THE Humming-Bird
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 to① this jewel of Nature②. She③ has placed it least in size of④ the order of birds⑤, "maxime miranda in minimis."⑥ Her
masterpiece. is this little humming-bird, and upon it she has heaped all the gifts⑦ which the other birds may only share. Lightness, rapidity, nimbleness, grace, and rich apparel⑧ all belong to this little favorite. The emerald⑨, the ruby⑩, 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 turfan 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.
From Natural History
by George Louis Leclerc Buffon
[注释] ①are not comparable to：比不上¼¼的。
②this jewel of Nature：这个大自然的珍宝。这里作者把美丽无比的蜂乌比作
大自然中的一颇天然珍宝。
③she：指 Nature。
④in size of：按¼¼大小。
⑤the order of birds: 鸟类。
⑥maxime miranda 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"。
⑦upon it she has heaped all the gifts...：大自然赋予蜂鸟¼¼的一切资
质。
⑧rich apparel：原义为色彩鲜艳的衣服，这里借喻蜂鸟绚丽的羽毛。
⑨emerald：原义绿宝石，这里指翠绿色。
⑩ruby：原义红宝石，这里指艳红色。
11) topaz：原义黄玉，这里指徽黄色。
12) dress：这里借喻蜂鸟的羽毛。
