Before I begin my story, I would like to tell you a little about myself.
I was born in the year 1632, in the city of York in the north of England. My father was German, but he came to live and work in England. Soon after that, he married my mother, who was English. Her family name was Robinson, so, when I was born, they called me Robinson, after her.

My father did well in his business and I went to a good school. He wanted me to get a good job and live a quiet, comfortable life. But I didn’t want that. I wanted adventure and an exciting life.
“I want to be a sailor and go to sea,” I told my mother and father. They were very unhappy about this.
“Please don’t go,” my father said. “You won’t be happy, you know. Sailors have a difficult and dangerous life.” And because I loved him, and he was unhappy, I tried to forget about the sea.

But I couldn’t forget, and about a year later, I saw a friend in town. His father had a ship, and my friend said to me, “We’re sailing to London tomorrow. Why don’t you come with us?”
And so, on September 1st, 1651,1 went to Hull, and the next day we sailed for London.
But, a few days later, there was a strong wind. The sea was rough and dangerous, and the ship went up and down, up and down. I was very ill, and very afraid.
“Oh, I don’t want to die!” I cried. “I want to live! If I live, I’ll go home and never go to sea again!”

The next day the wind dropped, and the sea was quiet and beautiful again.
“Well, Bob,” my friend laughed. “How do you feel now? The wind wasn’t too bad.”
“What!” I cried. “It was a terrible storm.”
“Oh, that wasn’t a storm,” my friend answered. “Just a little wind. Forget it. Come and have a drink.”
After a few drinks with my friend, I felt better. I forgot about the danger and decided not to go home. I didn’t want my friends and family to laugh at me!
I stayed in London for some time, but I still wanted to go to sea. So, when the captain of a ship asked me to go with him to Guinea in Africa, I agreed. And so I went to sea for the second time.

It was a good ship and everything went well at first, but I was very ill again. Then, when we were near the Canary Islands, a Turkish pirate ship came after us. They were famous thieves of the sea at that time. There was a long, hard fight, but when it finished, we and the ship were prisoners.
The Turkish captain and his men took us to Sallee in Morocco. They wanted to sell us as slaves in the markets there. But in the end the Turkish captain decided to keep me for himself, and took me home with him. This was a sudden and terrible change in my life. I was now a slave and this Turkish captain was my master.

2 Down the coast of Africa

For two long years I lived the life of a slave. I worked in the house and the garden, and every day I planned to escape, but it was never possible. I thought about it day and night. My master liked to go fishing in a little boat, and he always took me with him. A man called Molly, and a young boy also went with us.
One day my master said to us, “Some of my friends want to go fishing tomorrow. Get the boat ready”.

So we put a lot of food and drink on the boat, and the next morning, we waited for my master and his friends. But when my master arrived, he was alone.
“My friends don’t want to go fishing today”, he said to me. “But you go with Molly and the boy, and catch some fish for our supper tonight”.
“Yes, master” I answered quietly, but inside I was excited. “Perhaps now I can escape”, I said to myself.

My master went back to his friends and we took the boat out to sea. For a time we fished quietly, and then I moved carefully behind Molly and knocked him into the water. “Swim! I cried. “Swim to the shore!”
My master liked to shoot seabirds and so there were guns on the boat. Quickly, I took one of these guns. Molly was swimming after the boat and I shouted to him:
“Go back to the shore! You can swim there – it’s not too far. I won’t hurt you, but if you come near the boat, I’ll shoot you through the head!” So Molly turned, and swam bask to the shore as quickly as he could.

Then I said to the boy, “Xury, if you help me, I’ll be a good friend to you. If you don’t help me, I’ll push you into the sea too.”
But Xury was happy to help me. “I’ll go all over the world with you”, he cried.
I wanted to sail to the Canary Islands, but I was afraid to go too far from the shore. It was only a small boat. And so we sailed on south for some days. We had very little water, and it was dangerous country here, with many wild animals. We were afraid, but we often had to go on shore to get more water. Once I used a gun to soot a wild animal. I don’t know what animal it was, but it made a good meal.

For about ten or twelve days we sailed on south, down the coast of Africa. Then one day we saw some people on the shore – strange, wild people, who did not look friendly. By now we had very little food, and we really needed help. We were afraid, but we had to go on shore.
At first, they were afraid of us, too. Perhaps white people never visited this coast. We did not speak their language, of course, so we used our hands and faces to show what we were hungry. They came with food for us, but then they moved away quickly. We carried the food to out boat, and they watched us. I tried to thank them, but I had nothing to give them.

Just then two big wild cats came down to the shore from the mountains. I think they were leopards. The people were afraid of these wild cats, and the women cried out. Quickly, I took a gun, and shot one of the animals. The second wild cat ran back up into the mountains.
Guns were new to these African people, and they were afraid of the loud noise and the smoke. But they were happy about the dead wild cat. I gave them the meat of the dead animal, and they gave us more food and water.

We now had a lot of food and water, and we sailed on. Eleven days later we came near the Cape Verde Islands. We could see them, but we couldn’t get near because there was no wind. We waited.
Suddenly Xury called to me, “Look, a ship!”
He was right! We called and shouted and sailed our little boat as fast as we could.
But the ship did not see us.
Then I remembered the guns which made a lot of smoke. A few minutes later the ship saw and turned.

When we were on the ship, the Portuguese captain listened to my story. He was going to Brazil and agreed to help me, but he wanted nothing for his help. “No”, he said, when I tried to play him. “Perhaps, one day, sameone will help me when I need it”.
But he gave me money for my boat, and for Xury, too. At first, I did not want to sell Xury as a slave, after all our dangerous adventures together. But Xury was happy to go to the captain, and the captain was a good man. “In ten years time”, he said, “Xury can go free”.
When we arrived in Brazil three weeks later, I said goodbye to the captain and Xury, left the ship, and went to begin a new life.

3 The storm and the shipwreck

I stayed in Brazil and worked hard for some years. By then I was rich … but also bored. One day some friends came to me and said, “We’re going to Africa to do business. Why don’t you come with us? We’ll all be rich after this journey!”
How stupid I was! I had an easy, comfortable life in Brazil, but, of course, I agreed. And so, in 1659,1 went to sea again.

At first, all went well, but then there was a terrible storm. For twelve days the wind and the rain didn’t stop. We lost three men in the sea, and soon the ship had holes in its sides. “We’re all going to die this time,” I said to myself. Then one morning one of the sailors saw land, but the next minute our ship hit some sand just under the sea. The ship could not move and we were really in danger now. The sea was trying to break the ship into pieces, and we had very little time. Quickly, we put a boat into the sea and got off the ship. But the sea was very rough and our little boat could not live for long in that wild water.

Half an hour later the angry sea turned our boat over and we were all in the water. I looked round for my friends, but I could see nobody. I was alone.
That day I was lucky, and the sea carried me to the shore. I could not see the land, only mountains of water all around me. Then, suddenly, I felt the ground under my feet. Another mountain of water came, pushed me up the beach, and I fell on the wet sand.

At first I was very thankful to be alive. Slowly, I got to my feet and went higher up the shore. From there, I looked out to sea. I could see our ship, but it was wrecked and there was nobody near it. There was nobody in the water. All my friends were dead. I was alive, but in a strange wild country, with no food, no water, and no gun.
It was dark now and I was tired. I was afraid to sleep on the shore. Perhaps there were wild animals there. So I went up into a tree and I stayed there all night.

4 A new life on an island

When day came, the sea was quiet again. I looked for our ship and, to my surprise, it was still there and still in one piece. “I think I can swim to it,” I said to myself. So I walked down to the sea and before long, I was at the ship and was swimming round it. But how could I get on to it? In the end, I got in through a hole in the side, but it wasn’t easy.

There was a lot of water in the ship, but the sand under the sea was still holding the ship in one place. The back of the ship was high out of the water, and I was very thankful for this because all the ship’s food was there. I was very hungry so I began to eat something at once. Then I decided to take some of it back to the shore with me. But how could I get it there?

I looked around the ship, and after a few minutes, I found some long pieces of wood. I tied them together with rope. Then I got the things that I wanted from the ship. There was a big box of food – rice, and salted meat, and hard ship’s bread. I also took many strong knives and other tools, the ship’s sails and ropes, paper, pens, books, and seven guns. Now I needed a little sail from the ship, and then I was ready. Slowly and carefully, I went back to the shore. It was difficult to stop my things from falling into the sea, but in the end I got everything on to the shore.

Now I needed somewhere to keep my things.
There were some hills around me, so I decided to build myself a little house on one of them. I walked to the top of the highest hill and looked down. I was very unhappy, because I saw then that I was on an island. There were two smaller islands a few miles away, and after that, only the sea. Just the sea, for mile after mile after mile.

After a time, I found a little cave in the side of a hill. In front of it, there was a good place to make a home. So, I used the ship’s sails, rope, and pieces of wood, and after a lot of hard work I had a very fine tent. The cave at the back of my tent was a good place to keep my food, and so I called it my “kitchen”. That night, I went to sleep in my new home.

The next day I thought about the possible dangers on the island. Were there wild animals, and perhaps wild people too, on my island? I didn’t know, but I was very afraid. So I decided to build a very strong fence. I cut down young trees and put them in the ground, in a half-circle around the front of my tent. I used many of the ship’s ropes too, and in the end my fence was as strong as a stone wall. Nobody could get over it, through it, or round it.

Making tents and building fences is hard work. I needed many tools to help me. So I decided to go back to the ship again, and get some more things.
I went back twelve times, but soon after my twelfth visit there was another terrible storm. The next morning, when I looked out to sea, there was no ship.
When I saw that, I was very unhappy. “Why am I alive, and why are all my friends dead?” I asked myself. “What will happen to me now, alone on this island without friends? How can I ever escape from it?”

Then I told myself that I was lucky – lucky to be alive, lucky to have food and tools, lucky to be young and strong. But I knew that my island was somewhere off the coast of South America. Ships did not often come down this coast, and I said to myself, “I’m going to be on this island for a long time.” So, on a long piece of wood, I cut these words:
I CAME HERE ON 30TH SEPTEMBER 1659
After that, I decided to make a cut for each day.

5 Learning to live alone

I still needed a lot of things. “Well,” I said, “I’m going to have to make them.” So, every day, I worked.
First of all, I wanted to make my cave bigger. I carried out stone from the cave, and after many days’ hard work I had a large cave in the side of the hill. Then I needed a table and a chair, and that was my next job. I had to work on them for a long time. I also wanted to make places to put all my food, and all my tools and guns. But every time I wanted a piece of wood, I had to cut down a tree. It was long, slow, difficult work, and during the next months I learnt to be very clever with my tools. There was no hurry. I had all the time in the world.

I also went out every day, and I always had my gun with me. Sometimes I killed a wild animal, and then I had meat to eat.
But when it got dark, I had to go to bed because I had no light. I couldn’t read or write because I couldn’t see. For a long time, I didn’t know what to do. But in the end, I learnt how to use the fat of dead animals to make a light.
The weather on my island was usually very hot, and there were often storms and heavy rain. The next June, it rained all the time, and I couldn’t go out very often. I was also ill for some weeks, but slowly, I got better. When I was stronger, I began to go out again.
The first time I killed a wild animal, and the second time I caught a big turtle.

I was on the island for ten months before I visited other parts of it. During those months I worked hard on my cave and my house and my fence. Now I was ready to find out more about the rest of the island.
First, I walked along the side of a little river. There, I found open ground without trees. Later, I came to more trees with many different fruits. I decided to take a lot of the fruit, and to put it to dry in the sun for a time. Then I could keep it for many months.

That night I went to sleep in a tree for the second time, and the next day I went on with my journey. Soon I came to an opening in the hills. In front of me, everything was green, and there were flowers everywhere. There were also a lot of different birds and animals. I saw that my house was on the worst side of the island. But I didn’t want to move from there. It was my home now. I stayed away for three days, and then I came home. But I often went back to the other, greener side of the island.

And so my life went on. Every month I learnt to do or to make something new. But I had troubles and accidents too. Once there was a terrible storm with very heavy rain. The roof of my cave fell in, and nearly killed me! I had to build it up again with many pieces of wood.
I had a lot of food now. I cooked it over a fire or dried it in the sun. So I always had meat during the rainy months when I could not go out with a gun. I learnt to make pots to keep my food in. But I wanted very much to make a harder, stronger pot – a pot that would not break in a fire. I tried many times, but I could not do it. Then one day I was lucky. I made some new pots and put them in a very hot fire. They changed colour, but did not break. I left them there for many hours, and when they were cold again, I found that they were hard and strong. That night I was very happy. I had hot water for the first time on the island.

By then, I also had my own bread. That was luck, too. One day I found a little bag. We used it on the ship, to keep the chickens’ food in.
There was still some of the food in the bag, and I dropped some of it onto the ground. A month later I saw something bright green there, and after six months I had a very small field of corn. I was very excited. Perhaps now I could make my own bread!
It was easy to say, but not so easy to do. It is a lot of work to make bread from corn. Many people eat bread, but how many people can take corn from a field and make bread out of it without help? I had to learn and to make many new things, and it was a year before I cooked and ate my first bread.

During all this time I never stopped thinking about escape. When I travelled across to the other side of the island, I could see the other islands, and I said to myself, “Perhaps I can get there with a boat. Perhaps I can get back to England one day.”
So I decided to make myself a boat. I cut down a big tree, and then began to make a long hole in it. It was hard work, but about six months later, I had a very fine canoe.

Next, I had to get it down to the sea. How stupid I was! Why didn’t I think before I began work? Of course, the canoe was too heavy. I couldn’t move it! I pulled and pushed and tried everything, but it didn’t move. I was very unhappy for a long time after that.
That happened in my fourth year on the island. In my sixth year I did make myself a smaller canoe, but I did not try to escape in it. The boat was too small for a long journey, and I did not want to die at sea. The island was my home now, not my prison, and I was just happy to be alive. A year or two later, I made myself a second canoe on the other side of the island. I also built myself a second house there, and so I had two homes.

My life was still busy from morning to night. There were always things to do or to make. I learnt to make new clothes for myself from the skins of dead animals. They looked very strange, it is true, but they kept me dry in the rain.
I kept food and tools at both my houses, and also wild goats. There were many goats on the island, and I made fields with high fences to keep them in. They learnt to take food from me, and soon I had goat’s milk to drink every day. I also worked hard in my cornfields. And so many years went by.

6 A footprint

Then, one year, something strange and terrible happened. I often walked along the shore, and one day I saw something in the sand. I went over to look at it more carefully, and stopped in sudden surprise.
It was a footprint – the footprint of a man!
Who could this be? Afraid, I looked around me. I listened. I waited. Nothing. I was more and more afraid. Perhaps this man was one of those wild people who killed and ate other men! I looked everywhere, but there was nobody, and no other footprint. I turned and hurried home. “There’s someone on my island,” I said to myself. “Perhaps he knows about me … Perhaps he’s watching me now from behind a tree … Perhaps he wants to kill me.”

That night I couldn’t sleep. The next day I got all my guns ready and I put more wood and young trees around my house. Nobody could see me now. But, after fifteen years alone on the island, I was afraid, and I did not leave my cave for three days.
In the end, I had to go out to milk my goats. But for two years I was afraid. I stayed near my home and I never used my guns because I didn’t want to make a noise. I could not forget the footprint, but I saw and heard nothing more, and slowly I began to feel happier.

One day, a year later, I was over on the west side of the island. From there I could see the other islands, and I could also see a boat, far out to sea. “If you have a boat,” I thought, “it’s easy to sail across to this island. Perhaps that explains the footprint – it was a visitor from one of the other islands.”
I began to move more freely around the island again, and built myself a third house. It was a very secret place in a cave. “No wild man will ever find that,” I said to myself.

Then one year something happened which I can never forget. I was again on the west side of the island and was walking along the shore. Suddenly, I saw something which made me feel ill. There were heads, arms, feet, and other pieces of men’s bodies everywhere. For a minute, I couldn’t think, and then I understood. Sometimes there were fights between the wild men on the other islands. Then they came here to my island with their prisoners, to kill them, cook them, and eat them. Slowly, I went home, but I was very angry. How could men do this?

For many months I watched carefully for the smoke from fires, but I didn’t see anything. Somehow the wild men came and went, and I never saw them. I was angry and afraid. I wanted to shoot them all, but there were many of them and only one of me. “Perhaps I can shoot two or three,”I said to myself, “but then they will kill and eat me.”

Then, one morning in my twenty-third year on the island, I was out in my fields and I saw the smoke from a fire. Quickly, I went up the hill to watch.
There were nine men around the fire, and they were cooking their terrible food. Then these wild men danced round the fire, singing and shouting. This went on for about two hours, and then they got into their boats and sailed away. I went down to the shore and saw the blood of the dead men on the sand. “The next time they come, I’m going to kill them,” I said angrily.

7 Man Friday

For two years I never went anywhere without my gun. I felt lonely and afraid, and had many sleepless nights. One night there was a very bad storm, and I thought I heard the sound of guns out at sea. The next morning I looked out, and saw a ship. It was lying on its side not far from the shore. Quickly, I put my little boat in the water and sailed out to it.
There were two dead men on the ship, but no one alive. The bodies of the other sailors were lost in the sea. I took some clothes and tools, and also a box of Spanish gold and silver money. I was a rich man now, but what use was money to me? I could not buy anything with it.

I wanted people, a friend, somebody to talk to … somebody who could help me escape from my island. One morning I woke up and made a plan. “I’ll try to catch one of the prisoners of the wild men,” I said to myself. “He’ll be happy to be alive and perhaps he’ll help me to escape.” I watched day and night, but for a year and a half there were no boats.

Then one day five boats came. There were about thirty men and they had two prisoners. They made their fire on the sand and danced round it. Then they killed one of the prisoners and began to cook their terrible meal. The second prisoner waited under the trees, with two men to watch him. Suddenly, the prisoner turned and ran. The two men ran after him, but the other wild men were busy round the fire and did not see what was happening.

The prisoner ran like a wild goat, and soon I saw that he was coming near the bottom of my hill. As fast as I could, I ran down the hill and jumped out of the trees between the prisoner and the two wild men. I hit the first man with the wooden end of my gun and he fell down, but I had to shoot the second man. The poor prisoner did not move. He was afraid of the noise of my gun.

I called to him and tried to show him that I was friendly. Slowly, he moved nearer to me, but just then the first wild man began to get up from the ground. Then the prisoner spoke and I understood that he wanted my sword. How happy I was to hear words again! I gave him my sword, and at once he cut off the head of his enemy.

Hurriedly, we hid the dead bodies under some leaves, and then left quickly. I took my prisoner to my secret cave on the other side of the island and gave him food and drink. After that, he went to sleep.
He was a fine young man, about twenty-five years old, tall and well-built, with a kind face and a nice smile. He had a brown skin, black hair, bright eyes and strong white teeth. I decided to give him the name of “Man Friday”, because I first saw him on a Friday.

When he woke up in the morning, he ran out to me. I was milking my goats in the field, and he got down on the ground and put his head near my foot. I understood that he was thanking me, and I tried to show him that I was his friend.
I began to teach him to speak English, and soon he could say his name, “Master”, and “Yes” and “No”. How good it was to hear a man’s voice again!

Later that day we went back to my first house. We went carefully along the beach, but there were no boats and no wild men. Just blood and bones all over the sand. I felt ill, but Friday wanted to eat the pieces of men’s bodies which were still on the ground. I showed him that this was terrible for me, and he understood.

When we got to my house, I gave Man Friday some trousers, and I made him a coat and a hat. He liked his new clothes very much.
Then I made him a little tent to sleep in, but for a few weeks I always took my gun to bed with me. Perhaps Friday was still a wild man and would try to kill me in the night. At first, Friday was very afraid of my gun. Sometimes he talked to it, and asked it not to kill him.

Friday was a quick learner and his English got better day by day. He helped me with the goats and with the work in the cornfields, and soon we were good friends. I enjoyed teaching him and, most of all, having a friend to talk to. This was the happiest of all my years on the island.
Friday and I lived together happily for three years. I told him the story of my adventures and about life in England, and he told me about his country and his people. One day we were at the top of the highest hill on the island, and we were looking out to sea. It was a very clear day and we could see a long way. Suddenly, Friday began to jump up and down, very excited.

“What’s the matter?” I said.
“Look, Master, look!” Friday cried. “I can see my country. Look over there!”
I looked, and there to the north-west, between the sea and the sky, was a long thin piece of land. I learnt later that it was the island of Trinidad, and that my island was in the mouth of the River Orinoco on the north coast of South America.

I began to think again about escape. Perhaps Friday wanted to go home too. Perhaps together we could get to his country. But what then? Would Friday still be my friend, or would his people kill me and eat me?
I took Friday to the other side of the island and showed him my big canoe. It still lay under the trees. It was very old now, and there were holes in the wood.

“Could a boat like this sail to your country, Friday?” I asked him.
“Oh yes” he answered. “A boat like this can carry a lot of food and drink.”
“Then we’ll make another canoe like it, and you can go home in it,” I said.
But Friday looked very unhappy. “Why are you angry with me?” he asked. “What have I done? Why do you want to send me home?” “Master! Master!” he cried. “There’s a great ship near the island, and men are coming to the shore in a boat!”
I jumped up and ran with him down to the shore. To my great surprise, I saw that it was an English ship! But why was it here? English ships never came this way. Perhaps they were pirates! “Don’t let them see you, Friday!” I called. “We’ll hide in the trees and watch.”

There were eleven men in the boat, but three of them were prisoners. Their arms were tied with rope, but their legs were free and they could walk. The other sailors pushed the three prisoners up the beach, laughing and shouting and hitting them. Then some of them sat down on the sand and began to drink. Others walked away to look at the island, and two men stayed to watch the boat. The three prisoners walked slowly along the beach and sat down under a tree, not far from us. They looked very unhappy.

Very quietly, I came up behind them through the trees, and called out to them in English.
“Don’t be afraid,” I said. “I’m an Englishman. Perhaps I can help you.”
The three men turned and looked at me. They did not answer at once; they were too surprised. Perhaps they thought I was a wild man myself, in my strange home-made clothes of animals’ skins, and with my long hair and beard. Then the oldest man spoke.

“I am the captain of that ship,” he said, “and these two men are my first and second officers. Last night there was a mutiny, and the seamen took the ship from me. Now they’re going to leave the three of us here, to die on this island.”
“Do these mutineers have guns?”
“Only two,” he answered, “and they’ve left those on the boat.”
“All right,” I said. “We’ll fight them, but if we get your ship back for you, you must take me back to England.”

The captain agreed immediately and thanked me very warmly for my help. Friday ran back to my house to get all the guns, and the captain and I made a plan.
The first part was easy because the seamen were not ready for a fight. We shot the two men at the boat, and the captain shot another man. This man, Tom Smith, was the worst of them all and he began the mutiny on the ship. Then the captain talked to the other five men, and they agreed to help him. They did not really want to be mutineers, but they were afraid of Tom Smith.

“Now,” I said to the captain, “we must get back your ship. How many men are on it?”
“Twenty-six,” the captain replied, “and they will fight hard because they won’t want to go home. It is death for all mutineers in England. But not all the men are bad. I’m sure that some of them will help me.”

Just then we saw another boat, which was coming from the ship to the shore. There were ten men in it, and they all had guns. We ran into the trees and waited.
It was a long hard fight, but by now it was dark and this helped us very much. We ran here and there in the trees, calling and shouting. The seamen could not see us and did not know how many men they were fighting. In the end the first officer shouted to them:
“Put down your guns and stop fighting! The captain has fifty island people to help him. We can kill you all!”

So the seamen stopped fighting and we took their guns. Three of the men agreed to come back to the captain, and we put the others in my cave. Friday and I stayed to watch the prisoners, while the captain and his men went back to fight for the ship.
All night we listened to the sound of guns and shouting, but in the morning, when the sun came up, the captain was master of his ship again. I went down to the shore to meet him.
“My dear friend,” he cried. “There’s your ship! I’ll take you to the ends of the world in it!”

I put my arms round him, and we laughed and cried together. How happy I was to leave the island!
My good friend Friday came with me, of course, but we left the mutineers on the island. We decided not to kill them; they could begin a new life on the island. I showed them my three houses, my cornfields and my goats, and all my tools. Their life would be easy because of all my hard work for so many years. In Lisbon I found the Portuguese captain, who took me in his ship to Brazil, all those years ago. It was good to see him again, and he helped me with my business. Soon I was ready to go home again – by land. No more adventures and dangers by sea for me! Back in England I found a house and began to live a quiet life. My two nephews came to live with me. The younger one wanted to be a sailor, and so I found him a place on a ship. After a while I married, and had three children, two sons and a daughter. Then my wife died, and my nephew, who was now the captain of a ship, came home to see me. He knew that I did not really like a quiet life.

“I have a fine ship, uncle,” he said. “I’m going out to the East Indies – India, Malaya, the Philippines … Why don’t you come with me?”
And so, in 1694, I went to sea again, and had many more adventures. Perhaps one day I’ll write another book about them.

Книга содержит сокращенный и упрощенный текст приключенческого романа Даниэля Дэфо, повествующего о жизни и удивительных приключениях уроженца Йорка Робинзона Крузо. Текст произведения сопровождается упражнениями на понимание прочитанного, постраничными комментариями и словарем, облегчающим чтение.
Предназначается для продолжающих изучать английский язык нижней ступени (уровень 2 – Pre Intermediate).

Start in Life.
I was born in the year 1632, in the city of York. That was my mother’s hometown, because she also was born there, in a family of Robinson’s. They were very old and gentle family of York’s faubourg , from whom I was called Robinson. My father, bored the name Kreutznaer, was German from Bremen. He earned his bread by trading, and, when his case went to the mountain , he moved to England, York. There he met my mother and later they got married. Eventually, the surname Kreutznaer grown into the Crusoe, by the usual corruption of words in England. Therefore, everyone calls me Robinson Crusoe.

I had two elder brothers. One of them went to the army, despite of my father’s prohibitions, and was killed at the battle near Dunkirk. What became of the second brother we never knew, he was missing.
From my childhood I dreamed about the adventures and pirates. I would be satisfied with nothing but going to sea.
Being the third son of my family, I wasn’t high educated person. My father had given me house education and country free school that was enough to be a lawyer.

When I grow up, my childish dreams of the sea turned into the real wish of becoming a captain, or a sailor at least. Oh, how the sea haunted my dreams that days!

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Дефо Даниэль

(Defoe) - знаменитый англ. писатель, род. в 1659 г. Отец его, по профессии мясник, был диссидентом; носил он фамилию Фо, измененную впоследствии Даниэлем в Д. Образование Д. получил в диссидентском учебном заведении, носившем громкое название Академии. Но больших знаний "Академия" не давала, и враги Д. всегда корили его недостаточностью образования. Блестящие способности Д. дали ему возможность самому завершить образование. Многочисленные его сочинения по различным отраслям знания и превосходное усвоение 5-ти языков несомненно свидетельствуют против нареканий его врагов. По окончании курса в "Академии" Д. предстояло вступить в духовное звание, но он предпочел занятие торговлей. Когда до него дошла весть о восстании Монмута (см.), Д. оставил торговую контору и литературные планы, сражался в рядах инсургентов и едва не попал в руки мстительных победителей. Сперва он бежал за границу, а потом возвратился в Лондон, где по-прежнему принялся за торговые дела. В это время он держал чулочную лавку или, может быть, состоял агентом по чулочному производству, что не помешало ему в последние годы царствования Иакова II выпустить несколько памфлетов по поводу текущих событий. Дела его между тем расстроились, и он потерпел банкротство. В это время Вильгельм Оранский вступил в пределы Англии, и Д. немедленно присоединился к его армии. Охватываемый царствованием Вильгельма III период общественной и литературной деятельности Д. представляет счастливое сочетание ума, таланта, искренности и прямоты. Он озарил ярким светом всю жизнь писателя и создал ему прочную славу. Д. был вдохновлен мыслью о поддержке планов горячо любимого им короля; он имел одну цель - защиту высокопочитаемого, чуть ли не обожаемого им героя от клеветы врагов. За это время Д. написал целый ряд замечательнейших своих произведений. Наиболее выдающиеся между ними: "Опыт о проектах" (An Essay upon Projects), в котором идет речь об улучшениях в делах политики, торговли, педагогики и благотворительности; "Защитительное слово бедняка" (The poor man"s Plea), в котором автор остроумно защищает бедняков от взводимых на них напраслин и предлагает лицемерным реформаторам исправиться прежде всего самим; "Прирожденный англичанин" (The true-born Englishman) - сатира, являющаяся отповедью только что перед тем появившемуся в печати памфлету, направленному против личности Вильгельма III. Все это обратило внимание Вильгельма на Д. Талантливый лавочник был призван во дворец; король давал ему темы для политических памфлетов и не раз имел случай пользоваться его советами. Со смертью Вильгельма III в 1702 г. положение Д. существенно изменилось. Вступление на престол королевы Анны положило начало реакции, характер которой был, главным образом, клерикальный и в некоторой степени якобитский. Д. не сразу уяснил себе истинное положение вещей при новых порядках. Продолжая по-прежнему принимать участие в обсуждении злобы дня, он вступил в полемику о так называемом "случайном согласовании". Дело шло о том, следует ли диссидентам отступать от принятого ими правила не посещать богослужения государственной церкви в тех случаях, когда присутствие при нем входило в круг официальных обязанностей должностного лица. Сначала Дефо решал вопрос в пользу соблюдения обрядности; но, заметив, что диссиденты стали смотреть на него, как на изменника, и видя в то же время, что поддержка билля шла со стороны врагов веротерпимости, он быстро переменил тактику и, скрыв свое имя, выпустил памфлет под заглавием: "Кратчайшая расправа с диссидентами" (The Shortest Way with the Dissenters), в котором, принимая тон и манеру представителя реакции, он советовал принять против диссидентов самые жестокие меры. Реакционеры были введены в ошибку и на первых порах горячо приветствовали неизвестного автора; но когда стало известно, что автор памфлета - диссидент, м-во нашло нужным предать Д. суду. Д. сперва скрылся, но потом решился "сдаться на милость правительства". Суд приговорил его к штрафу, троекратному стоянию у позорного столба, внесению обеспечивающего его поведение залога и тюремному заключению на срок, зависящий от милости королевы. Во время заключения в Ньюгэтской тюрьме Д. имел возможность заниматься литературой, печатать и распространять свои произведения. Здесь он, между прочим, написал "Гимн к позорному столбу" (A Hymn to the Pillory), благодаря своевременному распространению которого в публике время стояния у позорного столба обратилось для Д. в торжество: толпа сделала ему блистательную овацию. В Ньюгэте же он стал издавать газету: "Обозрение дел Франции" (A Review of the Affairs of France), выходившую и после освобождения Д. из тюрьмы, вплоть до 1712 г. Благодаря этому литературно-политическому изданию Д. считается одним из родоначальников англ. периодической печати.

Роберту Гарлею, весьма ценившему талант Д., нетрудно было выхлопотать помилование Д., когда он согласился сделаться тайным слугой своих бывших врагов - тори. С этого времени "прирожденный англичанин", как говорит о Д. один из его биографов, "перестает существовать". Вместо самостоятельного и смелого борца является наемник, старающийся уверить всех, что никакой перемены с ним не произошло, но на самом деле готовый служить и тори, и вигам, смотря по тому, кто из них будет находиться у власти. В течение царствования королевы Анны и затем при Георге I Д. несколько раз переходил от вигов к тори и обратно. Он служил им и пером своим, и непосредственным влиянием на избирателей, среди которых он вращался в качестве тайного агента, и своевременными извещениями о политическом настроении и мнениях отдельных лиц. В течение всего этого времени ему вполне удалось сохранить в тайне свои разведывания, и репутация его осталась непоколебленной, несмотря на многочисленные обвинения и нападки. В 1715 г., ввиду самозащиты, Д. издал "Воззвание к чести и справедливости" (An Appeal to Honour and Justice), и с этого времени под его именем появлялись одни только беллетристические произведения. Одному из его биографов - Вильяму Ли - удалось открыть в 1864 г. шесть писем Д., хранившихся в Государственном архиве. Из писем этих обнаружилось, что тайная агентура его продолжалась и после 1715 г. и велась главным образом в редакциях оппозиционных газет. Главной ее жертвой был некий Мист, который, открыв позже предательство Д., бросался на него с оружием в руках и обесславил Д. повсеместно до такой степени, что под конец жизни он был всеми оставлен. Из беллетристических сочинений его прославился только "Робинзон Крузо", переменив, впрочем, круг читателей и став детской книгой. Ж. Ж. Руссо, в своем "Эмиле", первый обратил внимание на педагогическое значение "Робинзона". Другие романы Д. представляют собой автобиографии фиктивных плутов, воров, проституток и всякого рода авантюристов. Таковы: "Ронсони", "Моль Флендерс", "Полковник Джек", "Капитан Сингльтон" и др. Плодовитость Д. как писателя изумительна. Ли перечисляет двести пятьдесят четыре сочинения, политического, социального, теологического, педагогического и беллетристического содержания. В 1728 г., вследствие семейных раздоров, Д. скрылся из дома и через два с лишним года умер на руках у чужих людей.

Из написанного Д. "Essays upon projects" принадлежит к числу выдающихся произведений эпохи, широко и свободно развивая программу прогрессивной политики. Не менее, если не более, значения имели его многочисленные, едкие и красноречивые памфлеты по текущим вопросам английской политической жизни. Беллетристические произведения Д. относятся к рудиментарной стадии художественного творчества. Вместо художественных образов автор старается дать читателю ловкий обман. Все произведения Д. ведутся от имени будто бы действительно существовавшего героя, передающего свои приключения и впечатления. Этот жанр литературы процветал в Испании и оттуда проник в Англию еще раньше Д., который, однако, знал и испанский яз. Справедливо указывают на эти испанские повести, как на предвестник реалистического романа. Д. содействовал пересадке их в Англию; но в его повестях реалистического (в смысле воспроизведения повседневной обычной жизни) не очень много, и лишь с большой натяжкой можно было бы сохранить за ним имя отца реалистического романа в Англии (как пробовали его называть некоторые критики). К числу беллетристических произведений, написанных по тому же шаблону фиктивной автобиографии, принадлежит и книга, обессмертившая имя Д., - "Робинзон" (о котором, впрочем, сам Д. впоследствии писал, как об аллегории), распадающаяся на два сочинения, лишь механически между собой связанных. В банальный, часто неправдоподобный, порой грубый рассказ о фиктивном путешествии и посещении стран, никогда автором не виденных, вставлено, в качестве отдельного эпизода, повествование о пребывании героя на необитаемом острове. Этот талантливо рассказанный эпизод "робинзонады", проникнутый философской мыслью и полный завлекательных положений, и дал бессмертие книге Д. Еще Руссо указал, что в этом эпизоде - вся ценность книги, что он должен быть выделен из нее и очищен - тогда получится лучшая детская книга. Предсказание Руссо сбылось. Произведение Д. действительно сохранило только этот эпизод "робинзонады" и действительно стало детской книгой. "Робинзонада" имела своих предшественников. Незадолго до выхода "Робинзона" Д. в Англии вышло описание пребывания некоего Селькирка на необитаемом острове. Приключения Селькирка послужили первым материалом для Д., избравшего для Робинзона те же места и ту же природу, среди которых жил Селькирк. Но в то время, как последний одичал, Робинзон нравственно возродился. Это нравственное совершенствование в одиночестве, в общении с природой, вдали от общества и цивилизации, составляет выдающуюся философскую идею книги, а сам процесс возрождения и пробуждения - главную ее прелесть, главное право ее на воспитательное значение. Самая идея, положенная в основу Робинзона, была проведена в философском романе арабского писателя Ибн-Тофаиля: "Хан-ибн-иокдан", написанном в XII в. (латинск. перевод в Оксфорде в 1671 г., английский - в 1708 г.) и также не оставшемся без влияния на Д.

Полного собрания сочинений Д. никогда издано не было; единственная полная коллекция первых изданий находится в Британском музее. Приближающиеся к полноте два издания были выпущены: одно в 1840-43 г., другое в 1841 г. Кроме того, есть издание так называемой "Bohn"s Library", 1891 г., и издание Ниммо 1883 г., в одном томе. Отдельные сочинения перепечатывались нередко в разное время. "Робинзон", по количеству вышедших в свет экземпляров, занимает совершенно исключительное место не только среди сочинений Д., но и в книжном мире вообще. Самая полная биография Д. написана Вальтером Вильсоном в 1830 г. Затем в 1869 г. появилась биография Вильяма Ли, с открытыми Ли письмами Д., ярко рисующими его нравственное падение. Сам Ли не сумел оценить своего открытия, и поэтому первой критической биографией Д. является в 1879 г. сочинение проф. Минто (Minto), составляющее один из томиков серии Морлея: "English man of letters".

Ср. также очерк А. Н. Веселовского (XVII вып. "Всеобщей истории литературы" Корша и Кирпичникова).

В. Лесевич.

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Дефо Д.	- I Содержание: А. Географический очерк: Положение и границы Устройство поверхности Орошение Климат и естественные произведения Пространство и население Эмиграция Сельское хозяйство Скотоводство Рыбная ловля Горный промысел Промышленность Торговля… … Энциклопедический словарь Ф.А. Брокгауза и И.А. Ефрона Английская литература - Эта статья или раздел нуждается в переработке. Пожалуйста, улучшите статью в соответствии с правилами написания статей. Английская литература литер … Википедия Великобритания (государство) - Великобритания (Great Britain); официальное название ‒ Соединённое Королевство Великобритании и Северной Ирландии (The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland). I. Общие сведения В. ‒ островное государство на С. З. Европы; занимает… … Большая советская энциклопедия - АНГЛИЙСКАЯ ЛИТЕРАТУРА. Обыкновенно начало А. Л. относят к началу VII в. христ. эры. К концу VII в. заканчивается процесс завоевания Британии англами и саксами, двумя германскими племенами, вытесненными с континента, где они занимали территорию… … Литературная энциклопедия

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Английский язык с Робинзоном Крузо

(в пересказе для детей)

Robinson Crusoe Written Anew for Children by James Baldwin

I WISH TO BE A SAILOR (я хочу быть моряком)

MY name is Robinson Crusoe (мое имя = меня зовут Робинзон Крузо) . I was born in the old city of York (я родился: «был рожден» в старом городе Йорке) , where there is a broad river (где есть широкая река; there is/are — имеется ) , with ships coming and going (с кораблями приходящими и уходящими) .

When I was a little boy (когда я был маленьким мальчиком) , I spent much of my time (я проводил много своего времени; to spend — проводить /время/ ) looking at the river (глядя на реку) .

How pleasant was the quiet stream (каким красивым был тихий поток; pleasant — приятный; радостный; милый, симпатичный ) , flowing, always flowing (текущий, постоянно текущий; to flow — течь; always — всегда, неизменно ) , toward the far-away sea (по направлению к далекому морю; far-away — далекий, дальний; far — далеко; away — прочь ) !

I liked to watch the ships (мне нравилось смотреть на корабли) as they came in (когда они приходили) with their white sails (с белыми парусами) spread to the wind (распростертыми на ветру; to spread — развертывать/ся/; раскидывать/ся/; простирать/ся/; расстилать/ся/ ) .

I liked to think of the strange lands (мне нравилось думать о чуждых землях) which they must have visited (которые они, должно быть, посетили: «должны были посетить») , and of the many wonderful things (и о многих прекрасных вещах/событиях) they must have passed (которые они, должно быть, увидели/с которыми столкнулись) .

I wished to be a sailor (я хотел быть моряком) . I thought how grand it must be to sail and sail (я думал: как прекрасно, должно быть: «это должно быть» плавать под парусами; sail — парус; to sail — плавать на яхте, ходить на яхте, идти под парусами ) on the wide blue sea (по широкому синему морю) , with the sky above (с небом наверху) and the waves beneath (и волнами внизу) . Nothing could be pleasanter (ничто не могло быть приятнее) .

My father wanted me to learn a trade (мой отец хотел, чтобы я научился ремеслу) . But I could not bear the thought of it (но я не мог вынести мысли об этом) . I could not bear the thought of working every day in a dusty shop (я не мог вынести мысли о работе каждый день в пыльном магазине; dust — пыль ) .

I did not wish to stay in York all my life (я не желал оставаться в Йорке все жизнь) . I wanted to see the world (я хотел увидеть мир) . I would be a sailor and nothing else (я хотел быть моряком и никем другим) .

My mother was very sad when I told her (моя мать была печальна, когда я сказал ей; to tell — говорить; рассказывать ) .

A sailor"s life, she said, was a hard life (жизнь моряка, сказала она, это тяжелая жизнь) . There were many storms at sea (на море бывает много штормов/бурь) , and ships were often wrecked (и корабли часто терпят крушение; wreck — крушение ) .

She told me, too, that there were great fishes in the sea (она также сказала мне, что есть = встречаются в море огромные рыбы) , and that they would eat me up if I fell into the water (и что онисъедят меня, если я упаду в воду) .

Then she gave me a cake (затем она дала мне пирог) , and kissed me (и поцеловала меня) . "How much safer it is to be at home (как много = насколько безопаснее быть = оставаться дома) !" she said.

But I would not listen to her (но я не слушал ее) . My mind was made up (мое решение было принято; to make up one ’ s mind — принять решение: «настроить свой разум»; mind — разум; умственные способности; ум; настроение, расположение духа ) , and a sailor I would be (и /все же именно/ моряком я хотел стать) .

When I was eighteen years old (когда мне было восемнадцать лет) , I left my pleasant home and went to sea (покинул мой милый дом и отправился в море) .

pleasant [ pleznt] , quiet [ "kwaI q t ], toward [ tq"wO:d ], spread [ spred ], visit [ "vIzIt ], beneath [ bI "nJT ], world [ w q :ld ]

I WISH TO BE A SAILOR

MY name is Robinson Crusoe. I was born in the old city of York, where there is a broad river, with ships coming and going.

When I was a little boy, I spent much of my time looking at the river.

How pleasant was the quiet stream, flowing, always flowing, toward the far-away sea! I liked to watch the ships as they came in with their white sails spread to the wind.

I liked to think of the strange lands which they must have visited, and of the many wonderful things they must have passed.

I wished to be a sailor. I thought how grand it must be to sail and sail on the wide blue sea, with the sky above and the waves beneath. Nothing could be pleasanter.

My father wanted me to learn a trade. But I could not bear the thought of it. I could not bear the thought of working every day in a dusty shop.

I did not wish to stay in York all my life. I wanted to see the world. I would be a sailor and nothing else.

My mother was very sad when I told her.

A sailor"s life, she said, was a hard life. There were many storms at sea, and ships were often wrecked.

She told me, too, that there were great fishes in the sea, and that they would eat me up if I fell into the water.

Then she gave me a cake, and kissed me. "How much safer it is to be at home!" she said.

But I would not listen to her. My mind was made up, and a sailor I would be.

When I was eighteen years old, I left my pleasant home and went to sea.

I MAKE MY FIRST VOYAGE (я совершаю мое первое путешествие)

I SOON found that my mother"s words were true (я вскоре нашел = понял , что слова матери были правдой; to find — находить ) . A sailor"s life is indeed a hard life (жизнь моряка /и/ в самом деле тяжелая жизнь; hard — жесткий; трудный, тяжелый ) .

There was no time for play on board of our ship (не было времени для игр на борту нашего корабля) . Even in the fairest weather (даже при самой хорошей погоде) there was much work to be done (было много работы, которую нужно было сделать: «которая должна была быть сделана») .

On the very first night the wind began to blow (в самую первую ночь начал дуть ветер) . The waves rolled high (волны катились высоко) . The ship was tossed this way and that (корабль бросало туда и суда; to toss — бросать, кидать, швырять ) . Never had I seen such a storm (никогда я не видел такого шторма; to see — видеть ) .

All night long the wind blew (всю ночь напролет дул ветер; to blow — дуть ) . I was so badly frightened (я был так сильно напуган; badly — скверно, дурно, плохо; крайне, очень сильно /придает эмоционально-усилительный оттенок/ ) that I did not know what to do (что не знал, что делать) . I thought the ship would surely go to the bottom (я подумал, что что корабль наверняка пойдет на дно; surely — конечно, непременно ) .

Then I remembered my pleasant home and the words of my kind mother (тогда я вспомнил мой милый дом и слова моей доброй матери) .

"If I live to reach dry land (если я доживу /того, что/ доберусь до суши: «достигну сухой земли») ," I said to myself, "I will give up this thought of being a sailor (я откажусь от мысли быть моряком; to give up — оставить, отказаться; бросить /напр.мысль, привычку/ ) . I will go home and stay with my father and mother (я отправлюсь домой и буду жить: «оставаться/пребывать» с моими отцом и матерью) . I will never set my foot in another ship (я никогда не поставлю мою ногу на другой корабль = нога моя не ступит ни на какой корабль) ."

Day came (день пришел = настал день) . The storm was worse than before (штром был хуже, чем прежде) . I felt sure that we were lost (я почувствовал точно = был уверен , что мы были потеряны = что мы пропали; to feel — чувствовать; sure — уверенный; убедившийся; to lose — терять, утрачивать ) . But toward evening (но /ближе/ к вечеру) the sky began to clear (небо начало проясняться; to begin — начинать/ся/ ) . The wind died away (ветер стих; to die — умирать; затихать /о ветре, звуке/ ) . The waves went down (волны успокоились: «опустились») . The storm was over (закончился; to be over — заканчиваться; over — по ту сторону, за, через ) .

The next morning the sun rose bright (на следующее утро солнце встало ярким; to rise — вставать, подниматься ) and warm upon a smooth sea (и теплым над ровным морем; smooth — гладкий ) . It was a beautiful sight (это был прекрасный вид) .

As I stood looking out over the wide water (пока я стоял, смотря вдаль на широкую воду; to stand — стоять; out — наружу ) , the first mate came up (подошел первый помощник капитана; mate — товарищ; напарник; подручный, помощник; /мор./ помощник капитана /в торговом флоте/; to come up — подходить ) . He was a kind man (он был добрым человеком) , and always friendly to me (и всегда дружелюбным по отношению ко мне) .

"Well (ну) , Bob," he said, "how do you like it (как тебе это нравится) ? Were you frightened by that little gale (/не/ был /ли/ ты напуган этим ветерком; gale — шторм; буря; ветер от 7 до 10 баллов /порыв, движущийся со скоростью от 51 до 100 километров в час/; /поэт./ ветерок, зефир ) ?"

"I hope you don"t call it a little gal (надеюсь, вы не называете = не станете же вы называть это ветерком) ," I said. "Indeed it was a terrible storm (на самом деле это был ужасный шторм) ."

The mate laughed (помощник капитана засмеялся) .

"Do you call that a storm (ты называешь это штормом) ?" he asked (спросил он) . "Why, it was nothing at all (да ну, это было ничто вообще = был сущий пустяк; why — почему?; междометие, выражающее самые разнообразные эмоции в зависимости от контекста: удивление, согласие или несогласие, нетерпение и т. п. ) . You are only a fresh-water sailor (ты всего лишь пресноводный моряк; fresh water — пресная вода; fresh — свежий ) , Bob. Wait till we have a real storm (подожди, пока у нас будет настоящий шторм) ."

And so I soon forgot my fears (и так я вскоре забыл свои страхи; to forget — забывать ) .

Little by little (мало-помалу) , I gave up all thoughts of going home again (я бросил мысли снова отправиться = вернуться домой) . "A sailor"s life for me (жизнь моряка /это/ для меня) ," I said.

My first voyage was not a long one (мое первое путешествие не было долгим) .

I visited no new lands (я не посетил новых земель/стран) , for the ship went only to London (так как корабль сходил только в Лондон) . But the things which I saw in that great city (но вещи, которые я увидел в великом городе) seemed very wonderful to me (казались мне весьма удивительными) .

Nothing would satisfy me but to make a long voyage (ничто не могло бы удовлетворить меня, кроме /как/ совершить длинное путешествие) . I wished to see the whole world (я желал увидеть весь мир) .

indeed [ In "di:d ], board [ b O:d ], weather [ "we Dq ], done [ dAn ], began [ bI"gxn ], frighten [ "fraIt(q)n ], surely [ "SuqlI ], worse [ wq:s ], smooth [ smHD ], beautiful [ "bjHtqfql ], friendly [ " frendlI ], terrible [ "terqbl ], laugh [ lRf ], forgot [ f q " gOt ], fear [ "fI q ], voyage [ "vOIIG ], wonderful [ "wAndqfql ], satisfy [ "sxtIsfaI ], whole [ hqul ]

I MAKE MY FIRST VOYAGE

I SOON found that my mother"s words were true. A sailor"s life is indeed a hard life. There was no time for play on board of our ship. Even in the fairest weather there was much work to be done.

On the very first night the wind began to blow. The waves rolled high. The ship was tossed this way and that. Never had I seen such a storm.

All night long the wind blew. I was so badly frightened that I did not know what to do. I thought the ship would surely go to the bottom.

Then I remembered my pleasant home and the words of my kind mother.

"If I live to reach dry land," I said to myself, "I will give up this thought of being a sailor. I will go home and stay with my father and mother. I will never set my foot in another ship."

Day came. The storm was worse than before. I felt sure that we were lost. But toward evening the sky began to clear. The wind died away. The waves went down. The storm was over.

The next morning the sun rose bright and warm upon a smooth sea. It was a beautiful sight.

As I stood looking out over the wide water, the first mate came up. He was a kind man, and always friendly to me.

"Well, Bob," he said, "how do you like it? Were you frightened by that little gale?"

"I hope you don"t call it a little gale," I said. "Indeed it was a terrible storm."

The mate laughed.

"Do you call that a storm?" he asked. "Why, it was nothing at all. You are only a fresh-water sailor, Bob. Wait till we have a real storm."

And so I soon forgot my fears.

Little by little, I gave up all thoughts of going home again. "A sailor"s life for me," I said.

My first voyage was not a long one.

I visited no new lands, for the ship went only to London. But the things which I saw in that great city seemed very wonderful to me.

Nothing would satisfy me but to make a long voyage. I wished to see the whole world.

I SEE MUCH OF THE WORLD (я вижу мир)

IT was easy to find a ship to my liking (было легко найти корабль по моему вкусу) ; for all kinds of trading vessels (так как все виды торговых судов; vessel — сосуд /для жидкости/; корабль, судно ) go out from London to every country that is known (выходят из Лондона в каждую страну, которая известна) .

One day I met an old sea captain (однажды я встретил старого морского капитана; to meet — встречать ) who had been often to the coast of Africa (который часто был на побережье Африки) . He was pleased with my talk (ему понравился мой разговор = то, что я ему говорил) .

"If you want to see the world (если ты хочешь увидеть мир) ," he said, "you must sail with me (ты должен/тебе нужно выйти в море со мной) ." And then he told me that he was going again to Africa (а затем он сказал мне, что собирается опять вАфрику) , to trade with the black people there (торговать там с черными людьми; to trade — торговать; обменивать/ся/ ) . He would carry out a load of cheap trinkets (он собирается повезти /туда/ груз дешевых безделушек; to carry — везти, перевозить ) to exchange for gold dust and feathers (чтобы обменять на золотую пыль = на золотой песок и перья) and other rare and curious things (и на другие редкие и любопытные вещи) .

I was very glad to go with him (был очень рад отправиться с ним) . I would see strange lands (я увижу чужие страны; strange — чужой; чуждый; незнакомый, неизвестный; странный, необыкновенный; удивительный ) and savage people (и диких людей) . I would have many a stirring adventure (у меня будут = меня ждут многие интереснейшие приключения; stirring — волнующий, возбуждающий, вдохновляющий; to stir — шевелить; волновать, возбуждать ) .

Before ten days had passed (прежде чем десять дней прошли = не прошло и десяти дней) , we were out on the great ocean (/как/ мы были в великом океане = в открытом море/океане) . Our ship was headed toward the south (наш корабль был направлен = направлялся к югу) .

The captain was very kind to me (капитан был очень добр ко мне) . He taught me much that every sailor ought to know (он научил меня тому, что должен знать каждый моряк; to teach — учить ) . He showed me how to steer (он показал мне, как править /рулем/) and manage the vessel (и управляться с судном) . He told me about the tides (он рассказал мне о приливах и отливах; tide — прилив и отлив: a tide comes in — вода приливает a tide ebbs/goes out — вода убывает, спадает ) and the compass (и компасе) and how to reckon the ship"s course (и как вычислять курс корабля) .

The voyage was a pleasant one (путешествие было приятным) , and I saw more wonderful things (и я видел больше прекрасных вещей) than I can name (чем могу назвать) .

When, at last, we sailed back to London (когда, наконец, мы отправились обратно в Лондон) , we had gold enough (у нас было достаточно золота) to make a poor man rich (чтобы сделать бедного человека богатым) .

I had nearly six pounds of the yellow dust (у меня было почти шесть фунтов желтой пыли = желтого песка) for my own share (в качестве моей собственной доли) .

I had learned to be a trader (я научился быть торговцем) as well as a sailor (равно как и моряком) .

It would take too long (заняло бы слишком долго = много времени) to tell you of all my voyages (рассказывать вам обо всех моих путешествиях) . Some of them were happy and successful (некоторые из них были счастливыми и успешными; success — успех ) ; but the most were unpleasant and full of disappointment (но большинство были неприятными и полными разочарований; to disappoint — разочаровывать ) .

Sometimes I went to Africa (иногда я отправлялся в Африку) , sometimes to the new land of South America (иногда — в новые земли Южной Америки) . But wherever I sailed I found the life of a sailor by no means easy (но куда бы я ни плавал, я находил жизнь моряка вовсе не легкой; means — средства; by no means — никоим образом не; ни в коем случае не; нисколько не, отнюдь не ) .

I did not care so much now (не заботился столь много теперь = не особенно стремился) to see strange sights (увидеть странные = необычные виды) and visit unknown shores (и посетить неизвестные берега) .

I cared more for the money or goods (я больше заботился = думал о деньгах или товарах) that I would get by trading (которые я получу торговлей = в результате торговли) .

At last a sudden end was put to all my sailing (в конце концов неожиданный конец был положен всем моим морским путешествиям; to sail — путешествовать морем; sail — парус ) . And it is of this that I will now tell you (и об этом я и расскажу вам сейчас) .

easy [ "i:zI ], find [ "faInd ], vessel [ vesl ], country [ "kAntrI ], captain [ "k xptIn ], pleased [ pli:zd ], trinket [ "trINkIt ], exchange [ Iks "tSeInG ], feather [ "feDq ], rare [ "re q ], curious [ "kjuqrIqs ], savage [ "s xvIG ], adventure [ qd "ventSq ], pass [ pRs ], great [ "greIt ], ocean [ "quS (q ) n ], head [ hed ], ought [ Lt ], steer [ "stI q ], manage [ "m xnIG ], compass [ "kAmpqs ], reckon [ "rek (q ) n ], course [ "k O:s ], enough [ I "nAf ], poor [ " puq ], successful [ s(q)k"sesful ], disappointment [ " dIs q "p OIntmqnt ]

I SEE MUCH OF THE WORLD

IT was easy to find a ship to my liking; for all kinds of trading vessels go out from London to every country that is known.

One day I met an old sea captain who had been often to the coast of Africa. He was pleased with my talk.

"If you want to see the world," he said, "you must sail with me." And then he told me that he was going again to Africa, to trade with the black people there. He would carry out a load of cheap trinkets to exchange for gold dust and feathers and other rare and curious things.

I was very glad to go with him. I would see strange lands and savage people. I would have many a stirring adventure.

Before ten days had passed, we were out on the great ocean. Our ship was headed toward the south.

The captain was very kind to me. He taught me much that every sailor ought to know. He showed me how to steer and manage the vessel. He told me about the tides and the compass and how to reckon the ship"s course.

The voyage was a pleasant one, and I saw more wonderful things than I can name.

When, at last, we sailed back to London, we had gold enough to make a poor man rich.

I had nearly six pounds of the yellow dust for my own share.

I had learned to be a trader as well as a sailor.

It would take too long to tell you of all my voyages. Some of them were happy and successful; but the most were unpleasant and full of disappointment.

Sometimes I went to Africa, sometimes to the new land of South America. But wherever I sailed I found the life of a sailor by no means easy.

I did not care so much now to see strange sights and visit unknown shores.

I cared more for the money or goods that I would get by trading.

At last a sudden end was put to all my sailing. And it is of this that I will now tell you.

I UNDERTAKE A NEW VENTURE (я предпринимаю новое рискованное начинание; venture — рискованное предприятие, рискованное начинание )

I HAD grown very tired of being a sailor (я стал очень уставшим от /того, что/ был моряком = мне весьма надоело…; to grow — расти; становиться ) . I was so tired of it that I made up my mind to try something else (я настолько устал от этого, что принял решение попытать что-то другое; to try — пробовать, испытывать ) .

It happened that I was then in Brazil (случилось, что я был тогда в Бразилии) . I bought some land there (я купил там сколько-то = некоторое количество земли; to buy — покупать ) and began to open a plantation (и начал открывать = основывать плантацию) . The ground was rich (земля/почва была богатой) , and it would be easy to raise tobacco and sugar cane (и было бы легко выращивать табак и сахарный тростник) .

But I needed many things (но мне нужно было много вещей) . I must have plows and hoes and a sugar mill (я должен иметь = у меня должны быть плуги, и мотыги, и сахарную мельницу = сахарный завод) . Above all (и прежде всего: «выше всего») I must have men (у меня должны быть люди) to do the work on the plantation (чтобы делать работу = чтобы работать на плантации) .

But neither men nor tools could I get in Brazil (но ни людей, ни инструментов я не мог достать в Бразилии) .

I sent to London for the tools (я послал в Лондон за инструментами; to send — посылать ) . I tried to buy some slaves of the planters near me (я попытался купить рабов у плантаторов около меня) , but they had not enough for themselves (но у них не было достаточно для самих себя) .

"We will tell you what to do (мы скажем тебе, что делать) ," they said. "We will fit out a trading vessel for Africa (мы снарядим торговое судно в Африку) . We will put aboard of it everything that you need (мы доставим на борт все, в чем нуждаешься = что будет тебе нужно; to put — помещать, класть, ставить; aboard — на борту; на борт ) . As for your part (что касается твоей части) , you shall be the manager of the business (ты будешь управляющим этого дела/предприятия) ; and you shall do the trading for us (и будешь заниматься торговлей за нас) . You need not put in a penny of your own (тебе не нужно вкладывать ни пенни своих /денег/) ."

"But how is that going to help me (но как это поможет мне) ?" I asked (спросил я) .

"Listen, and we will tell you (послушай, и мы скажем тебе) ," they said. "With the goods which we send (с товарами, которые мы посылаем) , you will buy as many black slaves as the ship will hold (ты купишь столько черных рабов, сколько выдержит корабль; to hold — держать ) . You will bring them here (ты привезешь их сюда) , and we will divide them equally (и мы разделим их поровну; equal — равный, одинаковый ) . You shall share with us (ты поделишься с нами) , just as though you had paid the money (как если бы ты заплатил деньги; just — точно, как раз, именно, поистине /о месте, времени, образе совершения действия/; to pay — платить ) ."

The plan pleased me very much (этот план мне очень понравился) . I figured that each one of us would have thirty or forty slaves (я рассчитал, что каждый из нас получит тридцать или сорок рабов) .

It was very foolish of me to go to sea again (было весьма глупо с моей стороны вновь отправиться в море) ; but the offer was so good (но предложение было столь хорошим = выгодным) that I could not say No (не мог сказать «нет») .

The ship was soon fitted out for the voyage (корабль был вскоре подготовлен для путешествия/поездки; to fit — быть впору, быть в самый раз, подходить /к чему-л./; /также to fit out/ снаряжать, оснащать ) . Her load was not very heavy (груз не был очень тяжелым) . But there were plenty of goods (но было много товаров) such as were most fit for trade (таких, которые были наиболее подходящими для торговли) .

There were boxes of red and blue beads (ящики красного и синего бисера) , of bits of glass (кусочков стекла) , and of other trinkets (и других безделушек) . There were also knives and hatchets (были также ножи и топорики) and little looking-glasses (и маленькие зеркала) . We reckoned that each one of these would buy a slave (мы подсчитали, что каждый /предмет/ из этих купит = позволит купить раба) .

The ship was to carry fourteen men (корабль должен был везти четырнадцать человек) besides the captain and myself (помимо капитана и меня) . She (он /корабль в англ. языке — женского рода/ ) was as fine a little vessel (был таким прекрасным маленьким судном = суденышком) as ever sailed from the coast of Brazil (которое когда-либо отходило в море от берега Бразилии) .

tired [ "taIqd ], bought [ "b O:t ], plantation [ pl xn " teIS(q)n ], tobacco [ tq "bxkqu ], sugar [ " Sugq ], plow [ "plau ], hoe [ "h qu ], could [ kud ], aboard [ q"b O:d ], business [ "bIznqs ], divide [ dI "va Id ], equally [ "i:kw qlI ], figure [ "fIg q ], again [ q"ge(I)n ], load [ "l qud ], heavy [ "hevI ], hatchet [ "h xtSIt ], buy [ "baI ], carry [ "kxrI ], coast [ "k qust ], Brazil [ br q " zIl ]

I UNDERTAKE A NEW VENTURE

I HAD grown very tired of being a sailor. I was so tired of it that I made up my mind to try something else. It happened that I was then in Brazil. I bought some land there and began to open a plantation. The ground was rich, and it would be easy to raise tobacco and sugar cane. But I needed many things. I must have plows and hoes and a sugar mill. Above all I must have men to do the work on the plantation.

But neither men nor tools could I get in Brazil.

I sent to London for the tools. I tried to buy some slaves of the planters near me, but they had not enough for themselves.

"We will tell you what to do," they said. "We will fit out a trading vessel for Africa. We will put aboard of it everything that you need. As for your part, you shall be the manager of the business; and you shall do the trading for us. You need not put in a penny of your own."

"But how is that going to help me?" I asked.

"Listen, and we will tell you," they said. "With the goods which we send, you will buy as man black slaves as the ship will hold. You will bring them here, and we will divide them equally. You shall share with us, just as though you had paid the money."

The plan pleased me very much. I figured that each one of us would have thirty or forty slaves.

It was very foolish of me to go to sea again; but the offer was so good that I could not say No.

The ship was soon fitted out for the voyage. Her load was not very heavy. But there were plenty of goods such as were most fit for trade.

There were boxes of red and blue beads, of bits of glass, and of other trinkets. There were also knives and hatchets and little looking-glasses. We reckoned that each one of these would buy a slave.

The ship was to carry fourteen men besides the captain and myself. She was as fine a little vessel as ever sailed from the coast of Brazil.

I AM SHIPWRECKED (я потерпел кораблекрушение; to be shipwrecked — потерпеть кораблекрушение )

AT length all things were ready for the voyage (наконец все вещи были готовы к путешествию; length — длина; продолжительность ) , and I went on board the ship (и я вступил на борт корабля) .

It was just eight years to the day (было как раз восемь лет ото дня: «ко дню») since I had left my father and mother (с тех пор, как я покинул отца и мать; to leave — оставлять, покидать ) and my pleasant home in good old York (и мой милый дом в добром старом Йорке) .

I felt that I was doing a foolish thing (я чувствовал, что делаю глупую вещь; to feel — чувствовать ) ; but I did not dare to say so (не осмеливался сказать это: « сказать так»; to dare to do smth. — осмелиться сделать что-л. ) .

The wind was fair (ветер был попутный; fair — красивый, прекрасный /уст., обычно о женщинах/; /мор./ попутный /о ветре/ ) . The sails were spread (паруса были распущены; to spread — развертывать ) . Soon we were out to sea (вскоре мы были в открытом море) .

For several days the weather was fine (в течение нескольких дней погода была хорошей) . The ship sped swiftly on her way (корабль шел быстро по своему курсу; to speed — двигаться поспешно; мчаться; торопиться ) , and every one was happy and hopeful (и каждый был счастлив и полон надежд) .

Then a great storm came up from the southeast (затем большой шторм пришел с юго-востока) . I had seen many fierce storms (я видел много жутких штормов) , but never one so terrible as this (но никогда столь ужасного, как этот) .

We could do nothing (мы не могли сделать ничего) but let the ship drive before the wind (кроме как позволить кораблю идти по ветру: «перед ветром») . Day after day we were tossed by the waves (день за днем нас бросали волны: «мы были бросаемы волнами») ; and day after day we expected the ship to go down (и день за днем ожидали, /что/ корабль потонет: «пойдет вниз») .

The storm grew fiercer and fiercer (шторм становился /все/ свирепее и свирепее; to grow — расти; становиться; fierce — жестокий, лютый, свирепый ) . The men gave themselves up for lost (люди /команда/ считали себе погибшими; to give smb. up for lost — считать кого-л. погибшим; lost — потерянный, пропавший; to lose — терять ) .

But on the twelfth day the wind went down (однако на двенадцатый день ветер стих) . The waves were not so strong (волны не были такими сильными) . We began to hope for our lives (мы начали надеяться на жизнь: «на наши жизни») .

Early the next morning a sailor cried out (рано следующим утром моряк выкрикнул) , "Land (земля) ! land!"

I ran out of the cabin to look (я выбежал из кабины посмотреть; to run — бежать ) . But at that very moment the ship struck upon a great bank of sand (но в тот же самый момент корабль наткнулся на большую песчаную отмель; very — самый; to strike — ударять; bank — вал, насыпь; банка, отмель ) over which the fierce sea was rolling (над которой перекатывалось свирепое море; to roll — катиться ) .

She stopped short (корабль резко остановился сразу; short — короткий; резко, круто ) . She could not move (он не мог двинуться) . The great waves dashed over her deck (большие волны заливали палубу: «перехлестывали через палубу»; to dash — /о массе жидкости/ разбиваться /обычно с силой и грохотом,/ хлестать; брызгать, плескать ) . All of us would have been washed overboard (все мы были бы смыты за борт) if we had not hurried back to the cabin (если бы не поспешили обратно в каюту) .

"What shall we do (что на делать) ?" cried the men (кричали люди = матросы) .

"We can do nothing (мы ничего не можем сделать) ," said the captain. "Our voyage is at an end (наше путешествие подошло к концу: «есть при конце») , and there is no longer any hope for our lives (и больше нет какой-либо = ни малейшей надежды нам остаться в живых) . We can only wait for the ship to break in pieces (можем только ждать, пока корабль не разломится на куски) ."

"Yes, there is one chance for our lives (да = и все же есть один шанс на спасение: «для наших жизней») !" cried the mate (воскликнул помощник) . "Follow me (следуйте за мной) !"

In the lull of the storm (во временном затишье шторма; lull — временное затишье; временное успокоение; перерыв ) we rushed again to the deck (мы снова ринулись на палубу) . One of our boats was still there (одна из наших лодок все еще была там) .

We slung her over the ship"s side (мы спустили через борт корабля; to sling — бросать, швырять; спускать на ремнях ) . We jumped aboard of her (мы прыгнули на борт = запрыгнули на нее) . We cut her loose (мы отрезали канаты/освободили ее; to cut — резать; loose — свободный, непривязанный ) , and floated away upon the wild sea (и отплыли по дикому = бурному морю; to float — плыть /неуправляемо, удерживаться на плаву/ ) .

No boat could live in such a sea as that (никакая лодка не могла выжить в таком море, как то) . But we saw land ahead of us (мы видели землю впереди нас) ; and perhaps some of us might be cast alive upon the beach (и, возможно, некоторые из нас смогут быть выброшены живыми на берег; to cast — бросать, кидать, швырять; выбрасывать /о море, волнах/; beach — береговая полоса; пляж ) .

This was our only hope (это была единственная надежда) .

The raging waves (неистовые волны; to rage — беситься, злиться; бушевать, свирепствовать /о буре, эпидемии, страстях и т. п./; rage — ярость, гнев, бешенство ) carried us nearer and nearer to the shore (тащили нас ближе и ближе к побережью; to carry — везти; нести ) .

We could see the breakers (волны прибоя: «ломатели») dashing upon the great rocks (бьющие о большие скалы) . The land looked more frightful than the sea (земля выглядела более устрашающей, чем море; fright — сильный внезапный испуг; страх ) .

Then all at once (затем, совершенно неожиданно; at once — сразу, немедленно ) , a huge wave overset the boat (огромная волна перевернула лодку) . We had no time to speak or think (мы не имели времени поговорить или подумать) . We were thrown out into the raging sea (были выброшены в неистовствующее море; to throw — бросать ) . We were swallowed up by the waves (мы были проглочены волнами) .

dare [ "de q ], several [ "sevrql ], fierce [ "fI q s ], before [ bI "fL ], expect [ Ik "spekt ], grew [ gru: ], roll [ "rqul ], move [ mu:v ], hurry [ "hArI ], cabin [ "k xbIn ], break [ "breIk ], piece [ pi:s ], chance [ t SQ:ns ], follow [ "fOlqu ], lull [ l Al ], rush [ r AS ], boat [ "b qut ], slung [ "s lA N ], cut [ k At ], loose [ lu:s ], float [ "fl qut ], upon [ q"pOn ], ahead [ q "hed ], cast [ k Q:st ], alive [ q "laIv ], beach [ bi:t S ], rage [ "reI G ]

I AM SHIPWRECKED

AT length all things were ready for the voyage, and I went on board the ship.

It was just eight years to the day since I had left my father and mother and my pleasant home in good old York.

I felt that I was doing a foolish thing; but I did not dare to say so.

The wind was fair. The sails were spread. Soon we were out to sea.

For several days the weather was fine. The ship sped swiftly on her way, and every one was happy and hopeful.

Then a great storm came up from the southeast. I had seen many a fierce storm, but never one so terrible as this.

We could do nothing but let the ship drive before the wind. Day after day we were tossed by the waves; and day after day we expected the ship to go down.

The storm grew fiercer and fiercer. The men gave themselves up as lost.

But on the twelfth day the wind went down. The waves were not so strong. We began to hope for our lives.

Early the next morning a sailor cried out, "Land! land!"

I ran out of the cabin to look. But at that very moment the ship struck upon a great bank of sand over which the fierce sea was rolling.

She stopped short. She could not move. The great waves dashed over her deck. All of us would have been washed overboard if we had not hurried back to the cabin.

"What shall we do?" cried the men.

"We can do nothing," said the captain. "Our voyage is at an end, and there is no longer any hope for our lives. We can only wait for the ship to break in pieces."

"Yes, there is one chance for our lives!" cried the mate. "Follow me!"

In the lull of the storm we rushed again to the deck. One of our boats was still there.

We slung her over the ship"s side. We jumped aboard of her. We cut her loose, and floated away upon the wild sea.

No boat could live in such a sea as that. But we saw land ahead of us; and perhaps some of us might be cast alive upon the beach.

This was our only hope.

The raging waves carried us nearer and nearer to the shore.

We could see the breakers dashing upon the great rocks. The land looked more frightful than the sea.

Then all at once, a huge wave overset the boat. We had no time to speak or think. We were thrown out into the raging sea. We were swallowed up by the waves.