“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 outcarol 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 of great pain... ...
Or so says the legend.”

― Colleen McCullough, The Thorn Birds

(試譯)
從前從前，有一隻一生只啼唱一次的鳥，
牠的歌聲比地表上任何一種生物唱的都甜美。
從離巢那一刻起，牠便一直尋找一棵荊棘樹，
且直到找到之前都不休息。
找到後牠會開始唱歌，
一邊在枝枒間唱著，一邊將牠的胸口穿入最長最尖的荊刺。
當正死亡時，牠將自己的痛楚 唱成甚至比雲雀和夜鶯都美的歌聲。
一首最美的歌，以生命作為昂貴的代價。
而全世界駐足聆聽，就連天堂中的上帝也微笑了。
最美的美好只能由最痛的痛楚帶來... ...
或著傳說也是如此。

*

儘管日子依舊平淡, 如溫開水,
我們還是泅游, 並想望著那一片美好大海... ...