Consider the subtleness of the sea; how its most dreaded creatures glide under water, unapparent for the most part, and treacherously hidden beneath the loveliest tints of azure. Consider also the devilish brilliance and beauty of many of its most remorseless tribes, as the dainty embellished shape of many species of sharks. Consider once more, the universal cannibalism of the sea; all whose creatures prey upon each other, carrying on eternal war since the world began.
想一想這個(gè)陰險(xiǎn)成性的海洋吧,它那些最可怕的生物怎樣大多是眼不能見(jiàn)地在水底下流來(lái)滑去,詭詐地隱藏在最可愛(ài)的湛藍(lán)蒼穹下。也想一想海里那許多最殘忍的族類那種非常光彩和漂亮的外表,就象各種鯊魚裝飾得頗為雅致的外表一樣,再想一想海洋的普遍的同類相殘的情況吧;它那些彼此互相掠奪的生物,自從開天辟地以來(lái),就進(jìn)行了無(wú)休無(wú)止的戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)。
Consider all this; and then turn to this green, gentle, and most docile earth; consider them both, the sea and the land; and do you not find a strange analogy to something in yourself? For as this appalling ocean surrounds the verdant land, so in the soul of man there lies one insular Tahiti, full of peace and joy, but encompassed by all the horrors of the half known life. God keep thee! Push not off from that isle, thou canst never return!
想了所有這一切后,再回頭看看這個(gè)碧綠、柔和而又最為溫順的大地,把它們,海和陸都想一想吧,難道你自己沒(méi)有發(fā)現(xiàn)一種相似得出奇的東西嗎?因?yàn)檎邕@個(gè)令人可怕的海洋把蔥翠的陸地給包圍起來(lái)一般,在人類的心靈里,也有個(gè)塔希提的小島,雖然充滿著安謐與快活,卻被一知半解的生活中的一切恐怖包圍著。愿上帝保佑你們!別離開那個(gè)島嶼吧,你是永遠(yuǎn)回不來(lái)的!
End of chapters 55-58
第五十五至五十八章完