LESSON 68

THE VIOLET

紫罗兰

1．Down in a green and shady bed,

A modest violet grew;

Its stalk was bent, it hung its head,

As if to hide from view.

2．And yet it was a lovely flower,

Its colors bright and fair;

It might have graced a rosy bower

Instead of hiding there.

3．Yet there it was content to bloom,

In modest tints arrayed,

And there it spread its sweet perfume,

Within the silent shade.

4．Then let me to the valley go,

This pretty flower to see;

That I may also learn to grow

In sweet humility.

(Jane Taylor)

【中文阅读】

1．翠绿幽深的谷底，

生长着谦卑的紫罗兰；

它弯着腰，把头低，

似是要躲避人们的视线。

2．可它的花朵是多么可爱，

颜色明艳又漂亮；

她本应在树荫下大放异彩，

而不是悄然躲藏。

3．而她安于朴素色调的装扮，

心甘情愿地开放；

默默地在阴影里面，

吐露甜美的芬芳。

4．那么让我去那山谷里，

去看看那美丽的紫罗兰花，

我也能向它学习，

怀着美好谦逊的心灵长大。

（简·泰勒）