過了一會兒,布里克先生站起來對男孩和輔導(dǎo)員們發(fā)表演說了。
"I call your attention," he said, "to a new camper inour midst--Louis the Swan.
“我要提請大家注意,”他說,“我們中間有一個新營員--天鵝路易斯。
He is a Trumpeter Swan, a rare bird. We are lucky tohave him.
他是一只號手天鵝,一只珍禽。有他在此是我們的幸運。
I have employed him at the same salary I pay my junior counselors:
我給他的薪水和我給少年輔導(dǎo)員的一樣多:
one hundred dollars for the season.
一夏天一百美元。
He is gentle and has a speech defect.
他性情溫和,只是不能發(fā)聲而已。
He came here from Montana with Sam Beaver.
他是從蒙大拿和薩姆比弗一起來的。
Louis is a musician.
路易斯是個音樂家。
Like most musicians, he is in need of money.
像多數(shù)音樂家一樣,他也正急需用錢呢。
He will wake you at daybreak with his trumpet;
他將在黎明用他的小號叫醒你們;
he will call you to meals;
他將召喚你們吃飯;
and at night, when you are dropping off to sleep, he will play taps, and that will bring the dayto a close.
在夜里,當(dāng)你們就要入睡時,他將給你們吹熄燈號,那就表示這一天結(jié)束了。
I caution you to treat him as an equal and to treat him with respect
我警告你們,一定要平等地待他,對他尊重些
he packs a terrific wallop with one of those wings.
他隨便用哪只翅膀都能把你們猛揍一頓。
I now introduce, for your listening pleasure, Louis the Swan.
為了讓你們大飽耳福,我現(xiàn)在就向你們介紹天鵝路易斯。
Take a bow, Louis!" Louis was embarrassed, but he came forward and bowed.
鞠個躬,路易斯!” 路易斯很不好意思,可他還是走上前鞠了個躬。
Then he raised his trumpet to his mouth and blew a long ko.
然后他把他的小號舉到嘴邊吹了長長的一聲“吭”。
When he finished, from the opposite shore of the lake there came the echo: ko-oo.
他剛吹完,湖岸對面就傳來了回聲:“吭—吭”。
The boys clapped.
男孩子們鼓起掌來。
Louis bowed again.
路易斯又鞠了一躬。
Sam Beaver, sitting with the others, his mouth full of marshmallows, was delighted that hisplan had succeeded.
薩姆·比弗正和其他人坐在一起,嘴里滿是果汁軟糖,為他的計劃能夠?qū)崿F(xiàn)而暗自開心。
At the end of the summer, Louis would have a hundred dollars.
等這個夏天結(jié)束,路易斯就能掙一百美元了。
A boy named Applegate Skinner stood up.
一個叫阿普爾蓋特·斯金納的男孩站了起來。
"Mr. Brickle," he said, "what about me? I don't care for birds. I've never liked birds."
“布里克先生,”他說,“我怎么辦?我討厭鳥類。我從來就不喜歡鳥兒。”
"Ok., Applegate," said Mr. Brickle.
“OK,阿普爾蓋特,”布里克先生說。
"You don't have to like birds.
“你不必去喜歡鳥兒。
If that's the way you feel about it, just go ahead not-liking birds.
如果你這么覺得,就繼續(xù)討厭鳥類好了。
Everyone is entitled to his likes and dislikes and to his prejudices.
每個人都有權(quán)喜歡或不喜歡什么,都有權(quán)保留自己的成見。
Come to think of it, I don't care for pistachio ice cream.
讓我們來想想,我不喜歡吃開心果冰淇淋。
I don't know why I don't like it, but I don't.
我不知道我為什么不喜歡它,可我就是不喜歡。
Do not forget, however, that Louis is one of your counselors.
不過可別忘了,不管怎么說,路易斯都是你的輔導(dǎo)員之一。
Whether you like him or not, he must be treated with respect."
不管你喜不喜歡他,他都必須得到尊重。”