LESSON 55

DOn't KILL THE BIRDS

不要杀害鸟类

1．Don't kill the birds! the little birds,

That sing about your door

Soon as the joyous Spring has come,

And chilling storms are o'er.

2．The little birds! how sweet they sing!

Oh, let them joyous live;

And do not seek to take the life

Which you can never give.

3．Don't kill the birds! the pretty birds,

That play among the trees;

For earth would be a cheerless place,

If it were not for these.

4．The little birds! how fond they play!

Do not disturb^〔1〕 their sport;

But let them warble^〔2〕 forth their songs,

Till winter cuts them short.

5．Don't kill the birds! the happy birds,

That bless the field and grove;

So innocent^〔3〕 to look upon,

They claim our warmest love.

6．The happy birds, the tuneful^〔4〕 birds,

How pleasant 't is to see!

No spot can be a cheerless place

Where'er their presence^〔5〕 be.

【中文阅读】

1．不要杀害鸟类！弱小的鸟，

它们在你门前歌唱，

当欢乐的春天来临，

寒冷的暴风雨已成过往。

2．小鸟儿！它们的歌声多甜美！

噢，让它们做快乐的生灵。

不要试图夺走，

你从未给予的生命。

3．不要杀害鸟类！那美丽的鸟儿，

它们在林间玩耍，

如果没有了它们，

地球上的乐趣将会多么匮乏。

4．小鸟儿们！它们玩得多么高兴！

请勿打扰它们的游戏；

让它们唱出柔和的颤音，

直到因为冬天来临中断为止。

5．不要杀害鸟类！那快乐的小鸟，

它们把田野和果园守护；

你看它们如此天真无辜，

值得我们最热忱的爱慕。

6．开心的小鸟，音调悦耳的小鸟，

看见它们多么令人愉悦神往！

有它们出现的所在，

不会是缺少喜乐的地方。

注释

〔1〕Disturb, interfere with.

〔2〕Warble, to trill, to carol.

〔3〕Innocent, pure, harmless.

〔4〕Tuneful, musical, melodious.

〔5〕Presence, state of being at hand, existence.