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Of all animated beings this is the most elegant in form and the most brilliant in colors. The stones and metals polished by our arts are not comparable to this jewel of Nature. She has placed it least in size of the order of birds, "maxime Miranda in minimis.". Her masterpiece is this little humming-bird, and upon it she has heaped all the gifts which the other birds may only share. Lightness, rapidity, nimbleness, grace, and rich apparel all belong to this little favorite. The emerald, the ruby, and the topaz gleam upon its dress. It never soils them with the dust of earth, and in its aerial life scarcely touches the turf an instant. Always in the air, flying from flower to flower, it has their freshness as well as their brightness. It lives upon their nectar, and dwells only in the climates where they perennially bloom.

参考译文

蜂鸟

在一切生物中，要算蜂鸟体型最优美、颜色最鲜艳。经过工艺加工和各种宝石和金属是无法跟这个大自然的珍宝媲美的。大自然按照鸟类的大小把它列为最小号，真是"最小的绝妙珍品"。这咱小蜂鸟是大自然的杰作。大自然把其他鸟类只能分其中一部分的种种天赋全部慷慨地给了它。这个小宠儿具有轻盈、敏捷、灵活、优雅以及羽毛绚丽等一切妙外。那翠绿的、艳红的、嫩黄色的羽毛闪闪发光。蜂鸟从不让它的羽毛沾染尘土，它生活在天空中，一刻也不碰在草皮。它总是在空中飞翔，从花丛飞向花丛；它象花一样的新鲜，又象花一样的艳丽。蜂鸟靠花蜜为生，它只生活在四季鲜花盛开的地带。

词汇释义

1.masterpiece n.杰作

例句：

The Grand canyon is truly masterpiece.
大峡谷真是大自然的杰作。

2.nimbleness n. the gracefulness of a person or animal that is quick and nimble

例句：

Much has already been said about Liu Fang's sublime musicality and the exquisite nimbleness of her masterful fingers.
刘芳非常的音乐表现力和精妙手指的技巧是不言而喻的。

3.apparel n. 衣服, 外表

例句：

Trees with their apparel of foliage.
浓密树叶覆盖的树木

4.emerald n.翡翠, 绿宝石, 绿刚玉

例句：

The pendant was set with pearls surrounding an emerald.
这耳坠中间是一块翡翠，四周镶着珍珠。

5.nectar n.花蜜

例句：

Flower is often fertilize by bee as they gather nectar.
蜜蜂采蜜时常使花受粉。

6.perennially adv.永久地

例句：

In the reserve there are perennially snow-topped mountain peaks, verdant and lush forests and stretches of serene lakes.
区内有终年积雪的山峰、苍翠繁茂的森林、宁静悠远的湖泊。

语法讲解

(1) are not comparable to ：比不上……的。

(2) this jewel of Nature：这个大自然的珍宝。这里作者把美丽无比的蜂鸟比作大自然中的一颗天然珍宝。

(3) she ：指Nature

(4) in size of ：按……大小

(5) the order of birds：鸟类

(6) maxime Miranda in minimis：拉丁语 maxime解作"最大"， Miranda 解作"值得称羡的东西"， minimis 解作"最小"。

(7) upon it she has heaped all the gifts…：大自然赋予蜂鸟……的一切资质。

(8) rich apparel ：原义为色彩鲜艳的衣服，这里借喻蜂鸟绚丽的羽毛。

(9) emerald：原义绿宝石，这里指翠绿色。

(10) ruby：原义红宝石，这里指艳红色。

(11) topaz：原义黄玉，这里指嫩黄色。

(12) dress：这里借喻蜂鸟的羽毛。