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George Louis Leclerc Buffon 乔治·路易·勒克莱尔·布封

Of all animated beings this is the most elegant in form and the most brilliant in colors. The stones and metals polished by our arts are not comparable to(1) this jewel of Nature(2). She(3) has placed it least in size of(4) the order of birds(5), "maxime miranda in minimis."(6) Her masterpiece is this little humming-bird, and upon it she has heaped all the gifts(7) which the other birds may only share. Lightness, rapidity, nimbleness, grace, and rich apparel(8) all belong to this little favorite. The emerald(9), the ruby(10), and the topaz(11) gleam upon its dress(12). It never soils them with the dust of earth, and in its aerial life scarcely touches the turf an instant. Always in the air, flying from flower to flower, it has their freshness as well as their brightness. It lives upon their nectar, and dwells only in the climates where they perennially bloom.

中文译文：

在一切生物中，要算蜂鸟体形最优美、颜色最鲜艳。经过工艺加工的各种宝石和金属是无法跟这个大自然的珍宝媲美的。大自然按照鸟类的大小把它列为最小号，真是"最小的绝妙珍品"。这种小蜂鸟是大自然的杰作。大自然把其他鸟类只能分有其中的一部分的种种天赋全部慷慨地给了它。这个不宠儿具有轻盈、敏捷、灵活、优雅以及羽毛绚丽等一切妙处。那翠绿的、艳红的、嫩黄色的羽毛闪闪发光。蜂鸟从不让它的羽毛沾染尘土，它生活在天空中，一刻也不碰到草皮。它总是空中飞翔，从花丛飞向花丛;它象花一样的新鲜，又象花一样的艳丽。鸟*花蜜为生，它只生活在四季鲜花盛开的地带。

英文注释：

(1) are not compareble t 比不上……的。

(2) this jewel of Nature: 这个大自然的珍宝。这里作者把美丽无比的蜂鸟比作大自然中的一颗天然珍宝。

(3) she: 指 Nature.

(4) in size of: 按……大小。

(5) the order of birds: 鸟类。

(6) maxime niranda in minimis: 拉丁语。 maxime 解作"最大"， miranda 解作"值得称羡的东西"，minimis 解作"最小"。

(7) upon it she has heaped all the gifts...: 大自然赋予蜂鸟……的一切资质。

(8) rich apparel: 原义为色彩鲜艳的衣服，这里借喻蜂鸟绚丽的羽毛。

(9) emerald: 原义绿宝石，这里指翠绿色。

(10) ruby: 原义红宝石，这里指艳红色。

(11) topaz: 原义黄玉，这里指嫩黄色。

(12) dress: 这里借喻蜂鸟的羽毛。