Мертві душі

           Thustheviewfrombelowisbeautifulindeed.Buttheviewfromaboveisevenbetter.Noguest,novisitor,couldstandonthebalconyofthemansionandremainindifferent.Soboundlessisthepanoramarevealedthatsurprisewouldcausehimtocatchathisbreath,andexclaim:“LordofHeaven,butwhataprospect!”Beyondmeadowsstuddedwithspinneysandwater-millslieforestsbeltedwithgreen;whilebeyond,again,therecanbeseenshowingthroughtheslightlymistyairstripsofyellowheath,and,again,wide-rollingforests(asblueastheseaoracloud),andmoreheath,palerthanthefirst,butstillyellow.Finally,onthefarhorizonarangeofchalk-toppedhillsgleamswhite,evenindullweather,asthoughitwerelightenedwithperpetualsunshine;andhereandthereonthedazzlingwhitenessofitslowerslopessomeplaster-like,nebulouspatchesrepresentfar-offvillageswhichlietooremotefortheeyetodiscerntheirdetails.Indeed,onlywhenthesunlighttouchesasteepletogolddoesonerealisethateachsuchpatchisahumansettlement.Finally,alliswrappedinanimmensityofsilencewhicheventhefar,faintechoesofpersonssinginginthevoidoftheplaincannotshatter.