A Visit from St. Nicholas 圣尼古拉来访

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

在圣诞节前夜，
整间屋里没有一人在吵，
就连老鼠也不闹；
长袜已被小心地挂到烟囱上，
我希望圣尼古拉很快就来到；

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;
And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap,

我希望圣尼古拉很快就来到；
孩子们都被舒适地安顿到他们的床上，
虽然他们脑子里还跳动着小糖球的幻影；
妈妈裹起头巾，我戴上帽，
我们刚定下神来要睡个冬天的长觉，

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

这时外面的草地上有了得得的声响，
我从床上跳起来去看个究竟，
像一道闪光，我扑向窗户，快得像一道闪光
扯开百页窗拉起窗框。

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,

只见月光洒在新雪的胸膛上，
给月下的万物披上晌午的光芒；
这时竟出现了使我目瞪口呆的景象，
那是一辆小雪橇和八只小小的驯鹿，

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;

上面坐着一个小小的老车夫，
他是这样生气勃勃，动作敏捷，
我马上知道这一定是圣尼古拉。
他的骏鹿跑得比鹰还快，
他吹哨，吆喝，还能叫它们的名字：

"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"

"嘿，达舍！嘿，丹瑟！
嘿，普兰舍和维克星！
前进，科米特!前进，朱庇特！
前进，唐德和布利琛！
嘿，冲呀，冲呀，一起给我冲，
冲到门廊顶，冲向围墙的顶！"

• sprang [spræŋ]   spring 的过去式   (初中英语单词)
• lively [´laivli]   a.活泼的；热烈的   (初中英语单词)
• miniature [´miniətʃə]   n.缩样 a.雏型的   (高中英语单词)
• stirring [´stə:riŋ]   a.活跃的；热闹的   (英语四级单词)
• sleigh [slei]   n.雪橇 vi.坐雪橇   (英语四级单词)