英语听书《海底两万里》第223期 第17章 海底森林(4)

 　　Near one o'clock, Captain Nemo gave the signal to halt.  到一点钟左右，尼摩船长发出暂时休息的信号。

　　Speaking for myself, I was glad to oblige, and we stretched out beneath an arbor¹ of winged kelp, whose long thin tendrils stood up like arrows. 在我来说，我很高兴能休息一下，我们于是在一个海草华盖下面躺下来，这海草的细长枝条像箭一般直插着。

　　This short break was a delight.  这一刻的休息我觉得很舒服，

　　It lacked only the charm of conversation. But it was impossible to speak, impossible to reply.  美中不足的是我们不能彼此交谈。没有法子说话，当然也没有法子回答。

　　I simply nudged my big copper² headpiece against Conseil's headpiece. 我仅仅把我粗大的铜头挨近康塞尔的铜头。

　　I saw a happy gleam in the gallant³ lad's eyes, and to communicate his pleasure, he jiggled around inside his carapace⁴ in the world's silliest way. 我看见了这老实人的眼睛闪出兴奋的亮光，又为表示满意起见，他在铜壳子里面乱摇乱摆，作最滑稽可笑的怪样子。

　　After four hours of strolling, I was quite astonished not to feel any intense hunger.  虽然走了四小时的路，我并不感到有吃东西的需要，心里很为惊异。

　　What kept my stomach in such a good mood I'm unable to say.  为什么会这样，我说不出来。

　　But, in exchange, I experienced that irresistible⁵ desire for sleep that comes over every diver.  但另一方面，像所有潜水人一样，我感到很想睡觉，没有法子克制。

　　Accordingly, my eyes soon closed behind their heavy glass windows and I fell into an uncontrollable doze,  所以我的眼睛也就在很厚的玻璃后面闭起来，我立即掉到无法克制的昏睡中，这昏睡，

　　which until then I had been able to fight off only through the movements of our walking.  刚才也只是靠向前的走动才暂时制止了它。

　　Captain Nemo and his muscular companion were already stretched out in this clear crystal, setting us a fine naptime example. 尼摩船长和他的壮健同伴，早就躺在清澈的水晶体中，先给我们作出睡眠的榜样了。

　　How long I was sunk in this torpor⁶ I cannot estimate; but when I awoke, it seemed as if the sun were settling toward the horizon.  我沉迷在这种昏睡中有多少时候，那我不能估计；但当我醒来的时候，看看太阳已经向西边低下去了。

　　Captain Nemo was already up, and I had started to stretch my limbs, when an unexpected apparition⁷ brought me sharply to my feet. 尼摩船长已经站起来，我也开始伸展我的四肢，就在这个时候，出现一件意外的东西，我立即站起两脚。

1 arbor   

n.凉亭；树木

参考例句：

• They sat in the arbor and chatted over tea.他们坐在凉亭里，边喝茶边聊天。
• You may have heard of Arbor Day at school.你可能在学校里听过植树节。

2 copper   

n.铜；铜币；铜器；adj.铜(制)的；(紫)铜色的

参考例句：

• The students are asked to prove the purity of copper.要求学生们检验铜的纯度。
• Copper is a good medium for the conduction of heat and electricity.铜是热和电的良导体。

3 gallant   

adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的

参考例句：

• Huang Jiguang's gallant deed is known by all men. 黄继光的英勇事迹尽人皆知。
• These gallant soldiers will protect our country.这些勇敢的士兵会保卫我们的国家的。

4 carapace   

n.（蟹或龟的）甲壳

参考例句：

• The tortoise pulled its head into his carapace.乌龟把头缩进它的壳里。
• He tickled gently at its glossy carapace,but the stubborn beetle would not budge.他轻轻地搔着甲虫光滑的壳，但这只固执的甲虫就是不动。

5 irresistible   

adj.非常诱人的，无法拒绝的，无法抗拒的

参考例句：

• The wheel of history rolls forward with an irresistible force.历史车轮滚滚向前，势不可挡。
• She saw an irresistible skirt in the store window.她看见商店的橱窗里有一条叫人着迷的裙子。

6 torpor   

n.迟钝；麻木；（动物的）冬眠

参考例句：

• The sick person gradually falls into a torpor.病人逐渐变得迟钝。
• He fell into a deep torpor.他一下子进入了深度麻痹状态。

7 apparition   

n.幽灵，神奇的现象

参考例句：

• He saw the apparition of his dead wife.他看见了他亡妻的幽灵。
• But the terror of this new apparition brought me to a stand.这新出现的幽灵吓得我站在那里一动也不敢动。