彩虹的起源(The Origin of the Rainbow)

妃子笑

Once upon a time the colors of the world started to quarrel. All claimed that they were the best.
　　
　　有一天，世界上的五顏六色彼此爭吵了起來，每一個顏色都聲稱自己是最好的。
　　
　　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. Look over the countryside and you will see that I am in the majority."
　　
　　綠色說：“很明顯嘛！我就是最重要的。我是生命和希望的象徵。青草、大樹和葉子都選擇我，只要往鄉野望去，我就是主色。”
　　
　　Blue interrupted: "You only think about the earth, but consider the sky and the sea. It is the water that is the basis of life. The sky gives space and peace and serenity. Without my peace, you would all be nothing."
　　
　　藍色打斷他的話說：“你只想到地面，想想天空和海洋吧！水是生命之源，而天空包容大地、寧靜和祥和。一旦失去我的寧靜祥和，你們就什麼也不是了。”
　　
　　Yellow chuckled: “The sun is yellow, the moon is yellow, and the stars are yellow. Every time you look at a sunflower, the whole world starts to smile. Without me there would be no fun."
　　
　　黃色暗自好笑：“太陽是黃色的，月亮是黃色的，星星也是黃色的。每當你看著向日葵，整個世界也跟著笑逐言開起來。沒有了我，也就沒有了樂趣。”
　　
　　Orange started next: "I carry the most important vitamins. Think of carrots, oranges and mangoes. When I fill the sky at sunrise or sunset, my beauty is so striking that no one gives another thought to any of you."
　　
　　橙色接著說：“我是最重要的維他命，想想胡蘿蔔、橘子和芒果。每當日出日落時，我就滿布在天空，我的美麗如此令人驚豔，根本不會有人想到你們。”
　　
　　Red could stand it no longer so he shouted out: "I am the ruler of all of you. I am blood一 life’s blood! I bring fire into the blood. I am the color of passion and love."
　　
　　紅色再也按捺不住，他大聲的說：“我是你們的主宰，我是血！生命之血！我將熱情注入血液，我是熱情和愛情的顏色。”
　　
　　Purple was very tall and spoke with great pomp: "I am the color of royalty and power. Kings, chiefs and bishops have always chosen me for I am the sign of authority and wisdom. People do not question me! They listen and obey."
　　
　　紫色自視甚高，而且盛氣淩人的說：“我是皇室和權威的顏色，國王、領袖和大主教都選擇我，因為我是權威和智慧的象徵。人們不敢對我有所存疑，只有乖乖聽命的份。”
　　
　　Finally Indigo spoke, much more quietly than all the others, but with just as much determination: "Think of me. I am the color of silence. I represent thought and reflection, twilight and deep water. You need me for balance and contrast, for prayer and inner peace."
　　
　　靛色終於說話了，比起其他顏色，他的聲音平和多了，但是，也是同樣的斬釘截鐵：“我是寧靜之聲，我代表思想、深思熟慮、曙光以及深水。你們需要我來平衡對比、祈禱並獲得內在的平靜。”
　　
　　And so the colors went on quarreling, each convinced of his or her own superiority. Suddenly there was a startling flash of bright lightening, and thunder rolled. Rain started to pour down.
　　
　　五言六色就這樣一直吵下去，每個顏色都認為自己最優秀。突然間閃電雷鳴大作，大雨傾盆而下。
　　
　　Rain began to speak: "You foolish colors. Don’t you know that you were each made for a special purpose? Join hands with one another and come to me."
　　
　　雨開口說話：“你們這些蠢顏色，你們不曉得自己各有所司嗎？大家手牽手一起過來。”
　　
　　Doing as they were told, the colors joined hands and united.
　　
　　那些顏色都乖乖的手牽手，站在一起。
　　
　　Rain continued: "From now on, when it rains, each of you will stretch across the sky in a great bow of color as a reminder that you can all live in peace. The rainbow is a sign of hope for tomorrow."
　　
　　雨接著說：“從今以後，只要一下雨，你們每個都得伸展成大弓形橫跨在天際，藉以提醒大家和平共處。因為彩虹是明日希望的象徵。”
　　     (來源﹕中青網)