elinor wyllys-2-第24章
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{〃cicerone〃 = guide (Italian); 〃les ormeaux; les rameaux; et les hameaux。。。〃 = elms; branches; and hamlets (French)}
〃Are Mrs。 Hilson and her sister still at Saratoga?〃 inquired Charlie Hubbard of Hazlehurst; the evening they arrived at Caldwell。
{〃Caldwell〃 = village at the southern end of Lake George in New York State; the village has since been renamed Lake George}
〃I believe so; they were there the day before; yesterday; for Mrs。 Hilson asked me to a pic…nic; at Barkydt's {sic} but I was engaged。 I think I saw Miss Hubbard in the street; yesterday。〃
{〃Barkydt's〃 = Barhydt's Pond; a 〃little ear…shaped lake。。。surrounded by pyramidal firs; pines and evergreens;〃 once famous for its trout fishing; owned by Jacobus Barhydt (often spelled Barhyte)。 A pleasure spot two miles east of Saratoga Springs; it was; in the 1830s; the site of a popular tavern and restaurant。 Jacobus Barhydt died in 1840; and the property was dispersed; to be reassembled in 1881 by New York banker Spencer Trask as a summer estate After many changes; it is now owned by the Corporation of Yaddo; and run as a world…famous summer center for creative artists and writers}
〃Had they the same party with them still?〃
〃Yes; it seemed to be very much the same party。〃
Hubbard looked mortified; but he was soon busy answering inquiries as to the projected movements for the next day。
The following morning the whole party set out; in two skiffs; to pass the day on the lake。 Under Charlie's guidance; they rowed about among the islands; now coasting the shores; now crossing from one point to another; wherever the views were finest; generally keeping near enough; as they moved leisurely along; for conversation between the two boats。
〃How beautifully clear the water is!〃 exclaimed Elinor。
〃The water in the Swiss lakes is limpid I suppose; Charlie; like most mountain streams?〃 observed Mr。 Wyllys。
〃It is clear; sir; and in the heart of the Alps it has a very peculiar coloura blueish tingefrom the glaciers; like molten lapis lazuli; entirely different from the deep; ultra…marine blue of the Mediterranean。〃
〃Have you any views of the Swiss lakes?〃 asked Elinor。〃
〃Yes; I can show you severaland; as usual; there is a difference in their colouring: from Lugarn; a little bit of lapis lazuli; lying like a jewel; in the green pastures; half way up the Alps; just below the ice and snow; to the reedy lake of Morat; on the plains of Neufchatel; more like an agate;〃 added Charlie; smiling。
〃We shall hope to see them; when we pass through New York;〃 said Elinor; listening with interest。
〃I will show them to you with great pleasure; faute de mieux; Miss Elinor; but I hope you will one day see the originals。〃
{〃faute de mieux〃 = for want of something better (French)}
〃In the mean time; however; we shall be very glad to enjoy your pictures。 Have you any Italian views?〃
〃Yes; quite a number; wherever I went; I made sketches at least; though I have not yet had time to finish them all as pictures。 In my boxes there are Venetian lagoons; and Dutch canals; a view of the Seine; in the heart of Paris; and the Thames; at London; the dirty; famous Tiber; classic Arno; and classic Avon。〃
〃You make our eyes water; Charlie; with such a catalogue;〃 said Mr。 Wyllys。 〃You must certainly get up an exhibition; and add several of your American pictures to those you have just brought home。〃
〃I really hope you will do so;〃 said Elinor。 〃The transparent amber…like water of the Canada; and the emerald colour of Niagara; would appear finely in such a collection。〃
{〃Canada〃 = from the context; probably Trenton Falls on the West Canada Creek; a major tourist attraction during the 19th century}
〃I shall never dare attempt Niagara;〃 exclaimed Charlie。 〃All the beauties of all the other waters in the world are united there。 It will not do to go beyond the rapids; I should be lost if I but ventured to the edge of the whirlpool itself。〃
〃I have no doubt you will try it yet;〃 said Harry。
The young artist shook his head。 〃I am sometimes disposed to throw aside the brush in disgust; at the temerity of man; which can attempt to copy even what is most noble; in the magnificent variety; and the simple grandeur of nature。〃
〃You have been sufficiently successful in what you have attempted hitherto;〃 said Harry。 〃I saw your view of Lake Ontario; in Philadelphia; just after I arrived; and I can never forget the impression it produced on me。 Of all your pictures that I have seen; that is my favourite。〃
〃It is indeed a noble picture;〃 said Mr。 Wyllys。
〃And few men but yourself; Charlie; could have given so deep an interest to a broad field of water; with only a strip of common…place shore in the fore…ground; and a bank of clouds in the distance。 A common painter would have thrown in some prettiness of art; that would have ruined it; but you have given it a simple dignity that is really wonderful!〃 said Hazlehurst。
〃You mortify me;〃 said Charlie; 〃it is so much inferior to what I could wish。〃
〃Captain C…;〃 continued Harry; 〃who was stationed at Oswego for several years; told me he should have known your picture without the name; for a view of one of the great lakes; there was so much truth in the colour and movement of the water; so much that was different from the Ocean。〃
〃Ladies and gentlemen; it is cruel in you to flatter a poor young artist at this rate;〃 said Charlie。
〃If it is criticism you want;〃 said Hazlehurst; 〃I can give you a dose。 You were very severely handled in my presence; a day or two since; and on the very subject of your picture of Lake Ontario。〃
〃Pray; let me hear the criticism; it will sober me。〃
〃What was the fault?〃 said Elinor; 〃what was wanting?〃
〃A few houses and a steamboat; to make it lively。〃
〃You are making up a good story; Mr。 Hazlehurst;〃 said Mrs。 Creighton; laughing。
〃I give you the critic's words verbatim。 I really looked at the young lady in astonishment; that she should see nothing but a want of liveliness in a picture; which most of us feel to be sublime。 But Miss L… had an old grudge against you; for not having made her papa's villa sufficiently prominent in your view of Hell…Gate。〃
〃But; such a villa!〃 said Hubbard。 〃One of the ugliest within ten miles of New York。 It is possible; sometimes; by keeping at a distance; concealing defects; and partially revealing columns through verdure; to make one of our Grecian…temple houses appear to advantage in a landscape; but; really; Mr。 D…'s villa was such a jumble; so entirely out of all just proportion; that I could do nothing with it; and was glad to find that I could put a grove between the spectator and the building: anybody but its inmates would have preferred the trees。〃
〃Not at all; Miss D… thought the absence of the portico; with its tall; pipe…stem columns; the row of dormer windows on the roof; and the non…descript belvidere crowning all; a loss to the public。〃
{〃belvidere〃 = as used here; a raised turret on top of a house (Italian)}
〃The miserable architecture of this country is an obstacle to a landscape painter; quite too serious to be trifled with; I can assure you;〃 said Charlie。
〃It must be confessed;〃 said Mr。 Ellsworth; 〃that the order of things has been reversed here。 Architecture is usually called the parent of the fine arts; but with us she is the youngest of the family; and as yet the worst endowed。 We had respectable pictures; long before we had a single building in a really good style; and now that we have some noble paintings and statuary; architecture still lags behind。 What a noise they made in New York; only a few years since; about St。 Thomas's Church!〃
{St。 Thomas's Church〃 = St。 Thomas Episcopal Church was erected at the corner of Broadway and Houston Street; in New York City; in 1826; in the Gothic style which was only beginning to replace the Greek Revival。 Susan Fenimore Cooper shared her father's dislike of Greek Revival houses that imitated Grecian temples; and his love of the Gothic}
〃Yes;〃 said Mr。 Stryker; 〃the curse of the genius of architecture; which Jefferson said had fallen upon this country; has not yet been removed。〃
〃Some of the most ludicrous objects I have ever laid my eyes on;〃 sa