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LESSON 16 The "mayflower"
第十六課 “五月花”號
On the northern border of Nottinghamshire stands the little town of Scrooby. Here, about the end of the sixteenth century, there were some grave and well-reputed persons, to whom the ceremonies of the Established Church were an offence. They met in secret at the house of one of their number, a gentleman named Brewster. They were ministered to in all scriptural simplicity by the pastor of their choice—Mr. Robinson, a wise and good man. But their secret meetings were betrayed to the authorities, and their lives were made bitter by the persecutions that fell upon them. They resolved to leave their own land, and seek among strangers that freedom which was denied them at home.
史克羅比是諾丁漢郡北部的一個村莊，十六世紀末期，這里出現(xiàn)了一些德高望重的人物，他們是英國國教的攻擊對象。他們在其中一個叫布魯斯特的紳士家中的家中秘密集會。他們侍奉由它們自己選出來的牧師——羅賓遜先生。羅賓遜人很睿智，也很善良。但是有人出賣了他們，告知了當局他們的秘密集會，他們因此受到迫害，生活變得更加艱難。他們決定離開當?shù)兀ヒ粋€陌生的地方尋求在當?shù)氐貌坏降淖杂伞?/p>
They embarked with all their goods for Holland. But when the ship was about to sail, soldiers came upon them, plundered them, and drove them on shore. They were marched to the public square of Boston, and there the Fathers of New England endured such indignities as an unbelieving rabble could inflict. After some weeks in prison, they were suffered to return home.
他們裝好所有的東西，準備前往荷蘭。但就在船將起航時，來了一群士兵，搶下他們的物品，并將它們趕上了岸，趕往波士頓公共廣場。在那里，這些新英格蘭的元勛們受到了侮辱，認為他們是一群不信教的烏合之眾。被關押了幾星期后，它們被趕回了家。
Next spring they tried again to escape. This time a good many were on board, and the others were waiting for the return of the boat which should carry them to the ship suddenly dragoons were seen spurring across the sands. The shipmaster pulled up his anchor, and pushed out to sea with those of his passengers whom he had. The rest were conducted to prison. After a time they were set at liberty. In little groups they also made their way to Holland. Mr. Robinson and his congregation were reunited, and the first stage of the weary pilgrimage from the Old England to the New was at length accomplished.
第二年春天，它們再次打算逃跑。這次很多人都上了船，其他人站在岸邊等小船再次返回將他們送到輪船上。突然，他們看到了沙灘上飛馳而來的騎兵。船長拉起錨，載著已經(jīng)上船的人駛出海去。沒有上船的人都被關押，一段時間后他們才重獲自由。他們分成小隊依次前往了荷蘭。羅賓遜先生又能再次舉辦集會了，這也標志著他們從老英格蘭到新英格蘭的漫漫朝圣之路的第一階段完成。
Eleven quiet and not unprosperous years were spent in Holland. The Pilgrims worked with patient industry at their various handicrafts They quickly gained the reputation of doing honestly and effectively whatever they professed to do; and thus they found abundant employment. Mr. Brewster established a printing-press, and printed books about liberty; which, as he had the satisfaction of knowing, greatly enraged the foolish King James. The little colony received additions from time to time as oppression in England became more intolerable.
他們在荷蘭過了十一年，這十一年很平靜，也很不順利。清教徒們用堅忍和辛勤在各個行業(yè)工作，很快在他們所做的行業(yè)中贏得了誠實和高效率的名聲；因此，雇傭她們的人數(shù)不勝數(shù)。布魯斯特先生開辦了一家印刷廠，出版關于自由的書籍；這一做法正如他早已料到的那樣，觸怒了不開化的詹姆斯國王。隨著英國國內(nèi)的壓迫越來越嚴重，越來越多的人來到了荷蘭。
The instinct of separation was strong within the Pilgrim heart. They could not bear the thought that their little colony was to mingle with the Dutchmen and lose its independent existence. But already their sons and daughters were forming alliances which threatened this result. The Fathers considered long and anxiously how the danger was to be averted. They determined again to go on pilgrim age. They would seek a home beyond the Atlantic, where they could dwell apart and found a State in which they should be free to think.
清教徒內(nèi)心中對隔離都有強烈的直覺。他們無法忍受他們那片小小凈土混雜著荷蘭人而失去獨立性的想法。但是她們的子女的聯(lián)姻已經(jīng)威脅到了這一結果。先驅(qū)們考慮了很久，憂心忡忡，想著如何避免這樣的危險。他們決定再次踏上朝圣之路。他們想要在大西洋之外尋求家園，在那里他們就可以與世人隔絕，建立一個能自由思考的國度。
