4 Gulliver escapes from Lilliput
4 格列佛逃离利力浦特
I soon discovered that Flimnap,one of the King's highest officials,was my secret enemy.He had always disliked me,although he pretended to like me, but now he began to suspect his wife of visiting me privately,and he became jealous.Of course his wife did visit me, but always with her daughters and other ladies who came for regular afternoon vis-its.When visitors arrived at my house, I used to bring the coaches and horses inside,and put them carefully on my table.There was a high edge round the table,so that nobody would fall off.I sat in my chair with my face close to the table, and while I was talking to one group of visitors, the others used to drive round the table.I spent many hours like this,in very enjoyable conversation.
不久我发现佛林奈浦,国王的一个高级官员,是我的秘密敌人。他早就不喜欢我,虽然他装出喜欢我的样子,现在他怀疑他的妻子私下里来看我而变得妒忌起来。当然他的妻子是拜访过我,可是她总是和她的女儿及其他贵妇一起下午来例访。当来访客人到了家门,我常常把车马搬进去小心地放到我的桌上。桌缘的边很高,所以不会有谁掉下去。我坐在椅子上,脸靠近桌子,在我跟一群客人谈话时,别的人常常在桌上驱马。我像这样花了很多时间,谈话也很愉快。
In the end Flimnap realized that his wife was not in love with me,and had not done anything wrong, but he was still angry with me.There were other lords who also disliked me,and together they managed to persuade the King that I was a danger to Lilliput.I knew they were discussing me in private,but I was seriously alarmed when I discovered what they had decided.Luckily,as well as Reldresal,I had another good friend among the King’ s officials.Late one night he visited me secretly,in order to warn me.
最后佛林奈浦意识到他的妻子并没有爱上我,也没有作错什么事,可是他仍然很生我的气。还有别的王公也不喜欢我,他们共同说服了国王,认为我对利力浦特是一大危险。我知道他们暗地里在议论我,但是当我发现他们的决定时我感到非常惊恐。幸运的是,除了瑞颛沙,在国王的官员中我还有一个好朋友。为了提前通知我,一天深夜,他偷偷拜访我。
‘You know,’he began,‘that you've had enemies here for some time.Many of the lords are jealous of your great success against Blefuscu,and Flimnap still hates you.They accuse you of crimes against Lilliput,crimes punishable by death!’
“你知道,”他开始说,“你在这儿结了仇敌已有一些时候了。许多王公对你对不来夫斯古的成功有点嫉妒,而佛林奈浦仍然恨你。他们指控你犯了反对利力浦特的罪行,罪可处死!”
‘But…’I cried,‘that's not right!I only want to help Lilliput!’
“可是……”我嚷道,“那不对!我只是想帮利力浦特。”
‘Listen,’he said.‘I must tell you what I've heard,al-though my life is in danger if I do.They've accused you of making water in the King's palace,refusing to take all the en-emy's ships,refusing to destroy all the Big-Endians,seeing the enemy's officials privately,and planning to visit Blefuscu in order to help the enemy against Lilliput.’
“听着,”他说,“我必须告诉你我所听到的,尽管这样做我是冒着生命危险的。他们指控你在王宫里撒尿,拒绝夺过敌人的所有船只,拒绝摧毁所有的大端派人,私下会见敌方官员,企图访问不来夫斯古以帮助敌人反对利力浦特。”
‘This is unbelievable!’ I cried.
“这真是难以置信!”我叫道。
‘I must say,’continued my friend,‘that our King remind-ed his lords how much you had helped the country.But your enemies wanted to destroy you,and they suggested setting fire to your house at night.Then you would die in the fire!’
“我必须说,”我的朋友接着说,“我们的国王提醒他的王公你曾经帮了这个国家多大的忙。但是你的敌人想消灭你,他们建议晚上给你的房子放火,然后你将在火中烧死。”
‘What!’I shouted angrily.
“什么!”我气愤地大叫起来。
‘Be quiet,nobody must hear us.Anyway,the King decided not to kill you,and that's when your friend Reldresal started speaking He agreed you’d made mistakes,but said that a good King should always be generous,as our King is.And he suggested that a suitable punishment would be for you to lose your sight.You’d still be strong enough to work for us, but you wouldn't be able to help the Big-Endians.’
“小声点,别让人听见。不管怎么说,国王决定不杀你,那是因为你的朋友瑞颛沙开始说话。他同意你犯了错误,但是又说好的国王,像我们的国王,应该总是大度些。他建议适合你的惩罚是让你失去视力,你将仍然强壮,足以为我们干活,但是你将不能帮助大端派人。”
I covered my eyes with my hands.I had wanted to help these people and their King.How could they decide to punish me as cruelly as this?
我双手蒙在双眼上,我曾想帮助这些人们和他们的国王,他们怎么能决定如此残酷地惩罚我呢?
‘Your enemies were most disappointed with Reldresal’ s plan,’my friend went on.‘They said you were a Big—Endi-an in your heart,and reminded the King how much you cost Lilliput in food and drink.Reldresal spoke again,to suggest saving money by giving you a little less food every day.In this way you’d become ill,and in a few months you’d die.And so they all agreed.In three days Reldresal will be sent to explain your punishment to you.He'll inform you that the King has been very kind to you, and that you're lucky to lose only your eyes.You'll be tied dowu,and very sharp arrows will be shot into your eyes.The King's doctors will make sure that you can no longer see.’
“你的敌人对瑞颛沙的计划很失望,”我的朋友继续说,“他们说你内心就是个大端派人,并且提醒国王你要耗费利力浦特多少吃的喝的。瑞颛沙再次发言,建议每天少给你一点食物来节约钱,这样你将病倒,几个月后你将死去。这样他们都同意了。三天内瑞颛沙将被派来通知你国王对你很仁慈,而你也很幸运只是失去视力,你将被绑住,非常锐利的箭将射进你的双眼,国王的医生将确保你再也看不见。”
‘This is terrible news!’ I said,‘but thank you for warning me,my dear friend.’
“这真是可怕的消息!”我说,“非常感谢你来通知我,我的朋友。”
‘You alone must decide what to do,’ he replied,‘and now I must leave you,so that nobody suspects me of warning you.’
“你必须自己决定怎么做,”他回答说,“现在我必须离开你,以免让人怀疑我来通知了你。”
When I was alone,I thought about the situation for a long time.Perhaps I was wrong,but I could not see that the King was being kind and generous in ordering such an inhuman pun-ishment.What should I do?I could ask for a trial,but I was not confident of the judges’honesty.I could attack the capital and kill all the Lilliputians,but when I remembered the King’ s past kindness to me,I did not want to do that.
当剩下我一个人时,我考虑了很久我的处境。也许我错了。但是我看不出国王下令做如此不人道的处罚有什么仁慈和大度。我该怎么办?我可以请求审判,但是我对法官的诚实没有信心;我可以袭击都城杀死所有的利力浦特人;但是当我想起国王过去对我的仁慈我就不想这样做了。
At last I decided to escape.And so,before Reldresal came to tell me of my punishment,I went to the north of Lilliput,where our ships lay.I took my clothes off and put them into one of the largest warships.I also put a blanket into it.Then I stepped into the sea,and swam to Blefuscu.By pulling the Lilliput warship behind me, I kept my clothes and blanket dry.
最后我决定逃走。因此,在瑞颛沙来通知我对我的处罚之前,我到了利力浦特北部,那儿停着我们的船只。我脱下衣服,放在最大的一个战船中,还放了一床毯子。然后我走下海,游向不来夫斯古,身后拖着利力浦特的战船,因而我的衣服和毯子没有弄湿。
When I arrived,the King of Blefuscu sent two guides to show me the way to the capital.There I met the King,the Queen and the lords and ladies in their coaches.I explained that I had come to visit Blefuscu,as I had been invited.How-ever,I did not say anything about the punishment waiting for me in Lilliput.They welcomed me warmly.That night,as there was no building big enough for me,I slept on the ground,covered by my blanket.It was not as comfortable as my bed in Lilliput,but I did not mind.
我到达时,不来夫斯古的国王派了两个向导领我去都城。我见到了国王、王后及王公和贵妇,他们坐在车里。我解释说我是应邀来访问不来夫斯古的,不过我并没有提到利力浦特等着我的处罚。他们热情地欢迎我。那天晚上,因为没有够大的建筑给我住,我只有睡在地上,盖着我的毯子。这没有我在利力浦特的床舒适,不过我不介意。
I did not spend long in Blefuscu.Only three days after my arrival,I noticed a boat in the sea,near the beach.It was a real boat,large enough for me.Perhaps it had been driven there by a storm.I swam out to it and tied ropes to it.Then,with the help of twenty of Blefuscu's ships and three thousand sailors,I pulled it on to the beach.It was not badly damaged,and it was exciting to be able to start planning my journey back to England and my home.
我没有在不来夫斯古呆多久。只是3天之后,我注意到海岸附近有一只船,那是一只真正的船,大得足够我用。也许是被风暴驱到那儿的。我游向它,并系上绳子,然后在20只不来夫斯古船和3000名水手的帮助下,我把它拖到岸边。它损坏得还不算严重,能够计划着用它返回英格兰和我自己的家真是太令人兴奋了。
During this time,the King of Lilliput had written to ask the King of Blefuscu to send me back, as a prisoner,so that I could receive my punishment.The King of Blefuscu,however,replied that I was too strong to be taken prisoner,and that I would soon be returning to my country anyway.Secretly he invited me to stay and help him in Blefuscu,but I no longer believed in the promises of kings or their officials, so I politely refused.
这时候,利力浦特国王向不来夫斯古国王写信,请求把我作为一个囚犯送还,以便我接受处罚。但是不来夫斯古国王回信说我太强壮,无法拘捕,而且我不久就要返回自己的国家,暗地里他请求我留下来在不来夫斯古帮他,可是我已经不再相信国王或他们的官员的许诺,所以我礼貌地拒绝了。
I was now impatient to start my voyage home,and the King ordered his workmen to repair the boat and prepare everything I needed.I had the meat of one hundred cattle and three hun-dred sheep to eat on the journey,and I also had some live ani-mals to show to my friends in England.
我现在着急启程回家,国王命令他的工匠修好我的船,准备我需要的一切。我有100只牛和300只羊的肉供我旅途中食用,还有一些活动物以展示给我在英格兰的朋友们。
About one month later,I left Blefuscu,on September 24th,1701.The King,the Queen and their lords and ladies all came down to the beach to wave goodbye.
大约一个月后,在1701年9月24日我离开了不来夫斯古。国王、王后及他们的王公和贵妇全都到海岸来向我挥手道别。
After sailing all day,I reached a small island,where I slept that night.On the third day,September 26th,I saw a sail,and was delighted to discover that it was an English ship, on its way home to England.The captain picked me up,and I told him my story.At first he thought I was mad,but when I took the live animals out of my pocket to show him,he be-lieved me.
行驶了一整天,我到了一个小岛,在那儿过了一夜。第3天,9月26曰,我看见了一个帆船,并且非常欣喜地发现那是一只英国船,正驶回英格兰。船长把我拉了上去,我给他讲了我的经历。起初他认为我疯了,但当我从衣袋里取出活的动物给他看时,他相信了我的话。
We arrived home at last on April 13th,1702,and I saw my dear wife and children again.At first I was delighted to be at home again.I earned quite a lot of money by showing my Lil-liputian animals to people,and in the end I sold them for a high price.But as the days passed,I became restless,and wanted to see more of the world.And so,only two months later,I said goodbye to my family and sailed away again.
我们最后在1702年4月13日到的家,我又看见了我亲爱的妻子和儿女。刚开始我对又在家里感到欣喜,我向人们展示利力浦特的动物,赚了不少钱,后来我高价把它们卖了出去。可是随着日子一天天过去,我变得烦躁起来,想去见更大的世面。所以,只是在两个月后,我又告别了家人出海航行了。
4 Gulliver escapes from Lilliput
I soon discovered that Flimnap,one of the King's highest officials,was my secret enemy.He had always disliked me,although he pretended to like me, but now he began to suspect his wife of visiting me privately,and he became jealous.Of course his wife did visit me, but always with her daughters and other ladies who came for regular afternoon vis-its.When visitors arrived at my house, I used to bring the coaches and horses inside,and put them carefully on my table.There was a high edge round the table,so that nobody would fall off.I sat in my chair with my face close to the table, and while I was talking to one group of visitors, the others used to drive round the table.I spent many hours like this,in very enjoyable conversation.
In the end Flimnap realized that his wife was not in love with me,and had not done anything wrong, but he was still angry with me.There were other lords who also disliked me,and together they managed to persuade the King that I was a danger to Lilliput.I knew they were discussing me in private,but I was seriously alarmed when I discovered what they had decided.Luckily,as well as Reldresal,I had another good friend among the King’ s officials.Late one night he visited me secretly,in order to warn me.
‘You know,’he began,‘that you've had enemies here for some time.Many of the lords are jealous of your great success against Blefuscu,and Flimnap still hates you.They accuse you of crimes against Lilliput,crimes punishable by death!’
‘But…’I cried,‘that's not right!I only want to help Lilliput!’
‘Listen,’he said.‘I must tell you what I've heard,al-though my life is in danger if I do.They've accused you of making water in the King's palace,refusing to take all the en-emy's ships,refusing to destroy all the Big-Endians,seeing the enemy's officials privately,and planning to visit Blefuscu in order to help the enemy against Lilliput.’
‘This is unbelievable!’ I cried.
‘I must say,’continued my friend,‘that our King remind-ed his lords how much you had helped the country.But your enemies wanted to destroy you,and they suggested setting fire to your house at night.Then you would die in the fire!’
‘What!’I shouted angrily.
‘Be quiet,nobody must hear us.Anyway,the King decided not to kill you,and that's when your friend Reldresal started speaking He agreed you’d made mistakes,but said that a good King should always be generous,as our King is.And he suggested that a suitable punishment would be for you to lose your sight.You’d still be strong enough to work for us, but you wouldn't be able to help the Big-Endians.’
I covered my eyes with my hands.I had wanted to help these people and their King.How could they decide to punish me as cruelly as this?
‘Your enemies were most disappointed with Reldresal’ s plan,’my friend went on.‘They said you were a Big—Endi-an in your heart,and reminded the King how much you cost Lilliput in food and drink.Reldresal spoke again,to suggest saving money by giving you a little less food every day.In this way you’d become ill,and in a few months you’d die.And so they all agreed.In three days Reldresal will be sent to explain your punishment to you.He'll inform you that the King has been very kind to you, and that you're lucky to lose only your eyes.You'll be tied dowu,and very sharp arrows will be shot into your eyes.The King's doctors will make sure that you can no longer see.’
‘This is terrible news!’ I said,‘but thank you for warning me,my dear friend.’
‘You alone must decide what to do,’ he replied,‘and now I must leave you,so that nobody suspects me of warning you.’
When I was alone,I thought about the situation for a long time.Perhaps I was wrong,but I could not see that the King was being kind and generous in ordering such an inhuman pun-ishment.What should I do?I could ask for a trial,but I was not confident of the judges’honesty.I could attack the capital and kill all the Lilliputians,but when I remembered the King’ s past kindness to me,I did not want to do that.
At last I decided to escape.And so,before Reldresal came to tell me of my punishment,I went to the north of Lilliput,where our ships lay.I took my clothes off and put them into one of the largest warships.I also put a blanket into it.Then I stepped into the sea,and swam to Blefuscu.By pulling the Lilliput warship behind me, I kept my clothes and blanket dry.
When I arrived,the King of Blefuscu sent two guides to show me the way to the capital.There I met the King,the Queen and the lords and ladies in their coaches.I explained that I had come to visit Blefuscu,as I had been invited.How-ever,I did not say anything about the punishment waiting for me in Lilliput.They welcomed me warmly.That night,as there was no building big enough for me,I slept on the ground,covered by my blanket.It was not as comfortable as my bed in Lilliput,but I did not mind.
I did not spend long in Blefuscu.Only three days after my arrival,I noticed a boat in the sea,near the beach.It was a real boat,large enough for me.Perhaps it had been driven there by a storm.I swam out to it and tied ropes to it.Then,with the help of twenty of Blefuscu's ships and three thousand sailors,I pulled it on to the beach.It was not badly damaged,and it was exciting to be able to start planning my journey back to England and my home.
During this time,the King of Lilliput had written to ask the King of Blefuscu to send me back, as a prisoner,so that I could receive my punishment.The King of Blefuscu,however,replied that I was too strong to be taken prisoner,and that I would soon be returning to my country anyway.Secretly he invited me to stay and help him in Blefuscu,but I no longer believed in the promises of kings or their officials, so I politely refused.
I was now impatient to start my voyage home,and the King ordered his workmen to repair the boat and prepare everything I needed.I had the meat of one hundred cattle and three hun-dred sheep to eat on the journey,and I also had some live ani-mals to show to my friends in England.
About one month later,I left Blefuscu,on September 24th,1701.The King,the Queen and their lords and ladies all came down to the beach to wave goodbye.
After sailing all day,I reached a small island,where I slept that night.On the third day,September 26th,I saw a sail,and was delighted to discover that it was an English ship, on its way home to England.The captain picked me up,and I told him my story.At first he thought I was mad,but when I took the live animals out of my pocket to show him,he be-lieved me.
We arrived home at last on April 13th,1702,and I saw my dear wife and children again.At first I was delighted to be at home again.I earned quite a lot of money by showing my Lil-liputian animals to people,and in the end I sold them for a high price.But as the days passed,I became restless,and wanted to see more of the world.And so,only two months later,I said goodbye to my family and sailed away again.
4 格列佛逃离利力浦特
不久我发现佛林奈浦,国王的一个高级官员,是我的秘密敌人。他早就不喜欢我,虽然他装出喜欢我的样子,现在他怀疑他的妻子私下里来看我而变得妒忌起来。当然他的妻子是拜访过我,可是她总是和她的女儿及其他贵妇一起下午来例访。当来访客人到了家门,我常常把车马搬进去小心地放到我的桌上。桌缘的边很高,所以不会有谁掉下去。我坐在椅子上,脸靠近桌子,在我跟一群客人谈话时,别的人常常在桌上驱马。我像这样花了很多时间,谈话也很愉快。
最后佛林奈浦意识到他的妻子并没有爱上我,也没有作错什么事,可是他仍然很生我的气。还有别的王公也不喜欢我,他们共同说服了国王,认为我对利力浦特是一大危险。我知道他们暗地里在议论我,但是当我发现他们的决定时我感到非常惊恐。幸运的是,除了瑞颛沙,在国王的官员中我还有一个好朋友。为了提前通知我,一天深夜,他偷偷拜访我。
“你知道,”他开始说,“你在这儿结了仇敌已有一些时候了。许多王公对你对不来夫斯古的成功有点嫉妒,而佛林奈浦仍然恨你。他们指控你犯了反对利力浦特的罪行,罪可处死!”
“可是……”我嚷道,“那不对!我只是想帮利力浦特。”
“听着,”他说,“我必须告诉你我所听到的,尽管这样做我是冒着生命危险的。他们指控你在王宫里撒尿,拒绝夺过敌人的所有船只,拒绝摧毁所有的大端派人,私下会见敌方官员,企图访问不来夫斯古以帮助敌人反对利力浦特。”
“这真是难以置信!”我叫道。
“我必须说,”我的朋友接着说,“我们的国王提醒他的王公你曾经帮了这个国家多大的忙。但是你的敌人想消灭你,他们建议晚上给你的房子放火,然后你将在火中烧死。”
“什么!”我气愤地大叫起来。
“小声点,别让人听见。不管怎么说,国王决定不杀你,那是因为你的朋友瑞颛沙开始说话。他同意你犯了错误,但是又说好的国王,像我们的国王,应该总是大度些。他建议适合你的惩罚是让你失去视力,你将仍然强壮,足以为我们干活,但是你将不能帮助大端派人。”
我双手蒙在双眼上,我曾想帮助这些人们和他们的国王,他们怎么能决定如此残酷地惩罚我呢?
“你的敌人对瑞颛沙的计划很失望,”我的朋友继续说,“他们说你内心就是个大端派人,并且提醒国王你要耗费利力浦特多少吃的喝的。瑞颛沙再次发言,建议每天少给你一点食物来节约钱,这样你将病倒,几个月后你将死去。这样他们都同意了。三天内瑞颛沙将被派来通知你国王对你很仁慈,而你也很幸运只是失去视力,你将被绑住,非常锐利的箭将射进你的双眼,国王的医生将确保你再也看不见。”
“这真是可怕的消息!”我说,“非常感谢你来通知我,我的朋友。”
“你必须自己决定怎么做,”他回答说,“现在我必须离开你,以免让人怀疑我来通知了你。”
当剩下我一个人时,我考虑了很久我的处境。也许我错了。但是我看不出国王下令做如此不人道的处罚有什么仁慈和大度。我该怎么办?我可以请求审判,但是我对法官的诚实没有信心;我可以袭击都城杀死所有的利力浦特人;但是当我想起国王过去对我的仁慈我就不想这样做了。
最后我决定逃走。因此,在瑞颛沙来通知我对我的处罚之前,我到了利力浦特北部,那儿停着我们的船只。我脱下衣服,放在最大的一个战船中,还放了一床毯子。然后我走下海,游向不来夫斯古,身后拖着利力浦特的战船,因而我的衣服和毯子没有弄湿。
我到达时,不来夫斯古的国王派了两个向导领我去都城。我见到了国王、王后及王公和贵妇,他们坐在车里。我解释说我是应邀来访问不来夫斯古的,不过我并没有提到利力浦特等着我的处罚。他们热情地欢迎我。那天晚上,因为没有够大的建筑给我住,我只有睡在地上,盖着我的毯子。这没有我在利力浦特的床舒适,不过我不介意。
我没有在不来夫斯古呆多久。只是3天之后,我注意到海岸附近有一只船,那是一只真正的船,大得足够我用。也许是被风暴驱到那儿的。我游向它,并系上绳子,然后在20只不来夫斯古船和3000名水手的帮助下,我把它拖到岸边。它损坏得还不算严重,能够计划着用它返回英格兰和我自己的家真是太令人兴奋了。
这时候,利力浦特国王向不来夫斯古国王写信,请求把我作为一个囚犯送还,以便我接受处罚。但是不来夫斯古国王回信说我太强壮,无法拘捕,而且我不久就要返回自己的国家,暗地里他请求我留下来在不来夫斯古帮他,可是我已经不再相信国王或他们的官员的许诺,所以我礼貌地拒绝了。
我现在着急启程回家,国王命令他的工匠修好我的船,准备我需要的一切。我有100只牛和300只羊的肉供我旅途中食用,还有一些活动物以展示给我在英格兰的朋友们。
大约一个月后,在1701年9月24日我离开了不来夫斯古。国王、王后及他们的王公和贵妇全都到海岸来向我挥手道别。
行驶了一整天,我到了一个小岛,在那儿过了一夜。第3天,9月26曰,我看见了一个帆船,并且非常欣喜地发现那是一只英国船,正驶回英格兰。船长把我拉了上去,我给他讲了我的经历。起初他认为我疯了,但当我从衣袋里取出活的动物给他看时,他相信了我的话。
我们最后在1702年4月13日到的家,我又看见了我亲爱的妻子和儿女。刚开始我对又在家里感到欣喜,我向人们展示利力浦特的动物,赚了不少钱,后来我高价把它们卖了出去。可是随着日子一天天过去,我变得烦躁起来,想去见更大的世面。所以,只是在两个月后,我又告别了家人出海航行了。