按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
glass cooled but not congealed； and the few motes in it are pure and
beautiful like the imperfections in glass。 You may often detect a
yet smoother and darker water； separated from the rest as if by an
invisible cobweb； boom of the water nymphs； resting on it。 From a
hilltop you can see a fish leap in almost any part； for not a
pickerel or shiner picks an insect from this smooth surface but it
manifestly disturbs the equilibrium of the whole lake。 It is
wonderful with what elaborateness this simple fact is advertised
this piscine murder will out and from my distant perch I
distinguish the circling undulations when they are half a dozen rods
in diameter。 You can even detect a water…bug （Gyrinus） ceaselessly
progressing over the smooth surface a quarter of a mile off； for
they furrow the water slightly； making a conspicuous ripple bounded
by two diverging lines； but the skaters glide over it without
rippling it perceptibly。 When the surface is considerably agitated
there are no skaters nor water…bugs on it； but apparently； in calm
days； they leave their havens and adventurously glide forth from the
shore by short impulses till they completely cover it。 It is a
soothing employment； on one of those fine days in the fall when all
the warmth of the sun is fully appreciated； to sit on a stump on
such a height as this； overlooking the pond； and study the dimpling
circles which are incessantly inscribed on its otherwise invisible
surface amid the reflected skies and trees。 Over this great expanse
there is no disturbance but it is thus at once gently smoothed away
and assuaged； as； when a vase of water is jarred； the trembling
circles seek the shore and all is smooth again。 Not a fish can leap
or an insect fall on the pond but it is thus reported in circling
dimples； in lines of beauty； as it were the constant welling up of
its fountain； the gentle pulsing of its life； the heaving of its
breast。 The thrills of joy and thrills of pain are
undistinguishable。 How peaceful the phenomena of the lake！ Again
the works of man shine as in the spring。 Ay； every leaf and twig
and stone and cobweb sparkles now at mid…afternoon as when covered
with dew in a spring morning。 Every motion of an oar or an insect
produces a flash of light； and if an oar falls； how sweet the echo！
In such a day； in September or October； Walden is a perfect
forest mirror； set round with stones as precious to my eye as if
fewer or rarer。 Nothing so fair； so pure； and at the same time so
large； as a lake； perchance； lies on the surface of the earth。 Sky
water。 It needs no fence。 Nations come and go without defiling it。
It is a mirror which no stone can crack； whose quicksilver will
never wear off； whose gilding Nature continually repairs； no storms；
no dust； can dim its surface ever fresh； a mirror in which all
impurity presented to it sinks； swept and dusted by the sun's hazy
brush this the light dust…cloth which retains no breath that
is breathed on it； but sends its own to float as clouds high above
its surface； and be reflected in its bosom still。
A field of water betrays the spirit that is in the air。 It is
continually receiving new life and motion from above。 It is
intermediate in its nature between land and sky。 On land only the
grass and trees wave； but the water itself is rippled by the wind。
I see where the breeze dashes across it by the streaks or flakes of
light。 It is remarkable that we can look down on its surface。 We
shall； perhaps； look down thus on the surface of air at length； and
mark where a still subtler spirit sweeps over it。
The skaters and water…bugs finally disappear in the latter part
of October； when the severe frosts have come； and then and in
November； usually； in a calm day； there is absolutely nothing to
ripple the surface。 One November afternoon； in the calm at the end
of a rain…storm of several days' duration； when the sky was still
completely overcast and the air was full of mist； I observed that
the pond was remarkably smooth； so that it was difficult to
distinguish its surface； though it no longer reflected the bright
tints of October； but the sombre November colors of the surrounding
hills。 Though I passed over it as gently as possible； the slight
undulations produced by my boat extended almost as far as I could
see； and gave a ribbed appearance to the reflections。 But； as I was
looking over the surface； I saw here and there at a distance a faint
glimmer； as if some skater insects which had escaped the frosts
might be collected there； or； perchance； the surface； being so
smooth； betrayed where a spring welled up from the bottom。 Paddling
gently to one of these places； I was surprised to find myself
surrounded by myriads of small perch； about five inches long； of a
rich bronze color in the green water； sporting there； and constantly
rising to the surface and dimpling it； sometimes leaving bubbles on
it。 In such transparent and seemingly bottomless water； reflecting
the clouds； I seemed to be floating through the air as in a balloon；
and their swimming impressed me as a kind of flight or hovering； as
if they were a compact flock of birds passing just beneath my level
on the right or left； their fins； like sails； set all around them。
There were many such schools in the pond； apparently improving the
short season before winter would draw an icy shutter over their
broad skylight； sometimes giving to the surface an appearance as if
a slight breeze struck it； or a few rain…drops fell there。 When I
approached carelessly and alarmed them； they made a sudden splash
and rippling with their tails； as if one had struck the water with a
brushy bough； and instantly took refuge in the depths。 At length
the wind rose； the mist increased； and the waves began to run； and
the perch leaped much higher than before； half out of water； a
hundred black points； three inches long； at once above the surface。
Even as late as the fifth of December； one year； I saw some dimples
on the surface； and thinking it was going to rain hard immediately；
the air being fun of mist； I made haste to take my place at the oars
and row homeward； already the rain seemed rapidly increasing； though
I felt none on my cheek； and I anticipated a thorough soaking。 But
suddenly the dimples ceased； for they were produced by the perch；
which the noise of my oars had seared into the depths； and I saw
their schools dimly disappearing； so I spent a dry afternoon after
all。
An old man who used to frequent this pond nearly sixty years
ago； when it was dark with surrounding forests； tells me that in
those days he sometimes saw it all alive with ducks and other
water…fowl； and that there were many eagles about it。 He came here
a…fishing； and used an old log canoe which he found on the shore。
It was made of two white pine logs dug out and pinned together； and
was cut off square at the ends。 It was very clumsy； but lasted a
great many years before it became water…logged and perhaps sank to
the bottom。 He did not know whose it was； it belonged to the pond。
He used to make a cable for his anchor of strips of hickory bark
tied together。 An old man； a potter； who lived by the pond before
the Revolution； told him once that there was an iron chest at the
bottom； and that he had seen it。 Sometimes it would come floating
up to the shore； but when you went toward it； it would go back into
deep water and disappear。 I was pleased to hear of the old log
canoe； which took the place of an Indian one of the same material
but more graceful construction； which perchance had first been a
tree on the bank； and then； as it were； fell into the water； to
float there for a generation； the most proper vessel for the lake。
I remember that when I first looked into these depths there were
many large trunks to be seen indistinctly lying on the bottom； which
had either been blown over formerly； or left on the ice at the last
cutting； when wood was cheaper； but now they have mostly
disappeared。
When I first paddled a boat on Walden； it was completely
surrounded by thick and lofty pine and oak woods； and in some of its
coves grape…vines had run over the trees next the water and formed
bowers under which a boat could pass。 The hills which form its
shores are so steep； and the woods on them were then so high； that；
as you looked down from the west end； it had the appearance of an
amphitheatre for some land of sylvan spectacle。 I have spent many
an hour； when I was younger； floating over its surface as the zephyr
willed； having paddled my boat to the middle； and lying on my back
across the seats； in a summer forenoon； dreaming awake； until I was
aroused by the boat touching the sand； and I arose to see what shore
my fates had impelled me to； days when idleness was the most
attractive and productive industry。 Many a forenoon have I stolen
away； preferring to spend thus the most valued