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.
天鵝們以一種高貴的姿態緩緩遊向岸邊,它們高傲地昂著頭,毫無畏懼.它們把長長的脖子深埋在水裡,用堅硬的喙在河底覓食.在天鵝和鵝群之間,傲慢的天鵝對鵝群表現出一種冷漠,甚至可以說是一種蔑視.
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.
白雪和凍雨每年都要光顧這個地方一兩次.若這種情況發生在河流最狹窄的地段,或者溪流水位較淺的地方時,河面便會結成堅硬的冰塊兒.
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.
那是一個下過雪後的早晨,在馬里蘭州牛津鎮附近,我的一個朋友把早餐餐桌擺放在一扇巨大的窗戶旁邊,透過那扇窗,可以俯視特愛溫河.
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.
越過碼頭,白雪將整條河鑲上了白色的花邊.她在窗前靜靜地站了片刻,欣賞著眼前這幅由一夜暴風雪所描繪出來的圖畫.
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,她向前探著身子向結霜的窗戶外仔細看去."是真的,"她大聲喊道："外面有隻鵝."她走到書櫃前,取出一副望遠鏡.從鏡筒中,她看到一隻碩大的加拿大鵝,一動不動,翅膀緊緊地收合在身體兩側,但雙腳被凍在冰面上.
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.
接著,從昏暗的天空中飛過來一隊天鵝.它們以自己獨有的陣式,優雅、無畏而又自在地前行著.它們越過西部寬闊的溪流,飛過屋頂高高的天空,平穩地一直向東飛去.
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.
我的朋友注視著這隊天鵝,其中,領頭鵝實然轉向了右邊,一隊白鳥緊接著便形成一個白色的圓圈.這個白色圓圈從高空緩緩飄落下來.最後,圓圈如同羽毛般輕盈地投入大地的懷抱中,降在了冰面上.我的朋友不禁站起身來,不敢相信自己的眼睛,驚訝地用手捂住了嘴巴.原來天鵝們將那隻凍在冰裡的鵝圍住了,我的朋友擔心那隻命懸一線的鵝可能會被這群天鵝的利喙啄得千瘡百孔.
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,更令人驚訝的事情發生了,那些利喙只是在冰上啄了起來.長長的脖子一會兒抬起,一會兒彎下,一次次地重複著,就這樣過了很長時間,困住鵝的整塊大冰最後終於變成了一小塊冰坨.天鵝們隨領頭鵝再次騰空而起,以圓圈狀盤旋在空中,等待欣賞它們的勞動成果.
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.
那隻鵝把頭抬了起來,使勁將自己的身體抽離出來,它終於擺脫了冰塊,站在了冰面上,而後慢慢地挪動著它那大大的蹼腳.在空中盤旋的天鵝一直靜觀看著它的一舉一動.接著,它好像叫了一聲："我飛不了!"這時,四隻天鵝隨即飛到它的身邊,用它們堅硬的長喙,從上到下,從裡到外地幫它抖動凍僵的翅膀,拱它的身體,啄掉它羽毛裡的冰塊.
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.
那隻鵝拼命地伸展開雙翅.當翅膀最終完全展開後,四隻天鵝便飛回了還在上空盤旋的隊伍中.隨後,這隊天鵝又以完美的陣式繼續它們向東的旅程,飛往它們神秘的目的地.
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.
在它們身後,獲救的鵝歡快而迅捷地飛上了天,速度快得令人難以置信.它緊跟著那隊天鵝,加倍地抖動著雙翅,直到追趕上它們,變成那條優美線條的最後一個點.
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?"
我的朋友一直緊盯著它們,直到它們消失在遠方的樹梢後面.這時她才發現,自己早已淚流滿面,而她卻一直渾然不覺.這是一個真實的故事,我並沒想怎樣去詮釋它.只是在自己遇到困難時常常想起這個故事,並對自己說："鳥兒尚且如此,何況人呢?"
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