英语听书《海底两万里》第313期 第23章 珊瑚王国(10)

 　　At a signal from Captain Nemo, one of his men stepped forward and, a few feet from this cross, detached a mattock from his belt and began to dig a hole. 尼摩船长做个手势，一个船员走上前来，他在距十字架几英尺远的地方，从腰间取下铁锨，开始挖坑。

　　I finally understood! This clearing was a cemetery¹, this hole a grave, that oblong object the body of the man who must have died during the night!  我完全明白了！这空地是墓地，这坑是坟穴，这长形的东西是昨夜死去的人的尸体！

　　Captain Nemo and his men had come to bury their companion in this communal² resting place on the inaccessible³ ocean floor! 尼摩船长和他的船员们来到这隔绝人世的海洋底下，这所公共的墓地，埋葬他们的同伴。

　　No! My mind was reeling as never before! Never had ideas of such impact raced through my brain! I didn't want to see what my eyes saw! 不！我的心从来没有过这样的激动，这样的紧张！从来没有过更动人的思想像现在这样侵到我的脑中来！我简直不想看我的眼睛所看见的东西了！

　　Meanwhile the grave digging went slowly. Fish fled here and there as their retreat was disturbed.  不过坟穴挖得很慢。鱼类被惊动，到处乱跑。

　　I heard the pick ringing on the limestone⁴ soil, its iron tip sometimes giving off sparks when it hit a stray piece of flint on the sea bottom.  我听到石灰质的地上铁锨叮叮作响，铁锨有时碰到丢在水底下的火石，发出星星的火光。

　　The hole grew longer, wider, and soon was deep enough to receive the body. 坟穴渐渐加长，渐渐加大，不久便相当深，可以容受尸体了。

　　Then the pallbearers approached. Wrapped in white fabric⁵ made from filaments⁶ of the fan mussel, the body was lowered into its watery⁷ grave.  这时抬尸体的便走近前来，尸体用白色的麻布裹着，放到湿润的坑中去。

　　Captain Nemo, arms crossed over his chest, knelt in a posture⁸ of prayer, as did all the friends of him who had loved them.  尼摩船长两手交叉在胸前，死者曾经爱过的所有的朋友们，都跪下来，作祈祷的姿态。

　　My two companions and I bowed reverently⁹. 我的两个同伴和我也很虔诚地鞠躬敬礼。

　　The grave was then covered over with the rubble¹⁰ dug from the seafloor, and it formed a low mound¹¹. 坟穴于是被那地上挖出的土石掩盖起来，地面形成微微的隆起。

　　When this was done, Captain Nemo and his men stood up; then they all approached the grave, sank again on bended knee, and extended their hands in a sign of final farewell.  当坟穴填好了，尼摩船长和他的船员都站起来，然后走到坟前，大家屈膝，伸手，作最后告别的姿势。

1 cemetery   

n.坟墓，墓地，坟场

参考例句：

• He was buried in the cemetery.他被葬在公墓。
• His remains were interred in the cemetery.他的遗体葬在墓地。

2 communal   

adj.公有的，公共的，公社的，公社制的

参考例句：

• There was a communal toilet on the landing for the four flats.在楼梯平台上有一处公共卫生间供4套公寓使用。
• The toilets and other communal facilities were in a shocking state.厕所及其他公共设施的状况极其糟糕。

3 inaccessible   

adj.达不到的，难接近的

参考例句：

• This novel seems to me among the most inaccessible.这本书对我来说是最难懂的小说之一。
• The top of Mount Everest is the most inaccessible place in the world.珠穆朗玛峰是世界上最难到达的地方。

4 limestone   

n.石灰石

参考例句：

• Limestone is often used in building construction.石灰岩常用于建筑。
• Cement is made from limestone.水泥是由石灰石制成的。

5 fabric   

n.织物，织品，布；构造，结构，组织

参考例句：

• The fabric will spot easily.这种织品很容易玷污。
• I don't like the pattern on the fabric.我不喜欢那块布料上的图案。

6 filaments   

n.（电灯泡的）灯丝( filament的名词复数 )；丝极；细丝；丝状物

参考例句：

• Instead, sarcomere shortening occurs when the thin filaments'slide\" by the thick filaments. 此外，肌节的缩短发生于细肌丝沿粗肌丝“滑行”之际。 来自辞典例句
• Wetting-force data on filaments of any diameter and shape can easily obtained. 各种直径和形状的长丝的润湿力数据是易于测量的。 来自辞典例句

7 watery   

adj.有水的，水汪汪的；湿的，湿润的

参考例句：

• In his watery eyes there is an expression of distrust.他那含泪的眼睛流露出惊惶失措的神情。
• Her eyes became watery because of the smoke.因为烟熏，她的双眼变得泪汪汪的。

8 posture   

n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势

参考例句：

• The government adopted an uncompromising posture on the issue of independence.政府在独立这一问题上采取了毫不妥协的态度。
• He tore off his coat and assumed a fighting posture.他脱掉上衣，摆出一副打架的架势。

9 reverently   

adv.虔诚地

参考例句：

• He gazed reverently at the handiwork. 他满怀敬意地凝视着这件手工艺品。
• Pork gazed at it reverently and slowly delight spread over his face. 波克怀着愉快的心情看着这只表，脸上慢慢显出十分崇敬的神色。

10 rubble   

n.（一堆）碎石，瓦砾

参考例句：

• After the earthquake,it took months to clean up the rubble.地震后，花了数月才清理完瓦砾。
• After the war many cities were full of rubble.战后许多城市到处可见颓垣残壁。

11 mound   

n.土墩，堤，小山；v.筑堤，用土堆防卫

参考例句：

• The explorers climbed a mound to survey the land around them.勘探者爬上土丘去勘测周围的土地。
• The mound can be used as our screen.这个土丘可做我们的掩蔽物。