雙語童詩：小孩和蛇

所屬教程:英美童詩

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2018年09月05日

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42 THE CHILD AND THE SNAKE	四十二小孩和蛇
Mary Lamb ①	瑪麗·蘭姆
Henry was every morning fed	每天早上，母親用面包
With a full mess of milk and bread.	和牛奶把亨利喂得飽飽。
One day the boy his breakfast took,	一天，這孩子拿著早餐
And ate it by a purling brook.	吃著，在潺潺的溪水旁邊。
His mother lets him have his way.	母親允許他隨便行走。
With free leave Henry every day	亨利就每天獲得自由
Thither repairs, until she heard	走遠。一天他母親聽到
Him talking of a fine gray bird.	他說起一只美麗的灰鳥。
This pretty bird, he said, indeed,	他說，這只鳥兒真漂亮，
Came every day with him to feed;	每天來跟他把早餐共享；
And it loved him and loved his milk,	鳥兒愛他，也愛他的牛奶，
And it was smooth and soft like silk.	鳥身像絲綢，柔滑可愛。
—On the next morn she follows Harry,	——第二天早上她緊跟著亨利，
And carefully she sees him carry	細心地注視著孩子端起
Through the long grass his heap'd - up mess.	豐盛的早餐穿行過草地。
What was her terror and distress	啊，她多么恐懼，焦急——
When she saw the infant take	她突然瞧見這孩子拿著
His bread and milk close to a snake!	面包和牛奶走近一條蛇！
Upon the grass he spreads his feast,	他在草地上把宴席擺開，
And sits down by his frightful guest,	挨著這可怕的客人坐下來；
Who had waited for the treat;	那家伙正等著主人請客；
And now they both began to eat.	他們倆就開始一同吃喝。
Fond mother! shriek not, O beware	深情的母親！別喊叫，當心啊，
The least small noise, O have a care —	別發(fā)出一丁點聲音，留神啊——
The least small noise that may be made	只要發(fā)出一丁點響聲，
The wily snake will be afraid—	狡猾的蛇就會受驚——
If he hear the slightest sound,	假如他聽到輕微的聲響，
He will inflict th'envenoan'd wound.	毒牙就會把孩子咬傷。
—She speaks not , moves not , scarce does breathe,	——不出聲，不動，屏息凝神，
As she stands the trees beneath.	她只是在樹蔭底下站定。
No sound she utters; and she soon	她一聲不響；很快看到
Sees the child lift up his spoon,	孩子舉起了一把小勺，
And tap the snake upon the head,	朝蛇的頭上輕輕叩打，
Fearless of harm; and then he said,	一點不害怕；接著又說話，
As speaking to familiar mate,	像是對親密的伙伴言談，
"Keep on your own side, do, Gray Pate;"	"灰頭，回到你自己的一邊；"
The snake then to the other side,	那蛇仿佛受到了責難，
As one rebuked, seems to glide;	看樣子像要爬回另一邊；
And now again advancing nigh,	可是一會兒蛇又挨近，
Again she hears the infant cry,	母親又聽見孩子的叫聲，
Tapping the snake, "Keep further, do;	他拍拍蛇頭，"走遠點，去；
Mind , Gray Pate, what I say to you."	灰頭，我的話你要記住。"
The danger's o'er! she sees the boy	危險過去了！她看見孩子
(O what a change from fear to joy!)	（轉危為安，謝天謝地！）
Rise and bid the snake "Good-bye";	站起身來對蛇說"再見"；
Says he, "Our breakfast's done, and I	說，"咱倆用過了早餐，
Will come again to-morrow day";	明兒個早上我會再來"；
—Then , lightly tripping, ran away.	——然后，他連蹦帶跳地跑開。
	方谷繡屠岸譯