英语散文生日快乐歌的起源 Happy Birthday to You Where

英语散文:生日快乐歌的起源 "Happy Birthday to Y ou" Where did that song come from? The story of how the song "Happy Birthday to Y ou" came to be, began as a sweet one, that later soured. Two sisters, Mildred Hill, a teacher at the Louisville, Kentucky Experimental Kindergarten, and Dr. Patty Hill, the principal of the same school, together wrote a song for the children, entitled "Good Morning to All." When Mildred combined her musical talents, as the resident expert on spiritual songs, and as the organist for her church, with her sister's expertise in the area of Kindergarten Education, "Good Morning to All" was sure to be a success. 关于"祝你生日快乐"一歌是如何产生的故事,一开始是件令人愉快的事,到后来就变了味,令人很扫兴。事情是这样的:有姐妹俩,一个叫玛德里德·希尔,路易思维尔市肯德基实验幼儿园教师,一个叫柏蒂·希尔,该校的校长。姐妹俩一道为儿童们谱写了一首歌,歌名为"大家早上好"。玛德里德是当地赞美歌的专家,再加上她的音乐天分,又是当地教堂的风琴师,而且她姐姐在幼儿教育方面也很有经验,"大家早上好"一歌无疑是个巨大的成功。 The sisters published the song in a collection entitled "Song Stories of the Kindergarten" in 1893. Thirty-one years later, after Dr. Patty Hill became the head of the Department of Kindergarten Education at Columbia University's Teacher College, a gentleman by the name of Robert H. Coleman published the song, without the sisters' permission. To add insult to injury, he added a second verse, the familiar "Happy Birthday to Y ou." 1893年,两姐妹发表了一部歌曲集,题名为"幼儿园的故事"。三十一年以后,在柏蒂·希尔出任哥伦比亚大学师范学院幼儿教育系系主任之后,一个名叫罗伯特·H·科尔曼的男士未经姐妹俩的允许,私自出版了这首歌,在这首歌后又加上了一段,即大家熟悉的"祝你生日快乐",这就构成了对姐妹俩的伤害和侮辱。科尔曼先生增加的第二段歌词使这首歌很快就十分流行。 Mr. Coleman's addition of the second verse popularized the song and, eventually, the sisters' original first verse disappeared. "Happy Birthday to Y ou," the one and only birthday song, had altogether replaced the sisters' original title, "Good Morning to All." 最终,姐妹俩的第一段歌词消失了。"祝你生日快乐",这首唯一的生日歌完全取代了姐妹俩原来的歌曲"大家早上好!"。 After Mildred died in 1916, Patty, together with a third sister named Jessica, sprang into action and took Mr. Coleman to court. In court, they proved that they, indeed, owned the melody. Because the family legally owns the song, it is entitled to royalt ies from it, whenever it is sung for commercial purposes. 玛德里德于1916年逝世后,柏蒂与其另一个妹妹杰西卡出面将科尔曼先生告上了法庭。在法庭上,她们证明,实际上她们拥有这首歌曲调的版权。由于这首歌曲的法定版权属于希尔姐妹家,它便被赋予了皇权,无论何时这首歌因商用目的而被唱的时候,其皇权总是会受到保护的。 英语散文:雨雪时候的心情 寒暑表降到冰点下十八度的时候,我们也是在廊下睡觉。每夜最熟识的就是天上的星辰了。也不过是点点闪烁的光明,而相看惯了,偶然不见,也有些想望与无聊。 连夜雨雪,一点星光都看不见。荷和我拥衾对坐,在廊子的两角,遥遥谈话。 荷指着说:"你看维纳斯(V enus)升起来了!"我抬头望时,却是山路转折处的路灯。我怡然一笑,也指着对山的一星灯火说:"那边是丘比特(Jupiter)呢!" 愈指愈多。松林中射来零乱的风灯,都成了满天星宿。真的,雪花隙里,看不出来天空和森林的界限,将繁灯当作繁星,简直是抵得过。 一念至诚的将假作真,灯光似乎都从地上飘起。这幻成的星光,都不移动,不必半夜梦醒时,再去追寻他们的位置。 于是雨雪寂寞之夜,也有了慰安了! Stars on a Snowy Night The thermometer had dropped to 18 degrees below zero, but still chose to sleep in the porch as usual. In the evening, the most familiar sight to me would be stars in the sky. Though they were a mere sprinkle of twinkling dots, yet I had become so accustomed to them that their occasional absence would bring me loneliness and ennui. It had been snowing all night, not a single star in sight. My roommate and I, each wrapped in a quilt, were seated far apart in a different corner of the porch, facing each other and chatting away. She exclaimed pointing to something afar, "Look, V enus in rising!" I looked up and saw nothing but a lamp round the bend in a mountain path. I beamed and said pointing to a tiny lamplight on the opposite mountain, "It's Jupiter over there!" More and more lights came into sight as we kept pointing here and there. Lights from hurricane lamps flickering about in the pine forest created the scene of a star-studded sky. With the distinction between sky and forest obscured by snowflakes, the numerous lamp-lights now easily passed for as many stars. Completely lost in a make-believe world, I seemed to see all the lamplights drifting from the ground. With the illusory stars hanging still overhead, I was spared the effort of tracing their positions when I woke up from my dreams in the dead of night. Thus I found consolation even on a lonely snowy night ! 注释: 《雨雪时候的星辰》是冰心的早期抒情散文。文章赞美自然,想象精细,文笔清新,充满诗情画意。 ①题目《雨雪时候的星辰》翻译为Stars on a Snowy Night。"雨雪"作"下雪"解,"雨"在此是动词,读音为yù。 ②"无聊" 翻译为ennui,是英语常用文学语言,意即a feeling of boredom caused by a lack of excitement or activity。 ③"一点星光都看不见" 译为not a single star in sight,是句中独立主格,和not a single star being in sight同。又译文用s押头韵,night和sight压韵脚,有音韵美。 ④"荷和我……" 译为My roommate and I...,其中用My roommate(同寝之友)代替专门名词He(荷),以免外国读者把He读解为男性第三人称的代词。 ⑤"荷指着说……" 译为She said pointing her finger at...,因英语to point one's finger at 有"指责"的含义。 ⑥"我抬头望时" 不宜逐字死译为I raised my head to take a look 。译为I liked up即可。 ⑦"山路转折处" 译为round the bend in a mountain path。注意bend后面跟介词in,属习惯用法。 "将繁灯当作繁星,简直是抵得过" 译为the numerous lamp-lights now easily passed for as many stars,其中短语to pass for 的意思是"被看作","被当作"等。 英语散文:母亲永远成不了父亲 A Unique Job A father's job is unique. If parents had job descriptions mine would read: organize bills, playmates, laundry, meals, laundry, carpool, laundry, snacks, outings and shopping, and laundry. The only thing on my husband's description would be the word "fun" written in big red letters along the top. Although he is a selfless caregiver and provider, our children think of him more as a combination of a jungle gym and bozo and clown. Our parenting styles compliment each other. His style is a nonstop adventure where no one has to worry about washing their hands, eating vegetables, or getting cavities. My style is similar to Mussolini. I'm too busy worrying to be fun. Besides, every time I try, I am constantly outdone by my husband. I bought my children bubble gum flavored toothpaste and I taught them how to brush their teeth in tiny circles so they wouldn't get cavities. They thought it was neat until my husband taught them how to rinse by spitting out water between their two front teeth like a fountain. I took the children on a walk in the woods and, after two hours, I managed to corral a slow ladybug into my son's insect cage. I was "cool" until their father came home, spent two minutes in the backyard, and captured a beetle the size of a Chihuahua. I try to tell myself I am a good parent even if my husband does things I can't do. I can make sure my children are safe, warm, and dry. I'll stand in line for five hours so the children can see Santa at the mall or be first in line to see the latest Disney movie. But I can't wire the VCR so my children can watch their favorite video. I can carry my children in my arms when they are tired, tuck them into bed, and kiss them goodnight. But I can't flip them upside down so they can walk on the ceiling or prop them on my shoulders so they can see the moths flying inside of the light fixture. I can take them to doctor appointments, scout meetings, or field trips to the aquarium, but I'll never go into the wilderness, skewer a worm on a hook, reel in a fish, and cook it over an open flame on a piece of tin foil. I'll even sit in the first row of every Little League game and cheer until my throat is sore and my tonsils are raw, but I'll never teach my son how to hit a home run or slide into first base. As a mother I can do a lot of things for my children, but no matter how hard I try--I can never be their father. 母亲永远成不了父亲 当爸是件无人能替代的活儿。 如果为人父母有职务简述的话,我的"职务简述"将会包括如下内容:管理账单和孩子们的玩耍同伴、洗衣、做饭、洗衣、安排与人合伙用车、洗衣、准备小吃、安排短途旅游、购物、洗衣。 我先生的"职务简述"是在上端用红色写出的两个大字--"乐子"。尽管他无私地给予孩子们百般关爱,尽其所能为他们提供所需,我们的孩子们更多的时候还是把他看作攀缘游戏架、 大傻瓜和小丑的三合一。 我们俩为人父母的风格是互补的。他的风格是持续不断的探险,在这过程中,没有人需要操心孩子是不是洗手了,是不是吃蔬菜了,或者会不会长蛀牙。我的风格则类似墨索里尼的执政风格。我太忙了,为这操心,为那操心,哪里顾得上找什么乐子。再者,每次我试图逗孩子们开心,我总是被我先生比下去。 我给孩子们买来带泡泡糖香味的牙膏,教他们如何用牙刷转圈儿刷牙以免得蛀牙。他们认为那样刷挺好玩,直到有一天我先生教他们如何漱口--从两颗门牙间把水喷出来。他们发现这才叫好玩。 我带孩子们到小树林里去散步,两个小时后,我好不容易才逮住一个迟钝的瓢虫放进我儿子的虫笼里。在他们眼里我是够"酷"的,直到他们的父亲回家,在后院里只花了两分钟,便捕获了一只有奇瓦瓦小狗那么大的甲虫! 我劝慰自己我是个好妈妈,尽管我先生能做的事情我做不了。我可以确保我的孩子们是安全的、暖和的、干干爽爽的。我可以排队等个小时,让孩子们在大商场里看到圣诞老人--或者第一个排队让孩子们看最新的迪斯尼影片。但是我不会给录像机接上电线,好让孩子们看他们喜欢的录像。 当孩子玩累时,我可以把他们抱到床上,亲吻他们,送他们进入梦乡。但是我无法让他们头冲下,那样他们可以脚踏天花板漫步;或者把他们扛在我的肩膀上,让他们看飞蛾如何在灯具里飞舞。 我可以带他们去看医生,参加童子军集会,或者带他们去参观水族馆,但是我永远也不会进入荒郊野地,在鱼钩上挂上虫饵,钓上一条鱼,然后把鱼用锡纸包起来在明火上烤着吃。 我甚至可以出席每一场少年棒球联合会的比赛,坐在第一排呐喊助威,直到我的嗓子喊疼了,我的扁桃体发炎了,但是我永远无法教我的儿子如何打一个本垒打或者如何巧妙进入一垒的位置。 作为一个母亲,我可以为我的孩子们做许多事情,但是不管我怎样努力--我永远成为不了他们的父亲。 英语散文:你所记得的一切 All you remember All you remember about your child being an infant is the incredible awe you felt about the precious miracle you created. Y ou remember having plenty of time to bestow all your wisdom and knowledge. Y ou thought your child would take all of your advice and make fewer mistakes, and be much smarter than you were. Y ou wished for your child to hurry and grow up. All you remember about your child being two is never using the restroom alone or getting to watch a movie without talking animals. Y ou recall afternoons talking on the phone while crouching in the bedroom closet, and being convinced your child would be the first Ivy League1 college student to graduate wearing pullovers2 at the ceremony. Y ou remember worrying about the bag of M&M's melting in your pocket and ruining your good dress. Y ou wished for your child to be more independent. All you remember about your child being five is the first day of school and finally having the house to yourself. Y ou remember joining the PTA3 and being elected president when you left a meeting to use the restroom. Y ou remember being asked "Is Santa real?" and saying "yes" because he had to be for a little bit longer. Y ou remember shaking the sofa cushions for loose change4, so the toothfairy5 could come and take away your child's first lost tooth. Y ou wished for your child to have all permanent teeth. All you remember about your child being seven is the carpool6 schedule. Y ou learned to apply makeup in two minutes and brush your teeth in the rearview mirror1 because the only time you had to yourself was when you were stopped at red lights. Y ou considered painting your car yellow and posting a "taxi" sign on the lawn next to the garage door. Y ou remember people staring at you, the few times you were out of the car, because you kept flexing2 your foot and making acceleration3 noises. Y ou wished for the day your child would learn how to drive. All you remember about your child being ten is managing the school fund raisers. Y ou sold wrapping paper for paint, T shirts for new furniture, and magazine subscriptions4 for shade trees in the school playground. Y ou remember storing a hundred cases of candy bars in the garage to sell so the school band could get new uniforms, and how they melted together on an unseasonably5 warm spring afternoon. Y ou wished your child would grow out of playing an instrument. All you remember about your child being twelve is sitting in the stands6 during baseball practice and hoping your child's team would strike out7 fast because you had more important things to do at home. The coach didn't understand how busy you were. Y ou wished the baseball season would be over soon. All you remember about your child being fourteen is being asked not to stop the car in front of the school in the morning. Y ou had to drive two blocks further and unlock the doors without coming to a complete stop. Y ou remember not getting to kiss your child goodbye or talking to him in front of his friends. Y ou wished your child would be more mature. All you remember about your child being sixteen is loud music and undecipherable8 lyrics9 screamed to a rhythmic beat. Y ou wished for your child to grow up and leave home with the stereo. All you remember about your child being eighteen is the day they were born and having all the time in the world. And, as you walk through your quiet house, you wonder where they went and you wish your child hadn't grown up so fast. 当你的孩子是个婴儿时,你所记得的,是你对自己创造出的堪称完美奇迹的作品,感到不可思议的敬畏。你记得你有大量的时间去传授你所有的智慧和知识。你认为你的孩子将会接受你所有的忠告而少犯错误,将会比孩提时代的你聪明许多。你多希望你的孩子快快长大。 孩子两岁时,你所记得的,是从不能独自使用卫生间,从不看一部与动物无关的电影。你记得那些蜷缩在卧室储衣间跟朋友通电话的下午,深信你的孩子将是第一个身着套头衫出席毕业典礼的常春藤名牌大学毕业生。你记得你担心那袋M&M巧克力糖会在你的衣兜里融化,毁了你体面的衣服。你多希望你的孩子更独立些。 孩子5岁时,你所记得的,是他上学第一天你终于独自拥有整个房子了。你记得参加家长-教师联系会,在你离开会议室去洗手间时,你当选为会长。你记得孩子问你"圣诞老人是真的吗?"你回答"是的",因为他还需要你的肯定回答,尽管不久他就能自己判断了。你记得在沙发垫子下一通翻腾要找出些零钱,这样牙齿仙女就会来把你孩子掉的第一颗牙带走。你多希望孩子的牙都换成了恒牙。 孩子7岁时,你所记得的,是合伙用车的时间安排。你学会了在两分钟内化完妆,照着汽车后视镜刷牙,因为你能给你自己找出的时间就只有汽车停在红灯前的那小段。你想过把你的车子漆成黄色,并在车库门旁的草坪上立一个"出租车"的标志牌。你记得有几次你下车 后,人们盯着你,因为你不断用脚踩油门加速,制造噪音。你多希望孩子有一天能学会开车。 孩子10岁时,你所记得的,是怎么组织学校的募捐者。你们为重新粉刷学校兜售包装纸,为购置新家具兜售体恤衫,为在学校操场上种植遮阳树劝人订阅各种杂志。你记得你在车库里存放了上百盒糖果等待出售,得到钱后学校的乐队就可以购置新制服,可是那些糖果竟在一个暖和得过头的春天的下午全都融化在一起了。你多希望孩子长大,不再演奏什么乐器了。 孩子12岁时,你所记得的,是孩子在体育场打棒球练习赛时,你坐在看台上希望你孩子所在的队很快三击不中出局,因为家里还有更重要的事等你去做。教练不明白你为什么那么忙。你多希望棒球赛季能尽快结束。 孩子14岁时,你所记得的,是他不让你早晨把汽车停在校门口。你不得不开过两个街区,车还没停稳就赶紧打开车门。你记得没能在他的朋友面前跟他吻别或说话。你多希望孩子能更成熟些。 孩子16岁时,你所记得的,是吵闹的音乐和以富有节奏的拍子尖声唱出的难以听懂的歌词。你多希望孩子快点长大成人,带着音响离开家吧。 孩子18岁时,你所记得的,是他们出生的那一天,拥有世间所有的时光。 当你在静静的房子里走来走去时,你纳闷他们去哪里了--你多希望孩子别这么快就长大了。 英语散文:生命掌握在你自己手里 Consider... YOU. In all time before now and in all time to come, there has never been and will never be anyone just like you. Y ou are unique in the entire history and future of the universe. Wow! Stop and think about that. Y ou're better than one in a million, or a billion, or a 1)gazillion… Y ou are the only one like you in a sea of infinity!!! Y ou're amazing! Y ou're awesome! And by the way, TAG, you're it. As amazing and awesome as you already are, you can be even more so. Beautiful young people are the whimsey of nature, but beautiful old people are true works of art. But you don't become "beautiful" just by virtue of the aging process. Real beauty comes from learning, growing, and loving in the ways of life. That is the Art of Life. Y ou can learn slowly, and sometimes painfully, by just waiting for life to happen to you. Or you can choose to accelerate your growth and intentionally devour life and all it offers. Y ou are the artist that paints your future with the brush of today. Paint a Masterpiece. God gives every bird its food, but he doesn't throw it into its nest. Wherever you want to go, whatever you want to do, it's truly up to you. 生命掌握在你的手里--超越卓越的你 试想一下……你!一个空前绝后的你,不论是以往还是将来都不会有一个跟你一模一样的人。你在历史上和宇宙中都是独一无二的。哇!想想吧,你是万里挑一、亿里挑一、兆里挑一的。 在无穷无尽的宇宙中,你是举世无双的!!! 你是了不起的!你是卓越的!没错,就是你。你已经是了不起的,是卓越的,你还可以更卓越更了不起。美丽的年轻人是大自然的奇想,而美丽的老人却是艺术的杰作。但你不会 因为年龄的渐长就自然而然地变得"美丽"。 真正的美丽源于生命里的学习、成长和热爱。这就是生命的艺术。你可以只听天由命, 慢慢地学,有时候或许会很痛苦。又或许你可以选择加速自己的成长,故意地挥霍生活及其提供的一切。你就是手握今日之刷描绘自己未来的艺术家。画出一幅杰作吧! 上帝给了鸟儿食物,但他没有将食物扔到它们的巢里。不管你想要去哪里,不管你想要做什么,真正做决定的还是你自己。