Take it in all, no bird in either hemisphere equals the English lark in heart or voice,
就秉性和聲音而言,從南北半球鳥類來看,沒有任何一種鳥能與英國(guó)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.
英國(guó)云雀具有兩者相得益彰的優(yōu)秀稟賦,因此成為有史以來有翼物種中最可愛、最快樂、亦是最受歡迎的歌手,猶如上帝鐘愛的空中天使。
It is the living ecstasy of joy when it mounts up into its "glorious privacy of light."
當(dāng)云雀振翼飛向自己“榮耀之光的隱居”,意味著它追求塵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.
地球上的鳥類中,英國(guó)云雀膽怯安靜、靦腆害羞,倘若不在巢穴,人們壓根不會(huì)感到它的存在。
It is rather homely withal, having nothing in feather, feature,or form to attract notice.
英國(guó)云雀隸屬家常鳥類,其羽毛、秉性或吸引異類的方式并無任何特異。
It is seemingly made to be heard, not seen, reversing the old axiom addressed to children when getting noisy.
云雀不過宣泄歌聲,并非展示其容貌,這一觀點(diǎn)其實(shí)顛覆了不言而喻的真相,類似大人們眼中吵鬧的孩子印象。
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,它每天數(shù)次飛掠上千英畝范圍的藍(lán)空。
Out of that palpitating speck of living joy there wells forth a sea of twittering ecstasy upon the morning and evening air.
除卻快樂引起心悸顫抖,從早到晚,云雀幸福的鳴啾隨風(fēng)傳來,絲縷不絕。
It does not ascend by gyrations, like the eagle and birds of prey. It mounts up like a human aspiration.
云雀并非像鷹類或其他猛禽盤旋地飛上高空,而是如同人類的呼吸吐納。
It seems to spread its wings and to be lifted straight upwards out of sight by the afflatus of its own happy heart.
云雀似乎張開翅膀,憑借內(nèi)心愉悅氣息,便可徑直飛騰向上,飛出人們的視線之外,猶如一條峰回路轉(zhuǎn)的湍急溪流,
To pour out this in undulating rivulets of rhapsody is apparently the only motive of its ascension.
顯然可見,這種氣息吐納為云雀起飛中唯一運(yùn)動(dòng)。
This it is that has made it so loved of all generations.
這也是云雀?jìng)涫軞v代人們追捧的緣故。
It is the singing angel of man's nearest heaven, whose vital breath is music.
英國(guó)云雀是人類最接近天堂的吟唱天使,它的呼吸氣息譜寫出優(yōu)美音符,
Its sweet warbling is only the metrical palpitation of its life of joy.
它的柔美顫聲來自欣喜中悸動(dòng)的心中旋律,
It goes up over the rooftrees of the rural hamlet on the wings of its song,
乘著歌聲的翅膀,云雀高高地盤旋在鄉(xiāng)村農(nóng)舍的屋頂,
as if to train the human soul to trial flights heavenward.
似乎激勵(lì)人類飛向天空的夢(mèng)幻翱翔。
Never did the Creator put a voice of such volume into so small a living thing.
造物主從未將如此天籟施加這樣弱小的生靈。
It is a marvel—almost a miracle.
云雀昭示一種生物特異,近似一個(gè)完美奇跡。
In a still hour you can hear it at nearly a mile's distance.
萬籟靜謐,你甚至可以聽見幾乎一英里之外云雀的悅耳歌聲。
When its form is lost in the hazy lace work of the sun's rays above,
陽光穿過云層瀉下,霧靄朦朧一片,洇成天空璀璨花邊,云雀身影隱去不見,
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,它的半音程顫音清新婉轉(zhuǎn),宛如立在你的窗前為你鳴啾歌唱。