Three of us afloat [2] in the meadow [3] by the swing,
Three of us aboard in the basket on the lea [4] .
Winds are in the air, they are blowing in the spring,
And waves are on the meadows like the waves
there are at sea.
Where shall we adventure, to-day that we're afloat,
Wary of the weather and steering [5] by a star?
Shall it be to Africa, a-steering of the boat,
To Providence [6] , or Babylon [7] , or off to Malabar [8] ?
Hi! But there's a squadron [9] a-rowing on the sea —
Cattle on the meadow a-charging with a roar!
Quick, and we'll escape them, they're as mad as they can be.
The wicket [10] is the harbour and the garden is the shore.
[1] pirate [ˈpaiərət] n. 海盗
[2] afloat [əˈfləut] a. 漂浮的
[3] meadow [ˈmedəu] n. 草地
[4] lea [liː] n. 草地
[5] steer [stiə] v. 引导
[6] Providence [ˈprɔvidns] n. 普罗维登斯(美国罗得岛州的首府)
[7] Babylon [ˈbæbilən] n. 巴比伦(古代巴比伦王国的首都)
[8] Malabar [ˈmæləbɑ:(r)] a. 马拉巴尔海岸
[9] squadron [ˈskwɔdrən] n. 海军分遣舰队
[10] wicket [ˈwikit] n. 小门,边门