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Chapter 6 Off to Montana
第六章 到蒙大拿去
At the end of the summer, the cob gathered his family around him and made an announcement.
那個夏天快過去的時候，雄天鵝把他的家人招集到一起，發表了一個聲明。
"Children," he began, "I have news for you.
“孩子們，”他開始了，“我有個消息要對你們宣布。
Summer is drawing to a close.
夏天就要結束了。
Leaves are turning red, pink, and pale yellow.
樹葉在變深紅，變淺紅，變得暗黃。
Soon the leaves will fall.
樹葉不久就會墜落的。
The time has come for us to leave this pond.
該是我們離開這個池塘的時候了。
The time has come for us to go."
到我們該走的時候了。”
"Go?" cried all the cygnets except Louis.
“走？”除路易斯外的所有小天鵝都叫起來。
"Certainly," replied their father.
“當然了，”他們的父親回答，
"You children are old enough to learn the facts of life, and the principal fact of our life right now is this:
“你們這些孩子們已經大得能夠認識到生活中的事實了，現在擺在我們生活中的首要事實是這個：
we can't stay in this marvelous location much longer."
我們不能再留在這個奇妙的地方了。”
"Why not?" cried all the cygnets except Louis.
“為什么不能？”除路易斯外的所有小天鵝大嚷。
"Because summer is over," said the cob,
“因為夏天過去了，”雄天鵝說，
"and it is the way of swans to leave their nesting site at summer's end and travel south to a milder place where the food supply is good.
“在夏天結束的時候天鵝們就該離開他們造窩的地方，往南旅行到一個食物充足的溫暖的地方。
I know that you are all fond of this pretty pond, this marvelous marsh, these reedy shores and restful retreats.
我知道你們都喜歡這個可愛的池塘，這個奇妙的沼澤，這個蘆葦岸和安靜的修養所。
You have found life pleasant and amusing here.
你們已經在這里找到了生活的樂趣。
You have learned to dive and swim underwater.
你們已經學會了潛水和在水下游泳。
You have enjoyed our daily recreational trips when we formed in line, myself in front swimming gracefully, like a locomotive,
你們已經喜歡上了我們每天的消遣性遠足，那時候我們都排成一行，我在前面像火車頭一般優雅地游著，
and your charming mother bringing up the rear, like a caboose.
你們那美貌的媽媽像貨車守車一般在后面守侯著。
Daylong, you have listened and learned. You have avoided the odious otter and the cruel coyote.
你們整日地聽和學。你們躲開了討厭的水獺和殘忍的郊狼。
You have listened to the little owl that says co-co-co-co.
你們聽見了小貓頭鷹說庫—庫—庫—庫。
You have heard the partridge say kwit-kwit.
你們聽見了山鷓鴣說奎— 奎。
At night you have dropped off to sleep to the sound of frogs--the voices of the night.
夜里你們聽著蛙聲——夜之聲——入眠。
But these pleasures and pastimes, these adventures, these games and frolics, these beloved sights and sounds must come to an end.
但是這些娛樂和消遣，這些奇遇，這些游戲和嬉耍，這些你們所愛的聲色享受不得不告一段落了。
All things come to an end.
所有的這些都得結束了。
It is time for us to go."
到我們離開的時候了。”
"Where will we go?" cried all the cygnets except Louis.
“我們要去哪兒？”路易斯以外的所有小天鵝都大喊起來，
"Where will we go, ko-hoh, ko-hoh? Where will we go, ko-hoh, ko-hoh?"
“我們要去哪兒，吭—嗬，吭—嗬？我們要去哪兒，吭—嗬，吭—嗬？”
"We will fly south to Montana," replied the cob.
“我們要往南飛到蒙大拿去。”雄天鵝回答。
"What is Montana?" asked all the cygnets except Louis.
“蒙大拿是什么？”路易斯外的所有小天鵝問，
"What is Montana--banana, banana? What is Montana--banana, banana?"
“什么是蒙大拿——香蕉，香蕉嗎？什么是蒙大拿——香蕉，香蕉嗎？”
