世界上最优美的散文--人生短篇-第25章
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弧∪牧恕�
the earthworm
anonymous
earthworms are found in all parts of the world。 they help to build the world 。 they help to prepare the earth to bring forth the food of man。 do you think th at very strange。
now let us see how this is done。 the worms live underground。 they make long； winding halls； like streets； some inches below the top soil。 the halls or littl e tunnels help to keep the earth loose； so that the fine roots of the plants can grow well in it。
these tunnels also serve to help the air move more easily through the soil。 by their constant motion below the surface the worms till the earth； as rakes； s pades； or ploughs till it above。
the chief work of the earthworms is to enrich the soil。 when they make their houses； they fill their long bodies with the earth； and carry it to the top of the ground。 there they pile it in heaps； called wormcasts。 early in the day or after a rain you can find these wormcasts over all the garden paths。
there are so many worms busy all the time that each year they bring up tons of earth。 they make the earth fine and loose by pinching it off with their mouth s。 fields once stony and hard have become rich and fine。
人与自然
汉密尔顿。怀特。马堡
汉密尔顿。怀特。马堡（1846—1916），美国著名批评家、散文家。人与自然的关系是 人们永远关注的主题，马堡也不例外，他在本篇中对人与自然关系的阐述，让我们获益匪浅 。
从地球上出现人类开始，人与自然之间的亲密关系也随之诞生，而且不断地被发扬光大 ，这种关系每一世纪都比以前变得更为明智而深远。所以，我们求助于自然，并把自然视为 人类的最年长和最有影响力的老师。从某一个观点来看，自然曾一度是我们的监工，现在却 变为我们的奴仆。但从另一个观点来看，自然一直是我们的最忠实的朋友、教导者和启发者 。这种和谐紧密的关系，如果仅仅是少数人的特权，而大多数人并不能享有，那便会在人们 心目中引发一种神秘和情趣。但是事实上，这种亲密关系是被天下所有的人共享的，这就使 那和谐紧密的关系失去神秘和情趣。对于少数人来说，这种关系在每个时代都充满了奇妙和 美好；对于多数人来说，这种关系只是理所当然的一件事。天空照耀着每一个人，但是只有 在少数人的心目中具有一种变化多端的壮丽，他们在每一个午夜的天空都能看出一种蕴含着 创造『性』的能力的庄严肃穆之美，不论那种景象重复多少次，都不会使那种美模糊不清。如果 星辰每一千年才照耀一次大地，人们将怀着敬畏尊崇的心情凝视那种美景，而那种美景如果 夜夜在全世界的上空出现，不但不会减损，反而更为增加它的奇妙。同样，基于相同的原因 ，我们对于夏日天空的那种由浮云聚散飘忽所形成的一日之间千变万化的纤巧秀丽或壮丽动 人的景『色』，也都漠然置之。海洋的神秘、恐怖和韵律，有助于医疗疲惫心灵和烦躁精神的森 林所具有的奥妙和慑人魂魄的魔力；在其幽深之处保有光与大气之奥秘的山峦所呈现的庄严 肃穆之美；从不模仿或重复、永远以一种出人意表的新鲜的美丽来冲击人类想像力的风景变 幻无穷——谁能感受到这些奇异景物的全部力量，或者能从它们那里得到它们所赐予的健康 、快乐和丰美呢？
man and nature
hamilton wright mabie
the intimacy between man and nature began with the birth of man on the earth ； and becomes each century more intelligent and farreaching。 to nature； theref ore； we turn as to the oldest aim most influential teacher of our race； from one point of view once our taskmaster； now our servant； from another point of vie w； our constant friend； instructor and inspirer。 the very intimacy of this relat ion robs it of a certain mystery and richness which it would have for all minds if it were the reward of the few instead of being the privilege of the many。 to the few it is； in every age； full of wonder and beauty； to the many it is a matt er of course。 the heavens shine for all； but they have a changing splendor to th ose only who see in every midnight sky a majesty of creative energy and resource which no repetition of the spectacle can dim。 if the stars shone but once in a thousand years； men would gaze； awestruck and worshipful； on a vision which is not less but more wonderful because it shines nightly above the whole earth。 in like manner； and for the same reason； we become indifferent to that delicately beautiful or sublimely impressive sky scenery which the clouds form and reform； compose and dissipate； a thousand times on a summer day。 the mystery； the terror ； and the music of the sea； the secret and subduing charm of the woods； so full of healing for the spent mind or the restless spirit； the majesty of the hills； holding in their recesses the secrets of light and atmosphere； the infinite vari ety of landscape； never imitative or repetitious； but always appealing to the im agination with some fresh and unsuspected loveliness；— who feels the full power of these marvelous resources for the enrichment of life； or takes from them all the health； delight； and enrichment they have to bestow。
扫帚把上的沉思
乔纳森。斯威夫特
乔纳森。斯威夫特（1667—1745），英国18世纪杰出的讽剌文学作家，也是著名的散文家 。他在本篇中由扫帚把联想到人生，文笔幽默，发人深省。
请看看这根扫帚把，它现在灰溜溜地躺在偏僻的角落，而以前我曾在树林里碰见过它， 那时它风华正茂，汁『液』充沛，枝叶繁盛。如今它完全变了样，却还有人自作聪明，想靠人类 的手工同大自然竞争，拿来一束枯枝捆在它那早已干瘪的身上，结果是枉费心机，不过颠倒 了它原来的位置，使它枝干朝地，根梢朝天，成为一株头朝下的树，然后落在干脏活累活的 女仆们的手里使用。从此它受命运的摆布，把别人打扫干净，而自己却变得又脏又臭，在女 仆们手里折腾多次之后，最后被扔出门外，或者作为引火的柴禾被投进火里。
目睹了这一切，我不禁叹息一番，自言自语道：人不也是一根扫帚把么？当大自然刚把 他送到人间时，他是强壮而有力的，精力充沛，头上是满头黑发。如果把人比作一株有理『性』 的植物，那就是枝繁叶茂。但是，没过多久，酒『色』就如同一把斧子，砍掉了他的青枝绿叶， 只留给他一根枯枝。于是他赶紧求助于人工，戴上扑满香粉的假发，并以之为荣。要是我们 这把扫帚也这样登场，由于把一些别的树条收集到身上而得意洋洋，其实这些树条上尽是尘 土，即使是最高贵的夫人的房里的尘土，我们一定会笑它是如何虚荣吧！我们就是这种偏心 的审判官，偏向于自己的优点、别人的『毛』病！
或许你会说，一根扫帚把不过象征着一棵头冲下的树而已，那么请问：人又是什么？不 也是一个颠倒的动物吗？他的兽『性』总是骑在理『性』的背上，他的头去了该脚应去的地方，总是 在土里趴着。可是尽管有这么多『毛』病，他还自命为天下的改革家、除弊者、伸冤者，把手伸 进人世间每个藏污纳垢的角落，扫出来一大堆从未暴『露』过的脏物，把原来干净的地方弄得尘 土满天，非但没扫走脏物，还把自己弄得满身污垢。到了晚年，他又变成女人的奴隶，通常 是一些最不堪的女人，直到他被折磨得只剩下一根枯枝，于是他也像他的扫帚老弟一样，或 者是被扔出门外，或者是被拿来生火，用于温暖别人了。
a meditation upon a broomstick
jonathan swift
this single stick； which you now behold ingloriously lying in that neglected corner； i once knew in a flourishing state in a forest； it was full of sap； ful l of leaves； and full of boughs； but now； in vain does the busie art of man pret end to vye with nature； by tying that wither'd bundle of twigs to its sapless tr unk； 'tis now at best but the reverse of what was； a tree turn'd upside down； th e branches on the earth； and the root in the air； 'tis now handled by every dirt y wench； condemn'd to do her drudgery； and by a capricious kind of fate； destin' d to make other things clean； and be nasty it self： at length； worn to the stump s in the service of the maids； 'tis either thrown out of doors； or condemn'd to its last use of kindling fires。
when i beheld this； i sigh'd； and said within my self； surely man is a broom stick； nature sent him into the world strong and lusty； in a thriving conditio n； wearing his own hair on his head； the proper branches of this reasoning veget able； till the axe of intemperance has lopt off his green boughs； and left him a wither'd trunk： he then flies unto art； and puts on a peruque； valuing himself upon an unnatural bundle of hairs； all cover'd with powder that never grew on hi s head； but now should this our broomstick pretend to enter the scene； pround of those birchen spoils it never bore； and all cover'd with dust； tho'the sweepi ngs of the finest lady's chamber； we should be apt to ridicule and despise its v anity； partial judges that we are！ of our own excellencies； and other men's faul ts。
but a broomstick； perhaps you'll say； is an emblem of a tree standing on i ts head； and pray what is man； but a topsyturvy creature； his animal faculties p erpetually acockhorse and rational； his head where his heels should be； grov eling on the earth； and yet with all his faults； he sets up to be an universal r eformer and corrector of abuses； a remover of grievances； rakes into every slut' s comer of nature； bringing hidden corruptions to the light； and raises a mighty dust where there was none before； sharing deeply all the while； in the very sam e pollutions he pretends to sweep away： his last days are spent in slavery to wo men； and generally the least deserving； 'till worn to the stumps； like his broth er bezom； he's either kickt out of doors； or made use of to kindle flames； for o thers to warm themselves by。
天人合一
拉尔夫。沃尔多。爱默生
拉尔夫。沃尔多。爱默生（1803—1882），美国19世纪著名的思想家、散文家、演说家、 诗人，超验主义的代表人物之一。他崇尚自然主义、强调个人价值，代表作有《论自然》、 《美国学者》等。
从真正的意义上来讲，很少有成年人能够看得见自然。甚至很多人并没有真正看见太阳 。至少，他们只有一种非常肤浅的视觉感受。太阳只能�
