在這則生動的小寓言中，“赤橙黃綠青藍紫”七種顏色各執己見，認為自己才是最棒、最美的……但最后，它們才發現：只有齊心協力，由七種顏色組成的彩虹才能煥發出最繽紛絢爛的美麗色彩！

By William Larmor

婷芬 選注

Once upon a time the colors of the world started to quarrel. All said that they were the best; the most important, the most useful, the most beautiful and the favorite.

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. Look over the countryside and you will see that I am in the majority[1].”

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 and drawn up by the clouds from the deep sea. The sky gives peace and serenity[2]. Without my peace, you would all be nothing.”

Yellow smiled: “You are all so serious. I bring laughter, joy, and warmth into the world. Every time you look at a sunflower, the whole world starts to smile. Without me there would be no fun.”

Orange started next to blow her trumpet[3]: “I am the color of health and strength. I may be scarce[4], but I am precious for I serve the needs of human life. I carry the most important vitamins[5]. Think of carrots, pumpkins, oranges, mangoes, and papayas.[6] I don’t hang around all the time, but when I fill the sky at sunrise or sunset my beauty is so striking that no one gives another thought to any of you.[7]”

Red could stand it no longer he shouted out: “I am the ruler of all of you. I am blood—life’s blood! I am the color of danger and of bravery. I am willing to fight for a cause[8]. I bring fire into the blood. Without me, the earth would be as empty as the moon. I am the color of passion and of love, the red rose, the poinsettia and the poppy.[9]”

Purple rose up to his full height. He was very tall and spoke with great pomp[10]: “I am the color of royalty[11] and power. Kings, chiefs, and bishops have always chosen me for I am the sign of authority and wisdom.[12] People do not question me! They listen and obey.”

Finally Indigo[13] spoke, much more quietly than all the others. But with just as much determination: “Think of me. I am the color of silence. You hardly notice me, but without me you all become superficial[14]. I represent thought and reflection, twilight and deep water.[15] You need me for balance and contrast, for prayer and inner[16] peace.”

And so all the colors went on boasting about themselves. Their quarreling became louder and louder. Suddenly there was a startling flash of bright lightening, thunder rolled and boomed.[17] Rain started to pour down relentlessly.[18] The colors crouched[19] down in fear, drawing close to one another for comfort.

In the midst of the clamor, the Rain began to speak:[20] “You foolish colors, fighting amongst yourselves, each trying to dominate[21] 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[22] and joined hands. The Rain continued: “From now on, when it rains, each of you will stretch[23] across the sky. In a great bow of colors, as a reminder, you can all live in peace.[24] The Rainbow is a sign of mutual[25] respect and hope for tomorrow.”

And so, whenever a good rain washes the world and a Rainbow appears in the sky, there is the beautiful sign to let us remember to appreciate one another.[26]

Vocabulary

1. majority: 大多數，大部分。

2. serenity: 寧靜，安詳。

3. blow one’s trumpet: 自吹自擂，自夸。

4. scarce: 稀少的。

5. vitamin: 維生素。

6. carrot: 胡蘿卜；pumpkin: 南瓜；mango: 芒果；papaya: 番木瓜。

7. hang around: 〈口〉閑蕩；striking: 惹人注目的，顯著突出的。

8. cause: （奮斗的）目標。

9. passion: 熱情，激情；poinsettia: （原產于中美洲的）一品紅；poppy: 罌粟花。

10. pomp: 炫耀的行為，浮華的舉止。

11. royalty: 王權，尊貴。

12. chief: 首長，領袖；bishop: 主教。

13. indigo: 靛藍色。

14. superficial: 淺薄的，膚淺的。

15. reflection: 反省，深思熟慮；twilight: （特指日出前、日落后的）曙光。

16. inner: 內心的。

17. startling: 驚人的，令人吃驚的；roll: （雷）隆隆作響，轟鳴；boom: 低沉的隆隆（轟轟）聲。

18. pour down: （雨）傾盆而下；relentlessly: 無情地，殘忍地。

19. crouch: 蹲，蜷，縮。

20. midst: 在……當中；clamor: 吵鬧聲，喧嚷。

21. dominate: 在……中占最大影響力（優勢）。

22. unite: 團結，聯合，協力。

23. stretch: 伸展，延伸。

24. bow: 彎曲，弓形；reminder: 提醒，提示。

25. mutual: 彼此的，相互的。

26. good: 相當大（或多的）；appreciate: 賞識，欣賞。

（來源：英語學習雜志 編輯：中國日報網英語點津 陳丹妮）