the lotus pool by moonlight
    荷塘月色
    zhu zi qing/朱自清
    the last few days have found me very restless.this evening as i sat in the yard to enjoy the cool，it struck me how different the lotus pool i pass every day must look under a full moon.the moon was sailing higher and higher up the heavens，the sound of childish laughter had died away from the lane beyond our wall，and my wife was in the house patting juner and humming a lullaby to him.i quietly slipped on a long gown，and walked out leaving the door on the latch.
    a cinder -path winds along by the side of the pool.it is off the beaten track and few pass this way even by day，so at night it is still more quiet.trees grow thick and bosky all around the pool，with willows and other trees i cannot name by the path.on nights when there is no moon the track is almost terrifyingly dark，but tonight it was quite clear，though the moonlight was pale.
    这几天心里颇不宁静。今晚在院子里坐着乘凉，忽然想起日日走过的荷塘，在这满月的光里，总该另有一番样子吧。月亮渐渐地升高了，墙外马路上孩子们的欢笑，已经听不见了；妻在屋里拍着闰儿，迷迷糊糊地哼着眠歌。我悄悄地披了大衫，带上门出去。
    沿着荷塘，是一条曲折的小煤屑路。这是一条幽僻的路；白天也少人走，夜晚更加寂寞。荷塘四面，长着许多树，蓊蓊郁郁的。路的一旁，是些杨柳，和一些不知道名字的树。没有月光的晚上，这路上阴森森的，有些怕人。今晚却很好，虽然月光也还是淡淡的。
    strolling alone down the path，hands behind my back，i felt as if the whole earth and sky were mine and i had stepped outside my usual self into another world.i like both excitement and stillness，under the full moon，i could think of whatever i pleased or of nothing at all，and that gave me a sense of freedom.all daytime duties could be disregarded.that was the advantage of solitude：i could savour to the full that expanse of fragrant lotus and the moonlight.
    as far as eye could see，the pool with its winding margin was covered with trim leaves，which rose high out of the water like the flared skirts of dancing girls.and starring these tiers of leaves were white lotus flowers，alluringly open or bashfully in bud，like glimmering pearls，stars in an azure sky，or beauties fresh from the bath.the breeze carried past gusts of fragrance，like the strains of a song faintly heard from a far-off tower.and leaves and blossoms trembled slightly，while in a flash the scent was carried away.as the closely serried leaves bent，a tide of opaque emerald could be glimpsed.that was the softly running water beneath，hidden from sight，its colour invisible，though the leaves looked more graceful than ever.
    路上只我一个人，背着手踱着。这一片天地好像是我的；我也像超出了平常的自己，到了另一世界里。我爱热闹，也爱冷静；爱群居，也爱独处。像今晚上，一个人在这苍茫的月下，什么都可以想，什么都可以不想，便觉是个自由的人。白天里一定要做的事，一定要说的话，现在都可不理。这是独处的妙处，我且受用这无边的荷香月色好了。
    曲曲折折的荷塘上面，弥望的是田田的叶子。叶子出水很高，像亭亭的舞女的裙。层层的叶子中间，零星地点缀着些白花，有袅娜地开着的，有羞涩地打着朵儿的；正如一粒粒的明珠，又如碧天里的星星，又如刚出浴的美人。微风过处，送来缕缕清香，仿佛远处高楼上渺茫的歌声似的。这时候叶子与花也有一丝的颤动，像闪电般，霎时传过荷塘的那边去了。叶子本是肩并肩密密地挨着，这便宛然有了一道凝碧的波痕。叶子底下是脉脉的流水，遮住了，不能见一些颜色；而叶子却更见风致了。（未完待续）