Why, it cannot be done! he cried. Not even pirate ships, it seemed, could fly on such swift wings.
他大叫道為什么,這不可能,就連海盜船都沒法有這樣的速度。
There are favorable winds and chances for good luck on the eastern passage, but when your prow is turned toward home again,
風(fēng)向?qū)λ俣扔袔椭鶘|的路程很是幸運(yùn),但如果你準(zhǔn)備回家,
when you are obliged to go southward to get the trade winds which blow for all ships alike,
你會(huì)往南走,你將遭受信風(fēng),這會(huì)影響所有船只,
then you will find that this is an ordinary ship, just like all the rest. We will equal our record or better it,
你會(huì)發(fā)現(xiàn)這就是普通的艦船,和其它的沒有區(qū)別,我們的記錄將和以前的持平或更高,
Humphrey replied obstinately, although, as I admit, the westward voyage is a longer and a more difficult one.
漢弗萊固執(zhí)地回答道,盡管正如我說的,向西的路程要更長,而且更艱難。
But the West Wind, sir, is a ship not like other ships.
但先生“西風(fēng)”和其它的艦船不一樣。
The dark visitor shrugged his shoulders, slipped one sleek hand within his satin robe, and laid a handful of gold coins upon the table.
這名黝黑的訪問者聳了聳肩,在他的綢緞長袍下,他把手中的一大把金幣放在了桌子上。
A gift from my ruler to you, he said. But what for? Humphrey asked.
他說這是統(tǒng)治者給你們的禮物,漢弗萊問道做什么?
A mere token, sent with the message that the ruler of Tripoli begs you to be a little blind,
只是一個(gè)象征,代表了的黎波里統(tǒng)治者懇求你睜一只眼,閉一只眼,

if you should see a vessel of ours in pursuit of some French or British trading vessel.
如果你看到我們的艦船正在追逐法國或英國商船。
You Americans are so hasty and interfere so often in matters which do not concern you.
你們美國人太草率了,干預(yù)了許多不關(guān)你們的事。
We drive no bargains to be paid for in stolen coin, returned Humphrey hotly. Have you not learned once what America thinks of piracy?
漢弗萊強(qiáng)烈地回答道,我們不用偷來的硬幣來做交易,你們不知道我們美國人對隱私的看法嗎?
America is far away, the minister answered dryly. News carries thither slowly, and as slowly comes back again.
這名大臣冷冰冰地回答道,美國很遙遠(yuǎn),新聞傳到這里要很長的時(shí)間,傳回的消息也一樣漫長。
It is twenty years since your country fought mine; we believe that America is ceasing to watch us.
你的國家攻打我們已過去20年了,我們相信美國已停止關(guān)注我們。
The Atlantic is a broad and windy sea. You do not know, the young officer replied slowly,
大西洋是一片寬闊,寒風(fēng)凌冽的海洋,你不知道,這名年輕的官員緩慢地回答道,
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.
我們國家有一名有智慧的人,也是我的戰(zhàn)友和朋友,他知道如何讓大西洋縮短一千英里。
He built this ship with which we have shortened the voyage by four days and will, when we set sail again, lessen it by more than that.
他建造的艦船把航行時(shí)間縮短了四天,當(dāng)我們再次起航時(shí),我們還可以大幅度縮減。
Your pirate vessels are swift, but Yankee wits are swifter, and presently your vessels will bring back a tale,
你們的海盜船敏捷,但楊基人更敏捷,你們的艦船將帶回一個(gè)傳說,
for every seacoast will ring with it, that Jonathan Adams' ship, the West Wind, has crossed the ocean in eighteen days.
每一個(gè)港口都會(huì)知曉這個(gè)傳說,那就是喬納森·亞當(dāng)斯的船“西風(fēng)”用了18天就穿越了海洋。