Passage22 The First Snow
The first snow came. How beautiful it was, falling so silently all day long, all night long, on the mountains, on the meadows, on the roofs of the living, on the graves of the dead! All white save the river, that marked its course by a winding black line across the landscape; and the leafless trees, that against the leaden sky now revealed more fully the wonderful beauty and intricacies of their branches. What silence, too, came with the snow, and what seclusion! Every sound was muffled, every noise changed to something soft and musical. No more tramping hoofs, no more rattling wheels! Only the chiming of sleigh-bells, beating as swift and merrily as the hearts of children.
参考译文
初雪
初雪飘临。多美啊，就这样整日整夜地飘舞，悄无声息地落在山岭上，落在草地上，落在世人的屋顶上，也落在死者的坟茔上。四野茫茫，只有那条河，还蜿蜒地流淌着，在如画的风景中曲曲弯弯地勾勒出一抹黑线；还有那些叶儿落净的树木，在铅黑色天空的映衬下，越发显得枝丫交错，妩媚动人。雪花飘落的时候，多么安宁，多么幽静！一切的声响都沉寂了，连喧闹也化作柔和的乐音。再听不见马蹄嗒嗒，再听不见车行吱呀！唯有雪橇上挂着的铃铛，奏出和谐的乐声，犹如一颗颗童心在欢跳。
编者点评
琼枝玉叶、粉装玉砌的雪花世界把世间万物变得纯洁美丽，仿佛人的心灵也一下子沉静纯粹了起来。冬因雪而完美，雪因冬而诞生，雪成就了冬季里最完美的爱恋之歌。原来，冬天最美的不是那暖暖的太阳，而是那纷纷扬扬、洋洋洒洒的雪儿。那簌簌的落雪之声成了文人深邃的心语，那满地的落英缤纷成了多愁善感者一生的寄托。
