爱华网人与自然
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 thebirth of man on the earth , and becomes each century moreintelligent and far reaching. To Nature, therefore, we turn as tothe oldest aim most influential teacher of our race; from one pointof view once our task master, now our servant; from another pointof view, our constant friend, instructor and inspirer. The veryintimacy of this relation robs it of a certain mystery and richnesswhich it would have for all minds if it were the reward of the fewinstead of being the privilege of the many. To the few it is, inevery age, full of wonder and beauty; to the many it is a matter ofcourse. The heavens shine for all, but they have a changingsplendor to those only who see in every midnight sky a majesty ofcreative energy and resource which no repetition of the spectaclecan dim. If the stars shone but once in a thousand years, men wouldgaze, awe struck and worshipful, on a vision which is not less butmore wonderful because it shines nightly above the whole earth. Inlike manner, and for the same reason, we become indifferent to thatdelicately beautiful or sublimely impressive sky scenery which theclouds form and reform, compose and dissipate, a thousand times ona summer day. The mystery, the terror , and the music of the sea;the secret and subduing charm of the woods, so full of healing forthe spent mind or the restless spirit; the majesty of the hills,holding in their recesses the secrets of light and atmosphere; theinfinite variety of landscape, never imitative or repetitious, butalways appealing to the imagination with some fresh and unsuspectedloveliness;— who feels the full power of these marvelous resourcesfor the enrichment of life, or takes from them all the health,delight, and enrichment they have to bestow?
