英语听书《海底两万里》第297期 第22章 强逼睡眠(2)

 　　And so, by loading up its ballast tanks, or by sinking obliquely¹ with its slanting² fins,  诺第留斯号或者是把所有的储水池装得特别满，或用纵斜机板斜斜下降，

　　the Nautilus successively reached depths of 3,000, 4,000, 5,000, 7,000, 9,000, and 10,000 meters,  就可以陆续达到三千、四千、五千、七千）九千、一万米的深度）这些实验最后肯定的结果是，

　　and the ultimate conclusion from these experiments was that, in all latitudes³, the sea had a permanent temperature of 4.5 degrees centigrade at a depth of 1,000 meters. 不论任何纬度下的海水，在一千米下的深度，温度总是四度半，永远不变。

　　I watched these experiments with the most intense fascination⁴.  我兴趣很浓厚地看他做这种实验。

　　Captain Nemo brought a real passion to them. I often wondered why he took these observations.  尼摩船长对这种实验有一种真正的热情。

　　Were they for the benefit of his fellow man?  我心中时常想，他做这些观察有什么目的呢？

　　It was unlikely, because sooner or later his work would perish with him in some unknown sea!  是为人类的利益吗？这很不可能；因为，总有一天，他的工作要跟他一齐在没人知道的海中消灭！

　　Unless he intended the results of his experiments for me.  除非是他打算把他的实验结果交给我。这就是预先要肯定我的奇怪游历将有结束的期限，

　　But that meant this strange voyage of mine would come to an end, and no such end was in sight. 可是，这期限，我还没有看到。

　　Be that as it may, Captain Nemo also introduced me to the different data he had obtained on the relative densities⁵ of the water in our globe's chief seas.  不管怎样，船长同样又让我知道他所获得的各种数字。这些数字是关于地球上主要海洋海水密度的报告。

　　From this news I derived⁶ some personal enlightenment having nothing to do with science. 从他给我的这个通知，我取得了不是关于科学的、而是关于个人的知识。

　　It happened the morning of January 15. The captain, with whom I was strolling on the platform, asked me if I knew how salt water differs in density⁷ from sea to sea.  这是 1月15日的早上，船长跟我一起在平台上散步，他问我是否知道各处海水的不同密度。

　　I said no, adding that there was a lack of rigorous scientific observations on this subject. 我回答不知道，同时又说，科学对于这个问题还没有做过精确的观察。

　　I've taken such observations, he told me, and I can vouch⁸ for their reliability⁹. 这些观察我做过了，他对我说，而且我可以肯定它们的准确性。

　　Fine, I replied, but the Nautilus lives in a separate world, and the secrets of its scientists don't make their way ashore¹⁰. 很好，我答，不过诺第留斯号是另一个世界，这个性界的学者的‘秘密’不能传到陆地上。

1 obliquely   

adv.斜； 倾斜； 间接； 不光明正大

参考例句：

• From the gateway two paths led obliquely across the court. 从门口那儿，有两条小路斜越过院子。 来自辞典例句
• He was receding obliquely with a curious hurrying gait. 他歪着身子，古怪而急促地迈着步子，往后退去。 来自辞典例句

2 slanting   

倾斜的，歪斜的

参考例句：

• The rain is driving [slanting] in from the south. 南边潲雨。
• The line is slanting to the left. 这根线向左斜了。

3 latitudes   

纬度

参考例句：

• Latitudes are the lines that go from east to west. 纬线是从东到西的线。
• It was the brief Indian Summer of the high latitudes. 这是高纬度地方的那种短暂的晚秋。

4 fascination   

n.令人着迷的事物，魅力，迷恋

参考例句：

• He had a deep fascination with all forms of transport.他对所有的运输工具都很着迷。
• His letters have been a source of fascination to a wide audience.广大观众一直迷恋于他的来信。

5 densities   

密集( density的名词复数 )； 稠密； 密度（固体、液体或气体单位体积的质量）； 密度（磁盘存贮数据的可用空间）

参考例句：

• The range of densities of interest is about 3.5. 有用的密度范围为3．5左右。
• Densities presumably can be probed by radar. 利用雷达也许还能探测出气体的密度。

6 derived   

vi.起源；由来；衍生；导出v.得到( derive的过去式和过去分词 )；（从…中）得到获得；源于；（从…中）提取

参考例句：

• Many English words are derived from Latin and Greek. 英语很多词源出于拉丁文和希腊文。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He derived his enthusiasm for literature from his father. 他对文学的爱好是受他父亲的影响。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 density   

n.密集，密度，浓度

参考例句：

• The population density of that country is 685 per square mile.那个国家的人口密度为每平方英里685人。
• The region has a very high population density.该地区的人口密度很高。

8 vouch   

v.担保；断定；n.被担保者

参考例句：

• They asked whether I was prepared to vouch for him.他们问我是否愿意为他作担保。
• I can vouch for the fact that he is a good worker.我保证他是好员工。

9 reliability   

n.可靠性，确实性

参考例句：

• We mustn't presume too much upon the reliability of such sources.我们不应过分指望这类消息来源的可靠性。
• I can assure you of the reliability of the information.我向你保证这消息可靠。

10 ashore   

adv.在(向)岸上，上岸

参考例句：

• The children got ashore before the tide came in.涨潮前，孩子们就上岸了。
• He laid hold of the rope and pulled the boat ashore.他抓住绳子拉船靠岸。