The Luggnaggians commended. A particular description of the Struldbrugs, with many conversations between the author and some eminent persons upon that subject. 拉格奈格人受到作者的赞扬；关于“斯特鲁德布鲁格”的详细描写；作者与一些著名人士谈论这个话题。
The Luggnaggians are a polite and generous people; and although they are not without some share of that pride which is peculiar to all Eastern countries, yet they show themselves courteous to strangers, especially such who are countenanced by the court. I had many acquaintance, and among persons of the best fashion; and being always attended by my interpreter, the conversation we had was not disagreeable. 拉格奈格人是个既讲礼貌又十分慷慨的民族。虽然他们跟所有东方国家人一样不免有几分那种特有的骄傲，不过他们对异乡人还是非常客气的，特别是受到朝廷重视的那些异乡人。我结识了不少高官显贵，我的翻译又一直陪在身边，所以我们的谈话倒还挺愉快。
One day, in much good company, I was asked by a person of quality "whether I had seen any of their Struldbrugs, or immortals." I said, "I had not;" and desired he would explain to me "what he meant by such an appellation, applied to a mortal creature." He told me "that sometimes, though very rarely, a child happened to be born in a family, with a red circular spot in the forehead, directly over the left eyebrow, which was an infallible mark that it should never die." The spot, as he described it, "was about the compass of a silver threepence, but in the course of time grew larger, and changed its colour; for at twelve years old it became green, so continued till five and twenty, then turned to a deep blue; at five and forty it grew coal black, and as large as an English shilling; but never admitted any further alteration." He said, "these births were so rare, that he did not believe there could be above eleven hundred Struldbrugs, of both sexes, in the whole kingdom; of which he computed about fifty in the metropolis, and, among the rest, a young girl born about three years ago; that these productions were not peculiar to any family, but a mere effect of chance; and the children of the Struldbrugs themselves were equally mortal with the rest of the people. " 一天，我和许多朋友在一起，有一位贵族问我有没有见过他们的“斯特鲁德布鲁格”，意思是“长生不老的人”。我说没见过，就请他给我解释一下，在凡人头上加上这么一个名称到底是什么意思。他告诉我，虽然很少见，但有时会有人家恰好就生下这么一个孩子来——额头上有个红色的圆点，就长在左眉毛的正上方；这一标记表明，这孩子将永远不死。他描述道，这个圆点大约有一枚三便士的银币那么大，不过会随着时间的改变而变大、变色。 孩子长到十二岁时，它就变成绿色；一直到二十五岁之后又变成深蓝色。；四十五岁时渐渐变成煤黑色，大小如一枚英国的先令，但以后就不再变了。他说这种孩子生得极少，他相信全王国内男女“斯特鲁德布鲁格”不会超过一千一百个，估计住在京城里的大约有五十个，其中有个小女孩大约是三年前生下来的。这类婴儿并不是哪一家的特产，只不过偶然凑巧罢了，就是“斯特鲁德布鲁格”自己的孩子，也和别人一样都是有生有死的。
I freely own myself to have been struck with inexpressible delight, upon hearing this account, and the person who gave it me happening to understand the Balnibarbian language, which I spoke very well, I could not forbear breaking out into expressions, perhaps a little too extravagant. I cried out, as in a rapture, "Happy nation, where every child has at least a chance for being immortal! Happy people, who enjoy so many living examples of ancient virtue, and have masters ready to instruct them in the wisdom of all former ages! But happiest, beyond all comparison, are those excellent Struldbrugs, who, being born exempt from that universal calamity of human nature, have their minds free and disengaged, without the weight and depression of spirits caused by the continual apprehensions of death!" I discovered my admiration that I had not observed any of these illustrious persons at court; the black spot on the forehead being so remarkable a distinction, that I could not have easily overlooked it, and it was impossible that his majesty, a most judicious prince, should not provide himself with a good number of such wise and able counsellors. Yet perhaps the virtue of those reverend sages was too strict for the corrupt and libertine manners of a court; and we often find by experience, that young men are too opinionated and volatile to be guided by the sober dictates of their seniors. However, since the king was pleased to allow me access to his royal person, I was resolved, upon the very first occasion, to deliver my opinion to him on this matter freely and at large, by the help of my interpreter; and whether he would please to take my advice or not, yet in one thing I was determined, that his majesty having frequently offered me an establishment in this country, I would, with great thankfulness, accept the favour, and pass my life here in the conversation of those superior beings the Struldbrugs, if they would please to admit me. 我坦率承认，听了他这一番叙述真是说不出来的高兴。我的巴尔尼巴比语说得很不错，而跟我说那番话的这个人恰好又懂巴尔尼巴比语，于是我就情不自禁地表达了出来，未免有些过分。我像发了狂一般地高声喊说：“幸福的民族啊，你的每一个孩子至少都希望长生不老！幸福的人民啊，你们能享受到那么多古代美德的典范，能有大师们随时都来把所有过去时代的智慧教给你们！但是比起来，最幸福的还要数那些伟大的‘斯特鲁德布鲁格’，他们从出生开始就不用承受人性中共有的灾难，他们的思想能够挣脱持续的死亡恐惧所带来的负担和灵魂压抑。”但我觉得很奇怪，为什么没有在朝廷里看到过这些杰出的人物呢？前额上有颗黑痣是个非常明显的特点，我不至于忽略。这样一位贤明的君王又怎么可能不把这样有智慧而能干的顾问网罗在自己身边呢？不过也许是那些受人敬重的圣贤们的品德对于朝廷的腐败和放荡来说过于严格了。根据经验。我们也常常看到，年轻人总是过于有主见，并且没有常性，以至于不肯接受老年人认真严肃的指导。但是，既然国王准许我接近他，我决定以后一有机会就要通过翻译对这件事坦率而详尽地向他提出自己的看法。不论他愿不愿接受我的劝告，有一件事我是打定主意的：既然国王陛下一再要我留在这个国家任职，我就感恩戴德地接受他的恩典，只要那些“斯特鲁德布鲁格”优等人愿意接纳我，我就一辈子住在这里同他们相处。
The gentleman to whom I addressed my discourse, because (as I have already observed) he spoke the language of Balnibarbi, said to me, with a sort of a smile which usually arises from pity to the ignorant, "that he was glad of any occasion to keep me among them, and desired my permission to explain to the company what I had spoke." He did so, and they talked together for some time in their own language, whereof I understood not a syllable, neither could I observe by their countenances, what impression my discourse had made on them. After a short silence, the same person told me, "that his friends and mine (so he thought fit to express himself ) were very much pleased with the judicious remarks I had made on the great happiness and advantages of immortal life, and they were desirous to know, in a particular manner, what scheme of living I should have formed to myself, if it had fallen to my lot to have been born a Struldbrug." 与我谈话的那位先生，因为（在前边我已经叙述过）会讲巴尔尼巴比语，他面带着微笑——这种微笑一般都是因为对无知的可怜——跟我说，他很高兴有机会把我留下来和他们在一起，他同时要我允许他把自己刚才说的话向大家解释一下。他解释过后，他们就又在一起用本国语言讨论了一会儿，不过我一个字也听不懂，从他们脸上我也看不出我的话到底给他们留下了什么印象。经过一阵短暂的沉默之后，还是这位先生对我说，他的朋友们和我的朋友（指他自己，他觉得这样比较恰当）都对我关于长生不老的幸福和好处的那番宏论感到十分高兴，他们倒是很想详细地知道，如果我命中注定生下来就是个“斯特鲁德布鲁格”，我会打算怎样来安排我的生活。
I answered, "it was easy to be eloquent on so copious and delightful a subject, especially to me, who had been often apt to amuse myself with visions of what I should do, if I were a king, a general, or a great lord; and upon this very case, I had frequently run over the whole system how I should employ myself, and pass the time, if I were sure to live for ever. 我回答说，这样一个内容丰富、令人高兴的话题是很容易发挥的，特别是对我而言，因为我常常喜欢设想，假如我做了国王、将军或者大臣，我会做什么。就这件事来说呢，我时常考虑很多，如果我可以长生不老，我该做些什么事，我该怎样来度过这些时光。
"That, if it had been my good fortune to come into the world a Struldbrug, as soon as I could discover my own happiness, by understanding the difference between life and death, I would first resolve, by all arts and methods, whatsoever, to procure myself riches. In the pursuit of which, by thrift and management, I might reasonably expect, in about two hundred years, to be the wealthiest man in the kingdom. In the second place, I would, from my earliest youth, apply myself to the study of arts and sciences, by which I should arrive in time to excel all others in learning. Lastly, I would carefully record every action and event of consequence, that happened in the public, impartially draw the characters of the several successions of princes and great ministers of state, with my own observations on every point. I would exactly set down the several changes in customs, language, fashions of dress, diet, and diversions. By all which acquirements, I should be a living treasure of knowledge and wisdom, and certainly become the oracle of the nation. 我说，如果我运气好，成了长生不老的人中的一员，一旦明白了生与死的区别就会发现自己的幸福，第一，我要下决心用尽一切办法发财致富；在这过程中，我靠着勤俭节约与苦心经营，很有可能大约两百年之后成为全王国最富有的人。第二，我从小就喜欢艺术和科学研究，总有一天我的学问会超过所有的人。最后，我要详细记录公众的每一项重要活动和事件，公正地根据自己观察所得将历代君王和大臣的性格描绘出来。我要准确无误地记录下风俗、语言、服装、饮食和娱乐方面的种种变化。有了所有这一切学问，我将成为知识和智慧的活宝库，并无疑要成为民族的贤人。
"I would never marry after threescore, but live in a hospitable manner, yet still on the saving side. I would entertain myself in forming and directing the minds of hopeful young men, by convincing them, from my own remembrance, experience, and observation, fortified by numerous examples, of the usefulness of virtue in public and private life. But my choice and constant companions should be a set of my own immortal brotherhood; among whom, I would elect a dozen from the most ancient, down to my own contemporaries. Where any of these wanted fortunes, I would provide them with convenient lodges round my own estate, and have some of them always at my table; only mingling a few of the most valuable among you mortals, whom length of time would harden me to lose with little or no reluctance, and treat your posterity after the same manner; just as a man diverts himself with the annual succession of pinks and tulips in his garden, without regretting the loss of those which withered the preceding year. 六十岁之后我就决定不再结婚，但是会待人好客，讲节俭。我要培养和教导有希望的青年的心灵，运用自己的记忆、经历和观察，列举无数范例证明、强调，使他们相信，无论是公共还是私人生活中，道德还是非常有用处的。但是我忠实同伴的选择却必须是一帮同我一样长生不老的弟兄。我要从最古老的时代到我同时代的人中选出这么十二个同伴。如果这些人中有谁没有产业，我会在自己的产业附近给他准备一处方便舒适的住所；我会请一些和我最要好的朋友经常一同进餐。至于你们这些凡人，我只能让少数几个最有价值的进来同我交往，不过时间的永恒会使我的心肠变硬，你们死了我也不怎么会惋惜，或者根本就不惋惜，对你们的后代也是一样。这就像一个人年年都在花园里种石竹和郁金香玩儿，前一年种的花枯萎了，他并不会感到悲伤。
"These Struldbrugs and I would mutually communicate our observations and memorials, through the course of time; remark the several gradations by which corruption steals into the world, and oppose it in every step, by giving perpetual warning and instruction to mankind; which, added to the strong influence of our own example, would probably prevent that continual degeneracy of human nature so justly complained of in all ages. 那些同样长生不老的人和我会相互交流我们在岁月流逝中的观察和记忆；会评论腐败是怎样渐渐地悄然侵入了这个世界，我们会不断地警示并指导人类阻止任何一级出现腐化； 这样，再加上我们自己作为榜样所产生的巨大影响力，才有可能遏止那种所有时代都在悲叹的人性的继续堕落。
"Add to this, the pleasure of seeing the various revolutions of states and empires; the changes in the lower and upper world; ancient cities in ruins, and obscure villages become the seats of kings; famous rivers lessening into shallow brooks; the ocean leaving one coast dry, and overwhelming another; the discovery of many countries yet unknown; barbarity overrunning the politest nations, and the most barbarous become civilized. I should then see the discovery of the longitude, the perpetual motion, the universal medicine, and many other great inventions, brought to the utmost perfection. 除此之外，还有那种看到许多帝国和小邦发生革命的愉快；以及上流、下流社会发生的种种变化；古城变废墟；无名村庄变成君王的帝都；著名河流缩成浅水小溪；海洋的一边变成旱地，另一边被海水吞没；许多至今还不为人知的国家被发现；野蛮民族侵入文明国家，最野蛮的人却渐渐文明起来的愉快。那时我一定会看到黄经、永恒运动和万应灵药等等的发现，以及其他尽善尽美的伟大发明。
"What wonderful discoveries should we make in astronomy, by outliving and confirming our own predictions; by observing the progress and return of comets, with the changes of motion in the sun, moon, and stars!" 在天文学上，我们将会有无比奇妙的发现。我们活着就可以看到自己的预言成为事实；可以观察到彗星的运行和再现，以及日月星辰的种种运动变化。
I enlarged upon many other topics, which the natural desire of endless life, and sublunary happiness, could easily furnish me with. When I had ended, and the sum of my discourse had been interpreted, as before, to the rest of the company, there was a good deal of talk among them in the language of the country, not without some laughter at my expense. At last, the same gentleman who had been my interpreter, said, "he was desired by the rest to set me right in a few mistakes, which I had fallen into through the common imbecility of human nature, and upon that allowance was less answerable for them. That this breed of Struldbrugs was peculiar to their country, for there were no such people either in Balnibarbi or Japan, where he had the honour to be ambassador from his majesty, and found the natives in both those kingdoms very hard to believe that the fact was possible; and it appeared from my astonishment when he first mentioned the matter to me, that I received it as a thing wholly new, and scarcely to be credited. That in the two kingdoms above mentioned, where, during his residence, he had conversed very much, he observed long life to be the universal desire and wish of mankind. That whoever had one foot in the grave was sure to hold back the other as strongly as he could. That the oldest had still hopes of living one day longer, and looked on death as the greatest evil, from which nature always prompted him to retreat. Only in this island of Luggnagg the appetite for living was not so eager, from the continual example of the Struldbrugs before their eyes. 长生不老的自然欲望和尘世的幸福又使我在许多其他方面滔滔不绝地说了许多。我说完之后，那位先生又像从前一样把我谈的要点翻译给了其他人听，接着他们就用本国话交谈了好一阵子，并时不时地嘲笑我。最后，刚刚做我翻译的那位先生说，大家都要求他改正几点错误。我所以会犯这些错误，都是由于人性中那共有的愚蠢，这样倒也可以不叫我负什么责任。他说，“斯特鲁德布鲁格”这一人种是他们国家特有的产儿，巴尔尼巴比和日本都没有，他曾有幸受国王派遣在这两个国家做过大使，发现这两大国家的人都不相信有这样的事情；他先前向我提起这事的时候，我也是惊讶不已，这也说明我当时也是觉得这事非常新奇、难以置信的。在上面提到的那两个王国，他在居住期间曾和人广泛交谈，发现长寿是人类普遍的愿望。无论任何人，即使一只脚已经进了坟墓，却肯定还要尽全力保住另一只脚。年岁极高的人依然希望能再多活一天，而把死亡看作是最痛苦的事。天性随时都在促使他躲避死亡。只有在这拉格奈格岛上，生的欲望才不那么急切，因为他们的眼前时时有“斯特鲁德布鲁格”作为警戒。
"That the system of living contrived by me, was unreasonable and unjust; because it supposed a perpetuity of youth, health, and vigour, which no man could be so foolish to hope, however extravagant he may be in his wishes. That the question therefore was not, whether a man would choose to be always in the prime of youth, attended with prosperity and health; but how he would pass a perpetual life under all the usual disadvantages which old age brings along with it. For although few men will avow their desires of being immortal, upon such hard conditions, yet in the two kingdoms before mentioned, of Balnibarbi and Japan, he observed that every man desired to put off death some time longer, let it approach ever so late; and he rarely heard of any man who died willingly, except he were incited by the extremity of grief or torture. And he appealed to me, whether in those countries I had travelled, as well as my own, I had not observed the same general disposition." 他说我设想的那种生活方式是不合理、不公平的；因为这要假设人的青春常在、永远健康和永远精力充沛，无论一个人怎样痴心妄想，也不会蠢到期望这些的。所以问题不在于一个人是否能永葆青春、永远健康幸福，而在于在老年所具备的种种常见的不利条件下，他如何来度过那永恒的生命。虽然几乎没有人愿意在这么恶劣的情形下长生不老，可是在前面提到的巴尔尼巴比和日本这两个王国里，他发现每一个人都希望把死亡的日期向后再推迟一点，来得越晚越好；他也几乎没听到有什么人心甘情愿地死掉，除非他受到了极度的痛苦和折磨。他请我告诉他，在我旅行过的那些国家以及我自己的国家，是否也发现了这种相同的、普遍存在的倾向。
After this preface, he gave me a particular account of the Struldbrugs among them. He said, "they commonly acted like mortals till about thirty years old; after which, by degrees, they grew melancholy and dejected, increasing in both till they came to fourscore. This he learned from their own confession, for otherwise, there not being above two or three of that species born in an age, they were too few to form a general observation by. When they came to fourscore years, which is reckoned the extremity of living in this country, they had not only all the follies and infirmities of other old men, but many more which arose from the dreadful prospect of never dying. They were not only opinionative, peevish, covetous, morose, vain, talkative, but incapable of friendship, and dead to all natural affection, which never descended below their grandchildren. Envy and impotent desires are their prevailing passions. But those objects against which their envy seems principally directed, are the vices of the younger sort and the deaths of the old. By reflecting on the former, they find themselves cut off from all possibility of pleasure; and whenever they see a funeral, they lament and repine that others have gone to a harbour of rest to which they themselves never can hope to arrive. They have no remembrance of anything but what they learned and observed in their youth and middle-age, and even that is very imperfect; and for the truth or particulars of any fact, it is safer to depend on common tradition, than upon their best recollections. The least miserable among them appear to be those who turn to dotage, and entirely lose their memories; these meet with more pity and assistance, because they want many bad qualities which abound in others. 开场白刚一结束，他给我详细叙述了他们那儿“斯特鲁德布鲁格”的情况。他说，一般来说，那些人在三十岁之前和普通人没有什么两样，但三十岁之后就渐渐变得忧郁和沮丧起来，并逐渐加深，一直到八十岁。这是听那些人亲口说的，要不然，这种人一个时代都降生不到两三个，人数这么少，无法进行普遍的观察。当他们活到八十岁时（在这个国家，八十岁就被认为是寿命的极限了），不但其他老人所有的荒唐和毛病他们都具备，而且还因为他们永远不死而又有了更多的毛病和荒唐。他们不但性情顽固、暴躁、贪婪、忧郁、愚蠢、爱唠叨，而且丝毫不讲友谊，对自然情爱也很麻木，如果有，也只是对儿孙还有点感情。嫉妒和妄想是他们主要的情感。引起他们嫉妒的事情主要是年轻人的不道德行为和老年人的死亡。想想年轻人，他们发现自己已经没有任何快乐的可能了；而每当看到一支送葬队伍，他们就伤心、羡慕，别人进入一个港湾去安息了，自己却永远没有指望。他们除了自己在青年及中年时代学到和看到的东西外，别的全都忘记了，而就是那一点点东西也很不完整；所以任何事实，要想知道真相和细节，相信一般传统的说法要比他们的记忆更可靠。他们中最不悲惨的似乎倒是那些年老昏聩、完全丧失了记忆的人；这些人因为不像别人那样有许多恶劣品质，倒还比较能得到大家的怜悯和帮助。
"If a Struldbrug happen to marry one of his own kind, the marriage is dissolved of course, by the courtesy of the kingdom, as soon as the younger of the two comes to be fourscore; for the law thinks it a reasonable indulgence, that those who are condemned, without any fault of their own, to a perpetual continuance in the world, should not have their misery doubled by the load of a wife. 如果一个“斯特鲁德布鲁格”恰好跟他的同类结婚，按照王国的恩典，等到夫妇二人中较年轻的一人活到八十岁时，婚姻就可以解除。因为法律认为这是种合理的优惠待遇，那些无辜受惩罚要在世上永远活下去的人，不应再受妻子的连累而使自己加倍痛苦。
"As soon as they have completed the term of eighty years, they are looked on as dead in law; their heirs immediately succeed to their estates; only a small pittance is reserved for their support; and the poor ones are maintained at the public charge. After that period, they are held incapable of any employment of trust or profit; they cannot purchase lands, or take leases; neither are they allowed to be witnesses in any cause, either civil or criminal, not even for the decision of meers and bounds. 他们一年满八十岁，法律上就认为已经死亡，后嗣就可以继承他们的产业，只留给他们少量钱来维持生活，贫穷的则由公众来负担。过了八十岁，他们就不能再做任何为公众谋福利的那种工作，不能购买和租赁土地，也不准为任何民事或刑事案件作证，甚至都不允许他们参加地界的勘定。
"At ninety, they lose their teeth and hair; they have at that age no distinction of taste, but eat and drink whatever they can get, without relish or appetite. The diseases they were subject to still continue, without increasing or diminishing. In talking, they forget the common appellation of things, and the names of persons, even of those who are their nearest friends and relations. For the same reason, they never can amuse themselves with reading, because their memory will not serve to carry them from the beginning of a sentence to the end; and by this defect, they are deprived of the only entertainment whereof they might otherwise be capable. 九十岁以上，牙齿、头发全都脱落。活到这把年纪已不能辨别气味，有什么吃什么，有什么喝什么，没有食欲，更不用说什么胃口。患的老毛病既不加重也不减轻，一直就这么延迟下去。谈话时连一般事物的名称、人们的姓名都忘掉了，即使是自己的至亲好友的姓名也记不起来。由于这同样的原因，他们从来不能读书自娱，因为记忆力太差，一个句子看了后面就把前边忘了；由于这一缺陷，他们被剥夺了本来还有可能享受的唯一的乐趣。
"The language of this country being always upon the flux, the Struldbrugs of one age do not understand those of another; neither are they able, after two hundred years, to hold any conversation (farther than by a few general words) with their neighbours the mortals; and thus they lie under the disadvantage of living like foreigners in their own country. " 这个国家的语言总是在不断地变化着，所以一个时代的“斯特鲁德布鲁格”听不懂另一个时代中他们同类的话；他们活了两百年也不能同邻近的普通人交谈（顶多不过说几个一般的词儿）。因此，他们虽生活在本国，却倒像外国人一样感到生活上有诸多不便。
This was the account given me of the Struldbrugs, as near as I can remember. I afterwards saw five or six of different ages, the youngest not above two hundred years old, who were brought to me at several times by some of my friends; but although they were told, "that I was a great traveller, and had seen all the world," they had not the least curiosity to ask me a question; only desired "I would give them slumskudask," or a token of remembrance; which is a modest way of begging, to avoid the law, that strictly forbids it, because they are provided for by the public, although indeed with a very scanty allowance. 这就是我记忆所及他们给我做的关于“斯特鲁德布鲁格”的一番叙述。我后来见到了五六个不同时代的这些人。最年轻的还不到两百岁，他们都是由我的几个朋友在不同的时间里领到我这里来的。可是，他们虽然听说我是个大旅行家，世界各地都见识过，却没有一点好奇心来问我问题。他们只希望我能给他们一件纪念品，这其实是一种委婉的乞讨方式，用来躲避严禁他们这样做的法律，因为他们虽是由公众供养着的，但津贴确实很少。
They are despised and hated by all sorts of people. When one of them is born, it is reckoned ominous, and their birth is recorded very particularly so that you may know their age by consulting the register, which, however, has not been kept above a thousand years past, or at least has been destroyed by time or public disturbances. But the usual way of computing how old they are, is by asking them what kings or great persons they can remember, and then consulting history; for infallibly the last prince in their mind did not begin his reign after they were fourscore years old. 他们被所有人轻视、痛恨。生下一个长生不老的人，大家都认为是不祥之兆。关于他们的出生记载得十分详细，所以查一查登记簿就可以知道他们的年龄，不过登记簿上记载的还不到一千年，要不就是因为年代久远或者社会动乱被毁掉了。但是，计算他们年龄的一般方法是问一问他们脑子里记得哪些国王或者大人物，然后再去查历史；因为他们记得的最后一位君王，毫无疑问地总要到他们八十岁之后才开始登基。
They were the most mortifying sight I ever beheld; and the women more horrible than the men. Besides the usual deformities in extreme old age, they acquired an additional ghastliness, in proportion to their number of years, which is not to be described; and among half a dozen, I soon distinguished which was the eldest, although there was not above a century or two between them. 他们是我生平所见到的最令人感到羞辱的人，而女人比男人还要来得可怕。这种女人除了极度衰老的人所拥有的一般缺陷外，还有别的一些可怕的地方。这种可怕的程度是和年岁成正比的，实在令人难以形容。我在五六个人当中很快就能辨出谁年龄最大，虽然他们彼此之间相差还不到一二百年。
The reader will easily believe, that from what I had heard and seen, my keen appetite for perpetuity of life was much abated. I grew heartily ashamed of the pleasing visions I had formed; and thought no tyrant could invent a death into which I would not run with pleasure, from such a life. The king heard of all that had passed between me and my friends upon this occasion, and rallied me very pleasantly; wishing I could send a couple of Struldbrugs to my own country, to arm our people against the fear of death; but this, it seems, is forbidden by the fundamental laws of the kingdom, or else I should have been well content with the trouble and expense of transporting them. 读者很容易相信相信，从我亲耳听到、亲眼见到这种人以后，我长生不老的欲望为之大减。我为自己先前那些美妙的幻想感到由衷的羞愧，而且认为与其这样活着真还不如死掉，无论什么暴君发明什么可怕的死法，我都乐于接受。我和朋友们在这件事上所谈论的一切，国王都听说了，他于是得意洋洋地挖苦我，说希望我能送一对“斯特鲁德布鲁格”回自己的国家，使我国人民不至于再怕死；不过这似乎是这个王国的基本法律所不允许的，否则我还真乐意费些力气和花些钱把他们运回来。
I could not but agree, that the laws of this kingdom relative to the Struldbrugs were founded upon the strongest reasons, and such as any other country would be under the necessity of enacting, in the like circumstances. Otherwise, as avarice is the necessary consequence of old age, those immortals would in time become proprietors of the whole nation, and engross the civil power, which, for want of abilities to manage, must end in the ruin of the public. 我不得不赞成这个王国制订关于“斯特鲁德布鲁格”的法律具有最强有力的理由，任何别的一个国家处在那种情况下，都有必要执行那些法律。否则的话，因为贪婪——老年的必然结果，那些长生不老的人最终就会成为整个国家财产的业主，掌握社会的权力，但他们缺乏经营管理能力，最终必然导致整个社会的毁灭。