英國語文第五冊(雙語):"五月花"號(3)

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But all through this dismal winter the Pilgrims laboured at their heavy task. The care of the sick, the burying of the dead, sadly hindered their work. But the building of their little town went on. They found that nineteen houses would contain their diminished numbers. These they built. Then they surrounded them with a palisade.

但是，一整個冬天，這些清教徒都從事著繁重的工作。它們要照顧病人，埋葬死人，這些都影響著他們的工作。但是他們還是繼續(xù)興建自己的小城。他們發(fā)現(xiàn)只要十九間房子就能容納所有的幸存者。于是他們就建了這么多。隨后他們在周圍筑起了柵欄。

Upon an eminence beside their town they erected a structure which served a double purpose. Above, it was a fort, on which they mounted six cannon; below, it was their church. Hitherto the Indians had been a cause of anxiety, but had done them no harm. Now they felt safe. Indeed there had never been much risk. A recent epidemic had swept off nine-tenths of the Indians who inhabited that region, and the discouraged survivors could ill afford to incur the hostility of their formidable visitors.

他們還在房子旁邊的高地上建了一個建筑物，這個建筑物有雙重功用。上層可做炮臺，他們在那布置了六門大炮；下層就是他們的教堂。他們對印第安人感到不安，但是對方并沒有做什么傷害他們的事情。現(xiàn)在他們感覺安全了。確實，根本就不存在這么多的危險。居住在那個區(qū)域的印第安人有十分之久都被疾病奪去生命，幸存下來的也很虛弱，他們根本無力和這些強大的外來者進行戰(zhàn)爭。

The Pilgrims had been careful to provide for themselves a government. They had drawn up and signed, in the cabin of the Mayflower, a document forming themselves into a body politic, and promising obedience to all laws framed for the general good. Under this Constitution they appointed John Carver to be their governor. They dutifully acknowledged King James, but they left no very large place for his authority. They were essentially a self-governing people. They knew what despotism was, and they were very sure that democracy could by no possibility be so bad.

清教徒們經(jīng)過嚴密討論，組建了自己的政府。他們在“五月花”號的船艙中起草并簽署了文件，組建一個政體，并承諾遵守和公眾利益相關的所有法律。依據(jù)這一憲法，他們選舉約翰·卡弗作為州長。他們名義上承認詹姆斯國王，但是并沒有為其權威留下太多余地。他們實質(zhì)上是一個自治政體。他們懂得獨裁的含義，并且非?？隙裰鬟h比獨裁要好。

The welcome spring came at length, and "the birds sang in the woods most pleasantly." The health of the colony began somewhat to improve; but there was still much suffering to endure. The summer passed not unprosperously. They had taken possession of the deserted clearings of the Indians, and had no difficulty in providing themselves with food. In the autumn came a ship with a new company of Pilgrims. This was very encouraging; but unhappily the ship brought no provisions, and the supplies of the colonists were not sufficient for this unexpected addition. For six months there was only half allowance to each.

最后，他們等來了春天，“小鳥在枝頭歡快地歌唱。”這個集落的健康狀況有所好轉；但是還有許多痛苦需要忍受。夏天過得很不順利。他們占領印第安人遺棄的空地，因此在食物上得以自給自足。秋天，又一群清教徒隨船到來。這讓他們倍受鼓舞；但不幸的是這艘船沒有攜帶供應品，集落中的食物不足以供應這些意想不到的來客。六個月，每個人都只能分到一半的食物。

Such straits recurred frequently during the first two or three years. Often the colonists knew not at night "where to have a bit in the morning." Once or twice the opportune arrival of a ship saved them from famishing. They suffered much, but their cheerful trust in Providence and in their own final triumph never wavered. They faced the difficulties of their position with undaunted hearts. Slowly but surely the little colony struck its roots and began to grow.

這樣的情況在頭兩三年時常發(fā)生。住在這里的清教徒經(jīng)常“今晚不知明天的食物從何而來”。有過一兩次，過往的船只解決了他們的饑餓問題。他們受了很多苦，但是他們對上帝的信仰和對自己能奪取最后的勝利的信念從沒動搖過。他們以一顆勇敢的心應對面前的困難。慢慢地，這個小小的村落開始穩(wěn)步扎根成長。