Останній з Могікан
Chapter 18
Thathumidandcongenialatmospherewhichcommonlyadornedtheview,veilingitsharshness,andsofteningitsasperities,haddisappeared,andthenorthernairpouredacrossthewasteofwatersoharshandunmingled,thatnothingwaslefttobeconjecturedbytheeye,orfashionedbythefancy.
Thefiercerelementhadcroppedtheverdureoftheplain,whichlookedasthoughitwerescathedbytheconsuminglightning.But,hereandthere,adarkgreentuftroseinthemidstofthedesolation;theearliestfruitsofasoilthathadbeenfattenedwithhumanblood.Thewholelandscape,which,seenbyafavoringlight,andinagenialtemperature,hadbeenfoundsolovely,appearednowlikesomepicturedallegoryoflife,inwhichobjectswerearrayedintheirharshestbuttruestcolors,andwithoutthereliefofanyshadowing.
Thesolitaryandaridbladesofgrassarosefromthepassinggustsfearfullyperceptible;theboldandrockymountainsweretoodistinctintheirbarrenness,andtheeyeevensoughtrelief,invain,byattemptingtopiercetheillimitablevoidofheaven,whichwasshuttoitsgazebytheduskysheetofraggedanddrivingvapor.
Thewindblewunequally;sometimessweepingheavilyalongtheground,seemingtowhisperitsmoaningsinthecoldearsofthedead,thenrisinginashrillandmournfulwhistling,itenteredtheforestwitharushthatfilledtheairwiththeleavesandbranchesitscatteredinitspath.
