一
Said the Duck to the Kangaroo,
"Good gracious! how you hop
Over the fields, and the water too,
As if you never would stop!
My life is a bore in this nasty pond;
And I long to go out in the world beyond:
I wish I could hop like you,"
Said the Duck to the Kangaroo.
鸭子对袋鼠嘎嘎地说：
“哎呀！你一跳就跳过
绿绿的田野、弯弯的河，
永远不停下来坐一坐。
这脏池塘住得我真窝火，
好想到天涯海角去漂泊，
真希望有一天能变成你。”
鸭子对袋鼠嘎嘎地说。
二
"Please give me a ride on your back,"
Said the Duck to the Kangaroo:
"I would sit quite still, and say nothing but 'Quack'
The whole of the long day through;
And we 'd go the Dee, and the Jelly Bo Lee,
Over the land, and over the sea:
Please take me a ride! oh, do!"
Said the Duck to the Kangaroo.
“快让我在你的背上坐，”
鸭子对袋鼠嘎嘎地说：
“我除了这样嘎嘎地叫，
从早到晚都沉默；
我们万水千山都走过，
到天涯海角去漂泊。
哦，行行好，带上我！”
鸭子对袋鼠嘎嘎地说。
三
Said the Kangaroo to the Duck,
"This requires some little reflection.
Perhaps, on the whole, it might bring me luck;
And there seems but one objection;
Which is, if you'll let me speak so bold,
Your feet are unpleasantly wet and cold,
And would probably give me the roo
Matiz," said the Kangaroo.
袋鼠对鸭子回答道：
“我可得稍微再动动脑。
相伴流浪或许有好运，
但有个问题却把我扰：
恕我冒昧坦诚相告，
你的脚又湿又冷让人恼，
弄不好还让我害风湿病。”
袋鼠就这样回答道。