美国小学英语教材6:第68课 洋基快速船(7)

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There are favorable winds and chances for good luck on the eastern passage, but when your prow¹ is turned toward home again, 风向对速度有帮助，往东的路程很是幸运，但如果你准备回家，

when you are obliged to go southward to get the trade winds which blow for all ships alike, 你会往南走，你将遭受信风，这会影响所有船只，

then you will find that this is an ordinary ship, just like all the rest. We will equal our record or better it, 你会发现这就是普通的舰船，和其它的没有区别，我们的记录将和以前的持平或更高，

Humphrey replied obstinately², although, as I admit, the westward³ voyage is a longer and a more difficult one. 汉弗莱固执地回答道，尽管正如我说的，向西的路程要更长，而且更艰难。

But the West Wind, sir, is a ship not like other ships. 但先生“西风”和其它的舰船不一样。

The dark visitor shrugged⁴ his shoulders, slipped one sleek⁵ hand within his satin robe, and laid a handful of gold coins upon the table. 这名黝黑的访问者耸了耸肩，在他的绸缎长袍下，他把手中的一大把金币放在了桌子上。

A gift from my ruler to you, he said. But what for? Humphrey asked. 他说这是统治者给你们的礼物，汉弗莱问道做什么？

A mere⁶ token, sent with the message that the ruler of Tripoli begs you to be a little blind, 只是一个象征，代表了的黎波里统治者恳求你睁一只眼，闭一只眼，

if you should see a vessel⁷ of ours in pursuit of some French or British trading vessel. 如果你看到我们的舰船正在追逐法国或英国商船。

You Americans are so hasty and interfere⁸ so often in matters which do not concern you. 你们美国人太草率了，干预了许多不关你们的事。

We drive no bargains to be paid for in stolen coin, returned Humphrey hotly. Have you not learned once what America thinks of piracy⁹? 汉弗莱强烈地回答道，我们不用偷来的硬币来做交易，你们不知道我们美国人对隐私的看法吗？

America is far away, the minister answered dryly. News carries thither¹⁰ slowly, and as slowly comes back again. 这名大臣冷冰冰地回答道，美国很遥远，新闻传到这里要很长的时间，传回的消息也一样漫长。

It is twenty years since your country fought mine; we believe that America is ceasing to watch us. 你的国家攻打我们已过去20年了，我们相信美国已停止关注我们。

The Atlantic is a broad and windy sea. You do not know, the young officer replied slowly, 大西洋是一片宽阔，寒风凌冽的海洋，你不知道，这名年轻的官员缓慢地回答道，

that there is a wise man in my country, my comrade and dear friend, who has learned how to make the Atlantic a thousand miles less broad. 我们国家有一名有智慧的人，也是我的战友和朋友，他知道如何让大西洋缩短一千英里。

He built this ship with which we have shortened the voyage by four days and will, when we set sail again, lessen¹¹ it by more than that. 他建造的舰船把航行时间缩短了四天，当我们再次起航时，我们还可以大幅度缩减。

Your pirate vessels¹² are swift, but Yankee wits are swifter, and presently your vessels will bring back a tale, 你们的海盗船敏捷，但杨基人更敏捷，你们的舰船将带回一个传说，

for every seacoast will ring with it, that Jonathan Adams' ship, the West Wind, has crossed the ocean in eighteen days. 每一个港口都会知晓这个传说，那就是乔纳森·亚当斯的船“西风”用了18天就穿越了海洋。

 

 

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