The great tree had once been small，indeed，in its cradle it had been an acorn.According to human computation(computation n.计算，估计)，it was now in the fourth century of its existence.It was the largest and best tree in the forest.Its summit towered above all the other trees，and could be seen far out at sea，so that it served as a landmark(landmark n.(航海)陆标，地界标，里程碑，划时代的事)to the sailors.It had no idea how many eyes looked eagerly for it.In its topmost branches the woodpigeon built her nest，and the cuckoo carried out his usual vocal performances，and his wellknown notes echoed amid the boughs，and in autumn，when the leaves looked like beaten copper plates，the birds of passage would come and rest upon the branches before taking their flight across the sea.But now it was winter，the tree stood leafless，so that every one could see how crooked and bent were the branches that sprang forth from the trunk.Crows and rooks came by turns and sat on them，and talked of the hard times which were beginning，and how difficult it was in winter to obtain food.
这棵树曾经是幼小的事实上，那种子的壳就曾经是它的童年。按照人的办法计算，它现在生活在第四个世纪里。它是这个林子中最大最老的树，它的树冠高高地伸向四方而且盖过了其他的树，在海上老远的地方，便可以看见它，成了船只航行的标志。它根本没有想过，有多少只眼睛正在寻找它。杜鹃在上面咕咕鸣唱，斑鸠在它绿色树冠的高处筑巢。秋天，树叶看去就像一片片薄薄的黄铜盘的时候，候鸟飞到它这里来歇脚，然后又向大海飞去。年年月月，每一根弯弯曲曲、节节疤疤的枝子都伸了出去，乌鸦和寒鸦轮流着飞来歇在枝上，谈论着即将到来的严峻时光和在冬天寻找食物的万般困难。
It was just about holy Christmas time that the tree dreamed a dream.The tree had，doubtless，a kind of feeling that the festive time had arrived，and in his dream fancied he heard the bells ringing from all the churches round，and yet it seemed to him to be a beautiful summers day，mild and warm.His mighty summits was crowned with spreading fresh green foliage(foliage n.树叶，植物)，the sunbeams played among the leaves and branches，and the air was full of fragrance from herb and blossom，painted butterflies chased each other，the summer flies danced around him，as if the world had been created merely for them to dance and be merry in.
正是在圣洁的圣诞节的日子，这橡树做了一个最甜蜜的梦；橡树非常清楚地感觉到，这是一个喜庆的时刻，它好像听见四周教堂都在鸣钟，还有，就和在一个柔和而温暖的美好的夏天一样，它把鲜洁而碧绿自己的茂密的树冠伸展开来，阳光在枝叶之间嬉戏，空气中也充满了花草和矮丛的芬芳，五颜六色的蝴蝶在追逐嬉戏，蜉蝣在跳舞，橡树就好像一切都只是为了它们跳舞取乐而存在。
All that had happened to the tree during every year of his life seemed to pass before him，as in a festive(festive adj.庆祝的，喜庆的，欢乐的，节日似)procession.He saw the knights of olden times and noble ladies ride by through the wood on their gallant(gallant adj.英勇的，豪侠的，堂皇的，壮丽的，华丽的)steeds，with plume(splume n.羽毛)waving in their hats，and falcons on their wrists.The hunting horn sounded，and the dogs barked.He saw hostile warriors，in colored dresses and glittering armor，with spear and halberd，pitching their tents，and anon striking them.The watchfires again blazed，and men sang and slept under the hospitable shelter of the tree.He saw lovers meet in quiet happiness near him in the moonshine，and carve(carve v.雕刻，切开)the initials(initial n.词首大写字母adj.最初的，词首的，初始的)of their names in the grayishgreen bark on his trunk.
橡树多年来身边发生的一切，又一幕幕地在它面前经过，就像一整个载歌载舞的欢庆队伍。它看到了帽子上插着羽毛的古代的骑士和夫人，他们手腕上托着猎鹰，骑马驶过树林；围猎的号角也响了起来，猎狗跑来跑去；它看到敌对的士兵带着锃亮的武器，穿着五颜六色的衣服，搭起帐篷又收起帐篷；值勤人的火堆火光熊熊，人们在橡树伸张开来的树枝下面歌唱、入睡；它看见月光下恋人来这里幽会，享受恬静的幸福，把他们名字的第一个字母刻在灰绿色的树皮上。
Once，but long years had intervened since then，guitars and Eolian harps had been hung on his boughs by merry travellers，now they seemed to hang there again，and he could hear their marvellous tones.The woodpigeons cooed as if to explain the feelings of the tree，and the cuckoo called out to tell him how many summer days he had yet to live.
是啊，那是许多年前的事了，途经这里的旅客，那些欢快的青年小伙子们，曾把七弦琴和风鸣琴挂在橡树的枝上，现在他们再次挂上了这些琴，很美。斑鸠咕咕叫着，好像要倾吐出橡树所感觉到的似的；杜鹃也在啼叫，在说它能够活多少个春秋。
Then it seemed as if new life was thrilling through every fibre(fibre n.纤维，构造，纤维制品，［植］须根)of root and stem and leaf，rising even to the highest branches.The tree felt itself stretching and spreading out，while through the root beneath the earth ran the warm vigor(vigor n.精力，活力)of life.As he grew higher and still higher，with increased strength，his topmost boughs became broader and fuller，and in proportion to his growth，so was his selfsatisfaction increased，and with it arose a joyous longing to grow higher and higher，to reach even to the warm，bright sun itself.Already had his topmost branches pierced(pierce vt.刺穿，刺破，穿透，突破，深深感动)the clouds，which floated beneath them like troops of birds of passage，or large white swans，every leaf seemed gifted with sight，as if it possessed eyes to see.The stars became visible in broad daylight，large and sparkling，like clear and gentle eyes.They recalled to the memory the wellknown look in the eyes of a child，or in the eyes of lovers who had once met beneath the branches of the old oak.
这时，仿佛有一股生命的源泉从它下面最为细小的根部一直流到它最高处伸张着的枝子，一直流进了每片叶子里。橡树感觉到这泉流使它生长开来，它还用根感觉到地下面十分温暖，也充满了生命的活力，它感觉到它的精力在增长恢复，它越长越高，树干挺拔向上，它一刻不停息，它不断地长，而且一长再长，树冠更加茂密，伸展得开开的，昂扬得高高的——随着树的增长，它的希望，也要达到更高，一直伸到那明亮的温暖的太阳，那里的渴望也同时增长着。它已经长得很高甚至穿过了云块，在那儿，那大群候鸟的黑阵和天鹅的白阵都落在它的下面。橡树的每片就好像叶子有眼睛一样，都可以看，星儿白天也可以看见了，又大又光亮。每颗星星都像眼睛那样又温柔又明亮，它们令老橡树忆起那些熟悉可爱的眼睛，孩子们的眼睛，在树下相会的恋人的眼睛。
