英语沙龙：《格列佛游记》

Excerpt¹ from Gulliver’s Travels

（1）When I awaked, it was just daylight. 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 armpits to my thighs². 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 posture³ 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 downwards⁴ 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 meantime, I felt at least forty more of the same kind（as I conjectured）following the first. I was in the utmost astonishment⁶, 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.

（2）“Now, in the midst of these intestine⁷ disquiets⁸, we are threatened with an invasion from the island of Blefuscu, which is the other great empire of the universe, almost as large and powerful as this of his Majesty⁹. For as to what we have heard you affirm, that there are other kingdoms and states in the world, inhabited by human creatures as large as yourself, our philosophers are in much doubt；and would rather conjecture⁵ that you dropped from the moon, or one of the stars；because it is certain, that a hundred mortals of your bulk would, in a short time, destroy all the fruits and cattle of his Majesty’s dominions¹⁰. Besides, our histories of six thousand moons make no mention of any other regions, than the two great empires of Lilliput and Blefuscu. Which two mighty¹¹ powers have, as I was going to tell you, been engaged in a most obstinate¹² war for six and thirty moons past. It began upon the following occasion. It is allowed on all hands, that the primitive¹³ way of breaking eggs before we eat them, was upon the larger end：but his present Majesty’s grandfather, while he was a boy, going to eat an egg, and breaking it according to the ancient practice, happened to cut one of his fingers. Where upon the Emperor his father published an edict, commanding all his subjects upon great penalties, to break the smaller end of their eggs. The people so highly resented this law, that our histories tell us there have been six rebellions raised on that account；where in one emperor lost his life, and another his crown. These civil commotions¹⁴ were constantly fomented¹⁵ by the monarchs¹⁶ of Blefuscu；and when they were quelled¹⁷, the exiles always fled for refuge to that empire. 

It is computed¹⁸, that eleven thousand persons have, at several times, suffered death, rather than submit to break their eggs at the smaller end. Many hundred large volumes have been published upon this controversy：but the books of the Big-Endians have been long forbidden, and the whole party rendered incapable¹⁹ by law of holding employments. During the course of these troubles, the emperors of Blefuscu did frequently expostulate by their ambassadors, accusing us of making a schismin religion, by offending against a fundamental doc trine of our great prophet Lustrog, in the fifty-fourth chapter of the Brundecral （which is their Alcoran）. This, however, is thought to be a mere²⁰ strain upon the text：for the words are these：That all true believers shall break their eggs at the convenient end；and which is the convenient end, seems, in my humble²¹ opinion, to be left to every man’s conscience, or at least in the power of the chief magistrate²² to determine. Now the Big-Endian exiles have found so much credit in the Emperor of Blefuscu’s court, and so much private assistance and encouragement from their party here at home, that a bloody²³ war hath been carried on between the two empires for six and thirty moons with various success；during which time we have lost forty capital ships, and a much greater number of smaller vessels²⁴, together with thirty thousand of our best seamen²⁵ and soldiers；and the damage received by the enemy is reckoned to be somewhat greater than ours. However, they have now equipped a numerous fleet, and are just preparing to make a descent upon us；and his Imperial Majesty, placing great confidence in your valor²⁶ and strength, hath commanded me to lay this account of his affairs before you. ”

I desired the Secretary to present my humble duty to the Emperor, and to let him know, that I thought it would not become me, who was a foreigner, to interfere²⁷ with parties；but I was ready, with the hazard of my life, to defend his person and state against all invaders²⁸.

《格列佛游记》

1. 当我醒来的时候，已经是白天了。我想起身，却不能动：由于我恰巧是平躺着的，我发现我身体两侧的胳膊、大腿都被牢牢地拴在地面上；我那又长又密的头发也是被用同样的方式拴住的。我还感觉到有一些细长的绷带捆绑在我的身上，从我的腋窝一直到我的大腿。我只能向上看，太阳开始变热了，光线刺通了我的眼睛。我听到在我周围有混乱的噪音，但是以我这样的躺姿，除了天空，是什么都看不到的。过了一小会儿，我感到有种活的物体在我的左腿上移动，它朝着我的胸部轻轻向前移动，几乎移动到了我的下巴；我尽量把我的眼睛往下看，我感觉它是一个不足六英寸高的人类生物，手中拿着一副弓箭，背后背着一个箭袋。与此同时，我感到至少有40个（我估计的）更多的此类物体在紧跟着第一个物体移动。我极度吃惊，便大声狂吼起来，受到惊吓的他们便全部往后逃跑；而且，我事后得知，他们中的一些人在从我的身侧跳到地面的过程中摔倒了，并因此而受伤。

格列佛来到的这个小人岛国叫做Lilliput 。他发现这里的朝廷官员对他的态度各不相同, 分为两派。国中原来就分作两派, 因鞋后跟高低而异, 一派是高跟派, 一派是低跟派, 闹得不可开交。有一位官员奉命告诉格：

(2) “目前，在这些内部忧患当中，我们受到了布莱夫斯库岛的侵略威胁，那是这个世界中的另一个大帝国，几乎和我们陛下的王国一样广阔和强大。我们从你那里听说，你确认，在这个世界中还有其他的王国和国家，居住着和你一样的人类生物，对于这些，我们的哲学家持非常怀疑的态度；并且宁愿推测你是从月亮上掉下来的，或者是来自其他星球；因为，可以肯定的是，一百个有你这样身躯的人就可以在很短的时间内摧毁我们陛下的王国中的所有水果和牲畜。还有，在我们六千月的历史中，除去利立浦特和布莱夫斯库以外，没有关于其他地域的记录。正如我所要告诉你的，这两个强大的国家在过去的三十六个月当中一直在进行着一场最难以平息的战争。这场战争是因下面这个偶然的事件而引起的。所有的人都同意，在我们进食鸡蛋以前的破壳传统方式是磕破较粗的一端：但是本朝陛下的祖父在还是一个小孩子的时候，准备按古老的方式破壳吃鸡蛋，不巧的是切到了他的手指。因此，他的父皇颁布了一条法令，要求他的所有国民都要去磕鸡蛋的细端，不然就要受到严惩。人民极其厌恶这项法令，我们的历史记载，六次反叛活动因此而爆发；其中，有一个皇帝丧命，另一个皇帝被迫退位。这些国内骚乱活动不断受到布莱夫斯库君主的煽动；而且当它们被平息之后，流亡者总是逃往那个帝国寻求避难。

据计，在不同的时候，有一万一千人因拒绝服从在细端处磕鸡蛋的决定而被处死。针对这一争端出版了数以百计的巨著：但是由高跟派撰写的书籍被长期禁止，并且导致整个政党因掌权法案而失去执政能力。在出现这些麻烦的过程中，布莱夫斯库的皇帝们经常派遣大使来进行劝说活动，谴责我们是在冒犯我们伟大先知拉斯托格在其《BRUNDECRAL》（就是他们的《古兰经》）一书中第五十四章规定的一个基本教义，从而制造教派分裂。然而，那仅仅被认为是对原文的一个曲解：这些原话是：所有真诚的教徒应该在方便的一端来磕破鸡蛋；而哪一端是方便的一端呢，依我之拙见，似乎是，应该由每个人凭良心来决定，或者至少是动用主要地方官员的权威来决定。现在，高跟派的流亡者在布莱夫斯库的皇朝中得到了巨大信任、众多私人援助和来自祖国的党内支持，以至于一场血腥的战争在两个帝国之间持续了三十六个月，各有所斩获；在这个过程中，我们损失了四十艘大型战舰和数目更为巨大的小型船只，还有三十万精锐的海员和士兵；而据估计，敌人遭受的损失略大于我们。可是，他们现在装备了数量众多的舰队，并正准备袭击我们；而我们帝国的陛下对你的勇猛和力量充满了巨大信心，并且命令我向你说明关于他的事情的这些情况。”

我希望这位部长向皇帝说明我的卑微职责，而且要让他明白，我认为，对于我这个外乡人来讲，介入两党之间的纷争不是我要做的事；但是我已准备好，冒着丧失生命的危险来保卫他本人和其国家免遭任何侵略。

1 excerpt   

n.摘录，选录，节录

参考例句：

• This is an excerpt from a novel.这是一部小说的摘录。
• Can you excerpt something from the newspaper? 你能从报纸上选录些东西吗？

2 thighs   

n.股，大腿( thigh的名词复数 )；食用的鸡（等的）腿

参考例句：

• He's gone to London for skin grafts on his thighs. 他去伦敦做大腿植皮手术了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The water came up to the fisherman's thighs. 水没到了渔夫的大腿。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 posture   

n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势

参考例句：

• The government adopted an uncompromising posture on the issue of independence.政府在独立这一问题上采取了毫不妥协的态度。
• He tore off his coat and assumed a fighting posture.他脱掉上衣，摆出一副打架的架势。

4 downwards   

adj./adv.向下的（地），下行的（地）

参考例句：

• He lay face downwards on his bed.他脸向下伏在床上。
• As the river flows downwards,it widens.这条河愈到下游愈宽。

5 conjecture   

n./v.推测，猜测

参考例句：

• She felt it no use to conjecture his motives.她觉得猜想他的动机是没有用的。
• This conjecture is not supported by any real evidence.这种推测未被任何确切的证据所证实。

6 astonishment   

n.惊奇，惊异

参考例句：

• They heard him give a loud shout of astonishment.他们听见他惊奇地大叫一声。
• I was filled with astonishment at her strange action.我对她的奇怪举动不胜惊异。

7 intestine   

adj.内部的；国内的；n.肠

参考例句：

• This vitamin is absorbed through the walls of the small intestine.这种维生素通过小肠壁被吸收。
• The service productivity is the function,including external efficiency,intestine efficiency and capacity efficiency.服务业的生产率是一个包含有外部效率、内部效率和能力效率的函数。

8 disquiets   

n.忧虑( disquiet的名词复数 )；不安；内心不平静；烦恼v.使不安，使忧虑，使烦恼( disquiet的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• I must say that bad news disquiets me a great deal . 我得说那坏消息使我非常不安。 来自英汉 - 翻译样例 - 口语

9 majesty   

n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权

参考例句：

• The king had unspeakable majesty.国王有无法形容的威严。
• Your Majesty must make up your mind quickly!尊贵的陛下，您必须赶快做出决定！

10 dominions   

统治权( dominion的名词复数 )； 领土； 疆土； 版图

参考例句：

• The King sent messengers to every town, village and hamlet in his dominions. 国王派使者到国内每一个市镇，村落和山庄。
• European powers no longer rule over great overseas dominions. 欧洲列强不再统治大块海外领土了。

11 mighty   

adj.强有力的；巨大的

参考例句：

• A mighty force was about to break loose.一股巨大的力量即将迸发而出。
• The mighty iceberg came into view.巨大的冰山出现在眼前。

12 obstinate   

adj.顽固的，倔强的，不易屈服的，较难治愈的

参考例句：

• She's too obstinate to let anyone help her.她太倔强了，不会让任何人帮她的。
• The trader was obstinate in the negotiation.这个商人在谈判中拗强固执。

13 primitive   

adj.原始的；简单的；n.原(始)人，原始事物

参考例句：

• It is a primitive instinct to flee a place of danger.逃离危险的地方是一种原始本能。
• His book describes the march of the civilization of a primitive society.他的著作描述了一个原始社会的开化过程。

14 commotions   

n.混乱，喧闹，骚动( commotion的名词复数 )

参考例句：

15 fomented   

v.激起，煽动（麻烦等）( foment的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• His words finally fomented her hostility. 他的言词终于引发了她的敌意。 来自辞典例句
• His legs should be fomented. 应当对他的双腿进行热敷。 来自互联网

16 monarchs   

君主，帝王( monarch的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Monarchs ruled England for centuries. 世袭君主统治英格兰有许多世纪。
• Serving six monarchs of his native Great Britain, he has served all men's freedom and dignity. 他在大不列颠本国为六位君王服务，也为全人类的自由和尊严服务。 来自演讲部分

17 quelled   

v.（用武力）制止，结束，镇压( quell的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Thanks to Kao Sung-nien's skill, the turmoil had been quelled. 亏高松年有本领，弹压下去。 来自汉英文学 - 围城
• Mr. Atkinson was duly quelled. 阿特金森先生被及时地将了一军。 来自辞典例句

18 computed   

adj.[医]计算的，使用计算机的v.计算，估算( compute的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He computed that the project would take seven years to complete. 他估计这项计划要花七年才能完成。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Resolving kernels and standard errors can also be computed for each block. 还可以计算每个块体的分辨核和标准误差。 来自辞典例句

19 incapable   

adj.无能力的，不能做某事的

参考例句：

• He would be incapable of committing such a cruel deed.他不会做出这么残忍的事。
• Computers are incapable of creative thought.计算机不会创造性地思维。

20 mere   

adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过

参考例句：

• That is a mere repetition of what you said before.那不过是重复了你以前讲的话。
• It's a mere waste of time waiting any longer.再等下去纯粹是浪费时间。

21 humble   

adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低

参考例句：

• In my humble opinion,he will win the election.依我拙见，他将在选举中获胜。
• Defeat and failure make people humble.挫折与失败会使人谦卑。

22 magistrate   

n.地方行政官，地方法官，治安官

参考例句：

• The magistrate committed him to prison for a month.法官判处他一个月监禁。
• John was fined 1000 dollars by the magistrate.约翰被地方法官罚款1000美元。

23 bloody   

adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染

参考例句：

• He got a bloody nose in the fight.他在打斗中被打得鼻子流血。
• He is a bloody fool.他是一个十足的笨蛋。

24 vessels   

n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人

参考例句：

• The river is navigable by vessels of up to 90 tons. 90 吨以下的船只可以从这条河通过。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• All modern vessels of any size are fitted with radar installations. 所有现代化船只都有雷达装置。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

25 seamen   

n.海员

参考例句：

• Experienced seamen will advise you about sailing in this weather. 有经验的海员会告诉你在这种天气下的航行情况。
• In the storm, many seamen wished they were on shore. 在暴风雨中，许多海员想，要是他们在陆地上就好了。

26 valor   

n.勇气，英勇

参考例句：

• Fortitude is distinct from valor.坚韧不拔有别于勇猛。
• Frequently banality is the better parts of valor.老生常谈往往比大胆打破常规更为人称道。

27 interfere   

v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰

参考例句：

• If we interfere, it may do more harm than good.如果我们干预的话，可能弊多利少。
• When others interfere in the affair,it always makes troubles. 别人一卷入这一事件，棘手的事情就来了。

28 invaders   

入侵者，侵略者，侵入物( invader的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• They prepared to repel the invaders. 他们准备赶走侵略军。
• The family has traced its ancestry to the Norman invaders. 这个家族将自己的世系追溯到诺曼征服者。