参考译文:
; i7 W$ k& |: x( K# ^7 c' b) { The wide open cage1 h0 o2 B; ^- _( b
The two birds were originally wild. I bought them on the market and invited them into the cage. Their rage was obvious---they had no appetite and did not chirp at all , just flapping their wings and trying to rush out of the cage.( I( \. i" Z, v1 f7 l3 j5 ~
A year latter, having accustomed to the artificial environment, they sang happliy in the cage. Their singing could be heard at 6 o'clock every morning,which woke me and my family up.+ T4 I4 h9 q; x' M, W3 E& t
One day, my colleague told me that this kind of birds could be kept outside of the cage and they would not leave far away. He said they would come back into the cage by themselves in the evening. I opened the cage when I was back home ,but the birds didn't fly out immediately. They flew back and forth near the door of the cage and jumped as if to make sure whether it was true ,or to find out if it was a bigger danger.8 \0 e. l/ j2 c3 S. h9 u8 R
Only when they confirmed finally that they were really free, did they jump out with care. However,they didn't fly far away. I found that the birds seems to have almost lost their ability to fly. They flew only within the height of one chi. What they were better at was jumping. Their wings only helped them jump a litte farther. They would return to the cage soon after they left it. Standing on the top of the cage ,they pecked their feathers with their wings unfolded. For them ,the distance between freedom and constraint was actually only a few sentimeters6 G4 D( _) O* P' O8 d
They came back into the cage voluntarily even before the evening. They ate and drank in the cage, pecked feather for each other and froliced happily,without a look at the wild open door. Compared with the food ,drink and cosy environment, the wide open door is meaningless to them. |