There is a legend about a bird which sings just once in its life 传说有一只鸟一生只歌唱一次。 More sweetly than any other creature on the face of the earth 它的歌声委婉动听,万物之中无可比拟。 From the moment it leaves the nest it searches for a thorn tree, and does not rest until it has found one 自离巢的那一刻,它就在寻找着,不眠不休,只为寻找那棵属于它的荆棘树。 Then, singing among the savage branches, it impales itself upon the longest, sharpest spine. 荆棘树上,它在旁逸横出的荆棘中放声歌唱,至长至锐的尖刺穿透了他的身躯。 And, dying, it rises above its own agony to outcarol the lark and the nightingale 生命将尽,它超脱了痛苦,尽情欢唱,那甜美的歌声连云雀夜莺都难以企及。 One superlative song, existence the price. 歌声至美,却是以身殉曲。 But the whole world stills to listen, and God in his Heaven smiles 然而万物都在聆听这美妙的歌声,就连上帝也在苍穹之中露出了微笑 For the best is only bought at the cost of great pain or says the legend. 因为唯有历经磨难苦楚,方能得到最美好的事物。
WHEN forty winters shall besiege thy brow 当四十个冬天围攻你的朱颜, And dig deep trenches in thy beauty's field, 在你美的园地挖下深的战壕, Thy youth's proud livery, so gazed on now, 你青春的华服,那么被人艳羡, Will be a tottered weed of small worth held: 将成褴褛的败絮,谁也不要瞧: Then being asked where all thy beauty lies, 那时人若问起你的美在何处, Where all the treasure of thy lusty days, 哪里是你那少壮年华的宝藏, To say within thine own deep-sunken eyes 你说,"在我这双深陷的眼眶里, Were an all-eating shame and thriftless praise. 是贪婪的羞耻,和无益的颂扬。" How much more prasie deserved thy beauty's use 你的美的用途会更值得赞美, If thou couldst answer, 'This fair child of mine 如果你能够说,"我这宁馨小童 Shall sum my count and make my old excuse,' 将总结我的账,宽恕我的老迈," Proving his beauty by succession thine. 证实他的美在继承你的血统! This were to be new made when thou art old 这将使你在衰老的暮年更生, And see thy blood warm when thou feel'st cold. 并使你垂冷的血液感到重温。 ——莎士比亚《十四行诗》