牛津書蟲系列 格列佛游記 1 A voyage to Lilliput

1 到利力浦特

I was born in Nottinghamshire and was the third of five sons.My father was not a rich man， but he was able to send me to Cambridge University，where I studied for three years.When I left college，I continued my studies and became a doctor.But I always wanted to travel，and so I made several voyages as a ship's doctor.When I married my wife Mary，however，I planned to stay at home for a while.But after a few years I discovered I was not earning enough money from my patients.I decided to go to sea again，and this time I joined a ship sailing to the islands in the South Pacific Ocean.We started our journey from Bristol on May 4th，1699.

我出生在諾丁漢郡，在五個孩子中排行第三。父親并不富裕，不過還是能送我上劍橋大學，那兒我學了三年。我離開大學后繼續(xù)學習，當了名醫(yī)生?？墒俏铱傁肴ヂ眯?，就當了船醫(yī)，出海旅行了好幾次。我娶了妻子瑪麗后，決定在家呆一些時候。沒過幾年，我發(fā)現(xiàn)從病人身上賺不了多少錢。我決定再次出海，這次登上的是開往南太平洋的輪船。我們于1699年5月4日從布里斯托爾啟程。

At first our voyage went well.We sailed across the Atlantic，round the coast of Africa and into the Indian Ocean.But before we could reach the Pacific，a violent storm hit us and drove us to the north-west of Tasmania.The wind drove our ship on to a rock， which broke the ship in half.Some of the sailors and I managed to get a boat into the water，and we rowed away to look for land.But when we were too tired to row any more，a great wave hit our small boat，and we all fell into the sea.I do not know what happened to my companions，but I suppose they were all drowned.

起初航行很順利。我們穿過大西洋，繞過非洲海岸，進入印度洋?？墒堑竭_太平洋以前，颶風擊中我們，我們被刮到塔斯馬尼亞的西北。颶風使我們的船撞上了礁石，把船劈為兩半。我和一些水手把救生艇放下水，劃開去尋找陸地。我們累得再也劃不動時，一個巨浪打中了我們的小船，我們都落入海水里。我不清楚我的同伴怎么樣了，不過我猜他們都淹死了。

The wind and waves pushed me along as I struggled to keep my head above water.I became very tired and soon felt I could not swim any more.Luckily，just then my feet touched the ground.I walked out of the sea and on to a beach，where there was no sign of any people or houses.I was so exhausted that I lay down and went to sleep.

我掙扎著把頭露出水面，而風浪推動著我漂流。我精疲力竭，覺得再也游不動了。幸虧那時我的腳剛好踩到了陸地。我從海里走上海岸，四處絕無有人煙的跡象。我已累到極點，躺下就睡著了。

When I woke up next morning， and tried to get up，I could not move.I was lying on my back and my whole body， my arms and legs were strongly fastened to the ground.Even my hair，which was long and thick，was tied to the ground.The sun began to grow hot，and I was very uncomfortable.Soon I felt something alive moving along my leg and up my body to my face，and when I looked down，I saw a very small human being，only fifteen centimetres tall.He had a bow and arrow in his hands，and there were forty more of these little men fol-lowing him.I was so surprised that I gave a great shout.They all jumped back，very frightened，and some hurt themselves by falling off my body.Meanwhile，I was struggling to unfas-ten myself，but just as I managed to pull my left arm free of the ropes，I felt a hundred arrows land on my free hand，and more arrows on my face and body.This was very painful，and made me cry aloud.I lay quietly，to see what would happen next.

第二天我醒了想起來時，卻動彈不得。我仰躺著，雙手雙足都牢牢地固定在地上。甚至連我的頭發(fā)，已經(jīng)又長又密了，也被固定到地上。太陽開始變得曬人了，我很不舒服。很快我覺察到有活物沿著腿向軀體和臉爬來，我向下看，看見了一個小人，只有15厘米高。他手中拿著弓箭，后面還有40多個這樣的小人跟著。我驚訝得大叫了一聲。他們都嚇得往后跳，有些人從我身上跌下去還受了傷。同時，我掙扎著想解開自己，當我左胳膊掙脫了繩子的束縛時，我感到有成百只箭落在左手上，更多的落在臉上和身上。這疼得我大叫起來。我靜靜地躺著，看接下來會發(fā)生什么事。

When they saw I was no longer struggling，they quickly built a platform next to my head，and an official climbed up there to speak to me.Although I could not understand his lan-guage，I understood that they would be friendly towards me-if I did not try to harm them.By now I was extremely hungry，so I used sign language to beg the official for food.He seemed to understand me，because immediately ladders were put against my sides and little men climbed up with baskets of food and drink.They were surprised at how much I could eat and drink.In just one mouthful I ate three of their meat dishes and three of their loaves of bread.I drank two of their barrels of wine，and was still thirsty，because that was only half a litre.While they were bringing me food，I wondered whether to pick up a handful of the little men and throw them to their death.But I was afraid they would shoot at me again，and anyway I was grateful for their kindness in giving me food and drink，so I did not move.

他們看我不再掙扎了，就迅速在我的頭旁建了一個平臺，一個官員爬上那兒跟我說話。盡管我不懂他的語言，我明白他會對我友善——只要我不試圖去傷害他們。那時我已經(jīng)餓極了，就用手勢語向這個官員要食物。他似乎明白了我的意思，因為立即有梯子搭在我身側(cè)，小人們帶著食物和飲料爬上來了。他們非常驚訝我那么能吃能喝。只是一口我就吃下了他們的三個肉菜、三塊面包。我喝了他們兩桶酒還是很渴，因為那只有半升。他們給我拿食物來時，我在想是否要抓住幾個小人把他們摔死在地上?？墒俏液ε滤麄冇窒蛭曳偶椅覠o論怎么說還是感激他們好心給我送食物來，所以我就沒有動。

After some time，another official climbed up to the platform and spoke to me.From his signs I understood that they were going to move me.The King of this country(which was called Lilliput)had ordered his people to carry me to the capital city，about a kilometre away.I made signs to ask whether I could be untied，but the official politely refused.

過了一段時間，另一個官員爬上平臺來對我說話。從他的手勢我明白他們要把我搬走。這個國家(叫做利力浦特)的國王命令他的臣民把我搬到首都去，離這大約有一公里遠。我作手勢問是否可以解開我，這個官員有禮貌地拒絕了。

While I was eating，a platform had been prepared to carry me.The people of Lilliput，known as the Lilliputians，are very intelligent and clever with their hands.For me，five hun-dred men built a special wooden platform with twenty-two wheels.Nine hundred of the strongest men worked for about three hours to lift me on to the platform，and one thousand five hundred of the King's largest horses(each eleven and a half centimetres high)pulled me to the capital.I did not know about any of this，because they had put a sleeping powder in my wine， and I was in a deep sleep.

我吃飯時，已經(jīng)準備好了一個平臺來抬走我。利力浦特人很聰明，手又靈巧。為了我，500人造了一個有22個輪子的特制平臺。900個最強壯的男人費了差不多3個小時把我抬上平臺，1500匹國王最巨大的馬(每個11.5厘米高)拉著我去首都。我自己并不知道這些，因為他們在我的酒中放了安眠藥粉，我處于沉睡中。

The King had decided I would stay in the largest available building，just outside the city gates.Its door was only a metre high and half a metre wide，so I could only just get inside on my hands and knees.My guards put ninety-one chains on my left leg，so that I could not escape.Then they cut the ropes that tied me and I was able to get to my feet.As I stood up，I heard cries of astonishment all around me.I felt rather miser-able，but at least I could walk about now，in a two-metre cir-cle.I was certainly an interesting sight for the Lilliputians，who had come out of the city in crowds of several thousand to see me.

國王決定讓我呆在最大的建筑物里，這個建筑物就在城門外。建筑物的門只有1米高半米寬，我只有四肢并用才能進去。我的看守在我的左腿上拴了有91個環(huán)的鎖鏈，以免我逃跑。然后他們割斷捆我的繩子，我才能站起來。我站起來時聽到周圍一片驚嘆聲。我感到很糟糕，但是至少現(xiàn)在可以在兩米之內(nèi)的圈子里活動了。我肯定是利力浦特人頗感興趣的奇觀，因為有幾千人成群結(jié)隊出城來看我。

Now I had a good view of the countryside.The fields looked like flowerbeds in a garden，and even the tallest trees were on-ly two metres high.

現(xiàn)在鄉(xiāng)村盡收眼底。田野像花園中的花床，最高的樹也只有兩米。

I was soon visited by the King himself.He has a strong，handsome face，and is very popular among his people.He ar-rived with his Queen，his children，and his lords and ladies，all dressed in beautiful gold and silver clothes.In order to make conversation easier，I lay on my side so that my face was close to him. I spoke to him in all the languages I knew， but we still could not understand each other.

不久國王親自來看我。他臉長得堅毅、英俊，很受臣民愛戴。他是與王后、王子、公主及王公和貴婦們一起來的，他們都穿著鑲金飾玉的漂亮衣服。為了會談方便，我側(cè)身躺下，好讓臉湊近他。我盡我所知，用各種語言跟他說話，但是我們依然不能相互理解。

The King ordered his people to make me a bed，using six hundred Lilliputian beds.It was not very comfortable，but it was better than sleeping on the stone floor.He ordered the crowds of sightseers to go back to their homes， so that the work of the country could continue and I would not be annoyed.For a long time he discussed with his lords in private what should be done with me.I was told all this later by a good friend of mine.Clearly，such a large person could be a danger to his small people.At last it was decided that， as I had behaved so well up to now，I would be kept alive.Food and drink would be brought to me every day from all the vil-lages，six hundred people would be my servants，three hun-dred men would make me a new suit，and six teachers would teach me their language.

國王命他的臣民給我做了張床，用去了利力浦特人的600張床。這張床并不是十分舒服，但比睡在石頭上要好一些。他命令圍觀的人回到自己的家里，以便這個國家繼續(xù)運轉(zhuǎn)，也不致惹怒我。他同他的臣子們討論了很長時間如何處置我。這消息是我的一個朋友后來告訴我的。顯然，如此龐大的人可能對他的渺小的臣民構(gòu)成危險。他們最終決定，鑒于到目前為止我表現(xiàn)很好，將留我個活口。每天食物和飲料將從所有的村莊給我送來，600人作我的仆從，300人將給我做套新衣服，6個教師將教我他們的語言。

And so in about three weeks I began to speak the language of Lilliput.The King often visited me， and every time he came，I asked him to take off my chains.He explained that first I must promise not to fight against Lilliput or hurt Lil-liputians，and that I must be searched for weapons.I agreed to both these things and carefully picked up two of his officers in my hands.I put them first in one pocket，then moved them to all my other pockets，except two which I kept secret.As they searched，they wrote down in a notebook details of all the things they found.

所以大約三周后我開始使用利力浦特人的語言。國王經(jīng)常來看我，每次他來，我都請他解下我的鎖鏈。他解釋說，首先我必須許諾不跟利力浦特為敵、不傷害利力浦特人，而且要搜身，看我有沒有武器。我同意了這些條件，小心地把他的兩個官員拈在手中，先把他們放在一個衣袋里，然后把他們移到別的衣袋里去，只有兩個我的秘密衣袋除外。他們搜查時，在筆記本上詳細地記下了他們找到的所有的東西。

Afterwards I read some of their report：

后來我讀到他們的部分報告：

‘In the second coat pocket we found two very large pieces of wood，and inside them were great pieces of metal，very sharp.In another pocket there was a most wonderful engine，at the end of a long chain.The engine was inside a huge round con-tainer，which was made half of silver and half of another metal.This second metal was very strange as we could see through it to some mysterious writing and pictures.The en-gine made a continuous loud noise.’

“在第二個衣袋里我們找到了兩片很大的木塊，兩者之間是很大的金屬，非常鋒利。另一個衣袋里有個很奇妙的引擎，在長鏈末端。引擎裝在一個大而圓的容器里，容器一半是由銀，一半是由另一種金屬做的。第二種金屬很特別，透過它可以看到奇特的圖文。引擎產(chǎn)生一種持續(xù)的響聲。”

The officers could not guess what these things were， but they were，of course，my two pocket knives and my watch.They also found my comb，a purse with several gold and silver coins，my gun and bullets.

官員猜不出這是些什么東西。當然，那不過是我的兩把小刀和表。他們也找到了我的梳子、有幾枚金幣銀幣的錢包、我的槍和子彈。

The King wanted to know what the gun was used for.

國王想知道槍是干什么用的。

‘Bring it out，’he ordered me，‘and show me how it works.’

“取出來”，他命令我，“展示給我看它是怎么工作的。”

I took the gun out and put a bullet into it.

我取出槍，裝上一顆子彈。

‘Den't be afraid，’I warned the King. Then I fired the gun into the air.

“不要怕”，我預先打聲招呼，然后朝天鳴槍。

It was the loudest noise the Lilliputians had ever heard.Hundreds of them thought they were dead，and fell down.The King himself was very frightened.As I gave my gun to the officials to keep，I warned them to be careful with it.They allowed me to keep all my other things，and I hoped that one day soon I would be free.

這是利力浦特人歷來聽到的最響的聲音。好幾百人自覺魂飛魄散，紛紛倒地，國王自己也大感恐懼。當我把槍交給官員保存時，警告他們要小心些。他們讓我持有其他的所有東西，而我希望不久的一天我將獲得自由。