trees bend beneath the thick clusters of rich fruit which bow their branches to the ground; and the corn, piled in graceful sheaves, or waving in every light breath that sweeps above it, as if it wooed the sickle, tinges the landscape with a golden hue. A mellow softness appears to hang over the whole earth; the influence of the season seems to extend itself to the very wagon, whose slow motion across the well-reaped field, is perceptible only to the eye, but strikes with no harsh sound upon the ear.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， 而五月也是一个清新、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----然而八月是多么愉快的季节啊！果园和麦田到处充溢着工作的声响； 串串硕果压的果树都弯下了腰， 枝条低垂到地面；还有玉米， 有的一捆捆优雅的堆在一起， 有的则迎着微风招展， 仿佛等待收割， 把景致染上淡淡的黄色。 整个大地似乎笼罩着醇美的柔和； 季节的影响， 似乎伸展至那辆马车， 它慢慢地越过收割好的田地， 这一切只有用肉眼才觉察得到， 耳朵听不到刺耳的声音。