英国语文第四册(双语):采珠业(2)
Another celebrated pearl-fishery in the East is at the island of Ceylon;
东部另一个著名的珍珠养殖场是在锡兰岛上；
an island of which Pliny, the learned naturalist of ancient Rome, extolled the "pure gold and peerless pearls;"
古罗马博物学家普林尼就曾称赞过锡兰岛上的“纯金和无与伦比的珍珠”。
an island crowned with the never-dying palm, sitting as a queen upon the sunlit waves,
这个岛上种有永不凋零的棕榈树，像女王一样稳坐于阳光照耀的海浪之上，
while from her cinnamon groves the spicy odours float afar.
而在它的肉桂林里远远漂浮着辛辣的气味。
With pearls, as with corals, there are appointed fishing-grounds for successive years.
珍珠就像珊瑚一样有专门生长的地方，它们能在那儿生长很多年。
Certain divisions are made of the great pearl-banks stretching between the island and the continent of India.
有一些生长在散布于印度大陆和岛屿之间众多的珍珠海岸上，
The principal of these divisions lies about twenty miles from the shore of Ceylon.
最集中的是在距离锡兰海岸大约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，其它时候没有人会到这来。但就在这两个月，岛上全是采珠的人。
Ever-shifting, miscellaneous crowds of people are there, from all countries, of many tongues and many colours,
各种各样的人，他们来自不同的国家，操着不同的口音，肤色也不同。
of every gradation of rank and infinite varieties of occupation, yet all engrossed with the search for pearls.
这些人有着不同的身家背景和社会阶层，都是为了寻找珍珠聚集于此。
Some are drawn by business, and some by curiosity. The merchant is there, and the traveller, as well as crowds of busy native workmen.
他们中的有些人是为了采珍珠赚钱，有些仅仅是因为好奇而已。货商来了，游人也来了，当然还有一群又一群繁忙的当地工人。
But, hark! a gun fires.
不过，听！枪响了。
'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.
日落时分，船只下水，每只船上有二十名船员，十个人潜入水下，十个人划船。潜水者中每次有五人一起潜入深海。
Night passes, but when morn comes the diving begins.
夜幕已过，黎明到来时，采珠人就要潜入水底了。
