第2章 小美人魚 The Little Mermaid(第3/23 頁)

深得實際上任何纜繩都無法測量：

so deep, indeed, that no cable could fathom it:

許多教堂的尖塔一個接一個地堆積起來，也無法從海底到達海面。

many church steeples, piled one upon another, would not reach from the ground beneath to the surface of the water above.

海王和他的臣民就住在那裡。

there dwell the Sea King and his subjects.

我們可不能想象海底除了光禿禿的黃沙就什麼都沒有。

we must not imagine that there is nothing at the bottom of the sea but bare yellow sand.

不，當然不是；

No, indeed;

那裡生長著最奇特的花卉和植物；

the most singular flowers and plants grow there;

它們的葉子和莖非常柔韌，水最輕微的波動都會使它們晃動，彷彿它們有生命似的。

the leaves and stems of which are so pliant, that the slightest agitation of the water causes them to stir as if they had life.

大大小小的魚在枝杈間遊動，就像陸地上鳥兒在樹林間飛翔一樣。

Fishes, both large and small, glide between the branches, as birds fly among the trees here upon land.

在最深的地方，矗立著海王的城堡。

In the deepest spot of all, stands the castle of the Sea King.

它的城牆是用珊瑚建成的，長長的哥特式窗戶是用最清澈的琥珀做成的。

Its walls are built of coral, and the long, gothic windows are of the clearest amber.

屋頂是由貝殼構成的，隨著水流過貝殼會開合。

the roof is formed of shells, that open and close as the water flows over them.

它們的外觀非常美麗，因為每個貝殼裡都有一顆閃閃發光的珍珠，這珍珠適合做女王的王冠。

their appearance is very beautiful, for in each lies a glittering pearl, which would be fit for the diadem of a queen.

海王已經鰥居多年，他年邁的母親為他管家。

the Sea King had been a widower for many years, and his aged mother ke