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This was a fair proposal, it must be confessed, had it been made to any one that had not had a settlement and a plantation of his own to look after,[qh]
他们提出，我不必拿出任何资本，但回来后带回的黑奴与我一起均分。[qh]
which was in a fair way of coming to be very considerable, and with a good stock upon it;[qh]
必须承认，如果这个建议是向一个没有在这儿定居，也没有自己经营的种植园的人提出来的话，确是十分诱人的。[qh]
but for me, that was thus entered and established, and had nothing to do but to go on as I had begun,[qh]
因为这很有希望赚一大笔钱，何况他们是下了大资本的，[qh]
for three or four years more, and to have sent for the other hundred pounds from England;[qh]
而我却不必花一个子儿。但我的情况却完全不同。[qh]
and who in that time, and with that little addition,[qh]
我已在巴西立足，只要把自己的种植园再经营两三年，并把存放在英国的一百英镑再汇来，[qh]
could scarce have failed of being worth three or four thousand pounds sterling,[qh]
那时，再加上那点小小的积蓄，[qh]
and that increasing too –[qh]
不愁不挣出一个三四千英镑的家当，而且还会不断增加。[qh]
for me to think of such a voyage was the most preposterous thing that ever man in such circumstances could be guilty of.[qh]
处于我现在这种境况的人，再想去进行这次航行，[qh]
But I, that was born to be my own destroyer,[qh]
那简直就太荒唐了。[qh]
could no more resist the offer than I could restrain my first rambling designs when my father good counsel was lost upon me.[qh]
但我这个人真是命里注定自取灭亡，[qh]
In a word, I told them I would go with all my heart,[qh]
竟然抵御不了这种提议的诱惑，就像我当初一心要周游世界而不听父亲的忠告一样。[qh]
if they would undertake to look after my plantation in my absence,[qh]
一句话，我告诉他们，[qh]
and would dispose of it to such as I should direct, if I miscarried.[qh]
只要他们答应我不在的时候照料我的种植园，[qh]
This they all engaged to do, and entered into writings or covenants to do so;[qh]
如果我失事遇难的话，又能按照我的嘱咐处理种植园，那我极愿同他们一同前往几内亚。[qh]
and I made a formal will, disposing of my plantation and effects in case of my death,[qh]
对此他们都一一答应，并立下了字据。[qh]
making the captain of the ship that had saved my life,[qh]
我又立了一份正式的遗嘱，安排我的种植园和财产。[qh]
as before, my universal heir, but obliging him to dispose of my effects as I had directed in my will;[qh]
我立我的救命恩人船长为我种植园和财产的全权继承人，[qh]
one half of the produce being to himself, and the other to be shipped to England.[qh]
但他应按照我在遗嘱中的指示处置我的财产：[qh]
In short, I took all possible caution to preserve my effects and to keep up my plantation.[qh]
一半归他自己，一半运往英国。[qh]
Had I used half as much prudence to have looked into my own interest,[qh]
总之，我采取一切可能的措施，竭力保护好自己的财产，并维持种植园的经营。[qh]
and have made a judgment of what I ought to have done and not to have done,[qh]
但是，如果我能用一半的心思来关注自己的利益，[qh]
I had certainly never gone away from so prosperous an undertaking,[qh]
判断一下应做和不应做的事情，[qh]
leaving all the probable views of a thriving circumstance,[qh]
我就决不会放弃自己正在日益兴旺的事业，[qh]
and gone upon a voyage to sea, attended with all its common hazards,[qh]
把发家致富的前景丢之脑后而踏上这次航行。[qh]
to say nothing of the reasons I had to expect particular misfortunes to myself.[qh]
要知道，海上航行总是凶险难测的，[qh]
