荊棘鳥[1](又稱刺鳥;珍珠鳥或翡翠鳥)原本是產(chǎn)自南美的一種珍稀鳥類,因其擅長在荊棘灌木叢中覓食,其羽毛象燃燒的火焰般鮮艷而得名。荊棘鳥,是自然界一種奇特的動(dòng)物,它一生只唱一次歌。從離開雀巢開始,便不停執(zhí)著地尋找荊棘樹。當(dāng)它終于如愿以償,就把自己嬌小的身體扎進(jìn)一株最長、最尖的荊棘上,和著血和淚放聲歌唱——那凄美動(dòng)人、婉轉(zhuǎn)如霞的歌聲使人間所有的聲音剎那間黯然失色!一曲終了,荊棘鳥終于氣竭命隕,以身殉歌——以一種慘烈的悲壯塑造了美麗的永恒,給人們留下一段悲愴的謎。
THE THORN BIRDS There is a legend about a bird which sings just once in its life, more sweetly than any other creature on the face of the earth, From the moment it leaves the nest it searches for a thorn tree, and does not rest until it has found one, Then singing among the savage branches, it impales itself upon the longest sharpest spin. And, dying, it rises above its own agony to out carol the lark and the nightingale. One superlative song, existence the price. But the whole world stills to listen, and God in his heaven smiles. For the best is only bought at the cost of great pain....Or so says the legend 這是原文。 這是本書是描述一段不為世人接受的凄美的愛情故事。很感人。 Fot the best is only bought at the cost of great pain John