017 我的葡萄牙探险家生涯

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My ship sails in the morning from the port of Lagos, Portugal

我的船将于明天早上从葡萄牙的拉各斯港起航。

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I'm supervising my sailors as they lower crates into the cargo area, check

the sails for tears and holes, and test the ropes.

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India is our destination, by order of Prince Henry of Portugal, and we

will be exploring seas we've never seen before.

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My name is Edmundo Veloso. The year is 1434, and I have just been promoted

to captain of the Terra Nova, a ship both fast and true.

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I am full of curiosity and armed with tools that have served mariners

for years and years and the latest charts.

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This is the opportunity I've been working for

这正是我一直在争取的机会。

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I first set foot on a ship at age 12 when, without warning, my father took

me to the docks and set me up as an apprentice on a ship.

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I came from a big family, and my father could not afford to feed everyone

我来自一个大家庭，父亲无力养活所有家人。

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So over the next twenty years, I learned everything about sailing

所以在接下来的二十年里，我学会了关于航海的一切。

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I swabbed the decks and polished the brass

我擦洗甲板，擦拭黄铜制品。

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I learned how to rig the sails, navigate, and steer the ship

我学会了如何装置船帆、导航和掌舵。

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Climbing the rigging like a monkey to set the sails was more than

a job for me; it was the most fun I ever had.

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The crow's nest, high atop the highest mast, was my favorite place

桅杆顶上的瞭望台是我最喜欢的地方。

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Although I was not enchanted with the sea as a child

I became enchanted as I grew up on it.

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The reign of Prince Henry of Portugal is an exciting time to be a mariner

葡萄牙亨利王子的统治时期，对海员来说是一个激动人心的时代。

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Henry's goal is to find a sea route to India by heading

south along the west coast of Africa.

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A man of science, Prince Henry wants to find a faster route to

trade for spices and precious metals from the East,

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to spread Christianity, and perhaps even to discover new fishing grounds

传播基督教，甚至可能发现新的渔场。

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The port of Lagos is close to Prince Henry's villa

拉古什港靠近亨利王子的别墅，

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where I had dinner a few nights ago and met cartographers

astrologers, navigators, and other explorers.

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It was an inspiring evening, and I came to understand Henry's plan —

那是一个启迪人心的夜晚，我明白了亨利的计划——

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to use scientific methods in exploration and publish our findings

for the benefit of those who come after us.

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Among the tools I use to navigate are the nocturnal

the astrolabe, and the mariner's compass.

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The nocturnal allows me to determine the time at night

夜航仪能让我在夜间判断时间。

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I locate the Big Dipper, stars in an easy-to-see constellation

我找到北斗七星，那些位于一个容易辨认的星座里的星星。

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Two of its stars line up and point to the North Star —

that's why they're called pointer stars.

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I line up the hole in the center of my nocturnal with the North Star

我把夜航仪中心的小孔对准北极星。

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Then I swing the long arm of the nocturnal until it lines up with

the Big Dipper's pointer stars and read the time!

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With the astrolabe I find my position by measuring how

high the noon sun is over the horizon.

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From that measurement I can determine latitude — how far north

or south our ship is from the equator.

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My mariner's compass has a magnetized needle that points north, which also

helps me determine my position—along with my sea charts of course.

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These charts have lines that have been drawn to show the direction

of the winds, as well as descriptions of landmarks,

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which I also use to figure out where I am

我也用它们来搞清自己在哪里。

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I keep a record of the time I sail on each bearing

(direction) on the compass.

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With this method, my tools, and my years of experience

I navigate with certainty on the open seas.

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Seven years ago I was the first mate on the ship

that discovered the Azores Islands.

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Having no land in sight was worrisome since we couldn't rely on our sea

charts, but the results were well worth it—discovering a new land!

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Tomorrow we will sail south along the African coast

明天我们将沿非洲海岸向南航行。

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My ship, a caravel, carries different types of sails, which will allow

us to maneuver easily and quickly in the wind.

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Long, thin, and shallow, the caravel is exceptional for exploring the coasts

卡拉维尔帆船又长又窄，吃水浅，特别适合探索海岸。

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It has taken time to assemble my crew of twenty, but they are ready

集结这二十名船员花费了一些时间，但他们已经准备好了。

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Many of them are young men who remind me of myself

at that age—full of excitement.

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These young sailors are apprehensive, but their curiosity

and sense of adventure overcome their fear.

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The older men are experienced, and because of this

they know the sea is unforgiving.

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They realize the weather can change in a moment

他们明白天气可能瞬息万变。

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One morning the sky can be blue and the sea calm

某个清晨，天空可能蔚蓝，海面平静。

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But by noon a storm might arise, creating giant

waves that can capsize any ship.

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All my men are superstitious and fearful at times

我所有的船员都有迷信和恐惧的时候。

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For instance, some believe the farther south one sails, the hotter the water

becomes, because the sea gets colder as one sails northward.

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They fear southern seas will boil them

他们害怕南方的海域会把他们煮熟。

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Others believe we will reach the edge of the earth and fall off, or that

monsters lurk in the deep, just waiting for an unsuspecting ship.

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Many who have families are not willing to take

the risk of a long sea voyage.

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I respect their fears because, in fact, I am not immune to

them now that I have a family of my own.

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But to me this trip is the climax of my career

但对我而言，这次旅程是我职业生涯的顶点。

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I tell the crew of my pride in being on the first ship to sight the

Azores and how this trip will be just as memorable,

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but in the end, I release anyone who is hesitant

但最终，我让任何心存犹豫的人离开。

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In uncharted waters I will need commitment not fear

在未知的水域，我需要的是决心，而非恐惧。

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I will need collaboration not dissent. I will need boldness

to face whatever we may have to face.

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And so my crew is mostly young, with a few adventurous old sailors

who will help me guide us to safe harbors.

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We are poised at the beginning of a voyage of

discovery. What will the outcome be?

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Will we come back triumphant with charts of new shores to add to Prince

Henry's fame, or will we never be heard from again?