The Buckwheat

Words: Joe

Translator:范朝穎

Art: 靈繪童工作室

“Hello there,” several sparrows asked a farmer, “would you like to hear a story about the proud buckwheat?” “Yes, tell me, little birds.” said the farmer after pausing for a moment. “The story starts with an old willow tree.” said the sparrows.

“嘿，”幾只麻雀問一位農民，“要不要聽一個關于驕傲的蕎麥的故事？” “好吧，告訴我，小鳥兒。”農民遲疑一會兒后答道。 “故事還得從一棵老柳樹講起。”麻雀說。The old willow tree grew in a field. It bent forward slightly, so its

branches hung down like green hair. It had a split trunk and grass grew out of its crack. It was surrounded by oats, corns, and of course, the buckwheat.

這棵老柳樹生長在田野上，它的身子微微向前傾，枝條像綠頭發一樣垂下來。它的樹干裂開了，裂縫中長出了雜草。它的身邊長著燕麥、玉米，當然還有蕎麥。

The oats and the corns all bent their heads like the willow tree. The buckwheat held themselves upright and stiff. They were too proud. “Buckwheat, why don't you bend your heads like us?” the corns asked. “We are the beautiful buckwheat with full ears. We won't bend for anything, even nature.” they replied.

燕麥和玉米都像老柳樹那樣低著頭。蕎麥卻挺直身子，僵硬地站著。它們太驕傲了。“蕎麥，你為什么不像我們一樣低下頭呢？”玉米問。“我們是漂亮的蕎麥，長著飽滿的穗子。我們不會對任何事物屈服，就是大自然也不能讓我們低頭。”蕎麥回答道。

Then they asked the willow, “Have you met anything prettier than us?” The old willow nodded his head, “Indeed I have.” But the buckwheat said arrogantly, “Who knows whether you have lied or not! How have you lived until now?” The old willow didn't reply.

然后，它們問老柳樹：“你見過比我們還漂亮的嗎？”老柳樹點了點頭說：“我確實見到過。”但蕎麥傲慢地說：“誰知道你是不是在說謊！你怎么還能活到今天啊？”老柳樹沒有回答。

One day a storm came. The oats, corns and the willow tree bent their heads except the buckwheat.

“Bend your head as we do!” cried the oats.

“We won't!” replied the buckwheat.

“You will lose your lives!” said the old willow.

“We're the proud buckwheat.” replied the buckwheat.

一天，暴風雨來臨了。燕麥、玉米和老柳樹都低下了頭，除了蕎麥。

“像我們一樣低下頭呀！”燕麥喊道。

“我們才不呢！”蕎麥說。

“你會喪命的！”老柳樹說。

“我們可是驕傲的蕎麥！”蕎麥回答道。

“A lightning flashed across the sky and struck the buckwheat. When the storm had finished, the oats, corns and the willow all rose unhurt. Only the buckwheat became useless dead grass. That is the story,” said the sparrows. “About the overly proud buckwheat,” said the farmer.

“一道閃電劃過天空，擊中了蕎麥。暴風雨過后，燕麥、玉米和柳樹都安然無恙，只有蕎麥變成了一無用處的枯草。這就是那個故事。”麻雀說。農民接著說道：“關于驕傲自大的蕎麥的故事。”

故事改編自《安徒生童話》。