LESSON 74

THE SNOWBIRD'S SONG

雪鸟之歌

1．The ground was all covered with snow one day,

And two little sisters were busy at play,

When a snowbird was sitting close by on a tree,

And merrily singing his chick-a-de-dee^〔1〕.

2．He had not been singing that tune very long

Ere Emily heard him, so loud was his song;

"O sister, look out of the window!" said she;

"Here's a dear little bird singing chick-a-de-dee.

3．"Poor fellow! he walks in the snow and the sleet,

And has neither stockings nor shoes on his feet:

I wonder what makes him so full of his glee;

He's all the time singing his chick-a-de-dee.

4．"If I were a barefooted snowbird, I know,

I would not stay out in the cold and the snow;

I pity him so! oh, how cold he must be!

And yet he keeps singing his chick-a-de-dee.

5．"O mother; do get him some stockings, and shoes,

And a nice little frock, and a hat if he choose:

I wish he'd come into the parlor, and see

How warm we would make him, poor chick-a-de-dee!"

6．The bird had flown down for some sweet crumbs of bread,

And heard every word little Emily said:

"What a figure^〔2〕 I'd make in that dress" thought he,

And laughed as he warbled his chick-a-de-dee.

7．"I am grateful," said he, "for the wish you express^〔3〕,

But have no occasion for such a fine dress;

I rather remain with my little limbs free,

Than to hobble^〔4〕 about, singing chick-a-de-dee.

8．"There is One, my dear child, though I can not tell who,

Has clothed me already, and warm enough, too.

Good morning! Oh, who are so happy as we?"

And away he flew, singing his chick-a-de-dee.

(F. C. Woodworth)

【中文阅读】

1．有一天白雪覆盖了大地，

两个小姐妹正玩得忘乎所以；

这时候一只雪鸟停在旁边的树上，

嘀呖呖嘀呖呖愉快地歌唱。

2．他的音调并不太长，

被艾米丽听到之前，他正高声歌唱；

她说“噢，姐姐，你看看窗外的树上！

有只可爱的小鸟嘀呖呖嘀呖呖在欢唱。”

3．“可怜的小家伙！他走在雨雪里，

脚上没有袜子也没有鞋子；

我想知道是什么让他充满欢乐，

总是嘀呖呖嘀呖呖不停唱着歌。”

4．“我知道，如果我是雪鸟光着脚丫，

我才不会待在寒冷的雪地里任风吹雨打；

我多么同情他！噢，他一定冷得不行！

可是他仍然嘀呖呖嘀呖呖地唱个不停。”

5．“噢，妈妈，请给他穿上鞋袜和袍子，

如果他愿意再让他挑一顶帽子；

我希望他能来到我们的会客室，

看看我们可以让他感到多么温暖，可怜的嘀呖呖！”

6．雪鸟飞下来去啄地上的甜面包渣，

他听见了艾米丽说的每一句话；

他想：“要是我穿上那条裙子会是什么样子？”

他一边笑一边轻声唱着他的嘀呖呖。

7．“我很感激，”他说，“谢谢你们的好意，

但是那么漂亮的裙子对于我实在不合时宜；

我宁愿光着我的脚丫自由自在，

胜过唱着嘀呖呖却一瘸一拐。”

8． “亲爱的小孩，曾经有一个人，虽然我不能说是谁，

曾经给我穿上过衣服既暖和又美；

早上好！噢，谁有我们这么快乐？”

他飞走了，唱着他那嘀呖呖的歌。

（F·C·德沃斯）

注释

〔1〕Chick-a-de-dee, an imitation of the notes of the snowbird.

〔2〕Figure, shape, appearance.

〔3〕Express, make known, declare.

〔4〕Hobble, to walk with a hitch or hop.