Further reading and thinking, though they brought this vague　inclination into more reasonable bounds, only served to make it more　decided. I visited various parts of my own country; and had I been　merely a lover of fine scenery, I should have felt little desire to　seek elsewhere its gratification, for on no country have the charms of　nature been more prodigally lavished. Her mighty lakes, like oceans of　liquid silver; her mountains, with their bright aerial tints; her　valleys, teeming with wild fertility; her tremendous cataracts,　thundering in their solitudes; her boundless plains, waving with　spontaneous verdure; her broad deep rivers, rolling in solemn　silence to the ocean; her trackless forests, where vegetation puts　forth all its magnificence; her skies, kindling with the magic of　summer clouds and glorious sunshine;- no, never need an American　look beyond his own country for the sublime and beautiful of natural　scenery.

　　此种爱好，当时不过朦朦胧胧;以后读书更多，思想更广，爱好亦更具有理性，更加明确。我到美国各地游览。但我并非仅喜爱美丽风光——果真如此，便毋须去国外旅游，因自然赐予美国的妩媚，并不少于其他国家。美国有辽阔的湖水，银波闪闪;有巍峨的群山，色彩鲜明;有富饶的山谷，植物茂密，鸟兽众多;有巨大的瀑布，在幽静的山中隆隆作响;有广袤的平原，草木青葱起伏，天然而成;有深广的河流，庄严肃穆地流向海洋;有人迹罕至的森林，宏伟壮观;有蓝蓝的天空，夏日彩云飞舞，阳光灿烂，魅力无穷。不，美国人若欲观赏壮丽美景，美国已绰绰有余，无需他求了。

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（编辑：王美娇）