我是清美

在世界上所有海洋匯聚的地方，重重迷霧之下藏著一座翡翠般的小島。島上有上萬棵盛放的櫻花樹，花朵在陽光的照耀下格外動人。這裏就是神光島。

在島嶼的正中間是一片翠綠的草地，這裏是整座島上最美麗的地方，片片花瓣在微風中飄舞，好像粉白相間的落雪。

In the magical mists where all the oceans of the world came together was a mystical island of shaded jade. The streaming beams of sunlight would glisten on the blossoms of a hundred thousand cheery trees whose beauty bloomed for all to see. This was the island of Mitsu-Kami.

Near the very center of the island stood a meadow that encompassed all the beauty around it. The cherry blossoms danced in the soft, gentle breezes across the meadow, creating a blizzard of snowy petals.

神光島的會跳舞的鹿群就生活在這片草地上距離朝陽最近的地方。這些小鹿雖然不像外麵的雄鹿一樣高大，卻可以跳得很高很高，看起來就像是在太陽的光輝裏舞蹈一樣。

在這群小鹿裏，最美麗的一隻名叫清美。她的大眼睛圓得像杏核，黑得像寧靜的深潭；她柔軟的皮毛上帶著銀色的斑點，反射著草地上的各種光芒；她腿上的皮毛就像漆黑的天鵝絨。不論這隻小鹿走到哪裏，她腳下的草地都會輕聲細語地念起她的名字：“清美，清美，清美……”

On the side of the meadow nearest the rising sun lived the dancing deer of Mitsu-Kami. As deer go they weren’t very tall, but they could leap so high that their movements seemed as graceful as a sunlight ballet.

The most beautiful of the dancing deer was Kiyomi. Her eyes were like large almonds resting in deep still pools. Her fawn-like fur had a silvery tint that reflected the other glories of the meadow. Her feet were cast in black velvet, and wherever she walked the meadow grasses seemed to whisper her name...Kiyomi.

擅長舞蹈的小鹿們從來不比美，因為清美肯定是最美的一個。其他小鹿明白這一點，清美自己也明白這一點。她真的就是這樣美麗，事情就是這樣簡單。每當清美在草地上漫步，小鹿們都會竊竊私語，稱讚她的美貌。

“哎呀，晨霧裏的陽光反射在清美的皮毛上，多好看哪！”他們總是這樣說，“黎明清爽的光芒全在清美的眼睛裏了，多漂亮啊！”

There was no question who was most beautiful amongst the dancing deer; they all knew that Kiyomi was. She knew it and the other deer knew it. Her beauty was as simple as that. Each day she would wander on her side of the meadow, and as she walked past the other deer would comment on how beautiful she was.

“My,” they would say, “doesn’t Kiyomi’s coat reflect the morning mist,” or “Don’t her eyes shine in the bright chill dawn?”

清美偶爾會走到森林邊緣的水塘旁，看自己在水中的倒影。這總是會讓她浮想聯翩。清美會在水邊轉轉身子，看不斷變換角度的影子罩在自己身上，像一塊柔軟的毛毯。她不得不承認，其他小鹿的話一點兒沒錯，她確實是草地上最美麗的動物。

Occasionally Kiyomi would find herself at the pool at the edge of the wood, where she would gaze in rapt wonder at her own reflection. She would turn this way then that, watching the shadows slip across her fur like a soft, gentle blanket. She had to admit that the other dancing deer were right; she was the most beautiful creature in the meadow.

在草地的另一邊，在距離小鹿們很遠很遠的地方，神光島上的火蜥蜴們生活在岩洞裏。這種動物長著細長的身子，上麵鋪滿了暗紅的鱗片，那顏色像幽暗的火焰，又像徐徐落下的夕陽。

在這些火蜥蜴中，最美麗的一隻名叫阿墨。他亮閃閃的鱗片像一片片純金，夜空中星星和月亮的光芒在上麵跳躍。他明亮的眼睛反射著碧藍色的亮光，就算是湛藍的天空也不能和他眼睛的顏色相比。每當他長長的身子優美地從岩石中滑過，亂石中的風兒都會輕聲細語地念起他的名字：“阿墨，阿墨，阿墨……”

On the other side of the meadow, winds away from the dancing deer, were the caves of the fire lizards of Mitsu-Kami. They were long,graceful creatures whose scales were colored the dusky fire shades of the setting sun.

The most beautiful of the fire lizards was Sumi. His scales, like flakes of mica and gold, danced with the night light. His eyes flashed a bright, intense blue that brought even the color of the sky to shame.As he would gracefully slither from rock to rock, the winds would call his name...Sumi.

火蜥蜴們敬畏地承認，阿墨是他們中最俊美的一個。其他火蜥蜴明白這一點，阿墨自己也明白這一點。他真的就是這樣俊美，事情就是這樣簡單。每當阿墨在岩石間穿行，火蜥蜴們都會停下正在做的事情，稱讚阿墨的帥氣。

“哎呀，你們看見阿墨鱗片上的反光了嗎，就像火焰一樣呢！”他們會用沙啞的嗓音低聲說道，“看他的眼睛多亮啊，甚至比太陽還要亮！”

阿墨並不在意這些稱讚，因為他確實非常漂亮，而他也知道自己多麽漂亮。事情就是這樣簡單。

The other fire lizards were in awe of Sumi. Sumi knew he was beautiful and the others knew he was beautiful; it was as simple as that. As he would glide by, the other fire lizards would stop whatever they were doing to bask in his splendor.

“My,” they would say in hoarse whispers, “Did you see how the light seems to dance like the flicker of a flame on Sumi’s scales?” or “his eyes are so bright that the sun almost refuses to shine.”

Sumi’s head wasn’t turned by all the compliments. He was magnificent and he knew it. It was just fact.

有時間的話，阿墨偶爾會漫步到岩洞邊寧靜的水塘旁，在那裏看看自己在水中的倒影，幾乎不敢相信自己居然真的這麽帥氣。

阿墨會來回轉轉身子，看著光線一片片地跳過他鑽石形的鱗。其他火蜥蜴說得沒錯，他果然是草地上最美麗的動物……至少阿墨自己是這樣想的。

On occasion, if time allowed, Sumi would wander to the edge of the still waters near the caves. There he would gaze in awe of his own beauty.

He would turn this way and that watching the light skip and dance across his diamond-shaped scales. The other fire lizards were right: He was the most majestic creature in the meadow...or so he thought.

一天，在命運巧妙的安排下，神光島的兩個美麗的寵兒在草地上相遇了。出於習慣，他們兩個都停了下來，等著對方先開口說一些讚美的話。清美和阿墨等了又等，但是誰都沒有說什麽。

“哎呀，可能這個家夥沒看到我最好的一麵吧！”他們兩個都這樣想著。於是，清美和阿墨各自轉了轉角度，但還是誰都沒有先說話。

One day the two most beautiful creatures of Mitsu-Kami met quite by accident at the center of the meadow. As was the custom for both of them, each paused, waiting for the anticipated compliments. The two of them waited and waited, Kiyomi on one side of the trail and Sumi on the other, but nothing was said.

“Hmmm!” they both thought, “Maybe the other is not seeing me in my best light!” So, carefully, they changed places on the trail and waited and waited, but neither one spoke.

“不好意思，”清美說，“你就不想誇誇我多麽漂亮，或者多看看我嗎？”

“這個嘛，”阿墨被她逗笑了，“我也是這樣想的呀。難道你不想多看看我嗎？”

清美吃驚極了：“我為什麽要看你呀，你不過是一隻老蜥蜴而已！”

阿墨的眼睛也瞪圓了：“我不過是一隻蜥蜴？那誰又願意看你這麽一個招蛾子的毛球呢？”

於是，他們兩個麵對麵站著，氣呼呼地盯著對方，一邊盯著一邊等。

“Excuse me,” said Kiyomi. “Did you want to comment on my beauty,or did you wish to look some more?”

“Well,” chuckled a bemused Sumi, “I was thinking the same thing.Did you want to look at me some more?”

Kiyomi was shocked. “Why would I want to look at you? You’re nothing but an old lizard!”

Sumi’s eyes widened in surprise. “Nothing but a lizard! Who would want to look at a moth-eaten ball of fluff like you?”

So they both stood, glaring at each other, their features twisted in anger. They stood and they watched and they waited.

當兩個小動物互相瞪著的時候，時間早就一分一秒地過去了。“好吧，我明白啦。”最終，清美先打破了沉默，“看來，咱們兩個裏麵有一個家夥從來沒見過自己的倒影！”

“沒錯！”阿墨哼了一聲，“咱們兩個裏麵有一個家夥從來沒看過自己的倒影。所以，我們為什麽不一起到草地正中間的鏡池邊去呢？這樣我們就能看見自己在日落時分的樣子了！”

清美覺得這個主意不錯，因為這樣就解決了蜥蜴眼神不好的問題。不過，她堅持要在清晨的陽光中比試。他們兩個小小地吵了一陣，最終同意在太陽升起的時候再比一次。這樣一來，兩個小動物就都有最適合自己的光線，都能展示自己最美的一麵了。

Time ticked away as the two creatures stood angrily facing each other across the trail. “Well, it’s obvious,” said Kiyomi, finally breaking the silence, “that one of us can’t see his own reflection!”

“Yes!” sneered Sumi. “It is very obvious that one of us can’t see her own reflection! Why don’t we go together to the mirrored pond at the center of the meadow. There we shall see what we shall see as the sun sets into twilight!”

Kiyomi thought this was a simple solution to Sumi’s lack of insight,but she insisted that she be seen in the early light of the rising sun.They argued a bit and then both agreed that they would spend the day together so they could see each other in the best light.

兩個小動物滿意地沿著小路向鏡池走去，清美一路上輕快地蹦蹦跳跳，阿墨慢條斯理地跟在她身旁。

他們在鏡池邊等了一陣。當日暮時分微弱的光線劃過湖麵，灑在阿墨的身上時，他的鱗片璀璨得像無數被燭光照亮的鑽石。但暮光同樣溫柔地籠罩著清美柔軟的皮毛。

Satisfied that the question of beauty would soon be resolved, they headed for the mirrored pond, Kiyomi leaping down the trail with Sumi striding majestically beside her.

They waited at the edge of the pond, each on one side. As the waning light of dusk glittered and skipped across the water, it reflected on Sumi’s scales like a thousand diamonds in candlelight. But the light also gently caressed Kiyomi’s soft, velvety fur.

第二次比試要等上一整夜，兩個小動物都快凍僵了，朝陽才從東邊緩緩升起，向池麵拋下一條條緞帶似的金光。清美被籠罩在燦爛的陽光中，顯得明麗無比。但阿墨碧藍的眼睛裏一樣反射著陽光。

They stood, nearly frozen in place throughout the night, waiting for the final test. Then, its rays like bright golden ribbons, the sun rose from the east. The light danced across the water, reflecting off Kiyomi in all her beauty and splendor. But the light also glittered in the bright blue eyes of Sumi.

最後，清美和阿墨都心滿意足地回到了自己生活的地方，一句話也沒有跟對方說。阿墨不想讓那隻傻乎乎的小鹿感覺不好意思，因為既然她已經看到了他的倒影，讓她親口承認自己沒有他漂亮一定很不好受吧。

在回家的路上，清美一想起那隻可憐的小蜥蜴就忍不住笑起來。既然他已經看見了她的倒影，讓他親口承認自己沒有她漂亮一定很不舒服吧。

而清美和阿墨都沒有看見，整片草地上最美麗的一隻小老鼠，這時候正在池邊欣賞自己漂亮的倒影呢。

Finally, both were satisfied. They turned away from each other to go back to their own parts of the meadow. They didn’t speak to one another as they parted. Sumi didn’t want to embarrass the silly dancing deer. After all, it would be hard for her to admit that he was more beautiful than she—but she had seen his reflection.

Kiyomi had to chuckle as she walked away from the poor little lizard. It would be so hard for him to admit that she was more beautiful than he,but he had seen her reflection.

Because they were so absorbed with themselves, what neither of them saw was the tiniest, most beautiful mouse in all the meadow quietly gazing at her perfect reflection from the grass at the edge of the pond.

鏡中倒影惹人愛，常把一事記心懷。美貌千姿又百態，隻從觀者眼中來。

AS YOU GAZE AT YOUR REFLECTION IN THE MIRROR ABOVE

YOUR SHOULDER

REMEMBER—BEAUTY ONLY SHINES IN THE EYES OF THE BEHOLDER.