[急]格列佛游记(英文)精彩段落
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Soon after my return from Leyden, I was recommended by my goodmaster, Mr. Bates, to be surgeon to the Swallow, Captain AbrahamPannel, commander; with whom I continued three years and a half,making a voyage or two into the Levant, and some other parts. WhenI came back I resolved to settle in London; to which Mr. Bates, mymaster, encouraged me, and by him I was recommended to severalpatients. I took part of a small house in the Old Jewry; and beingadvised to alter my condition, I married Mrs. Mary Burton, seconddaughter to Mr. Edmund Burton, hosier, in Newgate-street, with whomI received four hundred pounds for a portion.
But my good master Bates dying in two years after, and I having fewfriends, my business began to fail; for my conscience would notsuffer me to imitate the bad practice of too many among mybrethren. Having therefore consulted with my wife, and some of myacquaintance, I determined to go again to sea. I was surgeonsuccessively in two ships, and made several voyages, for six years,to the East and West Indies, by which I got some addition to myfortune. My hours of leisure I spent in reading the best authors,ancient and modern, being always provided with a good number ofbooks; and when I was ashore, in observing the manners anddispositions of the people, as well as learning their language;wherein I had a great facility, by the strength of my memory.
The last of these voyages not proving very fortunate, I grew wearyof the sea, and intended to stay at home with my wife and family.I removed from the Old Jewry to Fetter Lane, and from thence toWapping, hoping to get business among the sailors; but it would notturn to account. After three years expectation that things wouldmend, I accepted an advantageous offer from Captain WilliamPrichard, master of the Antelope, who was making a voyage to theSouth Sea. We set sail from Bristol, May 4, 1699, and our voyagewas at first very prosperous.
It would not be proper, for some reasons, to trouble the readerwith the particulars of our adventures in those seas; let itsuffice to inform him, that in our passage from thence to the EastIndies, we were driven by a violent storm to the north-west of VanDiemen's Land. By an observation, we found ourselves in thelatitude of 30 degrees 2 minutes south. Twelve of our crew weredead by immoderate labour and ill food; the rest were in a veryweak condition. On the 5th of November, which was the beginning ofsummer in those parts, the weather being very hazy, the seamenspied a rock within half a cable's length of the ship; but the windwas so strong, that we were driven directly upon it, andimmediately split. Six of the crew, of whom I was one, having letdown the boat into the sea, made a shift to get clear of the shipand the rock. We rowed, by my computation, about three leagues,till we were able to work no longer, being already spent withlabour while we were in the ship. We therefore trusted ourselvesto the mercy of the waves, and in about half an hour the boat wasoverset by a sudden flurry from the north. What became of mycompanions in the boat, as well as of those who escaped on therock, or were left in the vessel, I cannot tell; but conclude theywere all lost. For my own part, I swam as fortune directed me, andwas pushed forward by wind and tide. I often let my legs drop, andcould feel no bottom; but when I was almost gone, and able tostruggle no longer, I found myself within my depth; and by thistime the storm was much abated. The declivity was so small, that Iwalked near a mile before I got to the shore, which I conjecturedwas about eight o'clock in the evening. I then advanced forwardnear half a mile, but could not discover any sign of houses orinhabitants; at least I was in so weak a condition, that I did notobserve them. I was extremely tired, and with that, and the heatof the weather, and about half a pint of brandy that I drank as Ileft the ship, I found myself much inclined to sleep. I lay downon the grass, which was very short and soft, where I slept sounderthan ever I remembered to have done in my life, and, as I reckoned,about nine hours; for when I awaked, it was just day-light. Iattempted to rise, but was not able to stir: for, as I happened tolie on my back, I found my arms and legs were strongly fastened oneach side to the ground; and my hair, which was long and thick,tied down in the same manner. I likewise felt several slenderligatures across my body, from my arm-pits to my thighs. I couldonly look upwards; the sun began to grow hot, and the lightoffended my eyes. I heard a confused noise about me; but in theposture I lay, could see nothing except the sky. In a little timeI felt something alive moving on my left leg, which advancinggently forward over my breast, came almost up to my chin; when,bending my eyes downwards as much as I could, I perceived it to bea human creature not six inches high, with a bow and arrow in hishands, and a quiver at his back. In the mean time, I felt at leastforty more of the same kind (as I conjectured) following the first.I was in the utmost astonishment, and roared so loud, that they allran 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 theground. However, they soon returned, and one of them, who venturedso far as to get a full sight of my face, lifting up his hands andeyes by way of admiration, cried out in a shrill but distinctvoice, Hekinah degul: the others repeated the same words severaltimes, but then I knew not what they meant. I lay all this while,as the reader may believe, in great uneasiness. At length,struggling to get loose, I had the fortune to break the strings,and wrench out the pegs that fastened my left arm to the ground;for, by lifting it up to my face, I discovered the methods they hadtaken to bind me, and at the same time with a violent pull, whichgave me excessive pain, I a little loosened the strings that tieddown my hair on the left side, so that I was just able to turn myhead about two inches. But the creatures ran off a second time,before I could seize them; whereupon there was a great shout in avery shrill accent, and after it ceased I heard one of them cryaloud Tolgo phonac; when in an instant I felt above a hundredarrows discharged on my left hand, which, pricked me like so manyneedles; and besides, they shot another flight into the air, as wedo bombs in Europe, whereof many, I suppose, fell on my body,(though I felt them not), and some on my face, which I immediatelycovered with my left hand. When this shower of arrows was over, Ifell a groaning with grief and pain; and then striving again to getloose, they discharged another volley larger than the first, andsome of them attempted with spears to stick me in the sides; but bygood luck I had on a buff jerkin, which they could not pierce. Ithought it the most prudent method to lie still, and my design wasto continue so till night, when, my left hand being already loose,I could easily free myself: and as for the inhabitants, I hadreason to believe I might be a match for the greatest army theycould bring against me, if they were all of the same size with himthat I saw. But fortune disposed otherwise of me. When the peopleobserved I was quiet, they discharged no more arrows; but, by thenoise I heard, I knew their numbers increased; and about four yardsfrom me, over against my right ear, I heard a knocking for above anhour, like that of people at work; when turning my head that way,as well as the pegs and strings would permit me, I saw a stageerected about a foot and a half from the ground, capable of holdingfour of the inhabitants, with two or three ladders to mount it:from whence one of them, who seemed to be a person of quality, mademe a long speech, whereof I understood not one syllable. But Ishould have mentioned, that before the principal person began hisoration, he cried out three times, Langro dehul san (these wordsand the former were afterwards repeated and explained to me);whereupon, immediately, about fifty of the inhabitants came and cutthe strings that fastened the left side of my head, which gave methe liberty of turning it to the right, and of observing the personand gesture of him that was to speak. He appeared to be of amiddle age, and taller than any of the other three who attendedhim, whereof one was a page that held up his train, and seemed tobe somewhat longer than my middle finger; the other two stood oneon each side to support him. He acted every part of an orator, andI could observe many periods of threatenings, and others ofpromises, pity, and kindness. I answered in a few words, but inthe most submissive manner, lifting up my left hand, and both myeyes to the sun, as calling him for a witness; and being almostfamished with hunger, having not eaten a morsel for some hoursbefore I left the ship, I found the demands of nature so strongupon me, that I could not forbear showing my impatience (perhapsagainst the strict rules of decency) by putting my fingerfrequently to my mouth, to signify that I wanted food. The hurgo(for so they call a great lord, as I afterwards learnt) understoodme very well. He descended from the stage, and commanded thatseveral ladders should be applied to my sides, on which above ahundred of the inhabitants mounted and walked towards my mouth,laden with baskets full of meat, which had been provided and sentthither by the king's orders, upon the first intelligence hereceived of me. I observed there was the flesh of several animals,but could not distinguish them by the taste. There were shoulders,legs, and loins, shaped like those of mutton, and very welldressed, but smaller than the wings of a lark. I ate them by twoor three at a mouthful, and took three loaves at a time, about thebigness of musket bullets. They supplied me as fast as they could,showing a thousand marks of wonder and astonishment at my bulk andappetite. I then made another sign, that I wanted drink. Theyfound by my eating that a small quantity would not suffice me; andbeing a most ingenious people, they slung up, with great dexterity,one of their largest hogsheads, then rolled it towards my hand, andbeat out the top; I drank it off at a draught, which I might welldo, for it did not hold half a pint, and tasted like a small wineof Burgundy, but much more delicious. They brought me a secondhogshead, which I drank in the same manner, and made signs formore; but they had none to give me. When I had performed thesewonders, they shouted for joy, and danced upon my breast, repeatingseveral times as they did at first, Hekinah degul. They made me asign that I should throw down the two hogsheads, but first warningthe people below to stand out of the way, crying aloud, Borachmevolah; and when they saw the vessels in the air, there was auniversal shout of Hekinah degul. I confess I was often tempted,while they were passing backwards and forwards on my body, to seizeforty or fifty of the first that came in my reach, and dash themagainst the ground. But the remembrance of what I had felt, whichprobably might not be the worst they could do, and the promise ofhonour I made them--for so I interpreted my submissive behaviour--soon drove out these imaginations. Besides, I now consideredmyself as bound by the laws of hospitality, to a people who hadtreated me with so much expense and magnificence. However, in mythoughts I could not sufficiently wonder at the intrepidity ofthese diminutive mortals, who rst venture to mount and walk uponmy body, while one of my hands was at liberty, without trembling atthe very sight of so prodigious a creature as I must appear tothem. After some time, when they observed that I made no moredemands for meat, there appeared before me a person of high rankfrom his imperial majesty. His excellency, having mounted on thesmall of my right leg, advanced forwards up to my face, with abouta dozen of his retinue; and procing his credentials under thesignet royal, which he applied close to my eyes, spoke about tenminutes without any signs of anger, but with a kind of determinateresolution, often pointing forwards, which, as I afterwards found,was towards the capital city, about half a mile distant; whither itwas agreed by his majesty in council that I must be conveyed. Ianswered in few words, but to no purpose, and made a sign with myhand that was loose, putting it to the other (but over hisexcellency's head for fear of hurting him or his train) and then tomy own head and body, to signify that I desired my liberty. Itappeared that he understood me well enough, for he shook his headby way of disapprobation, and held his hand in a posture to showthat I must be carried as a prisoner. However, he made other signsto let me understand that I should have meat and drink enough, andvery good treatment. Whereupon I once more thought of attemptingto break my bonds; but again, when I felt the smart of their arrowsupon my face and hands, which were all in blisters, and many of thedarts still sticking in them, and observing likewise that thenumber of my enemies increased, I gave tokens to let them know thatthey might do with me what they pleased. Upon this, the hurgo andhis train withdrew, with much civility and cheerful countenances.Soon after I heard a general shout, with frequent repetitions ofthe words Peplom selan; and I felt great numbers of people on myleft side relaxing the cords to such a degree, that I was able toturn upon my right, and to ease myself with making water; which Ivery plentifully did, to the great astonishment of the people; who,conjecturing by my motion what I was going to do, immediatelyopened to the right and left on that side, to avoid the torrent,which fell with such noise and violence from me. But before this,they had daubed my face and both my hands with a sort of ointment,very pleasant to the smell, which, in a few minutes, removed allthe smart of their arrows. These circumstances, added to therefreshment I had received by their victuals and drink, which werevery nourishing, disposed me to sleep. I slept about eight hours,as I was afterwards assured; and it was no wonder, for thephysicians, by the emperor's order, had mingled a sleepy potion inthe hogsheads of wine.
It seems, that upon the first moment I was discovered sleeping onthe ground, after my landing, the emperor had early notice of it byan express; and determined in council, that I should be tied in themanner I have related, (which was done in the night while I slept;)that plenty of meat and drink should be sent to me, and a machineprepared to carry me to the capital city.
This resolution perhaps may appear very bold and dangerous, and Iam confident would not be imitated by any prince in Europe on thelike occasion. However, in my opinion, it was extremely prudent,as well as generous: for, supposing these people had endeavouredto kill me with their spears and arrows, while I was asleep, Ishould certainly have awaked with the first sense of smart, whichmight so far have roused my rage and strength, as to have enabledme to break the strings wherewith I was tied; after which, as theywere not able to make resistance, so they could expect no mercy.
These people are most excellent mathematicians, and arrived to agreat perfection in mechanics, by the countenance and encouragementof the emperor, who is a renowned patron of learning. This princehas several machines fixed on wheels, for the carriage of trees andother great weights. He often builds his largest men of war,whereof some are nine feet long, in the woods where the timbergrows, and has them carried on these engines three or four hundredyards to the sea. Five hundred carpenters and engineers wereimmediately set at work to prepare the greatest engine they had.It was a frame of wood raised three inches from the ground, aboutseven feet long, and four wide, moving upon twenty-two wheels. Theshout I heard was upon the arrival of this engine, which, it seems,set out in four hours after my landing. It was brought parallel tome, as I lay. But the principal difficulty was to raise and placeme in this vehicle. Eighty poles, each of one foot high, wereerected for this purpose, and very strong cords, of the bigness ofpackthread, were fastened by hooks to many bandages, which theworkmen had girt round my neck, my hands, my body, and my legs.Nine hundred of the strongest men were employed to draw up thesecords, by many pulleys fastened on the poles; and thus, in lessthan three hours, I was raised and slung into the engine, and theretied fast. All this I was told; for, while the operation wasperforming, I lay in a profound sleep, by the force of thatsoporiferous medicine infused into my liquor. Fifteen hundred ofthe emperor's largest horses, each about four inches and a halfhigh, were employed to draw me towards the metropolis, which, as Isaid, was half a mile distant.
About four hours after we began our journey, I awaked by a veryridiculous accident; for the carriage being stopped a while, toadjust something that was out of order, two or three of the youngnatives had the curiosity to see how I looked when I was asleep;they climbed up into the engine, and advancing very softly to myface, one of them, an officer in the guards, put the sharp end ofhis half-pike a good way up into my left nostril, which tickled mynose like a straw, and made me sneeze violently; whereupon theystole off unperceived, and it was three weeks before I knew thecause of my waking so suddenly. We made a long march the remainingpart of the day, and, rested at night with five hundred guards oneach side of me, half with torches, and half with bows and arrows,ready to shoot me if I should offer to stir. The next morning atsun-rise we continued our march, and arrived within two hundredyards of the city gates about noon. The emperor, and all hiscourt, came out to meet us; but his great officers would by nomeans suffer his majesty to endanger his person by mounting on mybody.
At the place where the carriage stopped there stood an ancienttemple, esteemed to be the largest in the whole kingdom; which,having been polluted some years before by an unnatural murder, was,according to the zeal of those people, looked upon as profane, andtherefore had been applied to common use, and all the ornaments andfurniture carried away. In this edifice it was determined I shouldlodge. The great gate fronting to the north was about four feethigh, and almost two feet wide, through which I could easily creep.On each side of the gate was a small window, not above six inchesfrom the ground: into that on the left side, the king's smithconveyed fourscore and eleven chains, like those that hang to alady's watch in Europe, and almost as large, which were locked tomy left leg with six-and-thirty padlocks. Over against thistemple, on the other side of the great highway, at twenty feetdistance, there was a turret at least five feet high. Here theemperor asce
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