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The swans move toward the shores in a stately glide, their tall heads proud and unafraid. They lower their long necks deep into the water, where their strong beaks dip through the river bottoms for food. And there is, between the arrogant swans and the prolific geese, an indifference, almost a disdain. 天鹅们以一种高贵的姿态缓缓游向岸边,它们高傲地昂着头,毫无畏惧.它们把长长的脖子深埋在水里,用坚硬的喙在河底觅食.在天鹅和鹅群之间,傲慢的天鹅对鹅群表现出一种冷漠,甚至可以说是一种蔑视. Once or twice each year, snow and sleet move into the area. When this happens, if the river is at its narrowest, or the creek shallow, there is a freeze which hardens the water to ice. 白雪和冻雨每年都要光顾这个地方一两次.若这种情况发生在河流最狭窄的地段,或者溪流水位较浅的地方时,河面便会结成坚硬的冰块儿. It was on such a morning, near Oxford Maryland. That a friend of mine set the breakfast table beside the huge window, which overlooked the Tred Avon River. 那是一个下过雪后的早晨,在马里兰州牛津镇附近,我的一个朋友把早餐餐桌摆放在一扇巨大的窗户旁边,透过那扇窗,可以俯视特爱温河. Across the river, beyond the dock, the snow laced the rim of the shore in white. For a moment she stood quietly, looking at what the night's storm had painted. 越过码头,白雪将整条河镶上了白色的花边.她在窗前静静地站了片刻,欣赏着眼前这幅由一夜暴风雪所描绘出来的图画. Suddenly she leaned forward and peered close to the frosted window. 'It really is,' she cried out loud. 'There is a goose out there.' She reached to the bookcase and pulled out a pair of binoculars. Into their sights came the figure of a large Canada goose, very still, its wings folded tight to its sides, its feet frozen to the ice. 突然,她向前探着身子向结霜的窗户外仔细看去.'是真的,'她大声喊道：'外面有只鹅.'她走到书柜前,取出一副望远镜.从镜筒中,她看到一只硕大的加拿大鹅,一动不动,翅膀紧紧地收合在身体两侧,但双脚被冻在冰面上. Then from the dark skies, she saw a line of swans. They moved in their own singular formation, graceful, intrepid, and free. They crossed from the west of the broad creek high above the house, moving steadily to the east. 接着,从昏暗的天空中飞过来一队天鹅.它们以自己独有的阵式,优雅、无畏而又自在地前行着.它们越过西部宽阔的溪流,飞过屋顶高高的天空,平稳地一直向东飞去. As my friend watched, the leader swung to the right, then the white string of birds became a white circle. It floated from the top of the sky downward. At last, as easy as feathers coming to earth, the circle landed on the ice. My friend was on her feet now, with one unbelieving hand against her mouth. As the swans surrounded the frozen goose, she feared what life it still had might be pecked out by those great swan bills. 我的朋友注视着这队天鹅,其中,领头鹅实然转向了右边,一队白鸟紧接着便形成一个白色的圆圈.这个白色圆圈从高空缓缓飘落下来.最后,圆圈如同羽毛般轻盈地投入大地的怀抱中,降在了冰面上.我的朋友不禁站起身来,不敢相信自己的眼睛,惊讶地用手捂住了嘴巴.原来天鹅们将那只冻在冰里的鹅围住了,我的朋友担心那只命悬一线的鹅可能会被这群天鹅的利喙啄得千疮百孔. Instead, amazingly instead, those bills began to work on the ice. The long necks were lifted and curved down, again and again, it went on for a long time. At last, the goose was rimmed by a narrow margin of ice instead of the entire creek. The swans rose again, following the leader, and hovered in that circle, awaiting the results of their labors. 然而,更令人惊讶的事情发生了,那些利喙只是在冰上啄了起来.长长的脖子一会儿抬起,一会儿弯下,一次次地重复着,就这样过了很长时间,困住鹅的整块大冰最后终于变成了一小块冰坨.天鹅们随领头鹅再次腾空而起,以圆圈状盘旋在空中,等待欣赏它们的劳动成果. The goose's head lifted. Its body pulled. Then the goose was free and standing on the ice. It was moving its big webbed feet slowly. And the swans stood in the air watching. Then, as if it had cried, 'I cannot fly,' four of the swans came down around it. Their powerful beaks scraped the goose's wings from top to bottom, scuttled under its wings and rode up its body, chipping off the ice held in the feathers. 那只鹅把头抬了起来,使劲将自己的身体抽离出来,它终于摆脱了冰块,站在了冰面上,而后慢慢地挪动着它那大大的蹼脚.在空中盘旋的天鹅一直静观看着它的一举一动.接着,它好像叫了一声：'我飞不了!'这时,四只天鹅随即飞到它的身边,用它们坚硬的长喙,从上到下,从里到外地帮它抖动冻僵的翅膀,拱它的身体,啄掉它羽毛里的冰块. The goose spread its wings as far as they would go. When at last the wings reached their fullest, the four swans took off and joined the hovering group. They resumed their eastward journey, in perfect formation, to their secret destination. 那只鹅拼命地伸展开双翅.当翅膀最终完全展开后,四只天鹅便飞回了还在上空盘旋的队伍中.随后,这队天鹅又以完美的阵式继续它们向东的旅程,飞往它们神秘的目的地. Behind them, rising with incredible speed and joy, the goose moved into the sky. It followed them, flapping double time, until it caught up, until it joined the last end of the elegant line. 在它们身后,获救的鹅欢快而迅捷地飞上了天,速度快得令人难以置信.它紧跟着那队天鹅,加倍地抖动着双翅,直到追赶上它们,变成那条优美线条的最后一个点. My friend watched them until they disappeared over the tips of the farthest trees. Only then did she realize that tears were running down her cheeks and had been for how long she did't know. This is a true story. I do not try to interpret it here. I just often think of it in the bad moments, and tell myself: 'If so for birds, why not for man?' 我的朋友一直紧盯着它们,直到它们消失在远方的树梢后面.这时她才发现,自己早已泪流满面,而她却一直浑然不觉.这是一个真实的故事,我并没想怎样去诠释它.只是在自己遇到困难时常常想起这个故事,并对自己说：'鸟儿尚且如此,何况人呢?' |
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