I don't think so,I replied.What's that?
我想沒有。我回答說,那是什么?
Well,a Struldbrug is a human being who will never die,butwill live for ever.If a Luggnuggian baby is born with a roundspot above its left eye,which never disappears,it's aStruldbrug.We have over a thousand of them in the country.
噢,斯特魯布魯格是長生不死的人,如果一個拉格奈格嬰兒生下來時左眼上有一個圓點,而且圓點是永不消失的,那么這個嬰兒就是個斯特魯布魯格。我們國家有1000多個這樣的人。
How wonderful!I cried.How exciting!How lucky you are in Luggnagg,where a child has achance of living for ever!And how especially lucky the Struldbrugs are!Disease,disaster,anddeath can never touch them!
多么美妙啊!我叫道,多么令人興奮!你們在拉格奈格多么幸運,孩子有機(jī)會永生!這些斯特魯布魯格是多么特別的運氣呀!疾病、災(zāi)難和死亡不能奈何他們!你想想我們可以從他們那兒學(xué)到多少東西!
And imagine how much we can learn from them!I expect they're among the most importantpeople in the country.They've lived through history and know so much,which they're certain topass on to the rest of us.If I had the chance,Id like to spend my whole life listening to theintelligent conversation of these extraordinary people,here in Luggnagg!
我想他們是這個國家最重要的人。他們活了這么多年,知道多少的東西,他們肯定要傳播給其余的人。如果我有機(jī)會,我愿意整個一生都來聽這些不同尋常的人的睿智的談話,就在拉格奈格!
Well,of course,answered my Luggnuggian friend with a smile,we'll be delighted if you staylonger with us.But I'd like to know how川you would plan卯your life if you were a Struldbrug.
噢,當(dāng)然,我的拉格奈格朋友笑著回答,我們將很高興如果你和我們呆久一點。不過我想知道如果你是個斯特魯布魯格的話,你將怎樣安排你的生活。
That's easy,I replied.First Id work hard,and earn a lot of money.In about two hundred yearsI'd be the richest man in Luggnagg.I'd study too,so that I knew more about everything thanthe cleverest professors.I'd also write down everything important that happened over theyears,so that students of history would come to me for help.
那很容易。我回答,首先我將努力工作,掙許多錢。用近200年的時間我將成為拉格奈格最富有的人。我也將學(xué)習(xí),這樣我比最聰明的教授知道的都還多。我也會記下這些年里發(fā)生的每一件重大的事情,這樣歷史學(xué)者也會向我求助。
I'd teach young people what I had learnt.But most of my time Id spend with otherStruldbrugs,friends of mine.Together we could help to destroy crime in the world,and beginto build a new and better life for everyone.
我要教年輕人我所學(xué)到的。不過大多數(shù)時間我將與其他斯特魯布魯格,我的朋友,一起度過,我們一起可以幫助消滅世界上的犯罪,開始為每一個人建立新的更好的生活。
I had only just finished describing the happiness of endless life,when I realized that my friend'sshoulders were shaking and tears of laughter were running down his face.
我剛剛描繪完無盡生活的幸福,才發(fā)現(xiàn)我的朋友的肩膀抖動、笑得淚水都流到了臉上。
I really must explain,he said.You see,you've made a very understandable mistake.Yousuppose that if someone lives for ever,he is young,healthy,and strong for ever too.And thatdoesn't happen.
我必須說明,我朋友說,你看,你犯了一個可以理解的錯誤。你以為如果一個人永遠(yuǎn)活著,他也永遠(yuǎn)年輕、健康而且強(qiáng)壯??墒悄遣]有發(fā)生。
Our Struldbrugs have a terrible life.After living for about eighty years,they become ill andmiserable.They have no friends and they can't remember much of the past.At that age the lawconsiders them to be dead, so their children inherit their houses and money.Then theysometimes have to beg to get enough food to eat.They lose their teeth and hair,they forgetthe names of their families,and the only thing they want is to die.But that's impossible!Irealized how stupid I had been,and felt very sorry for the poor Struldbrugs.
我們的斯特魯布魯格生活很可怕。在活了大約80年后,他們變得多病而悲慘。他們沒有朋友,也記不住過去。在這個歲數(shù)法律認(rèn)定他們已經(jīng)死了,所以他們的孩子繼承了他們的房屋和錢財。這樣他們有時候不得不乞討以搞到足夠的東西吃。他們掉了牙齒和頭發(fā),他們忘記了他們家族的名字,他們唯一想要的就是死去。但是那不可能!我明白了我是多么愚蠢,為可憐的斯特魯布魯格感到難過。
I finally left Luggnagg on a boat sailing to Japan.From there I found a ship which was returningto England.My voyage to Laputa,Balnibarbi,Glubbdubdrib and Luggnagg had taken me awayfrom home for five and a half years.
最后我乘了一只駛往日本的船離開了拉格奈格。我在那兒找到了一艘正要回英國的船。我到勒皮他、巴爾尼巴比、格勒大錐和拉格奈格的航行使我離開家已經(jīng)五年半了。
關(guān)于《格列佛游記》拉格奈格人受到格列佛的贊揚—關(guān)于“斯特魯?shù)虏剪敻?rdquo;的詳細(xì)描寫;格列佛與一些著名人士談?wù)撨@個話題。