Chapter 2

When thou commandest me to sing it seems that my heart would break with pride; and I look to thy face, and tears come to my eyes.
 
All that is harsh and dissonant¹ in my life melts into one sweet harmony---and my adoration² spreads wings like a glad bird on its flight across the sea.
 
I know thou takest pleasure in my singing. I know that only as a singer I come before thy presence.
 
I touch by the edge of the far-spreading wing of my song thy feet which I could never aspire³ to reach.
 
Drunk with the joy of singing I forget myself and call thee friend who art my lord.
 
当你命令我歌唱的时候，我的心似乎要因着骄傲而炸裂，我仰望着你的脸，眼泪涌上我的眼眶里．
 
我生命中的一切凝涩与矛盾融化成一片甜柔的谐音――我的赞颂像一只欢乐的鸟，振翼飞越海洋．
 
我知道你欢喜我的歌唱．我知道只因为我是个歌者，才能走到你的面前．
 
我用我的歌曲的远伸的翅梢，触到了你的双脚，那是我从来不敢想望触到的．
 
在歌唱中的陶醉，我忘了自己，你本是我的主人，我却称你为朋友．

1 dissonant   

adj.不和谐的；不悦耳的

参考例句：

• His voice is drowned by the dissonant scream of a siren outside.她的声音被外面杂乱刺耳的警报声吞没了。
• They chose to include all of these dissonant voices together.他们把那些不和谐的声音也放在了里面

2 adoration   

n.爱慕，崇拜

参考例句：

• He gazed at her with pure adoration.他一往情深地注视着她。
• The old lady fell down in adoration before Buddhist images.那老太太在佛像面前顶礼膜拜。

3 aspire   

vi.(to，after)渴望，追求，有志于

参考例句：

• Living together with you is what I aspire toward in my life.和你一起生活是我一生最大的愿望。
• I aspire to be an innovator not a follower.我迫切希望能变成个开创者而不是跟随者。