《醜小鴨》，1844 年

the Ugly duckling, 1844

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在過去的一個半世紀裡，醜小鴨一直備受青睞，它在布拉姆?斯托克（bram Stoker）的《德古拉》（dracula）中被提及，在謝爾蓋?普羅科菲耶夫（Sergei prokofiev）的音樂中被頌揚，而且不出所料地，在華特?迪士尼（walt disney）的電影中被採用。

the ugly duckling has led a charmed existence over the past century and a half, alluded to in bram Stoker’s dracula, celebrated in Sergei prokofiev’s music, and, less surprisingly, taken up in walt disney’s films.

這隻可憐、被人鄙視的鳥兒的故事在許多文化中廣為流傳，成為我們最喜愛 —— 也是最令人安心的 —— 童年故事之一。

the story of the abject, despised bird has taken hold in many cultures, being one of our most beloved—and most reassuring—childhood tales.

它向我們所有人，無論是孩子還是成年人，承諾我們有能力讓自己變得更好。

It promises all of us, children and adults, that we have the capacity to transform ourselves for the better.

像許多童話角色一樣，醜小鴨溫順又矮小，是一窩幼崽中最小的。

Like many a fairy - tale character, the ugly duckling is meek and small, the youngest in the brood.

它在穀倉場院、荒野和家庭環境中都格格不入，無法與其他生物建立聯絡。

A misfit out of place in the barnyard, in the wilderness, and in the domestic arena, he is unable to find a bond with other creatures.

但是，就像安徒生自己年輕時一樣，它富有冒險精神且意志堅定，決心走向 “廣闊世界”。

but, like Andersen himself as a youth, he is adventurous and determined, resolving to go out into “the wide world.”

它變成一隻美麗的天鵝，世世代代以來一直被喚起，成為那些遭受社會孤立和個人不足感的人的一種慰藉。

his metamorphosis into a beautiful swan has been evoked for generations as a source of fort to those suffering from feelings of social isolation an