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TheSongoftheRiverW.SMaughamYouhearitallalongtheriver.Youhearit,loudandstrong,fromtherowersastheyurgethejunkwithitshighstern,themastlashedalongside,downtheswiftrunningstream.Youhearitfromthetrackers,amorebreathlesschant,astheypulldesperatelyagainstthecurrent,halfadozenofthemperhapsiftheyaretakingupwupan,acoupleofhundrediftheyarehaulingasplendidjunk,itssquaresailset,overarapid.Onthejunk,amanstandsamidshipsbeatingadrumincessantlytoguidetheirefforts,andtheypullwithalltheirstrength,likemenpossessed,bentdouble;andsometimesintheextremityoftheirtravailtheycrawontheground,onallfours,likethebeastsofthefield.Theystrain,strainfiercely,againstthepitilessmightofthestream.Theleadergoesupanddownthelineandwhenheseesonewhoisnotputtingallhiswillintothetaskhebringsdownhissplitbambooonthenakedback.Eachonemustdohisutmostorthelabourofallisvain.Andstilltheysingavehement,eagerchant,thechantoftheturbulentwaters.Idonotknowwordscandescribewhatthereisinitofeffort.Itservestoexpressthestrainingheart,thebreakingmuscles,andatthesametimetheindomitablespiritofmanwhichovercomesthepitilessforceofnature.Thoughtheropemaypartandthegreatjunkswingback,intheendtherapidwillbepassed;andatthecloseofthewearydaythereistheheartymeal...Butthemostagonizingsongisthesongofthecoolieswhobringthegreatbalesfromthejunkupthesteepstepstothetownwall.Upanddowntheygo,endlessly,andendlessastheirtoilrisestheirrhythmiccry.He,aw--ah,oh.Theyarebarefootandnakedtothewaist.Thesweatpoursdowntheirfacesandtheirsongisagroanofpain.Itisasighofdespair.Itisheart-rending.Itishardlyhuman.Itisthecryofsoulsininfinitedistress,onlyjustmusical,andthatlastnoteistheultimatesobofhumanity.Lifeistoohard,toocruel,andthisisthefinaldespairingprotest.Thatisthesongoftheriver.大河的咏叹威廉.S.毛姆顺着河沿一路走过，你总能听到划手们高亢雄壮的号子声。在湍急的河水中，他们操控着帆船顺流而下。帆船的船尾高高翘起，桅杆不住的摆动。你还会听到纤夫们无声的吟唱。他们或者五六个人拉一个五板，又或者几百人拖一艘巨大的横帆帆船，逆着河水奋力地穿过一个又一个湍流。在帆船的船腹，一个男人不住地敲击出鼓点，指挥着纤夫们。纤夫们像是被鼓声占据心智一般竭尽全力地拉扯着纤绳。他们弓着腰，有时甚至爬行在大地上，像荒野的野兽一般，奋力的前行。他们用力、用力、再用力，与无情冷漠的河流抗争。一个工头在纤夫的队伍中来回地巡视着，当发现有谁没有尽全力，他手中的竹条便会抽打到谁赤裸的背上。每一个人都要竭力地去拉帆船，否则一切的努力都将化为徒劳。湍流河水的激荡奏响了纤夫们的歌，澎湃而热切。我不知道该如何用文字描述这歌声中蕴含的艰辛。但我知道这歌声是纤夫们受尽磨难的心，是他们伤痕累累的身躯，是他们顽强不屈的意志。而这意志将最终战胜大自然的冷漠。纤绳可能会断，逆流而上的帆船可能会不进反退，但纤夫终将会赢得这场战斗。而经历过一天的劳累，他们能吃上一顿饱饭……但最悲痛的歌声是那些苦力的歌声。他们沿着陡峭的台阶把纤夫们的苦难一阶一阶地升到城墙上。他们从城墙上上上下下，唱着永不止息的歌。呀~哈~吼~他们光着脚，赤裸着上身，脸上布满了涌动的汗水。这歌声是他们痛苦的呻吟，无望的叹息；是他们极度的悲痛的心；是他们灵魂无尽伤悲后的嘶鸣。而只有歌声、这无休止的歌声才能传达出人类最大的苦痛。“哀民“生之多艰。而这大河的咏叹则是对生活最后的绝望的抗议。这咏叹是大河的呜咽。