The Nightingale

The Nightingale

Plotline

  • Story Map
  • Title: The Nightingale
  • Author: Hans Christian Andersen
  • Setting
    • Time: many years ago
    • Place: ancient China
  • Main Characters: Emperor, Nightingale
  • Problem: The emperor want to find the nightingale who can sing beautifully/sweetly.
  • Beginning: The emperor knew a special bird in his garden - mysterious nightingale and summoned his chamberlain to find the bird.
  • Middle: Then, they found the nightingale and brought it back. The nightingale sang so sweetly that tears came to the emperor's eyes. But one day an artificial bird looking more beautiful replaced the real one. After one year, this mechanical bird broke down.
  • End: Five years later, the emperor got sick and was dying. Nobody took care of the emperor. At this time the real nightingale came back, and her song revived the emperor.

As-is

In China, you know of course, the emperor is Chinese, and everyone he has around him is Chinese too. Now this happened many years ago, but that is just why the story is worth hearing, before it is forgotten. The emperor's palace was the most magnificent in the world. It was made entirely of fine porcelain, so precious and so fragile and delicate that one really had to watch one's step. In the garden the most unusual flowers were to be seen, and the most beautiful had fastened to them silver bells that tinkled so that no one would go past without noticing them. Yes, everything had been very well thought out in the emperor's garden, and it stretched so far that even the gardener didn't know where it stopped. If one kept on walking, one came to the loveliest forest with great trees and deep lakes. The forest stretched all the way down to the sea, which was blue and so deep that great ships could sail right in under the branches. And in these branches lived a nightingale that sang so sweetly that even the poor fisherman, who had so many other things to keep him busy, lay still and listened when he was out at night pulling in his net.

  • magnificent /mæɡˈnɪfɪsnt/ adj. 高尚的；壮丽的；华丽的；宏伟的
  • porcelain /ˈpɔːrsəlɪn/ n. 瓷；瓷器 adj. 瓷制的；精美的
  • chamberlain /ˈtʃeɪmbəlɪn/ n. 管家；宫廷大臣；（村镇的）掌管财物的人
  • fragile /ˈfrædʒaɪl/ adj. 脆的；易碎的
  • delicate /ˈdelɪkət/ adj. 微妙的；精美的，雅致的；柔和的；易碎的；纤弱的；清淡可口的
  • think out 解决；仔细考虑；发现
  • all the wall 一路上；自始至终；一直

在中国，你当然知道，皇帝是中国人，他身边的每个人也是中国人。这发生在许多年前，但这正是为什么这个故事值得一听，在它被遗忘之前。皇帝的宫殿是世界上最宏伟的。它完全是用上等瓷器制成的，非常珍贵，非常脆弱，非常精致，人们不得不小心翼翼地走好每一步。花园里种着许多稀奇古怪的花，最美丽的花都系上了银铃，这些银铃丁当地响着，谁经过都不会不注意的。是的，在皇帝的花园里，每件事情都想得很周到，甚至园丁也不知道它在什么地方停下来。如果你继续走下去，你就会来到一片最美丽的森林，那里有参天大树和深邃的湖泊。森林一直延伸到大海，大海是蓝色的，非常深，大轮船可以在它的枝叶下航行。在这些枝头上，住着一只夜莺，它唱得那么动听，就连那个有那么多事情要忙的可怜的渔夫，晚上在外面收渔网的时候，也躺在那里静静地听着。

"Good heavens! How beautiful!" he said. But then he had to look after his net and forgot the bird, although the next night, when it sang again and the fisherman came out there, he said the same thing: "Good heavens! How beautiful!"

“天啊!多漂亮啊!”他说。但是他不得不照看他的网，忘记了那只鸟，尽管第二天晚上，当它再次歌唱时，渔夫又出来了，他还是说了同样的话:“天哪!多么美丽!”

From every land in the world travelers came to the emperor's city. They admired the city, the palace, and the garden. But when they heard the nightingale, they all said: "But this is really the best thing of all!" And the travelers told about it when they got home, and scholars wrote many books about the city, the palace, and the garden. But they didn't forget the nightingale - it was given the highest place of all. And those who were poets wrote the loveliest poems, each one about the nightingale in the forest by the sea.

  • admire /ədˈmaɪər/ vt. 钦佩；赞美 vi. 钦佩；称赞

旅行者从世界各地来到帝都。他们羡慕这座城市、这座宫殿和这座花园。但是当他们听到夜莺的歌声时，他们都说:“这真是一件最美妙的事情!”旅行者们回到家就把这事告诉了他们。学者们写了许多关于这座城市、这座宫殿和这座花园的书。但是他们没有忘记那只夜莺——它是所有动物中最高的。那些诗人写了最美丽的诗，每一首都是关于海边森林里的夜莺的。

These books went around the world, and once some of them came to the emperor. He sat in his golden chair, reading and reading and nodding his head, for he was pleased by the lovely descriptions of the city, the palace, and the garden. "But the nightingale is really the best thing of all" - there it stood in print.

  • go around 四处走动；供应；（消息）流传

这些书传遍了世界，有一本还传到了皇帝那里。他坐在他的金椅子上，读着，读着，点着头，因为他对这座城市、这座宫殿和这座花园的可爱的描述使他感到愉快。“但夜莺确实是世界上最好的东西。”——它就印在那里。

"What's that?" said the emperor. "The nightingale? Why, I don't know anything about it! Is there such a bird in my empire, in my very own garden? I have never heard of it before! Fancy having to find this out from a book!"

  • fancy /ˈfænsi/ v. 想做；喜爱；自负；想象；设想，认为；（尤指速度竞赛）认为……要赢；（表示惊讶或反对） 真没想到 n. 幻想；想象力；爱好；adj. 复杂的；昂贵的；精致的，花俏的；想象的；

“那是什么?”皇帝说。“夜莺?怎么，我一点也不知道!在我的帝国里，在我自己的花园里，有这样一只鸟吗?我以前从未听说过它!真想不到还得从书上找出来!”

And then he summoned his chamberlain, who was so grand that if anyone of lower rank dared speak to him or ask about something, he would only say: "P!" And that doesn't mean anything at all.

  • summon /ˈsʌmən/ vt. 召唤；召集；鼓起；振作
  • chamberlain /ˈtʃeɪmbəlɪn/ n. 管家；宫廷大臣；（村镇的）掌管财物的人
  • porcelain /ˈpɔːrsəlɪn/ n. 瓷；瓷器 adj. 瓷制的；精美的

于是他把他的大臣召来。他的大臣非常尊贵，所以如果有地位较低的人胆敢跟他说话或问什么事情，他就只会说:“P!”这根本没有任何意义。

"There is supposed to be a highly remarkable bird here called a nightingale!" said the emperor. "They say it's the very best thing of all in my great kingdom! Why hasn't anyone ever told me about it?"

  • suppose /səˈpəʊz/ vt. 假设；认为；让（虚拟语气）；推想 vi. 猜想；料想 conj. 假使…结果会怎样
  • There is supposed to be ... 据说有...
  • remarkable /rɪˈmɑːkəbl/ adj. 卓越的；非凡的；值得注意的
  • kingdom /ˈkɪŋdəm/ n. 王国；界；领域

“据说这里有一种非常奇特的鸟，叫夜莺!”皇帝说。“他们说这是我伟大的王国里最好的东西!为什么从来没有人告诉过我呢?”

"I have never heard it mentioned before!" said the chamberlain. "It has never been presented at court!"

  • court /kɔːrt/ n. 法院；球场；朝廷；奉承
  • courtier /ˈkɔːrtiər/ n. 朝臣；奉承者；谄媚者

“我从来没有听人提起过它!”侍从说。“从来没有在朝廷上提过!”

"I want it to come here this evening and sing for me," said the emperor. "The whole world knows what I have, and I don't!"

“我要它今晚到这儿来为我唱歌，”皇帝说。“全世界都知道我有什么，而我没有!”

"I have never heard it mentioned before!" said the chamberlain. "I shall look for it! I shall find it!"

“我从来没有听人提起过它!”侍从说。“我要去找它!”我会找到它的!”

But where was it to be found? The chamberlain ran up and down all the stairs, through great halls and corridors. But no one he met had ever heard of the nightingale, and the chamberlain ran back again to the emperor and said it was probably a fable made up by the people who write books. "Your Imperial Majesty shouldn't believe what is written in them. They are inventions and belong to something called black magic!"

  • corridor /ˈkɔːrɪdɔːr/ n. 走廊
  • passage /ˈpæsɪdʒ/ n. 一段（文章）；走廊；通路；通过；旅程，行程；船费 vi. 通过通道
  • fable /ˈfeɪbl/ n. 寓言；无稽之谈 vi. 编寓言；虚构 vt. 煞有介事地讲述；虚构
  • your grace
  • Imperial /ɪmˈpɪəriəl/ adj. 帝国的；皇帝的；至高无上的；威严的
  • Majesty /ˈmædʒəsti/ n. 威严；最高权威，王权；雄伟；权威
  • believe in 信仰, 相信, 信任

但是在哪里可以找到它呢?宫内大臣在所有的楼梯上跑上跑下，穿过大厅和走廊。但是他所遇到的人都没有听说过夜莺，于是大臣又跑到皇帝那里，说这可能是写书的人编造的一个故事。“皇上不应该相信他们写的东西。它们是属于一种叫做黑魔法的东西的发明!”

"But the book in which I read it was sent to me by the mighty emperor of Japan, so it cannot be false. I will hear the nightingale! It shall be here this evening! I bestow my hightest patronage upon it! And if it doesn't come, I'll have the whole court thumped on their stomachs after they have eaten supper!"

  • mighty /ˈmaɪti/ adj. 有力的；强有力的；有势力的 adv. 很；极；非常 n. 有势力的人
  • bestow /bɪˈstəʊ/ vt. 使用；授予；放置；留宿
  • patronage /ˈpætrənɪdʒ; ˈpeɪtrənɪdʒ/ n. 赞助；光顾；任免权; 惠顾; 恩惠
  • thump /θʌmp/ n. 捶击；重击声；心脏怦怦跳动声
  • stomach /ˈstʌmək/ n. 胃；腹部；胃口

“但是我读过的那本书是强大的日本天皇送给我的，所以它不可能是假的。我要听到夜莺的歌声!今晚它就会在这里!我把我最崇高的恩宠赐给它!如果还不来，我就让整个法庭的人在他们吃过晚饭以后，用拳头打他们的肚子!”

"Tsing-pe!" said the chamberlain, and again ran up and down all the great halls and corridors. And half the court ran with him, for they weren't at all willing to be thumped on their stomachs. They asked and asked about the remarkable nightingale that was known to the whole world but not to the court.

  • corridor /ˈkɔːrɪdɔːr/ n. 走廊
  • passage /ˈpæsɪdʒ/ n. 一段（文章）；走廊；通路；通过；旅程，行程；船费 vi. 通过通道

“嘘——嘘!”侍臣说着，又在所有的大厅和走廊里跑来跑去。半个朝廷的人跟他一起跑，因为他们根本不愿意被人用拳头打他们的肚子。他们一遍又一遍地打听那只举世闻名，朝廷却不知道的夜莺。

Finally they met a little peasant girl in the kitchen. She said, "The nightingale? Heavens! I know it well. Yes, how it can sing! Every evening I'm permitted to take a few scraps from the table home to my poor sick mother - she lives down by the shore. And on my way back, when I'm tired and stop to rest in the forest, I can hear the nightingale sing. It brings tears to my eyes. It's jus as though my mother were kissing me."

  • peasant /ˈpeznt/ n. 农民；乡下人
  • scraps /skræps/ n. 残羹剩饭；刮屑（scrap的复数）

TODO FIXME - live down 住下来 - though conj. 虽然，尽管 adv. 虽然；不过；然而

最后，他们在厨房里遇到了一个农家小姑娘。她说:“夜莺?天啊!我知道得很清楚。是的，它会唱歌!每天晚上我都被允许从(家里的)餐桌上拿些残羹剩饭(回家)给我生病的母亲——她住在海边。在我回来的路上，当我累了，停下来在森林里休息时，我能听到夜莺在唱歌。它使我流泪。就好像我妈妈在吻我一样。”

"Little kitchen maid!" said the chamberlain. "You shall have a permanent position in the kitchen and permission to stand and watch the emperor eating if you can lead us to the nightingale. It has been summoned to appear at court this evening."

  • permanent /ˈpɜːmənənt/ adj. 永久的，永恒的；不变的
  • permission /pəˈmɪʃn/ n. 允许，许可
  • summon /ˈsʌmən/ vt. 召唤；召集；鼓起；振作

“小厨娘!”侍从说。“你在厨房里有一个固定的位置，如果你能把我们领到夜莺那里，你就可以站着看皇帝吃东西。它已被传唤于今晚出庭。”

And so they all set out for the part of the forest where the nightingale usually sang. Half the court went with them. As they were walking along at a fast pace a cow started mooing.

  • set out 出发，动身
  • pace /peɪs/ n. 一步；步速；步伐；速度
  • moo v. （牛）发出哞哞声 n. 牛叫声；（非正式）讨人厌的妇女；复数 moos过去式 mooed过去分词 mooed现在分词 mooing

于是他们就出发到夜莺经常歌唱的那片森林去了。半个法庭的人都跟着他们去了。当他们快速地走着的时候，一头牛开始哞哞叫起来。

"Oh!" said a courtier. "There it is! Indeed, what remarkable force for so tiny an animal. I am certain I have heard it before."

  • courtier /ˈkɔːrtiər/ n. 朝臣；奉承者；谄媚者
  • court /kɔːrt/ n. 法院；球场；朝廷；奉承
  • certain /ˈsɜːtn/ adj. 某一；必然的；确信；无疑的；有把握的；pron. 某些；某几个

“噢!”一个朝臣说。“就是这样!的确，对于这么小的动物来说，这是多么了不起的力量啊。我肯定以前听说过。”

"No, that's the cow mooing." said the little kitchen maid. "We're still quite a long way from the spot."

  • spot /spɒt/ n. 地点；斑点

“不，那是奶牛在叫。”小厨房女佣说。“我们离事发地点还有很长一段路要走。”

Now the frogs started croaking in the marsh.

  • croak /krəʊk/ vi. 呱呱地叫；发牢骚；死 vt. 用嘶哑的声音说；死亡 n. 呱呱叫声；低沉沙哑的说话声
  • marsh /mɑːʃ/ n. 沼泽；湿地 adj. 沼泽的；生长在沼泽地的

现在青蛙开始在沼泽里呱呱叫。

"Lovely," said the Chinese imperial chaplain. "Now I can hear her. It's just like tiny church bells."

  • chaplain /ˈtʃæplɪn/ n. 牧师；专职教士
  • tiny /ˈtaɪni/ adj. 微小的；很少的
  • church /tʃɜːtʃ/ n. 教堂；礼拜；教派

“好极了，”中国皇家牧师说。“现在我能听见她了。就像小教堂的钟声一样。”

"No, that's the frogs!" said the little kitchen maid. "But now I think we'll soon hear it."

“不，那是青蛙!”小厨房女佣说。“不过我想我们很快就会听到的。”

Then the nightingale started to sing.

然后夜莺开始唱歌。

"That's it!" said the little girl. "Listen! Listen! There it sits!" And then she pointed to a little gray bird up in the branches.

“对了!”小女孩说。“听着!听!它坐在那里!”然后她指着树枝上的一只灰色小鸟。

"Is it possible?" said the chamberlain. "I had never imagined it like this. How ordinary it looks! No doubt seeing so many fine people has made it lose its couleur!"

  • doubt /daʊt/ n. 怀疑；疑问；疑惑 v. 怀疑；不信；恐怕；拿不准
  • Couleur (from French, meaning colour in British English, spelled color in American English) is the expression used in Central European Studentenverbindungen for the various headgear and distinctive ribbons worn by members of these student societies.

“这可能吗?”侍从说。“我从来没有想象过会是这样。它看起来多么普通啊!毫无疑问，看到这么多优秀的人让它失去了机会!”

"Little nightingale," shouted the little kitchen maid quite loud, "our gracious emperor would so like you to sing for him!"

  • gracious /ˈɡreɪʃəs/ adj. 亲切的；高尚的；和蔼的；雅致的。 int. 天哪；哎呀

“小夜莺，”小厨房女工大声喊道，“我们仁慈的皇帝非常希望你为他唱歌!”

"With the greatest pleasure," said the nightingale, and sang in a way to warm one's heart.

“非常高兴，”夜莺说，唱了一首温暖人心的歌。

"It is just like glass bells!" said the chamberlain. "And look at that tiny throat. How it vibrates! It's remarkable that we have never heard it before. It will be a great success at court."

  • vibrate /vaɪˈbreɪt/ vi. 振动；颤动；摇摆；踌躇 vt. 使振动；使颤动

“它就像玻璃钟!”侍从说。“看那小喉咙。它如何振动!我们以前从未听说过，这是很了不起的。这将是一场伟大的胜利。”

"Shall I sing for the emperor again?" said the nightingale, who thought the emperor was there.

“我可以再为皇帝唱歌吗?”夜莺说，她以为皇帝在那里。

"My enchanting little nightingale," said the chamberlain, "it gives me the greatest pleasure to command you to appear at a court celebration this evening, where you will delight his High Imperial Eminence with your charmante song!"

  • enchant 英 /ɪnˈtʃɑːnt/ 美 /ɪnˈtʃænt/ v. 使着迷，使迷惑；施魔法于
  • celebration /ˌselɪˈbreɪʃn/ n. 庆典，庆祝会；庆祝；颂扬
  • delight /dɪˈlaɪt/ n. 高兴 vi. 高兴 vt. 使高兴
  • eminence /ˈemɪnəns/ n. 显赫；卓越；高处

“我迷人的小夜莺，”宫内大臣说，“我非常高兴地命令你今晚出席宫廷庆典，在那里你将用你迷人的歌声为他的崇高帝国地位带来喜悦!”

"It sounds best out of doors," said the nightingale, but it followed them gladly when it heard it was the emperor's wish.

“最好是在户外听，”夜莺说，但它高兴地跟着他们当它听到这是皇帝的愿望。

The palace had been properly polished up. Walls and floors, which were of porcelain, glowed from the lights of thousands of golden lamps. The loveliest flowers, which really could tinkle, had been lined up in the halls. There was such a running back and forth that it caused a draft that made all the bells tinkle so one couldn't hear oneself think.

  • polish /ˈpɒlɪʃ/ v. 抛光，擦亮；修改，润色；（使）完美，改进
  • back and forth 反复地，来回地
  • draft 英 /drɑːft/ 美 /dræft/ n. 汇票；草稿；选派；（尤指房间、烟囱、炉子等供暖系统中的）（小股）气流

宫殿已被适当地修饰过了。墙壁和地板是瓷的，在成千上万盏金色的灯的照耀下闪闪发光。那些最美丽的、能发出丁当声的花，已经排列在大厅里了。他们跑来跑去引起的气流，把所有的钟都摇得丁当响，使人听不见自己在想什么。

In the middle of the great hall, where the emperor sat, a golden perch had been placed for the nightingale to sit on. The whole court was there, and the little kitchen maid had been given permission to stand behind the door, for now she really did have the little of kitchen maid. Everyone was wearing his most splendid attire. They all looked at the little gray bird, to which the emperor was nodding.

  • perch /pɜːtʃ/ n. 鲈鱼; 高位；栖木；杆 vt. 栖息；就位；位于；使坐落于 vi. 栖息；就位；位于
  • splendid /ˈsplendɪd/ adj. 辉煌的；灿烂的；极好的；杰出的。比较级 more splendid最高级 most splendid
  • attire /əˈtaɪə(r)/ n. 服装；盛装 vt. 打扮；使穿衣
  • nod 英 /nɒd/ 美 /nɑːd/ 点头

在皇帝坐着的大殿中央，有一根金制的栖木，夜莺就坐在上面。整个院子的人都在那儿，小厨娘也得到了许可，可以站在门后面，因为她现在真的有了小厨娘了。每个人都穿着他最华丽的衣服。他们都望着这只小灰鸟，皇帝也对着它点了点头。

And the nightingale sang so sweetly that tears came to the emperor's eyes and rolled down his cheeks. And then the nightingale sang even more sweetly. It went straight to one's heart. And the emperor was so pleased that he said the nightingale was to have his golden slipper to wear around its neck. But the nightingale said no, thank you - it had been rewarded enough.

  • straight adj. 直的；连续的；笔直的；正直的；整齐的；异性恋的 adv. 直接地；不断地；立即；坦率地 n. 直；直线；直男，直女，异性恋者

夜莺唱得那么动听，皇帝的眼里噙满了泪水，泪水顺着他的脸颊滚落下来。于是夜莺唱得更动听了。它直刺人的心脏。皇帝非常高兴，他说夜莺的脖子上要套上他的金拖鞋。但是夜莺说不了，谢谢你，它已经得到了足够的回报。

"I have seen tears in the emperor's eyes. To me, that is the richest treasure. An emperor's tears have a wondrous power. Heaven knows I have been rewarded enough!" And then it sang again with its sweet and blessed voice.

  • rich /rɪtʃ/ adj. 富有的；肥沃的；昂贵的 adj. 油腻的，含有很多脂肪 (rich的最高级richest)
  • wondrous /ˈwʌndrəs/ adj. 奇妙的；令人惊奇的；非常的
  • blessed /ˈblesɪd/ adj. 神圣的，尊敬的；受祝福的，受上帝保佑的；带来幸福的，带来好运的；（使人）愉快安宁的；有幸具有的；幸运的；（非正式）表示愠怒，该死的 v. 祝福；祝圣；称颂上帝（bless 的过去式和过去分词）

“我看到过皇帝眼中的泪水。对我来说，那是最宝贵的财富。皇帝的眼泪有一种神奇的力量。天知道我已经得到了足够的回报!”然后它又用它那甜美而幸福的声音唱了起来。

"That is the most adorable coquetterie I know of," said the ladies standing around. And then they put water in their mouths so they could gurgle whenever anyone spoke to them, for now they thought that they were nightingales too. Yes, even the lackeys and chambermaids let it be known that they were also satisfied, and that was saying a lot, for they are the hardest to please. Yes indeed, the nightingale had really been a success.

  • adorable /əˈdɔːrəbl/ adj. 可爱的；可敬重的，值得崇拜的
  • coquetterie coquette /kɒˈket/ n. 卖弄风情的女人；冠蜂鸟 v. 卖弄风情，调情
  • gurgle /ˈɡɜːɡl/ v. 作汩汩声；汩汩地流；作咯咯声；用咯咯声表示 n. 汩汩声；咯咯声
  • lackey /ˈlæki/ n. 男仆；侍从；马屁精 vt. 侍候，服侍；奉承
  • chambermaid /ˈtʃeɪmbəmeɪd/ n. 女服务员；家庭女仆
  • chamber /ˈtʃeɪmbə(r)/ n. （身体或器官内的）室，膛；房间；会所 adj. 室内的；私人的，秘密的 vt. 把…关在室内；装填（弹药等）
  • let it be known that ... 使人们知道（或清楚）; 明确表示; The Prime Minister has let it be known that he is against it 首相对此明确表示反对。
  • let it be的意思是顺其自然, 随(他)去, 任(他)那样

站在旁边的女士们说:“这是我见过的最可爱的冠蜂鸟。”然后他们把水放进嘴里，这样每当有人跟他们说话时，他们就可以咯咯地笑，因为现在他们认为自己也是夜莺。是的，就连侍从和侍女们也表示他们也很满意，这说明了许多问题，因为他们是最难使人满意的。是的，那只夜莺的确成功了。

Now it was to remain at court and have its own cage as well as freedom to take a walk outside twice during the day and once at night. It was given twelve servants, too, each one holding tightly to a silken ribbon fastened to its leg. That kind of walk was no pleasure at all.

TODO double check 现在它得待在院子里，有自己的笼子，还可以自由地在外面散步，白天两次，晚上一次。它也有十二个仆人，每个人都紧紧地抓着系在腿上的丝带。那样的散步一点也不愉快。

The whole city talked about the remarkable bird, and whenever two people met, the first merely said "Night!" and the other said "Gale!" And then they sighed and understood each other! Yes, eleven shopkeepers' children were named after it, but not one of them could ever sing a note in his life!

全城的人都在谈论这只奇异的鸟。每当两个人相遇时，第一个人只是说声“晚安”，另一个人则说声“盖尔!”然后他们叹了口气，彼此都明白了。是的，十一个店主的孩子都是用它来命名的，但是没有一个人能唱出一个音符来。

One day a big package came for the emperor. On the outside was written "Nightingale."

一天，皇帝收到一个大包裹。外面写着“夜莺”。

"Here's a new book about our famous bird," said the emperor. But it was no book, it was a little work of art in a case: an artificial nightingale made to resemble the real one, except that it was encrusted with diamonds and rubies and sapphires! As soon as the artificial bird was wound up it could sing one of the melodies the real one sang, and then its tail bobbed up and down, glittering with gold and silver. Around its neck hung a ribbon, and on it was written: "The emperor of Japan's nightingale is poor compared to the emperor of China's."

“这是一本关于我们这只著名的鸟的新书，”皇帝说。但那不是书，而是匣子里的一件小艺术品:一只人造的夜莺，做得很像真的夜莺，只是外面镶满了钻石、红宝石和蓝宝石!假鸟一上紧发条，就能唱出真鸟唱的旋律，然后它的尾巴上下摆动，闪闪发光，有金有银。脖子上挂着一条丝带，上面写着:“日本的南丁格尔皇帝比中国的皇帝还穷。”

"How lovely!" said everyone. And the person who had brought the artificial nightingale immediately had the title of chief-imperial-nightingale-bringer bestowed upon him.

“多可爱啊!”大家都说。那个把人造夜莺带来的人马上就得到了夜莺帝王带来者的头衔。

"Now they must sing together! What a duet that will be!"

“现在他们必须一起唱!”那将是多么美妙的二重唱啊!”

And then they had to sing together, but is didn't really come off because the real nightingale sang in its own way and the artificial bird worked mechanically.

然后他们不得不一起唱歌，但这并没有成功，因为真正的夜莺以自己的方式唱歌，而人造鸟是机械地工作。

"It is not to blame," said the music master. "It keeps time perfectly and according to the rules of my own system!" Then the artificial bird had to sing alone. It was as much of a success as the real one, and besides, it was so much more beautiful to look at: it glittered like bracelets and brooches.

“这不能怪，”音乐大师说。“它完全按照我自己的时间系统的规则来计时!”然后，人造鸟不得不独自唱歌。这只戒指和真戒指一样大获成功，而且看上去也漂亮得多，像手镯和胸针一样闪闪发光。

Thirty-three times it sang one and the same melody, and still it wasn't tired. People were only too willing to hear it from the beginning again, but the emperor thought that nwo the living nightingale should also sing a little. But where was it? No one had noticed it fly out of the open window, away to its green forest.

它唱了三十三遍同样的旋律，但仍然不累。人们非常想再听一遍，但皇帝认为活着的夜莺也应该唱一点。但是它在哪里呢? 没有人注意到它飞出敞开的窗户，飞向绿色的森林。

"But what kind of behavior is that?" said the emperor. And all the courtiers berated it and said the nightingale was a most ungrateful bird.

“这是什么行为呢?”皇帝说。所有的朝臣都斥责它，说夜莺是最忘恩负义的鸟。

"We still have the best bird," they said, and again the artificial bird had to sing. And it was the thirty-fourth time they had heard the same tune, but they didn't know it all the way through yet, for it was so hard. And the music master praised the bird very highly - yes, even assured them that it was better than the real nightingale, not only as far as its clothes and the many diamonds were concerned, but internally as well.

“我们仍然有最好的鸟，”他们说，人造鸟又得唱歌了。这是他们第三十四次听到同样的调子，但他们还没有完全听懂，因为这太难了。音乐大师高度赞扬了这只鸟——是的，甚至向他们保证说，这只鸟比真正的夜莺还要好，不仅在它的衣服和许多钻石方面，而且在它的内心也是如此。

"You see, my lords and ladies, and your Imperial Majesty above all! You can never figure out what the real nightingale will sing, but with the artificial bird everything had already been decided. This is the way it will be, and not otherwise. It can be accounted for; it can be opened up to reveal teh human logic that has gone into the arrangement of the works, how they operate and how they turn one after the other!"

“诸位大人，诸位女士，首先是陛下!你永远猜不出真正的夜莺会唱什么歌，但与人造鸟一起，一切都已经决定了。事情就会这样，否则就不会。它可以被解释;它可以揭示人类的逻辑，这些逻辑已经进入了作品的安排，它们是如何运作的，它们是如何一个接一个地转变的!”

"Those are my thoughts precisely!" they all said. And on the following Sunday the music master was allowed to show the bird to the people. They were also going to hear it sing, said the emperor. And they heard it and were as happy as if they had all trunk themselves merry on tea, for that is so very Chinese. And then they all said "Oh" and held their index fingers high in the air and nodded. But the poor fisherman, who had heard the real nightingale, said: "It sounds pretty enough, and it is similar too. But something is missing. I don't know what it is."

“这正是我的想法!”他们都说。在接下来的一个星期天，音乐大师被允许把这只鸟展示给人们看。皇帝说，他们也将听到它唱歌。他们听了，高兴得像喝了茶似的，因为那是很有中国特色的。然后他们都说了一声“哦”，把食指高高地举在空中，点了点头。可怜的渔夫听到这只夜莺的歌声，说:“这声音真好听，它和夜莺长得很像。”但有些东西不见了。我不知道那是什么。”

The real nightingale was banished from the land.

真正的夜莺被驱逐出境。

The artificial bird had its place on a silken pillow close to the emperor's bed. All the gifts it had received, gold and precious stones, lay around it, and its title had risen to high-imperial-bedside-table-singer. It ranked Number One on the left, for the emperor considered the side where the emperor is on the left side too. The music master wrote a treatise in twenty-five volumes about the artificial bird. It was very learned and very long and contained the biggest Chinese words, and all the people said they had read and understood it, for otherwise they would have been considered stupid and would have been thumped on their stomachs.

这只人造鸟被放在皇帝床边的一个丝绸枕头上。它所收到的所有礼物，包括金子和宝石，都摆在它的周围，而它的头衔也升到了皇帝的床头柜——餐桌歌手的地位。它在左边排第一，因为皇帝也考虑了皇帝在左边的那一边。这位音乐大师写了一篇关于人造鸟的论文，共25卷。它很有学问，很长，包含着最大的汉字，所有的人都说他们读过并理解了它，否则他们会被认为是愚蠢的，会被人用拳头打到肚子上。

It went on like this for a whole year. The emperor, the court, and the other Chinese knew every little "cluck" in the song of the artificial bird by heart. But this is why they prized it so highly now: they could sing along with it themselves, and this they did! The street boys sang "Zizizi! Cluck-cluck-cluck!" And the emperor sang it too. Yes, it was certainly lovely.

这样持续了整整一年。皇帝、朝廷和其他的中国人都熟记了这只人造鸟歌声中的每一个小“咯咯”声。但这就是为什么他们现在如此珍视它:他们可以跟着它唱歌，而且他们做到了!街头男孩唱着《子子!》Cluck-cluck-cluck !”皇帝也唱了这首歌。是的，确实很可爱。

But one evening, as the artificial bird was singing away and emperor was lying in bed listening to it, something went "Pop!" inside the bird. "Whirrrrrr!" All the wheels went around, and then the music stopped.

但是有一天晚上，当这只人造鸟一直在唱歌，皇帝正躺在床上听它唱歌的时候，这只鸟的身体里突然“砰”地一声。“Whirrrrrr!”所有的轮子都转了一圈，然后音乐停止了。

  • Whirr /wɝ/ n. 呼呼声；心烦 vi. 作呼呼声 vt. 呼呼地飞 The camera whirred and clicked. 相机发出嗡嗡声和咔嚓声。

The emperor sprang out of bed and had his personal physician summoned. But what good was he? Then they summoned the watchmaker, and after much talk and many examinations of the bird he put it more or less in order again. Nut he said it must be used as sparingly as possible. The cogs were so worn down that it wasn't possible to put in new ones in a way that would be sure to make music. What a great affliction this was! Only once a year did they dare let the artificial bird sing, and even that was hard on it. But then the music master made a little speech, with big words, and said it was just as good as new, and then it was just as good as new.

皇帝从床上跳起来，叫人去请他的私人医生。但是他有什么用呢?然后，他们把钟表匠叫来，经过一番交谈和反复检查，他又把这只鸟或多或少地整理好了。他说，必须尽可能节约使用。齿轮已经磨损得很厉害了，不可能再装上新的齿轮来演奏音乐了。这是多么大的痛苦啊!他们一年只有一次敢让人造鸟唱歌，即使是这样也很难。然后音乐大师做了一个简短的演讲，用大词，说它就像新的一样好，然后它就像新的一样好。

Five years passed, and then a great sorrow fell upon the land. They were all fond of their emperor, but now he was sick and it was said he could not live. A new emperor had already been picked out, and people stood out int the street and asked the chamberlain hwo their emperor was.

五年过去了，一个巨大的悲哀落在这片土地上。他们都很喜欢他们的皇帝，但是现在他病了，人们都说他活不下去了。一个新的皇帝已经被挑选出来了，人们站在街上，问宫内大臣他们的皇帝是谁。

"P!" he said, and shook his head.

“P!”他摇摇头说。

Cold and pale, the emperor lay in his great magnificent bed. The whole court thought he was dead, and they all ran off to greet the new emperor. The lackeys ran out to talk about it, and the chambermaids had a big tea party. Cloths had been put down n all the halls and corridors to deaden the sound of footsteps. And now it was so quiet, so quiet. But the emperor was not yet dead. Stiff and pale, he lay in the magnificent bed with the long velvet curtains and the heavy gold tassels. High above him a window stood open, and the moon shone in on the emperor and the artificial bird.

皇帝躺在他那张华丽的大床上，浑身冰冷，面色苍白。整个宫廷的人都以为他死了，大家都跑去迎接新皇帝。仆人们跑出去谈论这件事，女仆们举行了一个盛大的茶话会。所有的厅堂和走廊都铺上了布，以减弱脚步声。现在是那么安静，那么安静。但是皇帝还没有死。他身体僵硬，脸色苍白，躺在华丽的床上，床上挂着长长的天鹅绒窗帘和沉甸甸的金流苏。在他的上方，一扇窗户开着，月亮照在皇帝和那只人造鸟身上。

The poor emperor could hardly breathe. It was as though something heavy were sitting on his chest. He had put on his golden crown and was holding the emperor's golden sword in one hand and his magnificent banner in the other. All around from the folds of the velvet curtains strange faces were peering out. Some were quite hideous, others so kindly and mild. These were all the emperor's good and wicked deeds that were looking at him now that Death was sitting on his heart.

可怜的皇帝几乎不能呼吸。好像有什么沉重的东西坐在他的胸口上。他戴上了他的金王冠，一手拿着皇帝的金剑，一手拿着华丽的旗帜。从天鹅绒窗帘的皱褶里，四面八方都有陌生的面孔向外张望。有的很可怕，有的却很善良温和。当死神坐在他的心上的时候，他所看到的就是皇帝的善举和恶行。

"Do you remember that?" whispered one after the other. "Do you remember that?" And then they told him so much that the sweat stood out on his forehead.

“你还记得吗?”一个接一个地低声问。“你还记得吗?”然后他们告诉他这么多，他的额头上冒出了汗珠。

"I never knew that!" said the emperor. "Music! Music! The big Chinese drum!" he shouted. "So I don't have to hear all the things they're saying!"

“我从来不知道!”皇帝说。“音乐!音乐!中国大鼓!”他喊道。“这样我就不用听他们说什么了!”

But they kept it up, and Death nodded, just the way the Chinese do, at everything that was being said.

但他们还是坚持着，死神点头，就像中国人那样，对他们说的每一句话都点头。

"Music! Music!" shrieked the emperor. "Blessed little golden bird, sing now! Sing! I've given you gold and costly presents. I myself hung my golden slipper around your neck. Sing now! Sing!"

“音乐!音乐!”皇帝尖叫。“可爱的小金鸟，现在唱吧!”唱歌!我给了你金子和贵重的礼物。我把我的金拖鞋挂在你的脖子上。现在唱!唱!”

But the bird kept silent. There was no one to wind it up, so it didn't sing. But Death kept on looking at the emperor out of his big empty sockets, and it was so quiet, so terribly quiet.

但是鸟保持沉默。没有人给它上弦，所以它就不唱了。但是死神不停地从他那又大又空的眼窝里望着皇帝，四周是那么寂静，那么可怕的寂静。

Suddenly the loveliest song could be heard close to the window. It was the little real nightingale sitting on the branch outside. It had heard of the emperor's need and had come to sing him comfort and hope. And as it sang the face became paler and paler, and the blood started flowing faster and faster in the emperor's weak body, and Death himself listened and said, "Keep on, little nightingale, keep on!"

突然，窗外传来了最动听的歌声。这是真的小夜莺坐在外面的树枝上。它听说了皇帝的需要，就来为他歌唱安慰和希望。当它唱起歌来的时候，它的脸变得越来越苍白，皇帝虚弱的身体里的血也流得越来越快，死神自己也听到了，他说:“坚持下去，小夜莺，坚持下去!”

"If you will give me the magnificent golden sword! If you will give me the rich banner! If you will give me the emperor's crown!"

“如果你愿意把那把华丽的金剑给我!”如果你愿意给我富有的旗帜!如果你愿意把皇帝的王冠给我!”

And Death gave each treasure for a song, and the nightingale kept on singing. And it sang about the quiet churchyard where the white roses grow the scent of the older tree perfumes the air and where the fresh grass is watered by the tears of the bereaved. Then Death was filled with longing for his garden and drifted like a cold, white mist out of the window.

死神用每一件宝物换了一首歌，夜莺继续歌唱。它歌唱着宁静的教堂墓地，那里长着白玫瑰，散发着老树的芬芳，空气中弥漫着新鲜的气息，那里的青草被丧亲者的眼泪润湿了。死神对他的花园充满了渴望，像一团冰冷的白雾飘出了窗外。

"Thank you, thank you!" said the emperor. "Heavenly little bird, I know you, all right. I have driven you out of my land and empire, and still you have sung the bad visions away from my bed and removed Death from my heart! How can I reward you?"

“谢谢你，谢谢你!”皇帝说。“天上的小鸟，我认识你，很好。我已经把你们赶出了我的国土和帝国，而你们还在我的床上歌唱邪恶的异象，把死亡从我的心里移走!我怎么报答你呢?”

"You have already rewarded me!" said the nightingale. "You gave me the tears from your eyes the first time I sang. I will never forget that. Those are the jewels that do a singer's heart good. But sleep now, and get well and strong. I shall sing for you."

“你已经报答我了!”夜莺说。“当我第一次歌唱时，你给了我你眼中的泪水。我永远不会忘记。这些是对歌手心灵有益的珠宝。现在就睡吧，好好地强壮起来。我将为你歌唱。”

And it sang, and the emperor fell into a sweet sleep, which was calm and beneficial.

它唱起歌来，皇帝就美美地睡了一觉，这是一种既平静又有益的睡眠。

The sun was shining in on him through the windows when he awoke, refreshed and healthy. None of his servants had returned yet, for they thought he was dead, but the nightingale still sat there and sang.

当他醒来时，阳光透过窗户照在他身上，他神清气爽，身体健康。他的仆人还没有一个回来，因为他们以为他已经死了，但是夜莺仍然坐在那里唱歌。

"You shall sing only when you yourself want to, and I shall break the artificial bird into a thousand bits!"

“只有你自己想唱的时候，你才可以唱，我要把这只假鸟撕成碎片!”

"Don't' do that!" said the nightingale. "Why, it has done what good it could. Keep it as before. I cannot build my nest and live at the palace, but let me come whenever I want to. Then in the evening I will sit on the branch here by the window and sing for you. I shall sing about those who are happy and those who suffer. I shall sing of good and evil, which is kept hidden from you. The little songbird flies far, to the poor fisherman, to the farmer's roof, to everyone who is far from you and your court. I love your heart more than your crown, and yet your crown has an odor of sanctity about it. I will come. I will sing for you. But you must promise me one thing!"

“别这样!”夜莺说。“啊，它已经做了它所能做的好事了。保持原样。我不能在宫里筑巢居住，但我想什么时候来就什么时候来。晚上，我将坐在窗边的树枝上，为你歌唱。我要歌颂那些幸福的人和那些受苦的人。我要歌颂隐藏在你面前的善与恶。小鸣鸟飞得很远，飞向可怜的渔夫，飞向农夫的屋顶，飞向每一个远离你和你的宫廷的人。我爱你的心胜过爱你的王冠，而你的王冠却散发着圣洁的气息。我将会来。我将为你歌唱。但你必须答应我一件事!”

"Everything!" said hte emperor, standing there in his imperial robe, which he himself had put on, and holding the heavy golden sword up to his heart.

“什么都有!”皇帝说，他穿着他自己穿的那件龙袍，手里拿着那把沉甸甸的金剑。

"One thing I beg of you. Tell no one that you have a little bird that tells you everything! Then things will go even better!"

“我求你一件事。不要告诉任何人你有一只会告诉你一切的小鸟!然后事情会变得更好!”

And then the nightingale flew away.

于是夜莺飞走了。

The servants came in to have a look at their dead emperor. Yes, there they stood, and the emperor said, "Good morning!"

仆人们进来看看他们死去的皇帝。是的，他们站在那儿，皇帝说:“早上好!”

BBC-The-Nightingale

Audio Transcript

The Emperor of China lived in the finest palace in the world. It was made of the purest, most precious porcelain and was so delicate that if you touched anything you had to be very careful not to break it.

  • porcelain /ˈpɔːrsəlɪn/ n. 瓷；瓷器 adj. 瓷制的；精美的
  • delicate /ˈdelɪkət/ adj. 微妙的；精美的，雅致的；柔和的；易碎的；纤弱的；清淡可口的

中国的皇帝住在世界上最好的宫殿里。它是用最纯粹、最珍贵的瓷器做成的，而且非常精致，如果你碰了什么东西，你必须非常小心，不能把它打碎。

The garden was full of lovely flowers with pretty silver bells tied to them. It was beautifully designed – and it was so big even the gardener had no idea where it ended. But if you kept on walking, you would come to a green forest with tall, lofty trees.

  • lovely /ˈlʌvli/ adj. 可爱的；令人愉快的；爱恋的；秀丽的，优美的 n. 美女；可爱的东西
  • silver /ˈsɪlvər/ n. 银；银器；adj. vi vt
  • lofty /ˈlɔːfti/ adj. 高的；崇高的；高级的；高傲的

花园里到处是可爱的鲜花，上面系着漂亮的银铃。它设计得很漂亮，而且它太大了，连园丁都不知道它的尽头在哪里。但如果你继续走，你会来到一个绿色的森林，有高大的树木。

The forest ran all the way to the deep blue sea, where great ships sailed under the shadow of swaying tree branches … and in one of these trees lived a nightingale. She sang so beautifully that even the poor fisherman would stop mending his nets to listen.

  • sway /sweɪ/ vt. 影响；统治；使摇动 vi. 影响；摇摆 n. 影响；摇摆；统治
  • mend /mend/ vt. 修理，修补；改善；修改 vi. 改善，好转 n. 好转，改进；修补处

这片森林一直延伸到深蓝色的大海，巨大的船只在摇曳的树枝的阴影下航行……在这些树的其中一棵树上住着一只夜莺。她唱得如此动听，连可怜的渔夫都都会停下来听。

‘How sweet that song is!’ he would sigh whenever he heard it. Travellers from all over the world came to the Emperor’s city to admire his palace and garden. Some even wrote poems and books about the wonders they had seen and heard. Most wonderful of all, they wrote, was the nightingale who lived in a forest near the deep sea.

  • sigh /saɪ/ v. 叹气；叹着气说；（风）呼啸，悲鸣 n. 叹息，叹气；（尤指风发出的）叹息般的声音
  • admire /ədˈmaɪər/ vt. 钦佩；赞美 vi. 钦佩；称赞
  • wonders 奇观

“这首歌真好听!”他一听到这句话就会叹气。来自世界各地的游客来到皇帝的城市，欣赏他的宫殿和花园。一些人甚至写诗和书来描述他们所看到和听到的奇迹。他们写道，最奇妙的是住在深海附近森林里的夜莺。

One day, a gift arrived from the mighty Emperor of Japan. It was one of the books that had been written about the palace and garden. As he sat in his golden chair, the Emperor was delighted to read how beautiful and impressive they were.

  • mighty /ˈmaɪti/ adj. 有力的；强有力的；有势力的 adv. 很；极；非常 n. 有势力的人

一天，强大的日本天皇送来了一份礼物。这是一本关于宫殿和花园的书。当他坐在他的金椅子上，皇帝很高兴地读到他们是多么美丽和令人印象深刻。

But when he came to the words ‘…the nightingale is the most beautiful of all’, he looked puzzled.‘Nightingale? I have never heard of a nightingale in my garden!’ he said to his Lord-in-Waiting. ‘How come the whole world knows about this except me?! I want you to find this bird and bring it to me so I can hear it sing for myself!’

  • How come 为什么；怎么会…(那样)；怎么办；怎么回事

但是当他读到“……夜莺是世界上最美丽的”这句话时，他显得很困惑。“夜莺？我从来没有听说过花园里有夜莺!”他对他的侍从说。“除了我，怎么全世界都知道这件事?!”我要你找到这只鸟，把它带给我，这样我就能听到它为我唱歌了!”

The Lord-in-Waiting looked high and low for the mysterious nightingale. He went up stairs and down, through halls and passages, asking everyone he passed, but no-one had heard of it. Then just as he was about to give up, a little kitchen maid came up to him.

  • high and low 到处，up and down, all about
  • mysterious /mɪˈstɪriəs/ adj. 神秘的；不可思议的；难解的
  • passage /ˈpæsɪdʒ/ n. 一段（文章）；走廊；通路；通过；旅程，行程；船费 vi. 通过通道
  • corridor /ˈkɔːrɪdɔːr/ n. 走廊
  • come up 走近；发生；开始；上升；发芽；被提出

我能听到宫中大人在四处寻找那只神秘的夜莺。他上楼梯，下楼梯，穿过大厅和走廊，问每一个他经过的人，但没有人听说过它。就在他要放弃的时候，一个小厨房女佣走了过来。

‘I know the nightingale!’ she said. ‘Every evening I go home to care for my sick mother who lives by the seashore. When I return to the palace, I stop in the forest to rest and listen to the nightingale’s song. Oh, it’s so lovely it brings tears to my eyes! Come with me, I will take you to her.’ All the palace servants followed as the kitchen maid led the way through the garden. ‘There she is!’ said a young courtier. ‘What a very loud noise for such a small creature!’

  • courtier /ˈkɔːrtiər/ n. 朝臣；奉承者；谄媚者
  • creature /ˈkriːtʃər/ n. 动物，生物；人；创造物

“我认识夜莺!””她说。“每天晚上我回家照顾住在海边的生病的母亲。当我回到宫殿，我在森林里停下来休息，听夜莺的歌声。哦，它太可爱了，让我热泪盈眶!跟我来，我带你去见她。厨房女佣领着所有的仆人穿过花园。“那就是她!一个年轻的侍臣说。“这么小的动物发出这么大的声音!”

‘That’s a cow, not a nightingale,’ replied the kitchen maid. ‘We have a long way to go yet…’ They carried on walking. ‘I can hear her!’ said a serving girl. ‘Her song sounds like tinkling church bells.’ ‘Hmmm, those are frogs,’ laughed the maid. ‘But quiet now, we’re getting close…’ ‘Look! There she is’, said the maid - and she pointed to a little grey bird perched on the bough of a tree.

  • tinkling /'tɪŋklɪŋ/ n. 叮叮声 v. 发丁当声（tinkle的ing形式）
  • perch /pɜːtʃ/ n. 鲈鱼; 高位；栖木；杆 vt. 栖息；就位；位于；使坐落于 vi. 栖息；就位；位于
  • bough /baʊ/ n. 大树枝

“那是一头牛，不是一只夜莺，”厨房女工回答说。“我们还有很长的路要走……”他们继续走着。“我能听见她!”一个女仆说。她的歌听起来就像教堂里叮当作响的钟声。'嗯，那些是青蛙，'女仆笑着说。“可是现在安静了，我们快到了……”“她在那儿，”女仆说——她指了指栖息在树枝上的一只灰色小鸟。

‘What an exquisite sound!’ said the Lord-in-Waiting. ‘But – er - I wasn’t expecting such a small, plain, simple creature. Never mind. Most excellent Nightingale!’ he called out. ‘Our most gracious Emperor wishes you to sing to him. Will you come to the palace with us?’

  • exquisite /ɪkˈskwɪzɪt,ˈekskwɪzɪt/ adj. 精致的；细腻的；优美的，高雅的；异常的；剧烈的 n. 服饰过于讲究的男子
  • gracious /ˈɡreɪʃəs/ adj. 亲切的；高尚的；和蔼的；雅致的 int. 天哪；哎呀

“多么美妙的声音!”侍臣说。“可是——呃——我没想到会有这么小、这么普通、这么简单的一个动物。不要紧。最优秀的夜莺!”他喊道。“我们最仁慈的皇帝希望您为他唱歌。你愿意和我们一起到宫里去吗?”

‘My song sounds best in the green wood,’ answered the nightingale. ‘But I will do as you ask.’ The palace was specially decorated for the great occasion. The walls and floors of porcelain glittered in the light of a thousand lamps and beautiful flowers with little bells stood in the corridors. In the centre of the great hall was a golden perch for the nightingale to sit on.

  • decorate /ˈdekəreɪt/ vt. 装饰；布置；授勋给 vi. 装饰；布置
  • porcelain /ˈpɔːrsəlɪn/ n. 瓷；瓷器 adj. 瓷制的；精美的
  • glitter /ˈɡlɪtə(r)/ v. 闪光；闪烁 n. 闪光；灿烂；华而不实；（眼中的）光亮
  • corridor /ˈkɔːrɪdɔːr/ n. 走廊
  • passage /ˈpæsɪdʒ/ n. 一段（文章）；走廊；通路；通过；旅程，行程；船费 vi. 通过通道
  • perch /pɜːtʃ/ n. 鲈鱼; 高位；栖木；杆 vt. 栖息；就位；位于；使坐落于 vi. 栖息；就位；位于

“我的歌在绿色的树林里最好听，”夜莺回答说。“但我会照你说的去做。宫殿是专门为这个重要的场合而装饰的。陶瓷的墙壁和地板在一千盏灯的照耀下闪闪发光，走廊上立着带小铃铛的美丽花朵。在大殿的中央有一个金色的栖木，夜莺可以坐在上面。

The whole court was present, including the kitchen maid. As the Emperor nodded to the little grey bird to begin, all eyes turned to watch… The nightingale sang so sweetly that tears started rolling down the Emperor’s cheeks. ‘Oh, how glorious!’ he cried. ‘Please, wear my gold slipper round your neck as a token of my thanks’.

  • court /kɔːrt/ n. 法院；球场；朝廷；奉承
  • nodded v. 点头；打瞌睡；摇动（nod 英 /nɒd/ 美 /nɑːd/ 的过去式）
  • glorious /ˈɡlɔːriəs/ adj. 光荣的；辉煌的；极好的
  • token /ˈtəʊkən/ 标志，象征

整个宫廷的人都在场，包括厨房的女仆。当皇帝向这只灰色的小鸟点头示意开始时，所有的眼睛都转过去看……夜莺唱得如此甜美，以至于皇帝的眼泪开始从脸颊上滚落下来。“噢,多么光荣的!”他哭了。“请把我的金拖鞋戴在脖子上，表示我的谢意。”

‘I have seen tears in the Emperor’s eyes,’ answered the nightingale. ‘That is a powerful gift – the greatest of them all’, and she sang even more enchantingly than ever. Everyone loved the nightingale’s singing so much that the Emperor decided she was to stay at the palace.

  • gift /ɡɪft/ n. 礼物；天赋；赠品 vt. 赋予；向…赠送
  • enchantingly /ɪnˈtʃæntɪŋli/ adv. 夺人心魂地；可爱地，迷人地

“我在皇帝的眼睛里看到过眼泪，”夜莺回答说。“这是一种强大的天赋（同情心、理解...）——是所有天赋中最伟大的天赋。”她唱得比以前更动听了。每个人都非常喜欢夜莺的歌声，所以皇帝决定让她留在皇宫里。

The little bird was placed inside a specially made cage and twice a day she was allowed to fly round the room with a silken string attached to her leg. She may have lost her freedom – but the whole of China was talking about her.

这只小鸟被安置在一个特制的笼子里，每天两次，她可以腿上系着一根丝线，在房间里飞来飞去。她可能已经失去了自由，但整个中国都在谈论她。

Whenever people met, one said ‘nightin’, and the other said ‘gale.’ Then one day, the Emperor received a large parcel with the word ‘Nightingale’ written on it. ‘Ah - another book about our famous bird!’ he said. But when his servants opened it, a magnificent casket was revealed… Inside the casket - was a nightingale. Only this nightingale wasn’t real…

  • magnificent /mæɡˈnɪfɪsnt/ adj. 高尚的；壮丽的；华丽的；宏伟的
  • casket /ˈkæskɪt/ n. 棺材；骨灰盒；小箱
  • reveal /rɪˈviːl/ vt. 显示；透露；揭露；泄露

每当人们见面时，一个人说“晚安”，另一个人说“盖尔”。有一天，皇帝收到一个大包裹，上面写着“夜莺”两个字。“啊——又是一本关于我们那只著名的鸟的书!”他说。但是当他的仆人打开它的时候，一个华丽的首饰盒出现了……在首饰盒里面是一只夜莺。只是这只夜莺不是真的……

Made of metal with a key to wind it up, this bird was clockwork. But what a magnificent clockwork bird it was, covered in diamonds, rubies and sapphires with a tail of silver and gold. Round it’s neck was a piece of ribbon with a note. ‘A nightingale from the Emperor of Japan – though it cannot compare with your nightingale,’ the note read.

  • clockwork /ˈklɑːkwɜːrk/ n. 发条装置；钟表装置 adj. 装有发条的；重复的；可预测的；平稳的，有规律的
  • ruby /ˈruːbi/ n. 红宝石；红宝石色
  • sapphire /ˈsæfaɪər/ n. 蓝宝石；[宝] 青玉；天蓝色 adj. 天蓝色的
  • ribbon /ˈrɪbən/ n. 带；缎带；（勋章等的）绶带；带状物；勋表 vi. 形成带状 vt. 把…撕成条带；用缎带装饰

这只鸟是用金属制成的，上面有一把钥匙可以上弦。但是，这是一只多么漂亮的发条鸟啊，身上镶满了钻石、红宝石和蓝宝石，尾巴则是金银制成的。它的脖子上系着一条丝带，上面写着一张纸条。“一只来自日本天皇的夜莺——虽然比不上你的夜莺，”纸条上写道。

When the clockwork bird was wound up, it moved its tail up and down and sang out loud. ‘Ahhh! Such an enchanting sound!’ sighed the Emperor. ‘Bring me the real nightingale so they can sing together – what a duet that will be!’

  • wind /wɪnd/ vt. 缠绕；上发条；使弯曲；winded or wound wound /waʊnd/
  • enchant 英 /ɪnˈtʃɑːnt/ 美 /ɪnˈtʃænt/ v. 使着迷，使迷惑；施魔法于
  • duet /djuˈet/ n. 二重奏；二重唱

发条鸟上紧发条后，它的尾巴上下摆动，大声唱歌。“啊!多么迷人的声音!皇帝叹了口气。“把那只真正的夜莺给我带来，让他们一起唱歌——那将是多么美妙的二重唱啊!”

But the two birds didn’t sound as good together as the Emperor had hoped. The clockwork nightingale’s song was mechanical and rather harsh compared to the natural beauty of the real bird’s song…

  • mechanical /məˈkænɪkl/ adj. 机械的；
  • harsh /hɑːʃ/ adj. 严厉的；严酷的；刺耳的；粗糙的；刺目的；丑陋的

但是这两只鸟在一起的声音并没有皇帝希望的那么好听。发条似的夜莺的歌声是机械的，与真正的鸟叫声的自然美相比，显得有些刺耳……

The clockwork bird had just one, rather complicated tune that it sang over and over – thirty three times to be exact - before it needed winding up again. But the Emperor’s Music Master was full of praise.

  • complicated /ˈkɒmplɪkeɪtɪd/ adj. 难懂的，复杂的
  • tune /tjuːn/ n. 曲调；和谐；心情
  • exact /ɪɡˈzækt/ adj. 准确的，精密的；精确的
  • Master /ˈmɑːstə(r)/ n. 主人；大师；硕士；男教师；原件；院长；

这只发条鸟只有一个相当复杂的曲调，它唱了一遍又一遍——准确地说是三十三遍——然后才需要再次上弦。但是皇帝的音乐老师却赞不绝口。

‘It sounds perfect to me, your Imperial Majesty!’ he announced. ‘And with all it’s little cogs and wheels, it’s perfect on the inside too. In fact, it’s so perfect it should sing all by itself. You never know what a real nightingale is going to sing, but with this bird there will be no unexpected surprises. You get the same tune every time!’

  • your grace
  • Imperial /ɪmˈpɪəriəl/ adj. 帝国的；皇帝的；至高无上的；威严的
  • Majesty /ˈmædʒəsti/ n. 威严；最高权威，王权；雄伟；权威
  • cog /kɒɡ/ n. 齿轮，轮齿；

“听起来很完美，陛下!”他宣布。“所有的小齿轮和轮子，它的内部也是完美的。事实上，它是如此完美，它应该独自歌唱。你永远不知道一只真正的夜莺会唱什么，但是有了这只夜莺，就不会有任何意外的惊喜了。你每次都听到同样的调子!”

‘Maybe you are right,’ said the Emperor. ‘Besides, it’s so much prettier and more sparkly to look at than that small grey bird. Oh – where’s it gone?’ No-one had noticed the nightingale fly out of the open window, back to the green forest.

  • sparkly /'spɑ:kli/ adj. 耀眼的

“也许你是对的，”皇帝说。“而且，它比那只灰色的小鸟漂亮得多，也更闪闪发光。哦，它去哪儿了?没有人注意到夜莺从敞开的窗户飞出，飞回了绿色的森林。

‘What strange behaviour,’ said the Emperor. ‘The ungrateful creature’ added the Lord-in-Waiting. ‘That nightingale is banished from my empire, never to return!’ announced the Emperor grandly. ‘No matter, for we have the best bird of all right here. Let’s listen to it again!’

  • ungrateful /ʌnˈɡreɪtfl/ adj. 忘恩负义的；不领情的；讨厌的；徒劳的
  • banish /ˈbænɪʃ/ vt. 放逐；驱逐

“多么奇怪的行为!”皇帝说。“这个忘恩负义的家伙。”侍从补充道。“那只夜莺被驱逐出我的帝国，永远不会回来了!”皇帝庄严地宣布。“没关系，因为我们这儿有最好的鸟。让我们再听一遍!”

The next day, the Music Master paraded the clockwork nightingale before a great crowd that had been summoned to hear it sing. Everyone was very impressed – all that is except the poor fisherman. ‘It sounds pretty enough,’ he thought, ‘and the tune is quite similar. But something’s not quite right…’

  • parade /pəˈreɪd/ n. 游行；阅兵；炫耀；行进；阅兵场 vt. 游行；炫耀；列队行进 vi. 游行；炫耀；列队行进
  • summon /ˈsʌmən/ vt. 召唤；召集；鼓起；振作

第二天，音乐大师带着这只钟形夜莺在一大群前来听它唱歌的人面前列队游行。除了可怜的渔夫，所有的人都对此印象深刻。“听起来很好听，”他想，“调子也很相似。但有些地方不大对劲……”

The clockwork bird was placed on a silk cushion by the Emperor’s bed and surrounded by gifts of gold and precious stones. Meanwhile, the Music Master wrote a long book full of difficult Chinese words about the wonderful new bird which everyone was made to read it. Before long, they had heard the song so many times they all knew it by heart. ‘La la la, zing zing, whirrrr!’ – even the Emperor sang along.

  • cushion /ˈkʊʃn/ n. 垫子；起缓解作用之物；（猪等的）臀肉；银行储蓄 vt. 给…安上垫子；把…安置在垫子上；缓和…的冲击
  • Before long 不久以后

这只发条鸟被放在皇帝床前的一个丝绸垫子上，周围是黄金和宝石的礼物。与此同时，这位音乐大师写了一本很长的书，书中满是关于这只奇妙的新鸟的难懂的中文单词，每个人都被要求阅读它。不久，他们听过这首歌很多次了，他们都把它记在心里了。“啦啦啦，吱、吱、呼!”——连皇帝也跟着唱了起来。

But one evening, as he lay in bed listening to the mechanical tune yet again, a harsh noise suddenly interrupted the melody. It sounded like the little wheels and cogs inside the clockwork bird were going wild! Oh dear. Something definitely wasn’t right…

  • harsh /hɑːʃ/ adj. 严厉的；严酷的；刺耳的；粗糙的；刺目的；丑陋的
  • melody /ˈmelədi/ n. 旋律；歌曲；美妙的音乐
  • wild /waɪld/ adj. 野生的；野蛮的；狂热的；荒凉的 n. 荒野 adv. 疯狂地；胡乱地
  • definitely /ˈdefɪnətli/ adv. 清楚地，当然；明确地，肯定地

但是一天晚上，当他躺在床上再次听着那支机械的曲子时，一种刺耳的声音突然打断了这支曲子。听起来好像发条鸟的小轮子和齿轮都要发疯了!哦亲爱的。肯定有什么地方不对劲……

As the singing stopped, the Emperor sprang out of bed. ‘Watchmaker!!’ he cried. ‘My clockwork nightingale has broken and I need you to fix her at once!’ The watchmaker took the metal bird apart and poked and prodded around inside.

  • poke /pəʊk/ v. 刺，捅；戳；拨开
  • prod /prɒd/ v. 刺，戳；刺激，督促

当歌声停止时，皇帝从床上跳了起来。“钟表匠! !”他哭了。“我的发条夜莺坏了，我需要你马上去修她!”钟表匠把金属鸟拆开，在里面又拨又戳。

‘It’s sung so much that it’s getting worn out, I’m afraid,’ he sighed. ‘If it gets more damaged, the tune may never play again.’

  • wear /weə(r)/ v. 穿，戴；过去式 wore; 过去分词 worn
  • wear out 磨损，耗尽；穿破；使精疲力竭

"恐怕是唱得太多了，都快磨坏了，"他叹了口气。如果它受到更大的损害，这首曲子可能就再也放不出来了。

It was a terrible upset. Although the Music Master pretended to everyone that the bird was fine, from now on, it was only allowed to sing once a year – and even that was risky.Five years passed and a great sadness slowly fell over China. The people were very fond of their Emperor – but by now he was very ill. So ill that a new Emperor had been chosen to be crowned when he died.

  • upset /ʌpˈset/ vt. 使心烦；颠覆；扰乱 vi. 翻倒 adj. 心烦的；混乱的；弄翻的 n. 混乱；翻倒；颠覆
  • fall 过去式 fell过去分词 fallen

这是一个可怕的不安。尽管音乐大师假装这只鸟很好，但从现在开始，它每年只能唱歌一次，即使这样做也是有风险的。五年过去了，巨大的悲伤慢慢笼罩着中国。人们都很喜欢他们的皇帝，但是现在他病得很厉害。他病得很重，以至于在他死后，人们选了一个新的皇帝来加冕。

The Emperor lay in his royal bed. He was so cold and pale that everyone thought he was dead. All was silent and still in the empty room. A window stood open and the moon shone down upon his still body and the clockwork bird by his side.

  • royal /ˈrɔɪəl/ adj. 皇家的；盛大的；女王的；高贵的；第一流的 n. 王室；王室成员

皇帝躺在他的龙床上。他又冷又苍白，大家都以为他死了。空荡荡的房间里一片寂静。一扇窗户开着，月亮照在他安静的身体上，发条鸟在他身边。

Suddenly, the Emperor called out. ‘Music!’ he cried faintly. ‘Sing, my precious little golden bird! I have given you precious gifts. I have even hung my golden slipper round your neck. Sing! Sing!!’

  • faintly /ˈfeɪntli/ adv. 微弱地；模糊地；虚弱地

突然，皇帝叫了起来。“音乐!他有气无力地叫道。“唱吧，我可爱的金色小鸟!”我已经给了你珍贵的礼物。我甚至把我的金拖鞋挂在你的脖子上了。唱歌!唱歌! !”

But the bird stayed silent. Because there was no one to wind it up, it couldn’t sing a note. Suddenly the sound of sweet music came through the open window. Outside, on the bough of a tree, sat the nightingale. ‘I heard you were ill,’ she said, ‘so I have come to sing to you – and bring you hope.’

  • note n. 笔记；音符；票据；注解；纸币；便笺；照会；调子 vt. 注意；记录；注解
  • bough /baʊ/ n. 大树枝

但是鸟保持沉默。因为没有人给它上弦，它唱不出一个音符。突然，甜美的音乐声从敞开的窗户里传出来。外面，在一根大树枝上，坐着一只夜莺。“我听说你病了，”她说，“所以我来唱歌给你听——给你带来希望。”

As she carried on singing, the shadows grew paler and paler. The Emperor moved his arms and legs a little. He was starting to feel a bit better.

当她继续唱歌时，影子变得越来越白。皇帝移动了一下他的胳膊和腿。他开始感觉好一点了。

Meanwhile, the nightingale carried on singing. She sang of white roses, fresh sweet grass and the perfume of the trees that blew on the breeze…

  • perfume /ˈpɜːfjuːm/ n. 香水；香味 vt. 洒香水于…；使…带香味 vi. 散发香气
  • blow v.（风）吹；过去式 blew过去分词 blown
  • breeze /briːz/ n. 微风

与此同时，夜莺继续歌唱。她唱着白玫瑰、新鲜的甜草和微风吹过的树的芳香……

The Emperor gently opened his eyes. ‘Thank you, little bird,’ he sighed. ‘I banished you from my empire, yet you have banished death from my heart with your sweet song. How can I reward you?’

  • banish /ˈbænɪʃ/ vt. 放逐；驱逐

皇帝轻轻地睁开了眼睛。“谢谢你，小鸟，”他叹息道。“我把你驱逐出我的王国，而你却用你美妙的歌声把死亡从我心里驱逐出去。我怎么报答你呢?”

‘You have already rewarded me,’ said the nightingale. ‘I shall never forget the tears in your eyes the first time I sang to you. That is a powerful gift – the greatest of them all. But sleep now and grow strong and well. I will sing to you again.’

“你已经报答我了，”夜莺说。“我永远不会忘记我第一次唱给你听时你眼里的泪水。这是一份强大的礼物——是所有礼物中最伟大的。现在就睡吧，好好地长身体。我再唱给你听。”

As she sang, the Emperor fell into a sweet sleep. When he woke up, the sun was shining and he felt strong and alert. But not one of his servants was by his side. They still thought he was dead.

当她唱歌时，皇帝进入了甜蜜的睡眠。当他醒来时，阳光灿烂，他感到强壮和警觉。但没有一个仆人在他身边。他们仍然认为他已经死了。

‘Please, stay with me always,’ the Emperor pleaded to the nightingale. ‘You need sing only when you want to. Meanwhile I shall break that clockwork bird into a thousand pieces’.

  • plead /pliːd/ vt. 借口；为...辩护；托称 vi. 恳求；辩护

“请永远和我在一起，”皇帝请求夜莺。“你只有在想唱的时候才需要唱。与此同时，我要把那只发条鸟撕成碎片。

‘No, don’t do that,’ replied the nightingale. ‘It kept going for as long as it could. Keep it here. I can’t live in the palace and build my nest, but in the evening I will sit on the bough by your window and sing to you…

“不，不要那样做，”夜莺回答。它尽可能长时间地持续着。保持它在这里。我不能住在宫殿里，也不能筑巢，但晚上我会坐在你窗边的树枝上，为你歌唱……

I’ll make you feel happy - but I will also make you feel thoughtful. I shall tell you about the lives of the people in your empire you never meet – like the poor fisherman and the little kitchen maid. I shall tell you about people who are happy and those who feel sad too.

我会让你感到快乐——但我也会让你感到深思。我将告诉你你从未见过的帝国人民的生活——比如可怜的渔夫和小厨房女佣。我将告诉你那些快乐的人和那些感到悲伤的人。

But you must promise me one thing.’ ‘Everything!’ said the Emperor. ‘No – just this one thing,’ repeated the nightingale. ‘Don’t let anyone know you have a little bird who tells you everything. Let’s keep it our secret’.

但你必须答应我一件事。“一切!”皇帝说。“不——只有一件事，”夜莺重复道。“不要让任何人知道你有一只小鸟，它会告诉你一切。让我们保守秘密吧。”

And with that, the nightingale flew away. When the servants finally arrived to carry their dead Emperor away, they were astonished to see him standing in his fine velvet gown. The colour had returned to his cheeks and he looked fit and healthy.

  • velvet /ˈvelvɪt/ n. 天鹅绒，丝绒；天鹅绒似的东西 adj. 天鹅绒的
  • gown /ɡaʊn/ n. 长袍，长外衣；礼服；睡袍；法衣 vt. 使穿睡衣

说着，夜莺飞走了。当仆人们终于来把死去的皇帝抬走的时候，他们惊奇地看到他穿着华丽的天鹅绒长袍。他的面颊恢复了血色，看上去很健康。

‘Good heavens!’ they cried in surprise.

“天啊!他们惊讶地叫道。

‘Good morning!’ he answered with a happy smile.

“早上好!”他笑着回答。

Synopsis

  • synopsis /sɪˈnɒpsɪs/ n. 概要，大纲；(剧情简介，故事梗概); synopses是synopsis的复数

Sir Derek Jacobi reads an adaptation of 'The Nightingale' by Hans Christian Andersen

  • Derek /'derik/ n. 德里克（男名）
  • Jacobi n. 雅可比（姓氏）(德国)
  • adaptation /ˌædæpˈteɪʃn/ n. 适应；改编；改编本，改写本

德里克·雅克比爵士读了安徒生改编的《夜莺》

The Emperor of China has a wonderful porcelain palace and a garden that goes on for miles. The garden leads to a great forest, in which a nightingale lives. The nightingale sings so beautifully that visiting travellers are moved to write about her song.

  • porcelain /ˈpɔːrsəlɪn/ n. 瓷；瓷器 adj. 瓷制的；精美的
  • palace /ˈpæləs/ n. 宫殿；宅邸；豪华住宅

中国的皇帝有一座漂亮的瓷器宫殿和一座绵延数英里的花园。花园通向一片大森林，森林里住着一只夜莺。夜莺歌唱得如此美妙，以至于来访的游客都被她的歌声感动了。

One day the emperor reads one of these written accounts and is surprised, for he has not heard the nightingale himself. He orders that the nightingale is brought to him, and a kitchen maid leads the Emperor's servants to where the bird can be found. They are surprised that the bird is so small and grey, but when she sings for the Emperor he is moved to tears. The nightingale is to live in a cage at the palace so that the Emperor can continue hearing her song.

  • account /əˈkaʊnt/ n. 账户；解释；账目，账单；理由；描述 vi. 解释；导致；报账 vt. 认为；把…视为
  • cage /keɪdʒ/ n. 笼，兽笼；牢房，监狱 vt. 把…关进笼子；把…囚禁起来

有一天，皇帝读了其中的一篇文章，感到很惊讶，因为他自己也没有听到夜莺的歌声。他命令把夜莺带给他，一个厨房女仆带着皇帝的仆人去找夜莺。他们很惊讶这只鸟是如此的小和灰色，但当她为皇帝唱歌时，他感动得流下了眼泪。这只夜莺将被关在皇宫的笼子里，这样皇帝就可以继续听到她的歌声。

One day the Emperor receives a clockwork, jewelled nightingale as a gift. It also sings well, but only one rather mechanical tune. The real nightingale escapes and flies back to the wood. The Emperor thinks this does not matter now that he has the mechanical nightingale, but he listens to it so much that it breaks down and can only be played once a year.

  • jewelled /ˈdʒuːəld/ adj. 镶有宝石的；带首饰的

有一天，皇帝收到了一个钟表，镶嵌着珠宝的夜莺作为礼物。它也唱得很好，但只是一个相当机械的曲调。真正的夜莺逃走了，飞回了树林。皇帝认为这已经不重要了，因为他现在有了机械夜莺，但是他听它听得太多了，它坏了，一年只能演奏一次。

Soon the Emperor falls ill and is dying. He calls out for music, but there is nobody to wind the clockwork nightingale. The real nightingale returns to the trees outside and her song revives the Emperor. She sings to him about the people in the empire that he never meets and so he becomes a more informed and better Emperor.

  • revive /rɪˈvaɪv/ vi. 复兴；复活；苏醒；恢复精神 vt. 使复兴；使苏醒；回想起；重演，重播
  • informed /ɪnˈfɔːmd/ adj. 见多识广的；消息灵通的；有根据的；明智的（猜测或决定） v. 通知；使了解；提供资料（inform的过去式和过去分词）

不久皇帝病倒了，生命垂危。他大声叫着要音乐，可是没有人给夜莺上发条。真正的夜莺回到外面的树林里，她的歌声唤醒了皇帝。她给他唱关于他从未见过的帝国人民的歌，因此他成为了一个更有见识、更好的皇帝。

Curriculum guidance

  • curriculum /kəˈrɪkjələm/ n. 课程

Tales of Hans Christian Andersen can be used to target a range of Reading and Writing objectives from the KS2 National Curriculum programme of study for English across Y3 to Y6 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and Second Level of the Curriculum for Excellence in Scotland. Specific objectives include increasing pupils' familiarity with a range of texts 'including fairy stories' and 'traditional stories'.

  • familiarity /fəˌmɪliˈærəti/ n. 熟悉，精通；亲密；随便

汉斯·克里斯蒂安·安徒生的故事可以被用来实现一系列的阅读和写作目标，从KS2国家英语学习课程计划的Y3到Y6在英格兰、威尔士和北爱尔兰，以及卓越课程的第二级在苏格兰。具体目标包括提高学生对“包括童话”和“传统故事”在内的一系列文本的熟悉程度。

Pupils have the opportunity to listen to and read a selection of Andersen’s stories - especially adapted for the age group - and respond through a range of speaking and writing activities. Full details of curriculum links and follow up activities are included in the Teachers’ Notes.

学生们有机会听和读安徒生的故事选集——特别适合这个年龄段——并通过一系列的说和写活动进行回应。有关课程连结及跟进活动的详情，请参阅教师笔记。

Some of Hans Christian Andersen's tales have a dark and pessimistic theme. This means that careful selection of texts is required to ensure age-appropriateness. Please see the teachers' notes below for full synopses and suggestions for use in the classroom.

  • pessimistic /ˌpesɪˈmɪstɪk/ adj. 悲观的，厌世的；悲观主义的
  • theme /θiːm/ n. 主题；主旋律；题目
  • synopses /si'nɔpsi:z/ n. 梗概；对照表 synopses是synopsis的复数
  • appropriateness /əˈproʊpriətnəs/ n. 适当；适合

安徒生的一些故事有一个黑暗和悲观的主题。这意味着需要仔细选择文本，以确保年龄适当。请参阅下面的教师笔记，以获得课堂上使用的完整大纲和建议。

Background

  • First published in 1843, it is thought by many to be Andersen’s tribute to the opera singer Jenny Lind, with whom Andersen was in love. 这本书于1843年首次出版，很多人认为这是安徒生为了向他深爱的歌剧演唱家珍妮·林德致敬而写的。
  • tribute /ˈtrɪbjuːt/ n. 礼物；[税收] 贡物；颂词；（尤指对死者的）致敬，悼念，吊唁礼物
  • It was unrequited, with Jenny thinking of Andersen as a brother, and herself being in love with the composer Chopin. 这是没有回报的，珍妮认为安徒生是一个兄弟，而她自己爱上了作曲家肖邦。
  • unrequited /ˌʌnrɪˈkwaɪtɪd/ adj. 无回报的；无报酬的
  • composer /kəmˈpəʊzə(r)/ n. 作曲家；作家，著作者；设计者
  • Chopin 英 /ˈʃəʊpan/ 美 /'shoˌpæn/ n. 肖邦（波兰钢琴家）

Reading / listening comprehension

  • Why do you think the Emperor had not heard the nightingale before? 为什么你认为皇帝以前没有听到夜莺?
  • Where will it be more appropriate to hear a nightingale’s song – inside the palace, or in the forest? Why? 在什么地方听夜莺的歌声更合适呢?是在宫殿里，还是在森林里?为什么?
  • appropriate adj. 适当的；恰当的；合适的 vt. 占用，拨出
  • In what ways does the clockwork nightingale compare to the real one? How is it different? 与真正的夜莺相比，发条夜莺在哪些方面呢？有什么不同?
  • Why do you think the Emperor over-uses the clockwork nightingale, so much that it breaks down? 为什么你认为皇帝过度使用发条夜莺，以至于它坏了?
  • Why does the real nightingale return to the Emperor? 为什么真正的夜莺会回到皇帝身边?
  • How will the nightingale’s song help him to be a better Emperor? 夜莺的歌声将如何帮助他成为一个更好的皇帝?