英国学生科学读本 第110期:小强盗

 　　A Little Robber 小强盗

　　O Robin¹, my Robin, so clever and merry, 知更鸟啊，聪明又快乐的家伙，

　　Pray, why do you never peck twice at a cherry? 每颗樱桃，为啥你只啄一回？

　　You fly at the daintiest one you can see, 你朝着最漂亮的那颗飞过去，

　　Eat a morsel² yourself, and just spoil it for me. 吃了满口，却让我再难下嘴

　　O Robin, sweet Robin, you dear little warden³, 知更鸟啊，亲爱的小卫兵，

　　You’re welcome to feast on the fruit in my garden： 到我的花园里，吃什么我都欢迎，

　　I know what invaders⁴ you’re driving away 我明白你在长长的夏日

　　From flower and from tree, through the long summer day. 赶走入侵者，给花树带来安宁。

　　But Robin, bright Robin, please listen to reason. 但是知更鸟，你不傻，听我一言：

　　You waste lots of cherries, my pet, every season： 每年你都把红樱桃，浪费得实在不浅

　　I finish my cake to the very last crumb⁵; 我自己的蛋糕，会吃完最后的一片，

　　Why cannot you finish your cherry or plum? 你怎么不能把桃李，吃得不留一点？

1 robin   

n.知更鸟，红襟鸟

参考例句：

• The robin is the messenger of spring.知更鸟是报春的使者。
• We knew spring was coming as we had seen a robin.我们看见了一只知更鸟，知道春天要到了。

2 morsel   

n.一口，一点点

参考例句：

• He refused to touch a morsel of the food they had brought.他们拿来的东西他一口也不吃。
• The patient has not had a morsel of food since the morning.从早上起病人一直没有进食。

3 warden   

n.监察员，监狱长，看守人，监护人

参考例句：

• He is the warden of an old people's home.他是一家养老院的管理员。
• The warden of the prison signed the release.监狱长签发释放令。

4 invaders   

入侵者，侵略者，侵入物( invader的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• They prepared to repel the invaders. 他们准备赶走侵略军。
• The family has traced its ancestry to the Norman invaders. 这个家族将自己的世系追溯到诺曼征服者。

5 crumb   

n.饼屑，面包屑，小量

参考例句：

• It was the only crumb of comfort he could salvage from the ordeal.这是他从这场磨难里能找到的唯一的少许安慰。
• Ruth nearly choked on the last crumb of her pastry.鲁斯几乎被糕点的最后一块碎屑所噎住。