Alakeisthelandscape’smostbeautifulandexpressivefeature。
Itisearth’seye；lookingintowhichthebeholdermeasuresthedepthofhisownnature。Thefluviatiletreesnexttheshorearetheslendereyelasheswhichfringeit，andthewoodedhillsandcliffsaroundareitsoverhangingbrows。
Standingonthesmoothsandybeachattheeastendofthepond，inacalmSeptemberafternoon，whenaslighthazemakestheoppositeshore-lineindistinct，Ihaveseenwhencecametheexpression，“theglassysurfaceofalake。“Whenyouinvertyourhead，itlookslikeathreadoffinestgossamerstretchedacrossthevalley，andgleamingagainstthedistantpinewoods，separatingonestratumoftheatmospherefromanother。Youwouldthinkthatyoucouldwalkdryunderittotheoppositehills，andthattheswallowswhichskimovermightperchonit。Indeed，theysometimesdivebelowthisline，asitwerebymistake，andareundeceived。Asyoulookoverthepondwestwardyouareobligedtoemploybothyourhandstodefendyoureyesagainstthereflectedaswellasthetruesun，fortheyareequallybright；andif，betweenthetwo，yousurveyitssurfacecritically，itisliterallyassmoothasglass，exceptwheretheskaterinsects，atequalintervalsscatteredoveritswholeextent，bytheirmotionsinthesunproducethefinestimaginablesparkleonit，or，perchance，aduckplumesitself，or，asIhavesaid，aswallowskimssolowastotouchit。Itmaybethatinthedistanceafishdescribesanarcofthreeorfourfeetintheair，andthereisonebrightflashwhereitemerges，andanotherwhereitstrikesthewater；sometimesthewholesilveryarcisrevealed；orhereandthere，perhaps，isathistle-downfloatingonitssurface，whichthefishesdartatandsodimpleitagain。Itislikemoltenglasscooledbutnotcongealed，andthefewmotesinitarepureandbeautifulliketheimperfectionsinglass。Youmayoftendetectayetsmootheranddarkerwater，separatedfromtherestasifbyaninvisiblecobweb，boomofthewaternymphs，restingonit。Fromahilltopyoucanseeafishleapinalmostanypart；fornotapickerelorshinerpicksaninsectfromthissmoothsurfacebutitmanifestlydisturbstheequilibriumofthewholelake。Itiswonderfulwithwhatelaboratenessthissimplefactisadvertised——
thispiscinemurderwillout——andfrommydistantperchI
distinguishthecirclingundulationswhentheyarehalfadozenrodsindiameter。Youcanevendetectawater-bug(Gyrinus)ceaselesslyprogressingoverthesmoothsurfaceaquarterofamileoff；fortheyfurrowthewaterslightly，makingaconspicuousrippleboundedbytwodiverginglines，buttheskatersglideoveritwithoutripplingitperceptibly。Whenthesurfaceisconsiderablyagitatedtherearenoskatersnorwater-bugsonit，butapparently，incalmdays，theyleavetheirhavensandadventurouslyglideforthfromtheshorebyshortimpulsestilltheycompletelycoverit。Itisasoothingemployment，ononeofthosefinedaysinthefallwhenallthewarmthofthesunisfullyappreciated，tositonastumponsuchaheightasthis，overlookingthepond，andstudythedimplingcircleswhichareincessantlyinscribedonitsotherwiseinvisiblesurfaceamidthereflectedskiesandtrees。Overthisgreatexpansethereisnodisturbancebutitisthusatoncegentlysmoothedawayandassuaged，as，whenavaseofwaterisjarred，thetremblingcirclesseektheshoreandallissmoothagain。Notafishcanleaporaninsectfallonthepondbutitisthusreportedincirclingdimples，inlinesofbeauty，asitweretheconstantwellingupofitsfountain，thegentlepulsingofitslife，theheavingofitsbreast。Thethrillsofjoyandthrillsofpainareundistinguishable。Howpeacefulthephenomenaofthelake！Againtheworksofmanshineasinthespring。Ay，everyleafandtwigandstoneandcobwebsparklesnowatmid-afternoonaswhencoveredwithdewinaspringmorning。Everymotionofanoaroraninsectproducesaflashoflight；andifanoarfalls，howsweettheecho！
Insuchaday，inSeptemberorOctober，Waldenisaperfectforestmirror，setroundwithstonesasprecioustomyeyeasiffewerorrarer。Nothingsofair，sopure，andatthesametimesolarge，asalake，perchance，liesonthesurfaceoftheearth。Skywater。Itneedsnofence。Nationscomeandgowithoutdefilingit。
Itisamirrorwhichnostonecancrack，whosequicksilverwillneverwearoff，whosegildingNaturecontinuallyrepairs；nostorms，nodust，candimitssurfaceeverfresh；——amirrorinwhichallimpuritypresentedtoitsinks，sweptanddustedbythesun’shazybrush——thisthelightdust-cloth——whichretainsnobreaththatisbreathedonit，butsendsitsowntofloatascloudshighaboveitssurface，andbereflectedinitsbosomstill。
Afieldofwaterbetraysthespiritthatisintheair。Itiscontinuallyreceivingnewlifeandmotionfromabove。Itisintermediateinitsnaturebetweenlandandsky。Onlandonlythegrassandtreeswave，butthewateritselfisrippledbythewind。
Iseewherethebreezedashesacrossitbythestreaksorflakesoflight。Itisremarkablethatwecanlookdownonitssurface。Weshall，perhaps，lookdownthusonthesurfaceofairatlength，andmarkwhereastillsubtlerspiritsweepsoverit。
Theskatersandwater-bugsfinallydisappearinthelatterpartofOctober，whentheseverefrostshavecome；andthenandinNovember，usually，inacalmday，thereisabsolutelynothingtoripplethesurface。OneNovemberafternoon，inthecalmattheendofarain-stormofseveraldays’duration，whentheskywasstillcompletelyovercastandtheairwasfullofmist，Iobservedthatthepondwasremarkablysmooth，sothatitwasdifficulttodistinguishitssurface；thoughitnolongerreflectedthebrighttintsofOctober，butthesombreNovembercolorsofthesurroundinghills。ThoughIpassedoveritasgentlyaspossible，theslightundulationsproducedbymyboatextendedalmostasfarasIcouldsee，andgavearibbedappearancetothereflections。But，asIwaslookingoverthesurface，Isawhereandthereatadistanceafaintglimmer，asifsomeskaterinsectswhichhadescapedthefrostsmightbecollectedthere，or，perchance，thesurface，beingsosmooth，betrayedwhereaspringwelledupfromthebottom。Paddlinggentlytooneoftheseplaces，Iwassurprisedtofindmyselfsurroundedbymyriadsofsmallperch，aboutfiveincheslong，ofarichbronzecolorinthegreenwater，sportingthere，andconstantlyrisingtothesurfaceanddimplingit，sometimesleavingbubblesonit。Insuchtransparentandseeminglybottomlesswater，reflectingtheclouds，Iseemedtobefloatingthroughtheairasinaballoon，andtheirswimmingimpressedmeasakindofflightorhovering，asiftheywereacompactflockofbirdspassingjustbeneathmylevelontherightorleft，theirfins，likesails，setallaroundthem。
Thereweremanysuchschoolsinthepond，apparentlyimprovingtheshortseasonbeforewinterwoulddrawanicyshutterovertheirbroadskylight，sometimesgivingtothesurfaceanappearanceasifaslightbreezestruckit，orafewrain-dropsfellthere。WhenI
approachedcarelesslyandalarmedthem，theymadeasuddensplashandripplingwiththeirtails，asifonehadstruckthewaterwithabrushybough，andinstantlytookrefugeinthedepths。Atlengththewindrose，themistincreased，andthewavesbegantorun，andtheperchleapedmuchhigherthanbefore，halfoutofwater，ahundredblackpoints，threeincheslong，atonceabovethesurface。
EvenaslateasthefifthofDecember，oneyear，Isawsomedimplesonthesurface，andthinkingitwasgoingtorainhardimmediately，theairbeingfunofmist，Imadehastetotakemyplaceattheoarsandrowhomeward；alreadytherainseemedrapidlyincreasing，thoughIfeltnoneonmycheek，andIanticipatedathoroughsoaking。Butsuddenlythedimplesceased，fortheywereproducedbytheperch，whichthenoiseofmyoarshadsearedintothedepths，andIsawtheirschoolsdimlydisappearing；soIspentadryafternoonafterall。
Anoldmanwhousedtofrequentthispondnearlysixtyyearsago，whenitwasdarkwithsurroundingforests，tellsmethatinthosedayshesometimessawitallalivewithducksandotherwater-fowl，andthatthereweremanyeaglesaboutit。Hecameherea-fishing，andusedanoldlogcanoewhichhefoundontheshore。
Itwasmadeoftwowhitepinelogsdugoutandpinnedtogether，andwascutoffsquareattheends。Itwasveryclumsy，butlastedagreatmanyyearsbeforeitbecamewater-loggedandperhapssanktothebottom。Hedidnotknowwhoseitwas；itbelongedtothepond。
Heusedtomakeacableforhisanchorofstripsofhickorybarktiedtogether。Anoldman，apotter，wholivedbythepondbeforetheRevolution，toldhimoncethattherewasanironchestatthebottom，andthathehadseenit。Sometimesitwouldcomefloatinguptotheshore；butwhenyouwenttowardit，itwouldgobackintodeepwateranddisappear。Iwaspleasedtohearoftheoldlogcanoe，whichtooktheplaceofanIndianoneofthesamematerialbutmoregracefulconstruction，whichperchancehadfirstbeenatreeonthebank，andthen，asitwere，fellintothewater，tofloatthereforageneration，themostpropervesselforthelake。
IrememberthatwhenIfirstlookedintothesedepthsthereweremanylargetrunkstobeseenindistinctlylyingonthebottom，whichhadeitherbeenblownoverformerly，orleftontheiceatthelastcutting，whenwoodwascheaper；butnowtheyhavemostlydisappeared。
WhenIfirstpaddledaboatonWalden，itwascompletelysurroundedbythickandloftypineandoakwoods，andinsomeofitscovesgrape-vineshadrunoverthetreesnextthewaterandformedbowersunderwhichaboatcouldpass。Thehillswhichformitsshoresaresosteep，andthewoodsonthemwerethensohigh，that，asyoulookeddownfromthewestend，ithadtheappearanceofanamphitheatreforsomelandofsylvanspectacle。Ihavespentmanyanhour，whenIwasyounger，floatingoveritssurfaceasthezephyrwilled，havingpaddledmyboattothemiddle，andlyingonmybackacrosstheseats，inasummerforenoon，dreamingawake，untilIwasarousedbytheboattouchingthesand，andIarosetoseewhatshoremyfateshadimpelledmeto；dayswhenidlenesswasthemostattractiveandproductiveindustry。ManyaforenoonhaveIstolenaway，preferringtospendthusthemostvaluedpartoftheday；forIwasrich，ifnotinmoney，insunnyhoursandsummerdays，andspentthemlavishly；nordoIregretthatIdidnotwastemoreofthemintheworkshoportheteacher’sdesk。ButsinceIleftthoseshoresthewoodchoppershavestillfurtherlaidthemwaste，andnowformanyayeartherewillbenomoreramblingthroughtheaislesofthewood，withoccasionalvistasthroughwhichyouseethewater。
MyMusemaybeexcusedifsheissilenthenceforth。Howcanyouexpectthebirdstosingwhentheirgrovesarecutdown？
Nowthetrunksoftreesonthebottom，andtheoldlogcanoe，andthedarksurroundingwoods，aregone，andthevillagers，whoscarcelyknowwhereitlies，insteadofgoingtothepondtobatheordrink，arethinkingtobringitswater，whichshouldbeassacredastheGangesatleast，tothevillageinapipe，towashtheirdisheswith！——toearntheirWaldenbytheturningofacockordrawingofaplug！ThatdevilishIronHorse，whoseear-rendingneighisheardthroughoutthetown，hasmuddiedtheBoilingSpringwithhisfoot，andheitisthathasbrowsedoffallthewoodsonWaldenshore，thatTrojanhorse，withathousandmeninhisbelly，introducedbymercenaryGreeks！Whereisthecountry’schampion，theMooreofMooreHill，tomeethimattheDeepCutandthrustanavenginglancebetweentheribsofthebloatedpest？
Nevertheless，ofallthecharactersIhaveknown，perhapsWaldenwearsbest，andbestpreservesitspurity。Manymenhavebeenlikenedtoit，butfewdeservethathonor。Thoughthewoodchoppershavelaidbarefirstthisshoreandthenthat，andtheIrishhavebuilttheirstiesbyit，andtherailroadhasinfringedonitsborder，andtheice-menhaveskimmeditonce，itisitselfunchanged，thesamewaterwhichmyyouthfuleyesfellon；allthechangeisinme。Ithasnotacquiredonepermanentwrinkleafterallitsripples。Itisperenniallyyoung，andImaystandandseeaswallowdipapparentlytopickaninsectfromitssurfaceasofyore。Itstruckmeagaintonight，asifIhadnotseenitalmostdailyformorethantwentyyears——Why，hereisWalden，thesamewoodlandlakethatIdiscoveredsomanyyearsago；whereaforestwascutdownlastwinteranotherisspringingupbyitsshoreaslustilyasever；thesamethoughtiswellinguptoitssurfacethatwasthen；itisthesameliquidjoyandhappinesstoitselfanditsMaker，ay，anditmaybetome。Itistheworkofabravemansurely，inwhomtherewasnoguile！Heroundedthiswaterwithhishand，deepenedandclarifieditinhisthought，andinhiswillbequeathedittoConcord。Iseebyitsfacethatitisvisitedbythesamereflection；andIcanalmostsay，Walden，isityou？
Itisnodreamofmine，Toornamentaline；
IcannotcomenearertoGodandHeavenThanIlivetoWaldeneven。
Iamitsstonyshore，Andthebreezethatpasseso’er；
InthehollowofmyhandAreitswateranditssand，AnditsdeepestresortLieshighinmythought。
Thecarsneverpausetolookatit；yetIfancythattheengineersandfiremenandbrakemen，andthosepassengerswhohaveaseasonticketandseeitoften，arebettermenforthesight。Theengineerdoesnotforgetatnight，orhisnaturedoesnot，thathehasbeheldthisvisionofserenityandpurityonceatleastduringtheday。Thoughseenbutonce，ithelpstowashoutStateStreetandtheengine’ssoot。Oneproposesthatitbecalled“God’sDrop。“
IhavesaidthatWaldenhasnovisibleinletnoroutlet，butitisontheonehanddistantlyandindirectlyrelatedtoFlint’sPond，whichismoreelevated，byachainofsmallpondscomingfromthatquarter，andontheotherdirectlyandmanifestlytoConcordRiver，whichislower，byasimilarchainofpondsthroughwhichinsomeothergeologicalperioditmayhaveflowed，andbyalittledigging，whichGodforbid，itcanbemadetoflowthitheragain。Ifbylivingthusreservedandaustere，likeahermitinthewoods，solong，ithasacquiredsuchwonderfulpurity，whowouldnotregretthatthecomparativelyimpurewatersofFlint’sPondshouldbemingledwithit，oritselfshouldevergotowasteitssweetnessintheoceanwave？
Flint’s，orSandyPond，inLincoln，ourgreatestlakeandinlandsea，liesaboutamileeastofWalden。Itismuchlarger，beingsaidtocontainonehundredandninety-sevenacres，andismorefertileinfish；butitiscomparativelyshallow，andnotremarkablypure。Awalkthroughthewoodsthitherwasoftenmyrecreation。Itwasworththewhile，ifonlytofeelthewindblowonyourcheekfreely，andseethewavesrun，andrememberthelifeofmariners。I
