双语阅读 | Tomorrow and Today | 明天和今天

明天和今天

An ancient man with white beard was walking over the hills and valleys of the world. On his back he carried a bag that moved uneasily as if something was trying to escape from it, but he settled it between his shoulders and walked on.

一个白胡子的古人正在世界上的山丘河谷间走着。他背上扛着一个包裹，那个包裹不安稳地移动着，仿佛有什么东西要逃离它似的，但是他把它牢牢地扛在肩上，继续向前走。

He was Father Time, traveling forever, and the bag he packed was filled with Tomorrows, all trying to get out.

他是时间老人，永远旅行着；他的背包里装满了明天，全想钻出来。

Each night at twelve o'clock, he opened the bag and flew a Tomorrow, just one, with its wings of blue, and its shining feathers rose with hope. All the rest were kept back by time’s strong hands and pushed deep in the bag.

每天夜里，在十二点整，他打开包裹，放飞一个明天，只放一个。明天长着蓝色的羽翼，闪光的羽毛满怀希望地竖起来。时间老人把其他的明天用结实有力的手阻拦着，推进那深深的包裹里。

Down flew the Tomorrow, beating its lovely feathers, but as it touched the earth, off fell its blue wings and it changed to an ordinary white bird that couldn’t fly. It had become a Today. Everyone knows that Today isn’t as wonderful as Tomorrow, for Today can be held in one’s hands, accepted, unloved, but Tomorrow is full of mystery and beauty. It is desired by the entire world. Even those with little hope sigh, “Tomorrow may bring a change. Tomorrow’s life will be different.”

拍打着可爱的翅膀，明天扑通一声飞了下来，但是当它到达地面的时候，它的蓝翅膀一下子就脱落了，变成了一只不能飞的普通白鸟。它变成了一个今天。人人都知道，今天不及明天美妙，因为今天可以抓在手中，被人接受，不以为然，而明天则充满了神秘和美。它为全人类所渴求。甚至那些希望渺茫的人也叹息着：“明天也许会带来一种变化，明天的生活会有所不同。”

Everybody tried to catch the Tomorrow before it fell to the ground. They thought if they knew ahead what the Tomorrow carries, they could prepare for it. So they put great nets on the trees, seeking to catch one before it changed his feather. Yet although they tried every means, the birds escaped and flew to the ground as Todays.

人人都试图在明天坠落在地之前抓住它。他们以为如果提前知道明天携带了什么，他们就可以进行相关的准备。于是他们在树上张起了大网，试图在明天更换羽毛之前就把它捉住。然而，虽然他们费尽心思，明天之鸟还是纷纷逃走，落到了地上，成为今天。