Once upon a time the colors of the world started to quarrel. All claimed that they were the best.

有一天，世界上的五颜六色彼此争吵了起来，每一个颜色都声称自己是最好的。

Green said: "Clearly I am the most important. I am the sign of life and of hope. I was chosen for grass, trees and leaves. Look over the countryside and you will see that I am in the majority."

绿色说："很明显嘛!我就是最重要的。我是生命和希望的象征。青草、大树和叶子都选择我，只要往乡野望去，我就是主色。"

Blue interrupted: "You only think about the earth, but consider the sky and the sea. It is the water that is the basis of life. The sky gives space and peace and serenity¹. Without my peace, you would all be nothing."

蓝色打断他的话说："你只想到地面，想想天空和海洋吧!水是生命之源，而天空包容大地、宁静和祥和。一旦失去我的宁静祥和，你们就什么也不是了。"

Yellow chuckled²: " The sun is yellow, the moon is yellow, the stars are yellow. Every time you look at a sunflower, the whole world starts to smile. Without me there would be no fun."

黄色暗自好笑："太阳是黄色的，月亮是黄色的，星星也是黄色的。每当你看着向日葵，整个世界也跟着笑逐言开起来。没有了我，也就没有了乐趣。"

Orange started next: "I carry the most important vitamins. Think of carrots, oranges and mangoes. When I fill the sky at sunrise or sunset, my beauty is so striking that no one gives another thought to any of you."

橙色接着说："我是最重要的维他命，想想胡萝卜、橘子和芒果。每当日出日落时，我就满布在天空，我的美丽如此令人惊艳，根本不会有人想到你们。"

Red could stand it no longer so he shouted out: "I am the ruler of all of you. I am blood一 life's blood! I bring fire into the blood. I am the color of passion and love."

红色再也按捺不住，他大声的说："我是你们的主宰，我是血!生命之血!我将热情注入血液，我是热情和爱情的颜色。"

Purple was very tall and spoke³ with great pomp: "I am the color of royalty⁴ and power. Kings, chiefs and bishops⁵ have always chosen me for I am the sign of authority and wisdom. People do not question me! They listen and obey."

紫色自视甚高，而且盛气凌人的说："我是皇室和权威的颜色，国王、领袖和大主教都选择我，因为我是权威和智慧的象征。人们不敢对我有所存疑，只有乖乖听命的份。"

Finally Indigo⁶ spoke, much more quietly than all the others, but with just as much determination: "Think of me. I am the color of silence. I represent thought and reflection, twilight⁷ and deep water. You need me for balance and contrast, for prayer and inner peace."

靛色终于说话了，比起其它颜色，他的声音平和多了，但是，也是同样的斩钉截铁："我是宁静之声，我代表思想、深思熟虑、曙光以及深水。你们需要我来平衡对比、祈祷并获得内在的平静。"

And so the colors went on quarreling, each convinced of his or her own superiority. Suddenly there was a startling flash of bright lightening, and thunder rolled. Rain started to pour down.

五言六色就这样一直吵下去，每个颜色都认为自己最优秀。突然间闪电雷鸣大作，大雨倾盆而下。

Rain began to speak: "You foolish colors. Don't you know that you were each made for a special purpose? Join hands with one another and come to me."

雨开口说话："你们这些蠢颜色，你们不晓得自己各有所司吗?大家手牵手一起过来。"

Doing as they were told, the colors joined hands and united.

那些颜色都乖乖的手牵手，站在一起。

Rain continued: "From now on, when it rains, each of you will stretch across the sky in a great bow of color as a reminder⁸ that you can all live in peace. The rainbow is a sign of hope for tomorrow."

雨接着说："从今以后，只要一下雨，你们每个都得伸展成大弓形横跨在天际，藉以提醒大家和平共处。因为彩虹是明日希望的象征。"