《四季随笔》是吉辛的散文代表作。其中对隐士赖克罗夫特醉心于书籍、自然景色与回忆过去生活的描述，其实是吉辛的自述，作者以此来抒发自己的情感，因而本书是一部富有自传色彩的小品文集。

吉辛穷困的一生，对文学名著的爱好与追求，以及对大自然恬静生活的向往，在书中均有充分的反映。本书分为春、夏、秋、冬四个部分，文笔优美，行文流畅，是英国文学中小品文的珍品之一。

以下是由网友分享的《四季随笔》节选 - 夏 05的内容，让我们一起来感受吉辛的四季吧!

On Sunday I come down later than usual; I make a change of dress, for it is fitting that the day of spiritual rest should lay aside the livery of the laborious week. For me, indeed, there is no labour at any time, but nevertheless does Sunday bring me repose. I share in the common tranquility; my thought escapes the workaday world more completely than on other days.

礼拜日，我下楼比平时要晚一些。我换了身衣服，在这个灵魂休憩的日子，将平日劳动时穿的衣服换下是适宜的。其实，我并没有劳动的时候，但礼拜日还是带给我休息的感觉。我分享着那份共同的平静，思绪比其他日子更彻底地逃避了这个忙碌劳作的世界。

It is not easy to see how this house of mine can make to itself a Sunday quiet, for at all times it is well-nigh soundless; yet I find a difference. My housekeeper comes into the room with her Sunday smile; she is happier for the day, and the sight of her happiness gives me pleasure. She speaks, if possible, in a softer voice; she wears a garment which reminds me that there is only the lightest and cleanest housework to be done. She will go to church, morning and evening, and I know that she is better for it. During her absence I sometimes look into rooms which on other days I never enter; it is merely to gladden my eyes with the shining cleanliness, the perfect order, I am sure to find in the good woman's domain. But for that spotless and sweet-smelling kitchen, what would it avail me to range my books and hang my pictures? All the tranquility of my life depends upon the honest care of this woman who lives and works unseen. And I am sure that the money I pay her is the least part of her reward. She is such an old-fashioned person that the mere discharge of what she deems a duty is in itself an end to her, and the work of her hands in itself a satisfaction, a pride.

在我的房子里，要营造一种礼拜日的安谧并不容易，因为它在任何时候都几乎是悄无声息的。但我发现在这一天，它也有所不同。我的管家走了进来，脸上挂着她礼拜日的微笑；她因为这一天而显得更高兴，而看到她高兴，我的心情也愉快起来。如果可能，她的声音要比平日更加温和。看到她身上的衣服，我知道只有最轻松干净的家务活需要做。她今天会去教堂，早晚各一次，我知道她会因此变得更好。她出门的时候，我有时会到平常从不进去的房间瞧一瞧，只是为了让我的眼睛欣赏一下那种闪亮的窗明几净，那种完美的井井有条，我可以肯定只有善良女人的管辖地才会如此。如果没有这间一尘不染、气息怡人的厨房，理书挂画对我有什么意义呢？我生活全部的平静都仰仗这位女士的精心照料，而她的工作和起居很少让我看到。我肯定自己付给她的钱是她的酬劳中最微不足道的部分。她是一个很老派的人，履行责任本身在她看来就是目的，工作本身就是一种满足、一种骄傲。

When a child, I was permitted to handle on Sunday certain books which could not be exposed to the more careless usage of common days; volumes finely illustrated, or the more handsome editions of familiar authors, or works which, merely by their bulk, demanded special care. Happily, these books were all of the higher rank in literature, and so there came to be established in my mind an association between the day of rest and names which are the greatest in verse and prose. Through my life this habit has remained with me; I have always wished to spend some part of the Sunday quiet with books which, at most times, it is fatally easy to leave aside, one's very knowledge and love of them serving as an excuse for their neglect in favour of print which has the attraction of newness. Homer and Virgil, Milton and Shakespeare; not many Sundays have gone by without my opening one or other of these. Not many Sundays? Nay, that is to exaggerate, as one has the habit of doing. Let me say rather that, on many a rest-day I have found mind and opportunity for such reading. Nowadays mind and opportunity fail me never. I may take down my Homer or my Shakespeare when I choose, but it is still on Sunday that I feel it most becoming to seek the privilege of their companionship. For these great ones, crowned with immortality, do not respond to him who approaches them as though hurried by temporal care. There befits the garment of solemn leisure, the thought attuned to peace. I open the volume somewhat formally; is it not sacred, if the word has any meaning at all? And, as I read, no interruption can befall me. The note of a linnet, the humming of a bee, these are the sounds about my sanctuary. The page scarce rustles as it turns.

儿时，在礼拜日这一天，我会获准翻看一些平日不能随便乱动的书，比如，有精美插图的书，名家的精装本，还有一些单凭块头就需要特别关照的书。令人高兴的是，这些书全部都是文学中的精品，所以在我的头脑中，休息日便和最伟大的诗歌散文之间建立了一种联系。我在多年的生活中一直保持着这一习惯：在星期天，我总希望和一些平日极容易丢在一旁的书安静地度过一些时光，对它们的熟识和热爱往往成为冷落它们而选择新书的借口。荷马和维吉尔，弥尔顿和莎士比亚，多少个星期天过去了，我没有一个星期天不打开它们中的一本书。很多星期天吗？不，这是夸张，我们都习惯这么说而已。这样说吧，在许多个星期天，我都有心情和机会来读这些书。现在，我随时都有这样的心情和机会。只要愿意，我可以随手取下荷马或莎士比亚，但我依然觉得在礼拜日享受它们的陪伴最适宜。因为这些被冠以不朽之名的伟大作品不会回报那些似乎被世俗杂务所扰而匆忙阅读它们的人。读这些作品，要换上一件端庄休闲的衣服，让思绪平静下来。我郑重其事地打开一本书，难道不是神圣的吗，如果这个形容词还有任何意义的话？而在我读书时，也没有任何干扰。朱顶雀的歌声，蜜蜂的嗡鸣，这些是我的“圣殿”周围的声音。书页翻动时，连沙沙声都少有。