LESSON 10 The frigate-bird
第十课 军舰鸟
What bird is this? It is the little ocean-eagle, first and chief of the winged race, the daring navigator who never furls his sails,
这是一种什么鸟呢？它是再早的、也是最主要的一种有翼海鹰，是从不收帆的勇敢的领航员，
the lord of the tempest, the scorner of all peril—the man-of-war or frigate-bird.
是冲破暴风雨的主宰，是嘲笑一切危险的无畏勇士——军舰鸟。
Here we have a bird which is virtually nothing more than wings:
事实上，这种鸟的最大的特点就是它的翅膀；
scarcely any body—barely as large as that of the domestic cock—while his prodigious pinions are fifteen feet in span!
它的肢体几乎只有一只家养的公鸡那么大，可是它那惊人的羽翼在展开时竟然有的15英尺长！

The great problem of flight is solved and overpassed, for the power of flight seems useless.
它在飞行是几乎没有任何麻烦和障碍，因为飞行的力量似乎对它毫无用处。
Such a bird, naturally sustained by such supports, needs but allow himself to be borne along.
有了这种天生的本领，军舰鸟只需要让自己顺势而为即可。
The storm bursts; he mounts to lofty heights, where he finds tranquillity.
当暴风雨袭来时，它能迎面冲向新的高度，从而寻找到属于自己的安宁。
The poetic metaphor, untrue when applied to any other bird, is no exaggeration when applied to him: literally, he sleeps upon the storm.
某些诗意化的隐喻，若用在其他的鸟类身上便不真实，可是对它来说一点也不夸张；从字面上来看，它毫不畏惧暴风雨。
When he chooses to oar his way seriously, all distance vanishes: he breakfasts at the Senegal; he dines in America.
当它认真地选择自己的飞行路线时，所有的距离都消失了——它可以在非洲的塞内加尔吃早餐，然后到美国吃午餐。
Or if he thinks fit to take more time, and amuse himself on route, he can do so.
或者，如果它想多花点时间在路上，消遣一下，当然也可以如此。
He may continue his progress through the night uninterruptedly, certain of reposing himself.
它还可以整夜不间断的飞行，并且确保自己能得到充分休息。
Upon what? On his huge motionless pinion, which takes upon itself all the weariness of the voyage;
凭借什么呢？凭借它那巨型静止的双翼——它们承担了所有航程中的疲倦；
or on the wind, his slave, which eagerly hastens to cradle him.
或者凭借风——它的从动装置——急切的想要在空中托起它。