英语听书《海底两万里》第401期 第25章 地中海四十八小时(27)

 The volcanic¹ nature of this enormous pit was apparent all around us. I ventured to comment on it to my companions. 这所巨大洞穴是由火山所形成的，已在很多处得到证实。我对我的同伴们指出，要他们注意。

Can you picture, I asked them, what this funnel² must have been like when it was filled with boiling lava³, and the level of that incandescent⁴ liquid rose right to the mountain's mouth, like cast iron up the insides of a furnace? 你们想想，我问他们，当这个漏斗里面充满沸腾的火石，并且这种白热流质的水平面一直高到山的出口，像熔铁在熔炉里一样，那时候漏斗的情形是怎样呢？

I can picture it perfectly⁵, Conseil replied. But will master tell me why this huge smelter suspended operations, and how it is that an oven was replaced by the tranquil⁶ waters of a lake? 我心中完全可以想象这种情形，康塞尔回答，但先生是否可以告诉我，那位伟大的熔铸人为什么停止他的工作，那熔炉里面怎样又换了静静的湖水？

In all likelihood, Conseil, because some convulsion created an opening below the surface of the ocean, the opening that serves as a passageway for the Nautilus.  康塞尔，很可能的理由大概是因为海洋底下发生地形的变化，造成了现在作为诺第留斯号的航道的出口。

Then the waters of the Atlantic rushed inside the mountain.  大西洋的海水于是流入火山内部来了。

There ensued a dreadful struggle between the elements of fire and water, a struggle ending in King Neptune's favor.  当时水火两元素展开了猛烈的斗争，斗争的结果是涅豆尼海王胜利。

But many centuries have passed since then, and this submerged volcano has changed into a peaceful cavern⁷. 但此后又不知道过了多少世纪，被水沉没的火山，就转变为安静乎和的岩洞。

That's fine, Ned Land answered. I accept the explanation, but in our personal interests, I'm sorry this opening the professor mentions wasn't made above sea level. 很好，尼德·兰回答，我接受上面的解释，不过，为我们的利益起见，我很惋惜教授说的那个口为什么不开在海平面上。

But Ned my friend, Conseil answered, if it weren't an underwater passageway, the Nautilus couldn't enter it! 不过，尼德朋友，康塞尔回答，如果这口不是在地下，那诺第留斯号就不能穿进来了！

And I might add, Mr. Land, I said, that the waters wouldn't have rushed under the mountain, and the volcano would still be a volcano. So you have nothing to be sorry about. 兰师傅，我又得说，如果海水不从山底下冲进去，火山也还是火山。所以您的惋惜是多余的。

1 volcanic   

adj.火山的；象火山的；由火山引起的

参考例句：

• There have been several volcanic eruptions this year.今年火山爆发了好几次。
• Volcanic activity has created thermal springs and boiling mud pools.火山活动产生了温泉和沸腾的泥浆池。

2 funnel   

n.漏斗；烟囱；v.汇集

参考例句：

• He poured the petrol into the car through a funnel.他用一个漏斗把汽油灌入汽车。
• I like the ship with a yellow funnel.我喜欢那条有黄烟囱的船。

3 lava   

n.熔岩，火山岩

参考例句：

• The lava flowed down the sides of the volcano.熔岩沿火山坡面涌流而下。
• His anger spilled out like lava.他的愤怒像火山爆发似的迸发出来。

4 incandescent   

adj.遇热发光的， 白炽的，感情强烈的

参考例句：

• The incandescent lamp we use in daily life was invented by Edison.我们日常生活中用的白炽灯，是爱迪生发明的。
• The incandescent quality of his words illuminated the courage of his countrymen.他炽热的语言点燃了他本国同胞的勇气。

5 perfectly   

adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said.证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。
• Everything that we're doing is all perfectly above board.我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。

6 tranquil   

adj. 安静的, 宁静的, 稳定的, 不变的

参考例句：

• The boy disturbed the tranquil surface of the pond with a stick. 那男孩用棍子打破了平静的池面。
• The tranquil beauty of the village scenery is unique. 这乡村景色的宁静是绝无仅有的。

7 cavern   

n.洞穴，大山洞

参考例句：

• The cavern walls echoed his cries.大山洞的四壁回响着他的喊声。
• It suddenly began to shower,and we took refuge in the cavern.天突然下起雨来，我们在一个山洞里避雨。