美國語文第六冊 第6期:銀針
時尚的歡快鈴聲也許在吹噓
In waltz or cotillon, at whist or quadrille;
和著華爾茲或花布舞的，在惠斯特或四十張牌游戲中;
And seek admiration by vauntingly telling of drawing, and painting, and musical skill:
自吹自擂炫耀繪畫和音樂才能，博取贊美：
But give me the fair one, in country or city,
在鄉(xiāng)村或城市，請賜給我晴朗的天氣，
Whose home and its duties are dear to her heart,
誰的家能讓她放在心上，
Who cheerfully warbles some rustical ditty,
在優(yōu)雅地刺繡時
While plying the needle with exquisite art:
誰在快樂地哼唱鄉(xiāng)村小調(diào)
The bright little needle, the swift-flying needle,
晶亮的小銀針，飛舞穿梭的銀針，
The needle directed by beauty and art.
美和藝術(shù)是它的主宰。
If Love have a potent, a magical token,
如果愛有一個威力無比和迷人的象征，
A talisman, ever resistless and true,
護身符，曾經(jīng)不可抗拒和那么真切，
A charm that is never evaded or broken,
絕對無法回避或破碎的魔力
A witchery certain the heart to subdue,
巫術(shù)不會制服那顆滾燙的心，
’T is this; and his armory never has furnished
他那絕不會陳設(shè)的紋章，
So keen and unerring, or polished a dart;
那樣逼真，毫無偏差，就像擦亮的飛鏢
Let beauty direct it, so polished and burnished,
讓美來指引，裝飾和擦亮它。
And oh! it is certain of touching the heart:
啊!觸及心底：
The bright little needle, the swift-flying needle,
光閃閃的小銀針，穿梭飛舞，
The needle directed by beauty and art.
美和藝術(shù)是它的主宰。
Be wise, then, ye maidens, nor seek admiration,
學(xué)會聰明，姑娘們，不要貪慕虛榮，
By dressing for conquest, and flirting with all;
通過穿著來征服，釣得眾人心;
You never, whate’er be your fortune or station,
不論你的財富和地位如何
Appear half so lovely at rout or at ball,
你絕不會顯得如此動人和愉快，
As gayly convened at the work-covered table,
在覆著刺繡圖案的桌上歡快地聚在一起，
Each cheerfully active, playing her part,
每個人都興高采烈地忙著自己手中的活兒，
Beguiling the task with a song or a fable,
哼著歌兒講著傳說，陶醉于手下的巧奪天工，
And plying the needle with exquisite art:
精巧的手舞弄銀針：
The bright little needle, the swift-flying needle,
光閃閃的小銀針，穿梭飛舞，
The needle directed by beauty and art.
美和藝術(shù)是它的主宰。
