The colors of friendship

Once upon a time the colors of the world started to quarrel. All claimed that they were the best. The most important. The most useful. The favorite.

从前，世界上的各种颜色进行过一次争吵。每一种颜色都说自己是最好的，最重要的，最有用的，最美丽的、最受人喜欢的。

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. Without me, all animals would die. Look over the countryside and you will see that I am in the majority."绿色说：显然，我是最重要的。绿色是生命和希望的标志。草、树、叶子都选择了绿色。如果没有我，所有的动物都将死亡。鸟瞰乡村大地，到处都是绿色。

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 and drawn¹ up by the clouds from the deep sea. The sky gives space and peace and serenity². Without my peace, you would all be nothing."蓝色打断他说：“你只考虑了陆地上的颜色，但是想想天空和海洋。水是生命之源，由云层从深海里带来。天空显得那么广阔、平和、宁静。没有我的平和，你们什么也不是。”

Yellow chuckled³:" You are all so serious. I bring laughter, gaiety, and warmth into the world. 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."黄色轻声笑道：“你们全都如此严肃。而我把笑声、欢乐和温暖带给了世界。太阳是黄色的，月亮是黄色的，星星也是黄色的。每次看见向日葵，全世界都开始微笑。没有我，世界将索然无味。”

Orange started next to blow her trumpet⁴:" I am the color of health and strength. I may be scarce, but I am precious for I serve the needs of human life. I carry the most important vitamins. Think of carrots, pumpkins⁵, oranges, mangoes, and papayas. I don't hang around all the time, but when I fill the sky at sunrise or sunset, my beauty is so striking that no one gives another thought to any of you."橙色紧接着开始自吹自擂：“我是健康和力量的颜色。我可能稀少，但是很珍贵，因为我能满足人类生命的需要。我含有最重要的维生素。想想胡萝卜、南瓜、橙子、芒果，还有木瓜。我没有一直闲着，当日出或日落时，天空涂满橙色，我的美丽让人震撼，那时没有人会想到你们。”

Red could stand it no longer he shouted out:" I am the ruler of all of you. I am blood - life's blood! I am the color of danger and of bravery. I am willing to fight for a cause. I bring fire into the blood. Without me, the earth would be as empty as the moon. I am the color of passion and of love, the red rose, the poinsettia and the poppy."红色再也控制不住了，他大声嚷道：“我是你们所有颜色的统治者。我是血--生命的颜色！我是危险和勇敢的颜色。我愿意为伟大的事业而奋斗。我把满腔热情融进血液。如果没有我，地球将像月球一样空空如也。我是激情和爱情的颜色，是红玫瑰、猩猩木和罂粟的颜色。”

Purple rose up to his full height:He was very tall and spoke⁶ with great pomp:" I am the color of royalty⁷ and power. Kings, chiefs, and bishops⁸ have always chosen me for I am the sign of authority and wisdom. People do not question me! They listen and obey."紫色有高大的身躯，他伸展全身站起来，用洪亮的声音说道：“我是王位和权力的颜色。国王、首领、主教总是选择紫色，因为我是权威和智慧的象征。人们从来不质疑我！他们只是聆听和服从。” Finally Indigo⁹ spoke, much more quietly than all the others, but with just as much determination:" Think of me. I am the color of silence. You hardly notice me, but without me you all become superficial. I represent thought and reflection, twilight¹⁰ and deep water. You need me for balance and contrast, for prayer and inner peace."最后，青色说话了，他比起其他的颜色显得安静很多，但其语气也非常坚定：“想想我。我是寂静的颜色。你们几乎注意不到我，但是如果没有我，你们将变得肤浅。我代表思索和反省、黄昏和深水。你们需要我来获得平衡和对比，祈祷和内心宁静。”

And so the colors went on boasting, each convinced of his or her own superiority. Their quarreling became louder and louder.

颜色们继续自夸，每种颜色都确信自己的优越。他们的争吵声越来越大。

Suddenly there was a startling flash of bright lightening thunder rolled and boomed. Rain started to pour down relentlessly¹¹. The colors crouched¹² down in fear, drawing close to one another for comfort.

突然电闪雷鸣，大雨无情倾泻。因为恐惧，颜色们蹲下身子，互相靠拢以求安慰。

In the midst of the clamor, rain began to speak:" You foolish colors, fighting amongst yourselves, each trying to dominate the rest. Don't you know that you were each made for a special purpose, unique and different? Join hands with one another and come to me."在吵闹中，雨开始说话了：“你们这些愚蠢的颜色，相互争斗，试图支配其他的颜色。难道你们不知道每种颜色的形成都有着特殊的目的，每种颜色都是独特而与众不同的吗？手拉手，到我这儿来！”

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

按照雨说的，颜色们手拉手，团结起来。

The rain continued:" From now on, when it rains, each of you will stretch across the sky in a great bow of color as a reminder¹³ that you can all live in peace. The Rainbow is a sign of hope for tomorrow." And so, whenever a good rain washes the world, and a Rainbow appears in the sky, let us remember to appreciate one another.

雨继续说：“今后，当下雨时，你们所有的颜色将横跨填空，形成一道巨大的彩虹，以提示你们七种颜色能友好共处。记住，彩虹象征着明天的希望。”因此，每当好雨洗礼世界的时候，一道彩虹都会出现在天空，让我们记得要学会彼此欣赏。