海底兩萬里 第20期 第2章 正與反(9)

But I mustn't let these fantasies run away with me!

我又讓自己浸沉在種種空想中了!

Enough of these fairy tales that time has changed for me into harsh realities.

現(xiàn)在要停止這些空想，因?yàn)?，在我看來，時間已經(jīng)把這些空想變成為可怕的現(xiàn)實(shí)。

I repeat: opinion had crystallized as to the nature of this phenomenon, and the public accepted without argument the existence of a prodigious creature that had nothing in common with the fabled sea serpent.

我再說一次，當(dāng)時對于這件怪事的性質(zhì)有這一種意見，就是大家都一致承認(rèn)有一種神奇東西的存在，而這種東西和怪誕的大海蛇并沒有絲毫共同之點(diǎn)。

Yet if some saw it purely as a scientific problem to be solved, more practical people, especially in America and England, were determined to purge the ocean of thisdaunting monster, to insure the safety of transoceanic travel. The industrial and commercial newspapers dealt with the question chiefly from this viewpoint.

可是，盡管有一些人把這事看成是一個待解決的純粹科學(xué)問題，但另一些比較注意實(shí)利的人，特別在美國和英國，這類人很多，他們主張把海洋上這個可怕的怪物清除掠，使海上交通的安全獲得保障。

The Shipping & Mercantile Gazette, the Lloyd's List, France's Packetboat andMaritime & Colonial Review, all the rags devoted to insurance companies,who threatened to raise their premium rates,were unanimous on this point.

特別是工商界的報刊，都從這個觀點(diǎn)來研究這個問題。《航業(yè)商情雜志》,《來依特公司航海雜志》、《郵船雜志》、《海洋殖民雜志》以及為保險公司宣傳公司要提高保險費(fèi)的那些報紙，對于清除怪物這一點(diǎn)，都一致表示同意。

Public opinion being pronounced, the States of the Union were the first in the field.

公眾的意見一提出來，北美合眾國首先發(fā)表了聲明，

In New York preparations were under way for an expedition designed to chase this narwhale.

要在紐約作準(zhǔn)備，組織清除獨(dú)角鯨的遠(yuǎn)征隊(duì)。

A high-speed frigate, the Abraham Lincoln, was fitted out for putting to sea as soon as possible.

一艘裝有沖角的高速度的二級戰(zhàn)艦林肯號定于最近的期間駛出海面。

The naval arsenals were unlocked for Commander Farragut, who pressed energetically forward with the arming of his frigate.

各造船廠都給法拉古司令宮以種種便利，幫助他早一天把這艘二級戰(zhàn)艦裝備起來。