美文欣赏

“今后，当下雨时，你们所有的颜色将横跨填空，形成一道巨大的彩虹，以提示你们七种颜色能友好共处。记住，彩虹象征着明天的希望。”因此，每当好雨洗礼世界的时候，一道彩虹都会出现在天空，让我们记得要学会彼此欣赏。

The colors of friendship

Once upon a time the colors of the world started to quarrel.
　　
All claimed that they were the best.
　　
The most important.
　　
The most useful.
　　
The favorite.
　　
Green said:
　　
"Clearly I am the most important. I am the sign of life and of hope. I was chosen for grass, trees and leaves. Without me, all animals would die. Look over the countryside and you will see that I am in the majority."
　　
Blue interrupted:

"You only think about the earth, but consider the sky and the sea. It is the water that is the basis of life and drawn up by the clouds from the deep sea. The sky gives space and peace and serenity. Without my peace, you would all be nothing."
Yellow chuckled:
　　
"You are all so serious. I bring laughter, gaiety, and warmth into the world. The sun is yellow, the moon is yellow, the stars are yellow. Every time you look at a sunflower, the whole world starts to smile. Without me there would be no fun."

Orange started next to blow her trumpet:
　　
"I am the color of health and strength. I may be scarce, but I am precious for I serve the needs of human life. I carry the most important vitamins. Think of carrots, pumpkins, oranges, mangoes, and papayas. I don't hang around all the time, but when I fill the sky at sunrise or sunset, my beauty is so striking that no one gives another thought to any of you."
　　
Red could stand it no longer he shouted out:
　　
"I am the ruler of all of you. I am blood - life's blood! I am the color of danger and of bravery. I am willing to fight for a cause. I bring fire into the blood. Without me, the earth would be as empty as the moon. I am the color of passion and of love, the red rose, the poinsettia and the poppy."
　　
Purple rose up to his full height:
　　
He was very tall and spoke with great pomp: "I am the color of royalty and power. Kings, chiefs, and bishops have always chosen me for I am the sign of authority and wisdom.

People do not question me! They listen and obey."
　　
Finally Indigo spoke, much more quietly than all the others, but with just as much determination:
　　
"Think of me. I am the color of silence. You hardly notice me, but without me you all become superficial. I represent thought and reflection, twilight and deep water. You need me for balance and contrast, for prayer and inner peace."
　　
And so the colors went on boasting, each convinced of his or her own superiority. Their quarreling became louder and louder.

Suddenly there was a startling flash of bright lightening thunder rolled and boomed. Rain started to pour down relentlessly.

The colors crouched down in fear, drawing close to one another for comfort.
　　
In the midst of the clamor, rain began to speak:

"You foolish colors, fighting amongst yourselves, each trying to dominate the rest. Don't you know that you were each made for a special purpose, unique and different? Join hands with one another and come to me."
　　
Doing as they were told, the colors united and joined hands.
　　
The rain continued:
　　
"From now on, when it rains, each of you will stretch across the sky in a great bow of color as a reminder that you can all live in peace. The Rainbow is a sign of hope for tomorrow." And so, whenever a good rain washes the world, and a Rainbow appears in the sky, let us remember to appreciate one another.

参考译文

友谊的颜色

从前，世界上的各种颜色进行过一次争吵。每一种颜色都说自己是最好的，最重要的，最有用的，最美丽的、最受人喜欢的。

显然，我是最重要的。绿色是生命和希望的标志。草、树、叶子都选择了绿色。如果没有我，所有的动物都将死亡。鸟瞰乡村大地，到处都是绿色。

蓝色打断他说：“你只考虑了陆地上的颜色，但是想想天空和海洋。水是生命之源，由云层从深海里带来。天空显得那么广阔、平和、宁静。没有我的平和，你们什么也不是。”

黄色轻声笑道：“你们全都如此严肃。而我把笑声、欢乐和温暖带给了世界。太阳是黄色的，月亮是黄色的，星星也是黄色的。每次看见向日葵，全世界都开始微笑。没有我，世界将索然无味。”

橙色紧接着开始自吹自擂：“我是健康和力量的颜色。我可能稀少，但是很珍贵，因为我能满足人类生命的需要。我含有最重要的维生素。想想胡萝卜、南瓜、橙子、芒果，还有木瓜。我没有一直闲着，当日出或日落时，天空涂满橙色，我的美丽让人震撼，那时没有人会想到你们。”

红色再也控制不住了，他大声嚷道：“我是你们所有颜色的统治者。我是血--生命的颜色！我是危险和勇敢的颜色。我愿意为伟大的事业而奋斗。我把满腔热情融进血液。如果没有我，地球将像月球一样空空如也。我是激情和爱情的颜色，是红玫瑰、猩猩木和罂粟的颜色。”

紫色有高大的身躯，他伸展全身站起来，用洪亮的声音说道：“我是王位和权力的颜色。国王、首领、主教总是选择紫色，因为我是权威和智慧的象征。人们从来不质疑我！他们只是聆听和服从。”

最后，青色说话了，他比起其他的颜色显得安静很多，但其语气也非常坚定：“想想我。我是寂静的颜色。你们几乎注意不到我，但是如果没有我，你们将变得肤浅。我代表思索和反省、黄昏和深水。

你们需要我作为反衬来取得平衡，需要把我作为祈祷文来求得内心的安宁。”

颜色们继续自夸，每种颜色都确信自己的优越。他们的争吵声越来越大。突然电闪雷鸣，大雨无情倾泻。因为恐惧，颜色们蹲下身子，互相靠拢以求安慰。

在吵闹中，雨开始说话了：“你们这些愚蠢的颜色，相互争斗，试图支配其他的颜色。难道你们不知道每种颜色的形成都有着特殊的目的，每种颜色都是独特而与众不同的吗？手拉手，到我这儿来！”按照雨说的，颜色们手拉手，团结起来。

雨继续说：“今后，当下雨时，你们所有的颜色将横跨填空，形成一道巨大的彩虹，以提示你们七种颜色能友好共处。记住，彩虹象征着明天的希望。”因此，每当好雨洗礼世界的时候，一道彩虹都会出现在天空，让我们记得要学会彼此欣赏。