1、 THE NIGHTINGALE AND THE ROSEShe said that she would dance with me if I brought her red roses, cried the young Student, but in all my garden there is no red rose.From her nest in the oak tree the Nightingale heard him, and she looked out through the leaves and wondered.No red rose in all my garden!

2、he cried, and his beautiful eyes filled with tears. Ah, on what little things does happiness depend! I have read all that the wise men have written, and all the secrets of philosophy are mine, yet for want (沒有) of a red rose is my life made wretched.Here at last is a true lover, said the Nightingale

3、. Night after night have I sung of him, though I knew him not: night after night have I told his story to the stars and now I see him. His hair is dark as the hyacinth(風(fēng)信子)- blossom, and his lips are red as the rose of his desire; but passion has made his face like pale ivory, and sorrow has set her

4、 seal upon his brow.The Prince gives a ball (舞會(huì)) to-morrow night, murmured the young student, and my love will be of the company. If I bring her a red rose she will dance with me till dawn. If I bring her a red rose, I should hold her in my arms, and she will lean her head upon my shoulder, and her

5、hand will be clasped in mine. But there is no red rose in my garden, so I shall sit lonely, and she will pass me by. She will have no heed of me, and my heart will break.Here, indeed, is the true lover, said the Nightingale. What I sing of, he suffers: what is joy to me, to him is pain. Surely love

6、is a wonderful thing. It is more precious than emeralds (翡翠), and dearer than fine opals (蛋白石). Pearls and pomegranates cannot buy it, nor is it set forth in the market-place. It may not be purchased of the merchants, nor can it be weighed out in the balance for gold.The musicians will sit in their

7、gallery, said the young Student, and play upon their stringed instruments, and my love will dance to the sound of the harp and the violin. She will dance so lightly that her feet will not touch the floor, and the courtiers in their gay dresses will throng round her. But with me she will not dance, f

8、or I have no red rose to give her: and he flung himself down on the grass, and buried his face in his hands, and wept.Why is he weeping? asked a little Green Lizard, as he ran past him with his tail in the air.Why, indeed? said a Butterfly, who was fluttering about after a sunbeam.Why, indeed? whisp

9、ered a Daisy to his neighbour, in a soft, low voice.He is weeping for a red rose, said the Nightingale.For a red rose? they cried: how very ridiculous! and the little Lizard, who was something of a cynic (憤世嫉俗者), laughed outright.But the Nightingale understood the secret of the Students sorrow, and

10、she sat silent in the oak-tree, and thought about the mystery of Love.Suddenly she spread her brown wings for flight, and soared into the air. She passed through the grove like a shadow and like a shadow she sailed across the garden.In the center of the grass-plot was standing a beautiful Rose-tree,

11、 and when she saw it she flew over to it, and lit upon a spray.Give me a red rose, she cried, and I will sing you my sweetest song.But the Tree shook its head.My roses are white, it answered; as white as the foam of the sea, and whiter than the snow upon the mountain. But go to my brother who grows

12、round the old sun-dial (一種玫瑰), and perhaps he will give you what you want.So the Nightingale flew over to the Rose-tree that was growing round the old sun-dial.Give me a red rose, she cried, and I will sing you my sweetest song.But the Tree shook its head.My roses are yellow, it answered; as yellow

13、as the hair of the mermaiden (美人魚) who sits upon an amber throne, and yellower than the daffodil (黃水仙) that blooms in the meadow before the mower comes with his scythe. But go to my brother who grows beneath the Students window, and perhaps he will give you what you want.So the Nightingale flew over

14、 to the Rose-tree that was growing beneath the Students window.Give me a red rose, she cried, and I will sing you my sweetest song.But the Tree shook its head.My roses are red, it answered, as red as the feet of the dove, and redder than the great fans of coral that wave and wave in the ocean-cavern

15、. But the winter has chilled my veins, and the frost has nipped (摧殘) my buds, and the storm has broken my branches, and I shall have no roses at all this year.One red rose is all I want, cried the Nightingale, only one red rose! Is there no way by which I can get it?There is a way, answered the Tree

16、; but it is so terrible that I dare not tell it to you.Tell it to me, said the Nightingale, I am not afraid.If you want a red rose, said the Tree, you must build it out of music by moonlight, and stain it with your own hearts blood. You must sing to me with your breast against a thorn. All night lon

17、g you must sing to me, and the thorn must pierce your heart, and your life-blood must flow into me veins, and become mine.Death is a great price to pay for a red rose, cried the Nightingale, and Life is very dear to all. It is pleasant to sit in the green wood, and to watch the Sun in his chariot (戰(zhàn)

18、車) of gold, and the Moon in her chariot of pearl. Sweet is the scent of the hawthorn, and sweet are the bluebells that hide in the valley, and the heather that blows on the hill. Yet love is better than Life, and what is the heart of a bird compared to the heart of a man?So she spread her brown wing

19、s for flight, and soared into the air. She swept over the garden like a shadow, and like a shadow she sailed through the grove.The young Student was still lying on the grass, where she had left him, and the tears were not yet dry in his beautiful eyes.Be happy, cried the Nightingale, be happy; you s

20、hall have your red rose. I will build it out of music by moonlight, and stain it with my own hearts blood. All that I ask of you in return is that you will be a true lover, for Love is wiser than Philosophy (哲學(xué)), though he is wise, and mightier than Power, though he is mighty. Flame-coloured are his

21、 wings, and coloured like flame is his body. His lips are sweet as homey, and his breath is like frankincense.The Student looked up from the grass, and listened, but he could not understand what the Nightingale was saying to him, for he only knew the things that are written down in books.But the Oak

22、-tree understood, and felt sad, for he was very fond of the little Nightingale, who had built her nest in his branches.Sing me one last song, he whispered; I shall feel lonely when you are gone.So the Nightingale sang to the Oak-tree, and her voice was like water bubbling from a silver jar.When she

23、had finished her song, the Student got up, and pulled a note-book and a lead-pencil out of his pocket.She had form, her said to himself, as he walked away through the grovethat cannot be denied to her; but has she got feeling? I am afraid not. In fact, she is like most artists; she is all style with

24、out any sincerity. She would not sacrifice herself for others. She thinks merely of music, and everybody knows that the arts are selfish. Still, it must be admitted that she has some beautiful notes in her voice. What a pity it is that they do not mean anything, or do any practical good! And he went

25、 into his room, and lay down on his little pallet-bed, and began to think of his love; and, after a time, he fell asleep.And when the moon shone in the heavens the Nightingale flew to the Rose-tree, and set her breast against the thorn. All night long she sang, with her breast against the thorn, and

26、 the cold crystal Moon leaned down and listened. All night long she sang, and the thorn went deeper and deeper into her breast, and her life-blood ebbed away from her.She sang first of the birth of love in the heart of a boy and a girl. And on the topmost spray of the Rose-tree there blossomed a mar

27、velous rose, petal following petal, as song followed song. Pale was it, at first, as the mist that hangs over the riverpale as the feet of the morning, and silver as the wings of the dawn. As the shadow of a rose in a mirror of silver, as the shadow of a rose in a water-pool, so was the rose that bl

28、ossomed on the topmost spray of the Tree.But the Tree cried to the Nightingale to press closer against the thorn. Press closer, little Nightingale, cried the Tree, or the Day will come before the rose is finished.So the Nightingale pressed closer against the thorn, and louder and louder grew her son

29、g, for she sang of the birth of passion in the soul of a man and a maid.And a delicate flush of pink came into the leaves of the rose, like the flush in the face of the bridegroom when he kisses the lips of the bride. But the thorn had not yet reached her heart, so the roses heart remained white, fo

30、r only a Nightingales hearts blood can crimson the heart of a rose.And the Tree cried to the Nightingale to press closer against the thorn. Press closer, little Nightingale, cried the Tree, or the Day will come before the rose is finished.So the Nightingale pressed closer against the thorn, and the

31、thorn touched her heart, and a fierce pang of pain shot through her. Bitter, bitter was the pain, and wilder and wilder grew her song, for she sang of the Love that is perfected by Death, of the Love that dies not in the tomb.And the marvelous rose became crimson (猩紅), like the rose of the eastern s

32、ky. Crimson was the girdle of petals, and crimson as a ruby (紅寶石) was the heart.But the Nightingale voice grew fainter, and her little wings began to beat, and a film came over her eyes. Fainter and fainter grew her song, and she felt something choking her in her throat.Then she gave one last burst

33、of music. The white Moon heard it, and she forgot the dawn, and lingered on in the sky. The red rose heard it, and it trembled all over with ecstasy, and opened its petals to the cold morning air. Echo bore it to her purple cavern in the hills, and woke the sleeping shepherds from their dreams. It f

34、loated through the reeds of the river, and they carried its message to the sea.Look, look! cried the Tree, the rose is finished now; but the Nightingale made not answer, for she was lying dead in the long grass, with the thorn in her heart.And at noon the Student opened his window and looked out.Why

35、, what a wonderful piece of luck! He cried; here is a red rose! I have never seen any rose like it in all my life. It is so beautiful that I am sure it has a long Latin name; and he leaned down and plucked it.Then he put on his hat, and ran up to the Professors house with the rose in his hand.The da

36、ughter of the Professor was sitting in the doorway winding blue silk on a reel, and her little dog was lying at her feet.You said that you would dance with me if I brought you a red rose, cried the Student. Here is the reddest rose in all the world. You will wear it to-night next your heart, and as

37、we dance together it will tell you how I love you.But he girl frowned.I am afraid it will not go with my dress, she answered; and, besides, the Chamberlains nephew had sent me some real jewels, and everybody knows that jewels cost far more than flowers.Well, upon my word, you are very ungrateful, sa

38、id the Student angrily; and he threw the rose onto he street, where it fell into the gutter (陰溝), and a cartwheel went over it.Ungrateful! said the girl. I tell you what, you are very rude; and, after all, who are you? Only a Student. Why, I dont believe you have even got silver buckles to your shoe

39、s as the Chamberlains nephew has; and she got up from her chair and went into the house.What a silly thing Love is! said the Student as he walked away. It is not half as useful as Logic, for it does not prove anything, and it is always telling one of things that are not going to happen, and making o

40、ne believe things that are not true. In fact, it is quite unpractical, and, as in this age to be practical is everything, I shall go back to Philosophy and study Metaphysics (玄學(xué)).So he returned to his room and pulled out a great dusty book, and began to read.夜鶯與玫瑰王爾德 原著； 林徽因 譯作 “她說(shuō)我若為她采得紅玫瑰，便與我跳舞?！鼻?/p>

41、年學(xué)生哭著說(shuō)，“但我全園里何曾有一朵紅玫瑰？” 夜鶯在橡樹上巢中聽見，從葉叢里望外看，心中詫異。青年哭道，“我園中并沒有紅玫瑰！”他秀眼里滿含著淚珠?！把?！幸福倒靠著這些區(qū)區(qū)小東西！古圣賢書我已讀完，哲學(xué)的玄秘我已徹悟，然而因?yàn)榍笠欢浼t玫瑰不得，我的生活便這樣難堪?！?夜鶯嘆道，“真情人竟在這里。以前我雖不曾認(rèn)識(shí)，我卻夜夜的歌唱他：我夜夜將他的一樁樁事告訴星辰，如今我見著他了。他的頭發(fā)黑如風(fēng)信子花，嘴唇紅比他所切盼的玫瑰，但是摯情已使他臉色憔悴，煩惱已在他眉端引著痕跡?！?青年又低聲自語(yǔ)：“王子今晚宴會(huì)跳舞，我的愛人也將與會(huì)。我若為她采得紅玫瑰，她就和我跳舞直到天明，我若為她采得紅玫瑰，我將把

42、她抱在懷里，她的頭，在我肩上枕著，她的手，在我手中握著。但我園里沒有紅玫瑰，我只能寂寞的坐著，看她從我跟前走過(guò)，她不理睬我，我的心將要粉碎了?！?“這真是個(gè)真情人?！币国L又說(shuō)著，“我所歌唱，是他嘗受的苦楚：在我是樂的，在他卻是悲痛。愛果然是件非常的東西。比翡翠還珍重，比瑪瑙更寶貴。珍珠，榴石買不得他，黃金亦不能作他的代價(jià)，因?yàn)樗皇窃谑猩铣鲑u，也不是商人販賣的東西。” 青年說(shuō)：“樂師們將在樂壇上彈弄絲竹，我那愛人也將按著弦琴的音節(jié)舞蹈。她舞得那么翩翩，蓮步都不著地，華服的少年們就會(huì)艷羨的圍著她。但她不同我跳舞，因我沒有為她采到紅玫瑰?！庇谑撬业乖诓堇?，兩手掩著臉哭泣。 綠色的小壁虎說(shuō)，“他為

43、什么哭泣？”說(shuō)完就豎起尾巴從他跟前跑過(guò)。蝴蝶正追著陽(yáng)光飛舞，他亦問說(shuō)，“唉，怎么？”金盞花亦向她的鄰居低聲探問，“唉，怎么？”夜鶯說(shuō)“他為著一朵紅玫瑰哭泣。” 他們叫道，“為著一朵紅玫瑰！真笑話！”那小壁虎本來(lái)就刻薄，于是大笑。 然而夜鶯了解那青年煩惱里的秘密，她靜坐在橡樹枝上細(xì)想“愛”的玄妙。 忽然她張起棕色的雙翼，沖天的飛去。她穿過(guò)那樹林如同影子一般，如同影子一般的，她飛出了花園。 草地當(dāng)中站著一株艷美的玫瑰樹，她看見那樹，向前飛去落在一枝枝頭上。她叫道，“給我一朵鮮紅玫瑰，我為你唱我最婉轉(zhuǎn)的歌?！?可是那樹搖頭。 “我的玫瑰是白的，”那樹回答她，“白如海濤的泡沫，白過(guò)山顛上積雪。請(qǐng)你到古

44、日晷旁找我兄弟，或者他能應(yīng)你所求。” 于是夜鶯飛到日晷旁邊那叢玫瑰上。 她又叫道，“給我一朵鮮紅玫瑰，我為你唱最醉人的歌?！?可是那樹搖頭。 “我的玫瑰是黃的，”那樹回答她，“黃如琥珀座上人魚神的頭發(fā)，黃過(guò)割草人未割以前的金水仙。請(qǐng)你到那邊青年窗下找我兄弟，或者他能應(yīng)你所求?！?于是夜鶯飛到青年窗下那叢玫瑰上。 他仍舊叫道，“給我一朵鮮紅玫瑰，我為你唱最甜美的歌?！?可是那樹搖頭。 那樹回答她道，“我的玫瑰是紅的，紅如白鴿的腳趾，紅如海底巖下扇動(dòng)的珊瑚。但是嚴(yán)冬已凍僵了我的血脈，寒霜已嚙傷了我的萌芽，暴風(fēng)已打斷了我的枝干，今年我不能再開了?！?夜鶯央告說(shuō)，“一朵紅玫瑰就夠了。只要一朵紅玫瑰！請(qǐng)

45、問有甚法子沒有？” 那樹答道，“有一個(gè)法子，只有一個(gè)，但是太可怕了，我不敢告訴你。” “告訴我吧，”夜鶯勇敢地說(shuō)，“我不怕?！?那樹說(shuō)道，“你若要一朵紅玫瑰，你需在月色里用音樂制成，然后用你自己的心血染她。你需將胸口頂著一根尖刺，為我歌唱。你需整夜的為我歌唱，那刺需刺入你的心頭，你生命的血液得流到我的心房里變成我的?！?夜鶯嘆道，“那死來(lái)買一朵紅玫瑰，代價(jià)真不小，誰(shuí)的生命不是寶貴的，坐在青郁的森林里，看太陽(yáng)在黃金車?yán)?，月亮在白珠輦?nèi)馳騁，真是一樁樂事。山楂花的味兒真香，山谷里的吊鐘花和山坡上野草真美。然而愛比生命更可貴，一個(gè)鳥的心又怎能和人的心比？” 忽然她張起棕色的雙翼，沖天的飛去。她穿過(guò)那花園如同影子一般，她蕩出了那樹林子。 那青年仍舊僵臥在草地上方才她離去的地方，他那付秀眼里的淚珠還沒有干。 夜鶯喊道，“高興吧，快樂吧；你將要采到你那朵紅玫瑰了。我將用月下的歌音制成她。我向你所求的報(bào)酬，僅是要你做一個(gè)真摯的情人，因?yàn)檎芾黼m智，愛比她更慧，權(quán)力雖雄，愛比她更偉。焰光的色彩是愛的雙翅，烈火的顏色是愛的軀干。她又如蜜的口唇，若蘭的吐氣?！?青年從草里抬頭側(cè)耳靜聽，但是他不懂夜鶯對(duì)他所說(shuō)的話，因他只曉得書上所講的一切。 那橡樹卻是懂得，他覺得悲傷，因?yàn)樗麡O愛憐那枝上結(jié)巢的小夜鶯。 他輕聲說(shuō)道：“唱一首最后的歌給我聽罷，你離去后，我要感到無(wú)限的寂寥