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LESSON 10 The frigate-bird
第十課 軍艦鳥
What bird is this? It is the little ocean-eagle, first and chief of the winged race, the daring navigator who never furls his sails,
這是一種什么鳥呢？它是再早的、也是最主要的一種有翼海鷹，是從不收帆的勇敢的領航員，
the lord of the tempest, the scorner of all peril—the man-of-war or frigate-bird.
是沖破暴風雨的主宰，是嘲笑一切危險的無畏勇士——軍艦鳥。
Here we have a bird which is virtually nothing more than wings:
事實上，這種鳥的最大的特點就是它的翅膀；
scarcely any body—barely as large as that of the domestic cock—while his prodigious pinions are fifteen feet in span!
它的肢體幾乎只有一只家養的公雞那么大，可是它那驚人的羽翼在展開時竟然有的15英尺長！
The great problem of flight is solved and overpassed, for the power of flight seems useless.
它在飛行是幾乎沒有任何麻煩和障礙，因為飛行的力量似乎對它毫無用處。
Such a bird, naturally sustained by such supports, needs but allow himself to be borne along.
有了這種天生的本領，軍艦鳥只需要讓自己順勢而為即可。
The storm bursts; he mounts to lofty heights, where he finds tranquillity.
當暴風雨襲來時，它能迎面沖向新的高度，從而尋找到屬于自己的安寧。
The poetic metaphor, untrue when applied to any other bird, is no exaggeration when applied to him: literally, he sleeps upon the storm.
某些詩意化的隱喻，若用在其他的鳥類身上便不真實，可是對它來說一點也不夸張；從字面上來看，它毫不畏懼暴風雨。
When he chooses to oar his way seriously, all distance vanishes: he breakfasts at the Senegal; he dines in America.
當它認真地選擇自己的飛行路線時，所有的距離都消失了——它可以在非洲的塞內加爾吃早餐，然后到美國吃午餐。
Or if he thinks fit to take more time, and amuse himself on route, he can do so.
或者，如果它想多花點時間在路上，消遣一下，當然也可以如此。
He may continue his progress through the night uninterruptedly, certain of reposing himself.
它還可以整夜不間斷的飛行，并且確保自己能得到充分休息。
Upon what? On his huge motionless pinion, which takes upon itself all the weariness of the voyage;
憑借什么呢？憑借它那巨型靜止的雙翼——它們承擔了所有航程中的疲倦；
or on the wind, his slave, which eagerly hastens to cradle him.
或者憑借風——它的從動裝置——急切的想要在空中托起它。
