《种树的牧羊人》旁白英文原文

（http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/002609.html）[ThefollowingEnglishtranslationofJeanGionosoriginalessayinFrenchbyPeterDoyleisapublicdomaintext.Foryourconvenience,werereproducingithereinitsentirety.FoundviatheexcellentMingtheMechanic.]TheManWhoPlantedTrees【Inorderforthecharacterofahumanbeingtorevealtrulyexceptionalqualities,wemusthavethegoodfortunetoobserveitsactionoveralongperiodofyears.Ifthisactionisdevoidofallselfishness,iftheideathatdirectsitisoneofunqualifiedgenerosity,ifitisabsolutelycertainthatithasnotsoughtrecompenseanywhere,andifmoreoverithasleftvisiblemarksontheworld,thenweareunquestionablydealingwithanunforgettablecharacter.AboutfortyyearsagoIwentonalonghike,throughhillsabsolutelyunknowntotourists,inthatveryoldregionwheretheAlpspenetrateintoProvence.Thisregionisboundedtothesouth-eastandsouthbythemiddlecourseoftheDurance,betweenSisteronandMirabeau;tothenorthbytheuppercourseoftheDr?me,fromitssourcedowntoDie;tothewestbytheplainsofComtatVenaissinandtheoutskirtsofMontVentoux.ItincludesallthenorthernpartoftheDépartementofBasses-Alpes,thesouthofDr?meandalittleenclaveofVaucluse.AtthetimeIundertookmylongwalkthroughthisdesertedregion,itconsistedofbarrenandmonotonouslands,atabout1200to1300metersabovesealevel.Nothinggrewthereexceptwildlavender.】Iwascrossingthiscountryatitswidestpart,andafterwalkingforthreedays,Ifoundmyselfinthemostcompletedesolation.Iwascampednexttotheskeletonofanabandonedvillage.IhadusedthelastofmywaterthedaybeforeandIneededtofindmore.Eventhoughtheywereinruins,thesehousesallhuddledtogetherandlookinglikeanoldwaspsnestmademethinkthattheremustatonetimehavebeenaspringorawellthere.Therewasindeedaspring,butitwasdry.Thefiveorsixrooflesshouses,ravagedbysunandwind,andthesmallchapelwithitstumble-downbelfry,werearrayedlikethehousesandchapelsoflivingvillages,butalllifehaddisappeared.ItwasabeautifulJunedaywithplentyofsun,butontheseshelterlesslands,highupinthesky,thewindwhistledwithanunendurablebrutality.Itsgrowlinginthecarcassesofthehouseswaslikethatofawildbeastdisturbedduringitsmeal.Ihadtomovemycamp.Afterfivehoursofwalking,Istillhadntfoundwater,andnothinggavemehopeoffindingany.Everywheretherewasthesamedryness,thesamestiff,woodyplants.IthoughtIsawinthedistanceasmallblacksilhouette.OnachanceIheadedtowardsit.Itwasashepherd.Thirtylambsorsowererestingnearhimonthescorchingground.Hegavemeadrinkfromhisgourdandalittlelaterheledmetohisshepherdscottage,tuckeddowninanundulationoftheplateau.Hedrewhiswater-excellent-fromanaturalhole,verydeep,abovewhichhehadinstalledarudimentarywindlass.Thismanspokelittle.Thisiscommonamongthosewholivealone,butheseemedsureofhimself,andconfidentinthisassurance,whichseemedremarkableinthislandshornofeverything.Helivednotinacabinbutinarealhouseofstone,fromthelooksofwhichitwasclearthathisownlaborhadrestoredtheruinshehadfoundonhisarrival.Hisroofwassolidandwater-tight.Thewindstruckagainsttherooftileswiththesoundoftheseacrashingonthebeach.Hishouseholdwasinorder,hisdisheswashed,hisfloorswept,hisriflegreased;hissoupboiledoverthefire;Inoticedthenthathewasalsofreshlyshaven,thatallhisbuttonsweresolidlysewn,andthathisclothesweremendedwithsuchcareastomakethepatchesinvisible.Hesharedhissoupwithme,andwhenafterwardsIofferedhimmytobaccopouch,hetoldmethathedidntsmoke.Hisdog,assilentashe,wasfriendlywithoutbeingfawning.IthadbeenagreedimmediatelythatIwouldpassthenightthere,theclosestvillagebeingstillmorethanadayandahalffartheron.Furthermore,Iunderstoodperfectlywellthecharacteroftherarevillagesofthatregion.Therearefourorfiveofthemdispersedfarfromoneanotherontheflanksofthehills,ingrovesofwhiteoaksattheveryendsofroadspassablebycarriage.Theyareinhabitedbywoodcutterswhomakecharcoal.Theyareplaceswherethelivingispoor.Thefamilies,pressedtogetherinclosequartersbyaclimatethatisexceedinglyharsh,insummeraswellasinwinter,struggleevermoreselfishlyagainsteachother.Irrationalcontentiongrowsbeyondallbounds,fueledbyacontinuousstruggletoescapefromthatplace.Themencarrytheircharcoaltothecitiesintheirtrucks,andthenreturn.ThemostsolidqualitiescrackunderthisperpetualScottishshower.Thewomenstirupbitterness.Thereiscompetitionovereverything,fromthesaleofcharcoaltothebenchesatchurch.Thevirtuesfightamongstthemselves,thevicesfightamongstthemselves,andthereisaceaselessgeneralcombatbetweenthevicesandthevirtues.Ontopofallthat,theequallyceaselesswindirritatesthenerves.Thereareepidemicsofsuicidesandnumerouscasesofinsanity,almostalwaysmurderous.Theshepherd,whodidnotsmoke,tookoutabagandpouredapileofacornsoutontothetable.Hebegantoexaminethemoneafteranotherwithagreatdealofattention,separatingthegoodonesfromthebad.Ismokedmypipe.Iofferedtohelphim,buthetoldmeitwashisownbusiness.Indeed,seeingthecarethathedevotedtothisjob,Ididnotinsist.Thiswasourwholeconversation.Whenhehadinthegoodpileafairnumberofacorns,hecountedthemoutintopacketsoften.Indoingthisheeliminatedsomemoreoftheacorns,discardingthesmalleronesandthosethatthatshowedeventheslightestcrack,forheexaminedthemveryclosely.Whenhehadbeforehimonehundredperfectacornshestopped,andwewenttobed.Thecompanyofthismanbroughtmeafeelingofpeace.IaskedhimthenextmorningifImightstayandrestthewholedaywithhim.Hefoundthatperfectlynatural.Ormoreexactly,hegavemetheimpressionthatnothingcoulddisturbhim.Thisrestwasnotabsolutelynecessarytome,butIwasintriguedandIwantedtofindoutmoreaboutthisman.Heletouthisflockandtookthemtothepasture.Beforeleaving,hesoakedinabucketofwaterthelittlesackcontainingtheacornsthathehadsocarefullychosenandcounted.Inotedthathecarriedasasortofwalkingstickanironrodasthickashisthumbandaboutoneandahalfmeterslong.Isetofflikesomeoneoutforastroll,followingarouteparalleltohis.Hissheeppasturelayatthebottomofasmallvalley.HelefthisflockinthechargeofhisdogandclimbeduptowardsthespotwhereIwasstanding.Iwasafraidthathewascomingtoreproachmeformyindiscretion,butnotatall:ItwashisownrouteandheinvitedmetocomealongwithhimifIhadnothingbettertodo.Hecontinuedonanothertwohundredmetersupthehill.Havingarrivedattheplacehehadbeenheadingfor,hebegintopoundhisironrodintotheground.Thismadeaholeinwhichheplacedanacorn,whereuponhecoveredovertheholeagain.Hewasplantingoaktrees.Iaskedhimifthelandbelongedtohim.Heansweredno.Didheknowwhoselanditwas?Hedidnotknow.Hesupposedthatitwascommunalland,orperhapsitbelongedtosomeonewhodidnotcareaboutit.Hehimselfdidnotcaretoknowwhotheownerswere.Inthiswayheplantedhisonehundredacornswithgreatcare.Afterthenoonmeal,hebeganoncemoretopickoverhisacorns.Imusthaveputenoughinsistenceintomyquestions,becauseheansweredthem.Forthreeyearsnowhehadbeenplantingtreesinthissolitaryway.Hehadplantedonehundredthousand.Oftheseonehundredthousand,twentythousandhadcomeup.HecountedonlosinganotherhalfofthemtorodentsandtoeverythingelsethatisunpredictableinthedesignsofProvidence.Thatlefttenthousandoaksthatwouldgrowinthisplacewherebeforetherewasnothing.ItwasatthismomentthatIbegantowonderabouthisage.Hewasclearlymorethanfifty.Fifty-five,hetoldme.HisnamewasElzéardBouffier.Hehadownedafarmintheplains,wherehelivedmostofhislife.Hehadlosthisonlyson,andthenhiswife.Hehadretiredintothissolitude,wherehetookpleasureinlivingslowly,withhisflockofsheepandhisdog.Hehadconcludedthatthiscountrywasdyingforlackoftrees.Headdedthat,havingnothingmoreimportanttodo,hehadresolvedtoremedythesituation.LeadingasIdidatthetimeasolitarylife,despitemyyouth,Iknewhowtotreatthesoulsofsolitarypeoplewithdelicacy.Still,Imadeamistake.Itwaspreciselymyyouththatforcedmetoimaginethefutureinmyownterms,includingacertainsearchforhappiness.Itoldhimthatinthirtyyearsthesetenthousandtreeswouldbemagnificent.Herepliedverysimplythat,ifGodgavehimlife,inthirtyyearshewouldhaveplantedsomanyothertreesthatthesetenthousandwouldbelikeadropofwaterintheocean.Hehadalsobeguntostudythepropagationofbeeches.andhehadnearhishouseanurseryfilledwithseedlingsgrownfrombeechnuts.Hislittlewards,whichhehadprotectedfromhissheepbyascreenfence,weregrowingbeautifully.Hewasalsoconsideringbirchesforthevalleybottomswhere,hetoldme,moisturelayslumberingjustafewmetersbeneaththesurfaceofthesoil.Wepartedthenextday.Thenextyearthewarof14came,inwhichIwasengagedforfiveyears.Aninfantrymancouldhardlythinkabouttrees.Totellthetruth,thewholebusinesshadntmadeaverydeepimpressiononme;Itookittobeahobby,likeastampcollection,andforgotaboutit.Withthewarbehindme,Ifoundmyselfwithasmalldemobilizationbonusandagreatdesiretobreathealittlepureair.Withoutanypreconceivednotionbeyondthat,Istruckoutagainalongthetrailthroughthatdesertedcountry.Thelandhadnotchanged.Nonetheless,beyondthatdeadvillageIperceivedinthedistanceasortofgrayfogthatcoveredthehillslikeacarpet.EversincethedaybeforeIhadbeenthinkingabouttheshepherdwhoplantedtrees.Tenthousandoaks,Ihadsaidtomyself,mustreallytakeupalotofspace.IhadseentoomanypeopledieduringthosefiveyearsnottobeabletoimagineeasilythedeathofElzéardBouffier,especiallysincewhenamanistwentyhethinksofamanoffiftyasanoldcodgerforwhomnothingremainsbuttodie.Hewasnotdead.Infact,hewasveryspry.Hehadchangedhisjob.Heonlyhadfoursheepnow,buttomakeupforthishehadaboutahundredbeehives.Hehadgottenridofthesheepbecausetheythreatenedhiscropoftrees.Hetoldme(asindeedIcouldseeformyself)thatthewarhadnotdisturbedhimatall.Hehadcontinuedimperturbablywithhisplanting.Theoaksof1910werenowtenyearsoldandweretallerthanmeandthanhim.Thespectaclewasimpressive.Iwasliterallyspeechlessand,ashedidntspeakhimself,wepassedthewholedayinsilence,walkingthroughhisforest.Itwasinthreesections,elevenkilometerslongoveralland,atitswidestpoint,threekilometerswide.WhenIconsideredthatthishadallsprungfromthehandsandfromthesoulofthisoneman-withouttechnicalaids-,itstruckmethatmencouldbeaseffectiveasGodindomainsotherthandestruction.Hehadfollowedhisidea,andthebeechesthatreacheduptomyshouldersandextendingasfarastheeyecouldseeborewitnesstoit.Theoakswerenowgoodandthick,andhadpassedtheagewheretheywereatthemercyofrodents;asforthedesignsofProvidence,todestroytheworkthathadbeencreatedwouldhenceforthrequireacyclone.Heshowedmeadmirablestandsofbirchesthatdatedfromfiveyearsago,thatistosayfrom1915,whenIhadbeenfightingatVerdun.Hehadplantedtheminthevalleybottomswherehehadsuspected,correctly,thattherewaswaterclosetothesurface.Theywereastenderasyounggirls,andverydetermined.Thiscreationhadtheair,moreover,ofworkingbyachainreaction.Hehadnottroubledaboutit;hewentonobstinatelywithhissimpletask.But,ingoingbackdowntothevillage,Isawwaterrunninginstreamsthat,withinlivingmemory,hadalwaysbeendry.Itwasthemoststrikingrevivalthathehadshownme.Thesestreamshadbornewaterbefore,inancientdays.CertainofthesadvillagesthatIspokeofatthebeginningofmyaccounthadbeenbuiltonthesitesofancientGallo-Romanvillages,ofwhichtherestillremainedtraces;archeologistsdiggingtherehadfoundfishhooksinplaceswhereinmorerecenttimescisternswererequiredinordertohavealittlewater.Thewindhadalsobeenatwork,dispersingcertainseeds.Asthewaterreappeared,sotoodidwillows,osiers,meadows,gardens,flowers,andacertainreasontolive.Butthetransformationhadtakenplacesoslowlythatithadbeentakenforgranted,withoutprovokingsurprise.Thehunterswhoclimbedthehillsinsearchofharesorwildboarshadnoticedthespreadingofthelittletrees,buttheysetitdowntothenaturalspitefulnessoftheearth.Thatiswhynoonehadtouchedtheworkofthisman.Iftheyhadsuspectedhim,theywouldhavetriedtothwarthim.Buthenevercameundersuspicion:Whoamongthevillagersortheadministratorswouldeverhavesuspectedthatanyonecouldshowsuchobstinacyincarryingoutthismagnificentactofgenerosity?Beginningin1920IneverletmorethanayeargobywithoutpayingavisittoElzéardBouffier.Ineversawhimwaverordoubt,thoughGodalonecantellwhenGodsownhandisinathing!Ihavesaidnothingofhisdisappointments,butyoucaneasilyimaginethat,forsuchanaccomplishment,itwasnecessarytoconqueradversity;that,toassurethevictoryofsuchapassion,itwasnecessarytofightagainstdespair.Oneyearhehadplantedtenthousandmaples.Theyalldied.Thenextyear,hegaveuponmaplesandwentbacktobeeches,whichdidevenbetterthantheoaks.Togetatrueideaofthisexceptionalcharacter,onemustnotforgetthatheworkedintotalsolitude;sototalthat,towardtheendofhislife,helostthehabitoftalking.Ormaybehejustdidntseetheneedforit.In1933hereceivedthevisitofanastonishedforestranger.Thisfunctionaryorderedhimtoceasebuildingfiresoutdoors,forfearofendangeringthisnaturalforest.Itwasthefirsttime,thisnaivemantoldhim,thataforesthadbeenobservedtogrowupentirelyonitsown.Atthetimeofthisincident,hewasthinkingofplantingbeechesataspottwelvekilometersfromhishouse.Toavoidthecomingandgoing-becauseatthetimehewasseventy-fiveyearsold-heplannedtobuildacabinofstoneoutwherehewasdoinghisplanting.Thishedidthenextyear.In1935,averitableadministrativedelegationwenttoexaminethis?naturalforest?.TherewasanimportantpersonagefromWatersandForests,adeputy,andsometechnicians.Manyuselesswordswerespoken.Itwasdecidedtodosomething,butluckilynothingwasdone,exceptforonetrulyusefulthing:placingtheforestundertheprotectionoftheStateandforbiddinganyonefromcomingtheretomakecharcoal.Foritwasimpossiblenottobetakenwiththebeautyoftheseyoungtreesinfullhealth.Andtheforestexerciseditsseductivepowersevenonthedeputyhimself.Ihadafriendamongthechiefforesterswhowerewiththedelegation.Iexplainedthemysterytohim.Onedaythenextweek,wewentofftogethertolookforElzéardBouffier,Wefoundhimhardatwork,twentykilometersawayfromtheplacewheretheinspectionhadtakenplace.Thischiefforesterwasnotmyfriendfornothing.Heunderstoodthevalueofthings.Heknewhowtoremainsilent.IofferedupsomeeggsIhadbroughtwithmeasagift.Wesplitoursnackthreeways,andthenpassedseveralhoursinmutecontemplationofthelandscape.Thehillsidewhencewehadcomewascoveredwithtreessixorsevenmetershigh.Irememberedthelookoftheplacein1913:adesert...Thepeacefulandsteadylabor,thevibranthighlandair,hisfrugality,andaboveall,theserenityofhissoulhadgiventheoldmanakindofsolemngoodhealth.HewasanathleteofGod.Iaskedmyselfhowmanyhectareshehadyettocoverwithtrees.Beforeleaving,myfriendmadeasimplesuggestionconcerningcertainspeciesoftreestowhichtheterrainseemedtobeparticularlywellsuited.Hewasnotinsistent.?Fortheverygoodreason,?hetoldmeafterwards,?thatthisfellowknowsalotmoreaboutthissortofthingthanIdo.?Afteranotherhourofwalking,thisthoughthavingtravelledalongwithhim,headded:quot;Heknowsalotmoreaboutthissortofthingthananybody-andhehasfoundajollygoodwayofbeinghappy!quot;Itwasthankstotheeffortsofthischiefforesterthattheforestwasprotected,andwithit,thehappinessofthisman.Hedesignatedthreeforestrangersfortheirprotection,andterrorizedthemtosuchanextentthattheyremainedindifferenttoanyjugsofwinethatthewoodcuttersmightofferasbribes.Theforestdidnotrunanygraverisksexceptduringthewarof1939.Thenautomobileswerebeingrunonwoodalcohol,andtherewasneverenoughwood.Theybegantocutsomeofthestandsoftheoaksof1910,butthetreesstoodsofarfromanyusefulroadthattheenterpriseturnedouttobebadfromafinancialpointofview,andwassoonabandoned.Theshepherdneverknewanythingaboutit.Hewasthirtykilometersaway,peacefullycontinuinghistask,asuntroubledbythewarof39ashehadbeenofthewarof14.IsawElzéardBouffierforthelasttimeinJuneof1945.Hewastheneighty-sevenyearsold.Ihadoncemoresetoffalongmytrailthroughthewilderness,onlytofindthatnow,inspiteoftheshamblesinwhichthewarhadleftthewholecountry,therewasamotorcoachrunningbetweenthevalleyoftheDuranceandthemountain.IsetdowntothisrelativelyrapidmeansoftransportationthefactthatInolongerrecognizedthelandmarksIknewfrommyearliervisits.Italsoseemedthattheroutewastakingmethroughentirelynewplaces.IhadtoaskthenameofavillagetobesurethatIwasindeedpassingthroughthatsameregion,oncesoruinedanddesolate.ThecoachsetmedownatVergons.In1913,thishamletoftenortwelvehouseshadhadthreeinhabitants.Theyweresavages,hatingeachother,andearningtheirlivingbytrapping:Physicallyandmorally,theyresembledprehistoricmen.Thenettlesdevouredtheabandonedhousesthatsurroundedthem.Theirliveswerewithouthope,itwasonlyamatterofwaitingfordeathtocome:asituationthathardlypredisposesonetovirtue.Allthathadchanged,eventotheairitself.Inplaceofthedry,brutalguststhathadgreetedmelongago,agentlebreezewhisperedtome,bearingsweetodors.Asoundlikethatofrunningwatercamefromtheheightsabove:Itwasthesoundofthewindinthetrees.Andmostastonishingofall,Iheardthesoundofrealwaterrunningintoapool.Isawthattheyhadbuiltafountain,thatitwasfullofwater,andwhattouchedmemost,thatnexttoittheyhadplantedalime-treethatmustbeatleastfouryearsold,alreadygrownthick,anincontestablesymbolofresurrection.Furthermore,Vergonsshowedthesignsoflaborsforwhichhopeisarequirement:Hopemustthereforehavereturned.Theyhadclearedouttheruins,knockeddownthebrokenwalls,andrebuiltfivehouses.Thehamletnowcountedtwenty-eightinhabitants,includingfouryoungfamilies.Thenewhouses,freshlyplastered,weresurroundedbygardensthatbore,mixedinwitheachotherbutstillcarefullylaidout,vegetablesandflowers,cabbagesandrosebushes,leeksandgueules-de-loup,celeryandanemones.Itwasnowaplacewhereanyonewouldbegladtolive.FromthereIcontinuedonfoot.Thewarfromwhichwehadjustbarelyemergedhadnotpermittedlifetovanishcompletely,andnowLazaruswasoutofhistomb.Onthelowerflanksofthemountain,Isawsmallfieldsofbarleyandrye;inthebottomsofthenarrowvalleys,meadowlandswerejustturninggreen.Ithastakenonlytheeightyearsthatnowseparateusfromthattimeforthewholecountryaroundtheretoblossomwithsplendorandease.OnthesiteoftheruinsIhadseenin1913therearenowwell-keptfarms,thesignofahappyandcomfortablelife.Theoldsprings,fedbyrainandsnownowthatarenowretainedbytheforests,haveonceagainbeguntoflow.Thebrookshavebeenchannelled.Besideeachfarm,amidgrovesofmaples,thepoolsoffountainsareborderedbycarpetsoffreshmint.Littlebylittle,thevillageshavebeenrebuilt.Yuppieshavecomefromtheplains,wherelandisexpensive,bringingwiththemyouth,movement,andaspiritofadventure.Walkingalongtheroadsyouwillmeetmenandwomeninfullhealth,andboysandgirlswhoknowhowtolaugh,andwhohaveregainedthetasteforthetraditionalrusticfestivals.Countingboththepreviousinhabitantsofthearea,nowunrecognizablefromlivinginplenty,andthenewarrivals,morethantenthousandpersonsowetheirhappinesstoElzéardBouffier.WhenIconsiderthatasingleman,relyingonlyonhisownsimplephysicalandmoralresources,wasabletotransformadesertintothislandofCanaan,Iamconvincedthatdespiteeverything,thehumanconditionistrulyadmirable.ButwhenItakeintoaccounttheconstancy,thegreatnessofsoul,andtheselflessdedicationthatwasneededtobringaboutthistransformation,Iamfilledwithanimmenserespectforthisold,unculturedpeasantwhoknewhowtobringaboutaworkworthyofGod.ElzéardBouffierdiedpeacefullyin1947atthehospiceinBanon.