The Colors of Friendship （眾顏色的友誼）

                                   　小思選譯 

    Legend has it that the colors of the world started to quarrel one day. All claimed that they were the best, the most beautiful.

　　 Green said: “Clearly I am the most important. I am the sign of life and of hope. I was chosen for grass, trees and leaves. Without me, all animals would die.”

     Blue interrupted: “You only think about the earth, but have you ever considered the color of the sky and the sea?”

　　 Hearing this, Yellow chucked: “You are all so serious. I bring laughter, gaiety and warmth into the world. I am the color of the sun, the moon and all the stars. Without me there would be no fun.”

　   Orange started next to blow her trumpet: “I am the color of health and strength, I may be scarce, but I am precious, for I serve the needs of human life.”

　　 At this, Red could stand it no longer. He shouted: “I am the ruler of all of you. I am the color of blood---life’s blood! I am also the color of danger and bravery, of passion and love.”

　　 Purple rose up to his full height: “I am the color of royalty and power. I am the sign of authority and wisdom. People do not question me! They listen and obey.”

　　 Finally Indigo spoke: “Think of me! I am the color of silence. You hardly notice me, but without me you all become superficial. I represent thought and reflection.”

     And so the colors went on boasting. Their quarrelling became louder and louder. Suddenly there was a startling flash of bright lightning, followed by a roll of thunder. Rain started to pour down. The colors crouched down in fear, drawing close to one another for comfort.

   　Just then rain began to speak: “you foolish colors, fighting among yourselves, each trying to dominate the rest. Don’t you know that you were each made for a special purpose, unique and different? Join hands with one another and come to me.”

     Doing as they were told, the colors united and joined hands.

     Then rain continued: “From now on, when it rains, each of you will stretch across the sky to form a great bow of colors as a reminder that you can all live peace. The rainbow is a sign of hope for tomorrow.”

     And so, whenever a good rain washes the world, a rainbow appears in the sky, to let us remember to appreciate one another.

據(jù)說，某一天世界上幾種顏色爭吵起來。他們都聲稱說自己是最好的，最美麗的。

綠色說“顯而易見，我是最重要的，因為我是生命和希望的象征，我是草、樹、葉的顏色。如果沒有我，所有的動物都會死亡。”

藍色馬上插話：“你只想到地面，但你有沒有考慮到天空和海洋的顏色？”

　　聽到這里，黃色竊笑起來說：“你們都太嚴肅了。而我卻把笑聲、快樂和溫暖帶到這個地球上。我是太陽、月亮和所有星星的顏色。沒有我，就沒有樂趣?！?SPAN lang=EN-US>

接著橙色也開始弦耀起來：“我是健康和力量的顏色。我也許稀少，但我很珍貴，因為我服務(wù)于人類生活的需要?！?SPAN lang=EN-US>

聽到這，紅色忍耐不住了，他喊到：“我是你們幾個的統(tǒng)治者。我是血的顏色——生命的血！我還是危險、勇敢、激情和愛情的顏色。”

紫色站起來，挺直身說到：“我是皇族和權(quán)力的顏色。我是權(quán)威和智慧的標(biāo)志。人們不會質(zhì)疑我！他們對我言聽計從?！?SPAN lang=EN-US>

最后靛藍開口了：“想想我呀！我可是安靜的顏色。你們都沒怎么注意我，但如果沒有我，你們都會變得膚淺。我代表思想和深思?！?SPAN lang=EN-US>

就這樣，這群顏色不停地在各自吹噓著。他們的爭吵聲音越來越大。突然有一道驚人的光亮閃電劃過天空，接著是一聲轟隆雷響。此時，雨開始嘩嘩下落。這些顏色因害怕而畏縮在地上，并緊緊地挨在一起以求相互安慰。

這時，雨開始說話了：“你們這群愚蠢顏色，為了支配控制其他顏色就大打出手。難道你們不知道你們每個人都有一個特別的、獨一的、有別于他人的目的嗎？現(xiàn)在你們相互拉著手過來我這里?！?SPAN lang=EN-US>

于是，這幾個顏色按雨所說的話聚集起來手拉著手。這時，雨繼續(xù)說：“從現(xiàn)在起，下雨時，你們每個人都會伸展在天空上，形成一條巨大的弓形顏色組合，以此來表明你們都可以和平相處。彩虹是明天的希望的標(biāo)志?！?SPAN lang=EN-US>

從那以后，每當(dāng)一場宜人的大雨沖刷完大地，一條彩虹就會出現(xiàn)在上空中以讓我們記住要相互欣賞。