004 格列佛获得自由

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I hoped to be set free one day, so I was nice to the Lilliputians

我希望有一天能获得自由，所以我对小人国的人们很友善。

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Gradually, they lost their fear of me

渐渐地，他们不再害怕我了。

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Sometimes the children even played hide-and-seek in my hair

有时孩子们甚至在我的头发里玩捉迷藏。

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One day the king said to me

一天，国王对我说：

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" I invite you to attend an important performance

“我邀请你参加一场重要的表演。

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It is a contest called rope dancing. Come with me."

那是一项叫绳舞的比赛。跟我来吧。”

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For this contest, a thin rope was tied between two poles very high above the ground

这项比赛中，一根细绳系在离地面很高的两根柱子之间。

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The people who wanted the best jobs had to dance on this rope

想得到最好职位的人必须在这根绳子上跳舞。

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Each dancer tried to jump higher than the others

每位舞者都试图比其他人跳得更高。

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I had never seen such a dangerous sport

我从没见过如此危险的运动。

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" Your Majesty," I said," many dancers must fall and be hurt or killed."

“陛下，”我说，“很多舞者肯定会掉下来受伤或死掉。”

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" Yes," he replied

“是的，”他回答。

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" Some break their arms or legs, and several have broken their necks

“有些摔断了胳膊或腿，有好几个还摔断了脖子。”

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But I give the most important jobs in my kingdom to the men who are not afraid and jump the highest

但我会把王国里最重要的工作交给那些不害怕、跳得最高的人。

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These brave men will work hard for Lilliput."

这些勇敢的人会为利立浦特努力工作。”

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" What a strange way to choose who will work for the country," I thought

“挑选为国家工作的人的方式真奇怪，”我想。

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Then, as the king watched, I attached each corner of my handkerchief to a strong stick

然后，在国王的注视下，我把手帕的四个角分别系在结实的棍子上。

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I pushed the four sticks into the ground

我把四根棍子插进地里。

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My handkerchief was now under the rope but above the ground

我的手帕现在就在绳子下面，但离地面有一定高度。

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" Your Majesty," I said," any dancer who falls will now land on my handkerchief and not get hurt."

“陛下，”我说，“现在任何掉下来的舞者都会落在我的手帕上，不会受伤了。”

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" You are wise, Enormous One," said the king

“你很聪明，巨人，”国王说。

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" I am pleased with your invention."

“我对你的发明很满意。”

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His family and many other people watched the rope dancing

他的家人和许多其他人都观看了绳舞。

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" Would you and the queen like to see better?" I asked the king

“您和王后想看得更清楚吗？”我问国王。

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I gently put them on my hand and held it beside the rope

我轻轻把他们放在手上，然后把手举到绳子旁边。

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They had a good view of the dancers

他们可以清楚地看到舞者。

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One very skilled performer turned several cartwheels on the rope

一位技艺高超的表演者在绳子上翻了几个侧手翻。

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Then he held on to the rope and flipped his body right over it

接着他抓住绳子，身体直接翻了过去。

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The king and queen clapped loudly and cheered

国王和王后大声鼓掌欢呼。

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Later the king told me that he made this man one of his chief advisers

后来国王告诉我，他让这个人当了自己的首席顾问之一。

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The king and I met often

国王和我经常见面。

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He seemed to enjoy our conversations

他似乎很喜欢我们的谈话。

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One day, I said again," Your Majesty, please set me free."

一天，我再次说：“陛下，请给我自由吧。”

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This time he answered," I have talked to my advisers

这一次他回答说：“我和我的顾问们谈过了。

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We agree that you have been good to our people

我们一致认为你对我们的人民很好。

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I will set you free if you make six promises."

如果你答应六件事，我就给你自由。”

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" What must I promise?" I asked

“我必须答应什么？”我问。

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" You must help my country in war and peace," said the king

“你必须在战争与和平时期帮助我的国家，”国王说。

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" I promise," I said

“我答应，”我说。

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" Before you visit the capital," continued the king," you must give two hours' warning

“在你访问首都之前，”国王继续说，“你必须提前两小时发出警告。

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Then my people can get out of the streets."

这样我的人民就能离开街道。”

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" I promise."

“我答应。”

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" You must not step on my people or their animals."

“你不得踩踏我的人民或他们的牲畜。”

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" I promise."

“我答应。”

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" You must carry important messages for me quickly to anywhere in Lilliput."

“你必须为我快速将重要消息传送到利立浦特的任何地方。”

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" I promise."

“我答应。”

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" Also," said the king," you must help my workers carry heavy objects."

“还有，”国王说，“你必须帮助我的工人搬运重物。”

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" I promise."

“我答应。”

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" The last promise," said the king," is this:

“最后一个承诺，”国王说，“是这样的：

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you must not leave the kingdom without my permission

未经我的允许，你不得离开王国。

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If you do so, I will be angry."

如果你那样做，我会很生气。”

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" I promise that too," I told the king

“那件事我也答应，”我告诉国王。

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" Then you may have your freedom," he said

“那么你可以获得自由了，”他说。

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" Unchain the Enormous One," the king ordered his men

“给巨人解开锁链，”国王命令他的手下。

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" Now you can travel throughout Lilliput," he said

“现在你可以在利立浦特全境旅行了，”他说。

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" Thank you, Your Majesty," I said

“谢谢您，陛下，”我说。

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" I would like to see more of your country."

“我想多看看您的国家。”

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" When you come to the capital city, you may visit my palace," the king said

“当你来到首都时，你可以参观我的王宫，”国王说。

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" I'm sure you will find it the most beautiful you have ever seen."

“我相信你会发现那是你见过的最美丽的地方。”