在世界上所有海洋汇聚的地方，重重迷雾之下藏着一座翡翠般的小岛。岛上有上万棵盛放的樱花树，花朵在阳光的照耀下格外动人。这里就是神光岛。
在岛屿的正中间是一片翠绿的草地，这里是整座岛上最美丽的地方，片片花瓣在微风中飘舞，好像粉白相间的落雪。
In the magical mists where all the oceans of the world came together was a mystical island of shaded jade. The streaming beams of sunlight would glisten on the blossoms of a hundred thousand cheery trees whose beauty bloomed for all to see. This was the island of Mitsu-Kami.
Near the very center of the island stood a meadow that encompassed all the beauty around it. The cherry blossoms danced in the soft, gentle breezes across the meadow, creating a blizzard of snowy petals.
神光岛的会跳舞的鹿群就生活在这片草地上距离朝阳最近的地方。这些小鹿虽然不像外面的雄鹿一样高大，却可以跳得很高很高，看起来就像是在太阳的光辉里舞蹈一样。
在这群小鹿里，最美丽的一只名叫清美。她的大眼睛圆得像杏核，黑得像宁静的深潭；她柔软的皮毛上带着银色的斑点，反射着草地上的各种光芒；她腿上的皮毛就像漆黑的天鹅绒。不论这只小鹿走到哪里，她脚下的草地都会轻声细语地念起她的名字：“清美，清美，清美……”
On the side of the meadow nearest the rising sun lived the dancing deer of Mitsu-Kami. As deer go they weren’t very tall, but they could leap so high that their movements seemed as graceful as a sunlight ballet.
The most beautiful of the dancing deer was Kiyomi. Her eyes were like large almonds resting in deep still pools. Her fawn-like fur had a silvery tint that reflected the other glories of the meadow. Her feet were cast in black velvet, and wherever she walked the meadow grasses seemed to whisper her name...Kiyomi.
擅长舞蹈的小鹿们从来不比美，因为清美肯定是最美的一个。其他小鹿明白这一点，清美自己也明白这一点。她真的就是这样美丽，事情就是这样简单。每当清美在草地上漫步，小鹿们都会窃窃私语，称赞她的美貌。
“哎呀，晨雾里的阳光反射在清美的皮毛上，多好看哪！”他们总是这样说，“黎明清爽的光芒全在清美的眼睛里了，多漂亮啊！”
There was no question who was most beautiful amongst the dancing deer; they all knew that Kiyomi was. She knew it and the other deer knew it. Her beauty was as simple as that. Each day she would wander on her side of the meadow, and as she walked past the other deer would comment on how beautiful she was.
“My,” they would say, “doesn’t Kiyomi’s coat reflect the morning mist,” or “Don’t her eyes shine in the bright chill dawn?”
清美偶尔会走到森林边缘的水塘旁，看自己在水中的倒影。这总是会让她浮想联翩。清美会在水边转转身子，看不断变换角度的影子罩在自己身上，像一块柔软的毛毯。她不得不承认，其他小鹿的话一点儿没错，她确实是草地上最美丽的动物。
Occasionally Kiyomi would find herself at the pool at the edge of the wood, where she would gaze in rapt wonder at her own reflection. She would turn this way then that, watching the shadows slip across her fur like a soft, gentle blanket. She had to admit that the other dancing deer were right; she was the most beautiful creature in the meadow.
在草地的另一边，在距离小鹿们很远很远的地方，神光岛上的火蜥蜴们生活在岩洞里。这种动物长着细长的身子，上面铺满了暗红的鳞片，那颜色像幽暗的火焰，又像徐徐落下的夕阳。
在这些火蜥蜴中，最美丽的一只名叫阿墨。他亮闪闪的鳞片像一片片纯金，夜空中星星和月亮的光芒在上面跳跃。他明亮的眼睛反射着碧蓝色的亮光，就算是湛蓝的天空也不能和他眼睛的颜色相比。每当他长长的身子优美地从岩石中滑过，乱石中的风儿都会轻声细语地念起他的名字：“阿墨，阿墨，阿墨……”
On the other side of the meadow, winds away from the dancing deer, were the caves of the fire lizards of Mitsu-Kami. They were long,graceful creatures whose scales were colored the dusky fire shades of the setting sun.
The most beautiful of the fire lizards was Sumi. His scales, like flakes of mica and gold, danced with the night light. His eyes flashed a bright, intense blue that brought even the color of the sky to shame.As he would gracefully slither from rock to rock, the winds would call his name...Sumi.
火蜥蜴们敬畏地承认，阿墨是他们中最俊美的一个。其他火蜥蜴明白这一点，阿墨自己也明白这一点。他真的就是这样俊美，事情就是这样简单。每当阿墨在岩石间穿行，火蜥蜴们都会停下正在做的事情，称赞阿墨的帅气。
“哎呀，你们看见阿墨鳞片上的反光了吗，就像火焰一样呢！”他们会用沙哑的嗓音低声说道，“看他的眼睛多亮啊，甚至比太阳还要亮！”
阿墨并不在意这些称赞，因为他确实非常漂亮，而他也知道自己多么漂亮。事情就是这样简单。
The other fire lizards were in awe of Sumi. Sumi knew he was beautiful and the others knew he was beautiful; it was as simple as that. As he would glide by, the other fire lizards would stop whatever they were doing to bask in his splendor.
“My,” they would say in hoarse whispers, “Did you see how the light seems to dance like the flicker of a flame on Sumi’s scales?” or “his eyes are so bright that the sun almost refuses to shine.”
Sumi’s head wasn’t turned by all the compliments. He was magnificent and he knew it. It was just fact.
有时间的话，阿墨偶尔会漫步到岩洞边宁静的水塘旁，在那里看看自己在水中的倒影，几乎不敢相信自己居然真的这么帅气。
阿墨会来回转转身子，看着光线一片片地跳过他钻石形的鳞。其他火蜥蜴说得没错，他果然是草地上最美丽的动物……至少阿墨自己是这样想的。
On occasion, if time allowed, Sumi would wander to the edge of the still waters near the caves. There he would gaze in awe of his own beauty.
He would turn this way and that watching the light skip and dance across his diamond-shaped scales. The other fire lizards were right: He was the most majestic creature in the meadow...or so he thought.
一天，在命运巧妙的安排下，神光岛的两个美丽的宠儿在草地上相遇了。出于习惯，他们两个都停了下来，等着对方先开口说一些赞美的话。清美和阿墨等了又等，但是谁都没有说什么。
“哎呀，可能这个家伙没看到我最好的一面吧！”他们两个都这样想着。于是，清美和阿墨各自转了转角度，但还是谁都没有先说话。
One day the two most beautiful creatures of Mitsu-Kami met quite by accident at the center of the meadow. As was the custom for both of them, each paused, waiting for the anticipated compliments. The two of them waited and waited, Kiyomi on one side of the trail and Sumi on the other, but nothing was said.
“Hmmm!” they both thought, “Maybe the other is not seeing me in my best light!” So, carefully, they changed places on the trail and waited and waited, but neither one spoke.
“不好意思，”清美说，“你就不想夸夸我多么漂亮，或者多看看我吗？”
“这个嘛，”阿墨被她逗笑了，“我也是这样想的呀。难道你不想多看看我吗？”
清美吃惊极了：“我为什么要看你呀，你不过是一只老蜥蜴而已！”
阿墨的眼睛也瞪圆了：“我不过是一只蜥蜴？那谁又愿意看你这么一个招蛾子的毛球呢？”
于是，他们两个面对面站着，气呼呼地盯着对方，一边盯着一边等。
“Excuse me,” said Kiyomi. “Did you want to comment on my beauty,or did you wish to look some more?”
“Well,” chuckled a bemused Sumi, “I was thinking the same thing.Did you want to look at me some more?”
Kiyomi was shocked. “Why would I want to look at you? You’re nothing but an old lizard!”
Sumi’s eyes widened in surprise. “Nothing but a lizard! Who would want to look at a moth-eaten ball of fluff like you?”
So they both stood, glaring at each other, their features twisted in anger. They stood and they watched and they waited.
当两个小动物互相瞪着的时候，时间早就一分一秒地过去了。“好吧，我明白啦。”最终，清美先打破了沉默，“看来，咱们两个里面有一个家伙从来没见过自己的倒影！”
“没错！”阿墨哼了一声，“咱们两个里面有一个家伙从来没看过自己的倒影。所以，我们为什么不一起到草地正中间的镜池边去呢？这样我们就能看见自己在日落时分的样子了！”
清美觉得这个主意不错，因为这样就解决了蜥蜴眼神不好的问题。不过，她坚持要在清晨的阳光中比试。他们两个小小地吵了一阵，最终同意在太阳升起的时候再比一次。这样一来，两个小动物就都有最适合自己的光线，都能展示自己最美的一面了。
Time ticked away as the two creatures stood angrily facing each other across the trail. “Well, it’s obvious,” said Kiyomi, finally breaking the silence, “that one of us can’t see his own reflection!”
“Yes!” sneered Sumi. “It is very obvious that one of us can’t see her own reflection! Why don’t we go together to the mirrored pond at the center of the meadow. There we shall see what we shall see as the sun sets into twilight!”
Kiyomi thought this was a simple solution to Sumi’s lack of insight,but she insisted that she be seen in the early light of the rising sun.They argued a bit and then both agreed that they would spend the day together so they could see each other in the best light.
两个小动物满意地沿着小路向镜池走去，清美一路上轻快地蹦蹦跳跳，阿墨慢条斯理地跟在她身旁。
他们在镜池边等了一阵。当日暮时分微弱的光线划过湖面，洒在阿墨的身上时，他的鳞片璀璨得像无数被烛光照亮的钻石。但暮光同样温柔地笼罩着清美柔软的皮毛。
Satisfied that the question of beauty would soon be resolved, they headed for the mirrored pond, Kiyomi leaping down the trail with Sumi striding majestically beside her.
They waited at the edge of the pond, each on one side. As the waning light of dusk glittered and skipped across the water, it reflected on Sumi’s scales like a thousand diamonds in candlelight. But the light also gently caressed Kiyomi’s soft, velvety fur.
第二次比试要等上一整夜，两个小动物都快冻僵了，朝阳才从东边缓缓升起，向池面抛下一条条缎带似的金光。清美被笼罩在灿烂的阳光中，显得明丽无比。但阿墨碧蓝的眼睛里一样反射着阳光。
They stood, nearly frozen in place throughout the night, waiting for the final test. Then, its rays like bright golden ribbons, the sun rose from the east. The light danced across the water, reflecting off Kiyomi in all her beauty and splendor. But the light also glittered in the bright blue eyes of Sumi.
最后，清美和阿墨都心满意足地回到了自己生活的地方，一句话也没有跟对方说。阿墨不想让那只傻乎乎的小鹿感觉不好意思，因为既然她已经看到了他的倒影，让她亲口承认自己没有他漂亮一定很不好受吧。
在回家的路上，清美一想起那只可怜的小蜥蜴就忍不住笑起来。既然他已经看见了她的倒影，让他亲口承认自己没有她漂亮一定很不舒服吧。
而清美和阿墨都没有看见，整片草地上最美丽的一只小老鼠，这时候正在池边欣赏自己漂亮的倒影呢。
Finally, both were satisfied. They turned away from each other to go back to their own parts of the meadow. They didn’t speak to one another as they parted. Sumi didn’t want to embarrass the silly dancing deer. After all, it would be hard for her to admit that he was more beautiful than she—but she had seen his reflection.
Kiyomi had to chuckle as she walked away from the poor little lizard. It would be so hard for him to admit that she was more beautiful than he,but he had seen her reflection.
Because they were so absorbed with themselves, what neither of them saw was the tiniest, most beautiful mouse in all the meadow quietly gazing at her perfect reflection from the grass at the edge of the pond.
镜中倒影惹人爱，常把一事记心怀。美貌千姿又百态，只从观者眼中来。
AS YOU GAZE AT YOUR REFLECTION IN THE MIRROR ABOVE
YOUR SHOULDER
REMEMBER—BEAUTY ONLY SHINES IN THE EYES OF THE BEHOLDER.