英语听书《海底两万里》第135期 第10章 水中人(6)

 　　I kept quiet, with good reason.

　　我故意不回答。

　　What was the use of debating such a proposition, when superior force can wipe out the best arguments?

　　因为碰到蛮不讲理的时候,再来讨论这类题目还有什么意义呢？

　　It took me a good while to decide, the commander went on. Nothing obliged me to grant you hospitality.

　　我犹豫了很久，船长又说，我没有任何义务接待你们。

　　If I were to part company with you, I'd have no personal interest in ever seeing you again.

　　如果我要撇开你们，我就不想再来看你们了。

　　I could put you back on the platform of this ship that has served as your refuge.

　　我会把际们重新放在曾经作为你们避难所的这只船的平台上，

　　I could sink under the sea, and I could forget you ever existed. Wouldn't that be my right?

　　就当你们没有存在一样，只管潜入海中。难道我没有这样的权利吗？

　　Perhaps it would be the right of a savage¹, I replied. But not that of a civilized² man.

　　这也许是野蛮人的权利，我答，而不是文明人的权利。

　　Professor, the commander replied swiftly, I'm not what you term a civilized man!

　　教授先生，船长很激动地回答，我不是你们所说的文明人，

　　I've severed³ all ties with society, for reasons that I alone have the right to appreciate.

　　为了我个人才能感觉到的理由，我跟整个人类社会断绝了关系。

　　Therefore I obey none of its regulations, and I insist that you never invoke⁴ them in front of me!

　　所以我不服从人类社会的法规。希望您以后不要再在我面前提这些东西了。

1 savage   

adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人

参考例句：

• The poor man received a savage beating from the thugs.那可怜的人遭到暴徒的痛打。
• He has a savage temper.他脾气粗暴。

2 civilized   

a.有教养的，文雅的

参考例句：

• Racism is abhorrent to a civilized society. 文明社会憎恶种族主义。
• rising crime in our so-called civilized societies 在我们所谓文明社会中日益增多的犯罪行为

3 severed   

v.切断，断绝( sever的过去式和过去分词 )；断，裂

参考例句：

• The doctor said I'd severed a vessel in my leg. 医生说我割断了腿上的一根血管。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• We have severed diplomatic relations with that country. 我们与那个国家断绝了外交关系。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 invoke   

v.求助于(神、法律)；恳求，乞求

参考例句：

• Let us invoke the blessings of peace.让我们祈求和平之福。
• I hope I'll never have to invoke this clause and lodge a claim with you.我希望我永远不会使用这个条款向你们索赔。