All this while, the soil and pasture of the earth remained still in common as before, and open to every occupant;
一直以来，地球上的土地和牧草同以前一样属于共有，向每个占有者敞开胸怀。
except, perhaps, in the neighborhood of towns, where the necessity of a sale and exclusive property in lands, (for the sake of agriculture,) was earlier felt, and therefore more readily complied with.
除了相邻的城镇，在那里生活必需品和土地专有财产的买卖，（多亏了农业），是较早出现的，因此更容易遵从。
Otherwise, when the multitude of men and cattle had consumed everyconvenience on one spot of ground,
换言之，当大量人口和牲畜在一地消耗掉所有便利品时，
it was deemed a natural right to seize upon and occupy such other lands as would more easily supply their necessities.
攫取和占有其他人的土地被视为当然的权力，这样才能更容易供应自己的生活必需品。
We have a striking example of this in the history of Abraham and his nephew Lot.
从亚伯和他侄子洛特的经历中，我们可以找到这方面生动的例子。
When their joint substance became so great that pasture and other conveniences grew scarce,
当他们共同的物质需求变得很大，以至于牧草和其他便利品愈发稀缺时，
the natural consequence was that a strife arose between their servants; so that it was no longer practicable to dwell together.
后果当然是他们的奴仆之间发生争执，于是，他们不再住在一起。
This contention, Abraham thus endeavored to compose: "Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee.
亚伯因此要努力平息这场纷争：“我求求大家了，我们之间不要再吵了。
Is not the whole land before thee? Separate thyself, I pray thee, from me.
在你们面前，难道土地不是完整的吗？我求你们了，快走吧。
If thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left."
如果你们举起左手，我就走右边。如果你们去右边，我就去左边。”

This plainly implies an acknowledged right in either to occupy whatever ground he pleased that was not preoccupied by other tribes.
这段话清楚直率地暗示出他拥有自己心仪土地的权利，不允许其他部落占有。
"And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere, even as the garden of the Lord.
“洛特举目凝视着约旦的全部平原地区，那里灌溉得很好，甚至像伊甸园一样。
Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan, and journeyed east; and Abraham dwelt in the land of Canaan."
然后，洛特为自己挑选了约旦全部平原地区，向东迁徙。亚伯则在迦南定居。”
As the world by degrees grew more populous, it daily became more difficult to find out new spots to inhabit, without encroaching upon former occupants;
随着世界人口越来越多，如果不侵犯以前的占有者的利益的话，愈发难发现可以定居新地方，
and, by constantly occupying the same individual spot, the fruits of the earth were consumed, and its spontaneous products destroyed, without any provision for future supply or succession.
不断占有同一个体的地方，土地上的出产被消耗殆尽在没有为将来的供应或者接下来的季节储备的情况下，土地的自然出产被毁掉了。
It, therefore, became necessary to pursue some regular method of providing a constant subsistence;
因此，致力于某些有规律的方法来提供稳定的基本生活资料成为必然；
and this necessity produced, or at least promoted and encouraged the art of agriculture.
这种生活必需品的生产，至少能促进和鼓励农艺。
And the art of agriculture, by a regular connection and consequence,
而农艺作为正常的连接纽带和结果，
introduced and established the idea of a more permanent property in the soil than had hitherto been received and adopted.
要比到目前为止已经接受和采用的方法，更有利于引进和建立土地是更长久的财产这一观念。