雄天鹅早已被下面的人们发现了。

One of the salesmen in the music store was standing by the front window, looking out.

乐器店的一个店员正站在前面的橱窗旁，往外观察着。

When he saw the big white bird approaching, he yelled to the storekeeper: "Large bird approaching. Get your gun!"

他一看到这只正在靠近的白色大鸟，就对店主大叫道：“大鸟来了，准备好你的枪！”

The storekeeper grabbed his shotgun and raced to the sidewalk.

店主抓起他的鸟枪跑上了人行道。

The cob was low in the sky, gliding straight for the store. The storekeeper raised his gun.

雄天鹅正低飞着，朝乐器店滑翔。店主举起了他的枪。

He fired both barrels in quick succession. The old cob felt a twinge of pain in his left shoulder.

他迅速地连发了两枪。老雄天鹅感到他的左肩那里有一阵剧痛。

Thoughts of death filled his mind. Looking back, he saw a bright red drop of blood staining his breast.

他心里顿时充满了许多和死亡有关的思考。他回过头，发现一滴鲜血正在把胸口染红。

But he kept going, straight for the storekeeper.

可他还是继续朝着店主飞去。

"The end is near," he said to himself.

“末日临近了，”他自语，

"I shall die in the performance of duty.

“我将在履行职责的时候死去。

I have only a few moments remaining to live. Man, in his folly, has given me a mortal wound.

我只能再活一会儿了。这个男人，由于他的愚蠢，使我受到了致命伤。

The red blood flows in a steady trickle from my veins. My strength fails.

鲜血不断地从我的静脉里流出来了。我没有力气了。

But even in death's final hour, I shall deliver the money for the trumpet.

不过，即使在这最后的死亡时刻，我也要先还清那笔小号钱。

Good-bye, life! Good-bye, beautiful world! Good-bye, little lakes in the north!

再见了，生命！再见了，美好的世界！再见了，北方的小湖！

Farewell, springtimes I have known, with their passion and ardor!

永别了，我所熟悉的充满激情的春天！

Farewell, loyal wife and loving sons and daughters!

永别了，我忠诚的妻子和心爱的儿女们！

I, who am about to die, salute you. I must die gracefully, as only a swan can."

将要步入死亡的我，在此向你们致意了。我一定要优雅的死去，就像只有天鹅才能做到的那样。”

With that, he sank to the sidewalk, held out the moneybag and the slate to the astonished storekeeper,

这么想着，他扑到人行道上，把钱袋和石板交给那个惊讶万分的店主，

and fainted away at the sight of his own blood.

又看了看自己身上的血，然后才昏死过去。

He lay limp on the sidewalk, to all appearances a dying swan.

他软绵绵地躺在人行道上，和一只濒死的天鹅已经没有丝毫的分别了。

A crowd quickly gathered.

人们很快地聚拢过来。

"What's this?" exclaimed the storekeeper, bending over the bird. "What's going on here?"

“这是什么？”那个店主在这只鸟的身边弯下腰，惊叫道。“这里都发生了什么事呀？”

He quickly read the note on the slate.

他很快地读完了那个写在石板上的便条。

Then he tore open the moneybag and began pulling out hundred-dollar bills and fifty-dollar bills.

然后他拉开钱袋掏出了那些一百美元和五十美元的票子。