The emperor of Lilliput, attended by several of the nobility, comes to see the author in his confinement. The emperor's person and habit described. Learned men appointed to teach the author their language. He gains favour by his mild disposition. His pockets are searched, and his sword and pistols taken from him.
小人国的皇帝在几位贵族的陪同下前来看在押的作者;描写皇帝的仪容与习惯;学者们奉命教作者当地的语言;作者因温顺的性格博得皇帝的欢心;他的衣袋受到搜查,刀和手枪都被没收了。
When I found myself on my feet, I looked about me, and must confess I never beheld a more entertaining prospect. The country around appeared like a continued garden, and the enclosed fields, which were generally forty feet square, resembled so many beds of flowers. These fields were intermingled with woods of half a stang, and the tallest trees, as I could judge, appeared to be seven feet high. I viewed the town on my left hand, which looked like the painted scene of a city in a theatre.
我站起来环顾了一下四周。我必须承认自己从未见过比这更有趣的景色。周围的田野像无垠的花园,圈起来的田地一般都是四十英尺见方,就像许许多多的花床。田地间夹杂着树林,这树林约占地八分之一英亩。据我推断,最高的树大约高七英尺。我观望左手边的城池,看上去就像戏院里所绘的城池的布景。
I had been for some hours extremely pressed by the necessities of nature; which was no wonder, it being almost two days since I had last disburdened myself. I was under great difficulties between urgency and shame. The best expedient I could think of, was to creep into my house, which I accordingly did; and shutting the gate after me, I went as far as the length of my chain would suffer, and discharged my body of that uneasy load. But this was the only time I was ever guilty of so uncleanly an action; for which I cannot but hope the candid reader will give some allowance, after he has maturely and impartially considered my case, and the distress I was in. From this time my constant practice was, as soon as I rose, to perform that business in open air, at the full extent of my chain; and due care was taken every morning before company came, that the offensive matter should be carried off in wheel-barrows, by two servants appointed for that purpose. I would not have dwelt so long upon a circumstance that, perhaps, at first sight, may appear not very momentous, if I had not thought it necessary to justify my character, in point of cleanliness, to the world; which, I am told, some of my maligners have been pleased, upon this and other occasions, to call in question.
几个小时以来,我憋大便憋得非常难受。这也不奇怪,因为我已经有两天没有排便了。我陷入了这个巨大的困境,又急又羞。眼下我所能想到的最好办法就是爬进屋去,我也这么做了。我进去后把门关上,走到链子能达到的最远处,把身体里那叫我难受的负担排掉。但我对这唯一一次对这么不干净的行为有负罪感,因此我希望正直的读者能够谨慎、公正地考虑我当时的处境与所受的痛苦,能够多多包涵。这次以后,我通常早上一起来就到户外去,在链子长度能达到的最远的地方完成这件事。这也在每天早上行人出来之前就得到了适当的处理——两个特派仆人用手推车将这堆讨人厌的东西运走。这与我好干净的个性有关,所以我才认为我有为自己辩明的必要,否则也不会费这么半天来说这么件看起来似乎微不足道的事。不过别人告诉我,一些中伤我的人很乐意在这件事和其他事情上怀疑我。
When this adventure was at an end, I came back out of my house, having occasion for fresh air. The emperor was already descended from the tower, and advancing on horseback towards me, which had like to have cost him dear; for the beast, though very well trained, yet wholly unused to such a sight, which appeared as if a mountain moved before him, reared up on its hinder feet; but that prince, who is an excellent horseman, kept his seat, till his attendants ran in, and held the bridle, while his majesty had time to dismount. When he alighted, he surveyed me round with great admiration; but kept beyond the length of my chain. He ordered his cooks and butlers, who were already prepared, to give me victuals and drink, which they pushed forward in a sort of vehicles upon wheels, till I could reach them. I took these vehicles and soon emptied them all; twenty of them were filled with meat, and ten with liquor; each of the former afforded me two or three good mouthfuls; and I emptied the liquor of ten vessels, which was contained in earthen vials, into one vehicle, drinking it off at a draught; and so I did with the rest. The empress, and young princes of the blood of both sexes, attended by many ladies, sat at some distance in their chairs; but upon the accident that happened to the emperor's horse, they alighted, and came near his person, which I am now going to describe. He is taller by almost the breadth of my nail, than any of his court; which alone is enough to strike an awe into the beholders. His features are strong and masculine, with an Austrian lip and arched nose, his complexion olive, his countenance erect, his body and limbs well proportioned, all his motions graceful, and his deportment majestic. He was then past his prime, being twenty-eight years and three quarters old, of which he had reigned about seven in great felicity, and generally victorious. For the better convenience of beholding him, I lay on my side, so that my face was parallel to his, and he stood but three yards off: however, I have had him since many times in my hand, and therefore cannot be deceived in the description. His dress was very plain and simple, and the fashion of it between the Asiatic and the European; but he had on his head a light helmet of gold, adorned with jewels, and a plume on the crest. He held his sword drawn in his hand to defend himself, if I should happen to break loose; it was almost three inches long; the hilt and scabbard were gold enriched with diamonds. His voice was shrill, but very clear and articulate; and I could distinctly hear it when I stood up. The ladies and courtiers were all most magnificently clad; so that the spot they stood upon seemed to resemble a petticoat spread upon the ground, embroidered with figures of gold and silver. His imperial majesty spoke often to me, and I returned answers: but neither of us could understand a syllable. There were several of his priests and lawyers present (as I conjectured by their habits), who were commanded to address themselves to me; and I spoke to them in as many languages as I had the least smattering of, which were High and Low Dutch, Latin, French, Spanish, Italian, and lingua franca, but all to no purpose. After about two hours the court retired, and I was left with a strong guard, to prevent the impertinence, and probably the malice of the rabble, who were very impatient to crowd about me as near as they durst; and some of them had the impudence to shoot their arrows at me, as I sat on the ground by the door of my house, whereof one very narrowly missed my left eye. But the colonel ordered six of the ringleaders to be seized, and thought no punishment so proper as to deliver them bound into my hands; which some of his soldiers accordingly did, pushing them forward with the butt-ends of their pikes into my reach. I took them all in my right hand, put five of them into my coat-pocket; and as to the sixth, I made a countenance as if I would eat him alive. The poor man squalled terribly, and the colonel and his officers were in much pain, especially when they saw me take out my penknife: but I soon put them out of fear; for, looking mildly, and immediately cutting the strings he was bound with, I set him gently on the ground, and away he ran. I treated the rest in the same manner, taking them one by one out of my pocket; and I observed both the soldiers and people were highly delighted at this mark of my clemency, which was represented very much to my advantage at court.
这件事之后,我又重新走出屋来,有机会呼吸一下新鲜空气。这时皇帝已经从塔上下来骑着马向我走来,但却差点儿使他付出不小的代价。那马虽然受过良好的训练,但见了我却完全无法习惯,仿佛我是一座山在它面前动来动去,因为受惊,前蹄悬空站了起来,幸亏这位君王是位出色的骑手,依然能在马上坐稳。侍卫赶紧跑过来勒住缰绳,皇帝才得以及时从马上下来。他下马之后,带着无比惊讶的神情仔仔细细地将我打量了一圈,不过一直待在链子够不着的地方。他命令厨师和管家把酒菜送到我的面前。他们早已做好准备,一听到命令就用轮车把饮食推到我能拿到的地方。我接过这些车,并很快把上面的食物一扫而光。二十辆车装满了肉,十辆车盛着酒;每辆肉车上的肉足够我吃两三大口;每辆酒车上有十小陶罐的酒,我把它们倒在一起,一饮而尽;剩下的几车食物我也是这样吃掉的。皇后和其他年轻的王族成员,在许多贵妇人的陪伴下,坐在离我稍远一点的座位上。皇帝的马出事之后,他们就下来到了皇帝的跟前。现在我来描述一下皇帝的容貌:他的身高比其他王公大臣们都高,高出大约有我的一个指甲盖那样,仅此一点就足以使看到他的人肃然起敬。他容貌雄健威武,长着奥地利人的嘴唇和鹰钩鼻,橄榄色的皮肤,面相坚毅端庄,身材四肢十分匀称,举止文雅,仪态庄严。他已过了青春年华,现年二十八岁零九个月;在位大约七年,国泰民安,基本上战无不胜。为了更方便地看他,我侧躺着,和他脸对脸。他站在离我只有三码远的地方,后来我也曾多次把他托在我手中,所以我的描述是不会有问题的。他的服装非常简朴,样式介于亚洲式和欧洲式之间,但头上戴了一顶饰有珠宝的黄金头盔,盔顶上插着一根羽毛。他手握着剑,以防我挣脱束缚。这剑大约三英寸长,柄和鞘全是金做的,上面镶满了钻石。他的嗓音很尖,但响亮清晰,我站起来也可以听得清清楚楚。贵妇人和朝臣们全都打扮得十分华丽,所以他们所站的那块地方看起来像是地上铺了一条绣满了金人银人的衬裙。皇帝经常跟我说话,我也做了回答,但彼此完全听不懂对方在说什么。在场的还有他的几个牧师和律师(我根据他们的服装推断),他们也奉命跟我谈话。我就用我一知半解的各种语言与他们说话,其中包括高地荷兰语和低地荷兰语、拉丁语、法语、西班牙语、意大利语和混合语,可是所有的语言也没起到半点作用。过了大约两个小时,宫廷的人才全部离去,只留下一支强大的警卫队防止乱民们无礼或者恶意的举动——这些人由于好奇极不耐烦地向我周围挤,大着胆子尽可能地挨近我。我在房门口地上坐着的时候,有人竟无礼地向我放箭,有一支差点儿射中了我的左眼。领队的上校下令逮捕了六个罪魁祸首,他觉得最合适的惩罚莫过于将他们捆绑着送到我手中。他的几个兵照办了,用枪托将几个乱民推到我手可以够得着的地方。我用右手一下子把他们全部抓住,五个放入上衣口袋,第六个则做出要生吃他的样子。这可怜的人痛苦地嚎哭,上校和军官们也都十分痛苦,尤其当他们看见我掏出削笔刀来的时候。我很快就消除了他们的恐惧,因为我看起来和颜悦色,并且立即用刀割断了绑着他的绳子,轻轻把他放到地上,他撒腿就跑。其余几个我也做了同样的处理,将他们一个个从口袋里放出来。我看得出来,不论士兵还是百姓对我这种仁慈的表现都万分感激,这件事后来传到朝廷上,说法对我十分有利。
Towards night I got with some difficulty into my house, where I lay on the ground, and continued to do so about a fortnight; during which time, the emperor gave orders to have a bed prepared for me. Six hundred beds of the common measure were brought in carriages, and worked up in my house; a hundred and fifty of their beds, sewn together, made up the breadth and length; and these were four double: which, however, kept me but very indifferently from the hardness of the floor, that was of smooth stone. By the same computation, they provided me with sheets, blankets, and coverlets, tolerable enough for one who had been so long inured to hardships.
傍晚时分,我好不容易爬回屋在地上躺了下来,这样一直睡了大约两个星期。这期间皇帝下令给我准备一张床。车子运来了六百张普通尺寸的床,在我的屋子里拼接起来。一百五十张小床缝在一起做成了一张长宽适度的床,其余的也照样缝好,四层叠在一起,但是这对我来说跟睡在光滑的石板地上也没有太大的区别。他们又以同样的计算方法给我准备了床单、毯子和被子,对于像我这么一个早过惯了苦日子的人来说,这一切也就很像样了。
As the news of my arrival spread through the kingdom, it brought prodigious numbers of rich, idle, and curious people to see me; so that the villages were almost emptied; and great neglect of tillage and household affairs must have ensued, if his imperial majesty had not provided, by several proclamations and orders of state, against this inconveniency. He directed that those who had already beheld me should return home, and not presume to come within fifty yards of my house, without license from the court; whereby the secretaries of state got considerable fees.
随着我到来的消息传遍整个王国,无数富人、闲人和好奇的人们前来观看,简直是万人空巷,要不是皇帝陛下下令颁公告禁止这种骚乱,那么就会出现无人耕种、无人理家的严重后果。皇帝下令:凡是看过我的人必须回家,没有朝廷的许可证任何人不得擅自走近离我房子五十码以内的地方。大臣们还因此获得了数量可观的税款。
In the mean time the emperor held frequent councils, to debate what course should be taken with me; and I was afterwards assured by a particular friend, a person of great quality, who was as much in the secret as any, that the court was under many difficulties concerning me. They apprehended my breaking loose; that my diet would be very expensive, and might cause a famine. Sometimes they determined to starve me; or at least to shoot me in the face and hands with poisoned arrows, which would soon despatch me; but again they considered, that the stench of so large a carcass might produce a plague in the metropolis, and probably spread through the whole kingdom. In the midst of these consultations, several officers of the army went to the door of the great councilchamber, and two of them being admitted, gave an account of my behaviour to the six criminals above-mentioned; which made so favourable an impression in the breast of his majesty and the whole board, in my behalf, that an imperial commission was issued out, obliging all the villages, nine hundred yards round the city, to deliver in every morning six beeves, forty sheep, and other victuals for my sustenance; together with a proportionable quantity of bread, and wine, and other liquors; for the due payment of which, his majesty gave assignments upon his treasury—for this prince lives chiefly upon his own demesnes; seldom, except upon great occasions, raising any subsidies upon his subjects, who are bound to attend him in his wars at their own expense.
同时,皇帝多次召开会议讨论采取什么措施对待我。我有一位特殊的朋友地位很高,他参与了这桩机密事件,后来向我证实,朝廷因为我面临重重困难。他们担心我挣脱逃跑;我的伙食费太贵可能会引起饥荒。他们曾一度决定将我饿死或者用毒箭射我的脸和手,这样就可以处死我。但他们又考虑到,这么庞大的一具尸体可能会在都城造成瘟疫,说不定还会在整个王国传染开来。正当大家在商讨这些事情的时候,会议大厅门口来了几位部队的军官,他们中有两位被召见进去报告我处置那六名罪犯的情形。我的这一举动在皇帝陛下以及全体廷臣的心中留下了极好的印象。皇帝随即颁下一道旨意:环首都九百码以内所有的村庄每天早上必须送上六头牛、四十只羊以及其他食品作为我的食物。此外还必须提供相应数量的面包、葡萄酒和其他酒类。皇帝命令这笔费用由国库支付。原来这位君王主要靠自己领地上的收入生活,除非遇上重大事件,一般难得向百姓征税。但是如果战事发生,百姓必须自费随皇帝出征。
An establishment was also made of six hundred persons to be my domestics, who had board-wages allowed for their maintenance, and tents built for them very conveniently on each side of my door. It was likewise ordered, that three hundred tailors should make me a suit of clothes, after the fashion of the country; that six of his majesty's greatest scholars should be employed to instruct me in their language; and lastly, that the emperor's horses, and those of the nobility and troops of guards, should be frequently exercised in my sight, to accustom themselves to me. All these orders were duly put in execution; and in about three weeks I made a great progress in learning their language; during which time the emperor frequently honoured me with his visits, and was pleased to assist my masters in teaching me. We began already to converse together in some sort; and the first words I learnt, were to express my desire "that he would please give me my liberty;" which I every day repeated on my knees. His answer, as I could comprehend it, was, "that this must be a work of time, not to be thought on without the advice of his council, and that first I must lumos kelmin pesso desmar lon emposo;"that is, swear a peace with him and his kingdom. However, that I should be used with all kindness. And he advised me to "acquire, by my patience and discreet behaviour, the good opinion of himself and his subjects. " He desired "I would not take it ill, if he gave orders to certain proper officers to search me; for probably I might carry about me several weapons, which must needs be dangerous things, if they answered the bulk of so prodigious a person. " I said, "His majesty should be satisfied; for I was ready to strip myself, and turn up my pockets before him. " This I delivered part in words, and part in signs. He replied, "that, by the laws of the kingdom, I must be searched by two of his officers; that he knew this could not be done without my consent and assistance; and he had so good an opinion of my generosity and justice, as to trust their persons in my hands; that whatever they took from me, should be returned when I left the country, or paid for at the rate which I would set upon them. " I took up the two officers in my hands, put them first into my coat-pockets, and then into every other pocket about me, except my two fobs, and another secret pocket, which I had no mind should be searched, wherein I had some little necessaries that were of no consequence to any but myself. In one of my fobs there was a silver watch, and in the other a small quantity of gold in a purse. These gentlemen, having pen, ink, and paper, about them, made an exact inventory of every thing they saw; and when they had done, desired I would set them down, that they might deliver it to the emperor. This inventory I afterwards translated into English, and is, word for word, as follows: Imprimis: in the right coat-pocket of the great manmountain (for so I interpret the words quinbus flestrin) after the strictest search, we found only one great piece of coarse-cloth, large enough to be a foot-cloth for your majesty's chief room of state. In the left pocket we saw a huge silver chest, with a cover of the same metal, which we, the searchers, were not able to lift. We desired it should be opened, and one of us stepping into it, found himself up to the mid leg in a sort of dust, some part whereof flying up to our faces set us both a sneezing for several times together. In his right waistcoat-pocket we found a prodigious bundle of white thin substances, folded one over another, about the bigness of three men, tied with a strong cable, and marked with black figures; which we humbly conceive to be writings, every letter almost half as large as the palm of our hands. In the left there was a sort of engine, from the back of which were extended twenty long poles, resembling the pallisados before your majesty's court: wherewith we conjecture the man-mountain combs his head; for we did not always trouble him with questions, because we found it a great difficulty to make him understand us. In the large pocket, on the right side of his middle cover (so I translate the word ranfulo, by which they meant my breeches), we saw a hollow pillar of iron, about the length of a man, fastened to a strong piece of timber larger than the pillar; and upon one side of the pillar, were huge pieces of iron sticking out, cut into strange figures, which we know not what to make of. In the left pocket, another engine of the same kind. In the smaller pocket on the right side, were several round flat pieces of white and red metal, of different bulk; some of the white, which seemed to be silver, were so large and heavy, that my comrade and I could hardly lift them. In the left pocket were two black pillars irregularly shaped: we could not, without difficulty, reach the top of them, as we stood at the bottom of his pocket. One of them was covered, and seemed all of a piece: but at the upper end of the other there appeared a white round substance, about twice the bigness of our heads. Within each of these was enclosed a prodigious plate of steel; which, by our orders, we obliged him to show us, because we apprehended they might be dangerous engines. He took them out of their cases, and told us, that in his own country his practice was to shave his beard with one of these, and cut his meat with the other. There were two pockets which we could not enter: these he called his fobs; they were two large slits cut into the top of his middle cover, but squeezed close by the pressure of his belly. Out of the right fob hung a great silver chain, with a wonderful kind of engine at the bottom. We directed him to draw out whatever was at the end of that chain; which appeared to be a globe, half silver, and half of some transparent metal; for, on the transparent side, we saw certain strange figures circularly drawn, and thought we could touch them, till we found our fingers stopped by the lucid substance. He put this engine into our ears, which made an incessant noise, like that of a water-mill; and we conjecture it is either some unknown animal, or the god that he worships; but we are more inclined to the latter opinion, because he assured us, (if we understood him right, for he expressed himself very imperfectly) that he seldom did any thing without consulting it. He called it his oracle, and said, it pointed out the time for every action of his life. From the left fob he took out a net almost large enough for a fisherman, but contrived to open and shut like a purse, and served him for the same use: we found therein several massy pieces of yellow metal, which, if they be real gold, must be of immense value.
皇帝又下令组成一个六百人的队伍给我当差,发给他们伙食费维持生计。为方便服务,还在我的门两旁搭建帐篷供他们居住。同时,皇帝还下令三百个裁缝给我做一套本国样式的衣服,雇六名本国最伟大的学者教我学习他们的语言;最后,他还要御马、贵族们的马以及卫队的马时常在我跟前操练,使它们对我习惯起来。所有这些命令都按时得到执行。大约过了三个星期,我在学习他们的语言方面大有进步。在这期间,皇帝常常大驾光临,并且很乐意帮助我的老师一起教我。我们已经可以做某些方面的交谈了。我学会的第一句话就是向他表达我希望他给我自由,每天我都跪在地上不停地念叨这句话。就我的理解,他回答的是:这得经过时间的考验。不征求内阁会议的意见根本不可能,而且首先我要宣誓与他及他的王国和平相处。但是,我应该受到友好的对待。他还劝我要以耐心谨慎的行动来赢得他和臣民的好感。他还希望如果他下令几个专门官员来搜我的身,请我不要见怪,因为我身上很可能带着几件武器,要是这些武器的大小配得上我这么一个庞然大物,那一定是很危险的东西。我说我可以满足陛下的要求,因为我随时可以脱下衣服翻出口袋让他检查。我一边用言语一边用手势表达着我的意思。他回答说根据本国法律,我必须被两位官员搜查;他也知道没有经过我的同意和协作,官员们是办不到这件事的,但是他对我的大度和正直极有好感,很放心将大臣们的安全托付给我。他说无论官员们从我身上取走什么,离开这个国家时都自当奉还,或者按我规定的价格如数赔偿。于是我把那两位官员拿到手上,先把他们放进上衣口袋,接着又放入身上的其他口袋,只有两个装表的小口袋和另一只秘密口袋没让他们搜查,因为我觉得没有搜查的必要,那里面放着的几件零用必需品对他们没有任何意义。一只口袋里装的是一块银表,另一只则放着存有少量金币的钱包。两位先生随身带着钢笔、墨水和纸,将所看到的一切列出一份详细的清单;他们做完之后要我把他们放回地上,以便将清单呈交给陛下皇帝。这份清单我后来将它译成了英文,逐字抄录如下:第一,在巨人山(“昆布斯•弗莱斯纯”一词我是这样翻译的)上衣的右口袋里,经过最严格的搜查,我们只发现了一大块粗布,大小足可做陛下大殿的地毯。在左边口袋里,我们看到一个巨大的银箱,盖子也是银制的,但我们打不开。我们要他打开,然后其中一人跨了进去,结果里面有一种尘土一般的东西一下子就没过了他腿的中部,一些尘埃飞到我们脸上,弄得我们俩打了好几个喷嚏。在他背心的右边口袋里,我们发现了一大捆白白的薄东西,一层层地叠在一起,有三个人那么大,用一根粗壮的缆绳扎着,上面记着黑色的图形。依我们的愚见,这大概就是他们的文字,每个字母差不多有我们半个巴掌那么大小。左边那只袋里是一部机器一样的东西,它的背面伸出二十根长长的柱子,很像陛下宫前的栏杆,我们估计那是巨人山用来梳头的东西。我们没有老拿问题去麻烦他,因为我们发现他很难听懂我们说的话。在他的中外衣(我从“栾佛洛”一词译过来的,他们指的是我的马裤)右边的大口袋里,我们看见一根一人来高的中空的铁柱子,固定在比铁柱子还要粗大的一块坚硬的木头上,柱子的一边伸出几块大铁片,奇形怪状的,我们不明白是做什么用的。左边的口袋里放着同样的一部机器。在右边稍小一点的口袋里,是一些大小不等的圆而扁的金属板,颜色有白有红。白色的应该是银子,又大又重,我和同伴都搬不动。在左边的口袋有两根形状不规则的黑柱子。当我们站在口袋底部,很难到达柱子顶端。其中一根被东西覆盖着,看上去像是一件整的东西,可是另一根的顶端上似乎有一样白色的圆东西,大约有两个我们那么大。两根柱子都镶着一块巨大的钢板,因为我们怕是危险的机器,就让他拿出来给我们看。他把它们从盒子里取出,告诉我们,在他们国家,他一般是用其中一个剃胡子,用另一个切肉。还有两只口袋我们进不去,他叫它们表袋。那两个口袋是他中外衣上端开着的两个狭长的缝口,被挤得紧贴着他的肚子。右边表袋外悬着一条巨大的银链,底端拴着一部神奇的机器。我们令他把链子上拴着的东西拉出来,却是一个球体的东西,半边是银,半边是透明金属;我们在透明的一边看见了一圈奇异的图形,想去摸一下,手指却被那层透明物挡住了。他把那机器放到我们耳边,只听见它发出不停的声音,好像水车一般。我们猜想这要么是某种我们不知名的动物,要么是他所崇拜的上帝,但我们更倾向于后一种猜测,因为他对我们说(如果我们理解正确的话,因为他表达得很不清楚),无论做什么事,他都要请教它。他管它叫神谕,说他一生中的每次活动都由它来指定时间。他从左边的表袋里掏出一张差不多够渔夫使用的网,不过设计的像钱包一样可以开合,实际上也是他的钱包。我们在里边找到几大块黄色的金属,如果是金子的话,那么它的价值可就大了。
Having thus, in obedience to your majesty's commands, diligently searched all his pockets, we observed a girdle about his waist made of the hide of some prodigious animal, from which, on the left side, hung a sword of the length of five men; and on the right, a bag or pouch divided into two cells, each cell capable of holding three of your majesty's subjects. In one of these cells were several globes, or balls, of a most ponderous metal, about the bigness of our heads, and requiring a strong hand to lift them; the other cell contained a heap of certain black grains, but of no great bulk or weight, for we could hold above fifty of them in the palms of our hands.
遵奉陛下之命,我们将他身上所有的口袋都认真地检查了一遍。我们看到他的腰带是由一种巨兽的皮革制成。腰带左边挂了一把五人高的长剑,右边挂有一只皮囊,里面又分为两个小袋,每只小袋均能装下三个陛下的臣民。其中一只口袋装了些和我们脑袋一样大小的重金属球,要手上力气大的人才能将它们举起来;另一只装有一堆黑色颗粒,体积不大重量也较轻,我们可以抓起五十多个放在手掌中。
This is an exact inventory of what we found about the body of the man-mountain, who used us with great civility, and due respect to your majesty's commission. Signed and sealed on the fourth day of the eightyninth moon of your majesty's auspicious reign. Clefrin Frelock, Marsi Frelock. When this inventory was read over to the emperor, he directed me, although in very gentle terms, to deliver up the several particulars. He first called for my scimitar, which I took out, scabbard and all. In the mean time he ordered three thousand of his choicest troops (who then attended him) to surround me at a distance, with their bows and arrows just ready to discharge; but I did not observe it, for my eyes were wholly fixed upon his majesty. He then desired me to draw my scimitar, which, although it had got some rust by the sea water, was, in most parts, exceeding bright. I did so, and immediately all the troops gave a shout between terror and surprise; for the sun shone clear, and the reflection dazzled their eyes, as I waved the scimitar to and fro in my hand. His majesty, who is a most magnanimous prince, was less daunted than I could expect: he ordered me to return it into the scabbard, and cast it on the ground as gently as I could, about six feet from the end of my chain. The next thing he demanded was one of the hollow iron pillars; by which he meant my pocket pistols. I drew it out, and at his desire, as well as I could, expressed to him the use of it; and charging it only with powder, which, by the closeness of my pouch, happened to escape wetting in the sea (an inconvenience against which all prudent mariners take special care to provide), I first cautioned the emperor not to be afraid, and then I let it off in the air. The astonishment here was much greater than at the sight of my scimitar. Hundreds fell down as if they had been struck dead; and even the emperor, although he stood his ground, could not recover himself for some time. I delivered up both my pistols in the same manner as I had done my scimitar, and then my pouch of powder and bullets; begging him that the former might be kept from fire, for it would kindle with the smallest spark, and blow up his imperial palace into the air. I likewise delivered up my watch, which the emperor was very curious to see, and commanded two of his tallest yeomen of the guards to bear it on a pole upon their shoulders, as draymen in England do a barrel of ale. He was amazed at the continual noise it made, and the motion of the minute-hand, which he could easily discern; for their sight is much more acute than ours. He asked the opinions of his learned men about it, which were various and remote, as the reader may well imagine without my repeating; although indeed I could not very perfectly understand them. I then gave up my silver and copper money, my purse, with nine large pieces of gold, and some smaller ones; my knife and razor, my comb and silver snuff-box, my handkerchief and journal-book. My scimitar, pistols, and pouch, were conveyed in carriages to his majesty's stores; but the rest of my goods were returned me.
这就是我们在巨人山身上搜查情况的详细清单。他对我们非常有礼貌,对陛下的命令表现出应有的尊重。于陛下荣登皇位的第八十九月初四日签名盖章。克莱弗林•弗利洛克,马尔西•弗利洛克这份清单给皇帝宣读完之后,他虽然措辞婉转,却还是命令我把那几件物品交出来。他首先要我交出腰刀,我就连刀带鞘都摘了下来。与此同时,他命令三千精兵(当时正陪伴着他)远远地将我包围起来,持弓搭箭准备随时向我射箭;不过我并没有去留意他们,因为我两眼正全神贯注在皇帝身上。接着他要我拔出腰刀。虽然受海水浸泡的刀有点生锈,但总的来说还算是雪亮的。我拔出刀来,所有士兵又惊又怕,立即大声叫喊。此时烈日当空,我手拿腰刀舞来舞去,那刀光使他们眼花缭乱。陛下毕竟是位气概不凡的君王,并没有像我所料想的那么惊吓。他命令我将刀收回刀鞘,轻轻地扔到离拴我的链子的末端六英尺远的地方。他要我交出的第二件东西是那两根中空的铁柱之一,他指的是我的袖珍手枪。我在他的要求下把枪拔出来,尽我所能地向他说明了枪的用途。因为皮囊收得紧,其中的火药也幸运地没被海水浸湿(所有谨慎的航海家都会特别小心,避免火药被海水浸湿这种不愉快的事情发生);我装上火药,并且事先警告皇帝不要害怕,然后向空中放了一枪。他们这一次所受的惊吓大大超过了刚才看见我腰刀时的惊吓。几百人倒地,好像被震死了一样。就连皇帝,虽然依旧站着没有倒下,却也半天不能恢复常态。像交出腰刀一样,我也交出了两把手枪以及我的火药包和子弹。我告诉他千万要注意:不要让火药接近火,因为一丁点儿火星就会引起燃烧,把他的皇宫轰上天去。同样,我把手表也交了出去。皇帝看了十分好奇,命令两个最高的卫兵用一根杆子抬在肩上,就像英格兰的运货车夫抬着一桶浓啤酒一样。他对表所发出的连续不断的响声和分针的走动十分惊奇;由于他们的视力远比我们敏锐,所以很容易就看得出分针是在走着。他征询了身边学者们的意见,虽然我不大能听得懂他们的话,却可以看出他们的意见是各式各样的,分歧很大。这也用不着我重复,读者很容易想象。之后我交出了银币、铜币、钱包、里面九大块金币及几枚小金币;还有我的小刀、剃刀、梳子和银鼻烟盒;我的手帕和旅行日记。我的腰刀、手枪和弹药包被马车送进了皇帝的国库,但是其他物件全都归还给了我。
I had as I before observed, one private pocket, which escaped their search, wherein there was a pair of spectacles (which I sometimes use for the weakness of my eyes), a pocket perspective, and some other little conveniences; which, being of no consequence to the emperor, I did not think myself bound in honour to discover, and I apprehended they might be lost or spoiled if I ventured them out of my possession.
前面也曾提到过,我还有一只秘密口袋逃过了他们的检查,那里有我的一副眼镜(我视力不好,有时需要戴眼镜),一架袖珍望远镜和一些小玩意儿。那些东西对皇帝来说无关紧要,我认为我也没必要非献出来不可。再者我也担心:如果我冒险把它们交了出去,可能会被弄丢或损坏。
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