登陆注册
5259300000011

第11章 Rivers and Streams(2)

Soon, however, it narrowed, it could even be stepped over; but it was still exciting and delightful, with two perilous rapids over which the boats had to be guided, and many boulders - for the brook was a brave stream, and had fashioned its bed in rocky soil.

Further down was our bridge, one flat stone dragged thither by really herculean efforts. It was unnecessary, but a triumph. Alittle below this outcome of our engineering skill the brook widened again before disappearing under a flagged tunnel into the neighbouring field. Here, in the shallows, we built an aquarium.

It was not altogether successful, because whenever it rained at all hard the beasts were washed out; but there was always joy in restocking it. Under one of the banks close by lived a fat frog for whom I felt great respect. We used to sit and gaze at each other in silent intercourse, until he became bored - I think Inever did - and flopped into the water with a splash.

But it was the brook itself that was my chief and dearest companion. It chattered and sang to me, and told me of the goblins who lived under the hill, of fairies dancing on the grass on moonlight nights, and scolding the pale lilac milk-maids on the banks; and of a sad little old man dressed in brown, always sad because his dear water-children ran away from him when they heard the voice of the great river telling them of the calling of the sea.

It spoke to me of other more wonderful things, not even now to be put into words, things of the mysteries of a child's imagination;and these linger still in my life, and will linger, I think, until they are fulfilled.

* * * * *

I have another friend - a Devonshire stream. I found it in spring when the fields along its banks were golden with Lent-lilies. I do not even know its name; it has its source up among the old grey tors, and doubtless in its beginning had a hard fight for existence. When it reaches the plain it is a good-sized stream, although nowhere navigable. I do not think it even turns a mill;it just flows along and waters the flowers. I have seen it with my bodily eyes only once; but it has left in my life a blessing, a picture of blue sky, yellow bells, and clear rippling water - and whispered secrets not forgotten.

All the Devonshire streams are full of life and strength. They chatter cheerily over stones, they toil bravely to shape out their bed. Some of them might tell horrible tales of the far-away past, of the worship of the false god when blood stained the clear waters; tales, too, of feud and warfare, of grave council and martial gathering; and happy stories of fairy and pixy our eyes are too dull to see, and of queer little hillmen with foreign ways and terror of all human beings. Their banks are bright with tormentil, blue with forget-me-not, rich in treasures of starry moss; the water is clear, cool in the hottest summer - they rise under the shadow of the everlasting hills, and their goal is the sea.

There are other times when I must leave the clean waters and the good brown earth, to live, for a while, in London: and there I go on pilgrimage that I may listen to the river's voice.

I stand sometimes at a wharf where the ships are being unloaded of the riches of every country, of fruits of labour by my unknown brothers in strange lands; and the river speaks of citizenship in the great world of God, wherein all men have place, each man have his own place, and every one should be neighbour to him who may have need.

I pass on to London Bridge, our Bridge of Sighs. How many of these my brethren have sought refuge in the cold grey arms of the river from something worse than death? What drove them to this dreadful resting-place? What spectre hurried them to the leap? These things, too, are my concern, the river says.

Life is very grim in London: it is not painted in the fair, glowing colours of grass and sky and trees, and shining streams that bring peace. It is drawn in hard black and white; but the voice of its dark waters must be heard all the same.

I would not leave my rivers in the shadow. After all, this life is only a prelude, a beginning: we pass on to where "the rivers and streams make glad the city of God." But if we will not listen here how shall we understand hereafter.

同类推荐
  • 茶酒论

    茶酒论

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 法华十妙不二门示珠指

    法华十妙不二门示珠指

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 苏沈良方

    苏沈良方

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 华严圣可禅师语录

    华严圣可禅师语录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 双卿笔记

    双卿笔记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 网游之剑侠世界

    网游之剑侠世界

    他,只是一个普通的玩家。但是他却不小心成了隐藏职业——爆破师!从此,他学会了做各种炸弹,还在机缘巧合下学会了驾御仙剑。后来,他历经了艰辛万苦,带领玩家打败了冥界,击退了魔界,粉碎了妖界的阴谋!创立了当世数一数二的大帮会。但是,他却身陷让人无法想象的险境,几乎让他死无葬身之地。缠绵悱恻的爱情,危险奇异的人生,凄凉悲惨的命运,他又将怎样的在游戏世界里活下去呢?不一样的网游,不一样的剑侠——世界。
  • 妙手萌妃

    妙手萌妃

    一场阴谋,让顾清言家破人亡,堂堂丞相府的大小姐沦为逃奴,年仅九岁的她,被人拼死送往一座山,并成为一个山野道士的徒弟五年后,一位自称是他夫君的人要将她掳走,师父还笑咪咪的双手奉上顾清言表示:????被掳回去的生活,虽然不愁吃不愁穿,但顾姑娘一生爱自由,怎能为这些东西控住手脚!不过,夫君长得有点帅,等她撩过瘾再说从此,顾姑娘献出十八般武艺将撩夫进行到底,顺便虐渣,杀敌,报仇四不误看她如何抱的美人归!
  • 台案汇录乙集

    台案汇录乙集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 邵氏闻见录

    邵氏闻见录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 独宠无盐悍妻

    独宠无盐悍妻

    (本文一对一,男女主角绝对干净不容插足。)她,容貌太“出众”,却是丑的。长得太美不容易,但丑成那样也不容易。不过,老天爷是公平的,给了她聪明的头脑。他,才智太“出众”,却是笨的。聪明绝顶不容易,但笨成那样也不容易。不过,老天爷是公平的,给了他绝世的容貌。一个是王府嚣张的丫鬟偏偏没人敢惹。一个是将军府高贵的嫡子过得还不如个丫鬟。偏偏他们却自小一起长大,彼此熟悉的不行。装吧,看谁更能装。一夜好眠,睁眼一看,坑爹的谁把她塞花轿里了?自此,丑丫鬟成了将军府少夫人。再一回头,艾玛,郡主主子怎的从庶弟院子冲出来了?自此,郡主成了弟妹。说我嚣张?那就嚣张吧。敢算计我?那就来吧。反正我长得丑,温良恭俭让一条也沾不上。喜欢斗,那就斗个天翻地覆。欺我者,我必千倍奉还。毁我家园?我便夺你江山。管你什么皇帝妃子,皇孙郡主,将军后母的,惹恼了老娘,只有一句话奉上“打你丫的。童叟无欺。”片段一某男在某女面前喋喋不休。某女斜睨他一样。“你眼睛有问题?”“并无。”“脑子有问题?”“没有。”某女刷的掀开自己宽大的衣袖。“仙女若是都长这样,这世界上恐怕没人希望有仙女。”滑落的衣袖下,一截如玉似藕的手臂晶莹的散发着淡淡地光晕,怎么看怎么诱人。如果,你可以忽略覆盖在它上面那蝴蝶斑的狰狞青紫痕迹。长孙元轶却好似并没有被她吓到,低语道:“阿奴若是再脱下去,我就必须得娶了你了。实际上当年你在我面前肆无忌惮的沐浴,我就想这么做了。”“长孙元轶,你给我滚。”片段二“少将军,新夫人把您院子里的侍妾丫鬟全给打跑了。”某男呲牙一笑,雪白的牙齿在阳光下闪着耀眼的光“这么彪悍?天生就该嫁进将军府。”本文不小白,不慢热,斗争激烈,情节精彩坑品良好,欢迎来跳。记得收藏哦,么么哒。
  • 无限江山,一晌贪欢:词帝李煜的悲情人生

    无限江山,一晌贪欢:词帝李煜的悲情人生

    本书为散文体传记,以丰富的历史知识为背景,以李煜的词为脉络,运用散文化笔法点评、赏析,进行个性化、情感化解读, 展开李煜悲情的传奇人生。
  • 妖三千

    妖三千

    她从未想过有一天会站在这个世界的巅峰,只是想着不断强大有能力守护自己的亲人朋友。“如果这个世界的天道容不下我,那我便重铸天道。”
  • 梦至忘尘方初醒

    梦至忘尘方初醒

    她,人前是受尽驱逐的弟子;人后,却是忘尘山未来掌权之人。他,人前是被卖入青楼的可怜人;人后是神秘莫测的千机公子。因世俗谣言,她尊贵尽失,被退婚沦为世人笑柄。因童言可期,他玩转谋略,以另外一种身份守在她身边。直到有一天,某女喝醉以后:“嘿,你娶我吧!”某男才惊觉,不知不觉间心早已经属于一人。
  • 荀子:儒学主流的真正塑造者

    荀子:儒学主流的真正塑造者

    在大一统气氛笼罩的时代,荀子才是儒学的主流。中国文化经常和儒家被等同看待。不论称赞还是批判中国文化,很自然都会拿儒家的主张、信念作为代表。更进一步,儒家往往也就和孔孟画上等号。儒家相信什么、主张什么,也就理所当然认为是孔子和孟子所说、所主张的。这种常识态度,在历史上不只不精确,而且带着许多误会。那些想当然对儒家的种种说法,其实里面来自《荀子》的部分可能多过来自《孟子》的。孟子名气大,和孔子并称,荀子的名字往往被湮没在背景里,但若从思想内容及表达形式上来看的话,荀子对于后世建立的儒家传统,影响恐怕大过孟子。
  • 邻女语

    邻女语

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。