She sang a few notes out of tune: 刚开口唱歌，就跑了调，

　　Her heart was ready to break, 它的心儿，就要碎了，

　　And she hid away from the moon. 连忙赶紧，躲开月亮。

　　She wrung her claws, poor thing, 不小心还扭了脚，这可怜家伙，

　　But was far too proud to weep; 是否太过骄傲，大哭一场，

　　She tucked her head under her wing, 反正，它将头蜷缩翼翅下，

　　And pretended to be asleep. 装模作样地睡着了。

　　A lark, arm in arm with a thrush, 云雀和画眉，肩并肩，

　　Came sauntering up to the place; 蹒跚走过来，查看究竟，

　　The nightingale felt herself blush, 夜莺捂住，羞红的脸，

　　Though feathers hid her face; 虽然羽毛遮住，心中胆怯，

　　She knew they had heard her song, 它知道，鸟儿听见自己歌唱，

　　She felt them snicker and sneer; 叽喳嘲笑，犹如芒刺，

　　She thought that life was too long, 它讨厌憎恨，时光漫长，

　　And wished she could skip a year. 一年眨眼过去，该有多棒！

　　"O nightingale!" cooed a dove; “哦，夜莺”，一只鸽子咕咕叫，

　　O nightingale! what's the use? 有什么大事不得了？

　　You bird of beauty and love, 你那么漂亮，又可爱，

　　Why behave like a goose? 何必，像那些粗鄙家鹅？

　　Don't sulk away from our sight, 别躲在旮旯里，生闷气，

　　Like a common, contemptible fowl; 也不要小鸡肚肠，没度量，

　　You bird of joy and delight, 你应该，开心更快乐，

　　Why behave like an owl? 为什么，不学学猫头鹰？

　　Only think of all you have done; 只要想一想，你所做的，

　　Only think of all you can do; 再思忖看看，你能做的，

　　A false note is really fun, 唱错了调，无关紧要，

　　From such a bird as you! 权当有趣，一笑别过。

　　Lift up your proud little crest, 耸起你，那骄傲鸟冠，

　　Open your musical beak; 打开你，美丽的喙角，

　　Other birds have to do their best, 鸟儿们，竭力帮助你，

　　You need only to speak! 不妨，亮开歌喉再唱歌。

　　The nightingale shyly took her head from under her wing, 夜莺，羞愧地，从翼翅里，抬起头，

　　And, giving the dove a look, 感激中，看了鸽子一眼，

　　Straightway began to sing. 蓦然间，亮开嗓门，

　　There was never a bird could pass; 鸟儿，纷纷飞来驻足，

　　The night was divinely calm; 夜晚，霎时庄严静穆，

　　And the people stood on the grass 草地上，人群安静伫立，

　　To hear that wonderful psalm. 聆听那，质朴无华的圣歌。

　　The nightingale did not care, 夜莺，不再害怕，

　　She only sang to the skies; 它的歌声，渐次上扬回旋，

　　Her song ascended there, 它的目光，悠然攀升，

　　And there she fixed her eyes. 伴随着，响彻入云骄傲，

　　The people that stood below, 歌声拂过，娴静无边夜色。

　　She knew but little about; 夜莺，或许茫然不知，

　　And this tale has a moral, I know, 这篇故事，包含人生箴言，

　　If you'll try and find it out. 只要尝试，奇迹不难发现。