XLV. THAT OF A DECEASED FLY. (A Ballade.)

 A little busy buzzy fly

Before my window oft would go,

I daily saw him sailing by

And thought that I would like to know

More of that little fly, and oh!

I raised my hat, and bowed, and said,

"How do!" The fly replied, "So, so!"

(Alas¹! that little fly is dead.)

We grew quite friendly, he and I,

He'd come when called—I called him Joe.—

He was a most amusing fly.

At evening, when the sun was low,

Or, by the firelight's ruddy glow

He'd hopscotch² on my buttered bread

Or o'er my jam, with nimble toe.

(Alas! that little fly is dead.)

I saved him once, when none was by;

From out the milk jug's fatal flow

I fished him out, and let him dry.

His gratitude³ he tried to show

In many ways I know, I know;

But—when upon my bald, bald head

He gamboled, could I stand it? No!

Alas! that little fly is dead!

 

Envoy⁴.

 

Prince. Pity, not your blame, bestow⁵.

Remember all the tears I've shed.

What could I do? It tickled⁶ so.

Alas! That little fly is dead.

The End

1 alas   

int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等)

参考例句：

• Alas!The window is broken!哎呀！窗子破了！
• Alas,the truth is less romantic.然而，真理很少带有浪漫色彩。

2 hopscotch   

n.小孩独脚跳踢石子的游戏，“跳房子”游戏

参考例句：

• The children squared off the sidewalk to play hopscotch.孩子们在人行道上划出方格，做“跳房子”的游戏。
• At hopscotch,the best hoppers are the children.在跳房子的游戏中，孩子是最优秀的单足跳者。

3 gratitude   

adj.感激，感谢

参考例句：

• I have expressed the depth of my gratitude to him.我向他表示了深切的谢意。
• She could not help her tears of gratitude rolling down her face.她感激的泪珠禁不住沿着面颊流了下来。

4 envoy   

n.使节，使者，代表，公使

参考例句：

• Their envoy showed no sign of responding to our proposals.他们的代表对我方的提议毫无回应的迹象。
• The government has not yet appointed an envoy to the area.政府尚未向这一地区派过外交官。

5 bestow   

v.把…赠与，把…授予；花费

参考例句：

• He wished to bestow great honors upon the hero.他希望将那些伟大的荣誉授予这位英雄。
• What great inspiration wiII you bestow on me?你有什么伟大的灵感能馈赠给我？

6 tickled   

（使）发痒( tickle的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）愉快，逗乐

参考例句：

• We were tickled pink to see our friends on television. 在电视中看到我们的一些朋友，我们高兴极了。
• I tickled the baby's feet and made her laugh. 我胳肢孩子的脚，使她发笑。