《四季随笔》节选 - 冬 06

《四季随笔》是吉辛的散文代表作。其中对隐士赖克罗夫特醉心于书籍、自然景色与回忆过去生活的描述，其实是吉辛的自述，作者以此来抒发自己的情感，因而本书是一部富有自传色彩的小品文集。

吉辛穷困的一生，对文学名著的爱好与追求，以及对大自然恬静生活的向往，在书中均有充分的反映。本书分为春、夏、秋、冬四个部分，文笔优美，行文流畅，是英国文学中小品文的珍品之一。

以下是由网友分享的《四季随笔》节选 - 冬 06的内容，让我们一起来感受吉辛的四季吧!

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.

我一天中最轻松的时刻之一，是下午散步略带一丝疲惫地回来，脱下靴子和外出时穿的外套，换上拖鞋和轻便破旧的家居服，坐在扶手柔软的大座椅中，等着茶盘送来。我也许是在喝茶的时候，最能享受悠闲的感觉了。在过去，我会将茶一口吞下，常常是因为想到面前的工作而感到紧迫和焦虑；我对所喝饮料的香气和味道常常是没有察觉的。现在，随着茶壶的出现飘进我书房里的那种柔软而沁人心脾的味道是多么美妙啊！那第一杯茶里有多大的慰藉，之后更要细细品味个中滋味啊！在冷雨中散步后，这茶会怎样地让人精神一振啊！与此同时，我环顾四周，看着我的书和画，品味着和平拥有这一切的幸福感。我的目光落在烟斗上，也许我用心地准备它是为了放置烟草的。平时享用烟草总不如在茶后用那么使人宽心和富有人情味——它本身只是一个平淡无奇的给人灵感的东西。

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?

英国人家庭生活中的天赋，在下午茶的仪式（人们几乎可以如此来称呼它）上可以最明显地得到体现。在简朴的寒舍中，品茶时间蕴含着某种神圣的东西；因为它标志着家务活和烦恼的结束，和一个宁静和谐夜晚的开始。杯碟叮当作响，让头脑也变得愉快宁静。我对时髦客厅里的五点钟茶不感兴趣，它单调乏味如同世俗皆有份的所有事物一样；我说的是与平常意义完全不同的在家里饮茶。让陌生人上你的茶桌是一种亵渎；但是，英国人的好客在这里也体现出最和善的一面，一个朋友在喝茶的时间来访是最受欢迎的。如果下午茶真正成为一顿饭，在它和九点钟晚饭之间什么都不吃，它就是真正意义上最家常的一顿饭。中国人在不知道多少个世纪中从品茶得到的乐趣和好处，还不及它在过去一百年中带给英格兰的百万分之一，这令人置信吗？

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.

我喜欢看我的管家端茶盘进来的样子。她的表情带着节日气氛，但是在她的笑容中有一种庄重，似乎她在做一件荣耀的工作。她已经换上了晚装，就是说，她换下了工作时穿得干净得体的衣服，穿上了适合炉火旁悠闲时刻的服装；她的脸颊是温暖的，因为她一直在烤香喷喷的面包。她的眼睛很快扫视了一下我的屋子，看到一切井井有条，眼神里有了一丝愉悦；在今天的这个时候，想不出还有什么重要的事情需要做。她把小桌搬到壁炉的火光可以照到的地方，这样我不用改变舒适的姿势就能享用茶点了。如果她说话，那也只会是令人愉快的一两句话；如果有什么重要的事要说，她会等到茶后，而不是之前，这一点她本能地知道。偶尔她会俯身把一块煤渣扫回壁炉中，那是在我外出她照看炉火时掉落的；这件事她会迅速而安静地完成。然后，她会微笑着走出去，我知道她要到温暖舒适、香味弥漫的厨房里享受自己的茶、自己的面包了。