TheAuthor』sAccountofHimself
華盛頓·歐文/WashingtonIrving
Iwasalwaysfondofvisitingnewscenes,andobservingstrangecharactersandmanners.EvenwhenamerechildIbeganmytravels,andmademanytoursofdiscoveryintoforeignpartsandunknownregionsofmynativecity,tothefrequentalarmofmyparents,andtheemolumentofthetown-crier.AsIgrewintoboyhoodIextendedmyrangeofobservations.MyholidayafternoonswerespentinrambleaboutthesurroundingcountryImademyselffamiliarwithallitsplacesfamousinhistoryorfable.Ikneweveryspotwhereamurderorrobberyhadbeencommitted,oraghostseen.Ivisitedtheneighboringvillages,andaddedgreatlytomystockofknowledge,bynotingtheirhabitsandcustoms,andconversingwiththeirsagesandgreatmen.Ievenjourneyedonelongsummer』sdaytothesummitofthemostdistanthill,whereIstretchedmyeyeovermanyamileofterraincognita,andwasastonishedtof?indhowvastaglobeIinhabited.
Thisramblingpropensitystrengthenedwithyears.Booksofvoyagesandtravelsbecamemypassion,andindevouringtheircontentsIneglectedtheregularexercisesoftheschools.HowwistfullywouldIwanderaboutthepier-headsinf?ineweatherandwatchthepartingshipsboundtodistantclimes—withwhatlongingeyeswouldIgazeaftertheirlesseningsails,andwaftmyselfinimaginationtotheendsoftheearth!
Furtherreadingandthinking,thoughtheybroughtthisvagueinclinationintomorereasonablebounds,onlyservedtomakeitmoredecided.Ivisitedvariouspartsofmyowncountry;andhadIbeenmerelyaloveroff?inescenery,Ishouldhavefeltlittledesiretoseekelsewhereitsgratif?ication,foronnocountryhavethecharmsofnaturebeenmoreprodigallylavished.Hermightylakeslikeoceansofliquidsilver;hermountainswiththeirbrightaerialtints;hervalleys,teemingwithwildfertility;hertremendouscataracts,thunderingintheirsolitudes;herboundlessplains,wavingwithspontaneousverdure;herbroaddeeprivers,rollinginsolemnsilencetotheocean;hertracklessforests,wherevegetationputsforthallitsmagnif?icence;herskies,kindlingwiththemagicofsummercloudsandglorioussunshine,—no,neverneedanAmericanlookbeyondhisowncountryforthesublimeandbeautifulofnaturalscenery.
ButEuropeheldforththecharmsofstoriedandpoeticalassociation.Thereweretobeseenthemasterpiecesofart,theref?inementofhighly,cultivatedsociety,thequaintpeculiaritiesofancientandlocalcustom.Mynativecountrywasfullofyouthfulpromise;Europewasrichintheaccumulatedtreasuresofage.Herveryruinstoldthehistoryoftimesgoneby,andeverymoulderingstonewasachronicle.Ilongedtowanderoverthescenesofrenownedachievement—totread,asitwere,inthefootstepsofantiquity—toloiterabouttheruinedcastle—tomeditateonthefallingtower—toescape,inshort,fromthecommonplacerealitiesofthepresent,andlosemyselfamongtheshadowygrandeursofthepast.