万物简史 第554期:达尔文的非凡见解(3)

 FitzRoy's formal assignment was to chart coastal¹ waters, but his hobby — passion really, 菲茨罗伊的主要任务是绘制沿海水域图，可是他的爱好——实际上是极度的热情，

was to seek out evidence for a literal, biblical interpretation² of creation. 是要为《圣经》中所描述的上帝创造人的文字寻找实证。

That Darwin was trained for the ministry³ was central to FitzRoy's decision to have him aboard. 达尔文曾经接受过神学训练，这是菲茨罗伊决定让他一同前往的主要原因。

That Darwin subsequently proved to be not only liberal of view but less than wholeheartedly devoted⁴ to Christian⁵ fundamentals became a source of lasting⁶ friction⁷ between them. 可是达尔文后来不但表现出自由主义的观点，而且并非全心全意地奉行基督教教义，这成了他们之间不断冲突的根源。

Darwin's time aboard HMS Beagle, from 1831 to 1836, was obviously the formative experience of his life, but also one of the most trying. 达尔文在“贝格尔”号上从1831年一直待到1836年。显而易见，这对于他来说，这既是一次增长阅历的大好机会，也是一次充满艰辛和困苦的旅行。

He and his captain shared a small cabin, which can't have been easy as FitzRoy was subject to fits of fury followed by spells of simmering resentment⁸. 他和菲茨罗伊船长一起挤在一个小舱里，这很可能不是一件容易的事，因为菲茨罗伊经常大发脾气，接着又恨得咬牙切齿，

He and Darwin constantly engaged in quarrels, some "bordering on insanity," as Darwin later recalled. 他们经常争吵不休。达尔文后来回忆说，这种争吵有时几乎到了“疯狂的边缘”。

Ocean voyages tended to become melancholy⁹ undertakings¹⁰ at the best of times, 远洋航行即使在最好的时候也往往是一件令人烦闷的事，

the previous captain of the Beagle had put a bullet through his brain during a moment of lonely gloom, “贝格尔”号的前任船长就是在孤寂与忧伤中用子弹对准头颅结束了自己的生命的，

and FitzRoy came from a family well known for a depressive instinct. 而菲茨罗伊来自一个著名的患有抑郁症的家族。

His uncle, Viscount Castlereagh, had slit¹¹ his throat the previous decade while serving as Chancellor¹² of the Exchequer¹³. 10年前，他的叔叔卡斯尔雷子爵在其担任英国财政大臣的任期内用刀子割断了自己的喉咙。

(FitzRoy would himself commit suicide by the same method in 1865.) （1885年，菲茨罗伊也以同样的方式自杀身亡。）

Even in his calmer moods, FitzRoy proved strangely unknowable. 即使在情绪稳定的时候，菲茨罗伊也是不可理喻的。

Darwin was astounded¹⁴ to learn upon the conclusion of their voyage that almost at once FitzRoy married a young woman to whom he had long been betrothed¹⁵. 他们的远航刚刚结束，菲茨罗伊就和一个他爱慕已久的年轻女子结了婚，这使达尔文吃惊不小，

In five years in Darwin's company, he had not once hinted at an attachment¹⁶ or even mentioned her name. 因为在他们长达5年的朝夕相处的过程中，菲茨罗伊竟然一次也没有表露过他的这种爱慕之情，他甚至连她的名字也从未提到过。

 

1 coastal   

adj.海岸的，沿海的，沿岸的

参考例句：

• The ocean waves are slowly eating away the coastal rocks.大海的波浪慢慢地侵蚀着岸边的岩石。
• This country will fortify the coastal areas.该国将加强沿海地区的防御。

2 interpretation   

n.解释，说明，描述；艺术处理

参考例句：

• His statement admits of one interpretation only.他的话只有一种解释。
• Analysis and interpretation is a very personal thing.分析与说明是个很主观的事情。

3 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

4 devoted   

adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的

参考例句：

• He devoted his life to the educational cause of the motherland.他为祖国的教育事业贡献了一生。
• We devoted a lengthy and full discussion to this topic.我们对这个题目进行了长时间的充分讨论。

5 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

6 lasting   

adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持

参考例句：

• The lasting war debased the value of the dollar.持久的战争使美元贬值。
• We hope for a lasting settlement of all these troubles.我们希望这些纠纷能获得永久的解决。

7 friction   

n.摩擦，摩擦力

参考例句：

• When Joan returned to work,the friction between them increased.琼回来工作后，他们之间的摩擦加剧了。
• Friction acts on moving bodies and brings them to a stop.摩擦力作用于运动着的物体，并使其停止。

8 resentment   

n.怨愤，忿恨

参考例句：

• All her feelings of resentment just came pouring out.她一股脑儿倾吐出所有的怨恨。
• She cherished a deep resentment under the rose towards her employer.她暗中对她的雇主怀恨在心。

9 melancholy   

n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的

参考例句：

• All at once he fell into a state of profound melancholy.他立即陷入无尽的忧思之中。
• He felt melancholy after he failed the exam.这次考试没通过，他感到很郁闷。

10 undertakings   

企业( undertaking的名词复数 )； 保证； 殡仪业； 任务

参考例句：

• The principle of diligence and frugality applies to all undertakings. 勤俭节约的原则适用于一切事业。
• Such undertakings require the precise planning and foresight of military operations. 此举要求军事上战役中所需要的准确布置和预见。

11 slit   

n.狭长的切口；裂缝；vt.切开，撕裂

参考例句：

• The coat has been slit in two places.这件外衣有两处裂开了。
• He began to slit open each envelope.他开始裁开每个信封。

12 chancellor   

n.(英)大臣；法官；(德、奥)总理；大学校长

参考例句：

• They submitted their reports to the Chancellor yesterday.他们昨天向财政大臣递交了报告。
• He was regarded as the most successful Chancellor of modern times.他被认为是现代最成功的财政大臣。

13 exchequer   

n.财政部；国库

参考例句：

• In Britain the Chancellor of the Exchequer deals with taxes and government spending.英国的财政大臣负责税务和政府的开支。
• This resulted in a considerable loss to the exchequer.这使国库遭受了重大损失。

14 astounded   

v.使震惊(astound的过去式和过去分词)；愕然；愕；惊讶

参考例句：

• His arrogance astounded her. 他的傲慢使她震惊。
• How can you say that? I'm absolutely astounded. 你怎么能说出那种话？我感到大为震惊。

15 betrothed   

n. 已订婚者 动词betroth的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• She is betrothed to John. 她同约翰订了婚。
• His daughter was betrothed to a teacher. 他的女儿同一个教师订了婚。

16 attachment   

n.附属物，附件；依恋；依附

参考例句：

• She has a great attachment to her sister.她十分依恋她的姐姐。
• She's on attachment to the Ministry of Defense.她现在隶属于国防部。