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| 《鲁滨孙漂流记》（中英文对照，第一部分） |
| 来源：5D互动论坛英语角 作者: pepperoni 作者：佚名 时间：2006-9-1 16:35:51 字号选择：大 中 小 |
我就这样过了好几天，内心十分矛盾，不知何去何从，如何才好。但一想到回家，一种厌恶感油然升起，难以抑制。这样过了一些日子，对灾祸的记忆逐渐淡忘，原来动摇不定的归家念头也随之日趋淡薄，最后甚至丢到了九霄云外。这样，我又重新向往起航海生活来了。
That evil Influence which carryed me first away from my Father's House, that hurried me into the wild and indigested Notion of raising my Fortune; and that imprest those Conceits so forcibly upon me, as to make me deaf to all good Advice, and to the Entreaties and even Command of my Father: I say the same Influence, whatever it was, presented the most unfortunate of all Enterprises to my View; and I went on board a Vessel bound to the Coast of Africa; or, as our Sailors vulgarly call it, a Voyage to Guinea.
不久之前，那种邪恶的力量驱使我离家出走。我年幼无知，想入非非，妄想发财。这种念头，根深蒂固，竟使我对一切忠告充耳不闻，对父亲的恳求和严命置若罔闻。我是说，现在，又正是这同一种邪恶的力量--不管这是一种什么力量，使我开始了一种最不幸的冒险事业。我踏上了一艘驶往非洲海岸的船；用水手们的俗话说，到几内亚去！
It was my great Misfortune that in all these Adventures I did not ship my self as a Sailor; whereby, tho' I might indeed have work'd a little harder than ordinary, yet at the same time I had learn'd the Duty and Office of a Fore-mast Man; and in might have qualified my self for a Mate or Lieutenant, ifs a Master: But as it was always my Fate to choose for the worse, so I did here; for having Money in my Pocket, and good Cloaths upon my Back, I would always go on board in the Habit of a Gentleman; and so I neither had any Business Ship, or learn'd to do any.
在以往的冒险活动中，我在船上从未当过水手。这是我的不幸。本来，我可以比平时艰苦些，学会做一些普通水手们做的工作。到一定时候，即使做不了船长，说不定也能当上个大副或船长助手什么的。可是，命中注定我每次都会作出最坏的选择，这一次也不例外。口袋里装了几个钱，身上穿着体面的衣服，我就像往常一样，以绅士的身份上了船。船上的一切事务，我从不参与，也从不学着去做。
It was my Lot first of all to fall into pretty good Company in London which does not always happen to such loose and unguided young Fellows as I then was; the Devil generally not omitting to lay some Snare for them very early: But it was not as with me, I first fell acquainted with the Master of a Ship who had been on the Coast of Guinea; and who having had very good Success there, was resolved to go again; and who taking a Fancy to my Conversation, which was not at all disagreeable at that time, hearing me say I had a mind to see the World, told me if I wou'd go the, Voyage with him I should be at no Expence; I should be his Mess-mate and his Companion, and if I could carry any thing with me, I should have all the Advantage of it that the Trade would admit; and perhaps I might meet with some Encouragement.
在伦敦，我交上了好朋友。这又是我命里注定的。这种好事通常不会落到像我这样一个放荡不羁、误入歧途的年轻人身上。魔鬼总是早早给他们设下了陷井。但对我却不然。一开始，我就认识了一位船长。他曾到过几内亚沿岸；在那儿，他做了一笔不错的买卖，所以决定再走一趟。他对我的谈话很感兴趣，因为那时我的谈吐也许不怎么令人讨厌。他听我说要出去见见世面，就对我说，假如我愿意和他一起去，可以免费搭他的船，并可做他的伙伴，和他一起用餐。如果我想顺便带点货，他将告诉我带什么东西最能赚钱，这样也许我能赚点钱。
I embrac'd the Offer, and entring into a strict Friendship with this Captain, who was an honest and plain-dealing Man, I went the Voyage with him, and carried a small Adventure with me, which by the disinterested Honesty of my Friend the Captain, I increased very considerably; for I carried about 40 l. in such Toys and Trifles as the Captain directed me to buy. This 40 l. I had mustered together by the Assistance of some of my Relations whom I corresponded with, and who, I believe, got my Father, or at least my Mother, to contribute so much as that to my first Adventure.
对船长的盛情，我正是求之不得，并和船长成了莫逆之交。船长为人真诚其实，我便上了他的船，并捎带了点货物。 由于我这位船长朋友的正直无私，我赚了一笔不小的钱。因为，我听他的话，带了一批玩具和其他小玩意儿，大约值四十英镑。这些钱我是靠一些亲戚的帮助搞来的。我写信给他们；我相信，他们就告诉我父亲，或至少告诉了我母亲，由父亲或母亲出钱，再由亲戚寄给我，作为我第一次做生意的本钱。
This was the only Voyage which I may say was successful in all my Adventures, and which I owe to the Integrity and Honesty of my Friend the Captain, under whom also I got a competent Knowledge of the Mathematicks and the Rules of Navigation, learn'd how to keep an Account of the Ship's Course, take an Observation; and in short, to understand some things that were needful to be understood by a Sailor: For, as he took Delight to introduce me, I took Delight to learn; and, in a word, this Voyage made me both a Sailor and a Merchant: for I brought Home L. 5. 9 Ounces of Gold Dust for my Adventure, which yielded me in London at my Return, almost 300 l. and this fill'd me with those aspiring Thoughts which have since so compleated my Ruin.
可以说，这是我一生冒险活动中唯一成功的一次航行。这完全应归功于我那船长朋友的正直无私。在他的指导下，我还学会了一些航海的数学知识和方法，学会了记航海日志和观察天文。一句话，懂得了一些做水手的基本常识。他乐于教我，我也乐于跟他学。总之，这次航行使我既成了水手，又成了商人。这次航行，我带回了五磅零九盎司金沙；回到伦敦后，我换回了约三百英镑，赚了不少钱。这更使我踌躇满志，因而也由此断送了我的一生。
Yet even in this Voyage I had my Misfortunes too; particularly, that I was continually sick, being thrown into a violent Calenture by the excessive Heat of the Climate; our principal Trading being upon the Coast, from the Latitude of 15 Degrees, North even to the Line it self.
然而，这次航行也有我的不幸。尤其是因为我们做生意都是在非洲西海岸一带，从北纬１５度一直南下至赤道附近，天气异常炎热，所以我得了航行于热带水域水手们常得的热病，三天两头发高烧，说胡话。
I was now set up for a Guiney Trader; and my Friend, to my great Misfortune, dying soon after his Arrival, I resolved to go the same Voyage again, and I embark'd in the same Vessel with one who was his Mate in the former Voyage, and had now got the Command of the Ship. This was the unhappiest Voyage that ever Man made; for tho' I did not carry quite 100 l. of my new gain'd Wealth, so that I had 200 left, and which I lodg'd with my Friend's Widow, who was very just to me, yet I fell into terrible Misfortunes in this Voyage; and the first was this, viz. Our Ship making her Course towards the Canary Islands, or rather between those Islands and the African Shore, was surprised in the Grey of the Morning, by a Turkish Rover of Sallee, who gave Chase to us with all the Sail she could make. We crowded also as much Canvas as our Yards would spread, or our Masts carry, to have got clear; but finding the Pirate gain'd upon us, and would certainly come up with us in a few Hours, we prepar'd to fight; our Ship having 12 Guns, and the Rogue 18. About three in the Afternoon he came up with us, and bringing to by Mistake, just athwart our Quarter, instead of athwart our Stern, as he intended, we brought 8 of our Guns to bear on that Side, and pour'd in a Broadside upon him, which made him sheer off again, after returning our Fire, and pouring in also his small Shot from near 200 Men which he had on Board. However, we had not a Man touch'd, all our Men keeping close. He prepar'd to attack us again, and we to defend our selves; but laying us on Board the next time upon our other Quarter, he entred 60 Men upon our Decks, who immediately fell to cutting and hacking the Decks and Rigging. We ply'd them with Small-shot, Half-Pikes, Powder-Chests, and such like, and clear'd our Deck of them twice. However, to cut short this melancholly Part of our Story, our Ship being disabled, and three of our Men kill'd, and eight wounded, we were obliged to yield, and were carry'd all Prisoners into Sallee, a Port belonging to the Moors.
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