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第三章 荒岛遇难4

Neither was this all; for my goods being all English manufacture, such as cloths, stuffs, baize, and things particularly valuable and desirable in the country, I found means to sell them to a very great advantage; so that I might say I had more than four times the value of my first cargo, and was now infinitely beyond my poor neighbour—I mean in the advancement of my plantation; for the first thing I did, I bought me a negro slave, and an European servant also—I mean another besides that which the captain brought me from Lisbon. But as abused prosperity is oftentimes made the very means of our greatest adversity, so it was with me. I went on the next year with great success in my plantation: I raised fifty great rolls of tobacco on my own ground, more than I had disposed of for necessaries among my neighbours; and these fifty rolls, being each of above a hundredweight, were well cured, and laid by against the return of the fleet from Lisbon: and now increasing in business and wealth, my head began to be full of projects and undertakings beyond my reach; such as are, indeed, often the ruin of the best heads in business. Had I continued in the station I was now in, I had room for all the happy things to have yet befallen me for which my father so earnestly recommended a quiet, retired life, and of which he had so sensibly described the middle station of life to be full of; but other things attended me, and I was still to be the willful agent of all my own miseries; and particularly, to increase my fault, and double the reflections upon myself, which in my future sorrows I should have leisure to make, all these miscarriages were procured by my apparent obstinate adhering to my foolish inclination of wandering abroad, and pursuing that inclination, in contradiction to the clearest views of doing myself good in a fair and plain pursuit of those prospects, and those measures of life, which nature and Providence concurred to present me with, and to make my duty.

不只是这样,我的货品都是英国造的,比如布料、呢绒、粗呢,还有一些在巴西特别珍贵和稀缺的东西。我想办法高价卖出了它们,可以说,我赚的钱是那批货品原价的四倍。现在,我远远地超过了我那可怜的邻居——我是说在种植园发展这方面。我首先做的事情,就是给自己买了一个黑奴,还有一个欧洲仆人——我说的是另外一个仆人,不是船长从里斯本买给我的那个。但是过多的财富往往会成为我们最大的不幸,对我来说也是如此。第二年,我凭种植园取得了巨大成功:从自己的田里收获了五十大捆烟草。除了供应当地的需要之外,还剩下很多。这五十捆烟草中的每一捆都超过了一英担,我将它们精心晾晒后存起来,就等着那些商船从里斯本回来。现在我的生意扩大了,财富也多了,于是头脑中又开始充斥着难以实现的规划和理想。确实,这些想法往往会毁掉最精明的商人。如果我继续过这种生活,幸福必然会降临于我。为了使我得到这种幸福,父亲曾那样诚恳地劝我过一种安静、平和的生活,并详细地向我描述过中间状态生活的种种幸福。可是,还有其他事情等待着我。我还是会任性地去一手造就自己所有的不幸。特别是,所有灾难的发生都是因为我过于固执地坚持着我那个漫游世界的愚蠢愿望,还固执地为之去追寻。这增加了我的过错,当我在悲苦的未来静下心来反省自己的时候,我为此悔恨不已。我头脑发热,没有通过生活中平常、正当的方式和手段来让自己幸福,而是违背了自然和老天的一致意愿,没有履行自己的责任。

As I had once done thus in my breaking away from my parents, so I could not be content now, but I must go and leave the happy view I had of being a rich and thriving man in my new plantation, only to pursue a rash and immoderate desire of rising faster than the nature of the thing admitted; and thus I cast myself down again into the deepest gulf of human misery that ever man fell into, or perhaps could be consistent with life and a state of health in the world.

正像我之前那次从父母身边逃跑一样,我现在又不满足于现状了。我本能够凭借新的种植园成为富足成功的人,但是我一心想离开,把这美好的愿景弃之脑后,只为了去追求一种鲁莽而狂热的欲望,异想天开地想比一般人更快地发家致富。这样,我让自己陷入了人间最不幸的深渊当中。如果不是因为这样的想法,我一定会在这世间过着健康安乐的生活。

To come, then, by the just degrees to the particulars of this part of my story. You may suppose, that having now lived almost four years in the Brazils, and beginning to thrive and prosper very well upon my plantation, I had not only learned the language, but had contracted acquaintance and friendship among my fellow planters, as well as among the merchants at St. Salvador, which was our port; and that, in my discourses among them, I had frequently given them an account of my two voyages to the coast of Guinea: the manner of trading with the negroes there, and how easy it was to purchase upon the coast for trifles—such as beads, toys, knives, scissors, hatchets, bits of glass, and the like—not only gold dust, Guinea grains, elephants't eeth, but negroes, for the service of the Brazils, in great numbers.

下面,让我慢慢地来细说我这部分的经历。你们可以想象,如今我在巴西住了已经差不多四年,凭着种植园事业也开始繁荣兴旺起来,我不仅学会了本地语言,还在同行的种植园主和圣赛尔瓦多——那是我们的港口——的商人中结识了熟人和朋友。我在和他们谈话时,经常向他们描述我去几内亚沿岸的两次航行:告诉他们和那里的黑人做买卖的方式,以及和黑人做买卖有多么容易。用些小玩意——像珠子、玩具、刀子、剪子、斧头和玻璃制品之类的东西——就不但能换到金沙、几内亚谷物和象牙,甚至还能换回大批黑人到巴西劳作。

They listened always very attentively to my discourses on these heads, but especially to that part which related to the buying of negroes, which was a trade at that time, not only not far entered into, but, as far as it was, had been carried on by assientos, or permission of the kings of Spain and Portugal, and engrossed in the public stock: so that few negroes were bought, and these excessively dear.

他们对我说的这些话题,一直听得很认真,尤其是对买卖黑奴的那部分特别关注。那时候,贩卖黑奴还是一门刚兴起的垄断贸易,只有与西班牙政府签订了买卖黑奴合同,或得到西葡两国国王准许的人才能从事这项贸易。买卖集中在公共蓄隶点,所以进口黑奴很少,价格还很贵。

It happened, being in company with some merchants and planters of my acquaintance, and talking of those things very earnestly, three of them came to me next morning, and told me they had been musing very much upon what I had discoursed with them of the last night, and they came to make a secret proposal to me; and, after enjoining me to secrecy, they told me that they had a mind to fit out a ship to go to Guinea; that they had all plantations as well as I, and were straitened for nothing so much as servants; that as it was a trade that could not be carried on, because they could not publicly sell the negroes when they came home, so they desired to make but one voyage, to bring the negroes on shore privately, and divide them among their own plantations; and, in a word, the question was whether I would go their supercargo in the ship, to manage the trading part upon the coast of Guinea; and they offered me that I should have my equal share of the negroes, without providing any part of the stock.

有一次,我同一些相识的商人和种植园主热烈地谈论了这些事情。第二天早上,他们当中的三个人找到我,告诉我他们仔细考虑了我昨晚和他们说的话,这次来是向我提出一条秘密建议的。他们让我保密,然后告诉我他们想要装备一条船去几内亚,因为他们都和我一样,拥有种植园,也都和我一样,唯一缺乏的就是劳动力。他们并不能从事贩卖奴隶的生意,因为回来以后他们不能公开地出卖黑奴。因此他们打算只去一次几内亚,回来后偷偷把黑奴弄上岸,然后在他们自己的种植园中分配。总之,问题是我是否能够去监管船上的货物,并经营几内亚沿岸的买卖。他们向我提出,我不需要给出任何资本,就能和他们一块平分运回的黑奴。

This was a fair proposal, it must be confessed, had it been made to any one that had not had a settlement and a plantation of his own to look after, which was in a fair way of coming to be very considerable, and with a good stock upon it; but for me, that was thus entered and established, and had nothing to do but to go on as I had begun, for three or four years more, and to have sent for the other hundred pounds from England; and who in that time, and with that little addition, could scarce have failed of being worth three or four thousand pounds sterling, and that increasing too—for me to think of such a voyage was the most preposterous thing that ever man in such circumstances could be guilty of.

我必须承认,如果这个提议是对一个没有定居下来,也没有自己的种植园要照看的人提出的,的确是很有吸引力的,因为赚大钱的可能性很大。可对我来说,我已在巴西立足,只要继续经营我的种植园,三四年之后,再拿到从英国汇来的另外一百英镑,那时加上这一小笔钱,我肯定能毫不费力地赚到三四千英镑,而且还会增加——对身处我这种境况的人来说,考虑这样的航行简直荒谬透顶。

But I, that was born to be my own destroyer, could no more resist the offer than I could restrain my first rambling designs when my father 'good counsel was lost upon me. In a word, I told them I would go with all my heart, if they would undertake to look after my plantation in my absence, and would dispose of it to such as I should direct, if I miscarried. This they all engaged to do, and entered into writings or covenants to do so; and I made a formal will, disposing of my plantation and effects in case of my death, making the captain of the ship that had saved my life, as before, my universal heir, but obliging him to dispose of my effects as I had directed in my will; one half of the produce being to himself, and the other to be shipped to England.

但是,我生来就注定要自我毁灭,我无法拒绝这个提议,就像以前我因为不能抑制自己到处游历的渴望,而对父亲的忠告置若罔闻一样。总之,我告诉他们,如果他们承诺,在我出去的那段时间照管我的种植园,如果我遇难,还能按我的指示处理种植园的话,我就十分乐意出航。他们同意了我的全部要求,还立下字据和契约。我写了一份正式遗嘱,用来在我死后处理我的种植园和财产。我把从前救了我的船长立为我的全权继承人,但让他在处理我的财产之时遵从我的遗嘱:一半财产归他自己所有,另一半运回英国。

In short, I took all possible caution to preserve my effects and to keep up my plantation. Had I used half as much prudence to have looked into my own interest, and have made a judgment of what I ought to have done and not to have done, I had certainly never gone away from so prosperous an undertaking, leaving all the probable views of a thriving circumstance, and gone upon a voyage to sea, attended with all its common hazards, to say nothing of the reasons I had to expect particular misfortunes to myself.

总之,我采取了所有可行的办法来保护自己的财产,维持种植园的经营。如果我能花一半精力关注我自己的利益,对什么事应该做,什么事不应该做有个判断的话,我就一定不会丢下如此兴盛的事业,放弃所有唾手可得的致富前景而出海航行。因为航海总有很多危险,何况即使抛开这些原因不说,我也知道自己一向特别倒霉。

But I was hurried on, and obeyed blindly the dictates of my fancy rather than my reason; and, accordingly, the ship being fitted out, and the cargo furnished, and all things done, as by agreement, by my partners in the voyage, I went on board in an evil hour, the 1st September 1659, being the same day eight years that I went from my father and mother at Hull, in order to act the rebel to their authority, and the fool to my own interests.

但我还是盲从了脑中的幻想,弃理智于不顾地加紧准备起来。这样,在我和合伙人的共同努力下,船很快就装备起来了,所有货物也按照协定都备齐了。一六五九年九月一日,我上了船。这是一个很不吉利的日子,因为八年前的同一天,我违背父母的意愿,毫不顾及自己的利益,从赫尔离开了家。

Our ship was about one hundred and twenty tons burden, carried six guns and fourteen men, besides the master, his boy, and me. We had on board no large cargo of goods, except of such toys as were fit for our trade with the Negroes, such as beads, bits of glass, shells, and other trifles, especially little looking glasses, knives, scissors, hatchets, and the like.

我们的船大约载重一百二十吨,装备着六门大炮。除了船长、他的佣人和我之外,还有十四个人。我们船上没有什么大件货物,都是一些适合与黑人交易的小玩意,像是小珠子、玻璃制品、贝壳等。还有一些其他的小杂货,比如小望远镜、刀子、剪刀、斧子等等。

The same day I went on board we set sail, standing away to the northward upon our own coast, with design to stretch over for the African coast when we came about ten or twelve degrees of northern latitude, which, it seems, was the manner of course in those days. We had very good weather, only excessively hot, all the way upon our own coast, till we came to the height of Cape St. Augustine; from whence, keeping further off at sea, we lost sight of land, and steered as if we were bound for the isle Fernando de Noronha, holding our course N.E. by N., and leaving those isles on the east. In this course we passed the line in about twelve days't ime, and were, by our last observation, in seven degrees twenty—two minutes northern latitude, when a violent tornado, or hurricane, took us quite out of our knowledge. It began from the southeast, came about to the northwest, and then settled in the northeast; from whence it blew in such a terrible manner, that for twelve days together we could do nothing but drive, and, scudding away before it, let it carry us whither fate and the fury of the winds directed; and, during these twelve days, I need not say that I expected every day to be swallowed up; nor, indeed, did any in the ship expect to save their lives.

我上船的那天我们就起航了,沿着海岸向北航行。我们打算到达北纬十至十二度后横穿大洋,驶向非洲沿岸。这条路线是当时大家普遍采用的。沿着海岸线行驶,一路上天气都非常好,只是十分炎热。后来我们到达圣奥古斯丁角,这是一块高地,从这里开始,我们就离开了海岸,驶向茫茫大海,陆地也渐渐离我们远去。我们的航向是东北偏北,似乎要驶向费尔南多—迪诺罗尼亚岛,然后绕过这些岛屿,朝它们的西方行进。沿着这条航线,大约十二天后我们穿越了赤道。据我们最后一次的观测显示,在北纬七度二十二分,我们遭遇了强劲的龙卷风,也可能是飓风,这使得我们惊慌失措。这股飓风从东南方刮来,继而转向西北方,最后停留在了东北方。大风摧枯拉朽,整整十二天,我们无计可施,只能听任命运和狂风的摆布,随风漂流。也是在这十二天里,我每天都提心吊胆,害怕被大风浪吞没;船上也没有一个人指望能够死里逃生。

In this distress we had, besides the terror of the storm, one of our men die of the calenture, and one man and the boy washed overboard. About the twelfth day, the weather abating a little, the master made an observation as well as he could, and found that he was in about eleven degrees north latitude, but that he was twenty—two degrees of longitude difference west from Cape St. Augustine; so that he found he was upon the coast of Guiana, or the north part of Brazil, beyond the river Amazon, toward that of the river Orinoco, commonly called the Great River; and began to consult with me what course he should take, for the ship was leaky, and very much disabled, and he was going directly back to the coast of Brazil.

此时人心惶惶,风暴已使我们惊恐万状,而在这时船上却有一个人死于热带病,还有一个人连同那个小佣人一起都被巨浪卷入了茫茫大海。大约在第十二天,渐渐风平浪静,船长尽其所能仔细观察,发现我们被风刮到了北纬十一度附近,但是却位于圣奥古斯丁角以西二十二经度的地方。至此,他发现我们位于圭亚那海岸或巴西北部。我们已经飘过了亚马孙河的入海口,朝向那条通常所说的 “大河” ——奥里诺科河驶去。于是,船长开始和我商量航行线路。他认为应该直接返回巴西海岸,因为船身破损严重,也渗漏得非常厉害。

I was positively against that; and looking over the charts of the seacoast of America with him, we concluded there was no inhabited country for us to have recourse to till we came within the circle of the Caribbean Islands, and therefore resolved to stand away for Barbados; which, by keeping off at sea, to avoid the indraft of the Bay or Gulf of Mexico, we might easily perform, as we hoped, in about fifteen days 'sail; whereas we could not possibly make our voyage to the coast of Africa without some assistance both to our ship and to ourselves.

我十分反对他的意见。我和他一起查看了美洲沿岸的航海图,最后我们得出的结论是,只有行驶到加勒比群岛才能够找到有人居住的地方,从而补充资源。因此,我们决定驶向巴巴多斯。我们的船离岸在大海中航行,来避开海湾的气流或墨西哥湾的逆流。如果能如人所愿,我们便能在半个月内轻松到达。在那里我们可以把船修好,补给资源,从而继续向非洲航行。

With this design we changed our course, and steered away N.W. by W., in order to reach some of our English islands, where I hoped for relief. But our voyage was otherwise determined; for, being in the latitude of twelve degrees eighteen minutes, a second storm came upon us, which carried us away with the same impetuosity westward, and drove us so out of the way of all human commerce, that, had all our lives been saved as to the sea, we were rather in danger of being devoured by savages than ever returning to our own country.

计划定下后,我们便改变航向,朝着西北偏北的方向行驶。我们希望能够到达某个英属海岛,从而获得救援。然而,我们的航行却不是能由自己决定的。到达北纬十二度八分处时,我们再次遭遇了风暴。这次风暴和上次的一样凶猛,把我们的船向西刮去,甚至使我们偏离了所有人类贸易航线途经之地。在这种情况下,即使我们侥幸没有葬身大海,也可能面临着被野人吃掉的危险。至于回国,更是想都不用想了。

In this distress, the wind still blowing very hard, one of our men early in the morning cried out, "Land! " and we had no sooner run out of the cabin to look out, in hopes of seeing whereabouts in the world we were, than the ship struck upon a sand, and in a moment her motion being so stopped, the sea broke over her in such a manner that we expected we should all have perished immediately; and we were immediately driven into our close quarters, to shelter us from the very foam and spray of the sea.

狂风依旧猛烈,人人惶惶而不可终日。一天清晨,船上有个人突然大喊一声: “陆地!” 我们还没来得及跑出船舱,看看到底被刮到了世界的哪个角落,船却突然搁浅在了一片沙滩上,一动也不动了。滚滚巨浪袭来,恶狠狠地拍打在船身上,仿佛一瞬间就能结束我们的生命。我们吓得立即躲回船舱,来逃避狂风巨浪的袭击。

It is not easy for any one who has not been in the like condition to describe or conceive the consternation of men in such circumstances. We knew nothing where we were, or upon what land it was we were driven—whether an island or the main, whether inhabited or not inhabited. As the rage of the wind was still great, though rather less than at first, we could not so much as hope to have the ship hold many minutes without breaking into pieces, unless the winds, by a kind of miracle, should turn immediately about. In a word, we sat looking upon one another and expecting death every moment, and every man, accordingly, preparing for another world; for there was little or nothing more for us to do in this. That which was our present comfort, and all the comfort we had, was that, contrary to our expectation, the ship did not break yet, and that the master said the wind began to abate.

如果没有身临其境,任何人都无法形容或者想象出在这种环境下人类是何等恐惧。我们不知道自己身处何方,也不知道到底被风刮到了什么地方——岛屿还是大陆,有人居住还是杳无人烟。风势虽然没有先前猛烈,但是依然十分强劲。我们知道船不会支持太久,随时都有可能会裂成碎片。除非奇迹能够出现,让这狂风在瞬间停息。总而言之,我们大家坐在那里,面面相觑,每分每秒都在等待死神的降临,每一个人都做好了去另一个世界的准备。因为在这个世界上,我们已经无能为力了。然而出乎我们意料的是,船并没有被撞得粉碎,船长说风力也渐渐减弱了。这真是对我们最大的安慰。

Now, though we thought that the wind did a little abate, yet the ship having thus struck upon the sand, and sticking too fast for us to expect her getting off, we were in a dreadful condition indeed, and had nothing to do but to think of saving our lives as well as we could. We had a boat at our stern just before the storm, but she was first staved by dashing against the ship's rudder, and in the next place she broke away, and either sunk or was driven off to sea; so there was no hope from her. We had another boat on board, but how to get her off into the sea was a doubtful thing. However, there was no time to debate, for we fancied that the ship would break in pieces every minute, and some told us she was actually broken already.

虽然风势平息了许多,可我们的船却稳稳地搁浅在了沙滩上,动弹不得。我们面临的情势仍然十分危急,只能竭尽全力想办法来拯救自己的性命。在风暴到来之前,我们的船尾本来拖着一艘小船。可是大风把小船刮到了大船的舵上,小船被撞得伤痕累累。随后小船脱离了大船,可能漂入了大海,也可能葬身海底。所以,想要依靠小船逃生是毫无可能的了。我们船上还有一艘小船,但是问题是如何把它拖到海里去。但是,现在根本没有时间讨论这个问题了,因为船随时都有可能裂成碎片。甚至有人说船实际上已经破损了。

In this distress the mate of our vessel laid hold of the boat, and with the help of the rest of the men got her slung over the ship's side; and getting all into her, let go, and committed ourselves, being eleven in number, to God's mercy and the wild sea; for though the storm was abated considerably, yet the sea ran dreadfully high upon the shore, and might be well called DEN WILD ZEE, as the Dutch call the sea in a storm.

在这千钧一发之际,大副抓住了小船,在其他人的帮助下把小船推到了大船旁边,大家上了小船,松开了绳缆。此时,我们十一个人只能把命运交托给上帝和咆哮的大海了。虽然风暴已经减弱了许多,可是狂风巨浪仍然怒吼着猛力拍打着海岸。难怪荷兰人把风暴中的大海称之为 “疯狂的海洋” ,果然名副其实。

And now our case was very dismal indeed; for we all saw plainly that the sea went so high that the boat could not live, and that we should be inevitably drowned. As to making sail, we had none, nor if we had could we have done anything with it; so we worked at the oar towards the land, though with heavy hearts, like men going to execution; for we all knew that when the boat came near the shore she would be dashed in a thousand pieces by the breach of the sea. However, we committed our souls to God in the most earnest manner; and the wind driving us towards the shore, we hastened our destruction with our own hands; pulling as well as we could towards land.

然而实际上我们的处境十分凄惨。眼前巨浪滚滚,小船随时都有可能被吞没,我们都难逃被淹死的命运。没有帆,我们便无法借助风力前进,可即使有帆,我们也无能为力。我们只能奋力向岸边划桨前进,心情沉重,仿佛即将被送上刑场的犯人。我们明白,船一旦靠近海岸,就会在海浪的击打下碎成千片万片。然而,我们只能听天由命。风把小船吹向岸边,我们拼命地划,可这无疑也是在使自己加速走向灭亡。

What the shore was, whether rock or sand, whether steep or shoal, we knew not. The only hope that could rationally give us the least shadow of expectation was, if we might find some bay or gulf, or the mouth of some river, where by great chance we might have run our boat in, or got under the lee of the land, and perhaps made smooth water. But there was nothing like this appeared; but as we made nearer and nearer the shore, the land looked more frightful than the sea.

海岸上会是什么样,是岩石还是沙地,陡壁还是浅滩,对此我们一无所知。我们仅存的一线希望就是如果能够找到某个海湾或是河口,就有很大的机会可能把船划进去,或者划进某个避风港,到达一片平静的水面。然而眼前什么也没有出现。我们越靠近海岸,越感觉到陆地仿佛比大海更加可怖。

After we had rowed, or rather driven about a league and a half, as we reckoned it, a raging wave, mountain like, came rolling astern of us, and plainly bade us expect the COUP DE GRACE. It took us with such a fury, that it overset the boat at once; and separating us as well from the boat as from one another, gave us no time to say, "O God! " For we were all swallowed up in a moment.

我们一边划桨,一边被大风驱赶,摇摇晃晃地走了一个半里格那么远。突然间一股巨浪排山倒海般地压向我们的船尾,这无疑将使我们的小船遭受致命的打击。发狂的巨浪瞬时间掀翻了我们的船,大家还没来得及喊一声 “啊,我的上帝!” 就纷纷散落到海里。也就是在一霎那间,我们被完全吞没了。

Nothing can describe the confusion of thought which I felt when I sank into the water; for though I swam very well, yet I could not deliver myself from the waves so as to draw breath, till that wave having driven me, or rather carried me, a vast way on towards the shore, and having spent itself, went back, and left me upon the land almost dry, but half dead with the water I took in. I had so much presence of mind, as well as breath left, that seeing myself nearer the mainland than I expected, I got upon my feet, and endeavoured to make on towards the land as fast as I could before another wave should return and take me up again; but I soon found it was impossible to avoid it; for I saw the sea come after me as high as a great hill, and as furious as an enemy, which I had no means or strength to contend with: my business was to hold my breath, and raise myself upon the water if I could; and so, by swimming, to preserve my breathing, and pilot myself towards the shore, if possible, my greatest concern now being that the sea, as it would carry me a great way towards the shore when it came on, might not carry me back again with it when it gave back towards the sea.

当我落入水中时,头脑中一片混乱,混乱得无法形容。虽然我是个游泳健将,可此时却只能任凭海浪摆布,连浮出水面呼吸一下都十分困难。海浪把我卷上了岸,继而退去。我被落在半干的岸上,几乎被海水灌了个半死。我的头脑十分清醒,呼吸尚在。我一看见自己靠近了陆地,就马上爬起来拼命朝前奔去,恐怕再来一个巨浪把我吞进大海。但是我马上发现,巨浪来袭是难以避免的。身后压来的巨浪仿佛一座大山,也似一个凶猛的敌人,让我无法招架。我能做的只是保持呼吸,尽力浮出水面。如此,我边游边呼吸,向岸边游去。现在我最大的希冀就是海浪能把我推向岸边,而不是再次把我卷回大海。

The wave that came upon me again buried me at once twenty or thirty feet deep in its own body, and I could feel myself carried with a mighty force and swiftness towards the shore—a very great way; but I held my breath, and assisted myself to swim still forward with all my might. I was ready to burst with holding my breath, when, as I felt myself rising up, so, to my immediate relief, I found my head and hands shoot out above the surface of the water; and though it was not two seconds of time that I could keep myself so, yet it relieved me greatly, gave me breath, and new courage. I was covered again with water a good while, but not so long but I held it out; and finding the water had spent itself, and began to return, I struck forward against the return of the waves, and felt ground again with my feet. I stood still a few moments to recover breath, and till the waters went from me, and then took to my heels and ran with what strength I had further towards the shore. But neither would this deliver me from the fury of the sea, which came pouring in after me again; and twice more I was lifted up by the waves and carried forward as before, the shore being very flat.

大浪再次袭来,瞬间把我埋入水下二三十英尺深,可我也感到自己被一股强大的力量迅速推向岸边。我屏住呼吸,拼尽全力向岸边游去。眼看我已经再也憋不住气了,却突然感到自己被抬高了许多,一瞬间我意识到我的头和双手已经浮出了水面。虽然只有短短的几秒钟,却让我大感宽慰,我得以重新呼吸,更鼓起了勇气。我再一次被巨浪埋没,但这次的时间没那么长,我坚持了下来。一感到海浪向后退回,我就拼命在后退的海潮中向前挣扎。终于,我的双脚又触到了陆地。我站了一小会儿,喘了口气。海水一退,就拔腿拼命向海岸飞奔过去。但是我仍然无法摆脱大海的怒潮,我再次被巨浪袭击,又一连两次像之前那样被巨浪卷起,推向平坦的岸边。

The last time of these two had well—nigh been fatal to me, for the sea having hurried me along as before, landed me, or rather dashed me, against a piece of rock, and that with such force, that it left me senseless, and indeed helpless, as to my own deliverance; for the blow taking my side and breast, beat the breath as it were quite out of my body; and had it returned again immediately, I must have been strangled in the water; but I recovered a little before the return of the waves, and seeing I should be covered again with the water, I resolved to hold fast by a piece of the rock, and so to hold my breath, if possible, till the wave went back. Now, as the waves were not so high as at first, being nearer land, I held my hold till the wave abated, and then fetched another run, which brought me so near the shore that the next wave, though it went over me, yet did not so swallow me up as to carry me away; and the next run I took, I got to the mainland, where, to my great comfort, I clambered up the cliffs of the shore and sat me down upon the grass, free from danger and quite out of the reach of the water.

巨浪的第二次侵袭对我来说几乎是致命的一击,因为海水把我猛烈推向前,推到岸上,几乎是猛掷到岸上的一块石头上。这猛烈的一击让我瞬间丧失了知觉,孤立无援,不能动弹。原来这一下我正好撞在了胸口上,撞得几乎无法喘息。如果海浪再次来袭,我一定会淹死在海里。但好在我在海浪再次到来之前恢复了一些,意识到了这一点,便决心紧紧地抱住岩石,屏住呼吸,尽力撑到海浪退回之时。此时的海浪已经不像之前那么高了。离陆地这么近,我紧紧抱着岩石,等到海浪退去之时,便发足狂奔。虽然海浪再一次盖过我的头顶,可是毕竟我离海岸已经如此之近,浪头已无法把我再次吞入大海。我又跑了一阵,终于踏上了陆地。我用尽全力,爬上了岸边的岩石,坐在一片草地之上,顿感欣慰。此时我终于远离了危险,终于逃离了大海的魔爪。

I was now landed and safe on shore, and began to look up and thank God that my life was saved, in a case wherein there was some minutes before scarce any room to hope. I believe it is impossible to express, to the life, what the ecstasies and transports of the soul are, when it is so saved, as I may say, out of the very grave: and I do not wonder now at the custom, when a malefactor, who has the halter about his neck, is tied up, and just going to be turned off, and has a reprieve brought to him—I say, I do not wonder that they bring a surgeon with it, to let him blood that very moment they tell him of it, that the surprise may not drive the animal spirits from the heart and overwhelm him.

现在我既已安全着陆,便抬头感谢上苍,再次拯救了我的性命。在几分钟之前,我差点就无望生还,一命呜呼了。我相信,当人们在这种情境下得救,用我的话说是从坟墓中死里逃生之时,那种灵魂上的喜悦和激动是多么难以用言语表达。此时我已经完全能够理解那个风俗,也就是一个已经被绑在绞刑架上的犯人,脖子上套着绳索,即将被行刑,却突然被告知可以缓刑。我的意思是,我能够理解他们为什么带去一个外科医生,在告诉犯人缓刑的消息时给他放血。因为犯人很有可能会大喜过望,灵魂出窍,晕死过去。

"For sudden joys, like grieves, confound at first. "

“突如其来的喜悦,如同悲伤,初临时均惊心动魄。”

I walked about on the shore lifting up my hands, and my whole being, as I may say, wrapped up in a contemplation of my deliverance; making a thousand gestures and motions, which I cannot describe; reflecting upon all my comrades that were drowned, and that there should not be one soul saved but myself; for, as for them, I never saw them afterwards, or any sign of them, except three of their hats, one cap, and two shoes that were not fellows.

我挥舞双手,在岸上跑来跑去,整个人都沉浸在死里逃生的喜悦之中。我作出千奇百怪的动作,作出各种无法形容的表情。同时我又回忆起我所有的同伴们,他们都已葬身大海,除了我之外应该再无一人逃生。因为在此之后,我再也没有见过他们,连一点影子也没见到。我只看到了三顶带檐帽和一顶便帽,以及两只不成双的鞋子。

I cast my eye to the stranded vessel, when, the breach and froth of the sea being so big, I could hardly see it, it lay so far of; and considered, Lord! How was it possible I could get on shore!

我遥望那艘搁浅了的大船。浪花和泡沫如此之大,再加上船离岸太远,使得船体只是隐约可见。我不由自主地感叹: “上帝啊!” 我怎么会有可能上岸呢!

After I had solaced my mind with the comfortable part of my condition, I began to look round me, to see what kind of place I was in, and what was next to be done; and I soon found my comforts abate, and that, in a word, I had a dreadful deliverance; for I was wet, had no clothes to shift me, nor anything either to eat or drink to comfort me; neither did I see any prospect before me but that of perishing with hunger or being devoured by wild beasts; and that which was particularly afflicting to me was, that I had no weapon, either to hunt and kill any creature for my sustenance, or to defend myself against any other creature that might desire to kill me for theirs. In a word, I had nothing about me but a knife, a tobacco pipe, and a little tobacco in a box. This was all my provisions; and this threw me into such terrible agonies of mind, that for a while I ran about like a madman. Night coming upon me, I began with a heavy heart to consider what would be my lot if there were any ravenous beasts in that country, as at night they always come abroad for their prey.

在自我安慰了一会儿之后,我开始环顾四周,看看我到底来到了什么地方,接下来又该干些什么。然而,我却渐渐开始失落,因为虽然暂时逃生,我却又陷入了另一个绝境之中。我像个落汤鸡,衣不蔽体,也没有食物可以充饥。眼前看不到任何希望,我很可能被饿死,或是葬身于野兽腹中。更让我痛苦的是,我没有任何武器,所以既无法猎杀动物充饥,也无法抵御想要以我为食的野兽的袭击。总之,我身上除了一把小刀,一个烟斗和一小盒烟叶之外,别无他物。这些便是我的全部财物,这一点让我痛苦得几乎疯掉,像个疯子一样跑了好一阵。夜幕降临,一想到夜晚野兽出没,到处觅食,我的心情就愈加沉重,不知道自己的命运将会怎样。

All the remedy that offered to my thoughts at that time was to get up into a thick bushy tree like a fir, but thorny, which grew near me, and where I resolved to sit all night, and consider the next day what death I should die, for as yet I saw no prospect of life. I walked about a furlong from the shore, to see if I could find any fresh water to drink, which I did, to my great joy; and having drank, and put a little tobacco into my mouth to prevent hunger, I went to the tree, and getting up into it, endeavoured to place myself so that if I should sleep I might not fall. And having cut me a short stick, like a truncheon, for my defence, I took up my lodging; and having been excessively fatigued, I fell fast asleep, and slept as comfortably as, I believe, few could have done in my condition, and found myself more refreshed with it than, I think, I ever was on such an occasion.

我的身边有一棵茂密的大树,像是杉树,却长有很多刺。我唯一想到的办法就是爬到树上,坐上一夜,天亮再考虑我将会是怎么个死法,因为我根本看不到任何生存的希望。我离开海岸向里走了一弗隆,看看能否找到一些淡水解渴。后来居然真的找到了,让我欢喜不已。喝完水,我吃了一点烟叶来充饥。我走到那棵树旁,尽力爬到一个睡起来比较稳当的地方,以免晚上睡着时从树上掉下来。我砍了一根短树枝,做成棍子用以防身。由于过度疲劳,我很快就睡着了,睡得很香。我想,在这种情况下,再没有人能像我睡得一样香了。

CHAPTER IV First Weeks on the Island ZIzbBs+ofJG93Wx3kTKCxIqRbvdybmMCy2cNS2qgwpkyG6bUrvONYUO0Te1WsxMU

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