| 目 录 上一节 下一节 
第三天早晨，海上风平浪静，因为在夜里风已大大减小了。于是我又冒险前进。可是一开船，我又犯了个大错误，足以给那些鲁莽而无知的水手作为前车之鉴。船刚走近那个岬角，离海岸还没有船本身的长度那么远，就开进了一片深水面，并且碰上一股激流，就像磨坊下的水流那么急。这股激流来势凶猛，把我的船一直向前冲去。我费了九牛二虎之力，想让船沿着这股激流的边沿前进，可是毫无用处。结果，我的船远远冲离了我左边的那股回流。这时又正好没有一点风。我只得拼命划桨，但还是无济于事。我感到自己这下子又要完蛋了。因为我知道，这岛的两头都各有一股急流，它们必然会在几海里以外汇合，到那时，我是必死无疑了，而且我也看不出有什么办法可以逃过这场灭顶之灾。现在，除了死亡，我已没有任何希望--倒不是我会葬身鱼腹，因为这时海面上风平浪静，而是会活活饿死，因为没有东西吃。不错，我曾在岸上抓到一只大鳖，重得几乎拿都拿不动。我把鳖扔进了船里。此外，我还有一大罐子淡水。但是，如果我被冲进汪洋大海，周围没有海岸，没有大陆，也没有小岛，我这么一点点食物和淡水又有什么用呢？ And now I saw how easy it was for the Providence of God make the most miserable Condition Mankind could be in worse. Now I look'd back upon my desolate solitary Island, the most pleasant Place in the World, and all the Happiness my Heart could wish for, was to be but there again. I stretch'd out my Hands to it with eager Wishes. O happy Desart said I, I shall never see thee more. O miserable Creature, said I, whether am I going: Then I reproach'd my Self with my unthankful Temper, and how I had repin'd at my solitary Condition; and now what would I give to be on Shore there again. Thus we never see the true State of our Condition, till it is illustrated to us by its Contraries; nor know how to value what we enjoy, but by the want of it. It is scarce possible to imagine the Consternation I was now in, being driven from my beloved Island (for so it appear'd to me now to be) into the wide Ocean, almost two Leagues, and in the utmost Despair of ever recovering it again. However, I work'd hard, till indeed my Strength was almost exhausted, and kept my Boat as much to the Northward, that is, towards the Side of the Current which the Eddy lay on, as possibly I could; when about Noon, as the Sun pass'd the Meridian, I thought I felt a little Breeze of Wind in my Face, springing up from the S.S.E. This chear'd my Heart a little, and especially when in about half an Hour more, it blew a pretty small gentle Gale. By this Time I was gotten at a frightful Distance from the Island, and had the least Cloud or haizy Weather interven'd, I had been undone another Way too; for I had no Compass on Board, and should never have known how to have steer'd towards the Island, if I had but once lost Sight of it; but the Weather continuing clear, I apply'd my self to get up my Mast again, spread my Sail, standing away to the North, as much as possible, to get out of the Current. 现在我才明白，只要上帝有意安排，它可以把人类最不幸的境遇变得更加不幸。现在我感到，我那荒凉的孤岛是世上最可爱的地方，而我现在最大的幸福，就是重新回到我那荒岛上。我怀着热切的心愿向它伸出双手："幸福荒芜的小岛啊， "我说，"我将永远看不到你了！"然后，我又对自己说："你这倒霉的家伙，你将去何方？"我开始责备自己身在福中不知福的脾气，责备自己不应该抱怨孤独的生活。现在，我愿意付出任何代价，只要能让我重新回到岸上！可是，我们一般凡人，不亲自经历更恶劣的环境，就永远看不到自己原来所处环境的优越性；不落到山穷水尽的地步，就不懂得珍惜自己原来享受的一切。我眼看自己被冲进茫茫的大海，离开我那可爱的小岛有六海里多远--现在我从心底里感到我的小岛确实可爱无比。看到我已没有回岛的希望，内心的惶恐简直难以形容。但是，我还是竭力划桨，直到筋疲力尽为止。我尽量把船朝北面划去，也就是向那股急流和回流交汇的海面划去。到了正午，太阳过了子午线，我忽然感到脸上似乎有了一点微风，风向东南偏南。我心中悄悄燃起了希望；尤其令人振奋的是，过了半小时，风稍稍大起来。这时我离岛已经很远了，要是这时有一点阴云或薄雾，那我也必完蛋无疑。因为我未带罗盘，只要我看不到海岛，我就会迷失方向无法回去。幸好天气始终晴朗，我立即竖起桅杆，张帆向北驶去，尽量躲开那股急流。 Just as I had set my Mast and Sail, and the Boat began to stretch away, I saw even by the Clearness of the Water, some Alteration of the Current was near; for where the Current was so strong, the Water was foul; but perceiving the Water clear, I found the Current abate, and presently I found to the East, at about half a Mile, a Breach of the Sea upon some Rocks; these Rocks I found caus'd the Current to part again, and as the main Stress of it ran away more Southerly, leaving the Rocks to the North-East; so the other return'd by the Repulse of the Rocks, and made a strong Eddy, which run back again to the North-West, with a very sharp Stream. 我刚竖起桅杆张好帜，船就开始向前行驶了。我发现四周水色较清，知道那股急流在附近改变了方向。因为，水急水则浊，水缓水则清，我知道那股急流在这儿已成了强弩之末了。不久我果然发现，在半海里以外，海水打在一些礁石上，浪花四溅。那些礁石把这股急流分成两股，主要的一股继续流向南方，另一股被礁石挡回，形成一股强烈的回流，向西北流回来，水流湍急。 They who know what it is to have a Reprieve brought to them upon the Ladder, or to be rescued from Thieves just a going to murther them, or, who have been in such like Extremities, may guess what my present Surprise of Joy was, and how gladly I put my Boat into the Stream of this Eddy, and the Wind also freshening, how gladly I spread my Sail to it, running chearfully before the Wind, and with a strong Tide or Eddy under Foot. 假如有人在临上绞架时忽然得到赦免，或者正要被强盗谋害时忽然获救，或者有过类似的死里逃生的经历，就不难体会到我当时那种喜出望外的心情，也不难设想我把船驶进那股回流是多么欣喜若狂。平时，正当风顺水急，我张帆乘风破浪向前，那欢快的心情是不难想像的。 This Eddy carryed me about a League in my Way back again directly towards the Island, but about two Leagues more to the Northward than the Current which carried me away at first; so that when I came near the Island, I found my self open to the Northern Shore of it, that is to say, the other End of the Island opposite to that which I went out from. 这股回流一直把我往岛上的方向冲了约三海里，但与先前把我冲向海外的那股急流相距六海里多，方向偏北。因此，当我靠近海岛时，发现自己正驶向岛的北岸，而我这次航行出发的地方是岛的南岸。 
这股回流把我冲向海岛方向三海里之后，它的力量已成了强弩之末，再也不能把船向前推进了。我发现自己正处于两股激流之间--一股在南面，也就是把我冲走的那股急流，一股在北面，两股激流之间相距约三海里。我刚才说，我正好处于两股激流之间，且已靠近小岛。这儿海面平静，海水没有流动的样子，而且还有一股顺风。我就乘风向岛上驶去，但船行慢得多了。 About four a-Clock in the Evening, being then within about a League of the Island, I found the Point of the Rocks which occasioned this Disaster, stretching out as is describ'd before to the Southward, and casting off the Current more Southwardly, had of Course made another Eddy to the North, and this I found very strong, but not directly setting the Way my Course lay which was due West, but almost full North. However having a fresh Gale, I stretch'd a-cross this Eddy slanting North-west, and in about an Hour came within about a Mile of the Shore, where it being smooth Water, I soon got to Land. 大约下午四点钟，在离海岛不到三海里的地方，我看到了伸向南方的岬角，这一点我前面也已提到过。正是这堆礁石引发了这次祸端。岬角把急流进一步向南方逼去，同时又分出一股回流向北方流去。这股回流流得很急，一直向正北。这不是我要航行的方向，我的航线是要往西走。由于风还大，我就从斜里穿过这股回流，向西北插过去。一小时之后，离岛只有一海里了，且这一带海面平静，所以不久我便上了岸。 When I was on Shore I fell on my Knees and gave God Thanks for my Deliverance, resolving to lay aside all Thoughts of my Deliverance by my Boat, and refreshing my self with such Things as I had, I brought my Boat close to the Shore in a little Cove that I had spy'd under some Trees, and lay'd me down to sleep, being quite spent with the Labour and Fatigue of the Voyage. 上岸之后，我立即跪在地上，感谢上帝搭救我脱离大难，并决心放弃坐小船离开孤岛的一切胡思乱想。我吃了一些所带的东西，就把小船划进岸边的一个小湾里藏在树底下。接着，我就躺在地上睡着了。这次航行把我弄得筋疲力竭，既辛苦又困乏。 I was now at a great Loss which Way to get Home with my Boat, I had run so much Hazard, and knew too much the Case to think of attempting it by the Way I went out, and what might be at the other Side (I mean the West Side) I knew not, nor had I any Mind to run any more Ventures; so I only resolved in the Morning to make my Way Westward along the Shore and to see if there was no Creek where I might lay up my Frigate in Safety, so as to have her again if I wanted her; in about three Mile or thereabout coasting the Shore, I came to a very good Inlet or Bay about a Mile over, which narrowed till it came to a very little Rivulet or Brook, where I found a very convenient Harbour for my Boat and where she lay as if she had been in a little Dock made on Purpose for her. Here I put in, and having stow'd my Boat very safe, I went on Shore to look about me and see where I was. 我完全不知道该怎样驾船回家。我遇到了这么多危险，知道照原路回去是十分危险的，而海岛的另一边，也就是西边的情况，我又一无所知，更无心再去冒险。所以，我决定第二天早晨沿海岸西行，看看能不能找到一条小河停泊我的小战舰，以便需要的时候再来取它。我驾船沿岸行驶约三海里，找到了一个小湾，约一英里宽，愈往里愈窄，最后成了一条小溪。这对于我的小船倒是一个进出方便的港口，就仿佛是专门为它建立的小船坞似的。我把小船停放妥当后，便上了岸。我环顾四周，看看到底到了什么地方。 I soon found I had but a little past by the Place where I had been before, when I travell'd on Foot to that Shore; so taking nothing out of my Boat, but my Gun and my Umbrella, for it was exceeding hot, I began my March: The Way was comfortable enough after such a Voyage as I had been upon, and I reach'd my old Bower in the Evening, where I found every thing standing as I left it; for I always kept it in good Order, being, as I said before, my Country House. 我很快就发现，这儿离我上次徒步旅行所到过的地方不远。所以，我只从船上拿出了枪和伞（因为天气很热）就出发了。经过这次辛劳而又危险的航行之后，我感到在陆上旅行十分轻松愉快。傍晚，我就到了自己的茅舍。屋里一切如132旧，因为这是我的乡间别墅，我总是把一切都收拾得整整齐齐的。 
我爬过围墙，躺在树荫下歇歇腿。我实在太疲倦了，不久就昏昏沉沉睡着了。不料，忽然有一个声音叫着我的名字，把我从睡梦中惊醒："鲁滨！鲁滨！鲁滨·克罗索！可怜的鲁滨·克罗索！你在哪儿，鲁滨·克罗索？你在哪儿？你去哪儿啦？"亲爱的读者，你们不妨想想，这多么出乎我的意料啊！ I was so dead asleep at first, being fatigu'd with Rowing, or Paddling, as it is call'd, the first Part of the Day, and with walking the latter Part, that I did not wake thoroughly, but dozing between sleeping and waking, thought I dream'd that some Body spoke to me: But as the Voice continu'd to repeat Robin Crusoe, Robin Crusoe, at last I began to wake more perfectly, and was at first dreadfully frighted, and started up in the utmost Consternation: But no sooner were my Eyes open, but I saw my Poll sitting on the Top of the Hedge; and immediately knew that it was he that spoke to me; for just in such bemoaning Language I had used to talk to him, and teach him; and he had learn'd it so perfectly, that he would sit upon my Finger, and lay his Bill close to my Face, and cry, Poor Robin Crusoe, Where are you? Where have you been? How come you here? And such things as I had taught him. 开始我睡得很熟，因为上半天一直在划船，下半天又走了不少路，所以困乏极了。突然，我被惊醒，但人一下子还未完全清醒过来，只是处于半睡半醒之中，因此我以为在睡梦中有人在同我说话。但那声音不断地叫着"鲁滨·克罗索！鲁滨·克罗索！"终于使我完全清醒过来。这一醒，把我吓得心胆俱裂，一骨碌从地上爬起。我睁眼一看，原来是我的那只鹦鹉停在篱笆上面。啊，原来是它在和我说话呢！这些令人伤心的话，正是我教它说的，也是我常和它说的话。它已把这些话学得维妙维肖了，经常停在我的手指头上，把它的嘴靠近我的脸，叫着"可怜的鲁滨·克罗索，你在哪儿？你去哪儿啦？你怎么会流落到这儿来的？"以及其它我教给它的一些话。
| |
