英语听书《海底两万里》第367期 第24章 希腊群岛(2)

 I could easily see what the Canadian was driving at. In any event, I thought it best to let him have his chat, and we all three went to sit next to the beacon¹, where we were less exposed to the damp spray from the billows. 我很知道加拿大人要商谈的是什么事情，不管怎样，我想谈一谈是好些，因为他要谈。我们三人于是坐到探照灯附近，在那边我们可以受到一些浪花打来的泡沫。

Now, Ned, we're all ears, I said. What have you to tell us? 尼德，我说，我们现在静听您的话了。您有什么好消息告诉我们吗？

What I've got to tell you is very simple, the Canadian replied. We're in Europe, and before Captain Nemo's whims² take us deep into the polar seas or back to Oceania, I say we should leave this Nautilus. 我要告诉你们的是很简单的几句。加拿大人回答，我们现在在欧洲了，在尼摩船长的任性行为还没有带我们到两极的海底中，或把我们带回大洋洲一带之前，我要求离开诺第留斯号。

I confess that such discussions with the Canadian always baffled me.  我承认，跟加拿大人饲·论这事，总是让我心中很为难。

I didn't want to restrict my companions' freedom in any way, and yet I had no desire to leave Captain Nemo.  我一点也不想妨碍我的同伴们得到自由，同时我自己又完全没有离开尼摩船长的愿望。

Thanks to him and his submersible, I was finishing my undersea research by the day, and I was rewriting my book on the great ocean depths in the midst of its very element.  由于他，由于他的船，我日复一日地完成了我的海底研究，也就是在海底把我这部关于海底宝藏的书重写出来。

Would I ever again have such an opportunity to observe the ocean's wonders? Absolutely not!  我还能再得到这样一个机会来观察这些海洋的秘密吗？当然不可能！

So I couldn't entertain this idea of leaving the Nautilus before completing our course of inquiry³. 所以我就不可能想象在我们的周期考察完成之前就离开诺第留斯号。

Ned my friend, I said, answer me honestly. Are you bored with this ship? Are you sorry that fate has cast you into Captain Nemo's hands? 尼德朋友，我说，请您直率地回答我。您在这船上觉得厌烦无聊吗？您很悔恨命运把您送到尼摩船长手中来吗？

The Canadian paused for a short while before replying. Then, crossing his arms: 加拿大人停了一刻，没有回答。然后，交叉着两子说。

Honestly, he said, I'm not sorry about this voyage under the seas. I'll be glad to have done it, but in order to have done it, it has to finish. That's my feeling. 坦白说，我并不悔恨这次海底旅行。我很高兴做了这件事，但是必须做完，才能算数。这就是我的意思。

It will finish, Ned. 尼德，这事一定要做完的。

Where and when? 在什么地方和什么时候做完呢？

Where? I don't know. When? I can't say. Or, rather, I suppose it will be over when these seas have nothing more to teach us. Everything that begins in this world must inevitably⁴ come to an end. 什么地方？我一点不知道。什么时候？我不能说，或不如说，我假定旅行是要结束的,就在那一天，海洋中再没有什么可以给我们学习的时候。

1 beacon   

n.烽火，（警告用的）闪火灯，灯塔

参考例句：

• The blink of beacon could be seen for miles.灯塔的光亮在数英里之外都能看见。
• The only light over the deep black sea was the blink shone from the beacon.黑黢黢的海面上唯一的光明就只有灯塔上闪现的亮光了。

2 WHIMS   

虚妄，禅病

参考例句：

• The mate observed regretfully that he could not account for that young fellow's whims. 那位伙伴很遗憾地说他不能说出那年轻人产生怪念头的原因。
• The rest she had for food and her own whims. 剩下的钱她用来吃饭和买一些自己喜欢的东西。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

3 inquiry   

n.打听，询问，调查，查问

参考例句：

• Many parents have been pressing for an inquiry into the problem.许多家长迫切要求调查这个问题。
• The field of inquiry has narrowed down to five persons.调查的范围已经缩小到只剩5个人了。

4 inevitably   

adv.不可避免地；必然发生地

参考例句：

• In the way you go on,you are inevitably coming apart.照你们这样下去，毫无疑问是会散伙的。
• Technological changes will inevitably lead to unemployment.技术变革必然会导致失业。