Indeed, the captain replied with a smile, and in this respect, the moderns aren't much farther along than the ancients.

是的，船长带着微笑回答，关于这一点，近代人并没有比古代入进步。

It took many centuries to discover the mechanical power of steam!

发明蒸汽力是要好几千百年的时间呢！

Who knows whether we'll see a second Nautilus within the next 100 years!

谁知道在一百年后，是否将有第二只诺第留斯号出现呢！

Progress is slow, Professor Aronnax.

啊龙纳斯先生，进步是很慢的呢。

It's true, I replied. Your ship is a century ahead of its time, perhaps several centuries. It would be most unfortunate if such a secret were to die with its inventor!

真的，我回答，您的船比它的时代进步了一世纪，或者好几世纪。这样一个秘密要跟它的发明人一同消逝，是多么不幸，尼摩船长并不回答我的话。

Captain Nemo did not reply. After some minutes of silence:

静默了几分钟后，我问：

We were discussing, he said, the views of ancient historians on the dangers of navigating this Red Sea?

船长，您好像是特别研究过这海，您可以让我知道红海这名字的来源吗？

True, I replied. But weren't their fears exaggerated?

当然愿意知道。阿龙纳斯先生，关于这问题有很多的解释。您愿意知道一个十四世纪的史学家的意见吗？

Yes and no, Professor Aronnax, answered Captain Nemo, who seemed to know his Red Sea by heart.

这位空想家认为红海这个名字是在以色列人走过这海之后才有的，

To a modern ship, well rigged, solidly constructed, and in control of its course thanks to obedient steam, some conditions are no longer hazardous that offered all sorts of dangers to the vessels of the ancients.

当时法老军队追赶他们到海上，海听到摩西的声音就涌上来，把法老军队淹没了：为表示这种神奇，变成为鲜红的海，自后除了红海的称呼再不能叫它别的名字了。

Picture those early navigators venturing forth in sailboats built from planks lashed together with palm-tree ropes, caulked with powdered resin, and coated with dogfish grease.

尼摩船长，我回答，这是诗人的解释，我不能满足。

They didn't even have instruments for taking their bearings, they went by guesswork in the midst of currents they barely knew.

所以我要问问您个人的意见。阿龙纳斯先生，照我的意思，我们要把红海名字看作为希伯来语爱德龙一词的转译，

Under such conditions, shipwrecks had to be numerous.

古代的人所以称它这个名字，是由于这海的水有一种特殊颜色。

But nowadays steamers providing service between Suez and the South Seas have nothing to fear from the fury of this gulf, despite the contrary winds of its monsoons.

可是，直到目前，我看见的都是清澈的水波，没有什么特殊颜色。

Their captains and passengers no longer prepare for departure with sacrifices to placate the gods, and after returning, they don't traipse in wreaths and gold ribbons to say thanks at the local temple.

当然，不过您走进这海湾的内部时，您就会看到这奇异现象。我回想起从前看过的多尔湾，完全红色，好像血湖一样。