LESSON 44

SPARROWS

麻 雀

Adeline D. Train Whitney, 1824—, was born in Boston, and was educated in the school of Dr. George B. Emerson. Her father was Enoch Train, a well-known merchant of that city. At the age of nineteen, she became the wife of Mr. Seth D. Whitney. Her literary career began about 1856, since which time she has written several novels and poems; a number of them first appeared in the “Atlantic Monthly.” Her writings are marked by grace and sprightliness.

Little birds sit on the telegraph wires,

And chitter, and flitter, and fold their wings;

Maybe they think that, for them and their sires,

Stretched always, on purpose, those wonderful strings:

And, perhaps, the Thought that the world inspires,

Did plan for the birds, among other things.

Little birds sit on the slender lines,

And the news of the world runs under their feet,—

How value rises, and how declines,

How kings with their armies in battle meet,—

And, all the while, ’mid the soundless signs,

They chirp their small gossipings, foolish sweet.

Little things light on the lines of our lives,—

Hopes, and joys, and acts of to-day,—

And we think that for these the Lord contrives,

Nor catch what the hidden lightnings say.

Yet, from end to end, His meaning arrives,

And His word runs underneath, all the way.

Is life only wires and lightning, then,

Apart from that which about it clings?

Are the thoughts, and the works, and the prayers of men

Only sparrows that light on God’s telegraph strings,

Holding a moment, and gone again?

Nay; He planned for the birds, with the larger things.

【中文阅读】

鸟儿端坐在电线上，

啾啾而鸣，飞来飞去，又合上翅膀；

或许它们在想，为它们和它们的王子，

始终特地拉紧那些美丽的线：

也许，能启发整个世界的这个念头，

就是这些鸟儿的打算。

鸟儿端坐在纤细的绳上，

这个世界的新鲜事就在它们脚下——

绳子的价值有多么大，又有多么小，

领导它们的鸟王如何在战场上相遇——

一直在无声的信号中间，

它们啾啾地低语，愚蠢的甜言蜜语。

小东西偶然发现了维系我们生活的线——

希望，欢乐今朝——

我们觉得这是上帝特意为它们设计的，

不会被隐蔽的电击中。

然而从一端到另一端，上帝的意思都传达到了，

他的话能直达下界。

那么，生活中仅仅有电线和电，

才能依附吗？

还有思想、劳动和人们的祈祷，

只有偶然发现了上帝的电缆的麻雀，

把握住了这一刻，会再去吗？

不会的，上帝为鸟儿们有更大的着想。