LESSON 2

THE NEEDLE

银 针

The gay belles of fashion may boast of excelling

In waltz or cotillon, at whist or quadrille;

And seek admiration by vauntingly telling

Of drawing, and painting, and musical skill:

But give me the fair one, in country or city,

Whose home and its duties are dear to her heart,

Who cheerfully warbles some rustical ditty,

While plying the needle with exquisite art:

The bright little needle, the swift-flying needle,

The needle directed by beauty and art.

If Love have a potent, a magical token,

A talisman, ever resistless and true,

A charm that is never evaded or broken,

A witchery certain the heart to subdue,

’T is this; and his armory never has furnished

So keen and unerring, or polished a dart;

Let beauty direct it, so polished and burnished,

And oh! it is certain of touching the heart:

The bright little needle, the swift-flying needle,

The needle directed by beauty and art.

Be wise, then, ye maidens, nor seek admiration,

By dressing for conquest, and flirting with all;

You never, whate’er be your fortune or station,

Appear half so lovely at rout or at ball,

As gayly convened at the work-covered table,

Each cheerfully active, playing her part,

Beguiling the task with a song or a fable,

And plying the needle with exquisite art:

The bright little needle, the swift-flying needle,

The needle directed by beauty and art.

(Samuel Woodworth)

【中文阅读】

时尚的欢快铃声也许在吹嘘

和着华尔兹或花布舞的，在惠斯特或四十张牌游戏中；

自吹自擂炫耀绘画和音乐才能，博取赞美：

在乡村或城市，请赐给我晴朗的天气，

谁的家能让她放在心上，

在优雅地刺绣时

谁在快乐地哼唱乡村小调

晶亮的小银针，飞舞穿梭的银针，

美和艺术是它的主宰。

如果爱有一个威力无比和迷人的象征，

护身符，曾经不可抗拒和那么真切，

绝对无法回避或破碎的魔力

巫术不会制服那颗滚烫的心，

他那绝不会陈设的纹章，

那样逼真，毫无偏差，就像擦亮的飞镖

让美来指引，装饰和擦亮它。

啊！触及心底：

光闪闪的小银针，穿梭飞舞，

美和艺术是它的主宰。

学会聪明，姑娘们，不要贪慕虚荣，

通过穿着来征服，钓得众人心；

不论你的财富和地位如何

你绝不会显得如此动人和愉快，

在覆着刺绣图案的桌上欢快地聚在一起，

每个人都兴高采烈地忙着自己手中的活儿，

哼着歌儿讲着传说，陶醉于手下的巧夺天工，

精巧的手舞弄银针：

光闪闪的小银针，穿梭飞舞，

美和艺术是它的主宰。

（萨缪尔•伍德沃兹） QoNHGAoHOSBKB+8i6uBJ4ul/GpXcl/jxG+hG3PWb3xKgIigD7nxzkRXMPtaqBg0w