英语听书《海底两万里》第454期 第27章 南极(13)

 Right, I said. Nevertheless, it isn't mathematically exact proof, because the equinox needn't fall precisely¹ at noon. 是的，我说，不过这个测定从数学上看，并不是完全精确的，因为春分时间不一定是在正午。

No doubt, sir, but the error will be under 100 meters, and that's close enough for us. Until tomorrow then. 当然，先生，但差数也不能过一百米，并且我们也不要更进一步的准确，那么，明天再来吧。

Captain Nemo went back on board. Conseil and I stayed behind until five o'clock, surveying the beach, observing and studying.  尼摩船长转回船上去了。康塞尔和我，我们留到五点，在海滩上跑来跑去，作观察，作研究。

The only unusual object I picked up was an auk's egg of remarkable² size, for which a collector would have paid more than 1,000 francs.  我没有得到什么新奇的东西，就是拾得一个海枭的蛋，蛋特别大，一个珍奇收藏家可能出一千多法郎来收买。

Its cream-colored tint³, plus the streaks⁴ and markings that decorated it like so many hieroglyphics⁵, made it a rare trinket.  它的浅黄颜色，像用象形文字描绘在上面的线条和花纹，使它成为一件希有的珍玩。

I placed it in Conseil's hands, and holding it like precious porcelain⁶ from China, that cautious, sure-footed lad got it back to the Nautilus in one piece. 我把它交给康塞尔，这个小心的孩子脚步很稳，把它拿在手中，像珍贵的中国瓷器一样，完整地带到诺第留斯号。

There I put this rare egg inside one of the glass cases in the museum.  到了船上，我把蛋放在陈列室的一个玻璃橱中。

I ate supper, feasting with appetite on an excellent piece of seal liver whose flavor reminded me of pork.  我晚餐吃得很好，吃了一块海豹肝，味道很美，很像猪肝。

Then I went to bed; but not without praying, like a good Hindu, for the favors of the radiant orb⁷. 然后我回房睡觉，睡的时候，像印度人那样，祈求太阳的恩惠，要它明天出来。

The next day, March 21, bright and early at five o'clock in the morning, I climbed onto the platform. I found Captain Nemo there. 第二天，3月21日早晨五点，我走上平台，我看见尼摩船长已经在台上，

The weather is clearing a bit, he told me. I have high hopes.  他对我说：天气清朗一些，太阳出来很有希望。

After breakfast we'll make our way ashore⁸ and choose an observation post. 早餐后，我们到地上去，选择一个地点，做我们的观察。

This issue settled, I went to find Ned Land. I wanted to take him with me.  这点确定后，我去找尼德·兰。我想拉他跟我一起去。

The obstinate⁹ Canadian refused, and I could clearly see that his tight-lipped mood and his bad temper were growing by the day.  固执的加拿大人拒绝了，我很看得出来，他的沉默跟他的坏脾气一样，一天一天增加了。

Under the circumstances I ultimately wasn't sorry that he refused.  本来，他在这种情况下表示固执不愿意去，我也并不惋惜。

In truth, there were too many seals ashore, and it would never do to expose this impulsive¹⁰ fisherman to such temptations. 真的，地上海豹大多了，我们下应该拿它们来诱惑这个粗心不思考的打鱼人。

1 precisely   

adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地

参考例句：

• It's precisely that sort of slick sales-talk that I mistrust.我不相信的正是那种油腔滑调的推销宣传。
• The man adjusted very precisely.那个人调得很准。

2 remarkable   

adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的

参考例句：

• She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。
• These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。

3 tint   

n.淡色，浅色；染发剂；vt.着以淡淡的颜色

参考例句：

• You can't get up that naturalness and artless rosy tint in after days.你今后不再会有这种自然和朴实无华的红润脸色。
• She gave me instructions on how to apply the tint.她告诉我如何使用染发剂。

4 streaks   

n.（与周围有所不同的）条纹( streak的名词复数 )；（通常指不好的）特征（倾向）；（不断经历成功或失败的）一段时期v.快速移动( streak的第三人称单数 )；使布满条纹

参考例句：

• streaks of grey in her hair 她头上的绺绺白发
• Bacon has streaks of fat and streaks of lean. 咸肉中有几层肥的和几层瘦的。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

5 hieroglyphics   

n.pl.象形文字

参考例句：

• Hieroglyphics are carved into the walls of the temple. 寺庙的墙壁上刻着象形文字。
• His writing is so bad it just looks like hieroglyphics to me. 他写的糟透了，对我来说就像天书一样。

6 porcelain   

n.瓷；adj.瓷的，瓷制的

参考例句：

• These porcelain plates have rather original designs on them.这些瓷盘的花纹很别致。
• The porcelain vase is enveloped in cotton.瓷花瓶用棉花裹着。

7 orb   

n.太阳；星球；v.弄圆；成球形

参考例句：

• The blue heaven,holding its one golden orb,poured down a crystal wash of warm light.蓝蓝的天空托着金色的太阳，洒下一片水晶般明亮温暖的光辉。
• It is an emanation from the distant orb of immortal light.它是从远处那个发出不灭之光的天体上放射出来的。

8 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。

9 obstinate   

adj.顽固的，倔强的，不易屈服的，较难治愈的

参考例句：

• She's too obstinate to let anyone help her.她太倔强了，不会让任何人帮她的。
• The trader was obstinate in the negotiation.这个商人在谈判中拗强固执。

10 impulsive   

adj.冲动的，刺激的；有推动力的

参考例句：

• She is impulsive in her actions.她的行为常出于冲动。
• He was neither an impulsive nor an emotional man,but a very honest and sincere one.他不是个一冲动就鲁莽行事的人，也不多愁善感.他为人十分正直、诚恳。