VOA Learning English Presents 'A Visit from St. Nicholas'

Some believe it was written by Henry Livingston, a map maker in New York who wrote and published funny poems in his spare time.

有人认为这首诗是亨利·利文斯顿写的，他是纽约的一位地图绘制师，业余时间写作并发表幽默诗歌。

We give you the staff of Learning English reading Clement Clarke Moore's poem, popularly known as “’Twas the Night Before Christmas.”

下面由Learning English的工作人员为您朗读克莱门特·克拉克·摩尔的诗，这首诗通常被称为《圣诞前夜》（’Twas the Night Before Christmas）。

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

圣诞节前夜，整座房子里，没有一个生灵在走动，连一只老鼠也没有。

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that Saint Nicholas soon would be there.

长袜被小心地挂在烟囱旁，盼着圣尼古拉斯很快就会到来。

The children were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of sugar plums danced in their heads.

孩子们舒舒服服地蜷在床上，脑海里糖梅的幻影翩翩起舞。

And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap, Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap.

妈妈裹着头巾，我戴着睡帽，刚刚安顿下来，准备睡一个漫长的冬夜。

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

这时草坪上传来一阵喧闹声，我从床上跳起来，想看看发生了什么事。

Away to the window I flew like a flash, Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

我像闪电一样冲到窗前，推开百叶窗，掀起窗框。

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow Gave lustre of mid-day to objects below.

月光洒在新落的雪上，让下面的一切亮如白昼。

When, what to my wondering eyes did appear, But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer.

这时，在我惊奇的目光中，出现了一架小小的雪橇和八头小小的驯鹿。

With a little old driver, so lively and quick, I knew in a moment it must be Saint Nick.

驾车的是一位矮小的老人，活泼又敏捷，我一下子就知道那一定是圣尼克。

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came, And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

他的驯鹿比雄鹰还快，他吹着口哨，大声吆喝，叫着它们的名字！

Now, Prancer and Vixen!

快，跳跳和狐狸！

On Donder and Blitzen!

前进，雷霆和闪电！

To the top of the porch!

跳上门廊顶！

To the top of the wall!

跳上墙头！

Now dash away!

现在快跑！

Dash away all!"

大家一起快跑！

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.

就像狂风中飞舞的枯叶，遇到阻碍便冲上天空。

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

接着，一眨眼的工夫，我听到屋顶上每只小蹄子欢跳和刨地的声音。

As I drew in my head, and was turning around, Down the chimney Saint Nicholas came with a bound.

我缩回脑袋，正转过身来，圣尼古拉斯就一下子从烟囱里跳了下来。

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot, And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.

他从头到脚穿着毛皮衣服，衣服上沾满了灰烬和煤烟。

A bundle of toys he had flung on his back, And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

他背上甩着一包玩具，看起来就像一个刚打开货包的小贩。

His eyes -- how they twinkled!

他的眼睛——多么闪亮！

His dimples how merry!

他的酒窝多么快活！

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

他的脸颊像玫瑰，鼻子像樱桃！

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow, And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

他那滑稽的小嘴弯得像一张弓，下巴上的胡子白得像雪。

He had a broad face and a little round belly, That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

他的脸宽宽的，小肚子圆滚滚的，一笑起来就像一碗果冻似的颤动！

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!

他胖乎乎、圆滚滚的，真是一个快活的老精灵，我一看到他就忍不住笑了！

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head, Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

他眨眨眼，歪歪头，很快就让我明白没有什么好害怕的。

He spoke not a word, and went straight to his work, Filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.

他一言不发，径直干起活来，把所有的长袜都装满，然后猛地转过身。

And laying his finger aside of his nose, And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!

他把手指放在鼻子一侧，点一点头，就顺着烟囱上去了！

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

他跳上雪橇，向驯鹿们吹了声口哨，他们便像蓟花的绒毛一样飞走了。

But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight, "Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"

但在他消失之前，我听见他高声喊道：“祝大家圣诞快乐，祝大家晚安！”