I never yet heard of the parental tenderness of a trout, eating up his little baby,

我未曾听说有似水柔情的鳟鱼父母，它们能吃光自己的宝贝；

nor of the filial gratitude of a spider, nipping the life out of his gray-headed father, and usurping his web.

亦未曾听说有孝顺感恩的蜘蛛，那些能咬死垂老的父母，从而占据它们的窝。那么，天性，这个词究竟显示什么？

But if you would see the purest, the sincerest, the most affecting piety of a parent's love,

但是，如果你觉察到父母对子女纯粹真挚及感人至深的眷爱，

startle a young family of quails, and watch the conduct of the mother.

势必惊讶于鹌鹑的幼小家庭，不妨看看鹌鹑母亲的所作所为吧。

She will not leave you. No, not she.

她不会丢下子女逃之夭夭，决不！

But she will fall at your feet, uttering a noise which none but a distressed mother can make,

她会假装落到人们脚边，发出母亲的唯一痛苦声音。

and she will run, and flutter, and seem to try to be caught, and cheat your outstretched hand,

她同时奔跑，一边拍动双翼，似乎即将被人捉住。她会欺骗你张开手掌，

and affect to be wing-broken and wounded, and yet have just strength to tumble along,

假装它的翅膀断了或受伤，甚至费劲地一路翻滚，

until she has drawn you, fatigued, a safe distance from her threatened children and the young hopes of her heart;

直到把你折磨得筋疲力尽，将你从她受到生命威胁的孩子处成功引开，这才是她的希望所在。

and then will she mount, whirring with glad strength, and away through the maze of trees you have not seen before,

然后，她最终就呼啦啦快乐地飞走，飞进那些你不曾知晓的树林深处，飞去她潜藏孩子的地方，

like a close-shot bullet, fly to her skulking infants,

像近距离射出的子弹，倏尔不知所终。

Listen now. Do you hear those three half-plaintive notes, quickly and clearly poured out?

听！你听见那三声近乎悲痛哀伤、急速清晰的倾诉心声吗？

She is calling the boys and girls together.

她在呼唤她的儿女聚拢一起。