THE UNHEEDED PAGEANT

 AH, who was it coloured that little frock, my child, and covered your sweet limbs with that little red tunic¹?

 

You have come out in the morning to play in the courtyard, tottering² and tumbling as you run.

 

But who was it coloured that little frock, my child?

 

What is it makes you laugh, my little life-bud?

 

Mother smiles at you standing³ on the threshold.

 

She claps her hands and her bracelets⁴ jingle⁵, and you dance with your bamboo stick in your hand like a tiny little shepherd.

 

But what is it makes you laugh, my little life-bud?

 

O beggar, what do you beg for, clinging to your mother's neck with both your hands?

 

O greedy heart, shall I pluck the world like a fruit from the sky to place it on your little rosy⁶ palm?

 

O beggar, what are you begging for?

 

The wind carries away in glee the tinkling⁷ of your anklet bells.

 

The sun smiles and watches your toilet. The sky watches over you when you sleep in your mother's arms, and the morning comes tiptoe to your bed and kisses your eyes.

 

The wind carries away in glee the tinkling of your anklet bells.

 

The fairy mistress of dreams is coming towards you, flying through the twilight⁸ sky.

 

The world-mother keeps her seat by you in your mother's heart.

 

He who plays his music to the stars is standing at your window with his flute⁹.

 

And the fairy mistress of dreams is coming towards you, flying through the twilight sky.

1 tunic   

n.束腰外衣

参考例句：

• The light loose mantle was thrown over his tunic.一件轻质宽大的斗蓬披在上衣外面。
• Your tunic and hose match ill with that jewel,young man.你的外套和裤子跟你那首饰可不相称呢，年轻人。

2 tottering   

adj.蹒跚的，动摇的v.走得或动得不稳( totter的现在分词 )；踉跄；蹒跚；摇摇欲坠

参考例句：

• the tottering walls of the castle 古城堡摇摇欲坠的墙壁
• With power and to spare we must pursue the tottering foe. 宜将剩勇追穷寇。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

3 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

4 bracelets   

n.手镯，臂镯( bracelet的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The lamplight struck a gleam from her bracelets. 她的手镯在灯光的照射下闪闪发亮。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• On display are earrings, necklaces and bracelets made from jade, amber and amethyst. 展出的有用玉石、琥珀和紫水晶做的耳环、项链和手镯。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 jingle   

n.叮当声，韵律简单的诗句；v.使叮当作响，叮当响，押韵

参考例句：

• The key fell on the ground with a jingle.钥匙叮当落地。
• The knives and forks set up their regular jingle.刀叉发出常有的叮当声。

6 rosy   

adj.美好的，乐观的，玫瑰色的

参考例句：

• She got a new job and her life looks rosy.她找到一份新工作，生活看上去很美好。
• She always takes a rosy view of life.她总是对生活持乐观态度。

7 tinkling   

n.丁当作响声

参考例句：

• I could hear bells tinkling in the distance. 我能听到远处叮当铃响。
• To talk to him was like listening to the tinkling of a worn-out musical-box. 跟他说话，犹如听一架老掉牙的八音盒子丁冬响。 来自英汉文学

8 twilight   

n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期

参考例句：

• Twilight merged into darkness.夕阳的光辉融于黑暗中。
• Twilight was sweet with the smell of lilac and freshly turned earth.薄暮充满紫丁香和新翻耕的泥土的香味。

9 flute   

n.长笛；v.吹笛

参考例句：

• He took out his flute, and blew at it.他拿出笛子吹了起来。
• There is an extensive repertoire of music written for the flute.有很多供长笛演奏的曲目。