英国语文第五册(双语):"五月花"号(3)
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，一整个冬天，这些清教徒都从事着繁重的工作。它们要照顾病人，埋葬死人，这些都影响着他们的工作。但是他们还是继续兴建自己的小城。他们发现只要十九间房子就能容纳所有的幸存者。于是他们就建了这么多。随后他们在周围筑起了栅栏。
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.
他们还在房子旁边的高地上建了一个建筑物，这个建筑物有双重功用。上层可做炮台，他们在那布置了六门大炮；下层就是他们的教堂。他们对印第安人感到不安，但是对方并没有做什么伤害他们的事情。现在他们感觉安全了。确实，根本就不存在这么多的危险。居住在那个区域的印第安人有十分之久都被疾病夺去生命，幸存下来的也很虚弱，他们根本无力和这些强大的外来者进行战争。
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.
清教徒们经过严密讨论，组建了自己的政府。他们在“五月花”号的船舱中起草并签署了文件，组建一个政体，并承诺遵守和公众利益相关的所有法律。依据这一宪法，他们选举约翰·卡弗作为州长。他们名义上承认詹姆斯国王，但是并没有为其权威留下太多余地。他们实质上是一个自治政体。他们懂得独裁的含义，并且非常肯定民主远比独裁要好。
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，他们等来了春天，“小鸟在枝头欢快地歌唱。”这个集落的健康状况有所好转；但是还有许多痛苦需要忍受。夏天过得很不顺利。他们占领印第安人遗弃的空地，因此在食物上得以自给自足。秋天，又一群清教徒随船到来。这让他们倍受鼓舞；但不幸的是这艘船没有携带供应品，集落中的食物不足以供应这些意想不到的来客。六个月，每个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.
这样的情况在头两三年时常发生。住在这里的清教徒经常“今晚不知明天的食物从何而来”。有过一两次，过往的船只解决了他们的饥饿问题。他们受了很多苦，但是他们对上帝的信仰和对自己能夺取最后的胜利的信念从没动摇过。他们以一颗勇敢的心应对面前的困难。慢慢地，这个小小的村落开始稳步扎根成长。
