第23课

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No two sorts of birds practise quite the same sort of flight;

没有两种鸟的飞行方式是完全相同的；

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the varieties are infinite; but two classes may be roughly seen.

种类是无限的；但大致可分为两类。

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Any ship that crosses the Pacific

任何一艘横渡太平洋的船只

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is accompanied for many days by the smaller albatross,

会有较小的信天翁伴随数日，

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which may keep company with the vessel for an hour

它们可以陪伴船只一个小时

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without visible or more than occasional movement of wing.

翅膀几乎不动或只是偶尔动一下。

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The currents of air that the walls of the ship direct upwards,

船体向上引导的气流，

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as well as in the line of its course,

以及沿其航线的气流，

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are enough to give the great bird with its immense wings

足以为这种有着巨大翅膀的大鸟

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sufficient sustenance and progress.

提供足够的升力和前进动力。

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The albatross is the king of the gliders,

信天翁是滑翔之王，

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the class of fliers which harness the air to their purpose,

这类飞行者利用空气达到目的，

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but must yield to its opposition.

但也必须屈服于空气的阻力。

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In the contrary school, the duck is supreme.

在相反的学派中，鸭子是至高无上的。

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It comes nearer to the engines with which man has 'conquered' the air, as he boasts.

它更接近于人类声称“征服”天空的发动机。

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Duck, and like them the pigeons, are endowed with steel-like muscles,

鸭子，以及像它们一样的鸽子，都拥有钢铁般的肌肉，

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that are a good part of the weight of the bird,

这些肌肉占据了鸟类体重很大一部分，

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and these will ply the short wings with such irresistible power

它们以不可抗拒的力量挥动短小的翅膀，

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that they can bore for long distances through an opposing gale

可以在逆风中飞行很长的距离

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before exhaustion follows.

而不致精疲力尽。

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Their humbler followers, such as partridges,

它们较小的追随者，例如鹧鸪，

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have a like power of strong propulsion, but soon tire.

也有类似的强大推进力，但很快就会疲劳。

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You may pick them up in utter exhaustion,

你可能会发现它们筋疲力尽，

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if wind over the sea has driven them to a long journey.

如果海上的风迫使它们长途跋涉。

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The swallow shares the virtues of both schools in highest measure.

燕子则兼具这两种飞行的优点，而且达到了最高境界。

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It tires not, nor does it boast of its power; but belongs to the air

它不疲倦，也不炫耀自己的力量；它属于天空，

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travelling it may be six thousand miles to and from its northern nesting home,

也许飞行六千英里往返于它的北方巢穴，

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feeding its flown young as it flies, and slipping through a medium

边飞边喂养已经出巢的幼鸟，滑过介质

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that seems to help its passage even when the wind is adverse.

即使逆风，这介质似乎也在帮助它通过。

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Such birds do us good,

这样的鸟对我们有益，

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though we no longer take omens from their flight on this side and that;

尽管我们不再从它们飞行的方向来卜吉凶；

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and even the most superstitious villagers no longer take off their hats to the magpie and wish it good-morning.

甚至最迷信的村民也不再向喜鹊脱帽致意并祝它早上好。