Where we live,on the Eastern shore of Maryland,the gentle waters run in and out like fingers slimming at the tips.They curl into the coves like tender palms.
在我们家乡马里兰州的东海岸，徐缓的流水宛如纤细的手指，进进出出，弯弯曲曲，最后流入如温柔的手掌般的海湾。
The Canada geese know this place,as do the white swans and the ducks who ride an inch above the waves of Chesapeake Bay as the skim their way into harbor.In the autumn,by the thousands,they came home for the winter.
黑额黑雁认识这个地方。紧贴着切萨皮克湾的浪尖飞入海港的白天鹅和野鸭子们也知道这里。秋季，它们会成百上千地在这里筑窝，躲过严冬。
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 dig 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向海岸悠悠飞去--头颈高抬，高傲无畏。它们将长长的脖子深深地扎入水中，用坚硬的喙在河底寻觅食物。傲慢的天鹅对众多的黑额黑雁表现出一种冷漠，或者几乎以说是一种蔑视。
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.
雪和冻雨每年要光顾这个地方一两次。如果赶上雨雪发生在河流最狭窄的地段，或者当时正值水浅，河面就会结冰。
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.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.
故事就发生在这样一个雪后的早上。在靠近马里兰州牛津镇的地方，我的一个朋友正在一扇巨大的窗户旁摆放早餐餐具。透过窗户，她正好能够俯视特爱温河。越过码头，只见整条河都被大雪镶上了白以的银边。有那么一会儿，她静静地站在窗前，望着眼前这幅一夜暴风雨所描绘的图景。
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.
突然间，她向前探了探身子，贴近结霜的窗户向外仔细看去。她不禁大声叫道："是真的！那儿有一只黑额黑雁。"她于是走到书柜前，取出了一副望远镜。镜筒中，她看到了一只硕大的黑额黑雁，它一动不动，翅膀紧紧地收合在身体两侧，双脚已经被冻在了冰里。
Then from the dark skies,she saw a line of swans.They moved in their own singularformation graceful,intrepid,and free.They crossed from the west of the broad creek high above the house moving steadily to the east.
这时，从昏暗的天空飞过来一队天鹅。它们以自己独有的陈式移动着，优雅，无畏，自在。它们越过西部宽宽的河面，掠过房屋顶上高高的天空，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.
我的朋友注视看这队天鹅。领头鹅转向了右边，随后一队白鸟渐渐地变成了一个白色的圆圈。这个白色圆圈从高空往下飘落，最后，就仿佛羽毛轻落到地上一般降在了冰面上。我的朋友不禁站起身，惊讶得用手捂住了嘴巴。原来天鹅们将那只冻在冰上的黑额黑雁围住了，我的朋友担心那只命在旦夕的黑额黑雁或许将在一群天鹅的利喙下变得千疮百孔。
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.
然而令人惊讶的是，那些利喙却在冰上啄了起来。长长的脖子时而抬起，时而弯下，一次又一次。过了好长时间，冻住黑额黑雁的冰河变成了一小块冰坨。天鹅们于是随领头鹅再次腾空而起，以圆圈状盘旋在空中，等待观瞧它们劳动的成果。
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.
黑额黑雁抬起了头，使劲抻拽着身体，终于它挣脱了冰冻站在了冰面上。黑额黑雁慢慢地移动着大大的蹼脚，空中盘旋的天鹅望着它的每一个举动。这时，黑额黑雁好像叫了一声："我没法儿飞了！"于是，只见4只天鹅飞到它的身旁，用坚硬的长喙上上下下里里外外地蹭它的翅膀，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.
黑额黑雁极力地伸展着双翅。当翅膀最终完全展开后，4只天鹅回到了自己队伍中。随后，这队天鹅又以完美的阵式继续向东的旅程，飞往它们神秘的归宿。
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.
在它们的身后，获救的黑额黑雁快活地飞入了天空，速度快得令人难以置信。它紧跟着天鹅，加倍抖动着双翅，终于赶上它们并变为了那条优美线条最后的一个点。
My friend watched them until they disqppeared over the tips of the farthest trees.Only them did she realize that tears were running down her cheeks and had been for how long she didn'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 dirds why not for man!"
我朋友的视线一直紧随着这群鸟儿，直到它们消失在远方树梢的后面。这时，她才发现自己早已有泪流满面。这是一个真实的故事。我在这里不想去诠释它。我只是在困境中常想起这个故事，并对自己说："鸟儿尚且如此，何况人呢？"
关键字:好文共赏
生词表:
在我们家乡马里兰州的东海岸，徐缓的流水宛如纤细的手指，进进出出，弯弯曲曲，最后流入如温柔的手掌般的海湾。
The Canada geese know this place,as do the white swans and the ducks who ride an inch above the waves of Chesapeake Bay as the skim their way into harbor.In the autumn,by the thousands,they came home for the winter.
黑额黑雁认识这个地方。紧贴着切萨皮克湾的浪尖飞入海港的白天鹅和野鸭子们也知道这里。秋季，它们会成百上千地在这里筑窝，躲过严冬。
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 dig 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向海岸悠悠飞去--头颈高抬，高傲无畏。它们将长长的脖子深深地扎入水中，用坚硬的喙在河底寻觅食物。傲慢的天鹅对众多的黑额黑雁表现出一种冷漠，或者几乎以说是一种蔑视。
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.
雪和冻雨每年要光顾这个地方一两次。如果赶上雨雪发生在河流最狭窄的地段，或者当时正值水浅，河面就会结冰。
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.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.
故事就发生在这样一个雪后的早上。在靠近马里兰州牛津镇的地方，我的一个朋友正在一扇巨大的窗户旁摆放早餐餐具。透过窗户，她正好能够俯视特爱温河。越过码头，只见整条河都被大雪镶上了白以的银边。有那么一会儿，她静静地站在窗前，望着眼前这幅一夜暴风雨所描绘的图景。
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.
突然间，她向前探了探身子，贴近结霜的窗户向外仔细看去。她不禁大声叫道："是真的！那儿有一只黑额黑雁。"她于是走到书柜前，取出了一副望远镜。镜筒中，她看到了一只硕大的黑额黑雁，它一动不动，翅膀紧紧地收合在身体两侧，双脚已经被冻在了冰里。
Then from the dark skies,she saw a line of swans.They moved in their own singularformation graceful,intrepid,and free.They crossed from the west of the broad creek high above the house moving steadily to the east.
这时，从昏暗的天空飞过来一队天鹅。它们以自己独有的陈式移动着，优雅，无畏，自在。它们越过西部宽宽的河面，掠过房屋顶上高高的天空，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.
我的朋友注视看这队天鹅。领头鹅转向了右边，随后一队白鸟渐渐地变成了一个白色的圆圈。这个白色圆圈从高空往下飘落，最后，就仿佛羽毛轻落到地上一般降在了冰面上。我的朋友不禁站起身，惊讶得用手捂住了嘴巴。原来天鹅们将那只冻在冰上的黑额黑雁围住了，我的朋友担心那只命在旦夕的黑额黑雁或许将在一群天鹅的利喙下变得千疮百孔。
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.
然而令人惊讶的是，那些利喙却在冰上啄了起来。长长的脖子时而抬起，时而弯下，一次又一次。过了好长时间，冻住黑额黑雁的冰河变成了一小块冰坨。天鹅们于是随领头鹅再次腾空而起，以圆圈状盘旋在空中，等待观瞧它们劳动的成果。
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.
黑额黑雁抬起了头，使劲抻拽着身体，终于它挣脱了冰冻站在了冰面上。黑额黑雁慢慢地移动着大大的蹼脚，空中盘旋的天鹅望着它的每一个举动。这时，黑额黑雁好像叫了一声："我没法儿飞了！"于是，只见4只天鹅飞到它的身旁，用坚硬的长喙上上下下里里外外地蹭它的翅膀，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.
黑额黑雁极力地伸展着双翅。当翅膀最终完全展开后，4只天鹅回到了自己队伍中。随后，这队天鹅又以完美的阵式继续向东的旅程，飞往它们神秘的归宿。
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.
在它们的身后，获救的黑额黑雁快活地飞入了天空，速度快得令人难以置信。它紧跟着天鹅，加倍抖动着双翅，终于赶上它们并变为了那条优美线条最后的一个点。
My friend watched them until they disqppeared over the tips of the farthest trees.Only them did she realize that tears were running down her cheeks and had been for how long she didn'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 dirds why not for man!"
我朋友的视线一直紧随着这群鸟儿，直到它们消失在远方树梢的后面。这时，她才发现自己早已有泪流满面。这是一个真实的故事。我在这里不想去诠释它。我只是在困境中常想起这个故事，并对自己说："鸟儿尚且如此，何况人呢？"
关键字:好文共赏
生词表:
京公网安备 11011202003401号
