評論
打印
"Come in, little stranger," I said,
“請進，小陌生人，”我開口，
As she tapped at my half-open door;
當她輕輕叩響我那半開的門扇，
While the blanket, pinned over her head,
別在她頭上的布毯，
Just reached to the basket she bore.
垂落到她手中的籃子里。
A look full of innocence fell,
她的藍色眼睛美麗而害羞，
From her modest and pretty blue eye,
投向我的眼神天真可愛，
As she said, "I have matches to sell,"
她說：“我有一些火柴出售，”
And hope you are willing to buy.
希望您愿意購買。
A penny a bunch is the price,
一把火柴只要一便士，
I think you'll not find it too much;
我想這個價錢您不會覺得很高；
They are tied up so even and nice,
火柴捆得整整齊齊，
And ready to light with a touch.
輕輕一擦就能點著。
I asked, "What's your name, little girl?"
我問她：“你叫什么名字，小姑娘？”
"'Tis Mary," said she, "Mary Dow;"
“我叫瑪麗。”她說，“姓陶，名叫瑪麗。”
And carelessly tossed off a curl,
一縷卷發隨意滑落臉上，
That played on her delicate brow.
在她精致的額前嬉戲。
My father was lost on the deep;
我父親的船沒能回到岸邊，
The ship never got to the shore;
他消失在海的深處；
And mother is sad, and will weep,
只要一聽見海風海浪的聲音，
To hear the wind blow and sea roar.
傷心的母親就會哭。”
She sits there at home, without food,
她守在可憐的威利病床邊，
Beside our poor, sick Willy's bed;
整天在家里吃不下飯；
She paid all her money for wood,
她買木柴就花了所有的錢，
And so I sell matches for bread.
所以為了面包我才出來賣火柴。
I'd go to the yard and get chips,
我愿意到院場上撿拾碎木片，
But then it would make me too sad
可是那會讓我非常傷心，
To see the men building the ships,
因為我會見到工人在造船，
And think they had made one so bad.
想起曾經有過一艘壞船奪走了父親，
But God, I am sure,
可是上帝，我深信不疑，
Who can take such fatherly care of a bird,
能給予小鳥慈父般呵護的上帝，
Will never forget nor for sake
永遠不會忘記，也不會放棄，
The children who trust in his word.
信賴他每一句話的孩子。
And now, if I only can sell
現在，只要我能賣掉，
The matches I brought out today,
今天帶出來的這些火柴，
I think I shall do very well,
我想我會做得很好，
And we shall rejoice at the pay.
掙的錢會讓我們感到愉快。”
"Fly home, little bird," then I thought,
“飛回家吧，小鳥兒，”后來我在心里獨白，
Fly home, full of joy, to your nest;
飛回家，滿懷歡樂，飛回你的巢里。
For I took all the matches she brought,
因為我買下了她所有的火柴，
And Mary may tell you the rest.
剩下的事情也許瑪麗會告訴你。?
