美国语文第五册 第162期:英国云雀

 　　Take it in all, no bird in either hemisphere equals the English lark¹ in heart or voice,  就秉性和声音而言，从南北半球鸟类来看，没有任何一种鸟能与英国云雀相媲美。

　　for both unite to make it the sweetest, the happiest, the welcomest singer that was ever winged, like the high angels of God's love.  英国云雀具有两者相得益彰的优秀禀赋，因此成为有史以来有翼物种中最可爱、最快乐、亦是最受欢迎的歌手，犹如上帝钟爱的空中天使。

　　It is the living ecstasy² of joy when it mounts up into its "glorious privacy of light."  当云雀振翼飞向自己“荣耀之光的隐居”，意味着它追求尘世生活的心醉神迷的世俗幸福。

　　On the earth it is timid, silent, and bashful, as if not at home, and not sure of its right to be there at all.  地球上的鸟类中，英国云雀胆怯安静、腼腆害羞，倘若不在巢穴，人们压根不会感到它的存在。

　　It is rather homely³ withal, having nothing in feather, feature,or form to attract notice.  英国云雀隶属家常鸟类，其羽毛、秉性或吸引异类的方式并无任何特异。

　　It is seemingly made to be heard, not seen, reversing the old axiom addressed to children when getting noisy.  云雀不过宣泄歌声，并非展示其容貌，这一观点其实颠覆了不言而喻的真相，类似大人们眼中吵闹的孩子印象。

　　Its mission is music, and it floods a thousand acres of the blue sky with it several times a day.  吟唱乃云雀的生活使命，它每天数次飞掠上千英亩范围的蓝空。

　　Out of that palpitating speck⁴ of living joy there wells forth⁵ a sea of twittering ecstasy upon the morning and evening air.  除却快乐引起心悸颤抖，从早到晚，云雀幸福的鸣啾随风传来，丝缕不绝。

　　It does not ascend⁶ by gyrations, like the eagle and birds of prey⁷. It mounts up like a human aspiration⁸. 云雀并非像鹰类或其他猛禽盘旋地飞上高空，而是如同人类的呼吸吐纳。

　　It seems to spread its wings and to be lifted straight upwards⁹ out of sight by the afflatus¹⁰ of its own happy heart.  云雀似乎张开翅膀，凭借内心愉悦气息，便可径直飞腾向上，飞出人们的视线之外，犹如一条峰回路转的湍急溪流，

　　To pour out this in undulating rivulets¹¹ of rhapsody is apparently¹² the only motive¹³ of its ascension.  显然可见，这种气息吐纳为云雀起飞中唯一运动。

　　This it is that has made it so loved of all generations.  这也是云雀备受历代人们追捧的缘故。

　　It is the singing angel of man's nearest heaven, whose vital breath is music.  英国云雀是人类最接近天堂的吟唱天使，它的呼吸气息谱写出优美音符，

　　Its sweet warbling is only the metrical palpitation of its life of joy.  它的柔美颤声来自欣喜中悸动的心中旋律，

　　It goes up over the rooftrees of the rural hamlet on the wings of its song,  乘着歌声的翅膀，云雀高高地盘旋在乡村农舍的屋顶，

　　as if to train the human soul to trial flights heavenward.  似乎激励人类飞向天空的梦幻翱翔。

　　Never did the Creator put a voice of such volume into so small a living thing.  造物主从未将如此天籁施加这样弱小的生灵。

　　It is a marvel—almost a miracle.  云雀昭示一种生物特异，近似一个完美奇迹。

　　In a still hour you can hear it at nearly a mile's distance.  万籁静谧，你甚至可以听见几乎一英里之外云雀的悦耳歌声。

　　When its form is lost in the hazy¹⁴ lace work of the sun's rays above,  阳光穿过云层泻下，雾霭朦胧一片，洇成天空璀璨花边，云雀身影隐去不见，

　　it pours down upon you all the thrilling semitones of its song as distinctly as if it were warbling to you in your window.  然而，它的半音程颤音清新婉转，宛如立在你的窗前为你鸣啾歌唱。

1 lark   

n.云雀，百灵鸟；n.嬉戏，玩笑；vi.嬉戏

参考例句：

• He thinks it cruel to confine a lark in a cage.他认为把云雀关在笼子里太残忍了。
• She lived in the village with her grandparents as cheerful as a lark.她同祖父母一起住在乡间非常快活。

2 ecstasy   

n.狂喜，心醉神怡，入迷

参考例句：

• He listened to the music with ecstasy.他听音乐听得入了神。
• Speechless with ecstasy,the little boys gazed at the toys.小孩注视着那些玩具，高兴得说不出话来。

3 homely   

adj.家常的，简朴的；不漂亮的

参考例句：

• We had a homely meal of bread and cheese.我们吃了一顿面包加乳酪的家常便餐。
• Come and have a homely meal with us,will you?来和我们一起吃顿家常便饭，好吗？

4 speck   

n.微粒，小污点，小斑点

参考例句：

• I have not a speck of interest in it.我对它没有任何兴趣。
• The sky is clear and bright without a speck of cloud.天空晴朗，一星星云彩也没有。

5 forth   

adv.向前；向外，往外

参考例句：

• The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
• He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。

6 ascend   

vi.渐渐上升，升高；vt.攀登，登上

参考例句：

• We watched the airplane ascend higher and higher.我们看着飞机逐渐升高。
• We ascend in the order of time and of development.我们按时间和发展顺序向上溯。

7 prey   

n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨

参考例句：

• Stronger animals prey on weaker ones.弱肉强食。
• The lion was hunting for its prey.狮子在寻找猎物。

8 aspiration   

n.志向，志趣抱负；渴望；(语)送气音；吸出

参考例句：

• Man's aspiration should be as lofty as the stars.人的志气应当象天上的星星那么高。
• Young Addison had a strong aspiration to be an inventor.年幼的爱迪生渴望成为一名发明家。

9 upwards   

adv.向上，在更高处...以上

参考例句：

• The trend of prices is still upwards.物价的趋向是仍在上涨。
• The smoke rose straight upwards.烟一直向上升。

10 afflatus   

n.灵感，神感

参考例句：

• Carrie was now lightened by a touch of this divine afflatus.神圣的灵感使嘉莉变得神采奕奕。
• Were did your afflatus come from?请问你的灵感是从那里来的？

11 rivulets   

n.小河，小溪( rivulet的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Rivulets of water ran in through the leaks. 小股的水流通过漏洞流进来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Rivulets of sweat streamed down his cheeks. 津津汗水顺着他的两颊流下。 来自辞典例句

12 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

13 motive   

n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的

参考例句：

• The police could not find a motive for the murder.警察不能找到谋杀的动机。
• He had some motive in telling this fable.他讲这寓言故事是有用意的。

14 hazy   

adj.有薄雾的，朦胧的；不肯定的，模糊的

参考例句：

• We couldn't see far because it was so hazy.雾气蒙蒙妨碍了我们的视线。
• I have a hazy memory of those early years.对那些早先的岁月我有着朦胧的记忆。