本文讲述了主人公乔更斯在热带酒馆巧遇一位神秘人物，后者揭示了一个小国如何通过科技革新，特别是通过科学家西尔韦雷·卡拉西尔拉的发明，追求加勒比海统治权的故事。卡拉西尔拉的发明并非传统意义上的武器，而是一个看似平凡的草叶，蕴含着超越常规的科学成就。
U13A – The Greatest Invention
The Greatest Invention
Lord Dunsany
"What do you think is going to happen, Jorkens?" one of us asked one day at the club.
"Happen?" Jorkens said. "That is hard to say. In the old days one had a rough idea of what other countries wanted to do and their ability to do it. But it is all different now."
"How is it different?" asked the man.
"There are so many inventions," Jorkens said, "of which we know nothing. Now that a man can carry in a bag a bomb that is more powerful than several battleships, it is hard to find out what any country can do or will do next. I will give you an example."
I was on a ship in the tropics (Jorkens told us), and we put into a port. I was tired of looking at the tropical sea, so I went ashore and walked into a tavern to see if they had any decent wines in that country. As it turned out, they hadn't. But there was a man there with a black mustache and a certain look in his eyes that made me wonder if he might not have something interesting to tell. So I asked him if I might offer him a glass of wine. Well, he was good enough to accept, and I called for a bottle of the queer local wine. When the bottle had been uncorked and the wine poured out, like liquid tropical sunlight, I watched it go down under that black mustache. And when a certain amount had gone down, he began to talk.
"We aimed at the mastery of the whole Caribbean," he said, "and don't think that because we are a little country we could not have succeeded. War is no longer a matter of armies; it depends on the intelligence of scientists. And we had a scientist who, as I have since seen proved, had no rival west of the Atlantic."
"You proved it?" I could not help saying.
"Yes," he said. "You shall hear."
I had another bottle of wine set before him, and I did hear.
"You may not have thought it," he said, "but I was in our Ministry of Warfare."
And I had not thought it, for he was not at all what one would regard as the figure of a soldier.
But warfare, as he explained to me, has altered.
"Our Minister," he said, "was a cavalry officer and could not adapt his ideas to modern science. He thought of war simply as an opportunity for cavalry charges and fine uniforms and glory. We had to get rid of him in order to fulfill our just aspirations."
"And what are they?" I asked.
"Why, the domination of the whole Caribbean," he said. "And it is just that we should have it. We are the people who have been born to it."
"Of course," I said soothingly, though I did not know for which country he spoke.
"Once the Minister of Warfare was gone," he went on, "we turned our minds to modern warfare, and we began to make great progress. Modern warfare gives grand opportunities to little countries. Once, if a nation had twelve battleships it was a Great Power, and we could only obey. But what if we know how to let loose a plague capable of destroying whole nations? Must we be silent then about our just aspirations? No. We shall speak."
"Certainly," I said.
"Other nations know something of germ warfare," the stranger said. "We looked for a new and deadlier germ. And we had the man who could not only give us that, but a more effective way to spread it—his name was Silvary Carasierra. We knew that we had marvelous powers within our grasp, if only Carasierra could be kept at his work."
"Idle, was he?" I said, for I thought it very likely in a hot country like that.
"No," said the stranger. "Never idle. Always spurred on by a fierce ambition. His very life was devoted to making inventions. Yes, he worked and he was working for us on something wonderful. Ah, well. We relied, and rightly, on that man's wisdom; but we forgot his folly."
The man was silent.
"What did Carasierra do?" I asked.
"That ambition was driving him all the time," he said. "He knew that he was the greatest scientist in the world, and he was determined to show it. As long as the germ on which he was working seemed the most wonderful thing ever invented, he was more than content. But before he had completed it, another inspiration came to him and drove him away. I tried everything: threats, appeals to him to think of our ancient glory, even bribes. But nothing would turn him from his project. The splendor of his new inspiration gripped him, and he was like a man drugged.
"And the splendor of our positions faded like dreams. We were so nearly one of the Great Powers but for a fancy that came to this man's mind."
"What was Carasierra's fancy?" I asked.
"I will tell you," he said. "Day after day I went to his laboratory and appealed to him, almost with tears, to return to his work for us. But no, he would not listen. I gave him every chance. But at last I had to threaten him with death.
I told him that if he would not return to his proper work he would have to be shot. But there was a queer light in his eyes that day, and really I think he hardly heard me. He would only say, 'I have done it, have done it.'
'Done what?' I asked him, the stranger continued.
'The most wonderful invention,' he said, 'the most wonderful invention ever achieved by man.'
'You will be shot,' I repeated, 'if you don't get on with your work.'
'This is more wonderful,' he said.
'Well, show it to me,' I demanded. He took me out to his lawn. And there he pointed. I saw only a square yard of grass, marked off with a strip of white tape. 'What is it?' I asked.
He took up his tape and marked off a smaller area, one of only a few inches. 'Do you see anything wonderful there?' he asked. 'Look close.'
And I looked close and said, 'No.'
That is what is wonderful,' he said. 'You see no blade different from the rest?'
'No,' I said again.
'Then you have seen the most wonderful invention of all that man has made,' he replied with a wild look in his eyes. 'For one of those blades of grass I made myself.'
'But what is the use of that?' I asked.
'Use! Use!' he repeated, and laughed. 'I do not work for use, but for wonder.'
'It will be wonderful,' I said, 'when we dominate the Caribbean.'
'It is far more wonderful,' he said, 'to have made a blade of grass.'
That I had to admit. But I added, 'You will return to your work now.'
And at that he laughed more wildly.
'No, now that I can do this,' he exclaimed. 'I am going on to make flowers.'
I examined his blade of grass, and he gave me every facility, showing me the entire process in his laboratory. The blade was perfect and was clearly alive, but he satisfied me that it was artificial. A marvelous man. It was a pity. But we responsible ministers cannot make threats that we do not carry out. I had threatened him with death, and he had to be executed..."
"Whether it was that the stranger's tale was told," Jorkens concluded, putting down his glass, "or that the influence of the queer wine was over, he fell then to silent brooding, gazing, as it seemed, into the past at the grip that his country had lost on the Caribbean, perhaps on the world."
参考译文——最伟大的发明
最伟大的发明
邓萨尼爵士
“你认为会发生什么呢，乔更斯？”一天在酒吧里我们当中的一个人问道。
乔更斯说，“发生什么事？这很难说。以前，人们大概还能知道其他国家想干什么以及能力如何，但现在完全不同了。”
这个人问，“有什么不同呢？”
乔更斯答道，“因为现在有许多发明，对此我们一无所知。既然一个人可以在包里放上一个威力比数艘战舰还大的炸弹，那么就很难去弄清一个国家能做什么或是以后会干什么。我可以给你们举一个例子。”
（乔更斯告诉我们）我当时乘坐的船正行驶在热带海洋上，而后我们停靠在一个港口。我已经厌倦了热带海洋上的生活，于是上了岸，走进一家小酒馆，看看那里卖不卖这个国家的好酒。结果却没有。但酒吧有一个人，留着黑色的小胡子，眼神里有一种特别的东西让我觉得他可能有有趣的事情要讲。所以，我问可不可以请他喝一杯酒。他欣然接受了，于是我叫了一瓶当地 奇特的酒。打开瓶塞后倒出的酒就像液化的热带阳光一样，很烈。我看着酒从他的黑胡子下汩汩而进。几杯酒下肚后，他开始侃侃而谈。
“我们的目标是控制整个加勒比海地区，”他说道，“你可不要认为我们是个小国家，就不能成功实现这一点。战争不再是军队的比拼：它的胜负取决于科学家的智慧。而我们就有一个已被我证实在大西洋西岸都找不到敌手的顶尖科学家。”
“你证实的？”我不禁问道。
“是的，”他说道，“你好好听着。”
我又给他叫了一瓶酒，听他讲故事。
“你可能想不到，”他说，“我以前在国防部干过。”
我确实没有想到这个，因为他与一个战士的形象相差甚远。
但是战争如他所说那样，已经发生了变化。
“我们的部长，”他说，“是个骑兵队指挥官，思想适应不了现代科学。他把战争简单地看成是骑兵们的冲锋陷阵、身穿精美制服和博得荣誉。我们不得不让他下台，以实现我们正义的抱负。”
“什么抱负呢？”我问他。
“就是对整个加勒比海地区的统治权，”他答道，“这是正义的事业，是我们民族的天职。”
“当然，”我安慰道，虽然我并不知道他是代表哪个国家在说话。
“国防部长下台后，”他继续说，“我们将注意力转向现代战争，并开始取得巨大的进步。现代战争使小国家获得了天赐良机。以前，如果一个国家有十二艘战舰，就算是非常强大了，我们只能服从它。但是如果我们知道怎样释放一场足以摧毁所有国家的瘟疫，那又会发生什么事情呢？我们还要对我们正义的志向保持沉默吗？不。我们应该讲出来。”
“当然，”我说道。
“其他国家知道一点细菌战的技术，”这个陌生人说道，“而我们则寻找新的更致命的细菌。我们有这样一个人，他叫西尔韦雷·卡拉西尔拉。他不仅能够制造出这样的细菌，并且还懂得如何更有效地传播细菌。我们知道，只要卡拉西尔拉能坚持工作的话，我们就可以获得惊人的力量。”
“他很懒，是吧？”我想热带国家的人很可能是这样的。
“不是，”陌生人否定道，“他从不偷懒，总是为强烈的志向所激励着。他全身心投入创造发明。对，他努力工作，为我们创造非凡的东西。唉，我们信任这个人的智慧；但我们却忽略了他愚蠢的一面。”
这个陌生人停下话来。
“卡拉西尔拉干了什么呢？”我问道。
“这个志向始终鼓舞着他，”他说道，“他知道他是这个世界上最伟大的科学家，他决定证明给世人看。只要他想到研究着的细菌是有史以来最伟大的发明，他就心满意足了。但在他完成研究之前，他又有了另一种灵感，他把心思放到了别的上面。我试了一切办法劝他改变主意：威胁他，恳请他想想我们旧时的荣耀，甚至是贿赂他。但是什么也不能使他放弃他的新想法。他的新想法牢牢吸引着他，以至于他像犯了毒瘾一样不能自拔。”
“而我们国家地位的光荣梦想像肥皂泡一样被灭了。我们差点就成为一个强大的国家，如果卡拉西尔拉脑中没有出现那种幻想的话。”
“是什么幻想呢？”我问道。
“我告诉你吧，”他说道，“我每天都去他的实验室，声泪倶下地乞求他为我们继续工作。但他一点也不听。我给了他很多机会，但最终我只得以死亡威胁他。
我告诉他如果再不回去做正事的话，我们就枪毙他。但那天他的眼睛里闪烁着奇怪的光芒，我确信他根本没有听我讲话。他只是喃喃地说：‘我已经成功做到了，做到了。’”
“‘做到了什么？'我问他。”陌生人继续说道。
“‘最伟大的发明’他说道，‘人类有史以来最伟大的发明。’”
“‘你将被枪毙，’我又说了一遍，‘如果你不继续你的工作的话。’”
“‘这个更棒，’他说。”
“‘好吧，把你的发明给我看看，’我要求道。他把我带到他的草坪上，用手指了指。我看到的只是一块草地，被一条白色的卷尺划分开。‘你的发明呢？’我问道。”
“他用卷尺划分出一块更小的只有几英寸的面积。‘你看到什么奇妙的东西了吗？’他问我，‘仔细看。’”
“然后我就仔细看了看，‘什么也没看到。’”
“‘这就是奇妙之所在，’他说，‘你没看见哪片草叶跟其他的不同吗？’”
“‘没有看到，’我又说了一遍。”
“‘那么你已经看到了人类最伟大的发明，’他激动地说。‘因为其中一片草是我自己做的。’”
“‘但是这又有什么用途呢？’我问道。”
“‘用途！用途！’他重复说道，大笑起来，‘我并不是为用途而工作的，而是为了奇迹。’”
“‘会很奇妙的！’我说道，‘当我们统治了加勒比海时。’”
“‘而制造一片草叶更加奇妙，’他说道。”
“‘这个我承认。但我得加上一句，你现在该回到工作中去了。’”
“听到这句话他笑得更狂野了。”
“‘不，既然我能做这个，”他大声说道，‘我准备继续制造花。’”
“我查看了他的草叶，他把每一个设备给我看，向我演示实验室中草叶制造的整个流程。草叶很完美，显然是活的，但他使我确信，它是人造的。多么了不起的人！可惜却不能为我们效力。但是我们尽责的部长们作出的威胁我们得执行。我已经向他发出死亡威胁，而他得被处死……”
“不知道是因为这个陌生人的故事讲完了，”乔更斯最后放下杯子说道，“还是因为这种怪酒的效力消失了的缘故，这个陌生人睁着眼睛，陷入了对过去的沉思，似乎在想着，他们的国家失去了对加勒比海地区，或许是对整个世界的控制。”
New Words:
decent ['di:snt]
adj. 体面的，正派的，得体的，相当好的
invention [in'venʃən]
n. 发明，发明物，虚构，虚构物
tropical ['trɔpikəl]
adj. 热带的，炎热的，热带植物的
certain ['sə:tn]
adj. 确定的，必然的，特定的
pron.
rough [rʌf]
adj. 粗糙的，粗略的，粗暴的，艰难的，讨厌的，不适的
mustache [mə'stɑ:ʃ, 'mʌstæʃ]
n. 胡子，髭
liquid ['likwid]
adj. 液体的，液态的
domination [.dɔmi'neiʃən]
n. 支配，控制，管辖 （复数）dominations:
opportunity [.ɔpə'tju:niti]
n. 机会，时机
mastery ['mæstəri]
n. 精通，掌握，熟练
warfare ['wɔ:fɛə]
n. 战争，冲突
cavalry ['kævəlri]
n. 骑兵
altered ['ɔ:ltəd]
v. 改变（alter的过去分词） adj. 改变了的；
adapt [ə'dæpt]
vt. 使适应，改编
vi. 适应，适合
spoke [spəuk]
v. 说，说话，演说
rival ['raivəl]
n. 对手，同伴，竞争者
adj. 竞争的
intelligence [in'telidʒəns]
n. 理解力，智力
effective [i'fektiv]
adj. 有效的，有影响的
folly ['fɔli]
n. 愚蠢，荒唐事 (复)follies: 轻松歌舞剧
marvelous ['mɑ:viləs]
adj. 令人惊异的，了不起的，不平常的
germ [dʒə:m]
n. 微生物，细菌，胚芽
n. 萌芽，起
idle ['aidl]
adj. 无目的的，无聊的; 懒惰的，闲散的; 无根据的
ambition [æm'biʃən]
n. 雄心，野心，抱负，精力
vt. 有 ..
capable ['keipəbl]
adj. 有能力的，足以胜任的，有 ... 倾向的
devoted [di'vəutid]
adj. 投入的，深爱的 v. 投入 vbl. 投入
warfare ['wɔ:fɛə]
n. 战争，冲突
spread [spred]
v. 伸展，展开，传播，散布，铺开，涂撒
splendor ['splendə]
n. 光辉，壮丽，显赫
threaten ['θretn]
v. 威胁，恐吓
germ [dʒə:m]
n. 微生物，细菌，胚芽
n. 萌芽，起
glory ['glɔ:ri]
n. 光荣，荣誉，壮丽，赞颂
vi. 为 ..
inspiration [.inspə'reiʃən]
n. 灵感，吸入，鼓舞人心(的东西)
ambition [æm'biʃən]
n. 雄心，野心，抱负，精力
vt. 有 ..
determined [di'tə:mind]
adj. 坚毅的，下定决心的
strip [strip]
n. 长条，条状，脱衣舞
v. 脱衣，剥夺，剥
blade [bleid]
n. 刀锋，刀口
invention [in'venʃən]
n. 发明，发明物，虚构，虚构物
lawn [lɔ:n]
n. 草地，草坪
fell [fel]
动词fall的过去式
n. 兽皮
blade [bleid]
n. 刀锋，刀口
dominate ['dɔmineit]
v. 支配，占优势，俯视
artificial [.ɑ:ti'fiʃəl]
adj. 人造的，虚伪的，武断的
pity ['piti]
n. 同情，怜悯，遗憾，可惜
v. 同情，怜悯
marvelous ['mɑ:viləs]
adj. 令人惊异的，了不起的，不平常的
参考资料：
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