downtheaalley
河谷寻幽
williamcobbet/威廉·科贝特
icameoffthismorningonthemarlboroughroadabouttwomiles，orthree，andthenturnedoff，overthedowns，inanorthwesterlydirection，insearchofthesourceoftheavonriver，whichgoesdowntosalisbury.ihadoncebeenatnetheravon，avillageinthisvalley，butihadoftenheardthisvalleydescribedasoneofthefinestpiecesoflandinallengland；iknewthattherewereaboutthirtyparishchurches，standinginalengthofaboutthirtymiles，andinanaveragewidthofhardlyamile；andiwasresolvedtoseealittleintothereasonsthatcouldhaveinducedourfatherstobuildalhesechurches，especiallyif，asthescotchwouldhaveusbelieve，therewerebutamerehandfulofpeopleinenglanduntiloflateyears.
我大清早就出了门，在马尔博罗公路上走了两三英里，然后拐向西北，翻过一处高地去寻找阿文河的源头，这条河流向索尔兹博。我曾经在河谷中一个叫作下阿文的村庄里住过一些日子，然而不止一次听说，这条河算得上是整个英国的胜地中的其中一个。那谷地不过三十公里长一英里宽，可上面竟然耸立着大约三十座教区教堂。我决定去探讨一番，究竟是什么原因驱使我们的先人们建造了这么多的教堂，更何况直到最近几年以前英格兰的人口还非常少——苏格兰人一直力求让我们相信这一点。
insteeringacrossthedown，icametoalargefarm，whichashepherdtoldmewasmionhillfarm.thiswasuponthehighland，andbeforeicametotheedgeofthisvalleyofavon，whichwasmylandofpromise，oratleast，ofgreatexpectation；foricouldnotimaginethatthirtychurcheshadbeenbuifornothingbythesideofabrook（foritisnomoreduringthegreaterpartoftheway）thirtymileslong.theshepherdshowedmethewaytowardsmion；andattheendofaboutamile，fromthetopofaveryhighpartofthedown，withasteepslopetowardsthevalley，ifirstsawthisvalleyofavon；andamostbeautifulsightitwas！villages，hamlets，largefarms，towers，steeples，fields，meadows，orchards，andveryfinetimbertrees，scatteredalloverthevalley.theshapeofthethingisthis：oneachsidedowns，veryloftyandsteepinsomeplaces，andslopingmilesbackinotherplaces；buteachoutsideofthevalleyaredowns.fromtheedgeofthedownsbegincapitalarablefieldsgenerallyofverygreatdimensions，and，insomeplaces，runningamileortwobackintolittlecrossvalleys，formedbyhillsofdowns.afterthecornfieldscomemeadowsoneachside，downtothebrookorriver.thefarmhouses，mansions，villages，andhamletsaregenerallysituatedinthatpartofthearablelandwhichcomesnearestthemeadows.
沿着高地走，我来到一座巨大的庄园附近，一位牧人对我说这是米尔顿山庄。庄园建在高地上，距离阿文河还有一些路程。这个河谷就是我“想抵达的地方”，或者至少是一个令人期待的地方，因为我实在是难以想像为什么人们会无缘无故地把这三十座教堂建在这么一条三十英里长的小河旁（而这条小河的大部分并没有什么特色鲜明的地方）。牧人把通向米尔顿村的道路指给了我，差不多走了一英里，我终于从直达谷地的一个陡峭的坡上第一次见到了阿文河谷——多么美丽的河谷呀！这里有村落、庄园、塔楼、田野、草地、果园，还有郁郁葱葱的树木。这里的地形是这样的：河谷的周围都是高地，有些地方陡峭险峻，绵延向前数英里，有的地方坡度比较平缓。在河谷和高地的交汇的地方，是一大片肥沃的田地，有的甚至顺着高地向上爬了一二英里远。玉米地紧紧地挨着两边的草地，向下一直延伸到水边。在靠近草地的田间里，座落着大部分的农屋、农院和村屯。
greatasmyexpectationshadbeen，theyweremorethanfulfilled.idelightinthissortofcountry；andihadfrequentlyseenthevaleoftheitchen，thatofthebourn，andalsothatofthetesteinhampshire；ihadseenthevalesamongstthesouthdowns；butineverbeforesawanythingtopleasemelikethisvalleyoftheavon.isatuponmyhorseandlookedovermionandeastonandpewseyforhalfanhour，thoughihadnotbreakfasted.thehillwasverysteep.aroad，goingslantingdownit，wasstillsosteep，andwashedsoverydeepbytherainsofages，thatididnotattempttoridedownit，andididnotliketoleadmyhorse，thepathwassonarrow.soseeingaboywithadroveofpigsgoingouttothestubbles，ibeckonedhimtocomeuptome；andhecameandledmyhorsedownforme.butnow，beforeibegintoridedownthisbeautifulvale，letmegive，aswellasmymeanswillenableme，aplanormapofit，whichihavemadeinthisway.afriendhaslentmeaveryoldmanofwishiredescribingthespotswherealhechurchesstand，andalsoalhespotswheremanorhousesormansion-housesstood.ilaidapieceofverythinpaperuponthemap，andthustracedtheriveruponmypaper，puttingfiguretorepresentthespotswherechurchesstand，andputtingstarstoreprentthespotswheremanor-housesormansion-housesformerlystood.（未完待续）