美國語文第五冊 第151期：鵪鶉（04）
She sings not now “Bob White!” nor “Ah! Bob White!”
此刻，她不是鳴啾“鮑勃·懷特”，亦不是“??！鮑勃·懷特”，
That is her husband's love call, or his trumpet blast of defiance.
那是她配偶的愛稱，或是他挑釁反抗的惡言相向。
But she calls sweetly and softly for her lost children.
她會甜蜜輕柔地呼喚她走失的孩子們，
Hear them “Peep! peep! peep!” at the welcome voice of their mother's love!
它們則“唧唧！唧唧！唧唧！”地叫個不停，回應(yīng)母親的愛戀歡騰。
They are coming together. Soon the whole family will meet again.
全家聚在一起，終于，它們重新團(tuán)圓了。
It is a foul sin to disturb them; but retread your devious way, and let her hear your coming footsteps, breaking down the briers, as you renew the danger.
倘若有人懷著狡猾奸詐之心、踏上邪惡之路去驚擾那些鵪鶉，鵪鶉母親能聽到人們走近的危險腳步，聽到人們踩倒周圍荊棘的聲音，
She is quiet. Not a word is passed between the fearful fugitives.
她只是一聲不吭。在充滿恐懼的逃亡者中間，不存在任何語言交流。
Now, if you have the heart to do it, lie low, keep still, and imitate the call of the hen quail.
假若有人有心，不妨蹲下，保持沉默，模仿母鵪鶉的叫聲。
O mother! mother! how your heart would die if you could witness the deception!
噢，媽媽！媽媽！一旦目睹自己的無恥欺詐，你的心會死嗎？
The little ones raise up their trembling heads, and catch comfort and imagined safety from the sound.
那些小鵪鶉們會抬起它們驚顫的頭尋求安撫，尋求來自呼喚聲中的想象安全。
"Peep! peep!" They come to you, straining their little eyes,
“唧唧！唧唧”，它們會靠近你，晃動它們尚未完全睜開的眼睛，
and, clustering together and answering, seem to say, "Where is he? Mother! mother! we are here!"
簇?fù)沓蓤F(tuán)地叫著，似乎在說，“你在哪里？媽媽！媽媽！我們在這里！”
