无知的西蒙
无知的西蒙遇见一个卖派的商人
正要赶往集市；
无知的西蒙对卖派的商人说：
"让我尝尝你的东西。 "
商人对无知的西蒙说：
"先让我看看你的便士吧。"
无知的西蒙对商人说：
"其实我身无分文。"
他去抓小鸟，
并认为自己不会失败，
因为他有一把盐，
撒在它的尾巴上。
他去取小鸟的窝，
那个筑在一根大树枝上的鸟窝；
树枝断了西蒙掉下来
落在肮脏的泥沼里。
他去打野鸭，
但是野鸭飞走了；
西蒙说，我打不中它，
因为他不呆在那里。
无知的西蒙去钓鱼
想要钓一条鲸鱼
然而他所有的水
都在妈妈的水桶里
无知的西蒙去打猎，
想要打中一只野兔；
他骑着驴穿过街道，
那里找不到一只野兔。
他去吃蜂蜜，
从一只餐桌上的芥末罐子；
他咬着自己的舌头直到哭出来，
这就是他吃到的全部。
他去骑头花斑牛
可母牛还有头小牛；
母牛甩他在地上，
惹的人们笑哈哈。
一次西蒙做了个大雪球，
把它带回来烤一烤；
把它放在火前面，
雪球一会儿不见了。
他到冰上去滑冰
在冰还能支撑前；
接着他陷入水中直到膝盖，
可怜的西蒙睁大了眼。
他用黑色的鞋油来洗澡，
因为他没有肥皂；
然后他对妈妈说：
"我现在很漂亮，我希望。"
无知的西蒙去看看
李子是不是长在蓟上；
手被刺伤了好几次，
可怜的西蒙唿哨着。
他用筛网取水，
但是水很快就漏光了。
可怜而又无知的西蒙啊
永远地再见了
Simple Simon
Simple Simon met a pieman
Going to the fair;
Says Simple Simon to the pieman,
"Let me taste your ware."
Says the pieman to Simple Simon,
"Show me first your penny."
Says Simple Simon to the pieman,
"Indeed I have not any."
He went to take a bird's nest,
Was built upon a bough;
The branch gave way and Simon fell
Into a dirty slough.
He went to shoot a wild duck,
But wild duck flew away;
Say Simon, I can't hit him,
Because he will not stay.
Simple Simon went a-fishing,
For to catch a whale;
All the water he had got
Was in his mother's pail.
Simple Simon went a-hunting,
For to catch a hare;
He rode an ass about the streets,
But couldn't find one there.
He went for to eat honey,
Out of the mustard pot;
He bit his tongue until he cried,
That was all the good he got.
He went to ride a spotted cow
That had a little calf;
She threw him down upon the ground,
Which made the people laugh.
Once Simon made a great snowball,
And brought it in to roast;
He laid it down before the fire,
And soon the ball was lost.
He went to slide upon the ice
Before the ice would bear;
Then he plunged in above his knees,
Which made poor Simon stare.
He washed himself with blacking ball,
Because he had no soap;
Then said unto his mother,
"I'm a beauty now, I hope."
Simple Simon went to look
If plums grew on a thistle;
He pricked his fingers very much,
Which made poor Simon whistle.
He went for water in a sieve,
But soon it all ran through.
And now poor Simple Simon
Bids you all adieu.
"Bids you all adieu"可以理解为"永别"的意思。"bid"是在这里是"吩咐，告诉"的意思。"adieu"是从法语衍生而来的。"adieu"是"再见，辞别"的意思。从中古英语"adew"变化而来，这个词又是从古代法语"adieu"(à + dieu)来的，意义为"献身于神"，"dieu"是"神"的意思。综合起来看，就可以理解为"永别"的意思了。 |
