吹小號的天鵝 第76期:費城(5)

"Very well," said Mr. Lucas. "And now there is oneother small matter I must bring to your attention.

“很好，”盧卡斯先生說。“現(xiàn)在我要再請你注意一件小事情。

Most of the birds that swim on this luxury lagoonhave undergone surgery.

游在這個豪華的湖上的多數(shù)鳥兒都被動過外科手術(shù)。

Candor compels me to tell you that the tip of onewing is usually removed by the management

坦率迫使我告訴你，鳥兒的一只翅膀尖端的骨節(jié)常常都被管理員剪掉了

a painless operation, popular with zoos the worldover.

這是一個無痛苦的手術(shù)，在全世界的動物園里都很流行。

"Pinioned" is the word for it, I believe.

這種手術(shù)叫‘打尖’，我相信是這樣。

It detains the water bird and prevents him from leaving the narrow confines of this public parkand rising into the air,

這就能使水鳥只能留在公園這個小圈子里，不會飛到天上去啦，

because when one wing is shorter than the other, the balance of the bird is upset.

因為當一只翅膀變得比另一只短時，鳥兒就會失去平衡的。

His attempt to take off would be crowned with failure. In short, he can't fly.

這樣一來他企圖飛走的嘗試就只能以失敗告終了。簡而言之，他飛不起來啦。

Sensing in advance the revulsion you would feel toward having the tip of one of your powerfulwings removed,

預(yù)感到你會對一只有力的翅膀被剪掉尖端的事感到厭惡，

I approached the Man in Charge of Birds and laid before him a proposition.

我事先早已找過鳥類負責人，對他提了一個建議。

He has agreed not to clip your wing. It is arranged. He is a man of honor.

他同意不剪你的翅膀了。這事兒已經(jīng)說定了。他是一個守信的人。

Your freedom of movement is assured. You will not be pinioned.

你的來去自由也得到了保障。你不會被打尖的。

But in return for this so great favor on the part of the management of the Philadelphia Zoo,

不過為了報答費城的動物園管理部門給你的莫大恩惠，

you are to give a free concert here at the lake every Sunday afternoon for the people ofPhiladelphia,

你必須在每星期日的下午在這湖上給費城市民

the peasantry, who come here to refresh themselves. Is it a deal?"

以及來這里提神的老農(nóng)們開一場免費的音樂會。就這么說定了?”

"Yes," wrote Louis. "Will give Sunday concert."

“好的，”路易斯寫，“我將舉辦星期日音樂會。”

"Good!" said Mr. Lucas. "Farewell for the nonce!

“好極了!”盧卡斯先生說，“暫時再見吧!

Be at the North Entrance at nine! October fifteen. A cab will await you. Play well, Sweet Swan!

九點在北門等!十月十五號。一輛出租車將等著你，好好吹，可愛的天鵝!

You will be the finest thing that has happened to Philadelphia since the ConstitutionalConvention of 1787."

你將是自1787年召開美國制憲會議以來費城出現(xiàn)過的最棒的東西。”