夜

Night has fallen over the country. Through the trees rises the red moon， and the stars are scarcely seen. In the vast shadow of night the coolness and the dews descend. I sit at the open window to enjoy them； and hear only the voice of the summer wind. Like black hulks， the shadows of the great trees ride at anchor on the billowy sea of grass. I cannot see the red and blue flowers， but I know that they are there. Far away in the meadow gleams the silver Charles. The tramp of horses' hoofs sounds from the wooden bridge. Then all is still save the continuous wind of the summer night. Sometimes I know not if it be the wind or the sound of the neighboring sea. The village clock strikes； and I feel that I am not alone.

　　How different it is in the city！ It is late， and the crowd is gone. You step out upon the balcony， and lie in the very bosom of the cool， dewy night as if you folded her garments about you. Beneath lies the public walk with trees， like a fathomless， black away with some beloved spirit plunges， and floats are still burning up and down the long street. People go by with grotesque shadows， foreshortened， and now lengtheningawayintothedarknessandvanishing，whileannowew one springs up behind the walker， and seems to pass him revolving like the sail of a windmill. The iron gates of the part shut with a jangling clang. There are footsteps and loud voices； ——a tumult； ——a drunken brawl； ——an alarm of fire； ——then silence again. And now at length the city is asleep， and we can see the night. The belated moon looks over the roofs， and finds no one to welcome her. The moonlight is broken. It lies here and there in the squares， and the opening of the streets - angular like blocks of white marble.

　　（from Night by Nathanial Hawthorne）

　　hulk 大船

　　billowy 波浪起伏的

　　tramp 脚步声

　　bosom 胸怀，怀抱

　　plunge 投入，跃入

　　beloved 心爱的，热爱的

　　clasp 拥抱，抱紧

　　grotesque 奇形怪状的

　　foreshortened 缩短的

　　revolve 旋转，转动

　　sail 翼板

　　windmill 风车

　　jangling 叫嚷的，刺耳的

　　clang （发出）铿锵声

　　tumult 吵闹，喧哗

　　brawl 吵架，吵闹

　　angular 角状的，尖的