美国语文第三册 第13期:小鸟之歌

 　　LESSON 14 第14课

　　melody¹  旋律

　　unnoticed  注意

　　modest  适度的

　　content  内容

　　Gracie 格雷西

　　THE LITTLE BIRD'S SONG 小鸟之歌

　　A little bird, with feathers brown, 一只小鸟，长着棕色羽毛，

　　Sat singing on a tree; 歇在枝头吟唱；

　　The song was very soft and low, 歌声温柔轻细，

　　But sweet as it could be. 可如此清脆悦耳。

　　The people who were passing by, 人们从树下路过，

　　Looked up to see the bird 仰头望视小鸟；

　　That made the sweetest melody 那美妙之音，

　　That ever they had heard. 他们从未听见。

　　But all the bright eyes looked in vain²; 众人明眼皆徒劳，

　　Birdie was very small, 鸟宝贝实在太小；

　　And with his modest, dark-brown coat, 身着朴实涤棕衣，

　　He made no show at all. 一点让人看不见。

　　"Why, father," little Gracie said “哦，爸爸，”小格雷斯说，

　　Where can the birdie be? 鸟宝贝在哪呢？

　　If I could sing a song like that, 要是我像它那样唱得好听，

　　I'd sit where folks³ could see. 我会坐得大家都能看见。

　　I hope my little girl will learn 我期望我的乖女儿

　　A lesson from the bird, 能从小鸟身上得到教训

　　And try to do what good she can, 努力让自己做得更好，

　　Not to be seen or heard.  不求让人看见或听到。

　　This birdie is content to sit 小鸟知足地坐在

　　Unnoticed on the way, 不引人注目的地方，

　　And sweetly sing his Maker's praise 甜美地唱着造物主的颂歌，

　　From dawn to close of day. 从黎明到日落。

　　So live, my child, all through your life, 我的孩子，生命本应如此度过，

　　That, be it short or long, 无论其短暂或久远，

　　Though others may forget your looks, 尽管他人会忘记你的容貌，

　　They'll not forget your song. 但他们不会忘记你的歌声。

1 melody   

n.旋律，曲调，悦耳的音乐

参考例句：

• She struck up a folk melody on the piano.她开始用钢琴演奏那首民歌。
• After she wrote the melody,she asked us for criticisms.她做好曲之后，请我们提意见。

2 vain   

adj.徒劳的，徒然的，无效的，空虚的，自负的

参考例句：

• It was in vain that we tried to find his mother.我们百般设法找他的母亲，但毫无结果。
• He's very vain of his abilities.他对于自己的能力很自负。

3 folks   

n.人们；父母；亲人；家属；人们( folk的名词复数 )；亲属；大伙儿；民间音乐

参考例句：

• Ask yourself what the folks in Peoria will think of it. 想一想皮奥里亚的人会如何看待这件事。
• When good folks meet, evil men keep their distance. 好人相逢，恶人远离。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》