192 
WALDEN. 
whether liquid or solid.” But, looking directly down 
into our waters from a boat, they are seen to be of very 
different colors. Walden is blue at one time and green 
at another, even from the same point of view. Lying 
between the earth and the heavens, it partakes of the 
color of both. Viewed from a hill-top it reflects the 
color of the sky, but near at hand it is of a yellowish 
tint next the shore where you can see the sand, then a 
light green, which gradually deepens to a uniform dark 
green in the body of the pond. In some lights, viewed 
even from a hill-top, it is of a vivid green next the 
shore. Some have referred this to the reflection of the 
verdure; but it is equally green there against the rail¬ 
road sand-bank, and in the spring, before the leaves are 
expanded, and it may be simply the result of the prevail¬ 
ing blue mixed with the yellow of the sand. Such is the 
color of its iris. This is that portion, also, where in the 
spring, the ice being warmed by the heat of the sun 
reflected from the bottom, and also transmitted through 
the earth, melts first and forms a narrow canal about 
the still frozen middle. Like the rest of our waters, 
when much agitated, in clear weather, so that the sur¬ 
face of the waves may reflect the sky at the right angle, 
or because there is more light mixed with it, it appears 
at a little distance of a darker blue than the sky itself; 
and at such a time, being on its surface, and looking 
with divided vision, so as to see the reflection, I have 
discerned a matchless and indescribable light blue, 
such as watered or changeable silks and sword blades 
suggest, more cerulean than the sky itself, alternating 
with the original dark green on the opposite sides of the 
waves, which last appeared but muddy in comparison. 
It is a vitreous greenish blue, as I remember it, like 
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