LESSON 14

第14课

melody

旋律

unnoticed

注意

modest

适度的

content

内容

Gracie

格雷西

THE LITTLE BIRD'S SONG

小鸟之歌

A little bird, with feathers brown,

一只小鸟，长着棕色羽毛，

Sat singing on a tree;

歇在枝头吟唱；

The song was very soft and low,

歌声温柔轻细，

But sweet as it could be.

可如此清脆悦耳。

The people who were passing by,

人们从树下路过，

Looked up to see the bird

仰头望视小鸟；

That made the sweetest melody

那美妙之音，

That ever they had heard.

他们从未听见。

But all the bright eyes looked in vain;

众人明眼皆徒劳，

Birdie was very small,

鸟宝贝实在太小；

And with his modest, dark-brown coat,

身着朴实涤棕衣，

He made no show at all.

一点让人看不见。

"Why, father," little Gracie said

“哦，爸爸，”小格雷斯说，

Where can the birdie be?

鸟宝贝在哪呢？

If I could sing a song like that,

要是我像它那样唱得好听，

I'd sit where folks could see.

我会坐得大家都能看见。

I hope my little girl will learn

我期望我的乖女儿

A lesson from the bird,

能从小鸟身上得到教训

And try to do what good she can,

努力让自己做得更好，

Not to be seen or heard.

不求让人看见或听到。

This birdie is content to sit

小鸟知足地坐在

Unnoticed on the way,

不引人注目的地方，

And sweetly sing his Maker's praise

甜美地唱着造物主的颂歌，

From dawn to close of day.

从黎明到日落。

So live, my child, all through your life,

我的孩子，生命本应如此度过，

That, be it short or long,

无论其短暂或久远，

Though others may forget your looks,

尽管他人会忘记你的容貌，

They'll not forget your song.

但他们不会忘记你的歌声。