The Seven Voyages of Sindbad the Sailor 7

For seven days I hurried on, resting only when the darkness stopped me, and living chiefly upon cocoanuts, which afforded me both meat and drink, and on the eighth day I reached the seashore and saw a party of white men gathering ¹ pepper, which grew abundantly all about. Reassured ² by the nature of their occupation, I advanced towards them and they greeted me in Arabic, asking who I was and whence I came. My delight was great on hearing this familiar speech, and I willingly satisfied their curiosity, telling them how I had been shipwrecked, and captured by the blacks. "But these savages ³ devour ⁴ men!" said they. "How did you escape?" I repeated to them what I have just told you, at which they were mightily ⁵ astonished. I stayed with them until they had collected as much pepper as they wished, and then they took me back to their own country and presented me to their king, by whom I was hospitably ⁶ received. To him also I had to relate my adventures, which surprised him much, and when I had finished he ordered that I should be supplied with food and raiment（衣服） and treated with consideration. , ,The island on which I found myself was full of people, and abounded ⁷ in all sorts of desirable things, and a great deal of traffic went on in the capital, where I soon began to feel at home and contented ⁸. Moreover, the king treated me with special favour, and in consequence of this everyone, whether at the court or in the town, sought to make life pleasant to me. One thing I remarked which I thought very strange; this was that, from the greatest to the least, all men rode their horses without bridle⁹（缰绳） or stirrups（马镫）. I one day presumed to ask his majesty ¹⁰ why he did not use them, to which he replied, "You speak to me of things of which I have never before heard!" This gave me an idea. I found a clever workman, and made him cut out under my direction the foundation of a saddle（鞍 ，车座）, which I wadded and covered with choice leather, adorning ¹¹ it with rich gold embroidery ¹². I then got a lock-smith to make me a bit and a pair of spurs after a pattern that I drew for him, and when all these things were completed I presented them to the king and showed him how to use them. When I had saddled one of his horses he mounted it and rode about quite delighted with the novelty, and to show his gratitude ¹³ he rewarded me with large gifts. After this I had to make saddles for all the principal officers of the king's household, and as they all gave me rich presents I soon became very wealthy and quite an important person in the city. , ,One day the king sent for me and said, "Sindbad, I am going to ask a favour of you. Both I and my subjects esteem ¹⁴ you, and wish you to end your days amongst us. Therefore I desire that you will marry a rich and beautiful lady whom I will find for you, and think no more of your own country." , , ,"Heaven preserve you," said I, "and send you a long life!" , ," Alas ¹⁷!" he replied, "what is the good of saying that when I have but an hour left to live!" , ,He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料 。,The captain's confidence during the storm reassured the passengers. 在风暴中船长的信念使旅客们恢复了信心
。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》