美國語文第六冊 第39期:早晨的清唱劇(5)
小小的梳妝鳥依舊在無休止地啾鳴，先是第一只開始，直到最后一只停止表演。
Though the voice of this bird is not very sweetly modulated, it blends harmoniously with the notes of other birds,
盡管這種鳥的叫聲不那么甜美悅耳，其中還很協(xié)調(diào)地混有其他鳥兒的叫聲，
and greatly increases the charming effect of the combination.
很大程度上增加了令人陶醉的共鳴效果。
It would be tedious to name all the birds that take part in this chorus;
要想叫出參加大合唱的每只鳥兒的名字，可不是件容易的事情。
but we must not omit the pewee, with his melancholy ditty, occasionally heard like a short minor strain in an oratorio;
不過，我們千萬不要遺漏小燕，它唱的那令人傷感的歌謠，偶爾聽上去就像一部清唱劇里的小樂段。
nor the oriole, who is really one of the chief performers, and who, as his bright plumage flashes upon the sight,
白頭翁則不然，它實際上是樂隊的主角之一，同它那明亮耀眼的羽毛發(fā)出光芒的一樣，
warbles forth a few notes so clear and mellow as to be beard above every other sound.
它那婉轉(zhuǎn)的歌喉吟唱出的音符是那樣清亮和柔美，蓋過了其他鳥兒的聲音。
Adding a pleasing variety to all this harmony, the lisping notes of the meadowlark,
再加上這種和弦令人愉快的變化多端，草地鷚那清脆的樂音以一種獨具的發(fā)人深思的轉(zhuǎn)調(diào)，
uttered in a shrill tone, and with a peculiar pensive modulation, are plainly audible, with short rests between each repetition.
發(fā)出尖利的音調(diào)。在每次重復(fù)短暫的間歇，這種天籟般的音樂都清晰可聞。
There is a little brown sparrow, resembling the hairbird, save a general tint of russet in his plumage, that may be heard distinctly among the warbling host.
與梳妝鳥在一起的還有一種小小的棕色麻雀，除了羽毛上普遍的赤褐色外，它的叫聲在一群鳥中間很容易區(qū)分開來。
He is rarely seen in cultivated grounds, but frequents the wild pastures,
在已經(jīng)開墾的土地上，很少見到這種鳥兒，不過在荒野則經(jīng)常能發(fā)現(xiàn)它的蹤跡。
and is the bird that warbles so sweetly at midsummer, when the whortleberries are ripe, and the fields are beautifully spangled with red lilies.
在仲夏季節(jié)，它是叫聲最甜美的鳥兒，這時越橘漿果已經(jīng)成熟，田野到處可見紅色的百合花。
