The Luggnaggians commended. A particular description of the Struldbrugs, with many conversations between the author and some eminent persons upon that subject.
卢格纳吉人受到称赞。对斯特鲁尔德布鲁格斯的一种具体描述，以及作者与一些著名人士在这个主题上的对话。

The Luggnaggians are a polite and generous people; —
卢格纳吉人是彬彬有礼和慷慨的人； —

and although they are not without some share of that pride which is peculiar to all Eastern countries, yet they show themselves courteous to strangers, especially such who are countenanced by the court. —
尽管他们也有一些特有于所有东方国家的自豪感，但他们对陌生人表现得非常礼貌，尤其是那些得到宫廷青睐的人。 —

I had many acquaintance, and among persons of the best fashion; —
我结交了许多朋友，而且都是上流社会的人； —

and being always attended by my interpreter, the conversation we had was not disagreeable.
我随时都有口译陪同，我们的对话并不令人讨厌。

One day, in much good company, I was asked by a person of quality, “whether I had seen any of their struldbrugs, or immortals? —
有一天，在一次很多人的好公司里，一个贵族问我，“是否见过他们的斯特鲁尔德布鲁格斯或永生人？ —

” I said, “I had not;” and desired he would explain to me “what he meant by such an appellation, applied to a mortal creature. —
”我说我没有，并请他解释一下“为什么给一个凡人起这样一个名字”。 —

” He told me “that sometimes, though very rarely, a child happened to be born in a family, with a red circular spot in the forehead, directly over the left eyebrow, which was an infallible mark that it should never die. —
他告诉我，“有时候，虽然很少见，但有些家庭确实会生育出一个孩子，他们额头上有一个红色的圆形斑点，位于左眉毛上方，这是一个不容置疑的标志，意味着他们永远不会死亡。 —

” The spot, as he described it, “was about the compass of a silver threepence, but in the course of time grew larger, and changed its colour; —
他描述这个斑点时说，“它的大小大约相当于一枚银币，但随着时间的推移，它会变大，并改变颜色。 —

for at twelve years old it became green, so continued till five and twenty, then turned to a deep blue: —
在12岁时，它变成了绿色，一直保持到25岁，然后变成了深蓝色。 —

at five and forty it grew coal black, and as large as an English shilling; —
在45岁时，它变成了漆黑的颜色，大小如同一枚英国先令硬币。 —

but never admitted any further alteration. —
但是它从未再有任何变化。 —

” He said, “these births were so rare, that he did not believe there could be above eleven hundred struldbrugs, of both sexes, in the whole kingdom; —
他说，这样的出生非常罕见，他不相信整个王国中会有超过一千一百个斯特鲁德布鲁格（注：长生不老族），男女都有； —

of which he computed about fifty in the metropolis, and, among the rest, a young girl born; —
他估计都会有大约五十个在首都，其中一名是在约三年前出生的年轻女孩； —

about three years ago: that these productions were not peculiar to any family, but a mere effect of chance; —
这些珍稀人口不局限于任何一个家族，而只是纯粹的偶然现象。 —

and the children of the struldbrugs themselves were equally mortal with the rest of the people.”
凡是斯特约布鲁格斯的孩子与其他人一样也是有寿命的。

I freely own myself to have been struck with inexpressible delight, upon hearing this account: —
我不禁欣喜若狂，听到这个叙述时，我感到了难以言表的愉悦。 —

and the person who gave it me happening to understand the Balnibarbian language, which I spoke very well, I could not forbear breaking out into expressions, perhaps a little too extravagant. —
那个给我叙述的人恰好懂我流利的巴尼巴尔语，我忍不住用一些夸张的措辞。 —

I cried out, as in a rapture, “Happy nation, where every child hath at least a chance for being immortal! —
我欢呼着说：“这是一个幸福的国家，每个孩子至少有成为不朽之人的机会！” —

Happy people, who enjoy so many living examples of ancient virtue, and have masters ready to instruct them in the wisdom of all former ages! —
幸福的人民啊，你们拥有如此多生生不息的古代德行典范，并且有导师愿意教导他们古往今来的智慧！ —

but happiest, beyond all comparison, are those excellent struldbrugs, who, being born exempt from that universal calamity of human nature, have their minds free and disengaged, without the weight and depression of spirits caused by the continual apprehensions of death! —
但是最幸福的，毋庸置疑，是那些出自优秀斯特约布鲁格斯族的人，他们从出生起就免于人类普遍的不幸，他们的心灵自由而不受束缚，没有了因为对死亡的持续担忧而产生的压抑和消沉！ —

” I discovered my admiration that I had not observed any of these illustrious persons at court; —
“我发现我没有在宫廷里见过这些杰出的人物，对他们的钦佩之情我之前竟然没有察觉到； —

the black spot on the forehead being so remarkable a distinction, that I could not have easily overlooked it: —
黑色的额头上的斑点是如此显著的特征，以至于我不可能轻易忽视它； —

and it was impossible that his majesty, a most judicious prince, should not provide himself with a good number of such wise and able counsellors. —
并且作为明智而能干的顾问，我相信他的陛下一定会给自己找到一大批这样的人。” —

Yet perhaps the virtue of those reverend sages was too strict for the corrupt and libertine manners of a court: —
也许那些尊敬和智慧的圣人的品德对于一个腐败和放荡的宫廷来说太过严格了。 —

and we often find by experience, that young men are too opinionated and volatile to be guided by the sober dictates of their seniors. —
我们常常通过经验发现，年轻人太过武断和情绪化，无法由他们的长者给出的理智指引所引导。 —

However, since the king was pleased to allow me access to his royal person, I was resolved, upon the very first occasion, to deliver my opinion to him on this matter freely and at large, by the help of my interpreter; —
然而，由于国王愿意让我接近他的王室，我决心在第一个机会上，借助我的翻译，自由地向他阐述我的观点； —

and whether he would please to take my advice or not, yet in one thing I was determined, that his majesty having frequently offered me an establishment in this country, I would, with great thankfulness, accept the favour, and pass my life here in the conversation of those superior beings the struldbrugs, if they would please to admit me.”
无论他是否愿意听取我的建议，我都决定这一点：由于陛下频繁地提供给我在这个国家的机会，我将非常感激地接受这个恩惠，如果斯特拉德布鲁格人愿意接纳我，我就会在他们这些卓越的存在中度过余生。(translated from English)

The gentleman to whom I addressed my discourse, because (as I have already observed) he spoke the language of Balnibarbi, said to me, with a sort of a smile which usually arises from pity to the ignorant, “that he was glad of any occasion to keep me among them, and desired my permission to explain to the company what I had spoke. —
我向这位绅士发表了我的演讲，请注意，他会巴尔尼巴尔比的语言，他带着一种同情无知者的微笑对我说：“他们很高兴有任何机会让我留在他们中间，并请求我的允许向大家解释我说的话。(translated from English) —

” He did so, and they talked together for some time in their own language, whereof I understood not a syllable, neither could I observe by their countenances, what impression my discourse had made on them. —
他这样做了，他们用自己的语言交谈了一段时间，我一个音节也听不懂，也无法从他们的面孔上看出我的演讲给他们留下了什么印象。(translated from English) —

After a short silence, the same person told me, “that his friends and mine (so he thought fit to express himself) were very much pleased with the judicious remarks I had made on the great happiness and advantages of immortal life, and they were desirous to know, in a particular manner, what scheme of living I should have formed to myself, if it had fallen to my lot to have been born a struldbrug.”
短暂的沉默之后，同一个人告诉我：“关于永生的巨大幸福和好处，我曾经发表的明智言论让他和他的朋友们（这是他自认为的表达方式）非常满意。他们非常希望了解，如果我生来就是斯特拉布鲁格（长生不老的人），我会为自己制定什么样的生活计划。”

I answered, “it was easy to be eloquent on so copious and delightful a subject, especially to me, who had been often apt to amuse myself with visions of what I should do, if I were a king, a general, or a great lord: —
我回答说，“对于这样一个丰富且令人愉悦的话题来说，说起来并不难，尤其对于我来说，我经常会自我陶醉于如果我成为国王、将军或者大贵族会做些什么的幻想中。对于这个特定情况，我也经常会思考，如果我确定会长生不老，我会如何利用时间和自己的能力。” —

and upon this very case, I had frequently run over the whole system how I should employ myself, and pass the time, if I were sure to live for ever.
然后，我会把时间分配给各种活动。首先，我会把大部分时间用于学习和快乐。我会研究各种科学和艺术，追求知识和智慧。除此之外，我还会享受音乐、阅读和旅行。我会参观各种美丽的地方，体验不同的文化和风景。此外，我还会培养一些兴趣爱好，例如绘画、写作、园艺等，以保持生活的丰富和多样性。总之，我会尽可能充实自己的生活，追求智慧和快乐。”

“That, if it had been my good fortune to come into the world a struldbrug, as soon as I could discover my own happiness, by understanding the difference between life and death, I would first resolve, by all arts and methods, whatsoever, to procure myself riches. —
“假设我有幸成为斯特拉布拉格，一旦我能够理解生死的差别，我会首先决定用一切艺术和方法来获得财富。” —

In the pursuit of which, by thrift and management, I might reasonably expect, in about two hundred years, to be the wealthiest man in the kingdom. —
“在追求中，通过节俭和管理，我可能会在大约两百年内成为王国里最富有的人。” —

In the second place, I would, from my earliest youth, apply myself to the study of arts and sciences, by which I should arrive in time to excel all others in learning. —
“其次，我将从小就努力学习艺术和科学，以此最终在学识上超越他人。” —

Lastly, I would carefully record every action and event of consequence, that happened in the public, impartially draw the characters of the several successions of princes and great ministers of state, with my own observations on every point. —
“最后，我将仔细记录发生在公众中的每一个重要行动和事件，公正地描述各个时期的君主和重要的国家首脑，同时附上我的观察。” —

I would exactly set down the several changes in customs, language, fashions of dress, diet, and diversions. —
“我将详细记录习俗、语言、服装、饮食和娱乐活动的各种变化。” —

By all which acquirements, I should be a living treasure of knowledge and wisdom, and certainly become the oracle of the nation.
通过所有这些所学的东西，我应该成为一个知识和智慧的活财富，肯定会成为这个国家的智囊。

“I would never marry after threescore, but live in a hospitable manner, yet still on the saving side. —
我永远不会在六十岁之后结婚，而是过着一个好客的生活，但还是节俭的一方。 —

I would entertain myself in forming and directing the minds of hopeful young men, by convincing them, from my own remembrance, experience, and observation, fortified by numerous examples, of the usefulness of virtue in public and private life. —
我会通过自己的回忆、经验和观察，以及众多的例子，向有希望的年轻人进行教育和引导，使他们深信美德在公共和私人生活中的有用性。 —

But my choice and constant companions should be a set of my own immortal brotherhood; —
而我的选择和常伴的将是一群来自我自己这种不朽兄弟般的人。 —

among whom, I would elect a dozen from the most ancient, down to my own contemporaries. —
其中，我会从最古老的开始，一直选出一打人，直到我的同时代。 —

Where any of these wanted fortunes, I would provide them with convenient lodges round my own estate, and have some of them always at my table; —
如果其中有人需要财富，我会给他们提供方便的住所环绕在我的财产周围，并且总有一些人坐在我的餐桌旁； —

only mingling a few of the most valuable among you mortals, whom length of time would harden me to lose with little or no reluctance, and treat your posterity after the same manner; —
只是掺杂其中几个最有价值的凡人，而我会随着时间的流逝而对失去他们变得更加坚强，几乎没有任何犹豫，并以同样的方式对待你们后代。 —

just as a man diverts himself with the annual succession of pinks and tulips in his garden, without regretting the loss of those which withered the preceding year.
就像一个人在自己的花园里欣赏每年接连绽放的粉红花和郁金香，不为上一年凋谢的花朵而感到遗憾。

“These struldbrugs and I would mutually communicate our observations and memorials, through the course of time; —
这些struldbrugs和我将互相交流我们的观察和记录，随着时间的推移； —

remark the several gradations by which corruption steals into the world, and oppose it in every step, by giving perpetual warning and instruction to mankind; —
留意腐败逐渐渗入世界的各个层次，并通过不断提醒和教导人类来阻止它的每一步； —

which, added to the strong influence of our own example, would probably prevent that continual degeneracy of human nature so justly complained of in all ages.
这个措施加上我们自身榜样的强大影响力，很可能会阻止人性在各个时代中不断恶化的现象，这在各个时代都是被公正地抱怨的。

“Add to this, the pleasure of seeing the various revolutions of states and empires; —
再加上，观赏各个国家和帝国的各种变革； —

the changes in the lower and upper world; —
下界和上界的变化； —

ancient cities in ruins, and obscure villages become the seats of kings; —
古老的城市废墟和默默无闻的村庄变成国王的座位； —

famous rivers lessening into shallow brooks; —
著名的河流变成浅水溪流； —

the ocean leaving one coast dry, and overwhelming another; —
大海撤离一片海岸，淹没另一片海岸； —

the discovery of many countries yet unknown; —
发现许多尚未被人所知的国家。 —

barbarity overrunning the politest nations, and the most barbarous become civilized. —
野蛮正在侵蚀最文明的国家，而最野蛮的国家则会变得文明。 —

I should then see the discovery of the longitude, the perpetual motion, the universal medicine, and many other great inventions, brought to the utmost perfection.
然后我会看到经度的发现，永动机，万能药等许许多多伟大的发明达到最高完美。

“What wonderful discoveries should we make in astronomy, by outliving and confirming our own predictions; —
“如果我们能够延缓自己的寿命并验证我们自己的预言，我们将在天文学方面做出什么奇妙的发现？” —

by observing the progress and return of comets, with the changes of motion in the sun, moon, and stars!”
通过观察彗星的进程和回归，以及太阳、月亮和星体的运动变化！

I enlarged upon many other topics, which the natural desire of endless life, and sublunary happiness, could easily furnish me with. —
我详细阐述了许多其他话题，其中包括人类对无尽生命和下界的幸福的自然渴望，这些话题很容易提供给我。 —

When I had ended, and the sum of my discourse had been interpreted, as before, to the rest of the company, there was a good deal of talk among them in the language of the country, not without some laughter at my expense. —
当我结束演讲，而我的话语已被翻译给其他人听，如之前一样，他们之间用着当地的语言有一些谈论，不禁对我进行了一些嘲笑。 —

At last, the same gentleman who had been my interpreter, said, “he was desired by the rest to set me right in a few mistakes, which I had fallen into through the common imbecility of human nature, and upon that allowance was less answerable for them. —
最后，那位一直充当我的翻译的绅士说：“大家要求他纠正我犯的几个错误，这些错误都是出于人性通病，因此可以不太责怪我。 1，At last, the same gentleman who had been my interpreter, said, “he was requested by the others to correct a few mistakes I had made, which were due to the common frailty of human nature, and therefore should be less blamed for them. —

That this breed of struldbrugs was peculiar to their country, for there were no such people either in Balnibarbi or Japan, where he had the honour to be ambassador from his majesty, and found the natives in both those kingdoms very hard to believe that the fact was possible: —
这种魁梧布尔格斯人种只在他们的国家出现，巴尔尼巴尔比和日本都没有这样的人，他曾经作为大使从他的陛下那里赴任，发现这些王国的当地人根本难以相信这个事实是可能的。 —

and it appeared from my astonishment when he first mentioned the matter to me, that I received it as a thing wholly new, and scarcely to be credited. —
当他最初向我提到这件事时，我的惊讶表情表明我对这件事是全新的，并且几乎难以置信。 —

That in the two kingdoms above mentioned, where, during his residence, he had conversed very much, he observed long life to be the universal desire and wish of mankind. —
在我所在的这两个王国，他在这里居住期间进行了很多交流，他发现长寿是人类普遍的渴望与愿望。 —

That whoever had one foot in the grave was sure to hold back the other as strongly as he could. —
无论是谁，只要脚踏进了坟墓，就会竭尽全力挽留住另一只脚。 —

That the oldest had still hopes of living one day longer, and looked on death as the greatest evil, from which nature always prompted him to retreat. —
即使是最年长者也仍然对再多活一天充满希望，并且将死亡看作是最大的邪恶，他们总是本能地退避。 —

Only in this island of Luggnagg the appetite for living was not so eager, from the continual example of the struldbrugs before their eyes.
只有在拉格纳格岛上，由于经常看到魁梧布尔格斯的例子，人们对生活的渴望不是那么迫切。

“That the system of living contrived by me, was unreasonable and unjust; —
“我设计的生活系统是不合理和不公正的； —

because it supposed a perpetuity of youth, health, and vigour, which no man could be so foolish to hope, however extravagant he may be in his wishes. —
因为它假设了永远年轻、健康和精力充沛，没有人会如此愚蠢地希望，无论他的愿望多么荒谬。 —

That the question therefore was not, whether a man would choose to be always in the prime of youth, attended with prosperity and health; —
因此，问题不是一个人是否选择永远处于青春盛事、繁荣和健康之中； —

but how he would pass a perpetual life under all the usual disadvantages which old age brings along with it. —
而是他如何度过一个永恒的生命，承受老年带来的所有通常不利条件。 —

For although few men will avow their desires of being immortal, upon such hard conditions, yet in the two kingdoms before mentioned, of Balnibarbi and Japan, he observed that every man desired to put off death some time longer, let it approach ever so late: —
虽然很少有人会公开表达希望以这些艰苦条件永生，但是在上述巴尔尼巴尔比和日本两个国家，他观察到每个人都希望再多活一段时间，不管死亡迫近得有多晚。 —

and he rarely heard of any man who died willingly, except he were incited by the extremity of grief or torture. —
除非受到极度悲伤或折磨的刺激，他很少听说有人愿意自愿去死。 —

And he appealed to me, whether in those countries I had travelled, as well as my own, I had not observed the same general disposition.”
他向我求证，无论我在这些国家（包括我自己的国家）旅行时是否观察到了同样的普遍心态。”

After this preface, he gave me a particular account of the struldbrugs among them. —
在这个前言之后，他给我讲述了他们中的斯卓德布拉格人。 —

He said, “they commonly acted like mortals till about thirty years old; —
他说：“他们一般表现得像凡人，直到大约三十岁； —

after which, by degrees, they grew melancholy and dejected, increasing in both till they came to fourscore. —
之后，逐渐变得忧郁和沮丧，一直增加到他们八十岁。 —

This he learned from their own confession: —
他从他们自己的承认中了解到这一点： —

for otherwise, there not being above two or three of that species born in an age, they were too few to form a general observation by. —
因为在一个时代中只有两三个这种物种出生，所以他们太少了，无法进行普遍观察。 —

When they came to fourscore years, which is reckoned the extremity of living in this country, they had not only all the follies and infirmities of other old men, but many more which arose from the dreadful prospect of never dying. —
当他们到了这个国家被认为是生命的极限，即八十岁时，他们不仅具有其他老年人的一切愚蠢和疾病，还有更多来自于永远不会死去的可怕前景。 —

They were not only opinionative, peevish, covetous, morose, vain, talkative, but incapable of friendship, and dead to all natural affection, which never descended below their grandchildren. —
他们不仅是固执己见的、脾气暴躁的、贪婪的、乖戾的、虚荣的、唠叨的，而且对友谊无能为力，对所有的亲情都漠不关心，这种亲情从未下降到他们的孙子辈以下。 —

Envy and impotent desires are their prevailing passions. —
嫉妒和无能的欲望是他们主要的激情。 —

But those objects against which their envy seems principally directed, are the vices of the younger sort and the deaths of the old. —
但是那些他们最羡慕的目标是年轻人的恶习和老年人的死亡。 —

By reflecting on the former, they find themselves cut off from all possibility of pleasure; —
通过思考前者，他们发现自己与享乐的可能性完全断绝； —

and whenever they see a funeral, they lament and repine that others have gone to a harbour of rest to which they themselves never can hope to arrive. —
每当他们看到一场葬礼，他们会悲叹和埋怨别人已经去了一个他们永远无法到达的休憩港口。 —

They have no remembrance of anything but what they learned and observed in their youth and middle-age, and even that is very imperfect; —
除了青年和中年时所学和观察的东西外，他们没有记忆，即便如此，也十分不完整； —

and for the truth or particulars of any fact, it is safer to depend on common tradition, than upon their best recollections. —
而对于任何事实的真相和细节，依靠普遍的传统要比依靠他们最好的回忆更为稳妥。 —

The least miserable among them appear to be those who turn to dotage, and entirely lose their memories; —
在他们中间，最不可怜的似乎是那些开始老糊涂、完全失去记忆力的人； —

these meet with more pity and assistance, because they want many bad qualities which abound in others.
他们会得到更多的同情和帮助，因为他们缺乏其他人身上存在的许多坏品质。

“If a struldbrug happen to marry one of his own kind, the marriage is dissolved of course, by the courtesy of the kingdom, as soon as the younger of the two comes to be fourscore; —
“如果一个长生者偶然和同类结婚，根据王国的礼仪，当两者中较年轻的那个年满八十岁时，婚姻自然解除。 —

for the law thinks it a reasonable indulgence, that those who are condemned, without any fault of their own, to a perpetual continuance in the world, should not have their misery doubled by the load of a wife.
法律认为，那些没有自身过错而被定罪终身长生的人，在世界上无休止的继续生活中，不应因妻子的负担而使他们的痛苦加倍，这是一种合理的宽容。

“As soon as they have completed the term of eighty years, they are looked on as dead in law; —
“一旦他们达到八十岁的年限，法律上认为他们已经死亡； —

their heirs immediately succeed to their estates; —
他们的继承人立即继承他们的财产； —

only a small pittance is reserved for their support; —
只为他们保留了一小笔生活费； —

and the poor ones are maintained at the public charge. —
并且穷困者由公众负担赡养。 —

After that period, they are held incapable of any employment of trust or profit; —
过了那个时期，他们被认为无法承担任何职务或利润； —

they cannot purchase lands, or take leases; —
他们不能购买土地或租借房屋； —

neither are they allowed to be witnesses in any cause, either civil or criminal, not even for the decision of meers and bounds.
他们也不被允许在任何民事或刑事案件中作证，甚至不能用于界限的确定。

“At ninety, they lose their teeth and hair; —
“到了九十岁，他们会失去牙齿和头发； —

they have at that age no distinction of taste, but eat and drink whatever they can get, without relish or appetite. —
在那个年纪，他们对口味没有任何区别，只是吃喝一切能得到的东西，没有食欲或兴趣。 —

The diseases they were subject to still continue, without increasing or diminishing. —
他们所患的疾病仍在持续，没有增加也没有减少。 —

In talking, they forget the common appellation of things, and the names of persons, even of those who are their nearest friends and relations. —
谈话中，他们会忘记常见事物的名称，甚至是他们最亲近的朋友和亲戚的名字。 —

For the same reason, they never can amuse themselves with reading, because their memory will not serve to carry them from the beginning of a sentence to the end; —
出于同样的原因，他们无法从头到尾地阅读，因为他们的记忆力无法支持他们完成整个句子。 —

and by this defect, they are deprived of the only entertainment whereof they might otherwise be capable.
由于这个缺陷，他们被剥夺了唯一可以娱乐自己的方式。

The language of this country being always upon the flux, the struldbrugs of one age do not understand those of another; —
这个国家的语言一直在变化，一个时代的长寿人无法理解另一个时代的长寿人。 —

neither are they able, after two hundred years, to hold any conversation (farther than by a few general words) with their neighbours the mortals; —
即使经过两百年，他们也无法与凡人邻居进行任何对话（除了几个泛泛之交的词语）。 —

and thus they lie under the disadvantage of living like foreigners in their own country.”
因此，他们处于在自己的国家像外国人一样生活的不利处境中。

This was the account given me of the struldbrugs, as near as I can remember. —
这就是我能记起来的斯特朗布鲁格斯的描写。 —

I afterwards saw five or six of different ages, the youngest not above two hundred years old, who were brought to me at several times by some of my friends; —
后来我又见到了五六个不同年龄的人，最小的也不过两百岁，他们是我的一些朋友分次带来给我的。 —

but although they were told, “that I was a great traveller, and had seen all the world,” they had not the least curiosity to ask me a question; —
虽然他们被告知“我是个伟大的旅行者，见过世界上的一切”，但他们却没有丝毫好奇心来问我问题。 —

only desired “I would give them slumskudask,” or a token of remembrance; —
只是希望我给他们“斯卢姆斯卡达斯克”，或者是一份纪念品。 —

which is a modest way of begging, to avoid the law, that strictly forbids it, because they are provided for by the public, although indeed with a very scanty allowance.
这是一种谦虚地讨饭的方式，以避免违反严禁行乞的法规，因为他们是由公众供养的，尽管供养的条件相当有限。

They are despised and hated by all sorts of people. —
他们受到各种人的鄙视和憎恶。 —

When one of them is born, it is reckoned ominous, and their birth is recorded very particularly so that you may know their age by consulting the register, which, however, has not been kept above a thousand years past, or at least has been destroyed by time or public disturbances. —
他们的出生被认为是不祥之兆，并且非常详细地记录在案中，以便您可以通过查阅注册表来知道他们的年龄，尽管这份注册表过去一千年来一直还未保存，或者至少已经被时间或公共动乱摧毁了。 —

But the usual way of computing how old they are, is by asking them what kings or great persons they can remember, and then consulting history; —
但通常计算他们年龄的方法是询问他们记得哪位国王或伟人，然后查阅历史； —

for infallibly the last prince in their mind did not begin his reign after they were fourscore years old.
因为无疑地，在他们心中最后一位国王在他们八十岁以后才登基。

They were the most mortifying sight I ever beheld; and the women more horrible than the men. —
他们是我见过的最令人羞辱的景象；女性比男性更可怕。 —

Besides the usual deformities in extreme old age, they acquired an additional ghastliness, in proportion to their number of years, which is not to be described; —
除了极老年的常见畸形外，他们根据年龄的增加而获得了无法形容的更加可怕的外观； —

and among half a dozen, I soon distinguished which was the eldest, although there was not above a century or two between them.
在一半以下的人中，我很快就能区分谁最年长，即使他们之间的年龄相差不到一两个世纪。

The reader will easily believe, that from what I had hear and seen, my keen appetite for perpetuity of life was much abated. —
读者很容易相信，从我所听到和见到的内容来看，我对永生的渴望大大减弱了。 —

I grew heartily ashamed of the pleasing visions I had formed; —
我对自己曾经构想的美好幻想感到十分羞愧； —

and thought no tyrant could invent a death into which I would not run with pleasure, from such a life. —
并且觉得没有哪个暴君可以发明一种让我不愿从如此生活中逃脱的死亡。 —

The king heard of all that had passed between me and my friends upon this occasion, and rallied me very pleasantly; —
国王听说了我和我的朋友之间所发生的一切，非常愉快地开玩笑了一下我； —

wishing I could send a couple of struldbrugs to my own country, to arm our people against the fear of death; —
希望我能把一对赛隆族 (struldbrugs) 带回我的国家，以对抗人们对死亡的恐惧； —

but this, it seems, is forbidden by the fundamental laws of the kingdom, or else I should have been well content with the trouble and expense of transporting them.
但是，这似乎违反了王国的基本法律，否则我会很愿意为运送他们而付出麻烦和费用。

I could not but agree, that the laws of this kingdom relative to the struldbrugs were founded upon the strongest reasons, and such as any other country would be under the necessity of enacting, in the like circumstances. —
我不得不承认，这个王国关于赛隆族的法律是建立在最强有力的理由之上的，其他任何国家在类似情况下也会被迫制定这样的法律。 —

Otherwise, as avarice is the necessary consequence of old age, those immortals would in time become proprietors of the whole nation, and engross the civil power, which, for want of abilities to manage, must end in the ruin of the public.
否则，由于贪婪是老年不可避免的后果，这些不朽的人们最终将成为整个国家的所有者，并垄断公共权力，这必将因为能力不足而导致公众的毁灭。