cynic ,laughed outright. But the nightingale understood the secret of the student’s sorrow, and she sat silent in the oak-tree, and thought about the mystery of Love.

  Suddenly she spread her brown wings for flight, and soared into the air. She passed through

the grove like a shadow and like a shadow she sailed across the garden.

  In the center of the grass-plot was standing a beautiful rose-tree, and when she saw

it she flew over to it, and lit upon a spray. "Give me a red rose," she cried, "and I will sing you my sweetest song."

  But the tree shook its head.　"My roses are white," it answered; "as white as the foam of the sea, and whiter than the snow upon the mountain. But go to my brother who grows round

the old sun-dial , and perhaps he will give you what you want." 

  So the nightingale flew over to the rose-tree that was growing round the old sun-dial. "Give me a red rose," she cried, "and I will sing you my sweetest song."

  But the tree shook its head."My roses are yellow," it answered; "as yellow as the hair of the

mermaiden who sits upon an amber throne, and yellower than the daffodil that blooms in the meadow before the mower comes with his scythe. But go to my brother who grows beneath the student’s window, and perhaps he will give you what you want."

 

 

【词汇简析】

outright adv.adj 完全的，完全地

flight n. 飞行

soar v. 高飞

grove n. 小树林

foam n. 泡沫

sun-dial n. 一种玫瑰

mermaiden n. 美人鱼

amber n.adj 琥珀，琥珀色的

throne n. 宝座

daffodil n. 黄水仙

meadow n. 草地

mower n. 割草人

scythe n. 镰刀