英國語文第四冊(雙語):采珠業(yè)(2)
Another celebrated pearl-fishery in the East is at the island of Ceylon;
東部另一個著名的珍珠養(yǎng)殖場是在錫蘭島上；
an island of which Pliny, the learned naturalist of ancient Rome, extolled the "pure gold and peerless pearls;"
古羅馬博物學家普林尼就曾稱贊過錫蘭島上的“純金和無與倫比的珍珠”。
an island crowned with the never-dying palm, sitting as a queen upon the sunlit waves,
這個島上種有永不凋零的棕櫚樹，像女王一樣穩(wěn)坐于陽光照耀的海浪之上，
while from her cinnamon groves the spicy odours float afar.
而在它的肉桂林里遠遠漂浮著辛辣的氣味。
With pearls, as with corals, there are appointed fishing-grounds for successive years.
珍珠就像珊瑚一樣有專門生長的地方，它們能在那兒生長很多年。
Certain divisions are made of the great pearl-banks stretching between the island and the continent of India.
有一些生長在散布于印度大陸和島嶼之間眾多的珍珠海岸上，
The principal of these divisions lies about twenty miles from the shore of Ceylon.
最集中的是在距離錫蘭海岸大約20里的地方。
This spot, a desert all the year round except in February and March, is then alive with treasure-seekers.
除了二月和三月以外，其它時候沒有人會到這來。但就在這兩個月，島上全是采珠的人。
Ever-shifting, miscellaneous crowds of people are there, from all countries, of many tongues and many colours,
各種各樣的人，他們來自不同的國家，操著不同的口音，膚色也不同。
of every gradation of rank and infinite varieties of occupation, yet all engrossed with the search for pearls.
這些人有著不同的身家背景和社會階層，都是為了尋找珍珠聚集于此。
Some are drawn by business, and some by curiosity. The merchant is there, and the traveller, as well as crowds of busy native workmen.
他們中的有些人是為了采珍珠賺錢，有些僅僅是因為好奇而已。貨商來了，游人也來了，當然還有一群又一群繁忙的當地工人。
But, hark! a gun fires.
不過，聽！槍響了。
'Tis sunset, and the boats are launched, each with its twenty men, —ten to row and ten to dive, five of whom at a time go down into the deep.
日落時分，船只下水，每只船上有二十名船員，十個人潛入水下，十個人劃船。潛水者中每次有五人一起潛入深海。
Night passes, but when morn comes the diving begins.
夜幕已過，黎明到來時，采珠人就要潛入水底了。
