🔊 I now began to consider seriously the making of a boat or canoe, that I might venture out to sea in it. I had often thought of it, but was deterred by the consideration of the distance to the water, and the impossibility of getting it there; but at length, finding no other way, I resolved to attempt it.

我此时开始认真考虑制作一艘船或独木舟,以便能乘它贸然出海。我时常思量此事,却总因顾虑到离海太远、无法将船拖下水而作罢；然而最终,在别无他法的情况下,我决心一试。

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venture /ˈvɛntʃər/

v. 冒险➕

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deterred /dɪˈtɜːrd/

v. 被阻止➕

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consideration /kənˌsɪdəˈreɪʃən/

n. 考虑➕

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impossibility /ɪmˌpɑːsəˈbɪləti/

n. 不可能➕

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resolved /rɪˈzɑːlvd/

v. 决定➕

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at length /æt leŋθ/

phrase. 最终,详细地➕

🔊 I went to work upon this boat the most like a fool that ever man did who had any of his senses awake. I pleased myself with the design without determining whether I was ever able to undertake it. The boat was to be so large as to carry me and all my cargo, which was a thing I never considered.

我着手造这艘船时,简直像个理智尚存却愚不可及的傻瓜。我沉醉于设计之中,却从未思量自己是否有能力完成。这船要大到能载我和所有货物,这一点我竟从未考虑。

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undertake /ˌʌndərˈteɪk/

v. 承担,着手做➕

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cargo /ˈkɑːrɡoʊ/

n. 货物➕

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design /dɪˈzaɪn/

n. 设计➕

🔊 I chose a large tree which I thought fit for my purpose, and spent a great many days cutting it down, and more in shaping it. When I had wrought it to a proper thickness, I spent an immense time in burning and hewing it out, till I had made a very handsome canoe.

我选了一棵合意的大树,花费许多天将其砍倒,又用更多时日塑形。待将其修削至适当厚度,我耗费大量时间烧凿挖空,最终制成一艘相当精巧的独木舟。

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immense /ɪˈmens/

adj. 巨大的➕

🔊 But when I had finished this work, and was come to the launching of it, I found it impossible to get it into the water; for it lay about a hundred yards from the shore, and the land between was rising ground. I then resolved to dig a canal to bring the water up to the canoe, but when I had considered the labor, I found it would be ten or twelve years before I could effect it; so with great regret I was obliged to give it over.

但完工之后,到了要下水时,我才发现根本无法将它推入水中；因为它离海岸约有百米之遥,中间的地势又渐次隆起。于是我决意挖一条运河引水至独木舟旁,可估算劳动量后,发觉需耗费十到十二年方能成事；我只得满怀憾恨,就此作罢。

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launching /ˈlɔːntʃɪŋ/

n. 发射,下水➕

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impossible /ɪmˈpɑːsəbl/

adj. 不可能的➕

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canal /kəˈnæl/

n. 运河➕

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effect /ɪˈfekt/

v. 实现,引起➕

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regret /rɪˈɡret/

n. 遗憾➕

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obliged /əˈblaɪdʒd/

adj. 被迫的,有义务的➕

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give it over /ɡɪv ɪt ˈoʊvər/

phrase. 放弃,停止➕

🔊 Thus, after all my labor, I was forced to abandon my boat, and with it all my hopes of escaping by sea.

就这样,所有辛劳之后,我被迫放弃了这艘船,连同所有从海上逃生的希望。

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abandon /əˈbændən/

v. 放弃➕

Chapter nine (第九章)

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