|
Daniel Defoe was born in London in 1660. After many years of studying for the ministry, Daniel decided that a religious life did not suit him. He chose, instead, to become a merchant. He traveled widely and built up a successful business. During this period, he married and started raising a family. But in 1692, his business failed, leaving the 32-year-old Defoe heavily in debt, with a wife and six children to support. Since he had always been interested in politics, he tried making his living by writing political articles for newspapers. These articles often criticized the king and the ruling party. As a result, Defoe spent many years in and out of prison. Since his political writings had brought only troubles and increasing debts, Defoe turned to fiction writing. His first novel, written in 1719 when Defoe was nearly sixty years old, was to become one of the best known adventure stories in the world. That novel was Robinson Crusoe- a story which still thrills readers today, more than two hundred fifty years later. Robinson Crusoe brought Defoe great success and helped him pay back part of his debts. He continued writing novels such as Moll Flanders, Colonel Jack, and two other Robinson Crusoe stories, but his creditors always seemed to be one step behind him. During his last years, Defoe was a sick, lonely old man, hunted by his creditors and abandoned by his ungrateful children. He died in 1731 at the age of seventy-one, as alone and frightened as his hero, Robinson, had been during his twenty-eight years on a deserted island.
Chapter 1 Robinson's Early Adventures "Robinson, if you go to sea, your life will be one of misery(несчастья)," said Mr. Crusoe, "and you will live to regret it!" But eighteen-year-old Robinson Crusoe was not moved (волновали) by his father's words or by the old man's tears (слёзы). The only thing he wanted in life was to go to sea to make his fortune (фортуна). He didn't want to study law as his father had hoped. He didn't want to share (учавствовать) in his family's successful business as his mother had hoped. "Just one voyage," argued Robinson, "and if I do not like it, I shall return and stay here with the family in Yorkshire." But Mr. and Mrs. Crusoe would not give their consent (согласие). A sailor's life was a dangerous one. Storms were regular occurrences at sea. Their winds often blew ships off course and, even worse, dashed (разбивали) them to pieces (на части) against rocks or sand bars. Many lives were lost this way. Then, too, there was the danger of pirates who attacked merchant ships, stole their cargo, and killed their crew. No, Mr. and Mrs. Crusoe decided, they could not give their consent and be part of the destruction of their son. So, for another year, Robinson could only dream of going to sea. One day, he was visiting a friend in the seaport town of Hull. Robinson learned that the boy's father, a sea captain, was setting sail on a short voyage down the English coast to London. An invitation (приглашение) to come on board and sail as the captain's guest was too much for Robinson to resist. So, on the first of September, in the year 1651, Robinson Crusoe began the first of many adventures which would take him to Africa, to South America, and to an island in the Caribbean Sea before he ever returned to English soil again. On his first voyage, Robinson learned what it was like to be violently seasick when his ship was caught in a storm. He learned how fierce and destructive a storm at sea could be, and how he felt being at the mercy (на милости) of raging waves and driving winds. But all the fear and the seasickness (морская болезнь) were soon forgotten once Robinson was rescued and returned to dry land. Soon after that, he set sail on his second voyage, this time to the coast of Africa. He learned how to become a successful trader with the natives. He learned the terror of being attacked and captured by a band of pirates. He learned the misery of life as a slave to the pirate captain and the joy of escaping in the captain's small fishing boat. When Robinson was finally rescued from the sea, it was by a Portuguese merchant ship heading (направляющийся) to the South American country of Brazil. In Brazil, Robinson went to work on a sugar plantation and, after several years, he bought a plantation of his own. He ran (управлял, вёл дело) his plantation successfully for several years and made many friends among the other planters. When the planters realized (осуществились) that they needed extra help to run their plantations, they asked Robinson if he would make a voyage to Africa to buy slaves for them. The African natives made (были) very good, loyal workers. Besides (кроме того), Robinson had been to Africa before and knew how to trade with the natives. Yet, he had a very successful plantation built up over the years. To leave it now and go on such a dangerous voyage across the Atlantic Ocean might seem foolish or mad. But the idea of another sea voyage excited (побуждало) Robinson so, that he agreed to go. The other planters promised to take care of Robinson's plantation while he was gone and also to follow the instructions in his will if he did not return. So, on the first of September, in the year 1659-eight years to the day he boarded (сел на корабль) his first ship at Hull, England-Robinson Crusoe set sail from San Salvador, Brazil. This voyage was to become the greatest adventure of his or any man's lifetime! Robinson dreamt of sea voyages. He didn’t want to study law as his father hoped. But his parents would not give their consent. So, on the first of September, in the year1651, Robinson began his first voyage. He was sailed as the captain's guest. This voyage was calm and comfortable. Soon after that, he sailed on his second voyage, this time to the coast of Africa. He learned how to be a successful trader with the natives. He learned how to fight with bands of pirates. He was as a slave to the pirate’s captain and made an escape in the small fishing boat. Robinson was finally rescued from the sea, it was by a Portuguese merchant ship navigating (направляющийся) to the South American country of Brazil. In Brazil, Robinson worked on a sugar plantation and, after several years, he became the owner of plantation. He ran (управлял, вёл дело) his plantation successfully for several years. Then his friends asked him to make voyage to Africa to buy slaves for them. Robinson knew what such a voyage was very dangerous. But the idea of another sea voyage excited (побуждало) Robinson. So he gave his consent.
Chapter 2 Shipwreck! The ship sailing out of Sao Salvador that sunny September morning carried fourteen men aboard: its captain, twelve sailors, and Robinson Crusoe. As cargo she carried toys which Robinson planned to use in his trade with the natives. These toys included beads, shells (патроны), knives, scissors (ножницы), hatchets (топорики), and small mirrors. The captain set the ship's course to the north, along the Brazilian coast. Then he planned to head (направиться) east across the Atlantic Ocean to reach (достигнуть) their destination (пункт назначения) in Africa. On their twelfth day at sea, as they were nearing the northern tip of south America, a violent hurricane struck (нанёс удар). For ten straight days (10 последующих дней), the fury of the winds pushed the ship in every direction (все направления). Two men were washed overboard (смыты за борт), and one died of a tropical fever. From moment to moment, Robinson expected to be swallowed up (поглощённым) by the sea. Sails were ripped (разорваны), masts (мачты) were broken, and the ship was leaking (протекать) in several places. By the eleventh day (в течении 11 дней), when the winds had died down (ветры стихли), Robinson and the captain examined the damage. They agreed that the ship was in no condition to continue on to Africa. The captain wanted to return to Brazil, but Robinson disagreed. They were so far north already, it would be closer to head (держать курс) for one of the British islands in the Caribbean Sea. The island of Barbados was only a fifteen-day sail. They could repair the ship there. But a second storm hit and pulled them off course again. The strong currents were pulling them east, towards land inhabited (населённой) by uncivilized savages. The ship was battered about (колотило) by the winds and the sea all night long. At dawn (на расвете), Robinson was awakened in his cabin by the cries of "Land! Land!" He ran up on deck to see where the lookout was pointing. But, at that moment, the ship gave a lurch (крен) as it struck (ударился) a sand bar and stopped dead. The sea continued to batter (колотить) the crippled ship with all its force. As the wind increased, Robinson wondered how much more punishment his ship could take before she broke apart. There was nothing left now but to abandon ship, so the captain gave the orders. The crew immediately began lowering (спускать) the one lifeboat they carried, and everyone piled in (ввалились). The winds had calmed down (успокаились) a little, but the sea was rising higher and higher. The lifeboat had no sail, so the men rowed with all their might. But they were at the mercy (милости) of the wild sea. Suddenly, a raging wave over thirty feet high came at them from the stern (с кормы). There wasn't a moment for the eleven men even to take a breath before the wave overturned the boat and swallowed them all up. Although Robinson was a good swimmer, he couldn't fight the force of the mighty wave. He sank below the surface and let the wave carry his nearly lifeless body wherever it chose. It drove him towards the shore and left him partway there, half dead with the water he had swallowed. He tried to touch bottom (коснуться дна) with his feet before the next wave came, but, before he could manage it, he found himself buried again in thirty feet of water and carried (перенесённым) swiftly towards shore. This time, at least, Robinson was able to hold his breath. But just as he felt his lungs (лёгкие) ready to burst (лопнуть), his head and hands shot (внезапно появиться) above the surface of the water. As the pull (тяга) of the sea tried to drag him back out again, Robinson dug (закрепил) his feet into the sand. But the sea was not done with him yet. Twice more, he was lifted up (возносился) by the waves and carried in. The last wave dashed him against a large rock with such force that the air was nearly crushed out (выдавливался) of his body. With a last burst of strength, Robinson got to his feet and ran to shore. There, out of reach (вне досягаемости) of the brutal waves, he collapsed (свалился) on the sand. After he had vomited out the salt water from his stomach, he lay there gasping for air (дышать с трудом), trying to catch his breath. As his strength (сила) gradually (понемногу) returned, Robinson said a prayer of thanks to God for saving his life. Every single one of his crew had drowned, but his life had been spared. He sat up and looked out to his stranded (севший на мель) ship. It was so far out (далеко), he began to wonder how he had ever made it (добрался) to shore. When he felt strong enough to stand up and look around him, Robinson's joy immediately turned to (закончилась) sadness. He was alone here. But where was here? He had nothing to eat or drink. Would he die of hunger? Or would he be attacked and eaten by some wild beasts? He had no weapons with which to hunt or defend himself other than a small knife in his belt. These fears (страхи) hit him so suddenly that he began running about the shore like a madman (сумасшедший), beating his chest and screaming to God, "Why have You saved me only to make me suffer in this misery (несчастное место)?" When he had no more strength to run or scream, Robinson sat down on the sand and tried to clear (освободиться) his thoughts. Night was coming on, but before the light was gone completely, he had to find some fresh water to drink. So he walked a little ways inland and found a small stream with cool fresh water. Next, he had to find a place for himself for the night - a place where he would be protected from an attack by wild beasts. He found a large, thick, fir-like (похожее на пихту) tree and climbed up into it. As he tried to make himself comfortable (удобное) on two strong branches, his mind was filled with thoughts of what kind of death he would die the next day. But in spite of (несмотря на) these thoughts, Robinson was so exhausted (истощённым) that he soon fell asleep. |