評論
打印
Cupidity and cruelty may drive him to the woods, and to seek more quiet seats;
貪婪殘忍的人們或許將它們驅趕到森林荒野，它們只能尋求更為僻靜的地方，
but be merciful and kind to him, and he will visit your barnyard,
如果人們仁慈友好地對待它們，鵪鶉將飛抵農家谷倉，
and sing for you upon the boughs of the apple tree by your gateway.
在農家院門口的蘋果樹枝干上盡情鳴唱。
When warm May first wooes the young flowers to open and receive her breath,
五月明媚的陽光，鵪鶉首先祈求花蕾怒放，它們才能接受花朵的溫馨撫愛，
then begin the cares and responsibilities of wedded life.
然后開始履行婚姻生活的責任。
Away fly the happy pair to seek some grassy tussock,
年輕鵪鶉雙宿雙飛到處尋找茂密的草叢，
where, safe from the eye of the hawk and the nose of the fox, they may rear their expectant brood in peace.
在那里它們才能逃避猛鷙的利爪襲擊，才能躲過嗅覺靈敏的狐貍，安心舒適地孵化自己的寶貝。
Oats harvest arrives, and the fields are waving with yellow grain.
燕麥收獲的季節到了，田野里落滿金黃的谷粒。
Now be wary, O kind-hearted cradler, and tread not into those pure white eggs ready to burst with life!
鵪鶉覺得還是要謹慎為妙。噢，善良的搖籃母親，絕不會踩踏純凈潔白的蛋，那些即將嘰喳欲出的生命！
Soon there is a peeping sound heard, and lo!
很快，“唧唧”聲愈發清晰，瞧！
a proud mother walketh magnificently in the midst of her children, scratching and picking, and teaching them how to swallow.
肩負生命重大意義的驕傲母親，在孩子們中間踱步，不時地為它們抓撓啄理，教它們如何吞咽。
Happy she, if she may be permitted to bring them up to maturity, and uncompelled to renew her joys in another nest.
如果她能將幼雛培養長大，無需被迫重新壘窩筑巢，即可再度開始母親的快樂，那么，她該有多么幸福自在！
The assiduities of a mother have a beauty and a sacredness about them that command respect and reverence in all animal nature,
母親勤勉意味對子女愛戀與神圣職責，這一信仰支撐她尊重敬畏所有動物的天性，
human or inhuman—what a lie does that word carry—except, perhaps, in monsters, insects, and fish.
人類或非人類皆然。或許，除了怪獸、昆蟲或魚類并不具備。
