荆棘鸟

There is a legend about a bird

which sings just once in its life,

more sweetly than any other

creature on the face of the earth.

From the moment it leaves the nest

it searches for a thorn tree, and

does not rest until it has found

one. Then, singing among the savage

branches, it impales itself upon

the longest,sharpest spine. And,

dying it rises above its own agony

to out carol the lark and the

nightingale. One superlative song,

existence the price. But the whole

world stills to listen, and god in

his heaven smiles.For the best is

only bought at the cost ofgreat

pain....Or so says the legend.

——the Legend about the Thorn Birds

　　有一个传说，说的是有那么一只鸟儿，它一生只唱一次，那歌声比世上所有一切生灵的歌声都更加优美动听。”杜鹃花与鸟，怨艳两何赊，疑是口中血，滴成枝上花“。从离开巢窝的那一刻起，她就在寻找着荆棘树，直到如愿以偿，才歇息下来。然后，它把自己的身体扎进最长，最尖的荆棘上，便在那荒蛮的枝条之间放开了歌喉。在奄奄一息的时刻，它超脱了自身的痛苦，而那歌声竟然使云雀和夜莺都黯然失色。这是一曲无比美好的歌，曲终而命竭。然而，整个世界都在静静地谛听着，上帝也在苍穹中微笑。因为最美好的东西只能用最深痛的巨创来换取，它的歌唱是以生命为代价的歌唱，是世间最凄美的绝唱。这不仅仅是一种生的态度，更是一种感天动地的爱的方式。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 ——荆棘鸟的传说