第18部分(第4/6 頁)

收割的人又彎下了腰，拖貨車的馬已繼續前進。所有的一切又恢復了工作。

August

Charles　Dickens

There　is　no　month　in　the　whole　year；　in　which　nature　wears　a　more　beautiful　appearance　than　in　the　month　of　August。　Spring　has　many　beauties；　and　May　is　a　fresh　and　blooming　month；　but　the　charms　of　this　time　of　year　are　enhanced　by　their　contrast　with　the　winter　season。　August　has　no　such　advantage。　It　es　when　we　remember　nothing　but　clear　skies；　green　fields；　and　sweet…smelling　flower—when　the　recollection　of　snow；　and　ice；　and　bleak　winds；　has　faded　from　our　minds　as　pletely　as　they　have　disappeared　from　the　earth—and　yet　what　a　pleasant　time　it　is！　Orchards　and　cornfields　ring　with　the　hum　of　labours；　trees　bend　beneath　the　thick　clusters　of　rich　fruit　which　bow　their　branches　to　the　ground；　and　the　corn；　piled　in　graceful　sheaves；　or　waving　in　every　light　breath　that　sweeps　above　it；　as　if　it　wooed　the　sickle；　tinges　the　landscape　with　a　golden　hue。　A　mellow　softness　appears　to　hang　over　the　whole　earth；　the　influence　of　the　season　seems　to　extend　itself　to　the　very　wagon；　whose　slow　motion　across　the　well…reaped　field；　is　perceptible　only　to　the　eye；　but　strikes　with　no　harsh　sound　upon　the　ear。

As　the　coach　rolls　swiftly　past　the　fields　and　orchards　which　skirt　the　road；　groups　of　women　and　children；　piling　the　fruit　in　sieves；　or　gathering　the　scattered　ears　of　corn；　pause　for　an　instant　from　their　labour；　and　shading　the　sunburnt　face　with　a　still　browner　hand；　gaze　upon　the　passengers　with　curious　eyes；　while　some　stout　urchin；　too　small　to　work　but　too　mischievous　to　be　left　at　home；　scrambles　over　the　side　of　the　basket　in　which　he　has　been　deposited　for　security；　and　kicks　and　screams　with　delight。　The　reaper　stops　in　his　work；　and　stands　with　folded　arms；　looking　at　the　ve