第32章作者自述（1）
&hor’sAself
华盛顿·欧文Washingt
Iwasalwaysfondofvisitingnewsdstraersandmanners。EvenwhenamerechildIbeganmytravels，aoursofdistnpartsandunknionsofmyothefrequentalarmofmyparents，aofthetrewintoboyhoodIextendedmyrangeofobservations。Myholidayafterihesurroundingademyselffamiliarlacesfamousinhistoryorfable。Ikwhereamurderorrobberyhadbeenitted，hostseen。Ivisitedtheneighbvillages，alytomystoowledge，bysands，ahtheirsagesamen。Ievenjourneyedoneloothesummitofthemostdistanthill，whereIstretchedmyeyeovermaerrainita，andwasastoof？indhowvastaglobeIinhabited。
Thisramblirehyears。Booksofvoyagesandtravelsbecamemypassion，aheirtsIheregularexercisesoftheschools。HowwistfullywouldIwahepier-headsiherandartingshipsboundtodistahwhatlongingeyeswouldIgazeaftertheirlesseningsails，andwaftmyselfinimaginatioheearth！
Furtherreadingandthinking，thoughtheybroughtthisvagueinorereasonablebounds，oomakeitmoredecided。Ivisitedvariouspartsofmyowntry；andhadIbeenmerelyaloveroff？inesery，Ishouldhavefeltlittledesiretoseekelsewhereitsgratif？i，foronnotryhavethecharmsofnaturebeenmallylavished。Hermightylakeslikeosofliquidsilver；hermountainswiththeirbrightaerialtints；hervalleys，teemingwithwildfertility；hertremendouscataraderiudes；herboundlessplains，wavingwithspontaneousverdure；herbroaddeeprivers，rollinginsolemheo；hertracklessforests，wherevegetationputsforthallitsmagnif？ice；herskies，kindlingwiththemagierdglorioussunshine，—no，neverneedanAmerilookbeyondhisowntryforthesublimeaifulofnaturalsery。
ButEuropeheldforththecharmsofstoriedaicalasso。Thereweretobeseeerpiecesofart，theref？iofhighly，cultivatedsociety，thequaiiesofaandloyrywasfullofyouthfulpromise；Europewasritheaccumulatedtreasuresofage。Herveryruinstoldthehistoryoftimesgoneby，andeverymstonewasaigedtowahesesofrenowotread，asitwere，iepsofantiquity—toloiterabouttheruiateonthefallioesshort，fromtheoiesofthepresent，andlosemyselfamongtheshadowygrahepast。