Continuing his discourse Don Quixote said: —
继续他的演讲，唐吉柯德说： —

“As we began in the student’s case with poverty and its accompaniments, let us see now if the soldier is richer, and we shall find that in poverty itself there is no one poorer; —
“就像我们在学生的案例中从贫困及其陪衬讲起一样，让我们现在看看士兵是否更富有，我们将发现在贫困本身中没有人比他更贫困； —

for he is dependent on his miserable pay, which comes late or never, or else on what he can plunder, seriously imperilling his life and conscience; —
因为他依赖于他那可怜的薪水，有时迟到或根本没有，或者依靠他能掠夺到的东西，这严重危及他的生命和良心； —

and sometimes his nakedness will be so great that a slashed doublet serves him for uniform and shirt, and in the depth of winter he has to defend himself against the inclemency of the weather in the open field with nothing better than the breath of his mouth, which I need not say, coming from an empty place, must come out cold, contrary to the laws of nature. —
有时他的赤裸会如此严重，以至于一件劈缝的夹袄兼做制服和衬衫，在寒冬的深处，他只能用口里的呼吸来抵御天气的严酷，而我无需多说，这呼吸从一个空洞处释放出来，必定会是冷的，违背了自然法则。 —

To be sure he looks forward to the approach of night to make up for all these discomforts on the bed that awaits him, which, unless by some fault of his, never sins by being over narrow, for he can easily measure out on the ground as he likes, and roll himself about in it to his heart’s content without any fear of the sheets slipping away from him. —
固然，他盼望夜幕降临来弥补所有这些不适，等待着他的床，那床永远不至于过窄，因为他可以随意在地上量出所需的空间，并在其中自在地翻滚，毫无担心床单从他身上滑落。 —

Then, after all this, suppose the day and hour for taking his degree in his calling to have come; —
然后，在所有这一切之后，想象他的职业程度授予的日子和时刻已经到来； —

suppose the day of battle to have arrived, when they invest him with the doctor’s cap made of lint, to mend some bullet-hole, perhaps, that has gone through his temples, or left him with a crippled arm or leg. —
设想战斗的日子已经到来，他们戴上用亚麻布制成的博士帽，也许是为了修补他太阳穴上的弹孔，或者留下了一个残废的手臂或腿。 —

Or if this does not happen, and merciful Heaven watches over him and keeps him safe and sound, it may be he will be in the same poverty he was in before, and he must go through more engagements and more battles, and come victorious out of all before he betters himself; —
或者如果没有这种情况发生，而仁慈的上天看顾他并让他安全健康，也许他还会陷入以前的贫困之中，他必须经历更多的交战和战斗，并在所有这些之后才能改善自己； —

but miracles of that sort are seldom seen. —
但是那样的奇迹很少见。 —

For tell me, sirs, if you have ever reflected upon it, by how much do those who have gained by war fall short of the number of those who have perished in it? —
告诉我，先生们，如果你们曾经思考过，那些通过战争获益的人数量与在战争中丧生的人的数量相差多少？ —

No doubt you will reply that there can be no comparison, that the dead cannot be numbered, while the living who have been rewarded may be summed up with three figures. —
毫无疑问，你们会回答说无法比较，死者无法计算，而那些得到奖赏的生还者可以用三位数来总结。 —

All which is the reverse in the case of men of letters; —
这在学者的情况下正好相反； —

for by skirts, to say nothing of sleeves, they all find means of support; —
因为通过裙摆，更不用说袖子，他们都找到了生计的手段； —

so that though the soldier has more to endure, his reward is much less. —
所以尽管士兵要承受更多，但他的奖赏却少得多。 —

But against all this it may be urged that it is easier to reward two thousand soldiers, for the former may be remunerated by giving them places, which must perforce be conferred upon men of their calling, while the latter can only be recompensed out of the very property of the master they serve; —
但对此可能会提出反对意见，即奖励两千名士兵要容易得多，前者可以通过给他们职位来予以报酬，而后者只能从他们主人的财产中得到补偿；” —

but this impossibility only strengthens my argument.
但是这种不可能性只会加强我的论点。

“Putting this, however, aside, for it is a puzzling question for which it is difficult to find a solution, let us return to the superiority of arms over letters, a matter still undecided, so many are the arguments put forward on each side; —
“不过，让我们暂且搁置这个令人费解的问题，因为很难找到一个解决方案，让我们回到武器与文字的优越性问题，一个仍未解决的问题，因为双方都提出了许多论点； —

for besides those I have mentioned, letters say that without them arms cannot maintain themselves, for war, too, has its laws and is governed by them, and laws belong to the domain of letters and men of letters. —
除了我提到的那些，文字还说没有它们，武器无法维持自身，因为战争也有它的法律，并由法律支配，而法律属于文字和文人的领域。 —

To this arms make answer that without them laws cannot be maintained, for by arms states are defended, kingdoms preserved, cities protected, roads made safe, seas cleared of pirates; —
此时武器回答说没有它们，法律无法得以维持，因为有了武器，才能保卫国家，维护王国，保护城市，使道路安全，清除海上的海盗； —

and, in short, if it were not for them, states, kingdoms, monarchies, cities, ways by sea and land would be exposed to the violence and confusion which war brings with it, so long as it lasts and is free to make use of its privileges and powers. —
简言之，如果没有它们，国家、王国、君主制、城市、陆海交通都将暴露在战争带来的暴力和混乱之中，只要战争继续存在并被允许利用它的特权和能力。 —

And then it is plain that whatever costs most is valued and deserves to be valued most. —
而且显而易见，任何成本最高的东西就会受到重视，也应该受到最高的评价。 —

To attain to eminence in letters costs a man time, watching, hunger, nakedness, headaches, indigestions, and other things of the sort, some of which I have already referred to. —
要想在文字上达到卓越，一个人需要花费时间、守夜、忍饥饿、赤身露体、头痛、消化不良，以及其他一些我已经提到过的事情。” —

But for a man to come in the ordinary course of things to be a good soldier costs him all the student suffers, and in an incomparably higher degree, for at every step he runs the risk of losing his life. —
然而，一个普通人要成为一名优秀的士兵，付出的代价比学生所遭受的一切都要高得多，因为在每一步中，他都面临着失去生命的风险。 —

For what dread of want or poverty that can reach or harass the student can compare with what the soldier feels, who finds himself beleaguered in some stronghold mounting guard in some ravelin or cavalier, knows that the enemy is pushing a mine towards the post where he is stationed, and cannot under any circumstances retire or fly from the imminent danger that threatens him? —
因为学生可能遭受的贫穷或匮乏的恐惧，与士兵所感受到的是无法相比的，当士兵发现自己困守在某座要塞中，守卫着某个角楼或火把楼，知道敌人正在向他所在的阵地挖掘地雷时，他无论如何都不能撤退或逃避即将降临的危险。 —

All he can do is to inform his captain of what is going on so that he may try to remedy it by a counter-mine, and then stand his ground in fear and expectation of the moment when he will fly up to the clouds without wings and descend into the deep against his will. —
他所能做的只是通知他的上尉发生了什么事，以便他可以通过反地雷来尝试解决问题，然后惶惶不安地等待，预料着他将无意中升入云端，飞跃入海底的那一刻。 —

And if this seems a trifling risk, let us see whether it is equalled or surpassed by the encounter of two galleys stem to stem, in the midst of the open sea, locked and entangled one with the other, when the soldier has no more standing room than two feet of the plank of the spur; —
如果这似乎是微不足道的风险，让我们看看两艘战舰正面对抗时是否相当或超过了这种危险，当士兵只剩下两英尺的甲板时，在大海中间被相互锁定交缠的两只座船上，即使他面前所处的位置只有两英尺的甲板； —

and yet, though he sees before him threatening him as many ministers of death as there are cannon of the foe pointed at him, not a lance length from his body, and sees too that with the first heedless step he will go down to visit the profundities of Neptune’s bosom, still with dauntless heart, urged on by honour that nerves him, he makes himself a target for all that musketry, and struggles to cross that narrow path to the enemy’s ship. —
但是，尽管他看到面前有与他指向的敌人所设的所有炮筒一样多的死亡源对准他，直逼到离他身体不到一杆枪的距离，并且还看到，只要他一不小心迈出一步，就会降临到海神的怀抱的深处，但是仍然怀着坚定的心，被激励的荣誉支撑，他使自己成为所有火枪的目标，并努力穿过到敌人船上的那条狭窄航道。 —

And what is still more marvellous, no sooner has one gone down into the depths he will never rise from till the end of the world, than another takes his place; —
更奇妙的是，还没等一个人下到直到世界末日也无法从中回升的深处，就会有另一个人代替。 —

and if he too falls into the sea that waits for him like an enemy, another and another will succeed him without a moment’s pause between their deaths: —
如果他也跌入等待他的像敌人一样的海洋，另一个又一个将接替他，而他们的死亡之间不会有任何停顿； —

courage and daring the greatest that all the chances of war can show. —
勇气和冒险是战争中所有机会中最伟大的。 —

Happy the blest ages that knew not the dread fury of those devilish engines of artillery, whose inventor I am persuaded is in hell receiving the reward of his diabolical invention, by which he made it easy for a base and cowardly arm to take the life of a gallant gentleman; —
庆幸那些不曾经历那些可怕的淫荡炮的未来世代，他们的发明者我相信正受到地狱的奖赏，他使一个卑鄙胆小的手能够夺去一位勇敢绅士的生命； —

and that, when he knows not how or whence, in the height of the ardour and enthusiasm that fire and animate brave hearts, there should come some random bullet, discharged perhaps by one who fled in terror at the flash when he fired off his accursed machine, which in an instant puts an end to the projects and cuts off the life of one who deserved to live for ages to come. —
而且，当勇士们被火焰所激励并激发他们的热情和激情时，却会突然出现一颗子弹，也许是胆怯者在开火时因恐惧而逃跑时射出的，他们在一个瞬间终结了计划，终止了一个本该活到永远的人的生命。 —

And thus when I reflect on this, I am almost tempted to say that in my heart I repent of having adopted this profession of knight-errant in so detestable an age as we live in now; —
因此，当我反思这一点时，我几乎要说，我对在我们这个现在生存的令人憎恶的时代选择成为冒险骑士感到后悔； —

for though no peril can make me fear, still it gives me some uneasiness to think that powder and lead may rob me of the opportunity of making myself famous and renowned throughout the known earth by the might of my arm and the edge of my sword. —
尽管没有什么危险可以让我畏惧，但想到炮弹和铅可能会剥夺我通过我的臂力和剑刃使自己在整个已知的地球上变得著名和知名的机会，还是让我感到有些不安。 —

But Heaven’s will be done; if I succeed in my attempt I shall be all the more honoured, as I have faced greater dangers than the knights-errant of yore exposed themselves to.”
但天意难违；如果我成功了，我将更受尊敬，因为我所面临的危险比古代的骑士们自己置身其中还要更大。

All this lengthy discourse Don Quixote delivered while the others supped, forgetting to raise a morsel to his lips, though Sancho more than once told him to eat his supper, as he would have time enough afterwards to say all he wanted. —
当别人在吃饭时，堂吉诃德一直在发表漫长的讲话，忘记把一点东西放进嘴里，尽管桑丘不止一次告诉他吃饭，因为他以后还有足够的时间说他想说的一切。 —

It excited fresh pity in those who had heard him to see a man of apparently sound sense, and with rational views on every subject he discussed, so hopelessly wanting in all, when his wretched unlucky chivalry was in question. —
这让那些听过他讲话的人更加同情，看到一个表面看起来好像理智，并且对他所讨论的每一个主题都有理智看法的人，在他那可怜且不幸的骑士精神问题上，表现出如此令人无奈的缺失。 —

The curate told him he was quite right in all he had said in favour of arms, and that he himself, though a man of letters and a graduate, was of the same opinion.
主持人告诉他，他所说的支持武器的一切都是正确的，而且他自己，尽管是个有学问的毕业生，也是同意的。

They finished their supper, the cloth was removed, and while the hostess, her daughter, and Maritornes were getting Don Quixote of La Mancha’s garret ready, in which it was arranged that the women were to be quartered by themselves for the night, Don Fernando begged the captive to tell them the story of his life, for it could not fail to be strange and interesting, to judge by the hints he had let fall on his arrival in company with Zoraida. —
他们吃完了晚饭，把桌布收了起来，而女主人、她的女儿和马里托尼斯正在为那位堂吉诃德洛马尼亚的人准备准备楼顶的房间，在那里安排女人们过夜；多纳费尔南多请求俘虏讲述他的故事，因为根据他与佐拉依达一起到来时透露的情况，这个故事一定很奇特有趣。 —

To this the captive replied that he would very willingly yield to his request, only he feared his tale would not give them as much pleasure as he wished; —
俘虏回答说，他很乐意答应这个请求，只是他担心他的故事不会给他们带来他所期望的那么多的愉悦； —

nevertheless, not to be wanting in compliance, he would tell it. —
尽管如此，为了顺应，他会讲的。 —

The curate and the others thanked him and added their entreaties, and he finding himself so pressed said there was no occasion ask, where a command had such weight, and added, “If your worships will give me your attention you will hear a true story which, perhaps, fictitious ones constructed with ingenious and studied art cannot come up to. —
牧师和其他人都感谢他并加以请求；而他感受到如此大的压力，说服力量无法拒绝，于是他补充道，“如果你们愿意听我讲述，你们将会听到一个真实的故事，也许，虚构的、经过巧妙和系统构建的故事无法与之相比。 —

” These words made them settle themselves in their places and preserve a deep silence, and he seeing them waiting on his words in mute expectation, began thus in a pleasant quiet voice.
” 这番话让他们安静下来，保持沉默，他看到他们在期待着他的话语，于是以愉悦而安静的声音开始说道。