Listen to this articleCommandment for the Petrel
《海燕戒》
In a zoo there grew up a little petrel
有一只小海燕在动物园里长大，
Through sheer genetic chains earned him that title.
叫他海燕，只因为他是海燕的后代。
Don’t mock at him for his fear of the tempest
他自己，且不必说冲击暴风雨，
He has never seen a real sea at all.
压根儿就没有见过真正的大海。
Today the searching little petrel flew over to the sea.
这一天，小海燕为了寻找大海，
Weary and worn, he reeled right and left.
飞到海面上，直累得东摇西摆。
As he murmured about his bad fortune,
他正在絮絮叨叨抱怨命运，
Out of the thick clouds emerged a mansion.
忽然看见云雾里出现一座楼台。
The very sight of it filled the petrel with joy:
小海燕一见打心眼里高兴：
“Oh yes, this is the sea to which I belong!
“啊，这才是我理想的大海！
With all these skyscrapers grand and gorgeous!
你看摩天的高楼和堂皇的大厦！
Could there be any other paradise?
那里边一定就是天堂的所在。
“There must be a good cage decked in jewels
“里边定然有镶着宝石的金笼，
Which is warm, serene and stainless;
又安静又暖和，不染一点尘埃；
There must be a first-rate cook making a feast.
里边定然有高等厨师制备的宴席，
Whoever opens his mouth shall have what he likes.
吃什么有什么，只要把嘴张开。
“Sometimes you may flap your wings and go some rounds,
“有时也可以扇起翅膀飞几圈，
For recreation, utterly at leisure and free;
但那是为了消遣，完全自由自在；
Sometimes you may even sing in the tempestuous rain,
有时也可以对着暴风雨吟唱，
With sound and danger all blocked out of the windowpanes.
但喧嚣和危险完全隔在玻璃窗外。
“Look at the vehicles flowing like water!
“你看那门前如水如龙的车马，
What a large crowd is here to cheer me!
有多少人为欢迎海燕而来！
How foolish I was to fly on and on
我这么飞呀飞呀的真是个傻瓜，
When happiness is right before my eyes.”
幸福的生活已经在眼前展开。”
An old petrel cut him short:
有只老海燕打断了他的话：
“That’s a mirage! By no means a mansion!
“那是蜃楼，哪里是什么楼台！
Hold the lightening and ride on the cloud stallion,
快抓住闪电，跨上乌云的骏马，
Look! A fierce tempest is approaching!”
看，猛烈的暴风雨就要到来！”
The little petrel whistled in contempt:
小海燕轻蔑地打了个口哨：
“I know how to plan for myself.
“我懂得怎样为自己安排。
The sea is fickle by nature.
这大海上的风云瞬息万变，
I’d rather not bury myself here.”
我可不打算在大海里葬埋。”
In a minute the sea became very rough.
霎时间，海上涌起滔天巨浪，
Countless petrels soared into the air, dancing. What a sight!
无数海燕冲天起舞，多么豪迈！
The little petrel stumbled towards the mirage,
小海燕跌跌撞撞向蜃楼飞去，
Dipped into the waves and never showed up again.
一头栽进大浪，再也没有回来。
Don’t take it for granted petrels are born petrels,
不要以为海燕的子孙一定是海燕，
Mere petrel feathers will never make you a seafarer.
只有海燕的翎毛并不能驾驭大海。
