英国语文第六册(双语):大西洋洋底(3)
Each of these great ocean valleys rises in a series of terraces to the sides of the Old and New Worlds respectively. The course of the western valley, which lies off the United States and the West India Islands, has been traced as far south as to the Equator. The terraces of the eastern valley rise from the depths of the ocean to the western coasts of Europe and Africa. Off the coast of Africa they rise into a series of lofty and rugged summits, which we call Madeira, the Cape Verd, and the Canary Isles; and the whole system culminates in the Peak of Teneriffe in the last-named group. That peak is two miles and one-third above the level of the sea. The lowest point yet sounded in the bed of the Atlantic is five miles and a third below that level. The whole mountain system of the Atlantic basin, therefore, extends to upwards of seven miles in vertical height, or higher than any of the mountains of the globe are above the level of the sea.
每一个大洋峡谷都是从许许多多的平地中凸起至东西半球的两侧。位于美国和西印度群岛的西部山谷，其山脉被探测到向南一直延伸至赤道附近；东部山谷的平地从大西洋深处开始拔起直至欧洲和非洲的西海岸；在非洲海岸线的不远处，这些凸起的平地甚至浮出海平面直至形成一座座高耸而又崎岖的山峰。这些山峰所在的地区也就是我们所说的马德里群岛、佛得角和加纳利群岛，其最高点延伸至特内里费岛的最高处，高达海平面以上2·33英里，其最低点，据测量，处在大西洋洋底以下5·3英里的位置。因此，整个大西洋盆地的山脉系统垂直高度可达7英里以上，其海拔比世界上任何一座高于海平面的山脉都要高。
By bringing up specimens from the depth of the Atlantic, and studying them under the microscope, it has been ascertained that the bed of the ocean is covered with very minute shells, which lie on the bottom as lightly as gossamer. The microscope has not detected a single particle of sand or gravel among these little mites of shells. This fact proves that quiet reigns in the depths of the sea: that as in the air ocean there is a region of perpetual calm, "above the clouds;" so in the ocean of waters there is a region where perpetual calm prevails, beneath the troubled waves. There is not motion enough to abrade these very delicate organisms, nor current enough to sweep them about, or to mix with them a grain of the finest sand.
通过从大西洋深处提取标本并在显微镜下对其进行的研究得出，大西洋底部的确覆盖了一层极薄极轻的壳。通过显微镜观察，这些壳之间并没有沙子和砾石，这一事实证明，这个默默统治着海底深处的主宰——就像空气是“云层之上”永恒的寂静之地一样，在波涛汹涌的大海下面的水域里，也有这样一个永恒的寂静之地，小波动都不足以惊扰到这些极其脆弱的生物体，也没有足够强的水流能来把它们卷来卷去或把它们打磨成“珍珠”。
It may be that the myriads of animalcules which make the sea glow with life are secreting from it solid matter which is destined to fill up the cavities below. They furnish the atoms of which mountains are formed and plains are spread out. Our marl-beds, the clay in our river-bottoms, large portions of many of the great basins of the Earth, even flinty rocks, are composed of the remains of just such minute animals as those which have been fished up from a depth of three miles below the sea-level. These creatures, therefore, when living, may have been preparing the ingredients for the fruitful soil of a land that some earthquake or upheaval, in ages far away in the future, may yet raise up from the bottom of the sea for the use of man.
或许是无数的微生物体使海洋焕发出生命的光辉，它们从海洋中分泌的固体物质注定要填满海面下的空洞。它们提供了构成山脉和平原的原子。我们的泥床，我们河底的粘土，地球上许多大盆地的很大一部分，甚至是坚硬的岩石，都是由从海平面以下三英里深处捕捞上来的微小动物的残骸形成的。因此，或许这些生物在活着的时候就已经开始为这片土地肥沃的土壤准备原料，并在遥远的将来，在地震或动乱的影响下，这些原料最终浮出海底供人类使用。
