Part 9

↑Ut causas . . . ageret : plead in the law courts. ↑Rectæ rationi consentaneus : consistent with good sense. ↑Vereor ut concedant : I fear they will not allow. ↑Siquidem . . . constabit : since it will cost. ↑Conveniat : inform. ↑Altum tenent : get into the open sea. ↑Quod quisque . . . dejiceretur : every one held on to whatever he could grasp, for fear of being washed overboard. ↑Antlias : the pumps. ↑Tormentorum : cannon. (In classical Latin of course tormentum means merely an engine for hurling missiles.) ↑Infimo . . . tabulato : the hold. ↑Dolia, mercium sarcinæ : casks, merchandise. ↑Ut saluti suæ consuleret : look after himself. ↑Quocum versaretur : with whom he could consort. ↑Aureos : would, at this date, be guineas. ↑Meras nugas : mere trifles. ↑Vitrum . . . tænias : glass, necklaces, knives, scissors, hatchets, ribbons. ↑Fretum : channel. ↑Vento reflante : the wind being contrary. ↑Tabula nautica : chart. ↑Vix . . . licebat : there was hardly time. ↑Sacchari vecturam : cargo of sugar. ↑Deprehensum : discovered. ↑Succi . . . guttæ : some drops of juice squeezed from meat. ↑Vernantem copiam : flourishing abundance. ↑Cœli jucunda temperies : delightful climate. ↑Retundunt : repress. ↑Stegam : deck. ↑Syrtem : a quicksand. ↑Palmæ latitudine : a hand's breadth. ↑Reciprocans : returning. ↑Tugurium : hut. ↑Vicem : fate. ↑Surculos : young branches. ↑Ultima : the last extremity. ↑Miserabili . . . articulo : wretched crisis. ↑Eodemque : and also. ↑Instar parietis præruptum : broken so as to be perpendicular like a wall. ↑Æstuabat : got very hot. ↑Cubitum ire : to go to bed. ↑Genualibus : with his garters. ↑Olei . . . expressi : oil of sweet almonds. ↑Lini aut cannabis : flax or cotton. ↑Repetito fustis ictu : by continual beating with a stick. ↑Septo : the hedge. ↑Tudiculæ : a mushroom. ↑Aciem cuneo similem : a sharp edge like a wedge. ↑Typis impressum : printed. ↑Exarata : cut. ↑Lineis menstruis : lines marking a month. ↑Virgulæ balænarum : whalebone. ↑Viminibus salignis : willow osiers. ↑Prævertit : anticipates. ↑Referrent : resembled. ↑Subrubros : pinkish. ↑Tubercula : round lumps. ↑Arisisset : pleased. ↑Ungue . . . instructus : provided with a sort of hinder claw. ↑Quatriduum : of four days' length. ↑Sicubi : if at any time. ↑Malos citreas : lemon-trees. ↑Calceamenta tibialiaque : boots and stockings. ↑Soccos : shoes or slippers. ↑Veru . . . idoneos : to carry the spit. ↑Ad hæc quum : when in addition . . . ↑Ephippiis subjectam : put under their saddles. ↑Infecit : seasoned. ↑Cœli tempestas : weather. ↑Desævierat : had become less wild. ↑Alere : keep alive. ↑Coqui . . . functus : playing the part of a cook. ↑Si suppetant . . . copia : if a man has an abundant supply of all he desires. ↑Cujus . . . conquiescam : in whose friendship with me I might find repose. ↑Maculasque : meshes. ↑Culicesque : gnats. ↑Muria condiendam : to pickle it with brine. ↑Præbuisset : might have supplied. ↑Identidem omnia expertus : after repeated tests. ↑Nec constabat : nor was it clear. ↑Intextis ramalibus : with small branches woven together. ↑Fluctibus sese invicem . . . pellentibus : by the waves chasing one another. ↑Aquis subeuntibus : when it was high water. ↑Tuberibus solanorum : potatoes. ↑Temere : without much reason. ↑Quippe quæ : whereas, it . . . ↑Ut vox faucibus hæreret : it could make no noise. ↑Subsultantes : frisking. ↑Coagulato : curdled. ↑Inseri : to be grafted. ↑In nudam . . . excurrebat : extended into a bare plain. ↑Quæ moliebatur consilia : the plans he was forming. ↑Certiora visurus : to get more certain information. ↑Rudera : rubbish. ↑Solo ita molli innixum : rested on ground so rotten. ↑Operariis : labourers. ↑Culmo : with thatch. ↑Arefierent : might be dried. ↑Cacabos catinosque : saucepans and dishes. ↑Operam . . . navat : works hard. ↑Retractaret : did over again. ↑Præfigeret : which he might fix on to . , . ↑Alites : winged. ↑Exacta : finished. ↑Diffluebant : were dropping to pieces. ↑Tignum : a long pole. ↑Voces : words or expressions. ↑Calceorum et tibialium : boots and stockings. ↑Incisis . . . trajecit : he cut holes and drew the thread through. ↑Tunicam braccasque : coat and breeches. ↑Obsitam : covered over. ↑Unde . . . redire : from which they say no one returns. ↑Gradum corripere : to hasten its coming. ↑Ne intercluderetur : lest the perspiration should be checked. ↑Bulbum solani frixum : a dried potato. ↑Rore madentium : dripping with dew. ↑Utili . . . liceret : he could not devote some time to useful occupation. ↑Nec temere : not unreasonably. ↑Furfure : from the chaff. ↑Superne : at the top. ↑Depsendo : by kneading. ↑Non ita contemnendum : by no means to be despised. ↑Caseos . . . premere : make cheese. ↑Querendi locus : reason for complaint. ↑Cum quolibet animante : any living thing. ↑Triticum : wheat. ↑Insertas : which he had planted. ↑Circumcidere : prune. ↑Scopo : the target. ↑Objecit sibi : he charged against himself. ↑Fingeret : he imagined. ↑Quam sibi videt, etc. : the shorter the way the better, he thought. ↑Consilii compos : master of himself. ↑Rusculum : his country seat. ↑Cuivis ignavo . . . fuisset : would have been clear to any block-head. ↑Adæquaret solo : raze to the ground. ↑Cuniculum : an underground passage, like a rabbit's burrow. ↑Sepositum : stored. ↑Incondito : confused. ↑Neci addictos : doomed. ↑Prostratum adorti : setting to work on him when he was on the ground. ↑Siste gradum ! : stop! ↑Intorquet : lets fly. ↑De medio tolleretur : should be put out of the way. ↑Expugnatoque : and having made themselves masters of it. ↑Intuentis : as he watched. ↑Hoc facere : to take the latter course. ↑Quid in spatio . . . interjecto : what was going on in the space intervening . . . ↑Nondum vacaverat : there had not yet been leisure. ↑Laneis : woolly. ↑Regem agere : play the king. ↑Ea lege : on this condition. ↑Vacaret : be ready to do. ↑Comitatu : a court, i.e., followers. ↑Spectatam : tested. ↑Helluonum : gluttons. ↑Sarmentorum : dry boughs. ↑Zeæ : wheat. ↑Insitus . . . amor : innate desire for his own safety. ↑Carni . . . assideret : sit down to turn the meat on a spit. ↑Popularibus : fellow-countrymen. ↑Ut . . . vindicaret : that he bound Friday to himself as a servant by a legal right. ↑Quo decreto : this being decided. ↑Palis : stakes. ↑Mirum quantum : it was wonderful how much. ↑Popularium amantior : more attached to his fellow-countrymen. ↑Non unius : i.e., more than one. ↑Subactis : made soft. ↑Fila educendi : of making yarn. ↑Habere . . . rationem : take account. ↑Terræ continentis : the continent. ↑Præsentius auxilium : more prompt help. ↑Incitatius : with greater impetus. ↑Male mulctarent : would ill use. ↑Perspectos : thoroughly well known. ↑Acie . . . directa : having turned his gaze eastward. ↑Centies superare : was a hundred times bigger. ↑Stragulis : blankets, rugs. ↑Blanditam : fawned. ↑Supellectilem : gear. ↑Cados : casks. ↑Oryzæ : rice. ↑Pulveris nitrati : gunpowder. ↑Globulorum plumbeorum : bullets. ↑Sclopeta : muskets. ↑Cæla : chisels. ↑Terrebras : gimlets. ↑Radulas : razors. ↑Runcinas : planes. ↑Forfices : scissors. ↑Forcipes : tongs. ↑Stanneam, cupream : of tin and copper. ↑Cistas : chests. ↑Ocrearum : leggings. ↑Sclopetorum manualium : pistols. ↑Venaticos : for hunting. ↑Pyrothecam : tinder-box. ↑Depromptas : which he had brought out. ↑Manicis : the sleeves. ↑Tubo optico : a telescope. ↑Funem incendiarium : lighted tow. ↑Rimulæ : touch-hole. ↑Expectatione Robinsonis : than what Robinson had expected. ↑Collineaverat : aimed. ↑Amentem . . . referre : to be like a madman. ↑Remiges de plebe : common sailors. ↑Ut ageret animam : give up the ghost. ↑In speculis : on the watch. ↑Satius duxit : thought it better. ↑Una colloquendi : talking together. ↑Fabro lignario : carpenter. ↑Irrogatam : ordained. ↑Duxerant : married. ↑Ad bonam frugem : good conduct. ↑Olim : some time or other. ↑Omni conatu : than all they could try. ↑Frequentem : crowded. ↑Fabrorum tignariorum : carpenters. Caput Prīmum Crūsōeī ortus, indolēs, ēducātiō — Cupīdō peregrīnandī — Discessus ā parentibus — Profectiō Londīnium — Īnfausta initia — Tempestās — Nāvis obruta flūctibus — Advenit Londīnium, unde solvit ad Guineam. Caput Secundum Crūsōeus pergit iter — Mala ōmina — Nāvis incēnsa — Advehitur ad Canāriās īnsulās — Inde profectus ad Americam naufragium facit. Caput Tertium Sēra Crūsōeī paenitentia — Dēspērātiō — Vītam miserē sustentat — In spēluncā habitat. Caput Quārtum Reperit pōma eximiae magnitūdinis — Sibi cōnficit varia īnstrūmenta — Fūniculōs — Strātum — Umbellam — Pēram — Kalendārium. Caput Quīntum Rōbinson īnsulam perlūstrat — Magnus terror — In gaudium vertitur — Dēscrīptiō Lamae — Ūnum occīdit — Sed igne caret — Carnem mōre Tartarōrum coquit. Caput Sextum Turbō ingēns — Tempestās unde magnum Rōbinsōnī beneficium — Taedium sōlitūdinis — Arānea. Caput Septimum Praeda ingēns — Deest rēs maximē necessāria — Vōta irrita — Ambulātiō — Natātiō — Rēs variae. Caput Octāvum Lama mānsuēfacta — Pullī — Rēs variae. Caput Nōnum Terrae mōtus — Mōns ignivomus — Lamae, vī aquārum abreptī — Spēlunca Rōbinsōnis dīruta. Caput Decimum Crūsōeus domicilium reficit — Parat sibi alimenta in hiemem — Imbribus continuīs impedītus domī, fingit vāsa — Nectit rēte — Arcum et sagittās cōnficit. Caput Ūndecimum Summae Rōbinsōnis miseriae — Ab īnsectīs īnfestātur — Vestēs ex pellibus sibi cōnficit — Incidit in gravem morbum. Caput Duodecimum Convalēscit ex morbō — Maximī lūctūs — Parva gaudia — Psittacus. Caput Tredecimum Multus labor in excavandā scaphā — Crūsōeī cōnstantia — Quōmodo diem inter variās occupātiōnēs distribuit — In bellicīs artibus sē exercet. Caput Decimum Quārtum Rōbinson īnsulam peragrat — Vestīgia hominum reperit — Summus terror — Prōspicit crānia, ossa, manūs, pedēs — Quod territō et fugientī accidit. Caput Decimum Quīntum Epulae immānēs — Proelium — Fortitūdō Crūsōeī — Friday servātus. Caput Decimum Sextum Crūsōeus parātus ad obsidiōnem ferendam — Friday dēscrībitur — Quārē sīc appellātus — Rēgia potestās — Abundat Crūsōeus opibus. Caput Decimum Septimum Suspīciō in laetitiam et admīrātiōnem versa — Cāsus quī rīsum legentī movēbit — Rēbus secundīs adversae levantur. Caput Decimum Octāvum Rōbinson domum fossā et pālīs mūnit — Docet socium Anglicē loquī — Ambō scapham fabricāre statuunt. Caput Decimum Nōnum Pluviārum tempus — Sociī nectunt strāgulās — Rētia — Cymba cōnficitur — Nostrī marī sē committunt. Caput Vīcēsimum Ambō ē perīculō sē expediunt — Reversī in īnsulam, hortum colunt — Piscantur — Natant — Vēnantur — Novum iter suscipiunt — Tempestās — Magna nāvis dērelicta — Ignōta animālia — Ratis. Caput Vīcēsimum Prīmum Multae opēs repertae — Cibī — Supellēx — Īnstrūmenta — Vestēs — Sclopēta — Rōbinson repente dīves. Caput Vīcēsimum Secundum Adsunt ! Adsunt ! — Arma inter sociōs dīviduntur — Parātur bellum — Duo virī adversus quīnquāgintā — Victōris dēmentia. Caput Vīcēsimum Tertium Friday patrem suum invenit — Cōntiō convocāta — Lēgātī missī — Īnstitūtae lēgēs — Spēlunca — Mōnstrum. Caput Vīcēsimum Quārtum Nāvis anglica appulsa ad īnsulam — Quō cāsū — Magna Crūsōeī in praefectum merita — Spēs līberātiōnis. Caput Vīcēsimum Quīntum Fundāta colōnia — Crūsōeus relinquit īnsulam — Quod accidit in patriam redeuntī — Quōmodo vītam deinde honestam et beātam dēgit.

————

Dē Rōbinsōne Crūsōeō

Caput Prīmum

Crūsōeī ortus, indolēs, ēducātiō — Cupīdō peregrīnandī — Discessus ā parentibus — Profectiō Londīnium — Īnfausta initia — Tempestās — Nāvis obruta flūctibus — Advenit Londīnium, unde solvit ad Guineam.

Erat Eborācī, in urbe apud Anglōs celeberrimā, vir quīdam cui nōmen Crūsōeō. Trēs fīliōs suscēpit.

Maximus nātū, armōrum studiōsior quam librōrum, tractāre ā puerō gladiōs, ōrdine mīlitārī comitēs īnstruere, aurēs vīcīnōrum repetītō tympanī sonitū obtundere, et, vix adulēscēns, ē fictīs certāminibus ad vēra prōcurrit et mīles fit.

Quī cum sīc didicisset sex circiter mēnsēs jussū centuriōnis stāre et sequī, vertere corpus ad sinistram dextramque, exārsit bellum Turcās inter et Anglōs, in quō cum multa ēgregiē fēcisset, gravissimō cōnfossus vulnere cecidit.

Alter fīlius litterās in gymnasiō discēbat ut causās in forō ageret*, nec parva erat parentum magistrōrumque dē juvene exspectātiō ; sed cum forte in fēriīs septembribus, corpore adhūc calidō, aquam nimis frīgidam imprūdentius bibisset, in morbum incidit et intrā paucōs diēs exstīnctus est.

Jam nūllus supererat praeter minimum illum nātū, quī Rōbinson appellābātur. Itaque suam in eō spem omnem ambō parentēs collocāvērunt, quippe quī ipsīs ūnicus esset. Nihil eō cārius in terrīs habēbant ; sed amor eōrum nōn erat rēctae ratiōnī cōnsentāneus*.

Cum enim dēbuissent eum certā disciplīnā assuēfacere, omnia fīliolō indulgēbant ; quī cum lūdere quam studēre māllet, tōtam illam aetātem quae bonīs artibus vacāre poterat, in ōtiō et nūgīs cōnsūmēbat.

Pater optābat ut ille mercātūrae sē addīceret. Hoc vērō minimē fīliō placuit ; sē mālle ait orbem terrārum peragrāre, ut multās rēs novās audīre, multās vidēre posset.

Jam annum aetātis decimum septimum attigerat, socordiae ignāviaeque trāditus. Cottīdiē autem patrem urgēbat ut peregrīnandī licentiam impetrāret, quam ille nōlēbat concēdere. Cum tandem mōre suō praeter portum forte vagābātur, incidit in ūnum ex aequālibus, nāvarchī cujusdam fīlium, quī in eō erat ut cum patre Londīnium nāvigāret.

Interrogāvit Crūsōeum sodālis an adjungere sē socium itineris vellet. “ Libenter, ” ait ille ; “ vereor autem ut parentēs id mihi concēdant* ! ” “ Hui ! ” respondet alter, “ clam illīs proficīscendum est. Post trēs hebdomadēs reducēs erimus. Parentibus vērō nūntiandum cūrābis quōnam terrārum migrāveris. ” “ Sed pecūniā careō, ” ait Crūsōeus. “ Nihil id rēfert, ” alter excipit, “ siquidem hoc tibi grātīs cōnstābit* ”.

Rōbinson noster, rē paululum dēlīberātā, īlicō manū cum alterō jūnctā, “ Eugē, ō bone, ” exclāmat ! “ ībō tēcum ; sed nāvem cōnfestim cōnscendāmus ”. Tum mandat cuidam ut post aliquot hōrās patrem conveniat* moneatque fīlium ad Londīnium invīsendum jam prōfectum, mox reditūrum esse. Quibus perāctīs, ambō sodālēs nāvem cōnscendunt.

Nec multō post nautae solvunt ancorās vēlaque ventō intendunt. Caelum serēnum erat, ventusque adeō secundus ut brevī Eborācum ē cōnspectū abeuntium sē subdūxerit. Posterō diē jam eō dēvēnerant ubi Ūsa in mare effluit, et nunc altum tenent*. Quantā vērō Crūsōeus admīrātiōne stupuit, cum mare immēnsum intuēns, suprā sē nihil praeter caelum, nihil ante, pōne, circā sē nisi aquam cōnspiceret !

Fuit per bīduum āēr serēnus, ventusque prōsperē afflāvit nāvigantibus. Tertiō autem diē caelum nūbibus tegī, ventusque vehementior esse coepit. Prīmō fulgura ēmicant, velut sī tōtum flammīs caelum ārdēret. Deinde ingruunt tenebrae quasi in altissimā nocte ; tonitrua cum ingentī fragōre resonāre, imber dē caelō ruere torrentī similis, mare intumēscēns flūctūs ciēre. Nāvis modo ad nūbēs tollī, modo praeceps ferrī in profundum. Quantus fūnium strepitus ! quantus in nāvī tumultus ! quod quisque nactus erat id complectēbātur nē ipse dējicerētur*.

Crūsōeus, īnsuētus maris adulēscēns, cum jactātiōnem maris ferre nōn posset, nauseā oppressus, tantō affectus est dolōre, ut exspīrantī similis vidērētur.

“ Heu ! parentēs meī cārissimī, heu ! ” iterum haec iterumque exclāmāvit, “ numquam vōs revīsam. ”

“ Heu ! ” exclāmant nautae pallidī, omnī omissā spē, “ periimus ! abreptī sunt mālī ; nāvis aquā undequāque complētur. ” Hīs audītīs, Crūsōeus, quī in cubīlī nauticō sedēbat, retrō collāpsus est. Cēterī ad antliās* accurrere, ut nāvem, sī fierī possit, suprā aquam retineant. Nāvarchus interim tormentōrum* sonitū iterum iterumque temptat ut nāvibus, sī quae forte nōn longē abessent, significāret sē magnō in discrīmine versārī. Crūsōeus quī hujus fragōris causam ignōrābat, ratus omnia periisse, dēnuō exanimātus est.

Et jam prō sē quisque aquam exhaurīre, sed in īnfimō nāvis tabulātō* aquae altitūdō crēscēbat. Nihil praeter mortem exspectandum erat. Ad nāvem sublevandam tormenta, dōlia, mercium sarcinae*, omnia prōjiciuntur ; sed nihil haec prōficiunt.

Intereā nāvis quaedam alia, audītō sonitū tormentōrum quae ad significandum discrīmen sonuerant, scapham ēmīserat ad servandōs saltem nāvigantēs ; sed aestus flūctuum obstābat quōminus accēderet. Attamen propius ita dēmum subiit, ut iīs quī in nāvī essent fūnis prōjicerētur. Cujus ope scapha tandem adducta est, et in eam quisque dēsiliit ut salūtī suae cōnsuleret*. Crūsōeus, quī jacēbat mortuō similis, ā quibusdam nautīs quōs adulēscentulī miserēbat in eandem conjectus est. Vix paululum ā nāvī recesserant, cum illa ante oculōs flūctibus obruta est. Et nunc fēlīcius contigit ut tempestās paulātim sēdārētur ; aliter cymba tot hominibus onerāta ipsa quoque flūctibus absorpta fuisset. Tandem post multa perīcula pervēnit ad nāvem, in quam omnēs exceptī sunt.

Nāvis illa Londīnium tendēbat. Quattuor post diēs ad ōstium Tamesis flūminis pervēnit, et quīntō diē in portū jēcit ancorās. Mox in terram omnēs dēscendunt, laetī quod ē perīculō ēvāsissent.

Dum Crūsōeus portum perlūstrat, multa sēcum animō volvēbat. “ Quōmodo meī reducem mē excipient, sī domum repetierō ? Castīgābunt sānē propter tāle dēlictum. Sodālēs vērō et multī aliī mē irrīdēbunt quod tam citō redierim. ” Incertus cōnsiliī audiit, nōn sine gaudiō, nūllam adesse nāvem quae Eborācum tenderet. Quī autem hāc dē rē eum certiōrem fēcerat, ūnus ē praefectīs eārum nāvium erat quae ad Guineam proficīscuntur.

Cum Rōbinson inter cōnfābulandum negāvisset sē dolēre quod nūlla sibi Eborācum redeundī adesset opportūnitās, quia mīrā flagrāret cupiditāte peregrīnandī, praefectus nāvis eī auctor fuit itineris ad Guineam faciendī. Quō audītō prīmum Crūsōeus obstupuit. Sed cum praefectus eī dīxisset iter hoc fore jūcundissimum, sēque (ut habēret ipse quōcum versārētur*) grātīs eum exceptūrum, ac praetereā rem eam esse unde quaestum ille nōn mediocrem faceret, tum vērō tanta eum invāsit cupiditās proficīscendī, ut subitō ē memoriā Eborācum exciderit.

Sed rē paululum cōnsīderātā, “ Equidem, ” ait Rōbinson, “ quattuor tantummodo aureōs* habeō. Ecquid ego commerciī hāc tam exiguā rē eō locō faciam quō tū proficīsceris ? ” Cui respondit haec praefectus : “ Sex īnsuper aureōs ego tibi commodābō. Nec majōre pecūniā tibi opus est ad ea emenda quibus multās in Guineā opēs cōnsequāris. Quotiēs ab exiguīs initiīs rēs maximae profectae sunt ! ”

“ Sed quid ego hīs emam ? ” inquit ille. “ Merās nūgās*, ” respondit praefectus ; “ vitrum, torquēs, cultrōs, forficēs, secūrēs, taeniās*, quibus nigrī Āfricae incolae tantopere gaudent. Vim enim aurī eborisque centiēs majōrem prō iīs tibi dabunt. ”

Nec jam diūtius sibi Crūsōeus temperāre potuit ; sed oblītus parentum, amīcōrum, patriae, hōc modō exclāmat : “ Ēn ego tibi comes itineris praestō sum ”. “ Agedum, ” respondit praefectus ; dextrīsque jūnctīs rem pacīscuntur.

Itaque Crūsōeus decem aureīs dīves, urbem jam properat, comparat variās mercēs, utī nāvarchus praecēperat, comparātāsque in nāvem trānsportandās cūrat. Paucōs post diēs, ventō favente, praefectus nāvis ancorās solvī atque vēla ventīs darī jussit.

Caput Secundum

Crūsōeus pergit iter — Mala ōmina — Nāvis incēnsa — Advehitur ad Canāriās īnsulās — Inde profectus ad Americam naufragium facit.

Novum hoc Rōbinsōnis iter faustissimum initium habuit. Jamque incolumēs fretum* Anglicum trānsierant, et in ipsō Atlanticō marī versābantur. Tum vērō plūrimōs diēs ventō reflante* nāvis Americam versus abrepta est.

Vespere tandem gubernātor forte dēclārāvit sē flammās relūcentēs ā longinquō cōnspicere, cumque īnspectā tabulā nauticā* intellegeret vel ad centum mīlia nihil terrārum esse, conjectūram faciēbat hunc ignem nihil aliud esse nisi nāvem incendiō flagrantem.

Vix haec dīxerat, cum in aurās tollī vīsa est nāvis, terribilī cum fragōre, et mox tōta undīs obruta est. Cum nox supervēnisset, nihil amplius cernī poterat. Prīmā autem lūce appārent duae scaphae, cum flūctibus luctantēs, quae rēmīs ēverberābant mare, ut ad nāvem accēderent. Extemplō praefectus vēxillum nauticum explicuit, ut significāret sē ad opem illīs ferendam parātum esse. Nāvis ipsa omnibus vēlīs ad eōs tendit, atque intrā dīmidiam hōrae partem ad miserōs pervēnit.

Sexāgintā erant, virī, mulierēs, puerī, quī omnēs exceptī sunt. Erat rēs omnīnō vīsū miserābilis, cum īnfēlīcēs illī faucibus mortis sē ēreptōs vidērent. Aliī enim summō flēre gaudiō, aliī clāmāre, velut sī perīculum nunc prīmum imminēret ; illī exsultāre, hī pallidī manūs torquēre. Nōnnūllī stāre mūtī et stupentibus similēs. Nēmō inter nautās tam ferreus quīn hīs cōnspectīs commōtus ipse lacrimārētur. Cum eīs paulātim rediisset animus, ūnus ea nārrāvit quae miserīs accidissent.

Nāvis illa incēnsa magna quaedam atque mercātōria erat Francōrum, quae ad Mārtīnicam īnsulam tendēbat. Exārserat ignis in cubiculō gubernātōris, flammā tam vēlōciter grassante, ut nūlla ejus exstinguendae spēs adforet. Vix per tempus licēbat* ipsōs in cymbās recipere, et ab incēnsā nāve paululum discēdere, cum, correptā flammīs camerā in quā pulvis tormentārius sēpositus est, discerpta nāvis dissiluit.

Tum nāvis celerrimō cursū aquās secat ; quā nāvigandī vēlōcitāte Rōbinson noster mīrē dēlectātus est. Post aliquot diēs ecce magnam nāvem ad sē ipsōs tendentem cōnspiciunt. Mox audiunt sonitum tormentōrum perīculī īnstantis indicem, et animadvertunt nāvem esse duōbus mālīs orbātam. Cum ad eam proprius accessissent, quī in eā vehēbantur, sublātīs manibus, hōc modō precantur : “ Servāte nōs īnfēlīcēs, quibus omnibus pereundum est nisi vōs nostrī miserēbit ”.

Tum ex iīs quaesītum est quid malī accidisset. Quibus quīdam ex illīs sīc ōrsus est :

“ Anglī sumus, ex Jamaicā īnsulā, saccharī vectūram* inde dēportātūrī. Ibi cum forte nāvis ad ancorās cōnsistēbat, praefectus cum gubernātōre in terram dēscendit, ad mercēs aliquās īnsuper ēmendās.

“ Intereā exorta est tempestās, tantō cum turbine, ut fūne disruptō, nāvis ex portū in altum prōpellerētur. Tempestās ista trēs diēs noctēsque saeviēbat ; tum mālīs omnibus āmissīs, centum amplius mīlia abreptī sumus. Accēdit etiam ad hanc nostram calamitātem quod nēmō nostrōrum artis nauticae perītus sit ; novem jam integrās hebdomadēs hinc et inde jactātī, vīctum omnem cōnsūmpsimus, et plērīque famē exhaustī jacēmus. ”

Quibus audītīs praefectus, ut erat vir clēmentissimus, statim cymbam expōnī jussit, assūmptāque sēcum idōneā cibōrum cōpiā, ipse cum Rōbinsōne ad nāvem accēdit. Erat sānē lūgendus prōrsus omnium cāsus quī in illā vehēbantur ; ūniversī inediā quasi cōnsūmptī ; nōnnūllī vix poterant pedibus stāre.

Cum autem cubiculum nauticum intrāssent, horrendum vīsū ! jacēbant humī māter, fīlius, servula, quī famē omnēs ēnecātī vidēbantur. Mox autem dēprehēnsum* est aliquid in eīs spīritūs vītālis superesse. Postquam enim nōnnūllae sūcī ē carne expressī guttae* in ōs cujusque īnstillātae sunt, lūcem oculīs quaerere coepērunt.

Māter prae nimiā vīrium imbēcillitāte nihil absorbēre poterat ; cum autem innuisset ut tantummodo fīliō suō cōnsulerētur, mox illa exspīrāvit.