Washington Irving，1783 —1859.Among those whose works have enriched American literature，and have given it a place in the estimation of foreigners，no name stands higher than that of Washington Irving.He was born in the city of New York；his father was a native of Scotland，and his mother was English.He had an ordinary school education，and at the age of sixteen began the study of law.Two of his older brothers were interested in literary pursuits；and in his youth he studied the old English authors.He was also passionately fond of books of travel.At the age of nineteen，he began his literary career by writing for a paper published by his brother.In 1804 be made a voyage to the south of Europe.On his return he completed his studies in law，but never practiced his profession.“Salmagundi，”his first book （partly written by others），was published in 1807.This was followed，two years later，by “Knickerbocker's History of New York.”Soon after，he entered into mercantile pursuits in company with two brothers.At the close at the war with England he sailed again for Europe，and remained abroad seventeen years.During his absence he formed the acquaintance of the most eminent literary men of his time，and wrote several of his works；among them were: “The Sketch Book，”“Bracebridge Hall，”“Tales of a Traveler，”“Life and Voyages of Columbus，”and the “Conquest of Granada.”On his return he made a journey west of the Mississippi，and gathered materials for several other books.From 1842 to 1846 he was Minister to Spain.On his return to America he established his residence at “Sunnyside，”near Tarrytown，on the Hudson，where he passed the last years of his life.A young lady to whom he was attached having died in early life，Mr.Irving never married.
His works are marked by humor，just sentiment，and elegance and correctness of expression.They were popular both at home and abroad from the first，and their sale brought him a handsome fortune.The “Life of Washington，”his last work，was completed in the same year in which he died.
Columbus was a man of great and inventive genius.The operations of his mind were energetic，but irregular；bursting forth，at times，with that irresistible force which characterizes intellect of such an order.His ambition was lofty and noble，inspiring him with high thoughts and an anxiety to distinguish himself by great achievements.He aimed at dignity and wealth in the same elevated spirit with which he sought renown；they were to rise from the territories he should discover，and be commensurate in importance.
His conduct was characterized by the grandeur of his views and the magnanimity of his spirit.Instead of ravaging the newly-found countries，like many of his cotemporary discoverers，who were intent only on immediate gain，he regar-ded them with the eyes of a legislator；he sought to colonize and cultivate them，to civilize the natives，to build cities，introduce the useful arts，subject everything to the control of law，order，and religion，and thus to found regular and prosperous empires.That he failed in this was the fault of the dissolute rabble which it was his misfortune to command，with whom all law was tyranny and all order oppression.
He was naturally irascible and impetuous，and keenly sensible to injury and injustice；yet the quickness of his temper was counteracted by the generosity and benevolence of his heart.The magnanimity of his nature shone forth through all the troubles of his stormy career.Though continually outraged in his dignity，braved in his authority，foiled in his plans，and endangered in his person by the seditions of turbulent and worthless men，and that，too，at times when suffering under anguish of body and anxiety of mind enough to exasperate the most patient，yet he restrained his valiant and indignant spirit，and brought himself to forbear，and reason，and even to supplicate.Nor can the reader of the story of his eventful life fail to notice how free he was from all feeling of revenge，how ready to forgive and forget on the least sign of repentance and atonement.He has been exalted for his skill in controlling others，but far greater praise is due to him for the firmness he displayed in governing himself.
His piety was genuine and fervent.Religion mingled with the whole course of his thoughts and actions，and shone forth in his most private and unstudied writings.Whenever he made any great discovery he devoutly returned thanks to God.The voice of prayer and the melody of praise rose from his ships on discovering the new world，and his first action on landing was to prostrate himself upon the earth and offer up thanksgiving.All his great enterprises were undertaken in the name of the Holy Trinity，and he partook of the holy sacrament previous to embarkation.He observed the festivals of the church in the wildest situations.The Sabbath was to him a day of sacred rest，on which he would never sail from a port unless in case of extreme necessity.The religion thus deeply seated in his soul diffused a sober dignity and a benign composure over his whole deportment；his very language was pure and guarded，and free from all gross or irreverent expressions.
A peculiar trait in his rich and varied character remains to be noticed；namely，that ardent and enthusiastic imagination which threw a magnificence over his whole course of thought.A poetical temperament is discernible throughout all his writings and in all his actions.We see it in all his descriptions of the beauties of the wild land he was discovering，in the enthusiasm with which he extolled the blandness of the temperature，the purity of the atmosphere，the fragrance of the air，“full of dew and sweetness，”the verdure of the forests，the grandeur of the mountains，and the crystal purity of the running streams.It spread a glorious and golden world around him，and tinged everything with its own gorgeous colors.
With all the visionary fervor of his imagination，its fondest dreams fell short of the reality.He died in ignorance of the real grandeur of his discovery.Until his last breath，he entertained the idea that he had merely opened a new way to the old resorts of opulent commerce，and had discovered some of the wild regions of the East.What visions of glory would have broken upon his mind could he have known that he had indeed discovered a new continent equal to the old world in magnitude，and separated by two vast oceans from all the earth hitherto known by civilized man！How would his magnanimous spirit have been console amid the afflictions of age and the cares of penury，the neglect of a fickle public and the injustice of an ungrateful king，could he have anticipated the splendid empires which would arise in the beautiful world he had discovered，and the nations，and tongues，and languages which were to fill its land with his renown，and to revere and bless his name to the latest posterity！
译文 TRANSLATION
华盛顿·欧文（1783—1859）是第一位蜚声海外的美国作家。出生于纽约市；父亲为苏格兰人而母亲是英格兰人。欧文接受了普通的学校教育，16岁，他开始学习法律。他的两个哥哥对文学很有兴趣，欧文年幼时也曾学习过前代英国作家的作品，他还特别嗜读游记。19岁时，他为哥哥办的报纸撰稿，以此开始了自己的文学生涯。1804年，他去南欧旅行。归国后，他结束了法律学习，但并未做律师。1807年发表的《杂拌儿》是他第一本书，但其中收有部分他人作品。两年后，《纽约外传》刊布，此后不久，他和两个哥哥合伙做生意。美国独立战争结束之际，他再次赴欧旅行，在海外的七年间，他结识了一些当时最有名的文人，并写出了几部作品，包括：《见闻杂记》《布雷斯布里奇田庄》《旅入述异》《哥伦布传》《征服格拉纳达》。欧洲归来后，他去密西西比西部旅行，为他的书搜集资料。1842—1846年，他担任美国驻西班牙大使。卸任归国后，他在休斯敦市达理镇附近的森尼赛德修筑了自己的宅邸，在那里度过了人生中最后几年。欧文倾心的女子不幸早逝，为此，欧文一生未婚。
欧文作品以幽默、诚挚、优雅而恰切的表达著称。这些作品广受国内外读者欢迎，给他带来了可观的收入。《华盛顿传》是欧文的最后一部作品，直到临终那年才完成。
哥伦布是一位伟大的、富于创造力的天才。他的心智活动充满活力、不拘一格；并时以不可抗拒的力量爆发。哥伦布志向远大，崇高的思想和建功立业、卓尔不群的热望激励着他。他总以同样高尚的精神追求尊严、财富和声望。这些都巍然矗立在他发现的领土之上，重要性难分轩轾。
他的行止以见解的超卓与气魄的恢宏为特点。与同时代贪图近利的发现者不同，他没有劫掠那些新发现的国家，相反，他以立法者的眼光看待这些国家；他试图在当地殖民、拓荒、教化当地人，建造城市，引进有用的工艺，让社会守法、有序、虔敬，这样才能创建一个受教规约束的、兴旺发达的帝国。他之所以失败是因为他不幸统领一群放荡的暴民，对他们来说，所有法律都是专制，所有秩序都是压迫。
他天生易怒、冲动，对伤害与不义极为敏感，然而，他暴烈的脾气又为慷慨、仁爱的心性所中和。他大度的天性照亮了他多舛的生涯中的所有磨难。尽管那些强横、卑鄙的人的煽动、反叛不断冒犯他的尊严、挑战他的权威、破坏他的计划、危及他的生命，此外，还要经受那会让最具耐性的人难以自持的身体的折磨与焦虑的煎熬，但他依然控制住自己的英气与愤激，克制自己去说服、甚至恳求那些人。他的传记读者不难注意到在他多灾多难的一生中，他从无报复之意；即使对方毫无忏悔、赎罪之举，他也总是愿意谅解与忘记。他一直以善于御人而受人推崇，但更值得赞扬的该是他自我控制上的坚定不移。
他的虔敬真诚而热烈。宗教融入了他的思想和行动，即使在他最私密的、尚无人研究的著作中也闪耀着信仰的光辉。只要有任何重大发现，他必感谢上帝。祈祷的声音与礼赞的旋律在他发现新大陆的船上回荡，登陆后，他做的第一件事是跪拜于地，向上帝奉上感恩。他所有伟大的业绩都是以圣父圣子圣灵之名完成的，而每次起航前，他都要举行圣礼。在最恶劣的环境下，他也要恪守教会的各种节日。安息日对于他来说是一个神圣的休息日，那天，若不是极端需要，他不会从任何港口扬帆起航。深植于他灵魂中的宗教信仰使他周身发散出一种朴素的尊严与蔼然的沉静；他的用语纯正、审慎，从无粗俗、不敬的表达。
在他丰富多彩的个性中还有一个特质未被注意，即一种炽热、深挚的想象力，这使他的整个思想华美富丽。他的著述与行动中洋溢着鲜明的诗性气质。在他对其所发现的荒野之美的所有描述中，这种诗性气质随处可见；在他对气候的怡人、空气的纯净、“满是露珠与甜味”的风的芳香、森林的苍翠、山脉的宏伟、奔流的小溪水晶般的透明，等等，在对这一切的热情讴歌中，他的诗性气质触目皆是。这种诗性气质在他周围展开了一个金色的、璀璨的世界，让一切都染上了别样的色彩。
尽管他的想象那么炽热、那么富于远见，但其中最美好的梦想却未能实现。至死他都不知道他所发现的世界的真正伟大之处。直到最后一息，他仍认为他只是为通往那古老、富庶的贸易圣地开辟了一条新路，他只是发现了一些东方的蛮荒之地。如果他知道他事实上发现了一个像旧世界一样广袤却因两个大洋而与文明人已知的世界隔绝的新大陆时，他心中的辉煌的幻景也许会破碎。如果他能预见到壮丽的帝国将在他发现的这片美丽的土地上拔地而起，如果他能预见到各个民族、各种语言都将汇聚在这片让他威名远扬的土地上，颂扬、祝福他的名字直至千秋万代，那么，虽有残年老岁病痛的折磨、虽有困窘的烦忧、虽有凉薄的大众的忽视、虽有忘恩负义的君王的不义，他宽宏的心灵也必将得到抚慰。
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