美国语文第六册 第37期:早晨的清唱剧(3)

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　　I have often wondered that the almost simultaneous utterance² of so many different notes should produce no discords³, and that they should result in such complete harmony. 我经常感到好奇的是，几乎同时唱出如此之多的音符，竟然没有任何不和谐，发出的是如此完美的天籁之音。

　　In this multitudinous confusion of voices, no two notes are confounded, 在这种声音的多重复合里，没有两个音符混在一起的现象，

　　and none has sufficient duration to grate harshly with a dissimilar sound. 没有一个声音足以持续到非常刺耳的程度。

　　Though each performer sings only a few strains and then makes a pause, 尽管每位表演者只唱几个乐段，然后就会停下来，

　　the whole multitude succeed one another with such rapidity that we hear an uninterrupted flow of music until the broad light of day invites them to other employments. 可是整个演出以一种急速的方式进行下去，以至于我们听到的是不间断的乐流，直到白天宽广的天空向它们发出其他邀请。

　　When there is just light enough to distinguish the birds, we may observe, here and there, a single swallow perched on the roof of a barn or shed, 当有一道光线明亮到足以区分鸟儿的类属时，我们会不时观察到一只麻雀在谷仓或木棚的屋顶上栖息，

　　repeating two twittering notes incessantly⁴, with a quick turn and a hop⁵ at every note he utters. 不间断地唧唧喳喳地叫着，重复两个音符，在发出的每个音符上都带出一个急速转声和大幅跳跃的音调。

　　It would seem to be the design of the bird to attract the attention of his mate, 仿佛是鸟儿为了吸引同伴的注意故意设计的似的，

　　and this motion seems to be made to assist her in discovering his position. 这个动作好像能协助它发现自己所处的位置。

　　As soon as the light has tempted⁶ him to fly abroad, this twittering strain is uttered more like a continued song, as he flits rapidly through the air. 光线一诱惑它展翅高飞，它便快速转入云空，这种啾鸣乐段听上去更像持续吟唱的歌声。

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