The crows sailing overhead perhaps watched me while I took this survey.

我这么观察着的时候，在头顶滑翔的乌鸦们也许正俯视着我。

I wonder what they thought.

我不知道它们在想什么，

They must have considered I was very careful and timid at first, and that gradually I grew very bold and reckless.

它们一定以为起初我十分小心和胆怯，但渐渐地我变得大胆而鲁莽了。

A peep, and then a long stare; and then a departure from my niche and a straying out into the meadow;

我先是窥视一下，随后久久盯着，再后是离开我躲藏的角落，不经意走进了草地，

and a sudden stop full in front of the great mansion, and a protracted, hardy gaze towards it.

突然在府宅正面停下脚步，久久地死盯着它。

"What affectation of diffidence was this at first?"

“起初为什么装模做样羞羞答答？”

they might have demanded;

乌鸦们也许会问，

"what stupid regardlessness now?"

“而这会儿又为什么傻里傻气，不顾一切了？”

Hear an illustration, reader.

读者呀，且听我解释。

A lover finds his mistress asleep on a mossy bank; he wishes to catch a glimpse of her fair face without waking her.

一位情人发现他的爱人睡在长满青苔的河岸上，他希望看一眼她漂亮的面孔而不惊醒她。

He steals softly over the grass, careful to make no sound;

他悄悄地踏上草地，注意不发出一点声响，

he pauses -- fancying she has stirred: he withdraws: not for worlds would he be seen.

他停下脚步——想象她翻了个身。他往后退去，千方百计要不让她看到。

All is still: he again advances: he bends above her;

四周万籁俱寂。他再次往前走去，向她低下头去。

a light veil rests on her features: he lifts it, bends lower;

她的脸上盖着一块轻纱。他揭开面纱，身子弯得更低了。

now his eyes anticipate the vision of beauty -- warm, and blooming, and lovely, in rest.

这会儿他的眼睛期待着看到这个美人儿——安睡中显得热情、年青和可爱。

How hurried was their first glance! But how they fix!

他的第一眼多么急不可耐！但他两眼发呆了：

How he starts! How he suddenly and vehemently clasps in both arms the form he dared not, a moment since, touch with his finger!

他多么吃惊！他又何等突然，何等激烈地紧紧抱住不久之前连碰都不敢碰的这个躯体，用手指去碰它！

How he calls aloud a name, and drops his burden, and gazes on it wildly!

他大声呼叫着一个名字，放下了抱着的身躯，狂乱地直愣愣瞧着它。

He thus grasps and cries, and gazes, because he no longer fears to waken by any sound he can utter -- by any movement he can make.

他于是紧抱着，呼叫着，凝视着，因为他不再担心他发出的任何声音，所做的任何动作会把她惊醒。

He thought his love slept sweetly: he finds she is stone dead.

他以为他的爱人睡得很甜。但此发现她早己死去了。