第12部分(第1/7 頁)

after　a　certain　lapse　of　time；　of　places　where　we　lingered；　often　bears　but　a　faint　resemblance　to　the　impression　received　at　the　time；　what　in　truth　may　have　been　very　moderate　enjoyment；　or　enjoyment　greatly　disturbed　by　inner　or　outer　circumstances；　shows　in　the　distance　as　a　keen　delight；　or　as　deep；　still　happiness。　On　the　other　hand；　if　memory　creates　no　illusion；　and　the　name　of　a　certain　place　is　associated　with　one　of　the　golden　moments　of　life；　it　were　rash　to　hope　that　another　visit　would　repeat　the　experience　of　a　by…gone　day。　For　it　was　not　merely　the　sights　that　one　beheld　which　were　the　cause　of　joy　and　peace；　however　lovely　the　spot；　however　gracious　the　sky；　these　things　external　would　not　have　availed；　but　for　contributory　movements　of　mind　and　heart　and　blood；　the　essentials　of　the　man　as　then　he　was。

Whilst　I　was　reading　this　afternoon　my　thoughts　strayed；　and　I　found　myself　recalling　a　hillside　in　Suffolk；　where；　after　a　long　walk　I　rested　drowsily　one　midsummer　day　twenty　years　ago。　A　great　longing　seized　me；　I　was　tempted　to　set　off　at　once；　and　find　again　that　spot　under　the　high　elm　trees；　where；　as　I　smoked　a　delicious　pipe；　I　heard　about　me　the　crack；　crack；　crack　of　broom…pods　bursting　in　the　glorious　heat　of　the　noontide　sun。　Had　I　acted　upon　the　impulse；　what　chance　was　there　of　my　enjoying　such　another　hour　as　that　which　my　memory　cherished？　No；　no；　it　is　not　the　PLACE　that　I　remember；　it　is　the　time　of　life；　the　circumstances；　the　mood；　which　at　that　moment　fell　so　happily　together。　Can　I　dream　that　a　pipe　smoked　on　that　same　hillside；　under　the　same　glowing　sky；　would　taste　as　it　then　did；　or　bring　me　the　same　solace？　Would　the　turf　be　so　soft　beneath　me？　Would　the　great　elm…branches　temper　so　delightfully　the　noontide　rays　be