归向桃花源

华盛顿·欧文(Washington Irving, 1783～1859)出生于美国纽约市一位富商之家。虽然父母希望他成为律师，让他学习法律，他却偏爱文学创作。1807年，欧文与他人合作创办了《杂拌》(Salmagundi)杂志。1809年，他出版了《纽约外史》(A History of New York)，以幽默风趣的语言赢得了纽约读者的喜爱。1815年，欧文前往欧洲。1820年，他出版了文集《见闻札记》(The Sketch Book)。《见闻札记》中既有文笔典雅、反映人生感悟的散文，也有构思精巧的虚构故事，为欧文赢得了国际声誉，使他成为第一位可以与欧洲作家比肩的美国作家。欧文的其他代表作还有《布雷斯布里奇田庄》(Bracebridge Hall)、《旅客谈》(Tales of a Traveller)、《阿尔罕伯拉》(Tales of the Alhambra)等。短篇小说《睡谷的传说》(The Legend of Sleepy Hollow)选自文集《见闻札记》，是一篇脍炙人口的经典之作。该小说自1912年首次被搬上银幕以来，曾有多个电影版本相继面世。1999年，好莱坞著名导演蒂姆·伯顿(Tim Burton)将《睡谷的传说》改编后重拍，片名为《断头谷》(Sleepy Hollow)，在戏剧化与幽默感兼顾的情况下将欧文的小说原著提升到一个新的高度。

Excerpts1)

In the bosom of one of those spacious coves which indent2) the eastern shore of the Hudson, at that broad expansion of the river denominated3) by the ancient Dutch navigators the Tappan Zee4), and where they always prudently shortened sail5) and implored the protection of St. Nicholas6) when they crossed, there lies a small market town or rural port, which by some is called Greensburgh, but which is more generally and properly known by the name of Tarry Town…. Not far from this village, perhaps about two miles, there is a little valley or rather lap of land among high hills, which is one of the quietest places in the whole world. A small brook glides through it, with just murmur enough to lull7) one to repose; and the occasional whistle of a quail8) or tapping of a woodpecker is almost the only sound that ever breaks in upon the uniform tranquility.

I recollect that, when a stripling9), my first exploit in squirrel-shooting was in a grove of tall walnut-trees that shades one side of the valley. I had wandered into it at noontime, when all nature is peculiarly quiet, and was startled by the roar of my own gun, as it broke the Sabbath10) stillness around and was prolonged and reverberated by the angry echoes. If ever I should wish for a retreat whither I might steal from the world and its distractions, and dream quietly away the remnant of a troubled life, I know of none more promising than this little valley.

From the listless11) repose of the place, and the peculiar character of its inhabitants, who are descendants from the original Dutch settlers, this sequestered12) glen13) has long been known by the name of SLEEPY HOLLOW, and its rustic lads are called the Sleepy Hollow Boys throughout all the neighboring country. A drowsy, dreamy influence seems to hang over the land, and to pervade the very atmosphere. Some say that the place was bewitched by a High German doctor, during the early days of the settlement; others, that an old Indian chief, the prophet or wizard of his tribe, held his powwows14) there before the country was discovered by Master Hendrick Hudson15)…. The dominant spirit, however, that haunts this enchanted region, and seems to be commander-in-chief of all the powers of the air, is the apparition16) of a figure on horseback, without a head. It is said by some to be the ghost of a Hessian17) trooper, whose head had been carried away by a cannon-ball, in some nameless battle during the Revolutionary War18), and who is ever and anon seen by the country folk hurrying along in the gloom of night, as if on the wings of the wind. His haunts are not confined to the valley, but extend at times to the adjacent roads, and especially to the vicinity of a church at no great distance. Indeed, certain of the most authentic historians of those parts, who have been careful in collecting and collating the floating facts concerning this spectre19), allege that the body of the trooper having been buried in the churchyard, the ghost rides forth to the scene of battle in nightly quest of his head, and that the rushing speed with which he sometimes passes along the Hollow, like a midnight blast, is owing to his being belated, and in a hurry to get back to the churchyard before daybreak.