在古代文学作品中，《西湖七月半》是一篇极具特色的散文。这篇作品由明代著名文学家张岱所作，通过对西湖七月半夜景的描绘，展现了作者对自然美景的热爱以及对人生哲理的思考。以下为原文及翻译：

原文：

西湖七月半，一无可看，止可看看七月半之人。

月色苍凉，东方将白，客方散去。吾辈始舣舟近岸。断桥石磴始凉，席其上，呼客纵饮。此时，月如镜新磨，山复整妆，湖复靧面。远寺钟声，隐隐而来，如梦如幻。

翻译：

In the middle of July at West Lake, there is nothing to see except for the people who gather there on that night.

The moonlight was cold and desolate, and as dawn approached, the guests began to disperse. It was then that we moored our boat near the shore. The stone steps at Broken Bridge were just beginning to cool down, so we spread our mats and invited our friends to join us in drinking. At this time, the moon shone like a newly polished mirror, the mountains seemed to be reapplying their makeup, and the lake appeared refreshed. The faint sound of temple bells came from afar, seeming both dreamlike and ethereal.

通过这样的文字描述，张岱不仅捕捉到了自然景色的变化之美，同时也表达了人在特定情境下的独特感受。这种细腻入微的描写手法使得文章充满诗意与哲思，令人回味无穷。同时，通过对比不同时间段内景象的变化，也隐喻了人生百态和世事无常。