拖船的哲理 Philosophy from a Tugboat

 　　One night many years ago I was on the bridge of a ship that passed one of our large cities on a quiet night. I saw its lights reflected in the sky and heard the rumblings of the city’s noises.

　　多年前的一个晚上，我在宁静的夜色中乘船经过某个大都市。站在舰桥上，我眺望着万家灯火辉映在夜空中，聆听着城市的喧嚣。

　　As I looked to my other side, I could see nothing but open space of darkness and endless water. I realized how small I was and that my own problems of life did not seem great.

　　而在我的另一侧，除了无尽的黑暗与无边的海水之外什么也看不到。刹那间，我意识到自己是多么的渺小，生活中的一切烦恼也显得微不足道。

　　I have spent twenty five years on boats. Now I am a docking pilot. My job is to bring in the large luxury liners and stay with them until they are safely moored¹ in their berths³. Sometimes this requires two tugs⁵, sometimes many more, depending on the tide, the weather, and the draft of the vessel⁶.

　　我在船上生活了25年，如今是一名港口领航员，负责将大型豪华客轮引航入港，直到它们安全地靠港。这项工作有时需要两艘拖船，或者更多，这要根据潮水、天气以及船只的吃水度而定。

　　Most of you no doubt have seen these tugs pushing and pulling at the big liners. What they are doing doesn’t seem to make much sense, but presently the big boat is alongside her pier⁷, her hawsers⁸ made fast, and the job is done.

　　不用说，很多人都见过拖船拖拉巨轮的情景。看上去拖船的工作似乎微不足道，很快巨轮就可以停泊就位，下牢锚链，拖船也就完成了任务。

　　These tugs, whether one or ten, move about in accord with whistle signals I send them from the bridge of the big liner. These signals make up a language that is just as dependable as the spoken word; or even more so, because our docking signals are rarely misunderstood.

　　无论一艘还是10艘拖船，它们的行动都是听命于我在巨轮舰桥上的鸣笛信号。这些信号便是一种语言，它的可靠程度可与口头语言相比，甚至有过之而无不及。这是因为我们的汽笛信号几乎不会被误解。

　　The captain of each tug⁴ does his work according to the signals he receives. He never asks questions. He takes everything on faith, and it always works out.

　　每艘拖船的船长会根据接收到的指令严格行动。而对于我的指挥，他们毫无疑问且完全信任，因此我们的配合一直很默契。

　　Working around tugboats, where so much depends on teamwork, has had its effect on what I believe. I believe that if I am to attain⁹ a successful place in the world I must have the help of my fellow man just as the great transatlantic liners depend on the help of the little tugs to bring them safely to port.

　　对于我的工作而言，团队合作尤为重要，这也影响着我的人生观。我相信，如果没有同伴们的帮助，我绝对不会有今天的成功，正如远洋航行的万吨巨轮要想安全入港停泊，还得依靠小小拖船的帮助一样。

　　I felt very important the first time I ever docked a big liner. She came riding up the harbor on a flood tide and towered high over the stout¹⁰ little tug that carried me. As we drew alongside, a doorway¹¹ opened almost at water level and two smartly rigged sailors helped me aboard.

　　第一次将巨轮引航入港时，我感觉自己相当了不起。那艘巨轮乘风破浪驶向海港，高塔般矗立在我所在的矮墩拖船前。当我们靠近船边时，舱门打开到水平面一样的高度，我在两名衣着讲究的船员的帮助下登上了船。在他们的陪同下我走上舰桥，从船长手中接过船的“指挥棒”。

　　I was escorted to the bridge where I took over from the captain. I realized I was in control of a great ship worth millions of dollars and the owners were depending on me to bring her safely to her berth². After I had docked several of the large liners, I realized I was not important, but simply the quarterback who called the signals.

　　我意识到，自己正在掌控一艘价值百万美金的巨轮，而它的主人正依靠我将它安全停泊。后来，在引领了几艘同样的巨轮入港后，我明白自己不过是一个传达信号的人而已，没有什么了不起的。

　　In spite of what we read in the newspapers, I have a great faith in this country and I pray that a peaceful understanding will come to this unsettled world, so that my children can grow up in a world that will give them happiness instead of bloodshed. I believe this will come about.

　　不管每天从报纸上读到多少坏消息，我依然对国家充满信心。我祈祷着和平与理解降临到这个动乱的世界，让我的孩子们能够在一个幸福而非血腥冲突的世界中生活。我相信这一天终会到来。

　　I remember the understanding and sympathy that took over this country, back in 1949, when a little girl named Kathy Fiskus fell into an abandoned well out in California. Engineers and sandhogs and people in all walks of life worked almost three days, and when they got her out she was dead.

　　我还记得，在1949年，一个名叫凯西?菲丝库斯的小女孩失足跌入了加利福尼亚的一口废井之中，全国的人们都对她充满了同情与关爱。当工程师、隧道工以及各行各业的人们经过三天三夜的努力将她从井底救出来时，她已经没有了呼吸。

　　People sent in thousands of dollars in rescue funds, but those who did the work and furnished the equipment wouldn’t take money. They worked for bigger stakes. I talked to captains of foreign ships that came into New York Harbor, and they were just as concerned as we Americans over the tragedy.

　　人们为营救工作捐了数千美金，但是营救人员及提供器械的人们却分文未收。他们之所以奋力救人是为了比钱更重要的东西。当时，我曾对驶入纽约港的一些国外客轮船长提及此事，他们也一样被深深地感动了。

　　I believe some way will be found to work together for world peace with the same sympathy and understanding that people worked to rescue little Kathy Fiskus. I believe God will someday bring this about.

　　我相信，如同人们营救小凯西一样，他日我们也定能用同样的同情与理解赢来世界的和平。我相信，上帝总会让我如愿以偿的。

1 moored   

adj. 系泊的 动词moor的过去式和过去分词形式

参考例句：

• The ship is now permanently moored on the Thames in London. 该船现在永久地停泊在伦敦泰晤士河边。
• We shipped (the) oars and moored alongside the bank. 我们收起桨，把船泊在岸边。

2 berth   

n.卧铺，停泊地，锚位；v.使停泊

参考例句：

• She booked a berth on the train from London to Aberdeen.她订了一张由伦敦开往阿伯丁的火车卧铺票。
• They took up a berth near the harbor.他们在港口附近找了个位置下锚。

3 berths   

n.（船、列车等的）卧铺( berth的名词复数 )；（船舶的）停泊位或锚位；差事；船台vt.v.停泊( berth的第三人称单数 )；占铺位

参考例句：

• Berths on steamships can be booked a long while in advance. 轮船上的床位可以提前多日预订。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Have you got your berths on the ship yet? 你们在船上有舱位了吗？ 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

4 tug   

v.用力拖(或拉)；苦干；n.拖；苦干；拖船

参考例句：

• We need to tug the car round to the front.我们需要把那辆车拉到前面。
• The tug is towing three barges.那只拖船正拖着三只驳船。

5 tugs   

n.猛拉( tug的名词复数 )；猛拖；拖船v.用力拉，使劲拉，猛扯( tug的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The raucous sirens of the tugs came in from the river. 河上传来拖轮发出的沙哑的汽笛声。 来自辞典例句
• As I near the North Tower, the wind tugs at my role. 当我接近北塔的时候，风牵动着我的平衡杆。 来自辞典例句

6 vessel   

n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管

参考例句：

• The vessel is fully loaded with cargo for Shanghai.这艘船满载货物驶往上海。
• You should put the water into a vessel.你应该把水装入容器中。

7 pier   

n.码头；桥墩，桥柱；[建]窗间壁，支柱

参考例句：

• The pier of the bridge has been so badly damaged that experts worry it is unable to bear weight.这座桥的桥桩破损厉害，专家担心它已不能负重。
• The ship was making towards the pier.船正驶向码头。

8 hawsers   

n.（供系船或下锚用的）缆索，锚链( hawser的名词复数 )

参考例句：

9 attain   

vt.达到，获得，完成

参考例句：

• I used the scientific method to attain this end. 我用科学的方法来达到这一目的。
• His painstaking to attain his goal in life is praiseworthy. 他为实现人生目标所下的苦功是值得称赞的。

10 stout   

adj.强壮的，粗大的，结实的，勇猛的，矮胖的

参考例句：

• He cut a stout stick to help him walk.他砍了一根结实的枝条用来拄着走路。
• The stout old man waddled across the road.那肥胖的老人一跩一跩地穿过马路。

11 doorway   

n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径

参考例句：

• They huddled in the shop doorway to shelter from the rain.他们挤在商店门口躲雨。
• Mary suddenly appeared in the doorway.玛丽突然出现在门口。