BBC英国史

A group of merchants and bankers,including William Paterson,

一批商人与银行家 包括威廉·帕特森

the Scottish founder of the Bank of England,

英格兰银行的苏格兰创始人

had the idea of creating a Scottish trading post

提出了在巴拿马的达连湾

on the Isthmus of Darien in Panama.

建立一个贸易站的创想

At first sight, the idea sounds like the purest lunacy,

乍一看 这完全是天马行空的创想

but look at the map of world trade and it becomes visionary.

而研究一下地图就会发现这真是远见卓识

A major obstacle to east-west trade was the long, dangerous,and ruinously expensive journey round Cape Horn.

东西方贸易的主要障碍 在于经由好望角的航运路线 不仅道阻且长 也出奇昂贵

A trade route that cut through Panama was an obvious boon.

若能取道巴拿马 则是众望所归

At Darien,the distance between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans was only 40 miles.

在达连湾 太平洋和大西洋之间 仅有40英里的距离

Goods could be carried across the narrow strip of land to waiting merchant ships.

在这个狭长地带 人们将货物转运上整装待发的商船

The trading economy of the world would be revolutionised and Scotland would run it.

世界贸易经济体系将发生翻天覆地的变化 而苏格兰将引领这场变革

The Darien scheme instantly captured the imagination of the Scottish people.

达连计划很快成为 苏格兰人民寄托梦想的地方

Men and women from all walks of life and from all over Scotland

苏格兰各地各阶层的人们

queued up to invest in the venture.

争相投资这项冒险事业

When the first fleet sailed from the Firth of Forth in July 1698, flying the Saltire

1698年7月第一艘商船于佛斯湾起航 船上飘扬着圣安德鲁十字旗

and the extraordinary company flag of Indians, llamas,

以及伟大的东印度公司专属的旗帜

towered elephants and the beaming rising sun.

上面绘有无峰驼 大象和绚烂的朝阳

词汇解析

1、obstacle

障碍物

Most competition cars will only roll over if they hit an obstacle.

大多数赛车只有在撞上障碍物时才会翻车。

He left her to navigate her own way round the trolleys and other obstacles.

他扔下她一个人在一堆手推车和其他障碍物之间绕来绕去。

障碍；困难；阻碍

Overcrowding remains a large obstacle to improving conditions.

过分拥挤仍然是改善环境的一大障碍。

To succeed, you must learn to overcome obstacles.

必须学会克服困难才能成功。

2、instant

瞬息;顷刻;刹那

For an instant, Catherine was tempted to flee.

有那么一会儿,凯瑟琳很想逃跑。

The pain disappeared in an instant.

疼痛立刻就消失了。

(某一)时刻

At that instant the museum was plunged into total darkness.

就在那时,博物馆陷入了一片漆黑。

In the same instant he flung open the car door.

与此同时,他猛地推开了车门。