海底兩萬里 第168期 第12章 一切都用電(1)

These are the normal navigational instruments, I replied, and I'm familiar with their uses.

這些是航海家常用的儀器，我答，我知道它們的用法。我現(xiàn)在看見的這個表盤，上面有能轉(zhuǎn)動的針，那不是流體壓力計嗎?

But no doubt these others answer pressing needs unique to the Nautilus. That dial I see there, with the needle moving across it--isn't it a pressure gauge?

但這里還有其它的儀器，一定是作為諾第留斯號特殊需要而用的。

It is indeed a pressure gauge.

正是流體壓力計。

It's placed in contact with the water, and it indicates the outside pressure on our hull, which in turn gives me the depth at which my submersible is sitting.

它是跟海水相通的，可以指出外面海水的壓力，因此，我便知道我這船所在的深度。

And these are some new breed of sounding line?

那些新式的測驗器又是做什么用的呢?

They're thermometric sounding lines that report water temperatures in the differentstrata.

那些是溫度測驗器，給我報告海底下面各水層的溫度。

And these other instruments, whose functions I can't even guess?

還有那些我猜不到用處的儀器呢?

Here, professor, I need to give you some background information, Captain Nemo said. Sokindly hear me out.

教授，談到這里，我就應當給您說明一下，尼摩船長說，請您聽我說吧。

He fell silent for some moments, then he said:

他靜默了一會，然后說：

There's a powerful, obedient, swift, and effortless force that can be bent to any use and which reigns supreme aboard my vessel.

這里有一種強大的順手的迅速的方便的原動力，它可以有各種用處，船上一切依靠它。

It does everything. It lights me, it warms me, it's the soul of my mechanical equipment. This force is electricity.

所有一切都由它造出來。它給我光，它給我熱，它是我船上機械的靈魂。這原動力就是電。