But they were a little sad， because it was so long between times that they got to be near each other， what with orbital2 mechanics being what they are and all. Most of the time they had to gaze from afar.

　　Centuries went by， and one time as they passed， reaching out through the cold and emptiness to be with one another， Yee slipped Lan a moon， because Yee had three and Lan had none. Lan looked so perfect with the new moon that all the other planets were a little jealous， and Yee didn't mind giving up that moon at all.

　　So the planets kept on dancing to the math-music of the universe， and Lan's moon was admired by all， until one day an evil-minded ice-hearted comet3 viciously4 slammed into it， shattering it into a thousand thousand pieces. At that time， Yee was all the way on the other side of the sun and couldn't hear the wails5 and shouts that rocked Lan through and through. All the nearby planets， who were jealous anyway， made fun of Lan. Lan was so ashamed6 of what had happended to the moon， so generously given by Yee， that Lan began to dread their next meeting.

　　But the old equations7 had their say， and after so long they were together again. Lan was almost afraid to look at Yee， but Yee reached out a wisp of atmosphere in comfort.Yee hesitated a minute， because all planets know how beautiful moons are， but then went ahead and smashed8 the two remaining moons together so that Lan would have no reason to feel bad.

　　So around and around they went， so very much in love that they thought they would burst， even though they looked a little bare， and felt a little cold without their lovely moons. But then， something beautiful happened-their shimmering9 bits of moon dust started to flatten out， and make two large circles， one for each of them. And before too long， the circles became rings， great big wonderful rings， sparkling in the pure sunlight， the wonder of that solar system， and some said even the galaxy10.The other planets were too awed by Yee and Lan's new beauty to feel even the slightest drop of jealousy.

　　And that is why， even on this planet， when two people have strong feelings for each other， so much love that they think they'll burst， sometimes they'll give each other rings， in memory of the planetary11 love of Yee and Lan.

　　Yee和Lan的爱情故事

　　从前，在一个离这里很远很远，远得令你难以置信的太阳系里，有两颗行星，它们的名字是Yee和Lan，它们深深地相爱着。每一次见面，它们都会耳语一些行星的小秘密，或是共享团团气雾，或者说一些无意义的笑话。

　　但是它们也有一点点的伤感，因为每颗星星都有各自运行的轨道，相互靠近需要太长太长的时间。大多数的时间里它们只有远远地相互凝望。

　　几个世纪过去了，有一次它们擦肩而过时，在寒冷空旷的夜空中，它们向彼此伸出手来。Yee偷偷塞给Lan一个月亮，因为Yee有三个月亮，而Lan一个也没有。Lan和这个月亮在一起看上去是如此完美，以致所有别的行星都有一些忌妒了，但是Yee却对让出一个月亮毫不在意。

　　此后行星们继续跳着宇宙间有规则的舞蹈，Lan的月亮也一直被大家所羡慕。直到有一天，一颗冷酷恶毒的彗星狠狠地向Lan的月亮撞去，把它砸成了千千万万块碎片。此时Yee一直在太阳的另一面，无法听到Lan痛彻心肺的恸哭和呼喊，而附近所有的行星却因为妒忌而取笑Lan.月亮是Yee慷慨送给的，而今如此遭遇，Lan感到非常愧疚，并且开始害怕再见到Yee了。

　　但是宇宙的运行规则是无法改变的。很长一段时间之后，它们又遇到了一起。Lan几乎不敢再看Yee，但是Yee放出了一团气雾来安慰Lan.Yee犹豫了一下，因为所有的行星都知道月亮是十分美丽的，但它还是把剩下的两个月亮撞到一起，撞碎了。这样Lan就不必再感到伤心了。

　　它们继续转呀转；尽管没有了美丽的月亮，它们看起来有点光秃秃的，还觉得有点儿冷，但是它们知道彼此是多么深切地爱着对方。不久，美妙的事情出现了 ──仍在闪着光的月亮碎片开始平稳下来，并且形成了两个大大的圆圈，Yee和Lan一人一个。又过了一会儿，圆圈变成了光环，大大的，漂亮的光环，在纯净的阳光下闪闪放光。这是太阳系的奇迹，有的人甚至说是整个银河系的奇迹。其他的行星都惊异于全新的、美丽的Yee和Lan，竟然没有了一丝一毫的嫉妒。

　　这就是为什么在我们这个星球上，当两个人相爱时，他们如此强烈地爱恋着对方，就常常会送给对方戒指，这就是为了纪念Yee和Lan的行星爱情。

　　注释：

　　1.wisp n.缕，缥缈的东西

　　2.orbital adj.轨道的

　　3.comet n.（天）彗星

　　4.viciously adv.恶毒地，凶残地

　　5.wail n.恸哭，

　　6.ashamed adj.惭愧的

　　7.equation n.等式，均衡

　　8.smash vt.打碎，猛力撞

　　9.shimmer vt.闪光，闪烁

　　10.galaxy n.（天）银河系

　　11.planetary adj.行星的

文章来源网站：外语教育网(www.for68.com)，该站的Alexa排名：