为你读英语美文 · 第494期 

The Giving Tree 《爱心树》

作者：Shel Silverstein

朗读者：DD（旁白，苹果树），Henry（小男孩） 

Once there was a tree . . .

从前有一棵大树，

and she loved a little boy.

它喜欢上一个小男孩儿。

And every day the boy would come

男孩儿每天会跑到树下，

and he would gather her leaves

收集树叶

and make them into crowns and play king of the forest.

把树叶做成王冠，想像自己就是森林之王。

He would climb up her trunk

他也常常爬上树干，

and swing from her branches

在树枝上荡秋千，

and eat apples.

吃大树结的苹果。

And they would play hide-and-go-seek.

同大树捉迷藏。

And when he was tired, he would sleep in her shade.

累了的时候，就在树阴里睡觉。

And the boy loved the tree . . .

小男孩儿爱这棵树……

very much.

非常非常爱它。

And the tree was happy.

大树非常快乐。

But time went by.

但是时光流逝。

And the boy grew older.

孩子逐渐长大。

And the tree was often alone.

大树常常感到孤寂。

Then one day the boy came to the tree

有一天男孩来看大树，

and the tree said, "Come, Boy, come and climb

大树说：“来吧，孩子，

up my trunk and swing from my branches

爬到我身上来，在树枝上荡秋千，

and eat apples and play in my shade

吃几个苹果，再到阴凉里玩一会儿。

and be happy."

你会很开心的！”

"I am too big to climb and play," said the boy.

“我已经大了，不爱爬树玩儿了，” 孩子说，

"I want to buy things and have fun.

“我想买些好玩儿的东西。

I want some money.

我需要些钱，

Can you give me some money?"

你能给我一点儿钱吗？”

"I’m sorry," said the tree, "but I have no money.

“很抱歉，”大树说，“我没有钱，

I have only leaves and apples.

我只有树叶和苹果。

Take my apples, Boy, and sell them

把我的苹果拿去吧，孩子，把它们拿到城里卖掉，

in the city. Then you will have money

你就会有钱，

and you will be happy."

就会开心了。”

And so the boy climbed up the

于是孩子爬上大树，

tree and gathered her apples

摘下树上的苹果，

and carried them away.

把它们拿走了。

And the tree was happy.

大树很快乐。

But the boy stayed away

但是孩子没有再来看望大树

for a long time . . .

过了很久很久……

and the tree was sad.

大树很难过。

And then one day

后来有一天，

the boy came back

男孩又来了，

and the tree shook with joy

大树高兴地摇晃着肢体，

and she said, "Come, Boy,

对男孩说：“来吧，孩子，

climb up my trunk

爬到我的树干上，

and swing from my branches

在树枝上荡秋千，

and be happy."

你会很开心的！”

"I am too busy to climb trees," said the boy.

“我有很多事要做，没有时间爬树了。”男孩说，

"I want a house to keep me warm," he said.

“我需要一幢房子保暖。”他接着说，

"I want a wife and I want children,

“我要娶个妻子，还要生好多孩子，

and so I need a house.

所以我需要一幢房子。

Can you give me a house?"

你能给我一幢房子吗？”

"I have no house," said the tree.

“我没有房子，”大树说，

"The forest is my house,

“森林就是我的房子。

but you may cut off my branches

但是你可以把我的树枝砍下来，

and build a house.

拿去盖房。

Then you will be happy."

你就会开心了。”

And so the boy cut off

于是男孩砍掉了

her branches

大树的树枝

and carried them away

把它们拿走

to build his house.

去建了自己的房子。

And the tree was happy.

大树很开心。

But the boy stayed away

但是孩子没有再来看望大树，

for a long time.

过了很久很久……

And when he came back,

有一天他回来了

the tree was so happy

大树非常高兴

she could hardly speak.

高兴的几乎说不出话来。

"Come, Boy," she whispered,

“来吧，孩子，”她轻声说道，

"come and play."

“过来玩耍。”

"I am too old and sad to play," said the boy.

“我又老又悲伤，已经不想玩了。”男孩说。

"I want a boat that will

“我想要一条小船

take me far away

带我去远方

from here.

离开这个地方。

Can you give me a boat?"

你能给我一条小船吗？”

"Cut down my trunk

“把我的树干砍掉

 ...

▎主播介绍

DD: 两个孩子的母亲

Henry: 8岁

后期制作：DD

文章，音乐，图片非商业用途，版权归作者或版权方所有

我们生活在世界各地，从事不同职业，和你分享我们喜欢的美文。

我们的公众号是： “为你读英语美文”。