The author gives some account of himself and family. His first inducements to travel. He is shipwrecked, and swims for his life. Gets safe on shore in the country of Lilliput; is made a prisoner, and carried up the country.
作者描述了一下自己和家人;他出游的最初动机;他遭遇了海难,游泳逃生;他在小人国海岸安全登陆,被俘虏并被押解到这个国家里。
My father had a small estate in Nottinghamshire: I was the third of five sons. He sent me to Emanuel College in Cambridge at fourteen years old, where I resided three years, and applied myself close to my studies; but the charge of maintaining me, although I had a very scanty allowance, being too great for a narrow fortune, I was bound apprentice to Mr. James Bates, an eminent surgeon in London, with whom I continued four years. My father now and then sending me small sums of money, I laid them out in learning navigation, and other parts of the mathematics, useful to those who intend to travel, as I always believed it would be, some time or other, my fortune to do. When I left Mr. Bates, I went down to my father: where, by the assistance of him and my uncle John, and some other relations, I got forty pounds, and a promise of thirty pounds a year to maintain me at Leyden: there I studied physic two years and seven months, knowing it would be useful in long voyages.
我父亲在诺丁汉郡有一份小小的产业;我在他的五个儿子中排行老三。我十四岁那年,他送我进了剑桥的伊曼纽尔学院。在那儿我住了三年,埋头攻读我的学业。虽然家里给我的补贴很少,但是对于一个贫困的家庭来说,在学校继续学习的费用还是太高了,于是我就给伦敦杰出的外科医生詹姆斯•贝茨先生当了四年学徒。父亲会时不时地寄来少量的钱,我用这些钱来学习航海及数学中的一些学科。对那些有志于旅行的人来说,这些东西都很有用,而我始终相信,自己终会有一天会有好运去旅行的。当学业完成离开贝茨先生后,我回家去见父亲;多亏他和约翰叔叔及其他几个亲戚帮忙,我得到了四十英镑,他们还答应以后每年给我三十英镑用来维持我在莱登的学业。我在那儿学习了两年零七个月的医学,因为我知道在长途航行中医学是很有用处的。
Soon after my return from Leyden, I was recommended by my good master, Mr. Bates, to be surgeon to the Swallow, Captain Abraham Pannel, commander; with whom I continued three years and a half, making a voyage or two into the Levant, and some other parts. When I came back I resolved to settle in London; to which Mr. Bates, my master, encouraged me, and by him I was recommended to several patients. I took part of a small house in the Old Jewry; and being advised to alter my condition, I married Mrs. Mary Burton, second daughter to Mr. Edmund Burton, hosier, in Newgate-street, with whom I received four hundred pounds for a portion.
从莱登回来后不久,经恩师贝茨先生推荐,我到海军中校亚伯拉罕•潘内尔船长统率下的“燕子”号轮船上当外科医生。我跟随船长干了三年半,曾多次去黎凡特和其他一些地方。回来之后,受恩师贝茨先生的鼓励,我决定定居伦敦。他又给我介绍了几位病人。我在老周瑞街的一座小房子里租了房。大家都劝我改变一下生活方式,我就跟在新门街上做内衣生意的埃德蒙•伯顿先生家的二女儿玛丽•伯顿小姐结了婚,连带得到了四百英镑的嫁妆。
But my good master Bates dying in two years after, and I having few friends, my business began to fail; for my conscience would not suffer me to imitate the bad practice of too many among my brethren. Having therefore consulted with my wife, and some of my acquaintance, I determined to go again to sea. I was surgeon successively in two ships, and made several voyages, for six years, to the East and West Indies, by which I got some addition to my fortune. My hours of leisure I spent in reading the best authors, ancient and modern, being always provided with a good number of books; and when I was ashore, in observing the manners and dispositions of the people, as well as learning their language; wherein I had a great facility, by the strength of my memory.
但是两年之后恩师贝茨去世了,我朋友又不多,生意就逐渐衰败了,因为我的良心不允许我像许多同行那样为非作歹。因此,我同妻子以及几个朋友商量了一下,决定再次出海。我先后在两艘船上当过外科医生,六年里几次航行到东印度群岛和西印度群岛,财产也因此有所增加。由于总能得到大量的书籍,所以在闲暇时间我阅读了许多古今最优秀的作品。在岸上的时候,我就观察当地人的风俗、性情,也学习他们的语言。凭借着自己记忆力的优势,我学起来很快。
The last of these voyages not proving very fortunate, I grew weary of the sea, and intended to stay at home with my wife and family. I removed from the Old Jewry to Fetter Lane, and from thence to Wapping, hoping to get business among the sailors; but it would not turn to account. After three years expectation that things would mend, I accepted an advantageous offer from Captain William Prichard, master of the Antelope, who was making a voyage to the South Sea. We set sail from Bristol, May 4, 1699, and our voyage was at first very prosperous.
由于这几次航海中的最后一次不是很顺利,所以我开始厌倦海上生活,打算呆在家中与老婆孩子一起过日子。我从老周瑞街搬到脚镣巷,接着又搬到维平,本希望能在海员那里揽点儿生意,结果却未能如愿。等了三年,还是转运无望,我就接受了“羚羊号”船主威廉•普里查德船长待遇优厚的聘请,当时他正准备去南太平洋一带航海。一六九九年五月四日,我们从布里斯托尔港口起航,起初的航行十分顺利。
It would not be proper, for some reasons, to trouble the reader with the particulars of our adventures in those seas; let it suffice to inform him, that in our passage from thence to the East Indies, we were driven by a violent storm to the north-west of Van Diemen's Land. By an observation, we found ourselves in the latitude of 30 degrees 2 minutes south. Twelve of our crew were dead by immoderate labour and ill food; the rest were in a very weak condition. On the 5th of November, which was the beginning of summer in those parts, the weather being very hazy, the seamen spied a rock within half a cable's length of the ship; but the wind was so strong, that we were driven directly upon it, and immediately split. Six of the crew, of whom I was one, having let down the boat into the sea, made a shift to get clear of the ship and the rock. We rowed, by my computation, about three leagues, till we were able to work no longer, being already spent with labour while we were in the ship. We therefore trusted ourselves to the mercy of the waves, and in about half an hour the boat was overset by a sudden flurry from the north. What became of my companions in the boat, as well as of those who escaped on the rock, or were left in the vessel, I cannot tell; but conclude they were all lost. For my own part, I swam as fortune directed me, and was pushed forward by wind and tide. I often let my legs drop, and could feel no bottom; but when I was almost gone, and able to struggle no longer, I found myself within my depth; and by this time the storm was much abated. The declivity was so small, that I walked near a mile before I got to the shore, which I conjectured was about eight o'clock in the evening. I then advanced forward near half a mile, but could not discover any sign of houses or inhabitants; at least I was in so weak a condition, that I did not observe them. I was extremely tired, and with that, and the heat of the weather, and about half a pint of brandy that I drank as I left the ship, I found myself much inclined to sleep. I lay down on the grass, which was very short and soft, where I slept sounder than ever I remembered to have done in my life, and, as I reckoned, about nine hours; for when I awaked, it was just day-light. I attempted to rise, but was not able to stir: for, as I happened to lie on my back, I found my arms and legs were strongly fastened on each side to the ground; and my hair, which was long and thick, tied down in the same manner. I likewise felt several slender ligatures across my body, from my arm-pits to my thighs. I could only look upwards; the sun began to grow hot, and the light offended my eyes. I heard a confused noise about me; but in the posture I lay, could see nothing except the sky. In a little time I felt something alive moving on my left leg, which advancing gently forward over my breast, came almost up to my chin; when, bending my eyes downwards as much as I could, I perceived it to be a human creature not six inches high, with a bow and arrow in his hands, and a quiver at his back. In the mean time, I felt at least forty more of the same kind (as I conjectured) following the first. I was in the utmost astonishment, and roared so loud, that they all ran back in a fright; and some of them, as I was afterwards told, were hurt with the falls they got by leaping from my sides upon the ground. However, they soon returned, and one of them, who ventured so far as to get a full sight of my face, lifting up his hands and eyes by way of admiration, cried out in a shrill but distinct voice, Hekinah degul; the others repeated the same words several times, but then I knew not what they meant. I lay all this while, as the reader may believe, in great uneasiness. At length, struggling to get loose, I had the fortune to break the strings, and wrench out the pegs that fastened my left arm to the ground; for, by lifting it up to my face, I discovered the methods they had taken to bind me, and at the same time with a violent pull, which gave me excessive pain, I a little loosened the strings that tied down my hair on the left side, so that I was just able to turn my head about two inches.
由于某些原因,用我们在那一带海上历险的细枝末节来烦扰读者是不合适的,只说说下面这些情况也就够了:在去往东印度群岛途中,一阵猛烈的风暴把我们刮到了范迪门地的西北方。据观测,我们发现自已所在的位置是南纬三十度零二分。船员中有十二人因过度劳累与饮食恶劣而丧生,其他人的身体也极度虚弱。十一月五日正是那一带的初夏时节,天空大雾弥漫,水手们在离船半缆绳长的地方发现一块礁石;但当天风势很猛,我们被刮得直接撞到礁石上,船身立刻碎裂。连我在内一共有六名船员,大家将救生船放到海里,轮流划船竭力远离大船和礁石。据我估计,我们只划出去三里格远就再没力气划了,因为大家在大船上时已经筋疲力尽。于是我们只好任由海浪摆布。大约过了半小时,小船被一阵突如其来的北风掀翻了。我也不清楚小船上的同伴和那些逃上礁石或被困留在大船上的人们后来怎么样了,最后我断定他们都失踪了。至于我自己,我听天由命地游着,被风浪推向前去。我时不时将腿沉下去,但却总也探不到底,但眼看自己就要完了根本无力挣扎时,又发现自己竟能在水中站立了,并且这时风暴也已大大减弱。海底坡度很小,所以我走了差不多一英里才到岸上,那时我推测大约是晚上八点钟。然后,我又继续往前走了近半英里,没有见到任何房屋或居民的迹象;至少我没看到,因为当时我实在是太虚弱了。我疲惫到了极点,再加上天气炎热和离船之前又喝过约半品脱的白兰地,所以特别想睡觉。我躺在浅短、柔软的草地上睡了前所未有的、酣甜香沉的一觉。据我估计,我睡了大约有九个小时,因为当我醒来时,天刚刚亮。我试图站起来却动弹不得,由于我恰好是仰面躺着,发现自己的胳膊和腿都被牢牢地绑在地上;又长又厚的头发也同样被绑着。我还感觉到一些细带子也横绑在身上,从腋窝到大腿。我只能朝上看。太阳开始热起来了,阳光刺痛了我的眼睛。我听到周围一片嘈杂声,可就我躺着的姿势除了天空什么也看不到。过了没多大一会,我觉得有个什么活的东西在我左腿上蠕动,轻轻地向前移着,越过胸脯,几乎到了我的下巴前。我尽力将眼睛往下看,看到一个身高不足六英寸、手持弓箭、背负箭筒的人!与此同时,据我推测至少有四十多个他的同类随他而来。我万分惊恐,猛吼一声,结果吓得他们全部掉头就跑。后来有人告诉我,他们中有几个从我两肋上往下跳时摔伤了。但是他们很快又回来了,其中的一个冒险走到能看得清我整个面孔的地方,举起双手,带着一脸惊羡的神情举目望着我,他用刺耳却很清晰的声音高喊:“海琴那•德古尔!”,其他的人也把这几个字重复了几遍,可那时我还不明白那是什么意思。读者可以想象到,我一直那样躺着是极不舒服的。最后,我努力挣脱,很幸运地把绳子挣断了,并且拔出了将我的左臂绑到地上的木钉。我把左臂举到眼前,发现了他们捆绑我的方法。与此同时我用力一扯,虽然十分疼痛,还是将绑我左边头发的绳子扯松了一点,这样我才能稍稍将头转动大约两英寸。
But the creatures ran off a second time, before I could seize them; whereupon there was a great shout in a very shrill accent, and after it ceased I heard one of them cry aloud Tolgo phonac; when in an instant I felt above a hundred arrows discharged on my left hand, which, pricked me like so many needles; and besides, they shot another flight into the air, as we do bombs in Europe, whereof many, I suppose, fell on my body, (though I felt them not), and some on my face, which I immediately covered with my left hand. When this shower of arrows was over, I fell a groaning with grief and pain; and then striving again to get loose, they discharged another volley larger than the first, and some of them attempted with spears to stick me in the sides; but by good luck I had on a buff jerkin, which they could not pierce. I thought it the most prudent method to lie still, and my design was to continue so till night, when, my left hand being already loose, I could easily free myself; and as for the inhabitants, I had reason to believe I might be a match for the greatest army they could bring against me, if they were all of the same size with him that I saw. But fortune disposed otherwise of me. When the people observed I was quiet, they discharged no more arrows; but, by the noise I heard, I knew their numbers increased; and about four yards from me, over against my right ear, I heard a knocking for above an hour, like that of people at work; when turning my head that way, as well as the pegs and strings would permit me, I saw a stage erected about a foot and a half from the ground, capable of holding four of the inhabitants, with two or three ladders to mount it: from whence one of them, who seemed to be a person of quality, made me a long speech, whereof I understood not one syllable. But I should have mentioned, that before the principal person began his oration, he cried out three times, Langro dehul san (these words and the former were afterwards repeated and explained to me); whereupon, immediately, about fifty of the inhabitants came and cut the strings that fastened the left side of my head, which gave me the liberty of turning it to the right, and of observing the person and gesture of him that was to speak. He appeared to be of a middle age, and taller than any of the other three who attended him, whereof one was a page that held up his train, and seemed to be somewhat longer than my middle finger; the other two stood one on each side to support him. He acted every part of an orator, and I could observe many periods of threatenings, and others of promises, pity, and kindness.
但是,我还没来得及将他们捉住,这些生物又一次逃跑了。于是听到他们一阵尖声高喊,喊声过后,我听见其中的一个大叫道:“托尔戈•奉纳克”;即刻就感觉有一百多支如针一样的箭射中了我的左手。他们又向空中射了一阵,就如我们欧洲人放炮弹一般。我猜想许多箭落到我身上了(尽管我并没有感觉到),有些则落在我的脸上,我赶紧用左手去遮挡。一阵箭雨过后,我带着悲伤和痛苦呻吟起来。接着我再一次挣扎着想脱身,他们就发动了比刚才更猛烈一轮齐射,有几个还试图用矛来刺我的两肋;幸亏我穿着一件米黄色的牛皮背心,他们刺不进去。我想最稳妥的办法就是安安静静地躺着。我打算就这么挨到夜晚,因为既然我的左手已经松绑,能很轻松地把自己放了。至于那些当地的居民,假如他们长得全和我看到的那一个大小差不多,那么我有理由相信,就算他们将最强大的军队调来与我拼,我也是可以敌得过他们的。但是命运却给我作了另外一个安排。当这些人发现我安静下来不动就不再放箭了,但我根据听到的吵闹声判断他们的人数增加了。在四码远的地方,对着我的右耳处,我听到敲敲打打地闹了有一个多钟头,就好像有人在干活似的。在木钉与绳子允许的范围内,我将头转向那个方向,看见地上竖起了一个一英尺半高的平台,能站得下四个当地居民,旁边还靠着两三副梯子用以攀登。他们中间有一个看上去像是有身份的人,对我发表了一篇长长的演说,我却一个字也听不懂。刚才我本应该提一下,在那位要人发表演说前,他高喊了三声“朗格罗•德胡尔•桑”(这句话和前面那些话他们后来又都重复过,并且向我作了解释)。他一喊完,立即就有五十多个居民过来将我头左边的绳子割断,我就可以把头向右边转动,能看清要发表演说的那人的样子。他看上去像个中年人,比跟随他的另外三人都要高。三人中其中有一个是侍从,身材看起来比我的中指略长些,正替那人举着拖在身后的衣服;另外两人一边一个扶持着他。他一举一动十足有演说家派头,我看得出他发表了不少威胁的话,也许下了诺言,表示其同情与友好。
I answered in a few words, but in the most submissive manner, lifting up my left hand, and both my eyes to the sun, as calling him for a witness;
我以极为恭顺的态度答了几句,举起左手,双目注视着太阳,请太阳给我作证。
and being almost famished with hunger, having not eaten a morsel for some hours before I left the ship, I found the demands of nature so strong upon me, that I could not forbear showing my impatience (perhaps against the strict rules of decency) by putting my finger frequently to my mouth, to signify that I wanted food. The hurgo (for so they call a great lord, as I afterwards learnt) understood me very well. He descended from the stage, and commanded that several ladders should be applied to my sides, on which above a hundred of the inhabitants mounted and walked towards my mouth, laden with baskets full of meat, which had been provided and sent thither by the king's orders, upon the first intelligence he received of me. I observed there was the flesh of several animals, but could not distinguish them by the taste. There were shoulders, legs, and loins, shaped like those of mutton, and very well dressed, but smaller than the wings of a lark. I ate them by two or three at a mouthful, and took three loaves at a time, about the bigness of musket bullets. They supplied me as fast as they could, showing a thousand marks of wonder and astonishment at my bulk and appetite. I then made another sign, that I wanted drink. They found by my eating that a small quantity would not suffice me; and being a most ingenious people, they slung up, with great dexterity, one of their largest hogsheads, then rolled it towards my hand, and beat out the top; I drank it off at a draught, which I might well do, for it did not hold half a pint, and tasted like a small wine of Burgundy, but much more delicious. They brought me a second hogshead, which I drank in the same manner, and made signs for more; but they had none to give me. When I had performed these wonders, they shouted for joy, and danced upon my breast, repeating several times as they did at first, Hekinah degul. They made me a sign that I should throw down the two hogsheads, but first warning the people below to stand out of the way, crying aloud, Borach mevolah; and when they saw the vessels in the air, there was a universal shout of Hekinah degul. I confess I was often tempted, while they were passing backwards and forwards on my body, to seize forty or fifty of the first that came in my reach, and dash them against the ground. But the remembrance of what I had felt, which probably might not be the worst they could do, and the promise of honour I made them—for so I interpreted my submissive behaviour—soon drove out these imaginations. Besides, I now considered myself as bound by the laws of hospitality, to a people who had treated me with so much expense and magnificence. However, in my thoughts I could not sufficiently wonder at the intrepidity of these diminutive mortals, who durst venture to mount and walk upon my body, while one of my hands was at liberty, without trembling at the very sight of so prodigious a creature as I must appear to them. After some time, when they observed that I made no more demands for meat, there appeared before me a person of high rank from his imperial majesty.
我感觉快要饿死了,因为自从离船后到现在,我已有好几个小时没吃一点东西。我发现这种生理要求十分强烈,再也忍不住要表露这种焦急(也许这有悖礼仪),便不时地把手指放在嘴上来表示我需要食物。那位显赫的贵族老爷“赫够”(后来我才得知,这是他们对一个显赫贵族老爷的称呼)十分明白我的意思。他从台上下来,令人在我的两侧放几副梯子,大约一百个居民蹬着梯子就将盛满了肉的篮子向我嘴边送来;这肉是国王接到关于我的第一个情报后,立即下令准备并送到这儿来的。我看到有好几种动物的肉,但却尝不出来是什么肉。从形状上看,有些像是羊的肩肉、腿肉和腰肉,做得很有味道,但是个头儿却比云雀的翅膀还要小。我一口吃两三块肉,一口吃三个滑膛枪子弹大小的面包。他们尽快地给我食物,同时对我的高大身躯与胃口惊诧万分。接着我又做了另外一个手势,示意我要喝水。他们从我吃东西的样子看出少量的水是不够我喝的。这些人非常心灵手巧,他们十分熟练地吊起一只最大的桶,滚到我手边,撬开桶盖。我一饮而尽,这很容易,因为一桶酒还不到半品脱。酒的味道很像勃艮第所产的葡萄酒,但要香得多。接着他们又给我弄了一桶来,我也是一口气喝个精光,并示意要更多,可他们没有酒再给我了。我表演完这些奇迹之后,他们欢呼雀跃,在我的胸脯上手舞足蹈,又像先前那样,一遍又一遍地高喊“海琴那•德古尔”。他们向我做了个手势,说我应该把这两只酒桶扔下去,然后先警告下面的人闪开,高喊着 “勃拉契•米浮拉”。当他们看到酒桶飞在空中时,齐声高喊“海琴那•德古尔”。我得承认,当这些人在我身上来来回回走动时,我老想将最先走近我的四五十个一把抓住使劲扔到地上去。可是想起刚才我的感受,那也许还不是他们最厉害的手段;还有我也曾答应对他们表示敬重(我是这样解释我那恭顺的态度的),想到这些,我立即打消了刚才的念头。再说,他们如此破费而隆重地款待我,我理应以礼相待。然而,我暗自对这帮小人儿的无畏精神感到万分惊奇,我的一只手已经自由,他们竟还敢爬上我的身体在上面走来走去,见到我这个在他们眼中的庞然大物居然都不发抖。过了一些时候,他们看我不再要肉吃了,一位他们皇帝派来的高官就来到了我的面前。
His excellency, having mounted on the small of my right leg, advanced forwards up to my face, with about a dozen of his retinue; and producing his credentials under the signet royal, which he applied close to my eyes, spoke about ten minutes without any signs of anger, but with a kind of determinate resolution, often pointing forwards, which, as I afterwards found, was towards the capital city, about half a mile distant; whither it was agreed by his majesty in council that I must be conveyed. I answered in few words, but to no purpose, and made a sign with my hand that was loose, putting it to the other (but over his excellency's head for fear of hurting him or his train) and then to my own head and body, to signify that I desired my liberty. It appeared that he understood me well enough, for he shook his head by way of disapprobation, and held his hand in a posture to show that I must be carried as a prisoner. However, he made other signs to let me understand that I should have meat and drink enough, and very good treatment. Whereupon I once more thought of attempting to break my bonds; but again, when I felt the smart of their arrows upon my face and hands, which were all in blisters, and many of the darts still sticking in them, and observing likewise that the number of my enemies increased, I gave tokens to let them know that they might do with me what they pleased. Upon this, the hurgo and his train withdrew, with much civility and cheerful countenances. Soon after I heard a general shout, with frequent repetitions of the words Peplom selan; and I felt great numbers of people on my left side relaxing the cords to such a degree, that I was able to turn upon my right, and to ease myself with making water; which I very plentifully did, to the great astonishment of the people; who, conjecturing by my motion what I was going to do, immediately opened to the right and left on that side, to avoid the torrent, which fell with such noise and violence from me. But before this, they had daubed my face and both my hands with a sort of ointment, very pleasant to the smell, which, in a few minutes, removed all the smart of their arrows. These circumstances, added to the refreshment I had received by their victuals and drink, which were very nourishing, disposed me to sleep. I slept about eight hours, as I was afterwards assured; and it was no wonder, for the physicians, by the emperor's order, had mingled a sleepy potion in the hogsheads of wine.
这位钦差带着十二三个随从,从我的右小腿爬到脸前。他把盖有国玺的证明书递到我眼前,大约又讲了十分钟,虽然没表示出任何愤怒,说话样子却很坚决。他不时地用手指向前方,后来我才明白,他是在指半英里外的首都,皇帝已在那里的议会上决定把我务必运到京城去。我回答了几句,可是没什么用。我用已松绑的左手做了一个手势,把左手放到右手上(从钦差大人的头顶掠过,以免伤了他和他的随从),接着又碰了碰头和身子表示我想要获得自由。他像是很明白我的意思,因为他摇了摇头表示不准,举起手来做了个手势,意思说必须把我当俘虏运走不可。不过他又做了另外一些手势,是让我明白可以享受足够的酒肉和优厚的待遇。这么一来,我又想挣脱束缚了,可我感觉到脸上、手上的箭伤还在痛,而且都已经起了水泡,许多箭头还扎在里面;同时我看到敌人的数量又增加了许多。我只好做手势让他们明白,他们爱怎么处置我就怎么处置吧。这样,“赫够”和随从才温和有礼地退了下去。很快,我就听到他们一齐重复地高喊:“派布龙•塞兰”。这时我感觉左边有许许多多人在将我的绳子慢慢松开,使我能够将身子转向右边,撒泡尿放松一下。我尿了很多,这些人很是惊讶。他们根据我的举动推测我要干什么,立刻向左右两边让开,躲闪那股又响又猛的洪流。但在这之前,他们在我的脸上、手上涂了一种香气宜人的油膏,不到几分钟,所有的箭伤造成的疼痛就都消失了。疼痛消失,再加上他们给我提供的饮食营养太丰富,使我精力恢复后感觉昏昏欲睡。后来有人证实我睡了大约有八个小时;这倒也不奇怪,因为医生们奉皇帝之命,事先在酒里掺进了一剂安眠药水。
It seems, that upon the first moment I was discovered sleeping on the ground, after my landing, the emperor had early notice of it by an express; and determined in council, that I should be tied in the manner I have related (which was done in the night while I slept); that plenty of meat and drink should be sent to me, and a machine prepared to carry me to the capital city.
看来我上岸后一被人发现躺在地上睡着,皇帝就接到了专差的通报,并且在议会中决定把我用前面叙述的方式绑缚起来(这是在夜间我睡着时干的)。他们还决定送给我充足的酒肉,准备一架机器把我运到首都。
This resolution perhaps may appear very bold and dangerous, and I am confident would not be imitated by any prince in Europe on the like occasion.
这一决定可能看起来既冒失又危险,我敢说在同样情形下,任何一位欧洲的君主都不会效仿此法的。
However, in my opinion, it was extremely prudent, as well as generous: for, supposing these people had endeavoured to kill me with their spears and arrows, while I was asleep, I should certainly have awaked with the first sense of smart, which might so far have roused my rage and strength, as to have enabled me to break the strings wherewith I was tied; after which, as they were not able to make resistance, so they could expect no mercy.
不过在我看来,他们这么做既极为慎重,又很宽宏大量,因为假如这些人趁我睡着的时候企图用矛和箭把我杀了,那我肯定会被第一阵剧痛惊醒,那样或许我就会因为愤怒用力挣断绑着我的绳子。到那时,他们无力抵抗,也无法指望我会心慈手软。
These people are most excellent mathematicians, and arrived to a great perfection in mechanics, by the countenance and encouragement of the emperor, who is a renowned patron of learning. This prince has several machines fixed on wheels, for the carriage of trees and other great weights. He often builds his largest men of war, whereof some are nine feet long, in the woods where the timber grows, and has them carried on these engines three or four hundred yards to the sea. It was a frame of wood raised three inches from the ground, about seven feet long, and four wide, moving upon twenty-two wheels. The shout I heard was upon the arrival of this engine, which, it seems, set out in four hours after my landing. Five hundred carpenters and engineers were immediately set at work to prepare the greatest engine they had. It was brought parallel to me, as I lay. But the principal difficulty was to raise and place me in this vehicle. Eighty poles, each of one foot high, were erected for this purpose, and very strong cords, of the bigness of packthread, were fastened by hooks to many bandages, which the workmen had girt round my neck, my hands, my body, and my legs. Nine hundred of the strongest men were employed to draw up these cords, by many pulleys fastened on the poles; and thus, in less than three hours, I was raised and slung into the engine, and there tied fast. All this I was told; for, while the operation was performing, I lay in a profound sleep, by the force of that soporiferous medicine infused into my liquor. Fifteen hundred of the emperor's largest horses, each about four inches and a half high, were employed to draw me towards the metropolis, which, as I said, was half a mile distant.
这些人是十分出色的数学家,在皇帝的支持与鼓励下,他们在机械学方面的造诣也极其深厚,而皇帝本人也以崇尚、保护学术而闻名。这个君主有好几台装有轮子的机器,用来运载树木和其他重物。他常在产木材的树林里建造最大的战舰,有的长达九英尺,然后就用这些机器将战舰运到三四百码以外的海上去。那机器是一座木架,高三英寸,长约七英尺,宽约四英尺,装有二十二个轮子。我听到的欢呼声是因为这机器运到了,可见这机器在我上岸后四小时就运往此地了。五百名木匠与工程师立即奉命动手建造他们有史以来最大的机器。当我躺着时,机器与我的身体保持平行。可是主要的困难是把我抬起来并放到这车上去。为此他们竖起了八十根一英尺高的柱子,工人们用绷带将我的脖子、手、身子和腿全都捆住,然后拿一种和包扎线粗细相等的极为结实的绳索,一头用钩子钩住绷带,另一头缚在木柱顶端的滑车上。他们雇用了九百名最强壮的汉子一齐拉绳索,绳索上绑着许多滑轮。这样,用了不到三小时,我就被吊了起来并被放到了车上;在车上我依然被捆得结结实实。这一切全都是别人告诉我的,因为在他们工作的时候,由于掺在酒里的催眠药药性发作,我睡得香着呢。一千五百匹强壮高大的御马,每匹都约有四英寸半那么高,拖着我向首都驶去。正如前面我说过的,首都就在半英里之外。
About four hours after we began our journey, I awaked by a very ridiculous accident; for the carriage being stopped a while, to adjust something that was out of order, two or three of the young natives had the curiosity to see how I looked when I was asleep; they climbed up into the engine, and advancing very softly to my face, one of them, an officer in the guards, put the sharp end of his half-pike a good way up into my left nostril, which tickled my nose like a straw, and made me sneeze violently; whereupon they stole off unperceived, and it was three weeks before I knew the cause of my waking so suddenly. We made a long march the remaining part of the day, and, rested at night with five hundred guards on each side of me, half with torches, and half with bows and arrows, ready to shoot me if I should offer to stir. The next morning at sunrise we continued our march, and arrived within two hundred yards of the city gates about noon. The emperor, and all his court, came out to meet us; but his great officers would by no means suffer his majesty to endanger his person by mounting on my body.
上路大约四小时之后,我被一件十分可笑的意外事件弄醒了。当时车停下来一小会儿修理故障,有两三个当地的年轻人因为好奇,想看看我睡着时的模样。他们爬上机器,悄悄来到我的脸前,其中一个是卫队军官,他把短枪的枪尖直往我左鼻孔里伸,像一根稻草那样弄得我鼻孔发痒,使我猛打喷嚏。他们随即偷偷溜走了,并未被人发现。事情过了三个星期,我才弄清楚为什么我那时会突然醒来。那天接下来我们又走了很长的路。夜里休息时,我的两边各有五百名卫队士兵,他们一半人手持火把,一半人拿着弓箭,只要我想动弹一下,就会随时向我射击。第二天太阳刚一升起,我们就继续上路,大约中午时分,到达了离城门不足两百码的地方。皇帝率全朝官员出来迎接我们,但大臣们却坚决不让皇帝冒险爬上我的身子来。
At the place where the carriage stopped there stood an ancient temple, esteemed to be the largest in the whole kingdom; which, having been polluted some years before by an unnatural murder, was, according to the zeal of those people, looked upon as profane, and therefore had been applied to common use, and all the ornaments and furniture carried away. In this edifice it was determined I should lodge. The great gate fronting to the north was about four feet high, and almost two feet wide, through which I could easily creep. On each side of the gate was a small window, not above six inches from the ground: into that on the left side, the king's smith conveyed fourscore and eleven chains, like those that hang to a lady's watch in Europe, and almost as large, which were locked to my left leg with six-and-thirty padlocks. Over against this temple, on the other side of the great highway, at twenty feet distance, there was a turret at least five feet high. Here the emperor ascended, with many principal lords of his court, to have an opportunity of viewing me, as I was told, for I could not see them. It was reckoned that above a hundred thousand inhabitants came out of the town upon the same errand; and, in spite of my guards, I believe there could not be fewer than ten thousand at several times, who mounted my body by the help of ladders. But a proclamation was soon issued, to forbid it upon pain of death. When the workmen found it was impossible for me to break loose, they cut all the strings that bound me; whereupon I rose up, with as melancholy a disposition as ever I had in my life. But the noise and astonishment of the people, at seeing me rise and walk, are not to be expressed. The chains that held my left leg were about two yards long, and gave me not only the liberty of walking backwards and forwards in a semicircle, but, being fixed within four inches of the gate, allowed me to creep in, and lie at my full length in the temple.
停车的地方有一座古老的神殿,曾被尊为全国最大的神殿,但几年前庙里曾发生过一件惨绝人寰的凶杀案,当地的人因此认为圣地被亵渎了,所以就把所有的家具及礼拜用品全都搬走了,只当作一般的公共场所使用。他们决定就让我在这里住下。朝北的大门约有四英尺高、两英尺宽,由此我可以方便地爬进爬出。门的两边各有一扇小窗,离地约有六英寸。国王的铁匠从左边的窗口拉进去九十一条链条,那链条很像欧洲妇女表上所挂的链子,粗细也差不多;铁匠再用三十六把挂锁把我的左腿锁在链条上。在大路的另一边,二十英尺以外有一座至少五英尺高的塔楼,与这庙遥遥相望。皇帝和宫廷中的重要贵族登上此楼以便看清我的模样。这是后来别人告诉我的,因为当时我看不到他们。估计有十万以上的居民也都跑出城来看我。虽然我有卫队保护,可我猜想有不下一万人好几次登上梯子爬上了我的身体。但不久国王就发布公告禁止这种行为,违者处以死刑。当工人们觉得我不可能再挣脱时,就将捆绑我的绳子全都砍断。我站立起来,生平从来没有这样沮丧过。可是人们看到我站起来走动时,他们那种喧闹和惊讶的情形简直无法形容。拴住我左腿的链条长约两码,使我可以在一个半圆的范围内前后自由地走动,因为拴链条的地方离大门才不到四英寸,所以我也可以爬进庙里伸直身子躺在里面。
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