因為每只天鵝都有一個這么長的脖子,所以這桌子對路易斯來說正好夠高。
He didn't need a chair; he ate his supper standingup.
他不需要坐椅子;他可以站著吃他的晚餐。
He tried the sandwich that had mayonnaise on it anddecided he didn't like mayonnaise.
他試嘗了一個抹了蛋黃醬的三明治后,感覺他不喜歡蛋黃醬的味道。
Then he carefully pulled each sandwich apart.
然后他小心地把每個三明治都打開來。
All he really wanted was the watercress.
他真正想吃的只是水田芹葉。
He piled the slices of bread in two neat piles, scooped the watercress onto his plate, and had anice supper.
他把一片片的面包齊齊地堆成兩堆,將水田芹葉都鏟進他的盤子里,這就有了一頓不錯的晚餐了。
He did not touch the butter.
他沒去碰黃油。
When he was thirsty, instead of drinking from the glass of water,
感到渴時,他也沒去喝那杯水,
he walked into the bathroom, drew a basinful of cold water, and drank that.
而是走進浴室,放了一盆涼水,去喝那里的水。
Then he took his napkin, wiped his beak, and pushed the table out of the way. He felt muchbetter.
然后他叼起他的餐巾,擦了擦嘴,把桌子推到了邊上。他感覺好多了。
To be all alone in a hotel room gives a person a cozy feeling and a feeling of importance.
單獨呆在一個旅館的房間里能給人一種舒服和尊貴感。
Louis felt great. But soon he began feeling rather lonely, too.
路易斯感到有些飄飄然了。可不久他卻有了一種相當(dāng)孤寂的感受。
He thought of Sam Beaver. He thought of Camp Kookooskoos.
他想念薩姆·比弗。他想念庫庫斯庫斯夏令營。
He thought of his father and mother and sisters and brothers, back home in Montana.
他想念在蒙大拿老家的父母和哥哥姐姐們。
He thought of Serena, the swan he loved, and wondered how she was.
他想念塞蕾娜,他所愛的天鵝,想知道她怎么樣了。
The words of the song he had played in the lobby came back to him:
他在大廳里吹奏的那首歌的歌詞又一次在他的心頭縈回:
There's a small hotel With a wishing well; I wish that we were there, together.
有家小旅館,中有如意井。希望我們能一起去那里。
How wonderful it would be, he thought, if Serena could be here at the Ritz to enjoy the hotelwith him!
那該有多奇妙呵,他想,如果塞蕾娜也在這兒,在里茲飯店和他一起享受的話!
The waiter had left an evening paper on a table. Louis glanced at the front page.
侍者曾在桌上留了份晚報。路易斯朝第一版瞥了一眼。
To his amazement, he saw a picture of himself on the lake in the Public Garden with the SwanBoat.
他驚奇地看到了一幅他在大眾公園的湖上和天鵝游艇在一起的照片,
A big headline said: BOSTON GOES WILD OVER THE TRUMPET OF THE SWAN
大標題是這么說的:波士頓為天鵝的號聲發(fā)狂
The news story began: There's a new bird in town. His name is Louis.
報道的開頭是這樣的:這個城里新來了一只鳥兒。他的名字叫路易斯。
He is a Trumpeter Swan that really plays the trumpet.
他是一只真的能夠吹小號的號手天鵝。
Incredible though it may seem,
雖然聽來似乎難以置信,
this rare and beautiful water bird has accepted employment with the Swan Boat managementin the Public Garden
可這只珍稀的美麗水鳥真的接受了大眾公園的天鵝游艇管理處的聘請,
and is entertaining boat riders with his smooth trumpet.
用他那圓潤的號聲來給乘船的游人助興。
Crowds gathered at the lake this afternoon after his arrival,
今天下午,他來到這個湖上之后,人們立刻圍了過來,
and the sweet notes of his horn were heard in many parts of Boston.
他的小號所發(fā)出的動聽樂音在波士頓的很多地方都可以聽到……