美国语文第三册 第87期:雪鸟之歌

 　　The ground was all covered with snow one day, 有一天白雪覆盖了大地，

　　And two little sisters were busy at play, 两个小姐妹正玩得忘乎所以；

　　When a snowbird was sitting close by on a tree, 这时候一只雪鸟停在旁边的树上，

　　And merrily singing his chick-a-de-dee. 嘀呖呖嘀呖呖愉快地歌唱。

　　He had not been singing that tune¹ very long 他的音调并不太长，

　　Ere Emily heard him, so loud was his song; 被艾米丽听到之前，他正高声歌唱；

　　"O sister, look out of the window!" said she; 她说“噢，姐姐，你看看窗外的树上！”

　　Here's a dear little bird singing chick-a-de-dee. 有只可爱的小鸟嘀呖呖嘀呖呖在欢唱。”

　　Poor fellow! he walks in the snow and the sleet², 可怜的小家伙！他走在雨雪里，

　　And has neither stockings nor shoes on his feet: 脚上没有袜子也没有鞋子；

　　I wonder what makes him so full of his glee; 我想知道是什么让他充满欢乐，

　　He's all the time singing his chick-a-de-dee. 总是嘀呖呖嘀呖呖不停唱着歌。

　　If I were a barefooted snowbird, I know, 我知道，如果我是雪鸟光着脚丫，

　　I would not stay out in the cold and the snow; 我才不会待在寒冷的雪地里任风吹雨打；

　　I pity him so! oh, how cold he must be! 我多么同情他！噢，他一定冷得不行！

　　And yet he keeps singing his chick-a-de-dee. 可是他仍然嘀呖呖嘀呖呖地唱个不停。

　　O mother; do get him some stockings, and shoes, 噢，妈妈，请给他穿上鞋袜和袍子，

　　And a nice little frock, and a hat if he choose: 如果他愿意再让他挑一顶帽子；

　　I wish he'd come into the parlor³, and see 我希望他能来到我们的会客室，

　　How warm we would make him, poor chick-a-de-dee! 看看我们可以让他感到多么温暖，可怜的嘀呖呖！

　　The bird had flown down for some sweet crumbs⁴ of bread, 雪鸟飞下来去啄地上的甜面包渣，

　　And heard every word little Emily said: 他听见了艾米丽说的每一句话；

　　"What a figure I'd make in that dress" thought he, 他想：“要是我穿上那条裙子会是什么样子？”

　　And laughed as he warbled his chick-a-de-dee. 他一边笑一边轻声唱着他的嘀呖呖。

　　"I am grateful," said he, for the wish you express, “我很感激，”他说，谢谢你们的好意，

　　But have no occasion for such a fine dress; 但是那么漂亮的裙子对于我实在不合时宜；

　　I rather remain with my little limbs free, 我宁愿光着我的脚丫自由自在，

　　Than to hobble about, singing chick-a-de-dee. 胜过唱着嘀呖呖却一瘸一拐。

　　There is One, my dear child, though I can not tell who, 亲爱的小孩，曾经有一个人，虽然我不能说是谁，

　　Has clothed me already, and warm enough, too. 曾经给我穿上过衣服既暖和又美；

　　Good morning! Oh, who are so happy as we? 早上好！噢，谁有我们这么快乐？

　　And away he flew, singing his chick-a-de-dee. 他飞走了，唱着他那嘀呖呖的歌。

1 tune   

n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整

参考例句：

• He'd written a tune,and played it to us on the piano.他写了一段曲子，并在钢琴上弹给我们听。
• The boy beat out a tune on a tin can.那男孩在易拉罐上敲出一首曲子。

2 sleet   

n.雨雪；v.下雨雪，下冰雹

参考例句：

• There was a great deal of sleet last night.昨夜雨夹雪下得真大。
• When winter comes,we get sleet and frost.冬天来到时我们这儿会有雨夹雪和霜冻。

3 parlor   

n.店铺，营业室；会客室，客厅

参考例句：

• She was lying on a small settee in the parlor.她躺在客厅的一张小长椅上。
• Is there a pizza parlor in the neighborhood?附近有没有比萨店？

4 crumbs   

int. (表示惊讶)哎呀 n. 碎屑 名词crumb的复数形式

参考例句：

• She stood up and brushed the crumbs from her sweater. 她站起身掸掉了毛衣上的面包屑。
• Oh crumbs! Is that the time? 啊，天哪！都这会儿啦？