The author leaves Laputa; is conveyed to Balnibarbi; arrives at the metropolis. —
作者离开拉普达岛，被送到巴尔尼巴尔比，并抵达大都会。 —

A description of the metropolis, and the country adjoining. —
对大都会及其附近乡村的描述。 —

The author hospitably received by a great lord. —
作者受到一个大领主的热情接待。 —

His conversation with that lord.
与那位领主的对话。

Although I cannot say that I was ill treated in this island, yet I must confess I thought myself too much neglected, not without some degree of contempt; —
虽然我不能说在这个岛上我受到虐待，但我必须承认我觉得自己被忽视了太多，不乏一些轻蔑的态度； —

for neither prince nor people appeared to be curious in any part of knowledge, except mathematics and music, wherein I was far their inferior, and upon that account very little regarded.
因为在数学和音乐之外，没有君王或人民对任何知识领域表现出好奇心，而我在这方面确实远远不及他们，因此很少受到重视。

On the other side, after having seen all the curiosities of the island, I was very desirous to leave it, being heartily weary of those people. —
另一方面，尽管我已经看过这个岛上的所有奇特之处，但我非常渴望离开它，因为我对这些人已经感到厌倦。 —

They were indeed excellent in two sciences for which I have great esteem, and wherein I am not unversed; —
在我非常尊敬的两门科学上，他们确实优秀，而我也非外行； —

but, at the same time, so abstracted and involved in speculation, that I never met with such disagreeable companions. —
但同时，他们过于抽象和纠结于思考，以至于我从来没有遇到过如此讨厌的同伴。 —

I conversed only with women, tradesmen, flappers, and court-pages, during two months of my abode there; —
在我在那里逗留的两个月里，我只与妇女、工匠、时髦女孩和宫廷侍从交谈； —

by which, at last, I rendered myself extremely contemptible; —
因此，终于让我变得极其可鄙； —

yet these were the only people from whom I could ever receive a reasonable answer.
然而，这些是我能得到合理答案的唯一的人；

I had obtained, by hard study, a good degree of knowledge in their language: —
通过刻苦学习，我已经在他们的语言上获得了很好的知识； —

I was weary of being confined to an island where I received so little countenance, and resolved to leave it with the first opportunity.
我厌倦了在一个对我鼓励甚少的岛屿上受限制，决定一有机会就离开；

There was a great lord at court, nearly related to the king, and for that reason alone used with respect. —
宫廷里有一个伟大的贵族，与国王关系密切，仅仅因为这个原因受到尊敬； —

He was universally reckoned the most ignorant and stupid person among them. —
他在他们中间被普遍认为是最无知和愚蠢的人； —

He had performed many eminent services for the crown, had great natural and acquired parts, adorned with integrity and honour; —
他为皇室做过许多杰出的服务，具有伟大的天赋和才能，品德高尚； —

but so ill an ear for music, that his detractors reported, “he had been often known to beat time in the wrong place; —
但他对音乐的听力如此之差，以至于有人说，“他经常被发现在错误的地方打节拍。” —

” neither could his tutors, without extreme difficulty, teach him to demonstrate the most easy proposition in the mathematics. —
他的导师们也没有办法教他最简单的数学命题，即使费了极大的努力。 —

He was pleased to show me many marks of favour, often did me the honour of a visit, desired to be informed in the affairs of Europe, the laws and customs, the manners and learning of the several countries where I had travelled. —
他很高兴向我展示许多恩惠的迹象，常常亲自过来拜访我，想要了解欧洲的事务、法律和习俗，以及我去过的各个国家的风土人情和学问。 —

He listened to me with great attention, and made very wise observations on all I spoke. —
他非常专注地听我讲话，并对我说的一切都做出非常明智的观察。 —

He had two flappers attending him for state, but never made use of them, except at court and in visits of ceremony, and would always command them to withdraw, when we were alone together.
他有两个侍从陪伴他出席重要场合，但除了在宫廷和正式拜访时，他从不利用他们，且总是命令他们在我们独处时离开。

I entreated this illustrious person, to intercede in my behalf with his majesty, for leave to depart; which he accordingly did, as he was pleased to tell me, with regret: —
我请求这位威望非凡的人替我向他的陛下求情，让我离开；他果然如愿地这样做了，并告诉我是带着遗憾的： —

for indeed he had made me several offers very advantageous, which, however, I refused, with expressions of the highest acknowledgment.
实际上，他给了我几个非常优厚的机会，但是我却以最高的感激之情拒绝了这些机会。

On the 16th of February I took leave of his majesty and the court. —
2月16日，我向陛下和皇室告别。 —

The king made me a present to the value of about two hundred pounds English, and my protector, his kinsman, as much more, together with a letter of recommendation to a friend of his in Lagado, the metropolis. —
国王给了我价值约200英镑的礼物，我的保护人，也就是他的亲戚，给了我更多的礼物，总共加起来大约是400英镑。此外，国王还给了我一封推荐信，给他在拉加多（该岛的首都）的一位朋友。 —

The island being then hovering over a mountain about two miles from it, I was let down from the lowest gallery, in the same manner as I had been taken up.
当时，飞行岛正悬停在距离一个山上大约两英里的地方，我从最低的走廊被放下来，方法与之前被抬起来的方式相同。

The continent, as far as it is subject to the monarch of the flying island, passes under the general name of Balnibarbi; —
在飞行岛的君主统治下，大陆被统称为巴尔尼巴比（Balnibarbi）。 —

and the metropolis, as I said before, is called Lagado. —
就如我之前所说的，首都被称为拉加多（Lagado）。 —

I felt some little satisfaction in finding myself on firm ground. —
感到一丝安心，因为发现自己站在坚实的地面上。 —

I walked to the city without any concern, being clad like one of the natives, and sufficiently instructed to converse with them. —
我打扮得像一个当地人，也得到了足够的指导，可以与他们交流，所以毫无担心地走向了城市。 —

I soon found out the person’s house to whom I was recommended, presented my letter from his friend the grandee in the island, and was received with much kindness. —
我很快找到了被推荐的那个人的家，给他看了岛上那位贵族写给他的信，并受到了热情的接待。 —

This great lord, whose name was Munodi, ordered me an apartment in his own house, where I continued during my stay, and was entertained in a most hospitable manner.
这位伟大的贵族，名叫穆诺迪，为我在他自己的房子里安排了一间公寓，我在逗留期间得到了热情好客的招待。

The next morning after my arrival, he took me in his chariot to see the town, which is about half the bigness of London; —
第二天早上，他乘坐马车带我参观了这个城镇，它大约只有伦敦的一半大小。 —

but the houses very strangely built, and most of them out of repair. —
但是房屋建得非常奇特，大部分都已经破旧不堪。 —

The people in the streets walked fast, looked wild, their eyes fixed, and were generally in rags. —
街上的人们走得很快，看起来野蛮，目光呆滞，衣着破烂。 —

We passed through one of the town gates, and went about three miles into the country, where I saw many labourers working with several sorts of tools in the ground, but was not able to conjecture what they were about: —
我们穿过城门，走了大约三英里进入乡村，在那里我看到许多劳动者用各种工具在地里努力工作，但我无法猜测他们在做什么。 —

neither did observe any expectation either of corn or grass, although the soil appeared to be excellent. —
也没有看到任何关于庄稼或草地的迹象，尽管土壤看起来很好。 —

I could not forbear admiring at these odd appearances, both in town and country; —
我不禁对这些奇怪的景象感到惊奇，无论是在城市还是乡村。 —

and I made bold to desire my conductor, that he would be pleased to explain to me, what could be meant by so many busy heads, hands, and faces, both in the streets and the fields, because I did not discover any good effects they produced; —
于是我冒昧地请求我的向导能够解释给我，那么多忙碌的人头、手和面孔在街上和田间忙碌是有何意义，因为我没有发现它们产生的任何好的效果； —

but, on the contrary, I never knew a soil so unhappily cultivated, houses so ill contrived and so ruinous, or a people whose countenances and habit expressed so much misery and want.
相反地，我从未见过如此被荒废的土地，建筑如此糟糕而且摇摇欲坠，或者一个面容和衣着表达着如此多痛苦和贫困的人民；

This lord Munodi was a person of the first rank, and had been some years governor of Lagado; —
这个穆诺迪勋爵是一位头等的人物，曾经担任拉加多的州长几年； —

but, by a cabal of ministers, was discharged for insufficiency. —
但是，由于一些大臣的阴谋，他因为能力不足而被解职。 —

However, the king treated him with tenderness, as a well-meaning man, but of a low contemptible understanding.
然而，国王对他表示关怀，视他为一个好心但是理解力低劣的人。

When I gave that free censure of the country and its inhabitants, he made no further answer than by telling me, “that I had not been long enough among them to form a judgment; —
当我对这个国家及其居民进行了自由的批评时，他没有作出进一步的回答，只是告诉我，“我在这里的时间还不够长，无法形成判断； —

and that the different nations of the world had different customs; —
世界上不同的民族有不同的习俗。 —

” with other common topics to the same purpose. —
“而且，当我们返回他的宫殿时，他问我：“我喜欢这座建筑吗？我有没有觉得荒谬之处？对他家佣人的着装或外貌有什么意见？” —

But, when we returned to his palace, he asked me “how I liked the building, what absurdities I observed, and what quarrel I had with the dress or looks of his domestics? —
但是，当我们回到他的宫殿时，他问我：“你对这座建筑的看法如何？有没有什么荒诞不经的地方？你对他的下属的穿着或外貌有什么意见？ —

” This he might safely do; because every thing about him was magnificent, regular, and polite. —
这样他做得安全，因为他身边的一切都是壮丽、有序和文雅的。 —

I answered, “that his excellency’s prudence, quality, and fortune, had exempted him from those defects, which folly and beggary had produced in others. —
我回答说：“阁下的明智、品质和财富使他免受那些愚蠢和贫穷带来的缺陷之苦。 —

” He said, “if I would go with him to his country-house, about twenty miles distant, where his estate lay, there would be more leisure for this kind of conversation. —
他说：“如果我去他位于距离这里约二十英里的乡间别墅，那里会有更多时间进行这种对话。” —

” I told his excellency “that I was entirely at his disposal; —
我告诉他的阁下：“我完全听凭您的安排。” —

” and accordingly we set out next morning.
然后我们第二天早上出发了。

During our journey he made me observe the several methods used by farmers in managing their lands, which to me were wholly unaccountable; —
在我们的旅程中，他让我观察了农民在管理土地方面使用的各种方法，对我来说这完全是无法理解的； —

for, except in some very few places, I could not discover one ear of corn or blade of grass. —
因为除了极少数地方，我找不到一棵玉米或一根草。 —

But, in three hours travelling, the scene was wholly altered; —
但是，三个小时的旅行后，情景完全改变了； —

we came into a most beautiful country; farmers’ houses, at small distances, neatly built; —
我们来到了一个非常美丽的地方；农民们的房屋相距不远，都是整洁建造的； —

the fields enclosed, containing vineyards, corn-grounds, and meadows. —
田地都是围起来的，有葡萄园、麦地和草地。 —

Neither do I remember to have seen a more delightful prospect. —
我也记不起来曾经见过更令人愉悦的风景了。 —

His excellency observed my countenance to clear up; —
他的卓越表明我的脸色变亮了； —

he told me, with a sigh, “that there his estate began, and would continue the same, till we should come to his house: —
他告诉我，叹了口气，说：“那里开始是他的庄园，直到我们到达他的家，情况都是一样的： —

that his countrymen ridiculed and despised him, for managing his affairs no better, and for setting so ill an example to the kingdom; —
他的同胞们嘲笑并轻视他，因为他管理自己的事务不够好，为王国树立了如此糟糕的榜样； —

which, however, was followed by very few, such as were old, and wilful, and weak like himself.”
然而，只有极少数老年人、顽固的人和像他一样软弱的人才会效仿。”

We came at length to the house, which was indeed a noble structure, built according to the best rules of ancient architecture. —
我们终于来到了那座房子，它确实是一座高贵的建筑，按照古代建筑的最佳规则修建而成。 —

The fountains, gardens, walks, avenues, and groves, were all disposed with exact judgment and taste. I gave due praises to every thing I saw, whereof his excellency took not the least notice till after supper; —
喷泉、花园、散步道和林荫道都被精心安排和布置。我对所见的一切都给予了恰如其分的赞美，然而他的卓越却毫不在意，直到晚餐后。 —

when, there being no third companion, he told me with a very melancholy air “that he doubted he must throw down his houses in town and country, to rebuild them after the present mode; —
晚餐后，当没有第三个伴侣在场时，他以一副非常忧伤的神情告诉我：“他担心自己必须拆掉城市和乡村里的房子，按照现在的潮流重新建造。” —

destroy all his plantations, and cast others into such a form as modern usage required, and give the same directions to all his tenants, unless he would submit to incur the censure of pride, singularity, affectation, ignorance, caprice, and perhaps increase his majesty’s displeasure; —
摧毁他所有的种植园，并按照现代的使用方式重建，给所有的租户同样的指示，除非他愿意承受傲慢、独特、做作、无知、古怪的指责，甚至可能引起陛下的不悦； —

that the admiration I appeared to be under would cease or diminish, when he had informed me of some particulars which, probably, I never heard of at court, the people there being too much taken up in their own speculations, to have regard to what passed here below.”
当他向我透露一些关于宫廷我可能从未听说过的细节时，我所展示的钦佩可能会停止或减少，因为那里的人们太过于沉迷于自己的思考，而不关心下层发生了什么。

The sum of his discourse was to this effect: —
他的演讲内容如下： —

“That about forty years ago, certain persons went up to Laputa, either upon business or diversion, and, after five months continuance, came back with a very little smattering in mathematics, but full of volatile spirits acquired in that airy region: —
“大约四十年前，某些人前往拉普塔，不论是出于工作还是休闲，经过了五个月的停留之后，虽然在数学方面只有一点皮毛，但却充满了在那个空中地区获得的活泼精神。 —

that these persons, upon their return, began to dislike the management of every thing below, and fell into schemes of putting all arts, sciences, languages, and mechanics, upon a new foot. —
这些人回国后开始不喜欢管理以下的一切，并制定了将所有艺术，科学，语言和机械以全新方式发展的方案。 —

To this end, they procured a royal patent for erecting an academy of projectors in Lagado; —
为此，他们获得了在拉加多成立发明家学院的皇家专利。 —

and the humour prevailed so strongly among the people, that there is not a town of any consequence in the kingdom without such an academy. —
这种风气在人们中间流行得如此之强烈，以至于整个王国没有一个重要的城镇没有这样的学院。 —

In these colleges the professors contrive new rules and methods of agriculture and building, and new instruments, and tools for all trades and manufactures; —
在这些学院里，教授们设计农业和建筑的新规则和方法，以及所有行业和制造业的新仪器和工具； —

whereby, as they undertake, one man shall do the work of ten; —
他们承诺一个人可以完成十个人的工作； —

a palace may be built in a week, of materials so durable as to last for ever without repairing. —
可以在一周内建造起一座永不需要修理的耐久宫殿。 —

All the fruits of the earth shall come to maturity at whatever season we think fit to choose, and increase a hundred fold more than they do at present; —
地球上的所有农作物都将在我们选择的任何季节成熟，并且比目前增产百倍。 —

with innumerable other happy proposals. The only inconvenience is, that none of these projects are yet brought to perfection; —
连同无数其他幸福的提议。唯一的不便之处是，这些项目都还没有完善起来； —

and in the mean time, the whole country lies miserably waste, the houses in ruins, and the people without food or clothes. —
与此同时，整个国家可怜地荒芜着，房屋已经废墟，人民没有食物或衣服。 —

By all which, instead of being discouraged, they are fifty times more violently bent upon prosecuting their schemes, driven equally on by hope and despair: —
尽管如此，他们并没有灰心，反而更加疯狂地推进他们的计划，被希望和绝望驱使着： —

that as for himself, being not of an enterprising spirit, he was content to go on in the old forms, to live in the houses his ancestors had built, and act as they did, in every part of life, without innovation: —
他本人并不具备开拓精神，满足于沿袭旧的形式，住在祖先建造的房屋里，按照他们的方式生活，不进行任何创新： —

that some few other persons of quality and gentry had done the same, but were looked on with an eye of contempt and ill-will, as enemies to art, ignorant, and ill common-wealth’s men, preferring their own ease and sloth before the general improvement of their country.”
还有几个贵族和绅士也做了同样的事情，但他们被视为无知和有害公众利益的敌人，优先考虑自己的轻松和懒散，而不是国家的整体发展。

His lordship added, “That he would not, by any further particulars, prevent the pleasure I should certainly take in viewing the grand academy, whither he was resolved I should go. —
他的贵爵补充道：“他不会通过任何更多的细节来阻止我对大学的乐趣，他决定我应该去那里参观。 —

” He only desired me to observe a ruined building, upon the side of a mountain about three miles distant, of which he gave me this account: —
他只要求我观察一座废弃的建筑物，位于离他住处约三英里的山腰上，他告诉我这个关于它的情况： —

“That he had a very convenient mill within half a mile of his house, turned by a current from a large river, and sufficient for his own family, as well as a great number of his tenants; —
他拥有一个非常方便的磨坊，距离他的住宅只有半英里远，由一条大河的水流驱动，足以满足他自己家族和许多租户的需求。” —

that about seven years ago, a club of those projectors came to him with proposals to destroy this mill, and build another on the side of that mountain, on the long ridge whereof a long canal must be cut, for a repository of water, to be conveyed up by pipes and engines to supply the mill, because the wind and air upon a height agitated the water, and thereby made it fitter for motion, and because the water, descending down a declivity, would turn the mill with half the current of a river whose course is more upon a level. —
大约七年前，一个由那些提议者组成的俱乐部找到他，提议摧毁这座工厂，并在那座山的一侧建造另一座，需要开挖一条长的沟渠，用于储水，通过管道和引擎将水泵上来供应工厂使用，因为高处的风和空气会激起水流，使其更适合产生动力，并且水流沿着斜坡下降，可以用比河流水平流速一半的水力转动工厂。 —

” He said, “that being then not very well with the court, and pressed by many of his friends, he complied with the proposal; —
他说，“那个时候他和朝廷的关系不太好，受到很多朋友的逼迫，他同意了这个提议； —

and after employing a hundred men for two years, the work miscarried, the projectors went off, laying the blame entirely upon him, railing at him ever since, and putting others upon the same experiment, with equal assurance of success, as well as equal disappointment.”
在雇佣了一百人两年后，工程失败了，那些提议者离开了，完全把责任推到他身上，从那以后一直谩骂他，并让其他人进行同样的试验，同样有着成功的把握，同样也令人失望。”

In a few days we came back to town; and his excellency, considering the bad character he had in the academy, would not go with me himself, but recommended me to a friend of his, to bear me company thither. —
几天后我们回到了城里；他的殿下考虑到他在学院里的坏名声，不愿亲自和我一起去，但是推荐了他的一个朋友陪我去那里。 —

My lord was pleased to represent me as a great admirer of projects, and a person of much curiosity and easy belief; —
我的大人喜欢把我描述成一个对计划非常钦佩、充满好奇心且容易相信的人； —

which, indeed, was not without truth; for I had myself been a sort of projector in my younger days.
事实上，这并非没有道理；因为在我年轻的时候我自己也是一个计划者。