天真与经验之歌:第45篇 小学生

 　　The Schoolboy 小学生

　　I love to rise in a summer morn, 我爱在夏天清晨就起床，

　　When the birds sing on every tree; 当鸟儿在每一棵树上唱起歌；

　　The distant huntsman winds his horn, 远处的猎人把他的号角吹响，

　　And the skylark sings with me: 而云雀在和我相互唱和。

　　O what sweet company! 哦！多么甜美的同伙。

　　But to go to school in a summer morn, 可是夏天清早就上学堂，

　　O it drives all joy away! 哦！那就要驱散一切的欢乐；

　　Under a cruel eye outworn, 忍受着凶狠的目光，

　　The little ones spend the day 小家伙又叹气又难过，

　　In sighing and dismay. 就这样把日子消磨。

　　Ah then at times I drooping² sit, 啊！那么我有时就垂头丧气地呆坐，

　　And spend many an anxious hour; 挨过了多少心神不定的时辰，

　　Nor in my book can I take delight, 我既不能从书里得到快乐，

　　Nor sit in learning's bower³, 也不能稳坐学问的凉亭，

　　Worn through with the dreary⁴ shower. 它已被阴郁的风雨磨损。

　　How can the bird that is born for joy 为欢乐而诞生的鸟儿又怎能

　　Sit in a cage and sing? 呆在一只笼子里放声歌唱？

　　How can a child, when fears annoy, 一个孩子当他胆战心惊

　　But droop¹ his tender wing, 又怎能不耷拉他柔弱的翅膀，

　　And forget his youthful spring! 并且把他的青春完全遗忘！

　　O father and mother if buds are nipped, 哦！父亲和母亲！若花苞被摘掉

　　And blossoms blown away; 花朵全被吹散，

　　And if the tender plants are stripped 若柔弱的花木被夺去了

　　Of their joy in the springing day, 他们在萌芽时期的狂欢，

　　By sorrow and care's dismay, 只由于愁哀与焦虑不安，

　　How shall the summer arise in joy, 那么夏天将怎样欢快地升起，

　　Or the summer fruits appear? 夏天的果实又将怎样出现。

　　Or how shall we gather what griefs destroy, 我们又将怎样把悲哀所毁坏的全都收集，

　　Or bless the mellowing⁵ year, 或怎样祝贺丰收的一年，

　　When the blasts of winter appear? 当冬天的风暴正在摧残。

1 droop   

v.低垂，下垂；凋萎，萎靡

参考例句：

• The heavy snow made the branches droop.大雪使树枝垂下来。
• Don't let your spirits droop.不要萎靡不振。

2 drooping   

adj. 下垂的，无力的 动词droop的现在分词

参考例句：

• The drooping willows are waving gently in the morning breeze. 晨风中垂柳袅袅。
• The branches of the drooping willows were swaying lightly. 垂柳轻飘飘地摆动。

3 bower   

n.凉亭，树荫下凉快之处；闺房；v.荫蔽

参考例句：

• They sat under the leafy bower at the end of the garden and watched the sun set.他们坐在花园尽头由叶子搭成的凉棚下观看落日。
• Mrs. Quilp was pining in her bower.奎尔普太太正在她的闺房里度着愁苦的岁月。

4 dreary   

adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的

参考例句：

• They live such dreary lives.他们的生活如此乏味。
• She was tired of hearing the same dreary tale of drunkenness and violence.她听够了那些关于酗酒和暴力的乏味故事。

5 mellowing   

软化，醇化

参考例句：

• Sticking small needles into the hammer's felt creates mellowing. 在琴槌的毛毡上粘上小针以使音色圆润。