LESSON 55 The sea-gull
第五十五課 海鷗
"If I were to be a bird, I should never choose to be a sea-gull," said Ellen Burns, as she gazed forth on the rough waves and the stormy sky.
“如果我是一只鳥,我怎么都不會選擇成為一只海鷗。”當Ellen Burns凝視著洶涌的海面和暴風雨似的天空時這樣說。
"I would be a happy little lark, singing as I soared, and then dropping down into some pleasant field. Or I would be a beautiful swan, gliding softly over still waters, with my nest amidst the tall rushes.
“我希望做一只快樂的小云雀,當我飛翔時我就歌唱,然后落在快樂的土地上?;蛘?,我要成為一只漂亮的天鵝,輕輕地滑翔過水域,將自己的巢筑在高處。”
"Mamma, has the sea-gull any home, or does she fly up and down for ever as I see her now, with her white silvery wings flashing against the dark sky?"
“媽媽,海鷗有家嗎?還是它一直在上下飛,就像我們現(xiàn)在看到的那樣,用在銀白色的翅膀在黑暗的天空下振翅而飛?”
"She builds her nest upon the bare rock, and rears her young within sound of the dashing billows. God has fitted her for the restless, roaming life which she leads," said Mrs. Burns.
“它把自己的巢筑在光光的巖石上,在兇猛的巨浪聲中撫育它的后代。上帝給了它適合于生存在忙碌的,漫游的生活的身體。”Burns太太說。
"But where does she get food, mamma? There is no corn on the bare rock, no pleasant fruit on the tossing sea."
“那么它從哪兒獲得食物呢,媽媽?在光禿禿的巖石上沒有玉米,在翻騰的海洋中沒有可口的果實。”
"The sea is for her what the fruitful field is for the land-bird. She is a bold and skilful fisher, and neither needs nor would care for the waving wheat or the sweet ripe berry."
“對它而言只需要海洋,充滿果實的土地是對陸上的鳥而言的。它是勇敢的并且擅長捕魚,因此它既不需要也不在乎搖曳的小麥和甜美的熟野果。”
"But is she never cold and wet in stormy winter nights, while we are shivering over the fire and she is skimming over the waves?"
“但是它在暴風雨的冬天夜里從不感到寒冷和潮濕嗎?當我們在火爐邊凍得打顫而它卻在海浪中穿行。”
"There is an oil on her feathers, Ellen, which prevents them from being wet. Dry in the midst of water, safe in the midst of danger, the sea-gull, with her silvery wings, ever reminds me of some brave spirit, trusting in God, and never damped by the trials of life."
“Ellen,在海鷗的羽毛中有脂肪,可以防止她們感到潮濕。在水中穿行能保持干燥,在危險中能保持安全,海鷗和它銀色的雙翅甚至讓我想起勇敢的精神,相信上帝并不被生活中的磨難打倒。”
QUESTIONS
問題
What bird did Ellen say she should never choose to be? What birds would she rather be? What did she ask her mamma? Describe the home of the sea-gull. What did Ellen next ask? Where does the sea-gull obtain its food? What was Ellen's next question? What prevents the sea-gull from being wet? Of what did the sea-gull remind Mrs. Burns?
Ellen說她絕不會選哪一種鳥?她更想成為哪種鳥?她問她媽媽什么了?描述一下海鷗的家。接下來Ellen又問了什么問題?海鷗在哪里獲得它的食物?Ellen下一個的問題是?什么能防止海鷗變潮濕?海鷗讓Burns太太想到了什么?