美国语文第五册 第150期:鹌鹑(3)

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　　nor of the filial gratitude³ of a spider, nipping the life out of his gray-headed father, and usurping⁴ his web. 亦未曾听说有孝顺感恩的蜘蛛，那些能咬死垂老的父母，从而占据它们的窝。

　　But if you would see the purest, the sincerest, the most affecting piety⁵ of a parent's love,  但是，如果你觉察到父母对子女纯粹真挚及感人至深的眷爱，

　　startle a young family of quails⁶, and watch the conduct of the mother.  势必惊讶于鹌鹑的幼小家庭，不妨看看鹌鹑母亲的所作所为吧。

　　She will not leave you. No, not she.  她不会丢下子女逃之夭夭，决不！

　　But she will fall at your feet, uttering a noise which none but a distressed⁷ mother can make,  她会假装落到人们脚边，发出母亲的唯一痛苦声音。

　　and she will run, and flutter, and seem to try to be caught, and cheat your outstretched hand,  她同时奔跑，一边拍动双翼，似乎即将被人捉住。她会欺骗你张开手掌，

　　and affect to be wing-broken and wounded, and yet have just strength to tumble along,  假装它的翅膀断了或受伤，甚至费劲地一路翻滚，

　　until she has drawn⁸ you, fatigued⁹, a safe distance from her threatened children and the young hopes of her heart;  直到把你折磨得筋疲力尽，将你从她受到生命威胁的孩子处成功引开，这才是她的希望所在。

　　and then will she mount, whirring with glad strength, and away through the maze¹⁰ of trees you have not seen before,  然后，她最终就呼啦啦快乐地飞走，飞进那些你不曾知晓的树林深处，飞去她潜藏孩子的地方，

　　like a close-shot bullet, fly to her skulking¹¹ infants,  像近距离射出的子弹，倏尔不知所终。

　　Listen now. Do you hear those three half-plaintive notes, quickly and clearly poured out?  听！你听见那三声近乎悲痛哀伤、急速清晰的倾诉心声吗？

　　She is calling the boys and girls together.  她在呼唤她的儿女聚拢一起。

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