During these first hurries I was stupid, lying still in my cabin,[qh]

在最初的一阵纷乱中，我不知所措，只是一动不动地躺在自己的船舱里—[qh]

which was in the steerage, and cannot describe my temper:[qh]

我的舱房在船头，我无法形容我当时的心情。[qh]

I could ill resume the first penitence which I had so apparently trampled upon and hardened myself against:[qh]

最初，我没有像第一次那样忏悔，而是变得麻木不仁了。[qh]

I thought the bitterness of death had been past, and that this would be nothing like the first;[qh]

我原以为死亡的痛苦已经过去，这次的风暴与上次一样也会过去。[qh]

but when the master himself came by me, as I said just now, and said we should be all lost, I was dreadfully frighted.[qh]

但我前面说过，当船长从我舱房边经过，并说我们都要完蛋了时，可把我吓坏了。[qh]

I got up out of my cabin and looked out;[qh]

我走出自己的舱房向外一看，[qh]

but such a dismal sight I never saw: the sea ran mountains high, and broke upon us every three or four minutes;[qh]

只见满目凄凉；这种惨景我以前从未见过：海上巨浪滔天，每隔三四分钟就向我们扑来。[qh]

when I could look about, I could see nothing but distress round us;[qh]

再向四面一望，境况更是悲惨。[qh]

two ships that rode near us, we found, had cut their masts by the board, being deep laden;[qh]

我们发现，原来停泊在我们附近的两艘船，因为载货重，已经把船侧的桅杆都砍掉了。[qh]

and our men cried out that a ship which rode about a mile ahead of us was foundered.[qh]

突然，我们船上的人惊呼起来。原来停在我们前面约一海里远的一艘船已沉没了。[qh]

Two more ships, being driven from their anchors, were run out of the Roads to sea, at all adventures, and that with not a mast standing.[qh]

另外两艘船被狂风吹得脱了锚，只得冒险离开锚地驶向大海，连船上的桅杆也一根不剩了。[qh]

The light ships fared the best, as not so much labouring in the sea;[qh]

小船的境况要算最好了，因为在海上小船容易行驶。[qh]

but two or three of them drove, and came close by us, running away with only their spritsail out before the wind.[qh]

但也有两三只小船被风刮得从我们船旁飞驰而过，船上只剩下角帆而向外海飘去。[qh]

Towards evening the mate and boatswain begged the master of our ship to let them cut away the fore-mast,[qh]

到了傍晚，大副和水手长恳求船长砍掉前桅；[qh]

which he was very unwilling to do;[qh]

此事船长当然是绝不愿意干的。[qh]

but the boatswain protesting to him that if he did not the ship would founder, he consented;[qh]

但水手长抗议说，如果船长不同意砍掉前桅，船就会沉没。这样，船长也只好答应了。[qh]

and when they had cut away the fore-mast, the main-mast stood so loose, and shook the ship so much,[qh]

但船上的前桅一砍下来，主桅随风摇摆失去了控制，船也随着剧烈摇晃，[qh]

they were obliged to cut that away also, and make a clear deck.[qh]

于是他们又只得把主桅也砍掉。这样就只剩下一个空荡荡的甲板了。[qh]

Any one may judge what a condition I must be in at all this, who was but a young sailor,[qh]

谁都可以想象我当时的心情。因为我只是一个初次航海的小青年，[qh]

and who had been in such a fright before at but a little.[qh]

不久前那次小风浪已把我吓得半死，更何况这次真的遇上了大风暴。[qh]

But if I can express at this distance the thoughts I had about me at that time,[qh]

此时此刻，当我执笔记述我那时的心情，我感到，那时我固然也害怕死，[qh]

I was in tenfold more horror of mind upon account of my former convictions,[qh]

使我更害怕的是想到自己违背了自己不久前所作的忏悔，[qh]

and the having returned from them to the resolutions I had wickedly taken at first, than I was at death itself;[qh]

并且又像在前次危难中那样重新下定种种决心，这种恐惧感比我害怕死更甚。[qh]