I call it an old town,but it is only relatively old.
【我称之为古镇,但它只是相对地老了那么一点点.】
When one reflects on the countless centuries that have gone to the for-mation of this crust of earth on which we temporarily move,the most ancient cities on its surface seem merely things of the week before last.
【任何一个事物和已经过往的无数世纪相比,我们暂时生存的这个地壳上最古老的城市似乎也只不过是上周的事情.】
It was only the other day,then--that is to say,in the month of June,1603--that one Martin Pring,in the ship Speedwell,an enormous ship of nearly fifty tons burden,from Bristol,England,sailed up the Piscataqua River.
【那曾是某一天,1603年6月的某一天,Martin Pring所在的Speedwell号,一艘接近50吨的负载量的巨大的船,从英格兰的布里斯托始发,开往皮斯卡奎河.】
The Speedwell,numbering thirty men,officers and crew,had for consort the Discoverer,of twenty-six tons and thirteen men.
【Speedwell号上有乘客,指挥和船员共30号人,另有随航船只“发现者”号及其上的26吨货和13号人.】
After following the windings of "the brave river" for twelve miles or more,the two vessels turned back and put to sea again,having failed in the chief object of the expedition,which was to obtain a cargo of the medicinal sassafras-tree,from the bark of which,as well known to our ancestors,could be distilled the Elixir of Life.
【在沿着“勇敢的河流”蜿蜒航行了超过12里后,这两艘船只能重入大海,只因这次航行的主要任务：获得一船树皮可提炼成长生不老药的药用的黄樟树,失败了.】
______________________________________________________________________
It was at some point on the left bank of the Piscataqua,three or four miles from the mouth of the river,that worthy Master Pring probably effected one of his several landings.
【在皮斯卡奎河左岸距离河口大约3到4里处的某些地方,是船长Pring认为值得自己数度靠岸中的一次.】
The beautiful stream widens suddenly at this place,and the green banks,then covered with a network of strawberry vines,and sloping invitingly to the lip of the crystal water,must have won the tired mariners.
【美丽的河流在这个地方突然展宽,绿色的河岸被草莓的藤蔓所铺成的网所罩住,并且动人地斜向清澈的水流边,（这美景）必然打动劳累的船员.】
