I embraced the offer; and entering into a strict friendship with this captain, who was an honest, plain-dealing man,[qh]

对船长的盛情，我正是求之不得，并和船长成了莫逆之交。船长为人真诚其实，[qh]

I went the voyage with him, and carried a small adventure with me,[qh]

我便上了他的船，并捎带了点货物。[qh]

which, by the disinterested honesty of my friend the captain, I increased very considerably;[qh]

由于我这位船长朋友的正直无私，我赚了一笔不小的钱。[qh]

for I carried about 40 pounds in such toys and trifles as the captain directed me to buy.[qh]

因为，我听他的话，带了一批玩具和其他小玩意儿，大约值四十英镑。[qh]

These 40 pounds I had mustered together by the assistance of some of my relations whom I corresponded with;[qh]

这些钱我是靠一些亲戚的帮助搞来的。我写信给他们；[qh]

and who, I believe, got my father, or at least my mother, to contribute so much as that to my first adventure.[qh]

我相信，他们就告诉我父亲，或至少告诉了我母亲，由父亲或母亲出钱，再由亲戚寄给我，作为我第一次做生意的本钱。[qh]

This was the only voyage which I may say was successful in all my adventures, which I owe to the integrity and honesty of my friend the captain;[qh]

可以说，这是我一生冒险活动中唯一成功的一次航行。这完全应归功于我那船长朋友的正直无私。[qh]

under whom also I got a competent knowledge of the mathematics and the rules of navigation,[qh]

在他的指导下，我还学会了一些航海的数学知识和方法，[qh]

learned how to keep an account of the ships course, take an observation,[qh]

学会了记航海日志和观察天文。[qh]

and, in short, to understand some things that were needful to be understood by a sailor;[qh]

一句话，懂得了一些做水手的基本常识。[qh]

for, as he took delight to instruct me, I took delight to learn;[qh]

他乐于教我，我也乐于跟他学。[qh]

and, in a word, this voyage made me both a sailor and a merchant;[qh]

总之，这次航行使我既成了水手，又成了商人。[qh]

for I brought home five pounds nine ounces of gold-dust for my adventure, which yielded me in London, at my return, almost 300 pounds;[qh]

这次航行，我带回了五磅零九盎司金沙；回到伦敦后，我换回了约三百英镑，赚了不少钱。[qh]

and this filled me with those aspiring thoughts which have since so completed my ruin.[qh]

这更使我踌躇满志，因而也由此断送了我的一生。[qh]

Yet even in this voyage I had my misfortunes too;[qh]

然而，这次航行也有我的不幸。[qh]

particularly, that I was continually sick, being thrown into a violent calenture by the excessive heat of the climate;[qh]

尤其是因为我们做生意都是在非洲西海岸一带，从北纬１５度一直南下至赤道附近，天气异常炎热，[qh]

our principal trading being upon the coast, from latitude of 15 degrees north even to the line itself.[qh]

所以我得了航行于热带水域水手们常得的热病，三天两头发高烧，说胡话。[qh]

I was now set up for a Guinea trader;[qh]

现在，我俨然成了做几内亚生意的商人了。[qh]

and my friend, to my great misfortune, dying soon after his arrival, I resolved to go the same voyage again,[qh]

不幸的是，我那位当船长的朋友在回伦敦后不久就去世了。尽管如此，我还是决定再去几内亚走一趟，[qh]

and I embarked in the same vessel with one who was his mate in the former voyage, and had now got the command of the ship.[qh]

就踏上了同一条船。这时，原来船上的大副做了船长。[qh]