leagues - ligues, ligue
Chapter - chapitre, branche, section
shifting - le changement de vitesse, mutation, (shift), quart, équipe
reef - récif, écueil
The year 1866 was signalised by a remarkable incident, a mysterious and puzzling phenomenon, which doubtless no one has yet forgotten. Not to mention rumours which agitated the maritime population and excited the public mind, even in the interior of continents, seafaring men were particularly excited.
remarkable - remarquable
incident - incident, checkfait-divers, checkaccident
mysterious - mystérieux
phenomenon - phénomene, phénomene
doubtless - sans doute, sans aucun doute, sans nul doute, indubitablement
rumours - rumeurs, rumeur
maritime - maritime
interior - intérieur
seafaring - la mer
particularly - en particulier
Merchants, common sailors, captains of vessels, skippers, both of Europe and America, naval officers of all countries, and the Governments of several states on the two continents, were deeply interested in the matter.
merchants - marchands, marchand, marchande
Sailors - marins, matelot, matelote, femme matelot, femme-matelot, marin
captains - les capitaines, capitaine, capitaine de vaisseau
vessels - navires, vaisseau, recipient
skippers - les skippers, capitaine
naval - naval
deeply - profondément
For some time past, vessels had been met by "an enormous thing," a long object, spindle-shaped, occasionally phosphorescent, and infinitely larger and more rapid in its movements than a whale.
spindle - broche, fuseau, essieu
Occasionally - occasionnellement
phosphorescent - phosphorescent
infinitely - a l'infini
rapid - rapide, rapides
whale - baleine
The facts relating to this apparition (entered in various log-books) agreed in most respects as to the shape of the object or creature in question, the untiring rapidity of its movements, its surprising power of locomotion, and the peculiar life with which it seemed endowed. If it was a cetacean, it surpassed in size all those hitherto classified in science.
relating - en relation, raconter, relater
apparition - apparition
various - divers
log - log, rondin, buche
respects - respecte, respect, respecter
creature - créature, etre
untiring - inlassable
rapidity - rapidité, célérité
locomotion - locomotion
peculiar - particulier, extraordinaire, bizarre, curieux
endowed - dotés, doter, enrichir
Cetacean - cétacé
surpassed - surpassé, surpasser, dépasser, excéder
hitherto - jusqu'a présent, jusqu'ici, jusqu'alors, jusqu'a maintenant
classified - classée, classa, classifiai, classifiés
Taking into consideration the mean of observations made at divers times,"rejecting the timid estimate of those who assigned to this object a length of two hundred feet, equally with the exaggerated opinions which set it down as a mile in width and three in length,"we might fairly conclude that this mysterious being surpassed greatly all dimensions admitted by the ichthyologists of the day, if it existed at all. And that it did exist was an undeniable fact; and, with that tendency which disposes the human mind in favour of the marvellous, we can understand the excitement produced in the entire world by this supernatural apparition. As to classing it in the list of fables, the idea was out of the question.
consideration - considération, checkraison, checkmotif, checkrécompense
observations - observations, observation, remarque
divers - des plongeurs, plongeur, plongeuse
rejecting - rejeter
timid - timide, craintif
estimate - estimation, devis, estimer
assigned - assigné, désigner, assigner, attribuer
Length - longueur, durée
equally - également
exaggerated - exagéré, exagérer, outrer
set - set, Seth
width - largeur
fairly - équitable, justement, assez
conclude - conclure
greatly - grandement
dimensions - dimensions, dimension
admitted - admis, admettre, avouer, reconnaître
ichthyologists - ichtyologistes, ichthyologue, ichtyologue
undeniable - indéniable
tendency - tendance
disposes - dispose, débarrasser
in favour - en faveur
marvellous - merveilleux
excitement - l'excitation, excitation
entire - entiere, entier, entiere
supernatural - surnaturel, surnaturelle
fables - fables, conte, fable
On the 20th of July, 1866, the steamer Governor Higginson, of the Calcutta and Burnach steam navigation Company, had met this moving mass five miles off the east coast of Australia.
steamer - vapeur
governor - gouverneur, gouverneure
Calcutta - calcutta, Kolkata
steam navigation - la navigation a vapeur
mass - masse, foule, amas
Australia - l'australie, Australie
Captain Baker thought at first that he was in the presence of an unknown sandbank; he even prepared to determine its exact position, when two columns of water, projected by the inexplicable object, shot with a hissing noise a hundred and fifty feet up into the air.
captain - capitaine, capitaine de vaisseau, agir en capitaine, piloter
Baker - baker, boulanger, boulangere
presence - présence
unknown - inconnu, inconnue
sandbank - banc de sable
determine - déterminer
inexplicable - inexplicable
shot - tir, tirai, tiré, tirâmes, tirerent, tira
Now, unless the sandbank had been submitted to the intermittent eruption of a geyser, the Governor Higginson had to do neither more nor less than with an aquatic mammal, unknown till then, which threw up from its blow-holes columns of water mixed with air and vapour.
Unless - a moins que, a moins que, sauf si
submitted - soumis, soumettre
intermittent - intermittent
eruption - éruption
Geyser - geyser
nor - ni, NON-OU
aquatic - aquatique
mammal - mammifere, mammifere
till then - jusqu'a ce moment-la
mixed - mixte, mélanger
vapour - vapeur, fumées
Similar facts were observed on the 23rd of July in the same year, in the Pacific Ocean, by the Columbus, of the West India and Pacific steam Navigation Company.
observed - observée, observer, remarquer, respecter, garder
Pacific - pacifique
Columbus - columbus, Colomb, Christophe Colomb
India - l'inde, Inde
steam - de la vapeur
navigation - navigation
But this extraordinary cetaceous creature could transport itself from one place to another with surprising velocity; as, in an interval of three days, the Governor Higginson and the Columbus had observed it at two different points of the chart, separated by a distance of more than seven hundred nautical leagues.
extraordinary - extraordinaire
cetaceous - cétacés
velocity - la vélocité, vecteur vitesse, vélocité, fréquence
interval - intervalle
nautical - nautiques
Fifteen days later, two thousand miles farther off, the Helvetia, of the Compagnie-Nationale, and the Shannon, of the Royal Mail Steamship Company, sailing to windward in that portion of the Atlantic lying between the United States and Europe, respectively signalled the monster to each other in 42° 15˛ N. lat. and 60° 35˛ W. long.
Royal - royal, royale, trochure, cacatois
Steamship - bateau a vapeur, bateau a vapeur
portion - part, portion
respectively - respectivement
signalled - signalée, signal, signaler
monster - monstre, bete, monstrueux
Lat - lat
In these simultaneous observations they thought themselves justified in estimating the minimum length of the mammal at more than three hundred and fifty feet, as the Shannon and Helvetia were of smaller dimensions than it, though they measured three hundred feet over all.
simultaneous - simultanées
justified - justifiée, justifier
Estimating - estimation, devis, estimer
minimum - minimum
though - mais, néanmoins, cependant, malgré, bien que
measured - mesurée, mesure, mesurer
Now the largest whales, those which frequent those parts of the sea round the Aleutian, Kulammak, and Umgullich islands, have never exceeded the length of sixty yards, if they attain that.
Whales - baleines, (whale) baleines
frequent - fréquents, fréquenter
Aleutian - aléoutiennes, aléoutien
exceeded - dépassé, excéder, dépasser
attain - atteindre
These reports arriving one after the other, with fresh observations made on board the transatlantic ship Pereire, a collision which occurred between the Etna of the Inman line and the monster, a procès verbal directed by the officers of the French frigate Normandie, a very accurate survey made by the staff of Commodore Fitz-James on board the Lord Clyde, greatly influenced public opinion.
transatlantic - transatlantique
collision - collision
occurred - s'est produite, produire
Etna - L'Etna
verbal - verbal, oral
French - français, tlangue française, t+Français
frigate - frégate
Normandie - Normandie
accurate - exacte
staff - le personnel, personnelle
Commodore - commodore
James - james, Jacques
Lord - châtelain, seigneur, monsieur
influenced - influencée, influence, influencer, influer
Light-thinking people jested upon the phenomenon, but grave practical countries, such as England, America, and Germany, treated the matter more seriously.
jested - jested, plaisanterie
upon - sur, a
grave - tombe
practical - pratique
Germany - l'allemagne, Allemagne
treated - traité, négocier, traiter, régaler, guérir
seriously - sérieusement, gravement, sérieux
In every place of great resort the monster was the fashion. They sang of it in the cafés, ridiculed it in the papers, and represented it on the stage. All kinds of stories were circulated regarding it.
resort - station, avoir recours (a)
ridiculed - ridiculisé, tourner en ridicule
represented - représentée, représenter
circulated - diffusée, circuler
regarding - concernant, considérer
There appeared in the papers caricatures of every gigantic and imaginary creature, from the white whale, the terrible "Moby Dick" of hyperborean regions, to the immense kraken whose tentacles could entangle a ship of five hundred tons, and hurry it into the abyss of the ocean.
caricatures - des caricatures, caricature, caricaturer
gigantic - gigantesque, colossal
imaginary - imaginaire
hyperborean - Hyperboréen
immense - immense
Kraken - kraken
tentacles - des tentacules, tentacule, pieuvre
entangle - s'enchevetrer, intriquer, empetrer, tortiller
tons - tonnes, tonne
hurry - se dépecher, précipitation, hâte
abyss - l'abîme, abîme, précipice, abysse, gouffre
The legends of ancient times were even resuscitated, and the opinions of Aristotle and Pliny revived, who admitted the existence of these monsters, as well as the Norwegian tales of Bishop Pontoppidan, the accounts of Paul Heggede, and, last of all, the reports of Mr.
legends - légendes, légende
resuscitated - réanimé, ressusciter
Aristotle - aristote
existence - l'existence, existence
monsters - des monstres, monstre, bete, monstrueux
Norwegian - Norvégien, Norvégienne, norvégophone
tales - contes, conte, récit
bishop - éveque, eveque
accounts - comptes, compte
Paul - paul
Harrington (whose good faith no one could suspect), who affirmed that, being on board the Castillan, in 1857, he had seen this enormous serpent, which had never until that time frequented any other seas but those of the ancient "Constitutionnel."
Faith - la foi, foi, rench:, confiance
suspect - suspecter, soupçonner, suspect
serpent - serpent
frequented - fréquenté, fréquent
Then burst forth the interminable controversy between the credulous and the incredulous in the societies of savants and the scientific journals. "The question of the monster" inflamed all minds.
burst - l'éclatement, éclater, faire éclater, rompre, briser
forth - avant, en avant
interminable - interminable
controversy - controverse, polémique
incredulous - incrédule
scientific - scientifique
journals - revues, revue
inflamed - enflammée, allumer
Editors of scientific journals, quarrelling with believers in the supernatural, spilled seas of ink during this memorable campaign, some even drawing blood; for, from the sea-serpent they came to direct personalities.
editors - éditeurs, rédacteur, lecteur-correcteur, correcteur, réviseur
quarrelling - des querelles, (quarrel) des querelles
believers - croyants, croyant, croyante
spilled - déversé, déverser, répandre, renverser, déversement
ink - encre
memorable - mémorable
campaign - campagne, faire campagne, mener une campagne
For six months war was waged with various fortune in the leading articles of the Geographical Institution of Brazil, the Royal Academy of Science of Berlin, the British Association, the Smithsonian Institution of Washington, in the discussions of the "Indian Archipelago," of the Cosmos of the Abbé Moigno, in the Mittheilungen of Petermann, in the scientific chronicles of the great journals of France and other countries. The cheaper journals replied keenly and With inexhaustible zest. These satirical writers parodied a remark of Linnæus, quoted by the adversaries of the monster, maintaining "that nature did not make fools," and adjured their contemporaries not to give the lie to nature, by admitting the existence of krakens, sea-serpents, "Moby Dicks," and other lucubrations of delirious sailors. At length an article in a well-known satirical journal by a favourite contributor, the chief of the staff, settled the monster, like Hippolytus, giving it the death-blow amidst an universal burst of laughter. Wit had conquered science.
waged - en ouvre, frétiller, remuer, sécher, faire l’école buissonniere
Fortune - la fortune, destin, bonne chance, fortune
leading - dirigeante, (lead) dirigeante
Institution - l'institution, institution
Academy - académie
Berlin - berlin
Association - association
Washington - washington, État de Washington
Indian - indien, amérindien, Indienne
Archipelago - archipel
Chronicles - chroniques, chronique
journal - journal, revue
keenly - vivement
wit - wit, esprit
inexhaustible - inépuisable
zest - entrain, zeste
satirical - satirique
parodied - parodié, parodie, parodier
remark - remarque, remarquent, remarquez, remarquons
quoted - cité, citation, guillemet, devis, cotation, citer, deviser
adversaries - des adversaires, adversaire, ennemi, ennemie
maintaining - le maintien, entretenir, maintenir
fools - des imbéciles, dinde, fou, bouffon, mat, duper, tromper
contemporaries - contemporains, contemporain
Admitting - admettre, avouer, reconnaître
krakens - krakens, kraken
serpents - des serpents, serpent
lucubrations - lucubrations, élucubration
delirious - délirant
contributor - contributeur, soumissionnaire
chief - chef
settled - réglée, (s')installer
amidst - au milieu
universal - universel
conquered - conquis, conquérir
During the first months of the year 1867 the question seemed buried, never to revive, when new facts were brought before the public. It was then no longer a scientific problem to be solved, but a real danger seriously to be avoided. The question took quite another shape. The monster became a small island, a rock, a reef, but a reef of indefinite and shifting proportions.
buried - enterré, enterrer
proportions - proportions, proportion
On the 5th of March, 1867, the Moravian, of the Montreal Ocean Company, finding herself during the night in 27° 30˛ lat. and 72° 15˛ long., struck on her starboard quarter a rock, marked in no chart for that part of the sea. Under the combined efforts of the wind and its four hundred horse-power, it was going at the rate of thirteen knots.
Moravian - Moravien
Montreal - montréal
struck - frappé, biffer, rayer, barrer, frapper, battre
starboard - a tribord, tribord
combined - combinés, combiner
efforts - efforts, effort
wind - vent, emmailloter, détortiller, langer, enrouler
knots - nouds, noeud
Had it not been for the superior strength of the hull of the Moravian, she would have been broken by the shock and gone down with the 237 passengers she was bringing home from Canada.
superior - supérieur
strength - la force, force, vigueur, effectif, point fort
hull - coque, Hull
shock - choc, choquons, offusquer, choquez, choquer, secouer
Canada - le canada, Canada
The accident happened about five o'clock in the morning, as the day was breaking. The officers of the quarter-deck hurried to the after-part of the vessel. They examined the sea with the most scrupulous attention. They saw nothing but a strong eddy about three cables'length distant, as if the surface had been violently agitated.
deck - pont
hurried - pressé, précipitation, hâte, dépecher
vessel - navire, vaisseau, vase
examined - examinés, examiner
scrupulous - scrupuleux
eddy - eddy, tourbillon
cables - câbles, câble, fil électrique, torsade
distant - distante, distant, lointain, éloigné
surface - surface, faire surface
violently - violemment
The bearings of the place were taken exactly, and the Moravian continued its route without apparent damage. Had it struck on a submerged rock, or on an enormous wreck? they could not tell; but on examination of the ship's bottom when undergoing repairs, it was found that part of her keel was broken.
apparent damage - des dommages apparents
submerged - submergé, submerger, immerger
wreck - épave, carcasse, accident, bousiller, ruiner
examination - l'examen, examen
undergoing - en cours, subir
keel - quille
This fact, so grave in itself, might perhaps have been forgotten like many others if, three weeks after, it had not been re-enacted under similar circumstances. But, thanks to the nationality of the victim of the shock, thanks to the reputation of the company to which the vessel belonged, the circumstance became extensively circulated.
enacted - promulguée, promulguer, jouer
circumstances - circonstances, circonstance
nationality - nationalité
victim - victime
reputation - réputation, renommée (more slang)
extensively - de maniere extensive
The 13th of April, 1867, the sea being beautiful, the breeze favourable, the Scotia, of the Cunard Company's line, found herself in 15° 12˛ long. and 45° 37˛ lat. She was going at the speed of thirteen knots and a half.
breeze - brise
favourable - favorable
Scotia - scotia
At seventeen minutes past four in the afternoon, whilst the passengers were assembled at lunch in the great saloon, a slight shock was felt on the hull of the Scotia, on her quarter, a little aft of the port-paddle.
whilst - tout en
assembled - assemblés, assembler, rassembler
saloon - saloon
Slight - insignifiant, léger
aft - aft
port - port, connexion
paddle - pagaie, patauger, barbotter
The Scotia had not struck, but she had been struck, and seemingly by something rather sharp and penetrating than blunt. The shock had been so slight that no one had been alarmed, had it not been for the shouts of the carpenter's watch, who rushed on to the bridge, exclaiming, "We are sinking! we are sinking!
seemingly - censément
sharp - pointu, affilé, coupant, affuté, tranchant
penetrating - pénétrant, pénétrer
blunt - émoussé
alarmed - alarmé, alarme, réveille-matin, réveil, alarmer, fr
Carpenter - menuisier, menuisiere, charpentier, charpentiere
rushed - précipité, se précipiter, emmener d'urgence
exclaiming - s'exclamer, exclamer
sinking - en train de couler, naufrage, (sink), couler, s'enfoncer
" At first the passengers were much frightened, but Captain Anderson hastened to reassure them. The danger could not be imminent. The Scotia, divided into seven compartments by strong partitions, could brave with impunity any leak. Captain Anderson went down immediately into the hold.
frightened - effrayé, effrayer, redouter, terrifier
hastened to - s'est empressé de faire
reassure - tranquilliser, rassurer, réassurer
be imminent - etre imminente
divided - divisé, diviser, fendre, partager
compartments - compartiments, compartiment, terrasse
partitions - partitions, partition, division, fr
Brave - courageux
impunity - l'impunité, impunité
leak - fuite, voie d'eau, taupe, fuir
He found that the sea was pouring into the fifth compartment; and the rapidity of the influx proved that the force of the water was considerable. Fortunately this compartment did not hold the boilers, or the fires would have been immediately extinguished. Captain Anderson ordered the engines to be stopped at once, and one of the men went down to ascertain the extent of the injury.
pouring - versant, (pour) versant
compartment - compartiment, terrasse
influx - l'afflux, influx
proved - prouvé, prouver
force - force, forcez, contrainte, forçons, contraindre, forcent
considerable - considérable
extinguished - éteinte, éteindre
ascertain - vérification, constater, définir
extent - mesure, étendue
Some minutes afterwards they discovered the existence of a large hole, of two yards in diameter, in the ship's bottom. Such a leak could not be stopped; and the Scotia, her paddles half submerged, was obliged to continue her course. She was then three hundred miles from Cape Clear, and after three days'delay, which caused great uneasiness in Liverpool, she entered the basin of the company.
diameter - diametre, diametre
paddles - des pagaies, barboter
obliged - obligée, imposer, obliger, rendre service
Cape - le cap, cap
delay - délai, ajourner, décélération, surseoir, retard, retarder
Liverpool - liverpool
basin - bassin, cuvette, bassine, lavabo
The engineers visited the Scotia, which was put in dry dock. They could scarcely believe it possible; at two yards and a half below water-mark was a regular rent, in the form of an isosceles triangle. The broken place in the iron plates was so perfectly defined that it could not have been more neatly done by a punch.
Dock - quai, dock
scarcely - a peine, a peine, guere
rent - loyer, louez, louons, arrentez, accensons
isosceles - isocele
triangle - triangle
iron - le fer, fer, repasser
perfectly - parfaitement
defined - défini, déterminer, définir
neatly - proprement, élégamment
Punch - un coup de poing, poinçonnez, poinçonnent, poinçonner
It was clear, then, that the instrument producing the perforation was not of a common stamp; and after having been driven with prodigious strength, and piercing an iron plate 1-3/8 inches thick, had withdrawn itself by a retrograde motion truly inexplicable.
perforation - perforation
prodigious - prodigieux
piercing - piercing, perçant, (pierce)
inches - pouces, pouce
withdrawn - retiré, (se) retirer
retrograde - rétrograde
motion - mouvement, motion
truly - vraiment
Such was the last fact, which resulted in exciting once more the torrent of public opinion. From this moment all unlucky casualties which could not be otherwise accounted for were put down to the monster.
torrent - torrent
unlucky - malchanceux, poissard
casualties - des victimes, accident, victime, blessé, urgences-p
otherwise - autrement
accounted - comptabilisée, compte
Upon this imaginary creature rested the responsibility of all these shipwrecks, which unfortunately were considerable; for of three thousand ships whose loss was annually recorded at Lloyd's, the number of sailing and steam ships supposed to be totally lost, from the absence of all news, amounted to not less than two hundred!
responsibility - responsabilité
shipwrecks - épaves, épave, naufrage, naufrager
Loss - perte, déperdition, perdition, déchet, coulage
annually - annuellement
Steam - vapeur d'eau, vapeur
totally - totalement
absence - absence, manque, absence du fer
Now, it was the "monster" who, justly or unjustly, was accused of their disappearance, and, thanks to it, communication between the different continents became more and more dangerous. The public demanded peremptorily that the seas should at any price be relieved from this formidable cetacean.
unjustly - injustement
accused - accusé, accuser
disappearance - disparition
communication - la communication, communication, message
demanded - demandée, demande, exigence, exiger
peremptorily - de façon péremptoire
relieved - soulagé, soulager, relayer, faire ses besoins, se soulager
formidable - formidable
At the period when these events took place, I had just returned from a scientific research in the disagreeable territory of Nebraska, in the United States. In virtue of my office as Assistant Professor in the Museum of Natural History in Paris, the French Government had attached me to that expedition.
disagreeable - incompatible, désagréable
territory - territoire
virtue - la vertu, vertu
attached - attachée, attacher
expedition - expédition
After six months in Nebraska, I arrived in New York towards the end of March, laden with a precious collection. My departure for France was fixed for the first days in May. Meanwhile, I was occupying myself in classifying my mineralogical, botanical, and zoological riches, when the accident happened to the Scotia.
York - york, Yorck, Yorque
laden - laden, chargé, chargée, (lade) laden
precious - précieux
collection - collection, ramassage
departure - départ, déviation
Meanwhile - pendant ce temps
occupying - l'occupation, occuper, habiter
classifying - classer, classifier
mineralogical - minéralogique
Botanical - botanique
zoological - zoologique
I was perfectly up in the subject which was the question of the day. How could I be otherwise? I had read and re-read all the American and European papers without being any nearer a conclusion. This mystery puzzled me. Under the impossibility of forming an opinion, I jumped from one extreme to the other.
conclusion - conclusion, fin
mystery - mystere, mystere
puzzled - perplexe, mystere, énigme, puzzle, casse-tete, jeu de patience
impossibility - l'impossibilité, impossibilité
That there really was something could not be doubted, and the incredulous were invited to put their finger on the wound of the Scotia.
doubted - douté, douter, doute
wound - blessons, blessent, blessez, blessure, blesser
On my arrival at New York the question was at its height. The hypothesis of the floating island, and the unapproachable sandbank, supported by minds little competent to form a judgment, was abandoned. And, indeed, unless this shoal had a machine in its stomach, how could it change its position with such astonishing rapidity?
arrival - arrivée, arrivant, arrivante
hypothesis - hypothese, hypothese
floating - flottant, (float), flotter, flotteur, taloche, char
unapproachable - inaccessible
competent - compétent
judgment - jugement, sentence, verdict, jugement dernier
abandoned - abandonnée, abandonner
indeed - certainement, vraiment, en effet, bien sur, certes
shoal - banc (de poissons)
astonishing - étonnante, étonner, surprendre
From the same cause, the idea of a floating hull of an enormous wreck was given up.
There remained then only two possible solutions of the question, which created two distinct parties: on one side, those who were for a monster of colossal strength; on the other, those who were for a submarine vessel of enormous motive power.
remained - est restée, reste, rester, demeurer
distinct - distinct, intelligible, reconnaissable
colossal - colossal
submarine - sous-marine, sous-marin
motive power - la puissance motrice
But this last hypothesis, plausible as it was, could not stand against inquiries made in both worlds. That a private gentleman should have such a machine at his command was not likely. Where, when, and how was it built? and how could its construction have been kept secret? Certainly a Government might possess such a destructive machine.
plausible - plausible
stand against - s'opposer
inquiries - des demandes de renseignements, enquete
private - personnel, personnelle, privé, privée
gentleman - gentilhomme, monsieur, messieurs
Command - commandement, ordre, maîtrise, commande, commander, ordonner
construction - construction
kept secret - gardé secret
possess - posséder, s'emparer de
destructive - destructrice
And in these disastrous times, when the ingenuity of man has multiplied the power of weapons of war, it was possible that, without the knowledge of others, a state might try to work such a formidable engine. After the chassepots came the torpedoes, after the torpedoes the submarine rams, then"the reaction. At least, I hope so.
disastrous - désastreux
ingenuity - l'ingéniosité, ingéniosité
multiplied - multipliée, multiplier
weapons - des armes, arme
torpedoes - torpilles, torpille, torpiller
rams - béliers, RAM, mémoire RAM
reaction - réaction
But the hypothesis of a war machine fell before the declaration of Governments. As public interest was in question, and transatlantic communications suffered, their veracity could not be doubted. But, how admit that the construction of this submarine boat had escaped the public eye?
declaration - déclaration
communications - des communications, communication
suffered - souffert, souffrir, souffrir de, pâtir de, endurer
veracity - véracité, vérité, exactitude
admit - admettre, avouer, reconnaître
submarine boat - bateau sous-marin
escaped - s'est échappé, échapper, s'échapper, éviter, tirer
For a private gentleman to keep the secret under such circumstances would be very difficult, and for a state whose every act is persistently watched by powerful rivals, certainly impossible.
persistently - de façon persistante
powerful - puissant
rivals - rivaux, rival, rivale, rivaliser
After inquiries made in England, France, Russia, Prussia, Spain, Italy, and America, even in Turkey, the hypothesis of a submarine monitor was definitely rejected.
Prussia - la prusse, Prusse
Spain - espagne
Italy - l'italie, Italie
turkey - la dinde, dinde, dindon, viande de dinde
monitor - moniteur, monitrice, écran, contrôler, surveiller
rejected - rejetée, rejeter
Upon my arrival in New York several persons did me the honour of consulting me on the phenomenon in question. I had published in France a work in quarto, in two volumes, entitled "Mysteries of the Great Submarine Grounds." This book, highly approved of in the learned world, gained for me a special reputation in this rather obscure branch of Natural History. My advice was asked.
honour - l'honneur, honorer
consulting - consultation, concerter
quarto - quarto
in two volumes - en deux volumes
entitled - habilité, intituler
mysteries - mysteres, mystere
highly - hautement, extremement
approved - approuvée, approuver
Gained - gagné, gagner
obscure - obscure, obscur, sibyllin, obscurcir
branch - branche, rameau, affluent, filiale, succursale
As long as I could deny the reality of the fact, I confined myself to a decided negative. But soon, finding myself driven into a corner, I was obliged to explain myself categorically. And even "the Honourable Pierre Aronnax, Professor in the Museum of Paris," was called upon by the New York Herald to express a definite opinion of some sort. I did something.
deny - refuser
reality - la réalité, réalité, vérité
confined - confiné, confiner, limite
driven into - dans lequel il a été conduit
categorically - catégoriquement
honourable - honorable
Herald - herald, hérault
definite - définitif
I spoke, for want of power to hold my tongue. I discussed the question in all its forms, politically and scientifically; and I give here an extract from a carefully-studied article which I published in the number of the 30th of April. It ran as follows:"
tongue - langue, languette
politically - politiquement
scientifically - scientifiquement
extract - extrait, extraire
"After examining one by one the different hypotheses, rejecting all other suggestions, it becomes necessary to admit the existence of a marine animal of enormous power.
examining - l'examen, examiner
hypotheses - hypotheses, hypothese
marine - marine, marin, maritime, marinier
"The great depths of the ocean are entirely unknown to us. Soundings cannot reach them. What passes in those remote depths"what beings live, or can live, twelve or fifteen miles beneath the surface of the waters"what is the organisation of these animals, we can scarcely conjecture. However, the solution of the problem submitted to me may modify the form of the dilemma.
depths - profondeurs, profondeur, épaisseur
entirely - entierement, entierement, entierement (1)
remote - a distance, distant, éloigné, télécommande
beings - etres, etre, créature, existence
beneath - dessous
organisation - l'organisation
conjecture - conjecture, conjecturer
modify - modifier
dilemma - dilemme
Either we do know all the varieties of beings which people our planet, or we do not.
If we do not know them all"if Nature has still secrets in ichthyology for us, nothing is more conformable to reason than to admit the existence of fishes, or cetaceans of other kinds, or even of new species, of an organisation formed to inhabit the strata inaccessible to soundings, and which an accident of some sort, either fatastical or capricious, has brought at long intervals to the upper level of the ocean.
ichthyology - ichtyologie, ichthyologie
conformable - conformable
cetaceans - les cétacés, cétacé
inhabit - habiter
strata - strates, (stratum), couche, strate, stratum, classe
inaccessible - inaccessible
fatastical - fatastiques
capricious - capricieux
intervals - intervalles, intervalle
"If, on the contrary, we do know all living kinds, we must necessarily seek for the animal in question amongst those marine beings already classed; and, in that case, I should be disposed to admit the existence of a gigantic narwhal.
contrary - contraire, contrepied
necessarily - nécessairement
seek - chercher
amongst - entre, parmi
disposed - disposé, débarrasser
Narwhal - narval, licorne de mer
"The common narwhal, or unicorn of the sea, often attains a length of sixty feet. Increase its size fivefold or tenfold, give it strength proportionate to its size, lengthen its destructive weapons, and you obtain the animal required.
Unicorn - licorne
attains - atteint, atteindre
fivefold - quintuple
tenfold - décuplé, décuple, décupler
proportionate - proportionné, proportionner
lengthen - rallonger
obtain - obtenir, se procurer, réussir, avoir succes, s'établir
required - nécessaires, exiger, demander, avoir besoin de, requérir
It will have the proportions determined by the officers of the Shannon, the instrument required by the perforation of the Scotia, and the power necessary to pierce the hull of the steamer.
determined - déterminé, déterminer
pierce - percer, perforage
"Indeed, the narwhal is armed with a sort of ivory sword, a halberd, according to the expression of certain naturalists. The principal tusk has the hardness of steel. Some of these tusks have been found buried in the bodies of whales, which the unicorn always attacks with success.
ivory - ivoire
sword - l'épée, épée, glaive, épéiste
halberd - hallebarde
naturalists - naturalistes, naturaliste
principal - principal, directeur, directrice
hardness - dureté
steel - l'acier, acier
tusks - défenses, défense
Others have been drawn out, not without trouble, from the bottoms of ships, which they had pierced through and through, as a gimlet pierces a barrel. The Museum of the Faculty of Medicine of Paris possesses one of these defensive weapons, two yards and a quarter in length, and fifteen inches in diameter at the base.
pierced - percé, percer
gimlet - vrille, gimlet, vriller
pierces - des piercings, percer
barrel - tonneau, barrique, baril, canon, barillet, embariller
faculty - la faculté, faculté
possesses - possede, posséder, s'emparer de
defensive - défensif
base - base, baser, basent, socle, basez, Assise, basons
"Very well! suppose this weapon to be six times stronger and the animal ten times more powerful; launch it at the rate of twenty miles an hour, and you obtain a shock capable of producing the catastrophe required.
weapon - arme
launch - lancement, lancent, pistonner, lancez, lançons, lancer
capable - capable
catastrophe - catastrophe
Until further information, therefore, I shall maintain it to be a sea-unicorn of colossal dimensions, armed not with a halberd, but with a real spur, as the armoured frigates, or the rams'of war, whose massiveness and motive power it would possess at the same time.
further information - des informations supplémentaires
therefore - par conséquent, en conséquence, donc, pour ça
maintain - entretenir, maintenir
spur - éperon, eperon
armoured - blindé, armure
frigates - frégates, frégate
massiveness - la massivité
motive - motif, mobile, theme, motiver, moteur, mouvant
Thus may this puzzling phenomenon be explained, unless there be something over and above all that one has ever conjectured, seen, perceived, or experienced; which is just within the bounds of possibility."
thus - donc, ainsi, tellement, pour cette raison, également
conjectured - conjecturé, conjecture, conjecturer
perceived - perçue, percevoir
within - a l'intérieur, dedans, avant, d'ici
These last words were cowardly on my part; but, up to a certain point, I wished to shelter my dignity as Professor, and not give too much cause for laughter to the Americans, who laugh well when they do laugh.
cowardly - lâche, veule, bas, lâchement
shelter - l'abri, abri, refuge, abriter
dignity - dignité, forme, rang
I reserved for myself a way of escape. In effect, however, I admitted the existence of the "monster." My article was warmly discussed, which procured it a high reputation. It rallied round it a certain number of partisans. The solution it proposed gave, at least, full liberty to the imagination. The human mind delights in grand conceptions of supernatural beings.
reserved - réservé, réservation, réserve, réserves-p
escape - échapper, s'échapper, éviter, échapper (a quelqu'un), évasion
warmly - chaleureusement, chaudement
procured - procuré, acquérir, obtenir, proxénétisme, procurer
rallied - rallié, (se) rallier
partisans - partisans, partisan/-ane
proposed - proposée, proposer, demander en mariage
liberty - liberté
imagination - l'imagination, imagination
delights - des délices, plaisir, délice, joie, enchanter, ravir
grand - grand, grandiose
conceptions - conceptions, conception
And the sea is precisely their best vehicle, the only medium through which these giants (against which terrestrial animals, such as elephants or rhinoceroses, are as nothing) can be produced or developed.
precisely - précisément
medium - milieu, médium, support, média, moyen, demi-anglais
giants - géants, géant
terrestrial - terrestre
rhinoceroses - rhinocéros
The industrial and commercial papers treated the question chiefly from this point of view. The Shipping and Mercantile Gazette, the Lloyd's List, the Packet-Boat, and the Maritime and Colonial Review, all papers devoted to insurance companies which threatened to raise their rates of premium, were unanimous on this point. Public opinion had been pronounced.
industrial - industrielle, industriel
commercial papers - des papiers commerciaux
chiefly - principalement, surtout
mercantile - mercantile
packet - paquet, colis
Colonial - coloniale, colonial
devoted - dévouée, consacrer, vouer
insurance - l'assurance, assurance
threatened - menacé, menacer
Premium - la prime, haut de gamme, prix, prime, cotisation
unanimous - a l'unanimité
The United States were the first in the field; and in New York they made preparations for an expedition destined to pursue this narwhal. A frigate of great speed, the Abraham Lincoln, was put in commission as soon as possible.
preparations - préparations, préparation, concoction
pursue - poursuivre, rechercher
Abraham - abraham
in commission - en commission
The arsenals were opened to Commander Farragut, who hastened the arming of his frigate; but, as it always happens, the moment it was decided to pursue the monster, the monster did not appear. For two months no one heard it spoken of. No ship met with it. It seemed as if this unicorn knew of the plots weaving around it.
arsenals - arsenaux, arsenal
commander - commandant, commandante, commandeur
hastened - s'est hâté, dépecher
plots - des complots, intrigue, lopin, diagramme, graphique, complot
weaving - le tissage, tissage, (weave) le tissage
It had been so much talked of, even through the Atlantic cable, that jesters pretended that this slender fly had stopped a telegram on its passage and was making the most of it.
cable - câble, fil électrique, torsade
jesters - bouffons, plaisantin
pretended - prétendu, prétendre, prétendre a, feindre, faire semblant
slender - svelte, mince
telegram - télégramme, dépeche
passage - passage, corridoir, couloir
So when the frigate had been armed for a long campaign, and provided with formidable fishing apparatus, no one could tell what course to pursue. Impatience grew apace, when, on the 2nd of July, they learned that a steamer of the line of San Francisco, from California to Shanghai, had seen the animal three weeks before in the North Pacific Ocean. The excitement caused by this news was extreme.
apparatus - l'appareil, appareil
Impatience - impatience
apace - a un rythme soutenu, rapidement
Shanghai - shanghai
The ship was revictualled and well stocked with coal.
stocked - stocké, stock, réserve
coal - charbon, houille, tisons, checkhouille
Three hours before the Abraham Lincoln left Brooklyn pier, I received a letter worded as follows:"
Brooklyn - Brooklyn
pier - quai, jetée, ponton, pile, pilier
"To M. ARONNAX, Professor in the Museum of Paris, Fifth Avenue Hotel, New York.
avenue - avenue
"SIR,"If you will consent to join the Abraham Lincoln in this expedition, the Government of the United States will with pleasure see France represented in the enterprise. Commander Farragut has a cabin at your disposal.
consent - consentir, approuver, agréer, consentement, approbation
pleasure - plaisir, volupté, désir
enterprise - l'entreprise, entreprise, venture, initiative
cabin - cabane, cabine
disposal - l'élimination, disposition, élimination
"Very cordially yours,
cordially - cordialement
"J.B. HOBSON,
"Secretary of Marine."
Three seconds before the arrival of J. B. Hobson's letter, I no more thought of pursuing the unicorn than of attempting the passage of the North Sea. Three seconds after reading the letter of the honourable Secretary of Marine, I felt that my true vocation, the sole end of my life, was to chase this disturbing monster, and purge it from the world.
pursuing - poursuivre, poursuivant, (pursue), rechercher
attempting - tenter, essayer, tentative, attentat
North Sea - La mer du Nord
vocation - vocation
sole - unique, seul, semelle, plante, sole
chase - poursuite, chassez, chassons, poursuivre, pousser, chasser
disturbing - dérangeant, déranger, perturber, gener
purge - épuration, purge, éliminer
But I had just returned from a fatiguing journey, weary and longing for repose. I aspired to nothing more than again seeing my country, my friends, my little lodging by the Jardin des Plantes, my dear and precious collections. But nothing could keep me back! I forgot all"fatigue, friends and collections"and accepted without hesitation the offer of the American Government.
fatiguing - fatiguant, fatigue, épuisement, corvée, fatiguer
weary - fatigué, las, lasser
repose - repos
lodging - l'hébergement, logement, hébergement, verse, (lodge), cabane
des - DES
collections - collections, collection, ramassage
fatigue - la fatigue, fatigue, épuisement, corvée, fatiguer
hesitation - hésitation
"Besides," thought I, "all roads lead back to Europe (for my particular benefit), and I will not hurry me towards the coast of France. This worthy animal may allow itself to be caught in the seas of Europe (for my particular benefit), and I will not bring back less than half a yard of his ivory halberd to the Museum of Natural History.
besides - d'ailleurs, aupres
lead back - Ramener
worthy - digne
" But in the meanwhile I must seek this narwhal in the North Pacific Ocean, which, to return to France, was taking the road to the antipodes.
"Conseil," I called in an impatient voice.
impatient - impatient
Conseil was my servant, a true, devoted Flemish boy, who had accompanied me in all my travels. I liked him, and he returned the liking well.
servant - serviteur, domestique, servante, checkserviteur
Flemish - flamand
accompanied - accompagné, accompagner
He was phlegmatic by nature, regular from principle, zealous from habit, evincing little disturbance at the different surprises of life, very quick with his hands, and apt at any service required of him; and, despite his name, never giving advice"even when asked for it.
phlegmatic - flegmatique
principle - principe
zealous - zélé
evincing - évocation, montrer, prouver
disturbance - perturbation, trouble, tapage
apt - apt, doué
despite - en dépit de, malgré
Conseil had followed me for the last ten years wherever science led. Never once did he complain of the length or fatigue of a journey, never make an objection to pack his portmanteau for whatever country it might be, or however far away, whether China or Congo. Besides all this, he had good health, which defied all sickness, and solid muscles, but no nerves; good morals are understood.
wherever - ou
led - dirigé, DEL, LED, (lead) dirigé
objection - objection
portmanteau - portmanteau
whatever - quoi qu'il en soit, quel que soit, n'importe quel
whether - si, que, soit, si oui ou non
defied - défié, défier, désobéir a
sickness - maladie
solid - solide, massif, plein, continu
muscles - muscles, muscle
nerves - des nerfs, nerf, nervure, toupet, culot, cran
morals - morale, moral, moralité
This boy was thirty years old, and his age to that of his master as fifteen to twenty. May I be excused for saying that I was forty years old?
Master - maître, patron, maîtriser, maitre, maîtrisent
excused - excusé, excuser, pardonner, justifier
But Conseil had one fault: he was ceremonious to a degree, and would never speak to me but in the third person, which was sometimes provoking.
fault - défaut, faute, faille
ceremonious - cérémonieux
provoking - provoquer
"Conseil," said I again, beginning with feverish hands to make preparations for my departure.
feverish - fébrile, fiévreux
make preparations - faire des préparatifs
Certainly I was sure of this devoted boy. As a rule, I never asked him if it were convenient for him or not to follow me in my travels; but this time the expedition in question might be prolonged, and the enterprise might be hazardous in pursuit of an animal capable of sinking a frigate as easily as a nutshell. Here there was matter for reflection even to the most impassive man in the world.
Convenient - pratique, commode
prolonged - prolongée, prolonger
hazardous - dangereux
pursuit - poursuite
nutshell - en quelques mots, coque, coquille
reflection - réflexion, reflet, eaning 4
impassive - impassible
What would Conseil say?
"Conseil," I called a third time.
Conseil appeared.
"Did you call, sir?" said he, entering.
"Yes, my boy; make preparations for me and yourself too. We leave in two hours."
"As you please, sir," replied Conseil, quietly.
"Not an instant to lose;"lock in my trunk all travelling utensils, coats, shirts, and stockings"without counting, as many as you can, and Make haste."
instant - instantanée, moment
trunk - tronc, malle, coffre, trompe, coffre (de voiture), valise
utensils - ustensiles, ustensile, ustensile de cuisine
stockings - bas
Make haste - Se hâter
"And your collections, sir?" observed Conseil.
"We will think of them by and by."
"What! the archiotherium, the hyracotherium, the oreodons, the cheropotamus, and the other skins?"
hyracotherium - Hyracotherium
"They will keep them at the hotel."
"And your live Babiroussa, sir?"
Babiroussa - babiroussa
"They will feed it during our absence; besides, I will give orders to forward our menagerie to France."
menagerie - ménagerie
"We are not returning to Paris, then?" said Conseil.
"Oh! certainly," I answered, evasively, "by making a curve."
evasively - évasivement
curve - courbe, courbes, courber
"Will the curve please you, sir?"
"Oh! it will be nothing; not quite so direct a road, that is all. We take our passage in the Abraham Lincoln."
"As you think proper, sir," coolly replied Conseil.
proper - appropriée, approprié, convenable, exact, juste, propre
coolly - froidement
"You see, my friend, it has to do with the monster"the famous narwhal. We are going to purge it from the seas. The author of a work in quarto in two volumes, on the Mysteries of the Great Submarine Grounds'cannot forbear embarking with Commander Farragut. A glorious mission, but a dangerous one! We cannot tell where we may go; these animals can be very capricious.
volumes - volumes, volume, tome
forbear - s'abstenir
embarking - l'embarquement, monter, embarquer
glorious - glorieux, splendide
mission - mission
But we will go whether or no; we have got a captain who is pretty wide-awake."
awake - éveillé, (se) réveiller, (s')éveiller
I opened a credit account for Babiroussa, and, Conseil following, I jumped into a cab. Our luggage was transported to the deck of the frigate immediately. I hastened on board and asked for Commander Farragut. One of the sailors conducted me to the poop, where I found myself in the presence of a good-looking officer, who held out his hand to me.
account - compte, supputation, demande
cab - cab, fiacre
luggage - bagages, bagage
deck - Le pont
conducted - conduite, comportement, se comporter, conduire, mener
poop - caca
"Monsieur Pierre Aronnax?" said he.
monsieur - Monsieur
"Himself," replied I; "Commander Farragut?"
"You are welcome, Professor; your cabin is ready for you."
I bowed, and desired to be conducted to the cabin destined for me.
bowed - incliné, (s')incliner devant, saluer d'un signe de tete
desired - souhaitée, désirer, désir
The Abraham Lincoln had been well chosen and equipped for her new destination. She was a frigate of great speed, fitted with high-pressure engines which admitted a pressure of seven atmospheres. Under this the Abraham Lincoln attained the mean speed of nearly eighteen knots and a third an hour"a considerable speed, but, nevertheless, insufficient to grapple with this gigantic cetacean.
destination - destination, destinée, arrivée
high-pressure - (high-pressure) haute pression
atmospheres - atmospheres, atmosphere, ambience, ambiance
attained - atteint, atteindre
nevertheless - néanmoins, toutefois, pourtant, malgré tout
insufficient - insuffisante, insuffisant
grapple with - aux prises avec
The interior arrangements of the frigate corresponded to its nautical qualities. I was well satisfied with my cabin, which was in the after part, opening upon the gunroom.
corresponded - ont correspondu, correspondre (...a qqchose)
satisfied - satisfaits, satisfaire
gunroom - salle d'armes
"We shall be well off here," said I to Conseil.
"As well, by your honour's leave, as a hermit-crab in the shell of a whelk," said Conseil.
Hermit - l'ermite, ermite, ermitane
Crab - le crabe, crabe
shell - coquille, coquillage, carapace, coque, cosse, douille, obus
whelk - le buccin
I left Conseil to stow our trunks conveniently away, and remounted the poop in order to survey the preparations for departure.
Stow - ranger, rangez, caser, mettre, rangeons, rangent
trunks - troncs d'arbre, tronc, malle, coffre, trompe
At that moment Commander Farragut was ordering the last moorings to be cast loose which held the Abraham Lincoln to the pier of Brooklyn. So in a quarter of an hour, perhaps less, the frigate would have sailed without me. I should have missed this extraordinary, supernatural, and incredible expedition, the recital of which may well meet with some scepticism.
moorings - amarres, amarrage
cast - casting, jeter, diriger, lancer, additionner, sommer, muer
loose - en vrac, ample, desserré
recital - récital, considérant
scepticism - scepticisme
But Commander Farragut would not lose a day nor an hour in scouring the seas in which the animal had been sighted. He sent for the engineer.
scouring - le décapage, (scour) le décapage
sighted - voyants, vue, quelque chose a voir, truc a voir, mire, viseur
"Is the steam full on?" asked he.
"Yes, sir," replied the engineer.
"Go ahead," cried Commander Farragut.
ahead - a l'avance, devant
The quay of Brooklyn, and all that part of New York bordering on the East River, was crowded with spectators.
quay - quai
bordering - frontalier, frontiere, bord, bordure, délimiter, border
spectators - spectateurs, spectateur, spectatrice, badaud, badaude
Three cheers burst successively from five hundred thousand throats; thousands of handkerchiefs were waved above the heads of the compact mass, saluting the Abraham Lincoln, until she reached the waters of the Hudson, at the point of that elongated peninsula which forms the town of New York.
Cheers - a votre santé, a plus, salut, ciao
successively - successivement
throats - gorges, gorge, goulot
handkerchiefs - des mouchoirs, mouchoir
compact - compact, compacter
saluting - saluer, faire un salut
elongated - allongé, allonger
Peninsula - la péninsule, péninsule, presqu'île
Then the frigate, following the coast of New Jersey along the right bank of the beautiful river, covered with villas, passed between the forts, which saluted her with their heaviest guns.
Jersey - jersey, tricot, maillot
villas - villas, villa
forts - forts, fort
saluted - salué, saluer, faire un salut
The Abraham Lincoln answered by hoisting the American colours three times, whose thirty-nine stars shone resplendent from the mizzen-peak; then modifying its speed to take the narrow channel marked by buoys placed in the inner bay formed by Sandy Hook Point, it coasted the long sandy beach, where some thousands of spectators gave it one final cheer.
hoisting - le levage, hisser
shone - briller, éclairer
resplendent - resplendissante
mizzen - l'artimon, artimon
Peak - le sommet, apogée, comble
modifying - modifier
Channel - canal, tube, tuyau
buoys - bouées, bouée, flotteur, balise, surnager
bay - baie
Hook - crochet, agrafe, hook, accrocher
sandy beach - une plage de sable
cheer - applaudir, jubiler
The escort of boats and tenders still followed the frigate, and did not leave her until they came abreast of the lightship, whose two lights marked the entrance of New York Channel.
escort - escorte, escorter
tenders - des appels d'offres, tendre
abreast - dans le meme sens, côte a côte, au courant
lightship - bateau-phare, bateauhare, bateau-feu
entrance - entrée, cochere
Six bells struck, the pilot got into his boat, and rejoined the little schooner which was waiting under our lee, the fires were made up, the screw beat the waves more rapidly, the frigate skirted the low yellow coast of Long Island; and at eight bells, after having lost sight in the north-west of the lights of Fire Island, she ran at full steam on to the dark waters of the Atlantic.
bells - cloches, cloche
schooner - goélette
Lee - lee, côté sous le vent
screw - vis, hélice, visser, baiser, coucher avec, fourrer, foutre
rapidly - rapidement
sight - vue, quelque chose a voir, truc a voir, mire, viseur
full steam - a pleine vapeur
Captain Farragut was a good seaman, worthy of the frigate he commanded. His vessel and he were one. He was the soul of it. On the question of the cetacean there was no doubt in his mind, and he would not allow the existence of the animal to be disputed on board. He believed in it, as certain good women believe in the leviathan"by faith, not by reason.
seaman - matelot
commanded - commandée, commandement, ordre, maîtrise
soul - âme
doubt - des doutes, douter, doute
disputed - contestée, dispute, litige, discuter, argumenter
leviathan - leviathan, léviathan, léviathanique
The monster did exist, and he had sworn to rid the seas of it. He was a kind of Knight of Rhodes, a second Dieudonné de Gozon, going to meet the serpent which desolated the island. Either Captain Farragut would kill the narwhal, or the narwhal would kill the captain. There was no third course.
sworn - assermenté, jurer
rid - rid, débarrasser
Knight - chevalier
desolated - désolés, ravager, désoler
The officers on board shared the opinion of their chief. They were ever chatting, discussing, and calculating the various chances of a meeting, watching narrowly the vast surface of the ocean. More than one took up his quarters voluntarily in the cross-trees, who would have cursed such a berth under any other circumstances.
calculating - calculant, calculer
narrowly - de façon étroite, étroitement
vast - vaste
voluntarily - volontairement
cursed - maudis, maudite, maudites, maudits, maudit, (curs) maudis
berth - couchette, marge de manouvre
As long as the sun described its daily course, the rigging was crowded with sailors, whose feet were burnt to such an extent by the heat of the deck as to render it unbearable; still the Abraham Lincoln had not yet breasted the suspected waters of the Pacific. As to the ship's company, they desired nothing better than to meet the unicorn, to harpoon it, hoist it on board, and despatch it.
rigging - le truquage, (rig) le truquage
render - l'équarrissage, rendre
unbearable - insupportable
breasted - seins, sein, poitrine, cour
suspected - soupçonné, suspecter, soupçonner
harpoon - harpon, harponner
Hoist - treuil, hisser
despatch - expédition
They watched the sea with eager attention.
eager - enthousiaste, désireux
Besides, Captain Farragut had spoken of a certain sum of two thousand dollars, set apart for whoever should first sight the monster, were he cabin-boy, common seaman, or officer.
sum - somme
apart - a part, séparé, séparément, a part, en morceaux, en pieces
Whoever - quiconque, qui que ce soit qui
I leave you to judge how eyes were used on board the Abraham Lincoln.
judge - juge, juger
For my own part I was not behind the others, and left to no one my share of daily observations. The frigate might have been called the Argus, for a hundred reasons. Only one amongst us, Conseil, seemed to protest by his indifference against the question which so interested us all, and seemed to be out of keeping with the general enthusiasm on board.
protest - protester, protestation, manifestation
indifference - l'indifférence, indifférence
enthusiasm - l'enthousiasme, enthousiasme, passion
I have said that Captain Farragut had carefully provided his ship with every apparatus for catching the gigantic cetacean. No whaler had ever been better armed. We possessed every known engine, from the harpoon thrown by the hand to the barbed arrows of the blunderbuss, and the explosive balls of the duck-gun.
whaler - chasseur de baleine, chasseuse de baleine, baleinier
possessed - possédé, posséder, s'emparer de
barbed - barbelé, barbillon, barbelure
arrows - fleches, fleche
blunderbuss - tromblon, espingole
explosive - explosif
Duck - canard, cane
On the forecastle lay the perfection of a breech-loading gun, very thick at the breech, and very narrow in the bore, the model of which had been in the Exhibition of 1867. This precious weapon of American origin could throw with ease a conical projectile of nine pounds to a mean distance of ten miles.
forecastle - le gaillard d'avant, gaillard d'avant g
lay - laique, pondre, pose
perfection - la perfection, perfection
breech - la culasse, culotte, culasse
loading - chargement, charge, rench: t-needed r, (load)
exhibition - exposition
origin - origine, source
ease - l'aisance, facilité, repos, abaisser, abréger, amoindrir
conical - conique
projectile - projectile
Thus the Abraham Lincoln wanted for no means of destruction; and, what was better still, she had on board Ned Land, the prince of harpooners.
destruction - la destruction, destruction
prince - prince
harpooners - harponneurs, harponneur
Ned Land was a Canadian, with an uncommon quickness of hand, and who knew no equal in his dangerous occupation. Skill, coolness, audacity, and cunning he possessed in a superior degree, and it must be a cunning whale or a singularly "cute" cachalot to escape the stroke of his harpoon.
Canadian - canadien
quickness - la rapidité, rapidité
Equal - l'égalité, égal, égaler a, égale
occupation - profession, occupation
coolness - de la fraîcheur, frais
audacity - l'audace, audace, toupet, culot
cunning - astucieux, rusé
singularly - singulierement
cute - mignon, joli
Cachalot - cachalot
stroke - accident vasculaire cérébral, caresser
Ned Land was about forty years of age; he was a tall man (more than six feet high), strongly built, grave and taciturn, occasionally violent, and very passionate when contradicted. His person attracted attention, but above all the boldness of his look, which gave a singular expression to his face.
strongly - fort, fortement
taciturn - taciturne
violent - violent, vif
passionate - passionné
contradicted - contredit, contredire
attracted attention - attirer l'attention
boldness - l'audace, audace
singular - singulier
Who calls himself Canadian calls himself French; and, little communicative as Ned Land was, I must admit that he took a certain liking for me. My nationality drew him to me, no doubt. It was an opportunity for him to talk, and for me to hear, that old language of Rabelais, which is still in use in some Canadian provinces.
provinces - provinces, province, qualifier
The harpooner's family was originally from Quebec, and was already a tribe of hardy fishermen when this town belonged to France.
harpooner - harponneur
originally - a l'origine
Quebec - le québec, Québec
tribe - tribu
hardy - robuste, rustique
fishermen - pecheurs, pecheur, pecheuse
Little by little, Ned Land acquired a taste for chatting, and I loved to hear the recital of his adventures in the polar seas. He related his fishing, and his combats, with natural poetry of expression; his recital took the form of an epic poem, and I seemed to be listening to a Canadian Homer singing the Iliad of the regions of the North.
acquired - acquis, acquérir
polar - polaire
related - en rapport, raconter, relater
combats - combats, combat, bataille, lutte, combattre
poetry - de la poésie, poésie
epic poem - un poeme épique
I am portraying this hardy companion as I really knew him. We are old friends now, united in that unchangeable friendship which is born and cemented amidst extreme dangers. Ah, brave Ned! I ask no more than to live a hundred years longer, that I may have more time to dwell the longer on your memory.
portraying - représenter, dépeindre, portraire, décrire
companion - compagnon, compagne
unchangeable - inaltérable
friendship - l'amitié, amitié
cemented - cimenté, ciment, colle, adhésif, cimenter
dwell - s'attarder, résider, s'appesantir sur
Now, what was Ned Land's opinion upon the question of the marine monster? I must admit that he did not believe in the unicorn, and was the only one on board who did not share that universal conviction. He even avoided the subject, which I one day thought it my duty to press upon him.
Duty - le devoir, devoir, obligation, service, travail, taxe
press - presse, pressons, serre, pressent, pressez, serrer
One magnificent evening, the 30th of July"that is to say, three weeks after our departure"the frigate was abreast of Cape Blanc, thirty miles to leeward of the coast of Patagonia. We had crossed the tropic of Capricorn, and the Straits of Magellan opened less than seven hundred miles to the south. Before eight days were over the Abraham Lincoln would be ploughing the waters of the Pacific.
magnificent - magnifique
Patagonia - la patagonie, Patagonie
Tropic - tropique
Capricorn - Capricorne
straits - de l'eau, détroit
ploughing - labourer, labour, checklabourage, (plough), charrue, araire
Seated on the poop, Ned Land and I were chatting of one thing and another as we looked at this mysterious sea, whose great depths had up to this time been inaccessible to the eye of man. I naturally led up the conversation to the giant unicorn, and examined the various chances of success or failure of the expedition.
naturally - naturellement
giant - géant
failure - l'échec, échec, daube, flop, panne
But, seeing that Ned Land let me speak without saying too much himself, I pressed him more closely.
pressed - pressé, appuyer sur, presser
closely - de pres, étroitement, pres
"Well, Ned," said I, "is it possible that you are not convinced of the existence of this cetacean that we are following? Have you any particular reason for being so incredulous?"
Convinced - convaincu, convaincre, persuader
The harpooner looked at me fixedly for some moments before answering, struck his broad forehead with his hand (a habit of his), as if to collect himself, and said at last, "Perhaps I have, Mr. Aronnax."
fixedly - fixement
broad - large
forehead - front
"But, Ned, you, a whaler by profession, familiarised with all the great marine mammalia"you, whose imagination might easily accept the hypothesis of enormous cetaceans, you ought to be the last to doubt under such circumstances!"
by profession - par profession
mammalia - Mammiferes
"That is just what deceives you, Professor," replied Ned. "That the vulgar should believe in extraordinary comets traversing space, and in the existence of antediluvian monsters in the heart of the globe, may well be; but neither astronomer nor geologist believes in such chimeras.
deceives - trompe, tromper, leurrer, séduire
vulgar - vulgaire, obscene
comets - cometes, comete
traversing - la traversée, (traverse), franchir, traverser
antediluvian - antédiluvien
globe - Terre, globe
astronomer - astronome
geologist - géologue
chimeras - chimeres, chimere
As a whaler I have followed many a cetacean, harpooned a great number, and killed several; but, however strong or well-armed they may have been, neither their tails nor their weapons would have been able even to scratch the iron plates of a steamer."
harpooned - harponné, harpon, harponner
tails - queues, queue
scratch - gratter, égratigner, piquer, rayer, biffer, oblitérer
"But, Ned, they tell of ships which the teeth of the narwhal have pierced through and through."
"Wooden ships"that is possible," replied the Canadian, "but I have never seen it done; and, until further proof, I deny that whales, cetaceans, or sea-unicorns could ever produce the effect you describe."
Proof - la preuve, preuve, épreuve
deny - nier, démentir, refuser
Unicorns - les licornes, licorne
"Well, Ned, I repeat it with a conviction resting on the logic of facts. I believe in the existence of a mammal power fully organised, belonging to the branch of vertebrata, like the whales, the cachalots, or the dolphins, and furnished with a horn of defence of great penetrating power."
logic - logique
fully - pleinement, entierement, completement
dolphins - des dauphins, dauphin
furnished - meublé, meubler, fournir, livrer
horn - corne, cor, klaxon, cuivres
defence - la défense, défense
penetrating power - pouvoir de pénétration
"Hum!" said the harpooner, shaking his head with the air of a man who would not be convinced.
Hum - hum, fredonner, bourdonner, fourmiller
"Notice one thing, my worthy Canadian," I resumed. "If such an animal is in existence, if it inhabits the depths of the ocean, if it frequents the strata lying miles below the surface of the water, it must necessarily possess an organisation the strength of which would defy all comparison."
resumed - reprise, reprendre
inhabits - habite, habiter
frequents - fréquente, fréquent
defy - défier, désobéir a
comparison - comparaison, degré
"And why this powerful organisation?" demanded Ned.
"Because it requires incalculable strength to keep one's self in these strata and resist their pressure. Listen to me. Let us admit that the pressure of the atmosphere is represented by the weight of a column of water thirty-two feet high. In reality the column of water would be shorter, as we are speaking of sea water, the density of which is greater than that of fresh water.
requires - exige, exiger, demander, avoir besoin de, requérir, nécessiter
incalculable - incalculable
self - soi, soi-meme
resist - résister
pressure - pression
atmosphere - atmosphere, atmosphere, ambience, ambiance
column of water - une colonne d'eau
sea water - l'eau de mer
density - masse volumique, densité
Very well, when you dive, Ned, as many times thirty-two feet of water as there are above you, so many times does your body bear a pressure equal to that of the atmosphere, that is to say, 15 lbs. for each square inch of its surface.
dive - plongée, plongeons, plongez, plonge, plongent, plonger
lbs - lb, livre
inch - pouce
It follows, then, that at 320 feet this pressure = that of 10 atmospheres, of 100 atmospheres at 3200 feet, and of 1000 atmospheres at 32,000 feet, that is, about 6 miles; which is equivalent to saying that if you could attain this depth in the ocean, each square three-eighths of an inch of the surface of your body would bear a pressure of 5600 lbs. Ah!
equivalent - équivalent
depth - profondeur, épaisseur
eighths - huitiemes, huitieme
my brave Ned, do you know how many square inches you carry on the surface of your body?"
"I have no idea, Mr. Aronnax."
"About 6500; and, as in reality the atmospheric pressure is about 15 lbs. to the square inch, your 6500 square inches bear at this moment a pressure of 97,500 lbs."
atmospheric pressure - la pression atmosphérique
"Without my perceiving it?"
perceiving - percevoir, apercevant, (perceive)
"Without your perceiving it. And if you are not crushed by such a pressure, it is because the air penetrates the interior of your body with equal pressure. Hence perfect equilibrium between the interior and exterior pressure, which thus neutralise each other, and which allows you to bear it without inconvenience. But in the water it is another thing."
crushed - écrasé, barricade, béguin, amourette, faible, coup de cour
penetrates - pénetre, pénétrer
hence - d'ou, d'ici, ainsi, donc, d'ou
equilibrium - l'équilibre, équilibre
exterior - extérieur
neutralise - neutraliser
inconvenience - inconvénients, dérangement, désagrément
"Yes, I understand," replied Ned, becoming more attentive; "because the water surrounds me, but does not penetrate."
more attentive - plus attentif
surrounds - les environs, entourer, enceindre
penetrate - pénétrer
"Precisely, Ned: so that at 32 feet beneath the surface of the sea you would undergo a pressure of 97,500 lbs.; at 320 feet, ten times that pressure; at 3200 feet, a hundred times that pressure; lastly, at 32,000 feet, a thousand times that pressure would be 97,500,000 lbs."that is to say, that you would be flattened as if you had been drawn from the plates of a hydraulic machine!"
undergo - subir
Lastly - enfin, finalement
flattened - aplatie, aplatir
hydraulic - hydraulique
"The devil!" exclaimed Ned.
devil - Diable, Satan, type
exclaimed - s'est exclamé, exclamer
"Very well, my worthy harpooner, if some vertebrate, several hundred yards long, and large in proportion, can maintain itself in such depths"of those whose surface is represented by millions of square inches, that is by tens of millions of pounds, we must estimate the pressure they undergo.
vertebrate - vertébrés, vertébré
proportion - proportion
Consider, then, what must be the resistance of their bony structure, and the strength of their organisation to withstand such pressure!"
resistance - résistance
bony - osseux
withstand - résister
"Why!" exclaimed Ned Land, "they must be made of iron plates eight inches thick, like the armoured frigates."
"As you say, Ned. And think what destruction such a mass would cause, if hurled with the speed of an express train against the hull of a vessel."
hurled - lancé, projeter, débecter, débecqueter
"Yes"certainly"perhaps," replied the Canadian, shaken by these figures, but not yet willing to give in.
"Well, have I convinced you?"
"You have convinced me of one thing, sir, which is that, if such animals do exist at the bottom of the seas, they must necessarily be as strong as you say."
"But if they do not exist, mine obstinate harpooner, how explain the accident to the Scotia?"
obstinate - obstiné
The voyage of the Abraham Lincoln was for a long time marked by no special incident. But one circumstance happened which showed the wonderful dexterity of Ned Land, and proved what confidence we might place in him.
Voyage - voyage
circumstance - circonstances, circonstance
dexterity - dextérité
confidence - assurance, confiance en soi, confiance, confidence
The 30th of June, the frigate spoke some American whalers, from whom we learned that they knew nothing about the narwhal. But one of them, the captain of the Monroe, knowing that Ned Land had shipped on board the Abraham Lincoln, begged for his help in chasing a whale they had in sight. Commander Farragut, desirous of seeing Ned Land at work, gave him permission to go on board the Monroe.
whalers - baleiniers, chasseur de baleine, chasseuse de baleine, baleinier
whom - que, qui
begged - supplié, mendier
chasing - chassant, (chas) chassant
desirous - désireux
And fate served our Canadian so well that, instead of one whale, he harpooned two with a double blow, striking one straight to the heart, and catching the other after some minutes'pursuit.
fate - le destin, destin, destinée, sort
striking - frappant, éclatant, (strike), biffer, rayer, barrer, frapper
Decidedly, if the monster ever had to do with Ned Land's harpoon, I would not bet in its favour.
decidedly - résolument, décidément, clairement
bet - parier, paria, pariai, pari, parié, parions, pariez
favour - favorable, faveur, complaisance, favoriser
The frigate skirted the south-east coast of America with great rapidity. The 3rd of July we were at the opening of the Straits of Magellan, level with Cape Vierges. But Commander Farragut would not take a tortuous passage, but doubled Cape Horn.
tortuous - tortueux
The ship's crew agreed with him. And certainly it was possible that they might meet the narwhal in this narrow pass. Many of the sailors affirmed that the monster could not pass there, "that he was too big for that!"
crew - l'équipage, équipage
The 6th of July, about three o'clock in the afternoon, the Abraham Lincoln, at fifteen miles to the south, doubled the solitary island, this lost rock at the extremity of the American continent, to which some Dutch sailors gave the name of their native town, Cape Horn.
solitary - solitaire, seul, un a un
extremity - l'extrémité, extrémité
Dutch - néerlandais, hollandais
native town - ville natale
The course was taken towards the north-west, and the next day the screw of the frigate was at last beating the waters of the Pacific.
"Keep your eyes open!" called out the sailors.
And they were opened widely. Both eyes and glasses, a little dazzled, it is true, by the prospect of two thousand dollars, had not an instant's repose. Day and night they watched the surface of the ocean, and even nyctalopes, whose faculty of seeing in the darkness multiplies their chances a hundredfold, would have had enough to do to gain the prize.
widely - largement, généralement, fréquemment, communément
dazzled - éblouie, éblouir
prospect - prospect, perspective, prospecter
nyctalopes - nyctalopes
darkness - l'obscurité, obscurité, ténebres
multiplies - se multiplie, multiplier
hundredfold - au centuple, centuple, cent fois, une centaine de fois
gain - gain, gagner, produit
I myself, for whom money had no charms, was not the least attentive on board. Giving but few minutes to my meals, but a few hours to sleep, indifferent to either rain or sunshine, I did not leave the poop of the vessel.
charms - des breloques, charme
attentive - attentif
indifferent - indifférent
sunshine - soleil, lumiere du soleil
Now leaning on the netting of the forecastle, now on the taffrail, I devoured with eagerness the soft foam which whitened the sea as far as the eye could reach; and how often have I shared the emotion of the majority of the crew, when some capricious whale raised its black back above the waves! The poop of the vessel was crowded in a moment.
leaning - penchant, adossant, (lean) penchant
netting - filet, (net) filet
taffrail - taffrail
devoured - dévorée, dévorer
foam - écume, mousse, écumer, mousser
whitened - blanchi, blanchir
emotion - l'émotion, émotion
majority - majorité
The cabins poured forth a torrent of sailors and officers, each with heaving breast and troubled eye watching the course of the cetacean. I looked and looked, till I was nearly blind, whilst Conseil, always phlegmatic, kept repeating in a calm voice:
cabins - cabines, cabane, cabine
poured - versé, verser, se déverser
heaving - le déchaussement, (heave), hisser
breast - sein, poitrine, cour, poitrail, blanc
blind - aveugle, mal-voyant, mal-voyante, store, blind, aveugler
Calm - calme, tranquille, calme plat, calmer, apaiser
"If, sir, you would not squint so much, you would see better!"
squint - plisser les yeux, loucher, louvoyer, plissement des yeux
But vain excitement! The Abraham Lincoln checked its speed and made for the animal signalled, a simple whale, or common cachalot, which soon disappeared amidst a storm of execration.
vain - vaine, rench: vaniteux, frivole, vain, futile
execration - exécration
But the weather was good. The voyage was being accomplished under the most favourable auspices. It was then the bad season in Australia, the July of that zone corresponding to our January in Europe, but the sea was beautiful and easily scanned round a vast circumference.
accomplished - accompli, accomplir
most favourable - le plus favorable
auspices - les auspices, auspices, auspice
zone - zone
corresponding - correspondant, correspondre (...a qqchose)
scanned - numérisé, scanner, fouiller, numériser, scander, scan
circumference - la circonférence, circonférence
The 20th of July, the tropic of Capricorn was cut by 105° of longitude, and the 27th of the same month we crossed the equator on the 110th meridian. This passed, the frigate took a more decided westerly direction, and scoured the central waters of the Pacific.
Longitude - longitude
Equator - l'équateur, équateur
meridian - méridien
scoured - nettoyée, récurer
central - central
Commander Farragut thought, and with reason, that it was better to remain in deep water, and keep clear of continents or islands, which the beast itself seemed to shun (perhaps because there was not enough water for him! suggested the greater part of the crew).
remain - reste, rester, demeurer
beast - bete, bete, bete sauvage
shun - shun, éviter, rejeter, fuir, esquiver
The frigate passed at some distance from the Marquesas and the Sandwich Islands, crossed the tropic of Cancer, and made for the China Seas. We were on the theatre of the last diversions of the monster: and, to say truth, we no longer lived on board. Hearts palpitated, fearfully preparing themselves for future incurable aneurism.
Cancer - le cancer, cancer
diversions - diversions, diversion, déviation
truth - la vérité, vérité
palpitated - palpitant, palpiter
fearfully - avec crainte
incurable - incurable
aneurism - anévrisme
The entire ship's crew were undergoing a nervous excitement, of which I can give no idea: they could not eat, they could not sleep"twenty times a day, a misconception or an optical illusion of some sailor seated on the taffrail, would cause dreadful perspirations, and these emotions, twenty times repeated, kept us in a state of excitement so violent that a reaction was unavoidable.
misconception - idée fausse, idée erronée
optical illusion - illusion d'optique
sailor - marin, matelot, matelote, femme matelot, femme-matelot
dreadful - épouvantable, redoutable, affreux, terrible
perspirations - des transpirations, transpiration
emotions - des émotions, émotion
unavoidable - inévitable
And truly, reaction soon showed itself.
For three months, during which a day seemed an age, the Abraham Lincoln furrowed all the waters of the Northern Pacific, running at whales, making sharp deviations from her course, veering suddenly from one tack to another, stopping suddenly, putting on steam, and backing ever and anon at the risk of deranging her machinery, and not one point of the Japanese or American coast was left unexplored.
furrowed - s'est froncé, sillon, rigole, ride, sillonner, froncer
Northern - nord, septentrional, boréal, bise
deviations - des écarts, déviation, rench: -neededr
veering - le virage, (veer) le virage
tack - tack, punaise
anon - anon
Risk - risque
machinery - des machines, machines, pieces, machinerie, mécanique
Japanese - japonais, Japonaise, Nippon, Nippone
unexplored - inexplorée
The warmest partisans of the enterprise now became its most ardent detractors. Reaction mounted from the crew to the captain himself, and certainly, had it not been for resolute determination on the part of Captain Farragut, the frigate would have headed due southward. This useless search could not last much longer.
ardent - ardent, gloss
detractors - détracteurs, détracteur, détracteuse
mounted - monté, monter
resolute - résolu, résolue, ferme, déterminé
determination - détermination
due - due, du
useless - inutile, inutilisable, bon a rien
The Abraham Lincoln had nothing to reproach herself with, she had done her best to succeed. Never had an American ship's crew shown more zeal or patience; its failure could not be placed to their charge"there remained nothing but to return.
reproach - des reproches, reproche, opprobre, reprocher
zeal - le zele, zele, assiduité
patience - la patience, patience
charge - frais, charge, chef d’accusation, chef d’inculpation, meuble
This was represented to the commander. The sailors could not hide their discontent, and the service suffered. I will not say there was a mutiny on board, but after a reasonable period of obstinacy, Captain Farragut (as Columbus did) asked for three days'patience.
discontent - mécontentement, checkprotestation
mutiny - révolte, mutinerie
reasonable - raisonnable
obstinacy - l'obstination, entetement, obstination
If in three days the monster did not appear, the man at the helm should give three turns of the wheel, and the Abraham Lincoln would make for the European seas.
helm - barre, gouvernail, timon
This promise was made on the 2nd of November. It had the effect of rallying the ship's crew. The ocean was watched with renewed attention. Each one wished for a last glance in which to sum up his remembrance. Glasses were used with feverish activity. It was a grand defiance given to the giant narwhal, and he could scarcely fail to answer the summons and "appear."
rallying - ralliant, (rally) ralliant
renewed - renouvelée, renouveler
glance - regard, jeter un coup d’oil
sum up - résumer
defiance - défiance, défi
summons - convoque, convocation, (summon) convoque
Two days passed, the steam was at half pressure; a thousand schemes were tried to attract the attention and stimulate the apathy of the animal in case it should be met in those parts. Large quantities of bacon were trailed in the wake of the ship, to the great satisfaction (I must say) of the sharks.
schemes - des schémas, plan, combine, machination, schéma
attract - attirer
stimulate - stimuler
apathy - l'apathie, apathie
bacon - bacon, lard, lardon
trailed - suivi, pister, suivre, traîner, piste, traces-p, sentier
satisfaction - satisfaction
sharks - des requins, requin
Small craft radiated in all directions round the Abraham Lincoln as she lay to, and did not leave a spot of the sea unexplored. But the night of the 4th of November arrived without the unveiling of this submarine mystery.
craft - l'artisanat, ruse, métier, nef
radiated - rayonné, irradier
spot - spot, tache, bouton, peu, endroit, zone, détecter, trouver
unveiling - dévoiler, (unveil), lever le voile
The next day, the 5th of November, at twelve, the delay would (morally speaking) expire; after that time, Commander Farragut, faithful to his promise, was to turn the course to the south-east and abandon for ever the northern regions of the Pacific.
expire - expirer
faithful - fidele, fidele, loyal
abandon - abandonner, renoncer, abandonnent, abandonnons, délaisser
The frigate was then in 31° 15˛ north latitude and 136° 42˛ east longitude. The coast of Japan still remained less than two hundred miles to leeward. Night was approaching. They had just struck eight bells; large clouds veiled the face of the moon, then in its first quarter. The sea undulated peaceably under the stern of the vessel.
Latitude - latitude, parallele, marge
Japan - le japon, Japon
approaching - en approche, (s')approcher (de)
veiled - voilée, voile, voiler
undulated - ondulé, onduler, ondoyer
peaceably - pacifiquement
stern - sévere, poupe
At that moment I was leaning forward on the starboard netting. Conseil, standing near me, was looking straight before him. The crew, perched in the ratlines, examined the horizon, which contracted and darkened by degrees.
perched - perché, perchoir
ratlines - lignes de rat, enfléchure
horizon - horizon
contracted - sous contrat, contracter
darkened - assombri, obscurcir, assombrir, foncer
by degrees - par degrés
Officers with their night glasses scoured the growing darkness; sometimes the ocean sparkled under the rays of the moon, which darted between two clouds, then all trace of light was lost in the darkness.
sparkled - étincelait, étincellement
rays - rayons, rayon
darted - dardé, dard, fleche
trace - trace, projection horizontale, décalquer
In looking at Conseil, I could see he was undergoing a little of the general influence. At least I thought so. Perhaps for the first time his nerves vibrated to a sentiment of curiosity.
influence - influence, influencer, influer
vibrated - vibré, vibrer
sentiment - sentiment
curiosity - curiosité
"Come, Conseil," said I, "this is the last chance of pocketing the two thousand dollars."
"May I be permitted to say, sir," replied Conseil, "that I never reckoned on getting the prize; and, had the government of the Union offered a hundred thousand dollars, it would have been none the poorer."
permitted - autorisé, permettre
reckoned - a calculé, considérer
Union - l'union, union, groupement, connexion, réunion
offered - proposé, offrir, proposer
"You are right, Conseil. It is a foolish affair after all, and one upon which we entered too lightly. What time lost, what useless emotions! We should have been back in France six months ago."
foolish - sot, stupide, bete, idiot
affair - affaire, aventure, liaison
lightly - légerement, légerement
been back - etre revenu
"In your little room, sir," replied Conseil, "and in your museum, sir, and I should have already classed all your fossils, sir. And the Babiroussa would have been installed in its cage in the Jardin des Plantes, and have drawn all the curious people of the capital!"
little room - petite piece
fossils - fossiles, fossile
installed - installée, installer
cage - cage, encager
Curious - vous etes curieux, curieux, intéressant, singulier
"As you say, Conseil. I fancy we shall run a fair chance of being laughed at for our pains."
fancy - fantaisie, imaginer, songer
"That's tolerably certain," replied Conseil, quietly; "I think they will make fun of you, sir. And, must I say it?"
tolerably - de maniere tolérable
"Go on, my good friend."
"Well, sir, you will only get your deserts."
"Indeed!"
"When one has the honour of being a savant as you are, sir, one should not expose one's self to"""
expose - exposer, dénoncer
Conseil had not time to finish his compliment. In the midst of general silence a voice had just been heard. It was the voice of Ned Land shouting"
compliment - compliment, complimenter, faire un compliment
midst - centre, milieu
silence - le silence, silence
"Look out there! The very thing we are looking for"on our weather beam!"
beam - madrier, poutre, merrain, perche, limon, timon, age, faisceau
At this cry the whole ship's crew hurried towards the harpooner,"commander, officers, masters, sailors, cabin boys; even the engineers left their engines, and the stokers their furnaces.
masters - maîtres, maître/-tresse
stokers - les soutiers, chauffeur
furnaces - les fours, four, haut fourneau, chaudiere
The order to stop her had been given, and the frigate now simply went on by her own momentum. The darkness was then profound, and however good the Canadian's eyes were, I asked myself how he had managed to see, and what he had been able to see. My heart beat as if it would break. But Ned Land was not mistaken, and we all perceived the object he pointed to.
Simply - tout simplement, simplement
momentum - l'élan, quantité de mouvement, élan
profound - profond
At two cables'length from the Abraham Lincoln, on the starboard quarter, the sea seemed to be illuminated all over. It was not a mere phosphoric phenomenon. The monster emerged some fathoms from the water, and then threw out that very intense but inexplicable light mentioned in the report of several captains. This magnificent irradiation must have been produced by an agent of great shining power.
illuminated - éclairé, illuminer
mere - simple
phosphoric - phosphorique
emerged - a émergé, émerger, sortir
fathoms - brasses, brasse
threw out - Jeter
intense - intense
irradiation - l'irradiation, irradiation
agent - agent, espion, complément d'agent
shining - brillant, briller, éclairer
The luminous part traced on the sea an immense oval, much elongated, the centre of which condensed a burning heat, whose overpowering brilliancy died out by successive gradations.
luminous - lumineux
traced - tracé, trace
oval - ovale
condensed - condensée, condenser, se condenser
burning heat - une chaleur brulante
overpowering - surpuissant, soumettre
brilliancy - brillance
died out - s'est éteint
successive - successifs
"It is only an agglomeration of phosphoric particles," cried one of the officers.
agglomeration - agglomération
particles - particules, particule
"No, sir, certainly not," I replied. "Never did pholades or salpæ produce such a powerful light. That brightness is of an essentially electrical nature. Besides, see, see! it moves; it is moving forwards, backwards; it is darting towards us!"
pholades - pholades
brightness - brillance, luminosité, intelligence
essentially - essentiellement
backwards - a l'envers, arriéré, en arriere, a reculons
darting - darting, dard, fleche
A general cry rose from the frigate.
"Silence!" said the Captain; "up with the helm, reverse the engines."
reverse - inverser, verso, inverse
The steam was shut off, and the Abraham Lincoln, beating to port, described a semicircle.
semicircle - demi-cercle
"Right the helm, go ahead," cried the Captain.
These orders were executed, and the frigate moved rapidly from the burning light.
executed - exécuté, exécuter, mettre a mort
I was mistaken. She tried to sheer off, but the supernatural animal approached with a velocity double her own.
sheer - transparent, pur
approached - approché, (s')approcher (de)
We gasped for breath. Stupefaction more than fear made us dumb and motionless. The animal gained on us, sporting with the waves. It made the round of the frigate, which was then making fourteen knots, and enveloped it with its electric rings like luminous dust. Then it moved away two or three miles, leaving a phosphorescent track, like those volumes of steam that the express trains leave behind.
gasped - haletant, retenir son souffle, haleter, ahaner, haletement
breath - respiration, souffle, haleine
dumb - stupide, muet
motionless - immobile
enveloped - enveloppé, envelopper
rings - anneaux, anneau, bague
dust - la poussiere, poussiere, épousseter, pulvériser
All at once from the dark line of the horizon whither it retired to gain its momentum, the monster rushed suddenly towards the Abraham Lincoln with alarming rapidity, stopped suddenly about twenty feet from the hull, and died out,"not diving under the water, for its brilliancy did not abate,"but suddenly, and as if the source of this brilliant emanation was exhausted.
whither - ou
retired - a la retraite, prendre sa retraite
alarming - alarmante, alarme, réveille-matin, réveil, alarmer, fr
diving - la plongée, plongement
abate - réduire, alléger, amoindrir
emanation - émanation, radon
exhausted - épuisé, épuiser, échappement
Then it reappeared on the other side of the vessel, as if it had turned and slid under the hull. Any moment a collision might have occurred which would have been fatal to us. However, I was astonished at the manĹ"uvres of the frigate. She fled and did not attack.
reappeared - réapparaît, réapparaître
slid - glissée, (slide), glisser, déraper, toboggan, glissoire
fatal - fatale, fatal
astonished - étonné, étonner, surprendre
fled - fui, s'enfuir, prendre la fuite, fuir, échapper
On the captain's face, generally so impassive, was an expression of unaccountable astonishment.
generally - en général
unaccountable - sans avoir a rendre de comptes
astonishment - l'étonnement, étonnement
"Mr. Aronnax," he said, "I do not know with what formidable being I have to deal, and I will not imprudently risk my frigate in the midst of this darkness. Besides, how attack this unknown thing, how defend one's self from it? Wait for daylight, and the scene will change."
imprudently - imprudemment
defend - défendre
daylight - la lumiere du jour, jour, lumiere du jour
"You have no further doubt, captain, of the nature of the animal?"
"No, sir; it is evidently a gigantic narwhal, and an electric one."
evidently - évidemment, de toute évidence, manifestement
"Perhaps," added I, "one can only approach it with a gymnotus or a torpedo."
approach - approche, approchons, abordent, abordez, rapprochons
torpedo - torpille, torpiller
"Undoubtedly," replied the captain, "if it possesses such dreadful power, it is the most terrible animal that ever was created. That is why, sir, I must be on my guard."
Undoubtedly - sans doute
most terrible - le plus terrible
guard - garde, protection, gardien, arriere, défense, garder
The crew were on their feet all night. No one thought of sleep. The Abraham Lincoln, not being able to struggle with such velocity, had moderated its pace, and sailed at half speed. For its part, the narwhal, imitating the frigate, let the waves rock it at will, and seemed decided not to leave the scene of the struggle.
Struggle - lutte, lutter, s'efforcer, combattre
moderated - modéré, moderer, modérer
pace - rythme, pas
imitating - l'imitation, imiter
Towards midnight, however, it disappeared, or, to use a more appropriate term, it "died out" like a large glow-worm. Had it fled? One could only fear, not hope. But at seven minutes to one o'clock in the morning a deafening whistling was heard, like that produced by a body of water rushing with great violence.
appropriate - approprié, idoine, approprier
glow - l'éclat, briller, luire, irradier, lueur, éclat
worm - ver, vermine, scarabée, vis sans fin, dragon, remords, ramper
deafening - assourdissante, assourdissant, (deafen), assourdir
whistling - siffler, (whistle), sifflet, sifflement, sifflements
rushing - se précipiter, (rush) se précipiter
violence - la violence, violence
The captain, Ned Land, and I, were then on the poop, eagerly peering through the profound darkness.
eagerly - avec empressement, avidement
peering - peering, pair
"Ned Land," asked the commander, "you have often heard the roaring of whales?"
"Often, sir; but never such whales the sight of which brought me in two thousand dollars. If I can only approach within four harpoon lengths of it!"
lengths - des longueurs, longueur, durée
"But to approach it," said the commander, "I ought to put a whaler at your disposal?"
"Certainly, sir."
"That will be trifling with the lives of my men."
trifling - insignifiant, futile, (trifle), bagatelle, broutille, babiole
"And mine too," simply said the harpooner.
Towards two o'clock in the morning, the burning light reappeared, not less intense, about five miles to windward of the Abraham Lincoln. Notwithstanding the distance, and the noise of the wind and sea, one heard distinctly the loud strokes of the animal's tail, and even its panting breath.
notwithstanding - nonobstant
distinctly - distinctement
strokes - coups, coup
tail - queue
panting - haletant, (pant) haletant
It seemed that, at the moment that the enormous narwhal had come to take breath at the surface of the water, the air was engulfed in its lungs, like the steam in the vast cylinders of a machine of two thousand horse-power.
engulfed - englouti, submerger, engloutir, engouffrer
lungs - poumons, poumon
cylinders - cylindres, cylindre
"Hum!" thought I, "a whale with the strength of a cavalry regiment would be a pretty whale!"
cavalry regiment - régiment de cavalerie
We were on the qui vive till daylight, and prepared for the combat. The fishing implements were laid along the hammock nettings. The Second Lieutenant loaded the blunderbusses, which could throw harpoons to the distance of a mile, and long duck-guns, with explosive bullets, which inflicted mortal wounds even to the most terrible animals.
vive - vive
combat - combat, bataille, lutte, combattre
implements - met en ouvre, instrument, appliquer, exécuter, établir
laid - posé, poser
hammock - hamac, hammock
Second Lieutenant - Second lieutenant
loaded - chargé, charge, chargement
blunderbusses - les tromblons, tromblon, espingole
Harpoons - harpons, harpon, harponner
bullets - balles, balle
inflicted - infligé, infliger
mortal - mortel, mortelle
Ned Land contented himself with sharpening his harpoon"a terrible weapon in his hands.
contented - satisfait
sharpening - l'affutage, affiler, affuter, aiguiser
At six o'clock day began to break; and, with the first glimmer of light, the electric light of the narwhal disappeared. At seven o'clock the day was sufficiently advanced, but a very thick sea fog obscured our view, and the best spy-glasses could not pierce it. That caused disappointment and anger.
glimmer - l'éclat, lueur, émettre une lueur
sufficiently - suffisamment
advanced - avancé, élever, avancer, avancée, progression, progres
Fog - le brouillard, masquer, brume, brouillard
obscured - obscurci, obscur, sibyllin, obscurcir
spy - espion, espionne, espionner
disappointment - déception
anger - la colere, colere, ire, courroux, rage
I climbed the mizzen-mast. Some officers were already perched on the mast heads. At eight o'clock the fog lay heavily on the waves, and its thick scrolls rose little by little. The horizon grew wider and clearer at the same time. Suddenly, just as on the day before, Ned Land's voice was heard:
mast - mât
heavily - lourdement
scrolls - parchemins, rouleau, volute, coquille, faire défiler
"The thing itself on the port quarter!" cried the harpooner.
Every eye was turned towards the point indicated. There, a mile and a half from the frigate, a long blackish body emerged a yard above the waves. Its tail, violently agitated, produced a considerable eddy. Never did a caudal appendage beat the sea with such violence. An immense track, of dazzling whiteness, marked the passage of the animal, and described a long curve.
indicated - indiqué, indiquer, signaler
blackish - noirâtre
caudal - caudale, caudal
whiteness - la blancheur, blancheur, blanchité, blanchitude
The frigate approached the cetacean. I examined it thoroughly.
thoroughly - a fond, absolument, completement
The reports of the Shannon and of the Helvetia had rather exaggerated its size, and I estimated its length at only two hundred and fifty feet. As to its dimensions, I could only conjecture them to be admirably proportioned. While I watched this phenomenon, two jets of steam and water were ejected from its vents, and rose to the height of 120 feet; thus I ascertained its way of breathing.
estimated - estimée, estimation, devis, estimer
admirably - admirablement
proportioned - proportionné, proportion
jets - jets, (de) jais
ejected - éjecté, expulser
vents - des évents, évent
ascertained - vérifié, constater, définir
breathing - respirer, respiration, (breath), souffle, haleine
I concluded definitely that it belonged to the vertebrate branch, class mammalia.
concluded - conclu, conclure
The crew waited impatiently for their chief's orders. The latter, after having observed the animal attentively, called the engineer. The engineer ran to him.
impatiently - avec impatience
attentively - attentivement
"Sir," said the commander, "you have steam up?"
"Yes, sir," answered the engineer.
"Well, make up your fires and put on all steam."
Three hurrahs greeted this order. The time for the struggle had arrived. Some moments after, the two funnels of the frigate vomited torrents of black smoke, and the bridge quaked under the trembling of the boilers.
funnels - des entonnoirs, entonnoir
vomited - vomi, vomir, rendre, rejeter, dégobiller
torrents - torrents, torrent
The Abraham Lincoln, propelled by her wonderful screw, went straight at the animal. The latter allowed it to come within half a cable's length; then, as if disdaining to dive, it took a little turn, and stopped a short distance off.
propelled - propulsé, propulser, catapulter
disdaining - dédaigner, dédain, mépris, mépriser
This pursuit lasted nearly three-quarters of an hour, without the frigate gaining two yards on the cetacean. It was quite evident that at that rate we should never come up with it.
gaining - l'acquisition, (gain) l'acquisition
evident - évidentes, évident
"Well, Mr. Land," asked the captain, "do you advise me to put the boats out to sea?"
advise - conseiller, renseigner
"No, sir," replied Ned Land; "because we shall not take that beast easily."
"What shall we do then?"
"Put on more steam if you can, sir. With your leave, I mean to post myself under the bowsprit, and if we get within harpooning distance, I shall throw my harpoon."
bowsprit - le beaupré, beaupré
harpooning - harponnage, harpon, harponner
"Go, Ned," said the captain. "Engineer, put on more pressure."
Ned Land went to his post. The fires were increased, the screw revolved forty-three times a minute, and the steam poured out of the valves. We heaved the log, and calculated that the Abraham Lincoln was going at the rate of 18½ miles an hour.
revolved - tourné, retourner, tourner
poured out - versée
valves - des soupapes, clapet, soupape, valvule
heaved - heaved, hisser
calculated - calculée, calculer
But the accursed animal swam too at the rate of 18½ miles an hour.
For a whole hour, the frigate kept up this pace, without gaining six feet. It was humiliating for one of the swiftest sailers in the American navy. A stubborn anger seized the crew; the sailors abused the monster, who, as before, disdained to answer them; the captain no longer contented himself with twisting his beard"he gnawed it.
humiliating - humiliant, humilier
swiftest - le plus rapide, rapide, martinet, dévidoir
Navy - la marine, force navale, flotte, marine, bleu marine
stubborn - tetu, tetu, enteté, borné
seized - saisi, saisir
abused - abusé, abuser (de)
disdained - dédaigné, dédain, mépris, dédaigner, mépriser
twisting - torsion, (twist), twist, entortiller, tordre
beard - barbe
gnawed - rongé, ronger, harceler, préoccuper
The engineer was again called.
"You have turned full steam in?"
"Yes, sir," replied the engineer.
The speed of the Abraham Lincoln increased. Its masts trembled down to their stepping holes, and the clouds of smoke could hardly find way out of the narrow funnels.
masts - mâts, mât
trembled - tremblait, trembler, vibrer, tremblement, vibration
hardly - a peine, dur, durement, guere, a peine
They heaved the log a second time.
"Well?" asked the captain of the man at the wheel.
"Nineteen miles and three-tenths, sir."
tenths - dixiemes, dixieme ('before the noun'), ('in names of monarchs and popes') dix ('after the name') ('abbreviation' X)
"Clap on more steam."
clap - applaudir, claquent, claquer, applaudissement, claquez
The engineer obeyed. The manometer showed ten degrees. But the cetacean grew warm itself, no doubt; for without straining itself, it made 19-3/10 miles.
obeyed - obéi, obéir, obtempérer
manometer - manometre, manometre
straining - la tension, (strain) la tension
What a pursuit! No, I cannot describe the emotion that vibrated through me. Ned Land kept his post, harpoon in hand. Several times the animal let us gain upon it.""We shall catch it! we shall catch it!" cried the Canadian.
But just as he was going to strike, the cetacean stole away with a rapidity that could not be estimated at less than thirty miles an hour, and even during our maximum of speed, it bullied the frigate, going round and round it. A cry of fury broke from everyone!
strike - greve, biffer, rayer, barrer, frapper, battre, faire greve
stole away - a volé
maximum - maximum, maximal
bullied - harcelés, brimeur, brute, tyran, intimider, tourmenter
going round - Aller autour
At noon we were no further advanced than at eight o'clock in the morning.
noon - midi
The captain then decided to take more direct means.
"Ah!" said he, "that animal goes quicker than the Abraham Lincoln. Very well! we will see whether it will escape these conical bullets. Send your men to the forecastle, sir."
The forecastle gun was immediately loaded and slewed round. But the shot passed some feet above the cetacean, which was half a mile off.
slewed - slewed, déraper
"Another, more to the right," cried the commander, "and five dollars to whoever will hit that infernal beast."
infernal - infernal
An old gunner with a grey beard"that I can see now"with steady eye and grave face, went up to the gun and took a long aim. A loud report was heard, with which were mingled the cheers of the crew.
Gunner - canonnier
steady - stable, lisse, régulier
aim - objectif, visez, dgssein, mire, visons, but, peiner, visent
mingled - mélangés, mélanger
An old grey-bearded gunner . . . .
bearded - barbu, barbe
The bullet did its work; it hit the animal, but not fatally, and sliding off the rounded surface, was lost in two miles depth of sea.
bullet - balle, projectile
fatally - fatalement
sliding - glissant, (slid) glissant
The chase began again, and the captain, leaning towards me, said"
"I will pursue that beast till my frigate bursts up."
bursts - éclatements, éclater, faire éclater, rompre, briser, éclatement
"Yes," answered I; "and you will be quite right to do it."
I wished the beast would exhaust itself, and not be insensible to fatigue like a steam engine! But it was of no use. Hours passed, without its showing any signs of exhaustion.
insensible - insensible
steam engine - moteur a vapeur
exhaustion - l'épuisement, épuisement, harassement
However, it must be said in praise of the Abraham Lincoln, that she struggled on indefatigably. I cannot reckon the distance she made under three hundred miles during this unlucky day, November the 6th. But night came on, and overshadowed the rough ocean.
Praise - des louanges, louange, louer, féliciter, prôner, vénérer
struggled - en difficulté, lutte, lutter, s'efforcer, combattre
indefatigably - indéfectiblement
reckon - le reconnaître, considérer
overshadowed - éclipsé, ombrager, éclipser ('la gloire', 'une personne')
rough - rude, rugueux, brut, approximatif, difficile, brutal, ébaucher
Now I thought our expedition was at an end, and that we should never again see the extraordinary animal. I was mistaken. At ten minutes to eleven in the evening, the electric light reappeared three miles to windward of the frigate, as pure, as intense as during the preceding night.
pure - pure, pur, pudique
preceding - précédent, précéder
The narwhal seemed motionless; perhaps, tired with its day's work, it slept, letting itself float with the undulation of the waves. Now was a chance of which the captain resolved to take advantage.
float - flotter, flotteur, taloche, char, flottant, float
resolved - résolu, prendre la résolution de
He gave his orders. The Abraham Lincoln kept up half steam, and advanced cautiously so as not to awake its adversary. It is no rare thing to meet in the middle of the ocean whales so sound asleep that they can be successfully attacked, and Ned Land had harpooned more than one during its sleep. The Canadian went to take his place again under the bowsprit.
cautiously - avec prudence, précautionneusement
adversary - adversaire, ennemi, ennemie
rare - rares, rare
successfully - avec succes
The frigate approached noiselessly, stopped at two cables'lengths from the animal, and following its track. No one breathed; a deep silence reigned on the bridge. We were not a hundred feet from the burning focus, the light of which increased and dazzled our eyes.
noiselessly - sans bruit
breathed - respiré, respirer, inspirer, expirer
reigned - régnait, regne, régner
At this moment, leaning on the forecastle bulwark, I saw below me Ned Land grappling the martingale in one hand, brandishing his terrible harpoon in the other, scarcely twenty feet from the motionless animal. Suddenly his arm straightened, and the harpoon was thrown; I heard the sonorous stroke of the weapon, which seemed to have struck a hard body.
bulwark - rempart, bastingage, pavois
martingale - martingale
brandishing - brandir
straightened - redressé, redresser
sonorous - sonore
The electric light went out suddenly, and two enormous waterspouts broke over the bridge of the frigate, rushing like a torrent from stem to stern, overthrowing men, and breaking the lashings of the spars. A fearful shock followed, and, thrown over the rail without having time to stop myself, I fell into the sea.
waterspouts - les trombes d'eau, trombe
overthrowing - renverser
spars - les espars, (Spar) les espars
fearful - effrayant, redoutable, peureux, craintif, terrible, affreux
thrown over - jeté
rail - ferroviaire, rail
This unexpected fall so stunned me that I have no clear recollection of my sensations at the time. I was at first drawn down to a depth of about twenty feet. I am a good swimmer (though without pretending to rival Byron or Edgar Poe, who were masters of the art), and in that plunge I did not lose my presence of mind. Two vigorous strokes brought me to the surface of the water.
unexpected - inattendu
stunned - stupéfait, étourdir, étonner, époustoufler
recollection - mémoire
sensations - sensations, sensation
swimmer - nageur, nageuse
pretending - faire semblant, prétendre, prétendre a, feindre
rival - rival, rivale, rivaliser
Edgar - edgar
plunge - plonger
My first care was to look for the frigate. Had the crew seen me disappear? Had the Abraham Lincoln veered round? Would the captain put out a boat? Might I hope to be saved?
veered - a viré, virer
The darkness was intense. I caught a glimpse of a black mass disappearing in the east, its beacon lights dying out in the distance. It was the frigate! I was lost.
Glimpse - aperçu, entrevoir
beacon - balise, phare, amer
dying out - s'éteindre
"Help, help!" I shouted, swimming towards the Abraham Lincoln in desperation.
in desperation - en désespoir de cause
My clothes encumbered me; they seemed glued to my body, and paralysed my movements.
glued - collé, colle, coller
paralysed - paralysé, paralyser
I was sinking! I was suffocating!
suffocating - étouffant, (suffocate), suffoquer, étouffer
"Help!"
This was my last cry. My mouth filled with water; I struggled against being drawn down the abyss. Suddenly my clothes were seized by a strong hand, and I felt myself quickly drawn up to the surface of the sea; and I heard, yes, I heard these words pronounced in my ear"
"If master would be so good as to lean on my shoulder, master would swim with much greater ease."
lean - maigre, adossons, adossent, appuyer, adossez
I seized with one hand my faithful Conseil's arm.
seized with - saisir
"Is it you?" said I, "you?"
"Myself," answered Conseil; "and waiting master's orders."
"That shock threw you as well as me into the sea?"
"No; but being in my master's service, I followed him."
The worthy fellow thought that was but natural.
fellow - un camarade, ensemble, mâle
"And the frigate?" I asked.
"The frigate?" replied Conseil, turning on his back; "I think that master had better not count too much on her."
turning on - Allumer
"You think so?"
"I say that, at the time I threw myself into the sea, I heard the men at the wheel say, The screw and the rudder are broken.'"
rudder - le gouvernail, gouvernail
"Broken?"
"Yes, broken by the monster's teeth. It is the only injury the Abraham Lincoln has sustained. But it is a bad look out for us"she no longer answers her helm."
sustained - soutenue, maintenir, subvenir
"Then we are lost!"
"Perhaps so," calmly answered Conseil. "However, we have still several hours before us, and one can do a good deal in some hours."
calmly - calmement, paisiblement
Conseil's imperturbable coolness set me up again. I swam more vigorously; but, cramped by my clothes, which stuck to me like a leaden weight, I felt great difficulty in bearing up. Conseil saw this.
imperturbable - imperturbable
vigorously - vigoureusement
cramped - a l'étroit, crampe
stuck - coincé, enfoncer
difficulty - difficulté
"Will master let me make a slit?" said he; and, slipping an open knife under my clothes, he ripped them up from top to bottom very rapidly. Then he cleverly slipped them off me, while I swam for both of us.
slit - fente, vulve
slipping - glissement, glisser
ripped - déchiré, (se) déchirer
cleverly - intelligemment
slipped - a glissé, glisser
Then I did the same for Conseil, and we continued to swim near to each other.
Nevertheless, our situation was no less terrible. Perhaps our disappearance had not been noticed; and if it had been, the frigate could not tack, being without its helm. Conseil argued on this supposition, and laid his plans accordingly. This phlegmatic boy was perfectly self-possessed.
supposition - hypothese, supposition, conjecture
accordingly - en conséquence, conséquemment
We then decided that, as our only chance of safety was being picked up by the Abraham Lincoln's boats, we ought to manage so as to wait for them as long as possible.
safety - la sécurité, sécurité, sureté
I resolved then to husband our strength, so that both should not be exhausted at the same time; and this is how we managed: while one of us lay on our back, quite still, with arms crossed, and legs stretched out, the other would swim and push the other on in front.
stretched - étiré, étendre, s'étendre, s'étirer, étirement
This towing business did not last more than ten minutes each; and relieving each other thus, we could swim on for some hours, perhaps till daybreak. Poor chance! but hope is so firmly rooted in the heart of man! Moreover, there were two of us. Indeed I declare (though it may seem improbable) if I sought to destroy all hope,"if I wished to despair, I could not.
towing - remorquant, (tow) remorquant
relieving - soulageant, soulager, relayer, faire ses besoins, se soulager
daybreak - l'aube, point du jour
rooted - enraciné, racine
Moreover - de plus, en plus, au surplus, en outre
declare - expliquer, déclarer
improbable - invraisemblable, improbable
sought - recherchée, chercher
despair - le désespoir, désespérer, désespoir
The collision of the frigate with the cetacean had occurred about eleven o'clock the evening before. I reckoned then we should have eight hours to swim before sunrise, an operation quite practicable if we relieved each other. The sea, very calm, was in our favour. Sometimes I tried to pierce the intense darkness that was only dispelled by the phosphorescence caused by our movements.
sunrise - lever du soleil, potron-minet
operation - l'opération, opération, fonctionnement, exploitation, gestion
practicable - praticable
dispelled - dissipé, chasser, dissiper
phosphorescence - phosphorescence
I watched the luminous waves that broke over my hand, whose mirror-like surface was spotted with silvery rings. One might have said that we were in a bath of quicksilver.
spotted - repéré, tache, bouton, peu, endroit, zone, détecter, trouver
silvery - argenté, argentin
quicksilver - le vif-argent, vif-argent
Near one o'clock in the morning, I was seized with dreadful fatigue. My limbs stiffened under the strain of violent cramp. Conseil was obliged to keep me up, and our preservation devolved on him alone. I heard the poor boy pant; his breathing became short and hurried. I found that he could not keep up much longer.
limbs - membres, membre
stiffened - s'est raidie, raidir, endurcir, se raidir, s'endurcir
strain - souche, accablement
cramp - crampe
preservation - préservation
pant - pant, haleter
"Leave me! leave me!" I said to him.
"Leave my master? Never!" replied he. "I would drown first."
drown - se noyer, noyer, checksubmerger
Just then the moon appeared through the fringes of a thick cloud that the wind was driving to the east. The surface of the sea glittered with its rays. This kindly light reanimated us. My head got better again. I looked at all points of the horizon. I saw the frigate! She was five miles from us, and looked like a dark mass, hardly discernible. But no boats!
fringes - les franges, frange, périphérie, radicaux
glittered - pailleté, étincellement, paillette, briller
I would have cried out. But what good would it have been at such a distance! My swollen lips could utter no sounds. Conseil could articulate some words, and I heard him repeat at intervals, "Help! help!"
swollen - gonflé, enfler, gonfler
lips - levres, levre
utter - l'utérus, émettre
articulate - articuler, articulez, articulons, articulent
Our movements were suspended for an instant; we listened. It might be only a singing in the ear, but it seemed to me as if a cry answered the cry from Conseil.
suspended - suspendue, suspendre
"Did you hear?" I murmured.
murmured - murmuré, murmure, rumeur, souffle, murmurer
"Yes! Yes!"
And Conseil gave one more despairing call.
despairing - désespéré, désespérer, désespoir
This time there was no mistake! A human voice responded to ours! Was it the voice of another unfortunate creature, abandoned in the middle of the ocean, some other victim of the shock sustained by the vessel? Or rather was it a boat from the frigate, that was hailing us in the darkness?
unfortunate - malheureux, infortuné, malencontreux
hailing - la grele, grele
Conseil made a last effort, and, leaning on my shoulder, while I struck out in a despairing effort, he raised himself half out of the water, then fell back exhausted.
effort - l'effort, effort
"What did you see?"
"I saw""murmured he; "I saw"but do not talk"reserve all your strength!"
reserve - réservation, réserve, réserves, remplaçant
What had he seen? Then, I know not why, the thought of the monster came into my head for the first time! But that voice! The time is past for Jonahs to take refuge in whales'bellies! However, Conseil was towing me again. He raised his head sometimes, looked before us, and uttered a cry of recognition, which was responded to by a voice that came nearer and nearer. I scarcely heard it.
Jonahs - jonas, porte-malheur
refuge - refuge
bellies - ventres, ventre
uttered - prononcée, complet, total
recognition - reconnaissance
My strength was exhausted; my fingers stiffened; my hand afforded me support no longer; my mouth, convulsively opening, filled with salt water. Cold crept over me. I raised my head for the last time, then I sank.
afforded - de l'entreprise, permettre
convulsively - convulsivement
salt water - l'eau salée
crept - rampé, ramper, rampement, fatigue, fluage, reptation
sank - a coulé, couler, s'enfoncer, évier, lavabo
At this moment a hard body struck me. I clung to it: then I felt that I was being drawn up, that I was brought to the surface of the water, that my chest collapsed:"I fainted.
clung - s'est accroché, s'accrocher (a)
chest - poitrine, sein, commode, coffre
collapsed - effondré, s'effondrer, effondrement
fainted - s'est évanoui, faible, léger
It is certain that I soon came to, thanks to the vigorous rubbings that I received. I half opened my eyes.
"Conseil!" I murmured.
"Does master call me?" asked Conseil.
Just then, by the waning light of the moon which was sinking down to the horizon, I saw a face which was not Conseil's and which I immediately recognised.
waning - s'affaiblir, (wan) s'affaiblir
sinking down - s'enfoncer
"Ned!" I cried.
"The same, sir, who is seeking his prize!" replied the Canadian.
seeking - a la recherche, chercher
"Were you thrown into the sea by the shock to the frigate?"
"Yes, Professor; but more fortunate than you, I was able to find a footing almost directly upon a floating island."
directly - directement, checktout droit
"An island?"
"Or, more correctly speaking, on our gigantic narwhal."
"Explain yourself, Ned!"
"Only I soon found out why my harpoon had not entered its skin and was blunted."
blunted - émoussé
"Why, Ned, why?"
"Because, Professor, that beast is made of sheet iron."
The Canadian's last words produced a sudden revolution in my brain. I wriggled myself quickly to the top of the being, or object, half out of the water, which served us for a refuge. I kicked it. It was evidently a hard impenetrable body, and not the soft substance that forms the bodies of the great marine mammalia.
sudden - soudain, soudaine, subit
revolution - révolution, coup d'état, tour
wriggled - s'est tortillé, remuer, se tortiller
kicked - botté, donner un coup de pied (a, dans)
impenetrable - impénétrable
substance - substance, fond, biens
But this hard body might be a bony carapace, like that of the antediluvian animals; and I should be free to class this monster among amphibious reptiles, such as tortoises or alligators.
carapace - carapace
amphibious - amphibie
reptiles - des reptiles, reptile
Tortoises - les tortues, tortue
alligators - des alligators, alligator
Well, no! the blackish back that supported me was smooth, polished, without scales. The blow produced a metallic sound; and incredible though it may be, it seemed, I might say, as if it was made of riveted plates.
smooth - lisse, doux, facile, sophistiqué, naturel, souple, régulier
polished - polie, polonais
scales - des échelles, graduation
metallic - métallique, métalisé
riveted - rivetés, rivet, riveter
There was no doubt about it! This monster, this natural phenomenon that had puzzled the learned world, and overthrown and misled the imagination of seamen of both hemispheres, it must be owned, a still more astonishing phenomenon, inasmuch as it was a simply human construction.
natural phenomenon - phénomene naturel
overthrown - renversé, renverser
misled - induit en erreur, égarer, mésinformer
seamen - marins, matelot
hemispheres - hémispheres, hémisphere
more astonishing - plus étonnante
We had no time to lose, however. We were lying upon the back of a sort of submarine boat, which appeared (as far as I could judge) like a huge fish of steel. Ned Land's mind was made up on this point. Conseil and I could only agree with him.
Just then a bubbling began at the back of this strange thing (which was evidently propelled by a screw), and it began to move. We had only just time to seize hold of the upper part, which rose about seven feet out of the water, and happily its speed was not great.
bubbling - des bulles d'air, bulle, trou, vent, ambiance
seize - saisir, emparer
"As long as it sails horizontally," muttered Ned Land, "I do not mind; but if it takes a fancy to dive, I would not give two straws for my life."
horizontally - horizontalement
muttered - marmonné, marmonner
straws - pailles, paille, fétu, jaune paille
The Canadian might have said still less. It became really necessary to communicate with the beings, whatever they were, shut up inside the machine. I searched all over the outside for an aperture, a panel, or a man-hole, to use a technical expression; but the lines of the iron rivets, solidly driven into the joints of the iron plates, were clear and uniform.
aperture - ouverture
panel - panel, panneau, table ronde, case, vignette, g
technical - technique, technical
rivets - rivets, rivet, riveter
solidly - solidement
joints - articulations, conjoint, commun, articulation, rotule, jointure
Besides, the moon disappeared then, and left us in total darkness.
Total - total, somme, entier, tout, totaliser
At last this long night passed. My indistinct remembrance prevents my describing all the impressions it made. I can only recall one circumstance. During some lulls of the wind and sea, I fancied I heard several times vague sounds, a sort of fugitive harmony produced by words of command. What was then the mystery of this submarine craft, of which the whole world vainly sought an explanation?
indistinct - indistinct
impressions - impressions, impression
recall - rappeler
lulls - des accalmies, pause, bonace, calme, apaiser, bercer, calmer
fancied - aimée, envie, caprice
vague - vague
fugitive - fugitif, fugitive, éphémere, fuyant
harmony - l'harmonie, harmonie
vainly - vainement
What kind of beings existed in this strange boat? What mechanical agent caused its prodigious speed?
mechanical - mécanique, machinal
Daybreak appeared. The morning mists surrounded us, but they soon cleared off. I was about to examine the hull, which formed on deck a kind of horizontal platform, when I felt it gradually sinking.
mists - brumes, brume
surrounded - entouré, entourer, enceindre
examine - examiner
horizontal - horizontal
gradually - progressivement
"Oh! confound it!" cried Ned Land, kicking the resounding plate. "Open, you inhospitable rascals!"
kicking - coups de pied, donner un coup de pied (a, dans)
resounding - retentissant, retentir
inhospitable - inhospitaliere
rascals - des vauriens, racaille, canaille, coquin, crapule, filou
Happily the sinking movement ceased. Suddenly a noise, like iron works violently pushed aside, came from the interior of the boat. One iron plate was moved, a man appeared, uttered an odd cry, and disappeared immediately.
ceased - cessé, cesser, s'arreter, cesser de + 'infinitive'
aside - a part, a côté, en passant, aparté
odd - rench: t-needed r, bizarre, étrange, impair, a peu pres
Some moments after, eight strong men, with masked faces, appeared noiselessly, and drew us down into their formidable machine.
masked - masqué, masque
This forcible abduction, so roughly carried out, was accomplished with the rapidity of lightning. I shivered all over. Whom had we to deal with? No doubt some new sort of pirates, who explored the sea in their own way.
forcible - forcé, forçable, puissant, violent, impressionnant
abduction - enlevement, enlevement, abduction, rapt
roughly - en gros, rudement, approximativement
lightning - la foudre, éclair, éloise, foudre
shivered - frissonné, frissonner
pirates - pirates, pirate, corsaire, boucanier, pirater
explored - exploré, explorer
Hardly had the narrow panel closed upon me, when I was enveloped in darkness. My eyes, dazzled with the outer light, could distinguish nothing. I felt my naked feet cling to the rungs of an iron ladder. Ned Land and Conseil, firmly seized, followed me. At the bottom of the ladder, a door opened, and shut after us immediately with a bang.
enveloped - enveloppé, enveloppe
distinguish - distinguer
naked - nue, nu, a poil, dénudé
cling - s'accrocher, s'accrocher (a)
rungs - échelons, barreau
ladder - l'échelle, échelle
bang - bang, détonation
We were alone. Where, I could not say, hardly imagine. All was black, and such a dense black that, after some minutes, my eyes had not been able to discern even the faintest glimmer.
dense - dense, obscur, bouché
discern - discerner
faintest - le plus faible, faible, léger
Meanwhile, Ned Land, furious at these proceedings, gave free vent to his indignation.
furious - furieux
proceedings - procédures, acte
vent - évent
indignation - l'indignation, indignation
"Confound it!" cried he, "here are people who come up to the Scotch for hospitality. They only just miss being cannibals. I should not be surprised at it, but I declare that they shall not eat me without my protesting."
Scotch - du scotch, Écossais, scotch
hospitality - l'hospitalité, hospitalité, hôtellerie-restauration
cannibals - des cannibales, cannibale
eat me - me manger
protesting - protester, protestation, manifestation
"Calm yourself, friend Ned, calm yourself," replied Conseil, quietly. "Do not cry out before you are hurt. We are not quite done for yet."
"Not quite," sharply replied the Canadian, "but pretty near, at all events. Things look black. Happily, my bowie knife I have still, and I can always see well enough to use it. The first of these pirates who lays a hand on me"""
sharply - brusquement
lays - les mensonges, poser
"Do not excite yourself, Ned," I said to the harpooner, "and do not compromise us by useless violence. Who knows that they will not listen to us? Let us rather try to find out where we are."
excite - exciter
compromise - compromis, concession, compromettre
I groped about. In five steps I came to an iron wall, made of plates bolted together. Then turning back I struck against a wooden table, near which were ranged several stools. The boards of this prison were concealed under a thick mat of phormium, which deadened the noise of the feet. The bare walls revealed no trace of window or door.
groped - tripoté, tâter, tâtonner, tripoter, peloter
bolted - boulonné, verrou
ranged - rangé, chaîne (de montagnes), cuisiniere, sélection, gamme
stools - tabourets, tabouret
concealed - dissimulée, dissimuler, cacher
mat - mat, mate
phormium - phormium
deadened - mort, endormir, assourdir, isoler
bare - a nu, dénudé, dégarnir, nu
revealed - révélée, révéler, laisser voir
Conseil, going round the reverse way, met me, and we went back to the middle of the cabin, which measured about twenty feet by ten. As to its height, Ned Land, in spite of his own great height, could not measure it.
spite - dépit, rancune
measure - mesure, mesurer
Half an hour had already passed without our situation being bettered, when the dense darkness suddenly gave way to extreme light. Our prison was suddenly lighted"that is to say, it became filled with a luminous matter, so strong that I could not bear it at first.
In its whiteness and intensity I recognised that electric light which played round the submarine boat like a magnificent phenomenon of phosphorescence. After shutting my eyes involuntarily, I opened them, and saw that this luminous agent came from a half globe, unpolished, placed in the roof of the cabin.
intensity - l'intensité, intensité
involuntarily - involontairement
"At last one can see," cried Ned Land, who, knife in hand, stood on the defensive.
"Yes," said I; "but we are still in the dark about ourselves."
"Let master have patience," said the imperturbable Conseil.
The sudden lighting of the cabin enabled me to examine it minutely. It only contained a table and five stools. The invisible door might be hermetically sealed. No noise was heard. All seemed dead in the interior of this boat. Did it move, did it float on the surface of the ocean, or did it dive into its depths? I could not guess.
enabled - activée, autoriser, permettre, activer
minutely - minutieusement
invisible - invisible, caché
hermetically sealed - hermétiquement scellé
A noise of bolts was now heard, the door opened, and two men appeared.
bolts - boulons, verrou
One was short, very muscular, broad-shouldered, with robust limbs, strong head, an abundance of black hair, thick moustache, a quick penetrating look, and the vivacity which characterises the population of Southern France.
muscular - musculaire, musclé, musculeux
robust - robuste
abundance - l'abondance, abondance
moustache - moustache, bacchante
vivacity - vivacité
southern - méridionale, méridional, sud, austral, sudiste
The second stranger merits a more detailed description. A disciple of Gratiolet or Engel would have read his face like an open book.
merits - mérites, mérite, mériter
disciple - disciple
I made out his prevailing qualities directly:"self-confidence,"because his head was well set on his shoulders, and his black eyes looked around with cold assurance; calmness,"for his skin, rather pale, showed his coolness of blood; energy,"evinced by the rapid contraction of his lofty brows; and courage,"because his deep breathing denoted great power of lungs.
prevailing - prévalant, dominer, prévaloir, l'emporter, prédominer
assurance - l'assurance, assurance, culot
calmness - le calme, calme
pale - pâle, hâve
evinced - évincé, montrer, prouver
contraction - contraction
lofty - noble, haut
brows - les sourcils, (brow), andouiller d'oil, maître andouiller
courage - bravoure, courage, cour, vaillance
deep breathing - une respiration profonde
denoted - dénoté, dénoter, indiquer, marquer, signifier
great power - grande puissance
Whether this person was thirty-five or fifty years of age, I could not say. He was tall, had a large forehead, straight nose, a clearly cut mouth, beautiful teeth, with fine taper hands, indicative of a highly nervous temperament. This man was certainly the most admirable specimen I had ever met.
taper - de l'effilage, cierge, (tape), bande
indicative - indicative, indicatif
temperament - tempérament
admirable - admirable
specimen - spécimen, exemple
One particular feature was his eyes, rather far from each other, and which could take in nearly a quarter of the horizon at once.
This faculty"(I verified it later)"gave him a range of vision far superior to Ned Land's. When this stranger fixed upon an object, his eyebrows met, his large eyelids closed around so as to contract the range of his vision, and he looked as if he magnified the objects lessened by distance, as if he pierced those sheets of water so opaque to our eyes, and as if he read the very depths of the seas.
verified - vérifié, vérifier
range of vision - Portée de la vision
eyebrows - sourcils, sourcil
eyelids - paupieres, paupiere
contract - contrat, contractez, contractent, contractons
magnified - amplifié, agrandir
lessened - diminuée, amoindrir, atténuer, diminuer, réduire
opaque - opaque
The two strangers, with caps made from the fur of the sea otter, and shod with sea boots of seal's skin, were dressed in clothes of a particular texture, which allowed free movement of the limbs. The taller of the two, evidently the chief on board, examined us with great attention, without saying a word; then turning to his companion, talked with him in an unknown tongue.
caps - des casquettes, casquette
fur - fourrure, peau
otter - loutre
seal - sceau
texture - texture
It was a sonorous, harmonious, and flexible dialect, the vowels seeming to admit of very varied accentuation.
harmonious - harmonieux
flexible - flexible, maléable, souple
dialect - dialecte, patois
vowels - voyelles, voyelle
admit of - admettre
varied - varié, varier
accentuation - accentuation
The other replied by a shake of the head, and added two or three perfectly incomprehensible words. Then he seemed to question me by a look.
incomprehensible - incompréhensible
I replied in good French that I did not know his language; but he seemed not to understand me, and my situation became more embarrassing.
more embarrassing - plus embarrassant
"If master were to tell our story," said Conseil, "perhaps these gentlemen may understand some words."
gentlemen - messieurs, gentilhomme, monsieur, messieurs-p
I began to tell our adventures, articulating each syllable clearly, and without omitting one single detail. I announced our names and rank, introducing in person Professor Aronnax, his servant Conseil, and master Ned Land, the harpooner.
articulating - articuler
syllable - syllabe
omitting - omettre
announced - annoncée, annoncer
rank - rang, rangée, unie, standing
The man with the soft calm eyes listened to me quietly, even politely, and with extreme attention; but nothing in his countenance indicated that he had understood my story. When I finished, he said not a word. There remained one resource, to speak English. Perhaps they would know this almost universal language.
politely - poliment
countenance - visage, approuver
resource - ressource, ressource(s)
I knew it, as well as the German language,"well enough to read it fluently, but not to speak it correctly. But, anyhow, we must make ourselves understood.
German - Allemand, Allemande, Germain, Germaine
fluently - couramment
anyhow - d'une maniere ou d'une autre, de toute maniere
"Go on in your turn," I said to the harpooner; "speak your best Anglo-Saxon, and try to do better than I."
Anglo - Anglophones
Saxon - saxon, Saxonne
Ned did not beg off, and recommenced our story.
beg off - décliner
recommenced - repris, recommencer
To his great disgust, the harpooner did not seem to have made himself more intelligible than I had. Our visitors did not stir. They evidently understood neither the language of Arago nor of Faraday.
disgust - dégout, dégouter, dégout
intelligible - intelligible
stir - remuer, affecter
Very much embarrassed, after having vainly exhausted our speaking resources, I knew not what part to take, when Conseil said"
embarrassed - embarrassé, embarrasser, gener
resources - ressources, ressource(s)
"If master will permit me, I will relate it in German."
permit - permis, permettre, permets, permettons, permettez
relate - se rapporter, concerner
But in spite of the elegant terms and good accent of the narrator, the German language had no success. At last, nonplussed, I tried to remember my first lessons, and to narrate our adventures in Latin, but with no better success. This last attempt being of no avail, the two strangers exchanged some words in their unknown language, and retired.
accent - accent, emphase, souligner, accentuer
narrator - narrateur, narratrice
narrate - raconter, narrer, rapporter, relater
Latin - latine
attempt - tenter, essayer, tentative, attentat
avail - avail, profiter, saisir, servir
exchanged - échangé, (é)changer
The door shut.
"It is an infamous shame," cried Ned Land, who broke out for the twentieth time. "We speak to those rogues in French, English, German, and Latin, and not one of them has the politeness to answer!"
infamous - infâme
shame - la honte, honte, vergogne
twentieth - vingtieme, vingtieme
rogues - des voyous, canaille, fripouille, coquin, voyou, garnement
politeness - la politesse, politesse
"Calm yourself," I said to the impetuous Ned, "anger will do no good."
impetuous - impétueux
"But do you see, Professor," replied our irascible companion, "that we shall absolutely die of hunger in this iron cage?"
irascible - irascible
absolutely - absolument
hunger - la faim, faim
"Bah!" said Conseil, philosophically; "we can hold out some time yet."
Bah - bah
philosophically - sur le plan philosophique, philosophiquement
"My friends," I said, "we must not despair. We have been worse off than this. Do me the favour to wait a little before forming an opinion upon the commander and crew of this boat."
"My opinion is formed," replied Ned Land, sharply. "They are rascals."
"Good! and from what country?"
"From the land of rogues!"
"My brave Ned, that country is not clearly indicated on the map of the world; but I admit that the nationality of the two strangers is hard to determine. Neither English, French, nor German, that is quite certain. However, I am inclined to think that the commander and his companion were born in low latitudes. There is southern blood in them.
latitudes - latitudes, latitude, parallele, marge
But I cannot decide by their appearance whether they are Spaniards, Turks, Arabians, or Indians. As to their language, it is quite incomprehensible."
Spaniards - les espagnols, Espagnol, Espagnole
Turks - les turcs, Turc, Turque
Indians - les indiens, indien, amérindien, Indienne
"There is the disadvantage of not knowing all languages," said Conseil, "or the disadvantage of not having one universal language."
disadvantage - désavantage
As he said these words, the door opened. A steward entered. He brought us clothes, coats and trousers, made of a stuff I did not know. I hastened to dress myself, and my companions followed my example. During that time, the steward"dumb, perhaps deaf"had arranged the table, and laid three plates.
steward - steward, intendant
stuff - trucs, truc, substance (1), checkmachin (2), checktruc (2)
Companions - compagnons, compagnon, compagne
deaf - sourd, les sourds
"This is something like," said Conseil.
"Bah!" said the rancorous harpooner, "what do you suppose they eat here? Tortoise liver, filleted shark, and beefsteaks from sea-dogs."
rancorous - rancunier
Tortoise - tortue
filleted - en filets, congé, filet, désosser, lever les filets
Shark - requin
beefsteaks - beefsteaks, bifteck
"We shall see," said Conseil.
The dishes, of bell metal, were placed on the table, and we took our places. Undoubtedly we had to do with civilised people, and, had it not been for the electric light which flooded us, I could have fancied I was in the dining-room of the Adelphi Hotel at Liverpool, or at the Grand Hotel in Paris. I must say, however, that there was neither bread nor wine.
bell - cloche, sonnette
civilised - civilisé, civiliser
flooded - inondé, inondation, inonder, submerger, noyer
dining - dîner, vacarme
The water was fresh and clear, but it was water, and did not suit Ned Land's taste. Amongst the dishes which were brought to us, I recognised several fish delicately dressed; but of some, although excellent, I could give no opinion, neither could I tell to what kingdom they belonged, whether animal or vegetable. As to the dinner service, it was elegant, and in perfect taste.
delicately - délicatement
Kingdom - royaume, regne
Each utensil, spoon, fork, knife, plate, had a letter engraved on it, with a motto above it, of which this is an exact facsimile:"
utensil - ustensile, ustensile de cuisine
engraved - gravé, graver
motto - devise
MOBILIS IN MOBILI
N.
The letter N was no doubt the initial of the name of the enigmatical person, who commanded at the bottom of the sea.
initial - initial, lettrine, initiale, premiere lettre, parapher
enigmatical - énigmatique
Ned and Conseil did not reflect much. They devoured the food, and I did likewise. I was, besides, reassured as to our fate; and it seemed evident that our hosts would not let us die of want.
reflect - refléter, réfléchir, se refléter, suivre
likewise - de meme
reassured - rassuré, tranquilliser, rassurer, réassurer
Hosts - hôtes, hôte/-esse
However, everything has an end, everything passes away, even the hunger of people who have not eaten for fifteen hours. Our appetites satisfied, we felt overcome with sleep.
passes away - décede
appetites - appétits, appétit
overcome - vaincre, surmonter, envahir
"Faith! I shall sleep well," said Conseil.
"So shall I," replied Ned Land.
My two companions stretched themselves on the cabin carpet, and were soon sound asleep. For my own part, too many thoughts crowded my brain, too many insoluble questions pressed upon me, too many fancies kept my eyes half open. Where were we? What strange power carried us on? I felt"or rather fancied I felt"the machine sinking down to the lowest beds of the sea.
thoughts - réflexions, idée, pensée
fancies - des fantaisies, envie, caprice
half open - a moitié ouvert
Dreadful nightmares beset me; I saw in these mysterious asylums a world of unknown animals, amongst which this submarine boat seemed to be of the same kind, living, moving, and formidable as they. Then my brain grew calmer, my imagination wandered into vague unconsciousness, and I soon fell into a deep sleep.
nightmares - des cauchemars, cauchemar, mauvais reve, tourment
beset - assiégé, assaillir
asylums - les asiles, asile, asile psychiatrique
calmer - plus calme, calme, tranquille, calme plat, calmer
wandered - erré, errer, vaguer, divaguer
unconsciousness - l'inconscience, inconscience
deep sleep - un sommeil profond
tempers - des tempéraments, caractere, tempérament, humeur, état d'esprit
How long we slept I do not know; but our sleep must have lasted long, for it rested us completely from our fatigues. I woke first. My companions had not moved, and were still stretched in their corner.
fatigues - le treillis, fatigue, épuisement, corvée, fatiguer
Hardly roused from my somewhat hard couch, I felt my brain freed, my mind clear. I then began an attentive examination of our cell. Nothing was changed inside. The prison was still a prison,"the prisoners, prisoners. However, the steward, during our sleep, had cleared the table. I breathed with difficulty. The heavy air seemed to oppress my lungs.
roused - réveillé, réveiller
somewhat - en quelque sorte, assez, quelque peu
couch - canapé, divan
cell - cellule, cachot
prisoners - prisonniers, prisonnier, prisonniere
breathed - respiré, respiration, souffle, haleine
oppress - opprimer, oppresser
Although the cell was large, we had evidently consumed a great part of the oxygen that it contained. Indeed, each man consumes, in one hour, the oxygen contained in more than 176 pints of air, and this air, charged (as then) with a nearly equal quantity of carbonic acid, becomes unbreathable.
consumed - consommée, consommer, consumer, rench: -neededr
oxygen - l'oxygene, oxygene
consumes - consomme, consommer, consumer, rench: -neededr
pints - pintes, chopine, chopine de lait, pinte, sérieux, q
charged - chargé, frais-p, charge, chef d’accusation, chef d’inculpation
carbonic acid - l'acide carbonique
unbreathable - irrespirable
It became necessary to renew the atmosphere of our prison, and no doubt the whole in the submarine boat. That gave rise to a question in my mind. How would the commander of this floating dwelling-place proceed? Would he obtain air by chemical means, in getting by heat the oxygen contained in chlorate of potash, and in absorbing carbonic acid by caustic potash?
renew - renouveler
dwelling - logement, demeure, (dwell), résider, s'appesantir sur
proceed - avancer, procéder
chemical - chimique, produit chimique
chlorate - chlorate
absorbing - absorbant, absorber, éponger
carbonic - carbonique
acid - aigre, acide
caustic potash - de la potasse caustique
Or, a more convenient, economical, and consequently more probable alternative, would he be satisfied to rise and take breath at the surface of the water, like a cetacean, and so renew for twenty-four hours the atmospheric provision?
more convenient - plus pratique
economical - économe, économique
consequently - en conséquence
more probable - plus probable
atmospheric - atmosphérique
provision - disposition, provision, provisionner
In fact, I was already obliged to increase my respirations to eke out of this cell the little oxygen it contained, when suddenly I was refreshed by a current of pure air, and perfumed with saline emanations. It was an invigorating sea breeze, charged with iodine. I opened my mouth wide, and my lungs saturated themselves with fresh particles.
respirations - respirations, respiration
eke - eke, faire durer, maintenir
refreshed - rafraîchie, revigorer, rafraîchir
current - courant, présent, actuel
perfumed - parfumé, parfum, fragrance, parfumer
saline - saline, salin
emanations - émanations, émanation, radon
sea breeze - Brise marine
iodine - l'iode, iode, rench: t-needed r
saturated - saturé, saturer
At the same time I felt the boat rolling. The iron-plated monster had evidently just risen to the surface of the ocean to breathe, after the fashion of whales. I found out from that the mode of ventilating the boat.
rolling - rouler, enroulant, roulant, (roll) rouler
breathe - respirer, inspirer, expirer, reprendre son souffle
mode - mode, maniere
When I had inhaled this air freely, I sought the conduit-pipe, which conveyed to us the beneficial whiff, and I was not long in finding it. Above the door was a ventilator, through which volumes of fresh air renewed the impoverished atmosphere of the cell.
inhaled - inhalé, inspirer, aspirer, inhaler, ingurgiter
freely - librement
conduit - conduit, canal
pipe - cornemuse, conduit, tuyau, barre verticale, tube, pipe
conveyed - transmis, transporter, véhiculer, communiquer
beneficial - bénéfique
whiff - whiff, souffle, bouffée, effluve
ventilator - ventilateur, respirateur artificiel, respirateur
impoverished - appauvri, appauvrir
I was making my observations, when Ned and Conseil awoke almost at the same time, under the influence of this reviving air. They rubbed their eyes, stretched themselves, and were on their feet in an instant.
awoke - s'est réveillé, (se) réveiller, (s')éveiller
reviving - revivre, ranimant, (revive) revivre
rubbed - frotté, friction, hic, frotter, polir
"Did master sleep well?" asked Conseil, with his usual politeness.
"Very well, my brave boy. And you, Mr. Land?"
"Soundly, Professor. But I don't know if I am right or not; there seems to be a sea breeze!"
soundly - fortement, solidement
A seaman could not be mistaken, and I told the Canadian all that had passed during his sleep.
be mistaken - se tromper
"Good!" said he; "that accounts for those roarings we heard, when the supposed narwhal sighted the Abraham Lincoln."
"Quite so, Master Land; it was taking breath."
"Only, Mr. Aronnax, I have no idea what o'clock it is, unless it is dinner-time."
"Dinner-time! my good fellow? Say rather breakfast-time, for we certainly have begun another day."
"So," said Conseil, "we have slept twenty-four hours?"
"That is my opinion."
"I will not contradict you," replied Ned Land. "But dinner or breakfast, the steward will be welcome, whichever he brings."
contradict - contredire
whichever - quel qu'il soit, n'importe quel, n'importe lequel
"Master Land, we must conform to the rules on board, and I suppose our appetites are in advance of the dinner hour."
conform - conforme, s'aligner, se conformer (a)
advance - élever, avancer, avancée, progression, avance, souscription
"That is just like you, friend Conseil," said Ned, impatiently. "You are never out of temper, always calm; you would return thanks before grace, and die of hunger rather than complain!"
temper - caractere, tempérament, humeur, état d'esprit, recuit
grace - bénédicité, grâces, grâce, miséricorde
Time was getting on, and we were fearfully hungry; and this time the steward did not appear. It was rather too long to leave us, if they really had good intentions towards us. Ned Land, tormented by the cravings of hunger, got still more angry; and, notwithstanding his promise, I dreaded an explosion when he found himself with one of the crew.
intentions - intentions, intention
tormented - tourmenté, tourment, tourmenter
dreaded - redouté, redouter, craindre, crainte
explosion - explosion
For two hours more Ned Land's temper increased; he cried, he shouted, but in vain. The walls were deaf. There was no sound to be heard in the boat: all was still as death. It did not move, for I should have felt the trembling motion of the hull under the influence of the screw. Plunged in the depths of the waters, it belonged no longer to earth:"this silence was dreadful.
plunged - plongé, plonger
I felt terrified, Conseil was calm, Ned Land roared.
roared - a rugi, rugir, hurler, s'esclaffer, rire aux éclats
Just then a noise was heard outside. Steps sounded on the metal flags. The locks were turned, the door opened, and the steward appeared.
flags - drapeaux, drapeau
Before I could rush forward to stop him, the Canadian had thrown him down, and held him by the throat. The steward was choking under the grip of his powerful hand.
rush forward - se précipiter
throat - gorge, goulot
choking - l'étouffement, suffoquer, étouffer
grip - poignée, ballot, grippe, saisir, agripper, préhension
Conseil was already trying to unclasp the harpooner's hand from his half-suffocated victim, and I was going to fly to the rescue, when suddenly I was nailed to the spot by hearing these words in French"
unclasp - se détacher, dégrafer
suffocated - étouffé, suffoquer, étouffer
rescue - secours, délivrer, secourir, sauver, checksauver, sauvetage
nailed - cloué, ongle
"Be quiet, Master Land; and you, Professor, will you be so good as to listen to me?"
It was the commander of the vessel who thus spoke.
At these words, Ned Land rose suddenly. The steward, nearly strangled, tottered out on a sign from his master; but such was the power of the commander on board, that not a gesture betrayed the resentment which this man must have felt towards the Canadian. Conseil, interested in spite of himself, I stupefied, awaited in silence the result of this scene.
strangled - étranglé, étrangler
tottered - chancelante, tituber, chute, écroulement
gesture - geste, signe
betrayed - trahi, trahir, livrer
resentment - le ressentiment, ressentiment, agacement, rancune
stupefied - stupéfait, stupéfier, abrutir, hébéter, sidérer, abasourdir
awaited - attendue, attendre, s'attendre a, servir, guetter
The commander, leaning against the corner of a table with his arms folded, scanned us with profound attention. Did he hesitate to speak? Did he regret the words which he had just spoken in French? One might almost think so.
folded - plié, plier
hesitate - hésiter
regret - regretter, regret
After some moments of silence, which not one of us dreamed of breaking, "Gentlemen," said he, in a calm and penetrating voice, "I speak French, English, German, and Latin equally well. I could, therefore, have answered you at our first interview, but I wished to know you first, then to reflect. The story told by each one, entirely agreeing in the main points, convinced me of your identity.
identity - l'identité, identité
I know now that chance has brought before me M. Pierre Aronnax, Professor of Natural History at the Museum of Paris, entrusted with a scientific mission abroad, Conseil, his servant, and Ned Land, of Canadian origin, harpooner on board the frigate Abraham Lincoln of the navy of the United States of America."
entrusted - confiés, confier
I bowed assent. It was not a question that the commander put to me. Therefore there was no answer to be made. This man expressed himself with perfect ease, without any accent. His sentences were well turned, his words clear, and his fluency of speech remarkable. Yet, I did not recognise in him a fellow-countryman.
assent - l'assentiment, assentir, assentiment
recognise - reconnaître
countryman - citoyen, citoyenne, habitant, habitante, compatriote, campagnard
He continued the conversation in these terms:
"You have doubtless thought, sir, that I have delayed long in paying you this second visit. The reason is that, your identity recognised, I wished to weigh maturely what part to act towards you. I have hesitated much. Most annoying circumstances have brought you into the presence of a man who has broken all the ties of humanity. You have come to trouble my existence."
delayed - retardée, retarder
weigh - peser, lever l’ancre
maturely - avec maturité
hesitated - hésité, hésiter
annoying - ennuyeux, gener, ennuyer, embeter, agacer, asticoter
humanity - l'humanité, humanité
"Unintentionally!" said I.
unintentionally - involontairement
"Unintentionally?" replied the stranger, raising his voice a little; "was it unintentionally that the Abraham Lincoln pursued me all over the seas? Was it unintentionally that you took passage in this frigate? Was it unintentionally that your cannon balls rebounded off the plating of my vessel? Was it unintentionally that Mr. Ned Land struck me with his harpoon?"
pursued - poursuivie, poursuivre, rechercher
cannon - canon
rebounded - a rebondi, rebondir
I detected a restrained irritation in these words. But to these recriminations I had a very natural answer to make and I made it.
detected - détecté, détecter
restrained - retenue, (se) contenir/retenir
irritation - l'irritation, irritation
"Sir," said I, "no doubt you are ignorant of the discussions which have taken place concerning you in America and Europe. You do not know that divers accidents, caused by collisions with your submarine machine, have excited public feeling in the two continents. I omit the hypotheses without number by which it was sought to explain the inexplicable phenomenon of which you alone possess the secret.
ignorant - ignorant
concerning - concernant, inquiétude, souci, soin, préoccupation
collisions - collisions, collision
public feeling - le sentiment du public
omit - omettre
But you must understand that, in pursuing you over the high seas of the Pacific, the Abraham Lincoln believed itself to be chasing some powerful sea-monster, of which it was necessary to rid the ocean at any price."
A half-smile curled the lips of the commander: then, in a calmer tone"
curled - frisé, boucle, rotationnel, boucler
tone - ton, tonalité, tonale
"M. Aronnax," he replied, "dare you affirm that your frigate would not as soon have pursued and cannonaded a submarine boat as a monster?"
dare - oser, aventurer
cannonaded - canonné, canonnade
This question embarrassed me, for certainly Captain Farragut might not have hesitated. He might have thought it his duty to destroy a contrivance of this kind, as he would a gigantic narwhal.
contrivance - artifice, appareil, dispositif, stratageme
"You understand then, sir," continued the stranger, "that I have the right to treat you as enemies?"
treat - négocier, traiter, régaler, guérir, soigner
enemies - ennemis, ennemi, ennemie
I answered nothing, purposely. For what good would it be to discuss such a proposition, when force could destroy the best arguments?
purposely - a dessein, expres
proposition - proposition
"I have hesitated some time," continued the commander; "nothing obliged me to show you hospitality. If I chose to separate myself from you, I should have no interest in seeing you again; I could place you upon the deck of this vessel which has served you as a refuge, I could sink beneath the waters, and forget that you had ever existed. Would not that be my right?"
sink - couler, s'enfoncer, évier, lavabo
"It might be the right of a savage," I answered, "but not that of a civilised man."
savage - barbare, féroce, sauvage
"Professor," replied the commander, quickly, "I am not what you call a civilised man! I have done with society entirely, for reasons which I alone have the right of appreciating. I do not therefore obey its laws, and I desire you never to allude to them before me again!"
appreciating - etre reconnaissant de, apprécier a sa juste valeur
obey - obéir, obtempérer
desire - désirer, désir
allude - alluder, faire allusion, suggérer
This was said plainly. A flash of anger and disdain kindled in the eyes of the Unknown, and I had a glimpse of a terrible past in the life of this man. Not only had he put himself beyond the pale of human laws, but he had made himself independent of them, free in the strictest acceptation of the word, quite beyond their reach!
plainly - en toute clarté, simplement, clairement
flash - flash, clignoter
disdain - dédain, mépris, dédaigner, mépriser
kindled - enflammé, allumer, enflammer
beyond - au-dela, au-dela, par-dela
strictest - la plus stricte, strict
acceptation - l'acceptation
Who then would dare to pursue him at the bottom of the sea, when, on its surface, he defied all attempts made against him? What vessel could resist the shock of his submarine monitor? What cuirass, however thick, could withstand the blows of his spur?
attempts - tentatives, tenter, essayer, tentative, attentat
resist - résister, s'opposer, rejeter, dégouter, vernis
cuirass - cuirasse
No man could demand from him an account of his actions; God, if he believed in one"his conscience, if he had one"were the sole judges to whom he was answerable.
demand from - Demander a
conscience - conscience
judges - juges, juger
answerable - répondre
These reflections crossed my mind rapidly, whilst the stranger personage was silent, absorbed, and as if wrapped up in himself. I regarded him with fear mingled with interest, as doubtless, Ĺ’dipus regarded the Sphinx.
reflections - réflexions, réflexion, reflet, qualifiereaning 4
personage - personnage
silent - silencieux
absorbed - absorbé, absorber, éponger
wrapped - enveloppé, enrouler (autour de)
regarded - considérée, considérer
dipus - Dipus
sphinx - sphinx
After rather a long silence, the commander resumed the conversation.
"I have hesitated," said he, "but I have thought that my interest might be reconciled with that pity to which every human being has a right. You will remain on board my vessel, since fate has cast you there. You will be free; and, in exchange for this liberty, I shall only impose one single condition. Your word of honour to submit to it will suffice."
reconciled - réconciliés, réconcilier, concilier
pity - compassion, pitié, dommage, honte, plaindre, avoir pitié de
Exchange - l'échange, échangent, échangeons, échanger, échangez, échange
impose - imposer
submit - se soumettre
suffice - suffisent, suffire, suffire 2
"Speak, sir," I answered. "I suppose this condition is one which a man of honour may accept?"
"Yes, sir; it is this. It is possible that certain events, unforeseen, may oblige me to consign you to your cabins for some hours or some days, as the case may be. As I desire never to use violence, I expect from you, more than all the others, a passive obedience.
unforeseen - imprévu
oblige - imposer, obliger, etre redevable a
consign - consigner, consignent, consignez, consignons
passive - passive, passif
obedience - l'obéissance, obéissance
In thus acting, I take all the responsibility: I acquit you entirely, for I make it an impossibility for you to see what ought not to be seen. Do you accept this condition?"
acquit - acquitter, innocenter
Then things took place on board which, to say the least, were singular, and which ought not to be seen by people who were not placed beyond the pale of social laws. Amongst the surprises which the future was preparing for me, this might not be the least.
"We accept," I answered; "only I will ask your permission, sir, to address one question to you"one only."
"Speak, sir."
"You said that we should be free on board."
free on board - gratuit a bord
"Entirely."
"I ask you, then, what you mean by this liberty?"
"Just the liberty to go, to come, to see, to observe even all that passes here,"save under rare circumstances,"the liberty, in short, which we enjoy ourselves, my companions and I."
observe - observer, remarquer, respecter, garder
It was evident that we did not understand one another.
"Pardon me, sir," I resumed, "but this liberty is only what every prisoner has of pacing his prison. It cannot suffice us."
Pardon - pardon, grâce, pardonner, gracier, désolé, excusez-moi
prisoner - prisonnier, prisonniere
pacing - le rythme, pas
"It must suffice you, however."
"What! we must renounce for ever seeing our country, our friends, our relations again?"
renounce - renoncer
relations - relations, relation, parent, parente
"Yes, sir. But to renounce that unendurable worldly yoke which men believe to be liberty, is not perhaps so painful as you think."
renounce - renoncer, renoncez, renonçons, renoncent, désister
unendurable - insoutenable
worldly - laique
yoke - joug
painful - douloureux, laborieux
"Well," exclaimed Ned Land, "never will I give my word of honour not to try to escape."
"I did not ask you for your word of honour, Master Land," answered the commander, coldly.
coldly - froidement
"Sir," I replied, beginning to get angry in spite of myself, "you abuse your situation towards us; it is cruelty."
abuse - abus, défaut, abuser, insulter, tourmenter, abusons
cruelty - la cruauté, cruauté
"No, sir, it is clemency. You are my prisoners of war. I keep you, when I could, by a word, plunge you into the depths of the ocean. You attacked me. You came to surprise a secret which no man in the world must penetrate,"the secret of my whole existence. And you think that I am going to send you back to that world which must know me no more? Never!
clemency - la clémence, clémence, compassion, pitié, miséricorde
In retaining you, it is not you whom I guard"it is myself."
retaining - la conservation, retenir, conserver, maintenir
These words indicated a resolution taken on the part of the commander, against which no arguments would prevail.
prevail - dominer, prévaloir, l'emporter, prédominer, persuader
"So, sir," I rejoined, "you give us simply the choice between life and death?"
"Simply."
"My friends," said I, "to a question thus put, there is nothing to answer. But no word of honour binds us to the master of this vessel."
binds - lie, lier, attacher, nouer, connecter, coupler
"None, sir," answered the Unknown.
Then, in a gentler tone, he continued"
gentler - plus doux, gentil, doux
"Now, permit me to finish what I have to say to you. I know you, M. Aronnax. You and your companions will not, perhaps, have so much to complain of in the chance which has bound you to my fate. You will find amongst the books which are my favourite study the work which you have published on the depths of the sea.'I have often read it.
bound - lié, entrain, (bind), lier, attacher, nouer, connecter, coupler
You have carried out your work as far as terrestrial science permitted you. But you do not know all"you have not seen all. Let me tell you then, Professor, that you will not regret the time passed on board my vessel. You are going to visit the land of marvels."
marvels - merveilles, etre
These words of the commander had a great effect upon me. I cannot deny it. My weak point was touched; and I forgot, for a moment, that the contemplation of these sublime subjects was not worth the loss of liberty. Besides, I trusted to the future to decide this grave question. So I contented myself with saying"
contemplation - contemplation
sublime - sublime, auguste
worth - valeur
trusted - de confiance, confiance, trust, faire confiance
"By what name ought I to address you?"
"Sir," replied the commander, "I am nothing to you but Captain Nemo; and you and your companions are nothing to me but the passengers of the Nautilus."
nautilus - nautilus, nautile
Captain Nemo called. A steward appeared. The captain gave him his orders in that strange language which I did not understand. Then, turning towards the Canadian and Conseil"
"A repast awaits you in your cabin," said he. "Be so good as to follow this man.
repast - repas
awaits - attend, attendre, s'attendre a, servir, guetter
"And now, M. Aronnax, our breakfast is ready. Permit me to lead the way."
lead - du plomb
"I am at your service, Captain."
I followed Captain Nemo; and as soon as I had passed through the door, I found myself in a kind of passage lighted by electricity, similar to the waist of a ship. After we had proceeded a dozen yards, a second door opened before me.
waist - taille, ceinture
proceeded - a procédé, avancer, procéder
dozen - douzaine, dizaine
I then entered a dining-room, decorated and furnished in severe taste. High oaken sideboards, inlaid with ebony, stood at the two extremities of the room, and upon their shelves glittered china, porcelain, and glass of inestimable value. The plate on the table sparkled in the rays which the luminous ceiling shed around, while the light was tempered and softened by exquisite paintings.
dining - dîner
decorated - décoré, décorer, orner
shed - hangar, verser, stand, kiosque, échoppe
severe - sévere, grave, sévere
sideboards - les buffets, buffet
inlaid - incrusté, incrustation
ebony - ébene, ébene, bois d'ébene, ébénier
extremities - les extrémités, extrémité
shelves - étageres, rayon, étagere, tablard, rayonnage
porcelain - porcelaine
inestimable - inestimable
value - valeur, évaluer, valoriser
ceiling - plafond, (ceil) plafond
tempered - tempéré, caractere, tempérament, humeur, état d'esprit, recuit
softened - adoucie, adoucir
exquisite - exquis
paintings - peintures, peinture, toile, art pictural
In the centre of the room was a table richly laid out. Captain Nemo indicated the place I was to occupy.
occupy - occuper, habiter
The breakfast consisted of a certain number of dishes, the contents of which were furnished by the sea alone; and I was ignorant of the nature and mode of preparation of some of them. I acknowledged that they were good, but they had a peculiar flavour, which I easily became accustomed to.
consisted - consisté, consister (en)
Contents - contenu, satisfait
preparation - préparation, concoction
acknowledged - reconnu, reconnaître, accuser réception, certifier
flavour - gout, arôme, aromatisent, aromatisons, aromatisez
accustomed - habitué, accoutumer
These different aliments appeared to me to be rich in phosphorus, and I thought they must have a marine origin.
phosphorus - phosphore
Captain Nemo looked at me. I asked him no questions, but he guessed my thoughts, and answered of his own accord the questions which I was burning to address to him.
accord - accord, entente, accorder
"The greater part of these dishes are unknown to you," he said to me. "However, you may partake of them without fear. They are wholesome and nourishing. For a long time I have renounced the food of the earth, and am never ill now. My crew, who are healthy, are fed on the same food."
partake - participer
wholesome - salubre, sain, vertueux
nourishing - nourrissant, nourrir
renounced - renoncé, renoncer a
"So," said I, "all these eatables are the produce of the sea?"
"Yes, Professor, the sea supplies all my wants. Sometimes I cast my nets in tow, and I draw them in ready to break. Sometimes I hunt in the midst of this element, which appears to be inaccessible to man, and quarry the game which dwells in my submarine forests. My flocks, like those of Neptune's old shepherds, graze fearlessly in the immense prairies of the ocean.
supplies - des fournitures, fournir, approvisionner
nets - filets, (de/au) filet
tow - remorquer, traîner, remorquent, tirage, remorquez
hunt - chasser, chercher, chasse
element - élément, membre, point
quarry - carriere
dwells - habite, résider, s'appesantir sur
flocks - des troupeaux, troupeau
Neptune - neptune
shepherds - bergers, berger, bergere, pasteur, pâtre, qualifier
graze - pâturage, éraflure, faire paître, brouter, pâturer, grignoter
fearlessly - sans crainte
prairies - les prairies, prairie
I have a vast property there, which I cultivate myself, and which is always sown by the hand of the Creator of all things."
property - propriété, accessoire
cultivate - cultiver
sown - semé, semer
creator - créateur, créatrice, rench: t-needed r
"I can understand perfectly, sir, that your nets furnish excellent fish for your table; I can understand also that you hunt aquatic game in your submarine forests; but I cannot understand at all how a particle of meat, no matter how small, can figure in your bill of fare."
furnish - meubler, fournir, livrer
particle - particule
bill of fare - La carte
"This, which you believe to be meat, Professor, is nothing else than fillet of turtle. Here are also some dolphins'livers, which you take to be ragout of pork. My cook is a clever fellow, who excels in dressing these various products of the ocean. Taste all these dishes.
fillet - congé, filet, désosser, lever les filets
Turtle - tortue de mer
livers - les foies, foie
ragout - ragout
pork - porc, cochon
excels - excelle, dépasser
Here is a preserve of holothuria, which a Malay would declare to be unrivalled in the world; here is a cream, of which the milk has been furnished by the cetacea, and the sugar by the great fucus of the North Sea; and lastly, permit me to offer you some preserve of anemones, which is equal to that of the most delicious fruits."
preserve - confiture, conserve, réserve naturelle, domaine réservé
holothuria - Holothurie
Malay - malaise, malais
unrivalled - inégalée
cetacea - cétacé
fucus - fucus
anemones - anémones, anémone
most delicious - le plus délicieux
I tasted, more from curiosity than as a connoisseur, whilst Captain Nemo enchanted me with his extraordinary stories.
connoisseur - connaisseur, connaisseuse
enchanted - enchantée, enchanter
"You like the sea, Captain?"
"Yes; I love it! The sea is everything. It covers seven-tenths of the terrestrial globe. Its breath is pure and healthy. It is an immense desert, where man is never lonely, for he feels life stirring on all sides. The sea is only the embodiment of a supernatural and wonderful existence. It is nothing but love and emotion; it is the Living Infinite,'as one of your poets has said.
lonely - solitaire, seul, désert, abandonné
stirring - l'agitation, passionnant
embodiment - l'incarnation, incarnation
infinite - infini, un nombre infini de
poets - poetes, poete
In fact, Professor, Nature manifests herself in it by her three kingdoms, mineral, vegetable, and animal. The sea is the vast reservoir of Nature. The globe began with sea, so to speak; and who knows if it will not end with it? In it is supreme tranquillity. The sea does not belong to despots.
manifests - se manifeste, manifeste, bordereau
kingdoms - royaumes, royaume, regne
mineral - minéral
reservoir - réservoir
supreme - supreme, supreme
tranquillity - la tranquillité, tranquillité
despots - des despotes, despote
Upon its surface men can still exercise unjust laws, fight, tear one another to pieces, and be carried away with terrestrial horrors. But at thirty feet below its level, their reign ceases, their influence is quenched, and their power disappears. Ah! sir, live"live in the bosom of the waters! There only is independence! There I recognise no masters! There I am free!"
unjust - injuste
tear - déchirure, déchirer, fissure, larme, pleur
horrors - des horreurs, horreur, effroi, dégout, aversion
reign - regne, regne, régner
ceases - cesse, cesser, s'arreter, cesser de + 'infinitive'
quenched - étanchée, apaiser, étancher, rassasier, désaltérer, éteindre
bosom - poitrine, sein, intime
Independence - l'indépendance, indépendance
Captain Nemo suddenly became silent in the midst of this enthusiasm, by which he was quite carried away. For a few moments he paced up and down, much agitated. Then he became more calm, regained his accustomed coldness of expression, and turning towards me"
became silent - est devenu silencieux
paced - rythmée, pas
regained - retrouvée, reconquérir, reprendre
coldness - froideur, froid
"Now, Professor," said he, "if you wish to go over the Nautilus, I am at your service."
Captain Nemo rose. I followed him. A double door, contrived at the back of the dining-room, opened, and I entered a room equal in dimensions to that which I had just quitted.
double door - double porte
contrived - artificiel, combiner, inventer
quitted - a démissionné, quitter, abandonner
It was a library. High pieces of furniture, of black violet ebony inlaid with brass, supported upon their wide shelves a great number of books uniformly bound. They followed the shape of the room, terminating at the lower part in huge divans, covered with brown leather, which were curved, to afford the greatest comfort.
Violet - violet, violette
brass - laiton, airain
shelves - étageres, mettre en suspens
uniformly - uniformément
terminating - de mettre un terme a l'opération, terminer
lower part - la partie inférieure
divans - divans, divan, canapé
leather - cuir, de cuir
curved - courbé, courbe, courbes, courber
afford - se permettre, offrir
comfort - le confort, confort, consoler
Light movable desks, made to slide in and out at will, allowed one to rest one's book while reading. In the centre stood an immense table, covered with pamphlets, amongst which were some newspapers, already of old date. The electric light flooded everything; it was shed from four unpolished globes half sunk in the volutes of the ceiling.
slide - glisser, déraper, toboggan, glissoire, glissement
pamphlets - des brochures, pamphlet
globes - globes, Terre, globe
sunk - coulé, enfoncés, enfoncé, enfoncées, enfoncée
volutes - volutes, volute
I looked with real admiration at this room, so ingeniously fitted up, and I could scarcely believe my eyes.
admiration - l'admiration, admiration
ingeniously - ingénieusement
"Captain Nemo," said I to my host, who had just thrown himself on one of the divans, "this is a library which would do honour to more than one of the continental palaces, and I am absolutely astounded when I consider that it can follow you to the bottom of the seas."
Host - l'hôte, hote, hôte
Continental - continental
astounded - stupéfait, étonner, stupéfier, ébahir, épater
"Where could one find greater solitude or silence, Professor?" replied Captain Nemo. "Did your study in the Museum afford you such perfect quiet?"
solitude - la solitude, solitude
"No, sir; and I must confess that it is a very poor one after yours. You must have six or seven thousand volumes here."
confess - avouer, confesser
"Twelve thousand, M. Aronnax. These are the only ties which bind me to the earth. But I had done with the world on the day when my Nautilus plunged for the first time beneath the waters. That day I bought my last volumes, my last pamphlets, my last papers, and from that time I wish to think that men no longer think or write.
bind - lier, attacher, nouer, connecter, coupler
These books, Professor, are at your service besides, and you can make use of them freely."
I thanked Captain Nemo, and went up to the shelves of the library. Works on science, morals, and literature abounded in every language; but I did not see one single work on political economy; that subject appeared to be strictly proscribed.
literature - la littérature, littérature
abounded in - abondaient dans
political economy - l'économie politique
strictly - strictement
proscribed - proscrites, interdire, dénoncer, déconseiller, bannir, exclure
Strange to say, all these books were irregularly arranged, in whatever language they were written; and this medley proved that the Captain of the Nautilus must have read indiscriminately the books which he took up by chance.
irregularly - irrégulierement
medley - pot-pourri, mélange, salade, potourri, 4 nages
indiscriminately - sans discernement
"Sir," said I to the Captain, "I thank you for having placed this library at my disposal. It contains treasures of science, and I shall profit by them."
treasures - des trésors, trésor, garder précieusement
profit - profit, gain, bénéfice, servir, profiter
"This room is not only a library," said Captain Nemo, "it is also a smoking-room."
"A smoking-room!" I cried. "Then one may smoke on board?"
"Certainly."
"Then, sir, I am forced to believe that you have kept up a communication with Havannah."
forced - forcée, force
"Not any," answered the Captain. "Accept this cigar, M. Aronnax; and, though it does not come from Havannah, you will be pleased with it, if you are a connoisseur."
cigar - cigare
I took the cigar which was offered me; its shape recalled the London ones, but it seemed to be made of leaves of gold. I lighted it at a little brazier, which was supported upon an elegant bronze stem, and drew the first whiffs with the delight of a lover of smoking who has not smoked for two days.
recalled - rappelée, rappeler, souvenir
brazier - brasero
bronze - le bronze, bronze, airain, hâlé, bronzé, tanné (par le soleil)
whiffs - whiffs, souffle, bouffée, effluve
delight - plaisir, délice, joie, enchanter, ravir
lover - amante, amant, maîtresse
"It is excellent, but it is not tobacco."
tobacco - le tabac, tabac
"No!" answered the Captain, "this tobacco comes neither from Havannah nor from the East. It is a kind of sea-weed, rich in nicotine, with which the sea provides me, but somewhat sparingly."
weed - l'herbe, sarcler, cibiche, (wee) l'herbe
nicotine - nicotine
sparingly - avec parcimonie, parcimonieusement
At that moment Captain Nemo opened a door which stood opposite to that by which I had entered the library, and I passed into an immense drawing-room splendidly lighted.
opposite to - en face de
splendidly - magnifiquement
It was a vast four-sided room, thirty feet long, eighteen wide, and fifteen high. A luminous ceiling, decorated with light arabesques, shed a soft clear light over all the marvels accumulated in this museum. For it was in fact a museum, in which an intelligent and prodigal hand had gathered all the treasures of nature and art, with the artistic confusion which distinguishes a painter's studio.
arabesques - arabesques, arabesque
accumulated - accumulés, accumuler
prodigal - prodigue
gathered - rassemblés, rassembler, ramasser, recueillir
artistic - artistique
confusion - confusion, désordre, malentendu
distinguishes - distingue, distinguer
studio - studio, atelier
Thirty first-rate pictures, uniformly framed, separated by bright drapery, ornamented the walls, which were hung with tapestry of severe design. I saw works of great value, the greater part of which I had admired in the special collections of Europe, and in the exhibitions of paintings.
first-rate - (first-rate) de premier ordre
framed - encadré, encadrer, cadre, armature, ossature
drapery - draperie, rideau
ornamented - orné, ornement, ornement musical
hung - accroché, suspendre, etre accroché
tapestry - tapisserie, rench: t-needed r
admired - admiré, admirer
exhibitions - expositions, exposition
The several schools of the old masters were represented by a Madonna of Raphael, a Virgin of Leonardo da Vinci, a nymph of Corregio, a woman of Titan, an Adoration of Veronese, an Assumption of Murillo, a portrait of Holbein, a monk of Velasquez, a martyr of Ribera, a fair of Rubens, two Flemish landscapes of Teniers, three little "genre" pictures of Gerard Dow, Metsu, and Paul Potter, two specimens of Géricault and Prudhon, and some sea-pieces of Backhuysen and Vernet. Amongst the works of modern painters were pictures with the signatures of Delacroix, Ingres, Decamps, Troyon, Meissonier, Daubigny, etc.; and some admirable statues in marble and bronze, after the finest antique models, stood upon pedestals in the corners of this magnificent museum. Amazement, as the Captain of the Nautilus had predicted, had already begun to take possession of me.
Virgin - vierge
nymph - nymphe
Titan - titan
adoration - l'adoration, adoration
assumption - hypothese, assomption, supposition, hypothese, proposition
portrait - portrait
monk - moine, religieux
martyr - martyr, martyre, chahîd, chahid
landscapes - paysages, paysage
genre - genre
Potter - potter, potier/-iere
specimens - spécimens, spécimen, exemple
signatures - signatures, signature
Decamps - décamps, rench: -neededr
etc - etc
statues - statues, statue
marble - marbre, bille, grillot, marbrer
antique - ancien, antique
pedestals - des piédestaux, piédestal
amazement - l'étonnement, stupéfaction, stupeur
"Professor," said this strange man, "you must excuse the unceremonious way in which I receive you, and the disorder of this room."
Excuse - pardon, excuser, pardonner, justifier, prétexte, excuse
unceremonious - sans cérémonie
disorder - désordre, trouble
"Sir," I answered, "without seeking to know who you are, I recognise in you an artist."
"An amateur, nothing more, sir. Formerly I loved to collect these beautiful works created by the hand of man. I sought them greedily, and ferreted them out indefatigably, and I have been able to bring together some objects of great value. These are my last souvenirs of that world which is dead to me.
amateur - amateur, amatrice, amateuse
Formerly - auparavant, autrefois, anciennement
greedily - avec avidité, avidement
ferreted - ferré, furet
bring together - rassembler
souvenirs - des souvenirs, souvenir
In my eyes, your modern artists are already old; they have two or three thousand years of existence; I confound them in my own mind. Masters have no age."
"And these musicians?" said I, pointing out some works of Weber, Rossini, Mozart, Beethoven, Haydn, Meyerbeer, Hérold, Wagner, Auber, Gounod, and a number of others, scattered over a large model piano-organ which occupied one of the panels of the drawing-room.
Weber - weber
scattered - dispersé, disperser, se disperser, éparpiller, parsemer
organ - organe, orgue
occupied - occupée, occuper, habiter
panels - panneaux, panneau, table ronde, case, vignette, , g
"These musicians," replied Captain Nemo, "are the contemporaries of Orpheus; for in the memory of the dead all chronological differences are effaced; and I am dead, Professor; as much dead as those of your friends who are sleeping six feet under the earth!"
Orpheus - orphée
chronological - chronologique
effaced - effacé, effacer, s'effacer
Captain Nemo was silent, and seemed lost in a profound reverie. I contemplated him with deep interest, analysing in silence the strange expression of his countenance. Leaning on his elbow against an angle of a costly mosaic table, he no longer saw me,"he had forgotten my presence.
reverie - reverie
contemplated - envisagée, envisager, étudier, contempler
analysing - l'analyse, analyser
elbow - coude, coup de coude, jouer des coudes
costly - couteux, couteux, lourd
mosaic - mosaique, mosaique
I did not disturb this reverie, and continued my observation of the curiosities which enriched this drawing-room.
disturb - déranger, perturber, gener
observation - observation, remarque
curiosities - curiosités, curiosité
enriched - enrichi, enrichir
Under elegant glass cases, fixed by copper rivets, were classed and labelled the most precious productions of the sea which had ever been presented to the eye of a naturalist. My delight as a professor may be conceived.
copper - cuivre
labelled - étiqueté, étiquette, étiqueter
most precious - le plus précieux
productions - productions, production
naturalist - naturaliste
conceived - conçu, concevoir, tomber enceinte
The division containing the zoophytes presented the most curious specimens of the two groups of polypi and echinodermes.
Division - la division, division
most curious - le plus curieux
echinodermes - échinodermes
In the first group, the tubipores, were gorgones arranged like a fan, soft sponges of Syria, ises of the Moluccas, pennatules, an admirable virgularia of the Norwegian seas, variegated unbellulairæ, alcyonariæ, a whole series of madrepores, which my master Milne Edwards has so cleverly classified, amongst which I remarked some wonderful flabellinæ oculinæ of the Island of Bourbon, the "Neptune's car" of the Antilles, superb varieties of corals"in short, every species of those curious polypi of which entire islands are formed, which will one day become continents. Of the echinodermes, remarkable for their coating of spines, asteri, sea-stars, pantacrinæ, comatules, astérophons, echini, holothuri, etc., represented individually a complete collection of this group.
tubipores - tubipores
gorgones - gorgones
sponges - éponges, éponge, ivrogne, soulard, éponger
Syria - la syrie, Syrie
pennatules - pennatules
Edwards - edwards, Édouard
remarked - remarqué, remarque
Bourbon - le bourbon, bourbon
Antilles - Antilles
superb - superbe
corals - coraux, corail, corallien
spines - épines dorsales, colonne vertébrale, échine, dos, épine, piquant
comatules - comatules
individually - individuellement
A somewhat nervous conchyliologist would certainly have fainted before other more numerous cases, in which were classified the specimens of molluscs. It was a collection of inestimable value, which time fails me to describe minutely.
conchyliologist - conchyliologue
more numerous - plus nombreux
molluscs - mollusques, mollusque
Amongst these specimens I will quote from memory only the elegant royal hammer-fish of the Indian Ocean, whose regular white spots stood out brightly on a red and brown ground, an imperial spondyle, bright-coloured, bristling with spines, a rare specimen in the European museums"(I estimated its value at not less than ÂŁ1000); a common hammer-fish of the seas of New Holland, which is only procured with difficulty; exotic buccardia of Senegal; fragile white bivalve shells, which a breath might shatter like a soap-bubble; several varieties of the aspirgillum of Java, a kind of calcareous tube, edged with leafy folds, and much debated by amateurs; a whole series of trochi, some a greenish-yellow, found in the American seas, others a reddish-brown, natives of Australian waters; others from the Gulf of Mexico, remarkable for their imbricated shell; stellari found in the Southern Seas; and last, the rarest of all, the magnificent spur of New Zealand; and every description of delicate and fragile shells to which science has given appropriate names.
quote - citation, guillemet, devis, cotation, citer, deviser, coter
from memory - de mémoire
hammer - marteau, chien, malléus, marteler, (ham)
spots - taches, tache, bouton, peu, endroit, zone, détecter, trouver
brightly - brillante, clairement, précisément
Imperial - impérial, royal
spondyle - spondyle
bristling - se hérisser, soie, poil
exotic - exotique
buccardia - buccardia
Senegal - le sénégal, Sénégal
fragile - fragile
bivalve - bivalve
shells - coquilles, coquille, coquillage, carapace, coque
shatter - fracasser, réduire en miettes, mettre en pieces, briser, éclater
soap-bubble - (soap-bubble) bulle de savon
Java - java
calcareous - calcaire
tube - tuyau, tube, canette (de biere)
edged - bordé, bord, côté, arete, carre
leafy - feuillus, feuillu, feuilleté
folds - plis, plier
debated - débattue, débat, discussion, débattre
amateurs - des amateurs, amateur, amatrice, amateuse
greenish - verdâtre, verdouillard
reddish - rougeâtre
natives - les autochtones, maternel, autochtone, indigene, natif
Australian - Australien, Australienne
Gulf - golfe
imbricated - imbriqués, imbriquer
rarest - le plus rare, rare
delicate - délicate, délicat, délicat (1, 2)
Apart, in separate compartments, were spread out chaplets of pearls of the greatest beauty, which reflected the electric light in little sparks of fire; pink pearls, torn from the pinna-marina of the Red Sea; green pearls of the haliotyde iris; yellow, blue and black pearls, the curious productions of the divers molluscs of every ocean, and certain mussels of the water-courses of the North; lastly, several specimens of inestimable value which had been gathered from the rarest pintadines. Some of these pearls were larger than a pigeon's egg, and were worth as much, and more than that which the traveller Tavernier sold to the Shah of Persia for three millions, and surpassed the one in the possession of the Imaum of Muscat, which I had believed to be unrivalled in the world.
spread - se propager, étaler, écarter, disperser, répandre, éparpiller
pearls - perles, perle, joyau, perlure, parisienne, sédanoise
beauty - la beauté, beauté
reflected - réfléchie, refléter, réfléchir
sparks - des étincelles, étincelle
torn - déchiré, larme
pinna - pinna, pavillon, pavillon de l’oreille
Marina - marina, port de plaisance
iris - iris
Mussels - les moules, moule, rench: -neededr
pintadines - pintadines
pigeon - pigeon, sourde, colombe
Persia - la perse, Perse
Imaum - imaum
Muscat - muscat, Mascate
Therefore, to estimate the value of this collection was simply impossible. Captain Nemo must have expended millions in the acquirement of these various specimens, and I was thinking what source he could have drawn from, to have been able thus to gratify his fancy for collecting, when I was interrupted by these words"
expended - dépensés, dépenser
acquirement - l'acquisition
gratify - gratifier
interrupted - interrompu, interrompre, couper
"You are examining my shells, Professor? Unquestionably they must be interesting to a naturalist; but for me they have a far greater charm, for I have collected them all with my own hand, and there is not a sea on the face of the globe which has escaped my researches."
unquestionably - incontestablement
charm - charme, excitation, grâce
"I can understand, Captain, the delight of wandering about in the midst of such riches. You are one of those who have collected their treasures themselves. No museum in Europe possesses such a collection of the produce of the ocean. But if I exhaust all my admiration upon it, I shall have none left for the vessel which carries it.
wandering - l'errance, errement, errance, divagation, (wander), errer
exhaust - épuiser, échappement, gaz d'échappement
I do not wish to pry into your secrets; but I must confess that this Nautilus, with the motive power which is confined in it, the contrivances which enable it to be worked, the powerful agent which propels it, all excite my curiosity to the highest pitch. I see suspended on the walls of this room instruments of whose use I am ignorant."
pry - pry, fouiner
contrivances - des artifices, appareil, dispositif, stratageme
enable - autoriser, permettre, activer
propels - propulse, propulser, catapulter
pitch - de l'emplacement, dresser
"You will find these same instruments in my own room, Professor, where I shall have much pleasure in explaining their use to you. But first come and inspect the cabin which is set apart for your own use. You must see how you will be accommodated on board the Nautilus."
accommodated - accommodé, héberger, accommoder, s'accommoder
I followed Captain Nemo, who, by one of the doors opening from each panel of the drawing-room, regained the waist. He conducted me towards the bow, and there I found, not a cabin, but an elegant room, with a bed, dressing-table, and several other pieces of furniture.
bow - l'arc, arc
I could only thank my host.
"Your room adjoins mine," said he, opening a door, "and mine opens into the drawing-room that we have just quitted."
adjoins - est contiguë, adjoindre, toucher
I entered the Captain's room: it had a severe, almost a monkish, aspect. A small iron bedstead, a table, some articles for the toilet; the whole lighted by a skylight. No comforts, the strictest necessaries only.
aspect - aspect, rench: t-needed r
bedstead - le sommier, châlit
skylight - puits de lumiere, fenetre de toit, lucarne, vélux, verriere
comforts - le confort, confort, consoler
Captain Nemo pointed to a seat.
"Be so good as to sit down," he said. I seated myself, and he began thus:
Captain Nemo's state-room
"Sir," said Captain Nemo, showing me the instruments hanging on the walls of his room, "here are the contrivances required for the navigation of the Nautilus. Here, as in the drawing-room, I have them always under my eyes, and they indicate my position and exact direction in the middle of the ocean.
hanging - suspension, (hang) suspension
indicate - indiquer, signaler
Some are known to you, such as the thermometer, which gives the internal temperature of the Nautilus; the barometer, which indicates the weight of the air and foretells the changes of the weather; the hygrometer, which marks the dryness of the atmosphere; the storm-glass, the contents of which, by decomposing, announce the approach of tempests; the compass, which guides my course; the sextant, which shows the latitude by the altitude of the sun; chronometers, by which I calculate the longitude; and glasses for day and night, which I use to examine the points of the horizon, when the Nautilus rises to the surface of the waves."
thermometer - thermometre, thermometre
internal - interne
barometer - barometre, barometre
indicates - indique, indiquer, signaler
foretells - prédit-elle, prédire
hygrometer - hygrometre, hygrometre
dryness - la sécheresse, siccité, sécheresse
decomposing - en décomposition, décomposer, se décomposer
announce - annoncer
tempests - tempetes, tempete
compass - boussole, compas
sextant - sextant
altitude - l'altitude, altitude, hauteur
chronometers - chronometres, chronometre, chronoscope
calculate - calculer
"These are the usual nautical instruments," I replied, "and I know the use of them. But these others, no doubt, answer to the particular requirements of the Nautilus. This dial with the movable needle is a manometer, is it not?"
requirements - exigences, exigence, besoin, demande, contrainte
dial - cadran, bouille, tronche, composer, signaler
needle - aiguille, saphir, coudre, taquiner, monter
"It is actually a manometer. But by communication with the water, whose external pressure it indicates, it gives our depth at the same time."
external - externe
"And these other instruments, the use of which I cannot guess?"
"Here, Professor, I ought to give you some explanations. Will you be kind enough to listen to me?"
He was silent for a few moments, then he said"
"There is a powerful agent, obedient, rapid, easy, which conforms to every use, and reigns supreme on board my vessel. Everything is done by means of it. It lights it, warms it, and is the soul of my mechanical apparatus. This agent is electricity."
obedient - obéissant
conforms - est conforme, s'aligner, se conformer (a)
Reigns - reigns, regne, régner
"Electricity?" I cried in surprise.
"Yes, sir."
"Nevertheless, Captain, you possess an extreme rapidity of movement, which does not agree with the power of electricity. Until now, its dynamic force has remained under restraint, and has only been able to produce a small amount of power."
dynamic - dynamique
restraint - la retenue, contention, frein, retenue
"Professor," said Captain Nemo, "my electricity is not everybody's. You know what sea-water is composed of. In a thousand grammes are found 96½ per cent. of water, and about 2-2/3 per cent. of chloride of sodium; then, in a smaller quantity, chlorides of magnesium and of potassium, bromide of magnesium, sulphate of magnesia, sulphate and carbonate of lime.
composed - composé, composer
grammes - grammes, gramme
Sodium - sodium
chlorides - chlorures, chlorure
magnesium - magnésium
potassium - potassium
bromide - bromure
sulphate - sulfate
magnesia - magnésie
carbonate - carbonate
lime - chaux, calcaire
You see, then, that chloride of sodium forms a large part of it. So it is this sodium that I extract from sea-water, and of which I compose my ingredients. I owe all to the ocean; it produces electricity, and electricity gives heat, light, motion, and, in a word, life to the Nautilus."
chloride - chlorure
compose - composer
ingredients - ingrédients, ingrédient
owe - doit, devoir
"But not the air you breathe?"
"Oh! I could manufacture the air necessary for my consumption, but it is useless, because I go up to the surface of the water when I please. However, if electricity does not furnish me with air to breathe, it works at least the powerful pumps that are stored in spacious reservoirs, and which enable me to prolong at need, and as long as I will, my stay in the depths of the sea.
manufacture - fabrication, production, produit, fabriquer, produire
consumption - la consommation, consommation
pumps - pompes, pompe
spacious - spacieux, ample, grand, logeable
reservoirs - réservoirs, réservoir
prolong - prolonger
It gives a uniform and unintermittent light, which the sun does not. Now look at this clock; it is electrical, and goes with a regularity that defies the best chronometers. I have divided it into twenty-four hours, like the Italian clocks, because for me there is neither night nor day, sun nor moon, but only that factitious light that I take with me to the bottom of the sea. Look!
unintermittent - ininterrompue
regularity - régularité
defies - défie, défier, désobéir a
factitious - factice
just now, it is ten o'clock in the morning."
"Exactly."
"Another application of electricity. This dial hanging in front of us indicates the speed of the Nautilus. An electric thread puts it in communication with the screw, and the needle indicates the real speed. Look! now we are spinning along with a uniform speed of fifteen miles an hour."
application - l'application, application, programme, candidature, demande
thread - fil, processus léger, exétron, fil de discussion, filer
spinning - la filature, filer, (spin) la filature
"It is marvelous! And I see, Captain, you were right to make use of this agent that takes the place of wind, water, and steam."
marvelous - merveilleux
"We have not finished, M. Aronnax," said Captain Nemo, rising. "If you will follow me, we will examine the stern of the Nautilus."
Really, I knew already the anterior part of this submarine boat, of which this is the exact division, starting from the ship's head:"the dining-room, five yards long, separated from the library by a water-tight partition; the library, five yards long; the large drawing-room, ten yards long, separated from the Captain's room by a second water-tight partition; the said room, five yards in length; mine, two and a half yards; and, lastly a reservoir of air, seven and a half yards, that extended to the bows. Total length thirty five yards, or one hundred and five feet. The partitions had doors that were shut hermetically by means of india-rubber instruments, and they ensured the safety of the Nautilus in case of a leak.
anterior - antérieur
starting from - a partir de
tight - serré, tendu, ivre, bien
partition - partition, division, checkséparation, checkpartition
extended - étendu, étendre, prolonger
bows - arcs, (bow) arcs
hermetically - hermétiquement
rubber - caoutchouc, préservatif, condom
ensured - assurée, assurer
I followed Captain Nemo through the waist, and arrived at the centre of the boat. There was a sort of well that opened between two partitions. An iron ladder, fastened with an iron hook to the partition, led to the upper end. I asked the Captain what the ladder was used for.
fastened - fixé, attacher, fixer
"It leads to the small boat," he said.
leads - des pistes, conduire, mener
"What! have you a boat?" I exclaimed, in surprise.
"Of course; an excellent vessel, light and insubmersible, that serves either as a fishing or as a pleasure boat."
insubmersible - insubmersible
"But then, when you wish to embark, you are obliged to come to the surface of the water?"
embark - monter, embarquer
"Not at all. This boat is attached to the upper part of the hull of the Nautilus, and occupies a cavity made for it. It is decked, quite water-tight, and held together by solid bolts. This ladder leads to a man-hole made in the hull of the Nautilus, that corresponds with a similar hole made in the side of the boat. By this double opening I get into the small vessel.
occupies - occupe, occuper, habiter
cavity - cavité, carie
decked - en pontée, pont
held together - Tenir ensemble
corresponds - correspond, correspondre (...a qqchose)
They shut the one belonging to the Nautilus; I shut the other by means of screw pressure. I undo the bolts, and the little boat goes up to the surface of the sea with prodigious rapidity. I then open the panel of the bridge, carefully shut till then; I mast it, hoist my sail, take my oars, and I'm off."
undo - annuler, défaisons, défont, défais
oars - rames, rame, aviron
I'm off - Je m'en vais
"But how do you get back on board?"
"I do not come back, M. Aronnax; the Nautilus comes to me."
"By your orders?"
"By my orders. An electric thread connects us. I telegraph to it, and that is enough."
Telegraph - télégraphe, télégraphier, dépecher
"Really," I said, astonished at these marvels, "nothing can be more simple."
After having passed by the cage of the staircase that led to the platform, I saw a cabin six feet long, in which Conseil and Ned Land, enchanted with their repast, were devouring it with avidity. Then a door opened into a kitchen nine feet long, situated between the large storerooms. There electricity, better than gas itself, did all the cooking.
staircase - escalier
devouring - dévorant, dévorer
situated - situé, situer
storerooms - les entrepôts, réserve, magasin, débarras
The streams under the furnaces gave out to the sponges of platina a heat which was regularly kept up and distributed. They also heated a distilling apparatus, which, by evaporation, furnished excellent drinkable water. Near this kitchen was a bathroom comfortably furnished, with hot and cold water taps.
streams - flux, ruisseau, ru, rupt, filet, flot, courant, torrent
gave out - Donner
platina - platina
regularly - régulierement, régulierement, fréquemment, normalement
distributed - distribué, distribuer, répartir
distilling - la distillation, distillant, (distil), distiller
evaporation - l'évaporation, évaporation
drinkable - potable, buvable
comfortably - confortablement, agréablement
taps - robinets, petit coup
Next to the kitchen was the berthroom of the vessel, sixteen feet long. But the door was shut, and I could not see the management of it, which might have given me an idea of the number of men employed on board the Nautilus.
berthroom - salle d'amarrage
management - la gestion
At the bottom was a fourth partition that separated this office from the engine-room. A door opened, and I found myself in the compartment where Captain Nemo"certainly an engineer of a very high order"had arranged his locomotive machinery. This engine-room, clearly lighted, did not measure less than sixty-five feet in length.
engine-room - (engine-room) la salle des machines
locomotive - locomotive
It was divided into two parts; the first contained the materials for producing electricity, and the second the machinery that connected it with the screw. I examined it with great interest, in order to understand the machinery of the Nautilus.
"You see," said the Captain, "I use Bunsen's contrivances, not Ruhmkorff's. Those would not have been powerful enough. Bunsen's are fewer in number, but strong and large, which experience proves to be the best. The electricity produced passes forward, where it works, by electro-magnets of great size, on a system of levers and cog-wheels that transmit the movement to the axle of the screw.
Bunsen - Bunsen
proves - prouve, prouver
electro - electro, électro
magnets - aimants, aimant
levers - leviers, levier
cog - cog
transmit - transmettre (1, 2, 3, 4, 5), checkémettre (5)
axle - l'essieu, axe, essieu
This one, the diameter of which is nineteen feet, and the thread twenty-three feet, performs about a hundred and twenty revolutions in a second."
revolutions - révolutions, révolution, coup d'état, tour
"And you get then?"
"A speed of fifty miles an hour."
"I have seen the Nautilus manĹ"uvre before the Abraham Lincoln, and I have my own ideas as to its speed. But this is not enough. We must see where we go. We must be able to direct it to the right, to the left, above, below. How do you get to the great depths, where you find an increasing resistance, which is rated by hundreds of atmospheres? How do you return to the surface of the ocean?
And how do you maintain yourselves in the requisite medium? Am I asking too much?"
requisite - nécessaire
"Not at all, Professor," replied the Captain, with some hesitation; "since you may never leave this submarine boat. Come into the saloon, it is our usual study, and there you will learn all you want to know about the Nautilus."
A moment after we were seated on a divan in the saloon smoking. The Captain showed me a sketch that gave the plan, section, and elevation of the Nautilus. Then he began his description in these words:"
divan - divan, canapé
sketch - croquis, croquer, esquisser, esquisse, ébauche, sketch
elevation - l'élévation, élévation
"Here, M. Aronnax, are the several dimensions of the boat you are in. It is an elongated cylinder with conical ends. It is very like a cigar in shape, a shape already adopted in London in several constructions of the same sort. The length of this cylinder, from stem to stern, is exactly 232 feet, and its maximum breadth is twenty-six feet.
cylinder - cylindre, bonbonne, cylindre phonographique, barillet
adopted - adoptée, adopter
constructions - constructions, construction
It is not built quite like your long-voyage steamers, but its lines are sufficiently long, and its curves prolonged enough, to allow the water to slide off easily, and oppose no obstacle to its passage. These two dimensions enable you to obtain by a simple calculation the surface and cubic contents of the Nautilus.
curves - courbes, courbe, courber
oppose - s'opposer a
obstacle - obstacle
calculation - calcul
cubic - cubique
Its area measures 6032 feet; and its contents about 1500 cubic yards"that is to say, when completely immersed it displaces 50,000 feet of water, or weighs 1500 tons.
measures - mesures, mesure, mesurer
cubic - cube, cubique
immersed - immergé, immerger
weighs - pese, peser, lever l’ancre
"When I made the plans for this submarine vessel, I meant that nine-tenths should be submerged: consequently, it ought only to displace nine-tenths of its bulk"that is to say, only to weigh that number of tons. I ought not, therefore, to have exceeded that weight, constructing it on the aforesaid dimensions.
bulk - en vrac, grosseur, gros, ensemble, vrac
constructing - construire, construction
aforesaid - précité
"The Nautilus is composed of two hulls, one inside, the other outside, joined by T-shaped irons, which render it very strong. Indeed, owing to this cellular arrangement it resists like a block, as if it were solid.
hulls - coques, coque
irons - fers a repasser, fer, repasser
owing - owing, devoir
cellular - cellulaire
resists - résiste, résister, s'opposer, rejeter, dégouter
block - bloc, bloquer, bloquent, bloquons, obstruer, buche
Its sides cannot yield; it coheres spontaneously, and not by the closeness of its rivets; and the homogenity of its construction, due to the perfect union of the materials, enables it to defy the roughest seas.
yield - le rendement, rends, produit, rendement, rendons, rendent
coheres - cohérents, s'attirer, attirer, se cohérer
spontaneously - spontanément
homogenity - l'homogénéité
enables - permet, autoriser, permettre, activer
roughest - le plus difficile, rude, rugueux, brut, approximatif, difficile
"These two hulls are composed of steel plates, whose density is from .7 to .8 that of water. The first is not less than two inches and a half thick and weighs 394 tons. The second envelope, the keel, twenty inches high and ten thick, weighs alone sixty-two tons. The engine, the ballast, the several accessories and apparatus appendages, the partitions and bulkheads, weigh 961.62 tons.
envelope - enveloppe
ballast - lest, remblai, ballast, ballaster
accessories - accessoires, accessoire
bulkheads - les cloisons, cloison
Do you follow all this?"
"I do."
"Then, when the Nautilus is afloat under these circumstances, one-tenth is out of the water. Now, if I have made reservoirs of a size equal to this tenth, or capable of holding 150 tons, and if I fill them with water, the boat, weighing then 1507 tons, will be completely immersed. That would happen, Professor. These reservoirs are in the lower parts of the Nautilus.
afloat - a flot, a flot
tenth - dixieme, dixieme ('before the noun'), ('in names of monarchs and popes') dix ('after the name') ('abbreviation' X)
weighing - peser, pesée, pesage, (weigh), lever l’ancre
I turn on taps and they fill, and the vessel sinks that had just been level with the surface."
sinks - coule, couler, s'enfoncer, évier, lavabo
"Well, Captain, but now we come to the real difficulty. I can understand your rising to the surface; but diving below the surface, does not your submarine contrivance encounter a pressure, and consequently undergo an upward thrust of one atmosphere for every thirty feet of water, just about fifteen pounds per square inch?"
encounter - rencontre
upward - a la hausse
thrust - estocade, poussée, propulser
"Just so, sir."
"Then, unless you quite fill the Nautilus, I do not see how you can draw it down to those depths."
"Professor, you must not confound statics with dynamics or you will be exposed to grave errors. There is very little labour spent in attaining the lower regions of the ocean, for all bodies have a tendency to sink. When I wanted to find out the necessary increase of weight required to sink the Nautilus, I had only to calculate the reduction of volume that sea-water acquires according to the depth.
statics - statique, parasites-p, friture
dynamics - dynamique
exposed - exposée, exposer, dénoncer
labour - le travail, effort, travail, labeur, besogne, travailleurs
attaining - atteindre
reduction - réduction
volume - volume, tome
acquires - acquiert, acquérir
"
"That is evident."
"Now, if water is not absolutely incompressible, it is at least capable of very slight compression. Indeed, after the most recent calculations this reduction is only .000436 of an atmosphere for each thirty feet of depth. If we want to sink 3000 feet, I should keep account of the reduction of bulk under a pressure equal to that of a column of water of a thousand feet.
incompressible - incompressible
compression - compression, checkréduction, checkconcision
calculations - calculs, calcul
The calculation is easily verified. Now, I have supplementary reservoirs capable of holding a hundred tons. Therefore I can sink to a considerable depth. When I wish to rise to the level of the sea, I only let off the water, and empty all the reservoirs if I want the Nautilus to emerge from the tenth part of her total capacity."
supplementary - supplémentaire
let off - Laisser partir
emerge - émerger, sortir
tenth part - dixieme partie
capacity - capacité
I had nothing to object to these reasonings.
reasonings - raisonnements, raisonnement
"I admit your calculations, Captain," I replied; "I should be wrong to dispute them since daily experience confirms them; but I foresee a real difficulty in the way."
dispute - dispute, litige, discuter, argumenter, évaluer, contester
confirms - confirme, confirmer
foresee - prévoir, anticiper
"What, sir?"
"When you are about 1000 feet deep, the walls of the Nautilus bear a pressure of 100 atmospheres. If, then, just now you were to empty the supplementary reservoirs, to lighten the vessel, and to go up to the surface, the pumps must overcome the pressure of 100 atmospheres, which is 1500 pounds per square inch. From that a power"""
lighten - alléger
"That electricity alone can give," said the Captain, hastily. "I repeat, sir, that the dynamic power of my engines is almost infinite. The pumps of the Nautilus have an enormous power, as you must have observed when their jets of water burst like a torrent upon the Abraham Lincoln.
hastily - hâtivement, précipitamment, a la hâte
Besides I use subsidiary reservoirs only to attain a mean depth of 750 to 1000 fathoms, and that with a view of managing my machines. Also, when I have a mind to visit the depths of the ocean five or six miles below the surface, I make use of slower but not less infallible means."
subsidiary - subsidiaire, secondaire, filiale
infallible - infaillible
"What are they, Captain?"
"That involves my telling you how the Nautilus is worked."
"I am impatient to learn."
"To steer this boat to starboard or port, to turn"in a word, following a horizontal plan, I use an ordinary rudder fixed on the back of the stern-post, and with one wheel and some tackle to steer by.
steer - diriger, piloter
tackle - tacle, combattre, affronter, tacler, plaquer
But I can also make the Nautilus rise and sink, and sink and rise, by a vertical movement by means of two inclined planes fastened to its sides, opposite the centre of flotation, planes that move in every direction, and that are worked by powerful levers from the interior. If the planes are kept parallel with the boat, it moves horizontally.
vertical - verticale, vertical
flotation - flottaison
parallel - parallele, parallele, parallele a, parallelement
If slanted, the Nautilus, according to this inclination, and under the influence of the screw, either sinks diagonally or rises diagonally as it suits me. And even if I wish to rise more quickly to the surface, I ship the screw, and the pressure of the water causes the Nautilus to rise vertically like a balloon filled with hydrogen."
slanted - incliné, biais, connotation, bridé, qualifier
inclination - inclinaison, checktendance
diagonally - en diagonale
vertically - verticalement
balloon - ballon, ballon de baudruche, ballon en baudruche
hydrogen - l'hydrogene, hydrogene
"Bravo, Captain! But how can the steersman follow the route in the middle of the waters?"
Bravo - bravo, Berthe
steersman - steerman
"The steersman is placed in a glazed box, that is raised about the hull of the Nautilus, and furnished with lenses."
glazed - vitrifié, glaçure, émail, glacis, glaçage, givre
lenses - lentilles, lentille, cristallin
"Are these lenses capable of resisting such pressure?"
resisting - résister, s'opposer, rejeter, dégouter
"Perfectly. Glass, which breaks at a blow, is, nevertheless, capable of offering considerable resistance. During some experiments of fishing by electric light in 1864 in the Northern Seas, we saw plates less than a third of an inch thick resist a pressure of sixteen atmospheres. Now, the glass that I use is not less than thirty times thicker."
offering - offre, offrande, (offer)
"Granted. But, after all, in order to see, the light must exceed the darkness, and in the midst of the darkness in the water, how can you see?"
granted - accordée, accorder, admettre
exceed - excéder, dépasser
"Behind the steersman's cage is placed a powerful electric reflector, the rays from which light up the sea for half a mile in front."
reflector - réflecteur
"Ah! bravo, bravo, Captain! Now I can account for this phosphorescence in the supposed narwhal that puzzled us so. I now ask you if the boarding of the Nautilus and of the Scotia, that has made such a noise, has been the result of a chance rencontre?"
rencontre - rencontre
"Quite accidental, sir. I was sailing only one fathom below the surface of the water, when the shock came. It had no bad result."
accidental - accidentelle, accidentel, altération
fathom - sonder, brasse
"None, sir. But now, about your rencontre with the Abraham Lincoln?"
"Professor, I am sorry for one of the best vessels in the American navy; but they attacked me, and I was bound to defend myself. I contented myself, however, with putting the frigate hors de combat; she will not have any difficulty in getting repaired at the next port."
hors - hors
"Ah, Commander! your Nautilus is certainly a marvellous boat."
"Yes, Professor; and I love it as if it were part of myself. If danger threatens one of your vessels on the ocean, the first impression is the feeling of an abyss above and below. On the Nautilus men's hearts never fail them.
Threatens - menace, menacer
impression - impression
No defects to be afraid of, for the double shell is as firm as iron; no rigging to attend to; no sails for the wind to carry away; no boilers to burst; no fire to fear, for the vessel is made of iron, not of wood; no coal to run short, for electricity is the only mechanical agent; no collision to fear, for it alone swims in deep water; no tempest to brave, for when it dives below the water, it reaches absolute tranquillity. There, sir! that is the perfection of vessels! And if it is true that the engineer has more confidence in the vessel than the builder, and the builder than the captain himself, you understand the trust I repose in my Nautilus; for I am at once captain, builder, and engineer."
defects - défauts, défaut, déserter, passer a, rench: -neededr
firm - ferme, social, robuste, maison de commerce, solide
carry away - emporter
run short - court
tempest - tempete, tempete, (temp) tempete
Dives - plongées, plonger
absolute - absolue, absolu
builder - constructeur, constructrice, bâtisseur, bâtisseuse
trust - confiance, trust, faire confiance, avoir foi en quelqu’un
"But how could you construct this wonderful Nautilus in secret?"
construct - construction, construire
"Each separate portion, M. Aronnax, was brought from different parts of the globe. The keel was forged at Creusot, the shaft of the screw at Penn & Co.'s, London, the iron plates of the hull at Laird's of Liverpool, the screw itself at Scott's at Glasgow. The reservoirs were made by Cail & Co.
forged - forgé, forge
shaft - arbre, hampe, rachis, cage, entuber
laird - laird
Glasgow - glasgow
at Paris, the engine by Krupp in Prussia, its beak in Motala's workshop in Sweden, its mathematical instruments by Hart Brothers, of New York, etc.; and each of these people had my orders under different names."
beak - bec
workshop - atelier
Sweden - la suede, Suede
mathematical - mathématique
"But these parts had to be put together and arranged?"
"Professor, I had set up my workshops upon a desert island in the ocean. There my workmen, that is to say, the brave men that I instructed and educated, and myself have put together our Nautilus. Then when the work was finished, fire destroyed all trace of our proceedings on this island, that I could have jumped over if I had liked."
workshops - des ateliers, atelier
workmen - des ouvriers, ouvrier
instructed - instruit, instruire, enseigner, apprendre
educated - éduqués, éduquer
jumped over - a sauté
"Then the cost of this vessel is great?"
"M. Aronnax, an iron vessel costs ÂŁ145 per ton. Now the Nautilus weighed 1500. It came therefore to ÂŁ67,500, and ÂŁ80,000 more for fitting it up, and about ÂŁ200,000 with the works of art and the collections it contains."
ton - ton, tonne
weighed - pesée, peser, lever l’ancre
"One last question, Captain Nemo."
"Ask it, Professor."
"You are rich?"
"Immensely rich, sir; and I could, without missing it, pay the national debt of France."
immensely - immensément
debt - de la dette, dette
I stared at the singular person who spoke thus. Was he playing upon my credulity? The future would decide that.
credulity - crédulité
The portion of the terrestrial globe which is covered by water is estimated at upwards of eighty millions of acres. This fluid mass comprises two billions two hundred and fifty millions of cubic miles, forming a spherical body of a diameter of sixty leagues, the weight of which would be three quintillions of tons.
acres - acres, acre
fluid - fluide, liquide
comprises - comprend, contenir, comprendre, etre composé de
billions - milliards, milliard, qualifier
spherical - sphérique
quintillions - des quintillions, trillion, milliard de milliards, quintillion
To comprehend the meaning of these figures, it is necessary to observe that a quintillion is to a billion as a billion is to unity; in other words, there are as many billions in a quintillion as there are units in a billion. This mass of fluid is equal to about the quantity of water which would be discharged by all the rivers of the earth in forty thousand years.
comprehend - comprendre
quintillion - trillion, milliard de milliards, quintillion, milliard, million
billion - milliard
unity - l'unité, unité
discharged - déchargée, licenciement, débit
During the geological epochs, the igneous period succeeded to the aqeous. The ocean originally prevailed everywhere. Then by degrees, in the silurian period, the tops of the mountains began to appear, the islands emerged, then disappeared in partial deluges, reappeared, became settled, formed continents, till at length the earth became geographically arranged, as we see in the present day.
epochs - époques, époque, ere, période, singularité, évenement
igneous - ignée, igné, magmatique
aqeous - aqeous
prevailed - a prévalu, dominer, prévaloir, l'emporter, prédominer
partial - partiel, partial
deluges - déluges, déluge
geographically - géographiquement
The solid had wrested from the liquid thirty-seven million six hundred and fifty-seven square miles, equal to twelve billion nine hundred and sixty millions of acres.
liquid - liquide
The shape of continents allows us to divide the waters into five great portions: the Arctic or Frozen Ocean, the Antarctic or Frozen Ocean, the Indian, the Atlantic, and the Pacific Oceans.
divide - diviser, fendre, partager, fossé
portions - portions, part, portion
frozen - gelé, geler
Antarctic - l'antarctique, antarctique
The Pacific Ocean extends from north to south between the two polar circles, and from east to west between Asia and America, over an extent of 145 degrees of longitude. It is the quietest of seas; its currents are broad and slow, it has medium tides, and abundant rain. Such was the ocean that my fate destined me first to travel over under these strange conditions.
extends - s'étend, étendre, prolonger
Asia - asie
currents - les courants, courant, présent, actuel
tides - marées, marée
abundant - abondante
"Sir," said Captain Nemo, "we will, if you please, take our bearings and fix the starting-point of this voyage. It is a quarter to twelve; I will go up again to the surface."
The Captain pressed an electric clock three times. The pumps began to drive the water from the tanks; the needle of the manometer marked by a different pressure the ascent of the Nautilus, then it stopped.
tanks - réservoirs, réservoir, cuve
"We have arrived," said the Captain.
I went to the central staircase which opened on to the platform, clambered up the iron steps, and found myself on the upper part of the Nautilus.
clambered - escaladé, grimper
The platform was only three feet out of water. The front and back of the Nautilus was of that spindle-shape which caused it justly to be compared to a cigar. I noticed that its iron plates, slightly overlaying each other, resembled the shell which clothes the bodies of our large terrestrial reptiles.
justly - a juste titre, justement
slightly - légerement, finement, délicatement, légerement
overlaying - la superposition, (overlay) la superposition
resembled - ressemblait, ressembler
It explained to me how natural it was, in spite of all glasses, that this boat should have been taken for a marine animal.
Toward the middle of the platform the long-boat, half buried in the hull of the vessel, formed a slight excrescence. Fore and aft rose two cages of medium height with inclined sides, and partly closed by thick lenticular glasses; one destined for the steersman who directed the Nautilus, the other containing a brilliant lantern to give light on the road.
toward - vers, envers, pour, pres de
excrescence - exces, excroissance
cages - cages, cage, encager
partly - en partie
lenticular - lenticulaire
lantern - lanterne
give light - donner de la lumiere
The sea was beautiful, the sky pure. Scarcely could the long vehicle feel the broad undulations of the ocean. A light breeze from the east rippled the surface of the waters. The horizon, free from fog, made observation easy. Nothing was in sight. Not a quicksand, not an island. A vast desert.
light breeze - une brise légere
rippled - ondulé, ondulation
quicksand - sables mouvants
Captain Nemo, by the help of his sextant, took the altitude of the sun, which ought also to give the latitude. He waited for some moments till its disc touched the horizon. Whilst taking observations not a muscle moved, the instrument could not have been more motionless in a hand of marble.
disc - disque, plaque
muscle - muscle
more motionless - plus immobile
Captain Nemo took the Sun's altitude
"Twelve o'clock, sir," said he. "When you like"""
I cast a last look upon the sea, slightly yellowed by the Japanese coast, and descended to the saloon.
descended - descendu, descendre
"And now, sir, I leave you to your studies," added the Captain; "our course is E.N.E., our depth is twenty-six fathoms. Here are maps on a large scale by which you may follow it. The saloon is at your disposal, and with your permission, I will retire." Captain Nemo bowed, and I remained alone, lost in thoughts all bearing on the commander of the Nautilus.
scale - échelle, escaladez, escalader, escaladent, gravir, bareme
retire - prendre sa retraite, retirent, retirez, se retirer, retirer
For a whole hour was I deep in these reflections, seeking to pierce this mystery so interesting to me. Then my eyes fell upon the vast planisphere spread upon the table, and I placed my finger on the very spot where the given latitude and longitude crossed.
planisphere - planisphere, planisphere
The sea has its large rivers like the continents. They are special currents known by their temperature and their colour. The most remarkable of these is known by the name of the Gulf Stream.
most remarkable - le plus remarquable
Gulf Stream - Le Gulf Stream
Science has decided on the globe the direction of five principal currents: one in the North Atlantic, a second in the South, a third in the North Pacific, a fourth in the South, and a fifth in the Southern Indian Ocean. It is even probable that a sixth current existed at one time or another in the Northern Indian Ocean, when the Caspian and Aral Seas formed but one vast sheet of water.
probable - probable
sixth - sixieme, sixieme ('before the noun'), ('in names of monarchs and popes') six ('after the name') ('abbreviation' VI)
At this point indicated on the planisphere one of these currents was rolling, the Kuro-Scivo of the Japanese, the Black River, which, leaving the Gulf of Bengal, where it is warmed by the perpendicular rays of a tropical sun, crosses the Straits of Malacca along the coast of Asia, turns into the North Pacific to the Aleutian Islands, carrying with it trunks of camphor-trees and other indigenous productions, and edging the waves of the ocean with the pure indigo of its warm water. It was this current that the Nautilus was to follow. I followed it with my eye; saw it lose itself in the vastness of the Pacific, and felt myself drawn with it, when Ned Land and Conseil appeared at the door of the saloon.
Bengal - Bengale
perpendicular - perpendiculaire, fil a plomb
tropical - tropicale, tropical
Malacca - malacca
camphor - camphre
indigenous - indigene
edging - bordures, (edge), bord, côté, arete, carre
indigo - indigo
vastness - l'immensité, immensité
My two brave companions remained petrified at the sight of the wonders spread before them.
Petrified - pétrifié, pétrifier
wonders - s'interroge, merveille, étonner
"Where are we, where are we?" exclaimed the Canadian. "In the museum at Quebec?"
"My friends," I answered, making a sign for them to enter, "you are not in Canada, but on board the Nautilus, fifty yards below the level of the sea."
"But, M. Aronnax," said Ned Land, "can you tell me how many men there are on board? Ten, twenty, fifty, a hundred?"
"I cannot answer you, Mr. Land; it is better to abandon for a time all idea of seizing the Nautilus or escaping from it. This ship is a masterpiece of modern industry, and I should be sorry not to have seen it. Many people would accept the situation forced upon us, if only to move amongst such wonders. So be quiet and let us try and see what passes around us."
seizing - la saisie, emparant, (seize), saisir, emparer
escaping - s'échapper, échapper, éviter, tirer
masterpiece - chef-d'ouvre, chef-d'ouvre
"See!" exclaimed the harpooner, "but we can see nothing in this iron prison! We are walking"we are sailing"blindly."
blindly - aveuglément, a l’aveuglette
Ned Land had scarcely pronounced these words when all was suddenly darkness. The luminous ceiling was gone, and so rapidly that my eyes received a painful impression.
We remained mute, not stirring, and not knowing what surprise awaited us, whether agreeable or disagreeable. A sliding noise was heard: one would have said that panels were working at the sides of the Nautilus.
mute - muet
agreeable - agréable, complaisant
"It is the end of the end!" said Ned Land.
Suddenly light broke at each side of the saloon, through two oblong openings. The liquid mass appeared vividly lit up by the electric gleam. Two crystal plates separated us from the sea. At first I trembled at the thought that this frail partition might break, but strong bands of copper bound them, giving an almost infinite power of resistance.
oblong - oblong
vividly - précise
gleam - briller, luisent, luisez, brillant, luisons
crystal - cristal, de cristal, en cristal
frail - fragile, souffreteuxse
power of resistance - le pouvoir de la résistance
The sea was distinctly visible for a mile all round the Nautilus. What a spectacle! What pen can describe it? Who could paint the effects of the light through those transparent sheets of water, and the softness of the successive gradations from the lower to the superior strata of the ocean?
visible - visible
spectacle - spectacle
softness - la douceur, douceur
We know the transparency of the sea and that its clearness is far beyond that of rock-water. The mineral and organic substances which it holds in suspension heightens its transparency. In certain parts of the ocean at the Antilles, under seventy-five fathoms of water, can be seen with surprising clearness a bed of sand.
transparency - la transparence, transparence
clearness - clarté
organic - organique, bio, biologique
substances - substances, substance, fond, biens-p
suspension - suspension, systéme amortisseur
heightens - augmente, hausser
sand - sable, sableuxse
The penetrating power of the solar rays does not seem to cease for a depth of one hundred and fifty fathoms. But in this middle fluid travelled over by the Nautilus, the electric brightness was produced even in the bosom of the waves. It was no longer luminous water, but liquid light.
solar - solaire
cease - cesser, s'arreter, cesser de + 'infinitive'
On each side a window opened into this unexplored abyss. The obscurity of the saloon showed to advantage the brightness outside, and we looked out as if this pure crystal had been the glass of an immense aquarium.
obscurity - l'obscurité, obscurité
aquarium - aquarium
"You wished to see, friend Ned; well, you see now."
"Curious! curious!" muttered the Canadian, who, forgetting his ill-temper, seemed to submit to some irresistible attraction; "and one would come further than this to admire such a sight!"
submit - se soumettre, soumettre, présenter, gagner par soumission
irresistible - irrésistible
Attraction - attraction, attirance
admire - admirer
"Ah!" thought I to myself, "I understand the life of this man; he has made a world apart for himself, in which he treasures all his greatest wonders."
For two whole hours an aquatic army escorted the Nautilus.
escorted - escorté, escorte, escorter
During their games, their bounds, while rivalling each other in beauty, brightness, and velocity, I distinguished the green labre; the banded mullet, marked by a double line of black; the round-tailed goby, of a white colour, with violet spots on the back; the Japanese scombrus, a beautiful mackerel of those seas, with a blue body and silvery head; the brilliant azurors, whose name alone defies description; some banded spares, with variegated fins of blue and yellow; the woodcocks of the seas, some specimens of which attain a yard in length; Japanese salamanders, spider lampreys, serpents six feet long, with eyes small and lively, and a huge mouth bristling with teeth; with many other species.
rivalling - en rivalité, (rival), rival, rivale, rivaliser
distinguished - distingué, distinguer
mullet - mulet
tailed - a queue, queue
goby - gobie
mackerel - maquereau, scombre
azurors - azurors
spares - des pieces de rechange, se passer de
fins - ailerons, nageoire, aileron
woodcocks - bécasses, bécasse
salamanders - salamandres, salamandre
lampreys - des lamproies, lamproie
lively - fringant, spirituel
Our imagination was kept at its height, interjections followed quickly on each other. Ned named the fish, and Conseil classed them. I was in ecstasies with the vivacity of their movements and the beauty of their forms. Never had it been given to me to surprise these animals, alive and at liberty, in their natural element.
interjections - des interjections, interjection
ecstasies - extases, extase, ecstasy, exta
I will not mention all the varieties which passed before my dazzled eyes, all the collection of the seas of China and Japan. These fish, more numerous than the birds of the air, came, attracted, no doubt, by the brilliant focus of the electric light.
numerous - nombreux
attracted - attiré, attirer
Suddenly there was daylight in the saloon, the iron panels closed again, and the enchanting vision disappeared. But for a long time I dreamt on till my eyes fell on the instruments hanging on the partition. The compass still showed the course to be E.N.E.
enchanting - enchanteresse, enchanter
vision - vision, vue, aspiration, apparition
, the manometer indicated a pressure of five atmospheres, equivalent to a depth of twenty-five fathoms, and the electric log gave a speed of fifteen miles an hour. I expected Captain Nemo, but he did not appear. The clock marked the hour of five.
Ned Land and Conseil returned to their cabin, and I retired to my chamber. My dinner was ready. It was composed of turtle soup made of the most delicate hawksbills, of a surmullet served with puff paste (the liver of which, prepared by itself, was most delicious), and fillets of the emperor-holocanthus, the savour of which seemed to me superior even to salmon.
chamber - chambre, piece, salle
turtle soup - soupe de tortue
most delicate - le plus délicat
surmullet - surmullet
puff paste - pâte feuilletée
fillets - filets, congé, filet, désosser, lever les filets
Emperor - l'empereur, empereur
savour - savourer, déguster
salmon - saumon
I passed the evening reading, writing, and thinking. Then sleep overpowered me, and I stretched myself on my couch of zostera, and slept profoundly, whilst the Nautilus was gliding rapidly through the current of the Black River.
overpowered - surpuissant, soumettre
zostera - Zostera
profoundly - profondément
gliding - le vol a voile, vol a voile, (glide), glisser, planer
The next day was the 9th of November. I awoke after a long sleep of twelve hours. Conseil came, according to custom, to know "how I had passed the night," and to offer his services. He had left his friend the Canadian sleeping like a man who had never done anything else all his life. I let the worthy fellow chatter as he pleased, without caring to answer him.
custom - coutume, us, connaissance, droit de douane, sur mesure
passed the night - passé la nuit
chatter - bavardage, bavarder, babil, cacarder
I was pre-occupied by the absence of the Captain during our sitting of the day before, and hoping to see him to-day.
pre - pré
As soon as I was dressed I went into the saloon. It was deserted.
I plunged into the study of the shell treasures hidden behind the glasses. I revelled also in great herbals filled with the rarest marine plants, which, although dried up, retained their lovely colours.
revelled - s'est réjoui, se délecter (de)
herbals - les plantes médicinales, aux herbes, d'herbes
dried up - sécher
retained - retenue, retenir, conserver, maintenir
Amongst these precious hydrophytes I remarked some vorticellæ, pavonariæ, delicate ceramies with scarlet tints, some fan-shaped agari, and some natabuli like flat mushrooms, which at one time used to be classed as zoophytes; in short, a perfect series of algæ.
hydrophytes - hydrophytes, hydrophyte
ceramies - céramiques
scarlet - écarlate
tints - teintes, nuance, teinte
mushrooms - champignons, champignon, champignonner
The whole day passed without my being honoured by a visit from Captain Nemo. The panels of the saloon did not open. Perhaps they did not wish us to tire of these beautiful things.
honoured - honoré, honneur
tire - fatiguer, pneu, pneumatique
The course of the Nautilus was E.N.E., her speed twelve knots, the depth below the surface between twenty-five and thirty fathoms.
The next day, 10th of November, the same desertion, the same solitude. I did not see one of the ship's crew: Ned and Conseil spent the greater part of the day with me. They were astonished at the inexplicable absence of the Captain. Was this singular man ill?"had he altered his intentions with regard to us?
desertion - désertion
altered - modifié, transformer, changer, altérer
regard - regard, considérer, égard, estime
After all, as Conseil said, we enjoyed perfect liberty, we were delicately and abundantly fed. Our host kept to his terms of the treaty. We could not complain, and, indeed, the singularity of our fate reserved such wonderful compensation for us, that we had no right to accuse it as yet.
abundantly - abondamment
Treaty - traité
Singularity - singularité, point de fuite
compensation - compensation, dédommagement, émolument, indemnisation
accuse - accuser
That day I commenced the journal of these adventures which has enabled me to relate them with more scrupulous exactitude and minute detail. I wrote it on paper made from the zostera marina.
commenced - commencé, commencer
exactitude - l'exactitude, exactitude
11th November, early in the morning. The fresh air spreading over the interior of the Nautilus told me that we had come to the surface of the ocean to renew our supply of oxygen. I directed my steps to the central staircase, and mounted the platform.
supply - l'approvisionnement, livraison, fournir, pourvoir, provision
It was six o'clock, the weather was cloudy, the sea grey but calm. Scarcely a billow. Captain Nemo, whom I hoped to meet, would he be there? I saw no one but the steersman imprisoned in his glass cage. Seated upon the projection formed by the hull of the pinnace, I inhaled the salt breeze with delight.
cloudy - nuageux, trouble, brumeux, nébuleux, opaque
billow - la lune, flot, ondoyer
imprisoned - emprisonné, emprisonner, mettre en prison
projection - saillie, projection
pinnace - pinnace
By degrees the fog disappeared under the action of the sun's rays, the radiant orb rose from behind the eastern horizon. The sea flamed under its glance like a train of gunpowder. The clouds scattered in the heights were coloured with lively tints of beautiful shades, and numerous "mare's tails," which betokened wind for that day.
orb - globuleux
eastern - orientale, oriental
flamed - flambé, flamme, polémique
gunpowder - la poudre a canon
shades - nuances, alose
mare - jument
But what was wind to this Nautilus which tempests could not frighten!
frighten - effrayer, redouter, terrifier
I was admiring this joyous rising of the sun, so gay, and so lifegiving, when I heard steps approaching the platform. I was prepared to salute Captain Nemo, but it was his second (whom I had already seen on the Captain's first visit) who appeared. He advanced on the platform, not seeming to see me. With his powerful glass to his eye he scanned every point of the horizon with great attention.
admiring - admiratif, admirer
joyous - joyeux
gay - gay, gai
lifegiving - la vie
salute - saluer, faire un salut
This examination over, he approached the panel and pronounced a sentence in exactly these terms. I have remembered it, for every morning it was repeated under exactly the same conditions. It was thus worded"
"Nautron respoc lorni virch."
What it meant I could not say.
These words pronounced, the second descended. I thought that the Nautilus was about to return to its submarine navigation. I regained the panel and returned to my chamber.
Five days sped thus, without any change in our situation. Every morning I mounted the platform. The same phrase was pronounced by the same individual. But Captain Nemo did not appear.
I had made up my mind that I should never see him again, when, on the 16th November, on returning to my room with Ned and Conseil, I found upon my table a note addressed to me. I opened it impatiently. It was written in a bold, clear hand, the characters rather pointed, recalling the german type. The note was worded as follows"
bold - audacieux, gros, épais
recalling - rappelant, rappeler, souvenir
german type - type allemand
16th of November, 1867.
TO PROFESSOR ARONNAX, On board the Nautilus.
Captain Nemo invites Professor Aronnax to a hunting-party, which will take place to-morrow morning in the forests of the island of Crespo. He hopes that nothing will prevent the Professor from being present, and he will with pleasure see him joined by his companions.
hunting - la chasse, (hunt), chasser, chercher, chasse
morrow - lendemain, matin
CAPTAIN NEMO, Commander of the Nautilus.
"A hunt!" exclaimed Ned.
"And in the forests of the island of Crespo!" added Conseil.
"Oh! then the gentleman is going on terra firma?" replied Ned Land.
terra - terra
"That seems to me to be clearly indicated," said I, reading the letter once more.
"Well, we must accept," said the Canadian. "But once more on dry ground, we shall know what to do. Indeed, I shall not be sorry to eat a piece of fresh venison."
venison - du chevreuil, viande de biche, venaison, gibier
Without seeking to reconcile what was contradictory between Captain Nemo's manifest aversion to islands and continents, and his invitation to hunt in a forest, I contented myself with replying"
reconcile - se réconcilier, réconcilier
contradictory - contradictoire
manifest - manifeste, bordereau, profession de foi, proclamation
aversion - l'aversion, aversion
"Let us first see where the island of Crespo is."
I consulted the planisphere, and in 32° 40˛ north lat. and 157° 50˛ west long., I found a small island, recognised in 1801 by Captain Crespo, and marked in the ancient Spanish maps as Rocca de la Plata, the meaning of which is "The Silver Rock.
consulted - consultée, concerter
la - La
Spanish - espagnol, castillan
" We were then about eighteen hundred miles from our starting-point, and the course of the Nautilus, a little changed, was bringing it back towards the south-east.
I showed this little rock lost in the midst of the North Pacific to my companions.
"If Captain Nemo does sometimes go on dry ground," said I, "he at least chooses desert islands."
Ned Land shrugged his shoulders without speaking, and Conseil and he left me.
shrugged - haussé les épaules, haussement d'épaules, hausser les épaules
After supper, which was served by the steward mute and impassive, I went to bed, not without some anxiety.
supper - dîner, souper
anxiety - l'anxiété, anxiété, inquiétude, angoisse
The next morning, the 17th of November, on awakening, I felt that the Nautilus was perfectly still. I dressed quickly and entered the saloon.
awakening - l'éveil, réveil, (awaken), réveiller, se réveiller
Captain Nemo was there, waiting for me. He rose, bowed, and asked me if it was convenient for me to accompany him. As he made no allusion to his absence during the last eight days, I did not mention it, and simply answered that my companions and myself were ready to follow him.
accompany - accompagner
allusion - allusion
We entered the dining-room, where breakfast was served.
"M. Aronnax," said the Captain, "pray, share my breakfast without ceremony; we will chat as we eat. For though I promised you a walk in the forest, I did not undertake to find hotels there. So breakfast as a man who will most likely not have his dinner till very late."
Pray - prier, prions, priez, prient
ceremony - cérémonie
undertake - entreprendre
I did honour to the repast. It was composed of several kinds of fish, and slices of holothuridæ (excellent zoophytes), and different sorts of sea-weed. Our drink consisted of pure water, to which the Captain added some drops of a fermented liquor, extracted by the Kamschatcha method from a sea-weed known under the name of Rhodomenia palmata. Captain Nemo ate at first without saying a word.
slices - tranches, tranche, tronçon, trancher, couper en tranches
liquor - l'alcool, spiritueux
extracted - extraites, extrait, extraire
Then he began"
"Sir, when I proposed to you to hunt in my submarine forest of Crespo, you evidently thought me mad. Sir, you should never judge lightly of any man."
mad - fou, folle, fol, fâché, en colere
"But Captain, believe me"""
"Be kind enough to listen, and you will then see whether you have any cause to accuse me of folly and contradiction."
folly - folie, sottise
contradiction - contradiction
"I listen."
"You know as well as I do, Professor, that man can live under water, providing he carries with him a sufficient supply of breathable air. In submarine works, the workman, clad in an impervious dress, with his head in a metal helmet, receives air from above by means of forcing pumps and regulators."
sufficient - suffisante, suffisant
breathable - respirant, respirable
workman - ouvrier
impervious - imperméable
helmet - casque
forcing - le forçage, force
regulators - régulateurs, régulateur
"That is a diving apparatus," said I.
"Just so, but under these conditions the man is not at liberty; he is attached to the pump which sends him air through an india-rubber tube, and if we were obliged to be thus held to the Nautilus, we could not go far."
pump - pompe, pompons, pompez, pompent, pomper
"And the means of getting free?" I asked.
"It is to use the Rouquayrol apparatus, invented by two of your own countrymen, which I have brought to perfection for my own use, and which will allow you to risk yourself under these new physiological conditions without any organ whatever suffering. It consists of a reservoir of thick iron plates, in which I store the air under a pressure of fifty atmospheres.
countrymen - compatriotes, citoyen, citoyenne, habitant, habitante
physiological - physiologique
suffering - la souffrance, souffrance, douleur
consists - consiste, consister (en)
This reservoir is fixed on the back by means of braces, like a soldier's knapsack. Its upper part forms a box in which the air is kept by means of a bellows, and therefore cannot escape unless at its normal tension.
braces - les appareils dentaires, toise, fiche, doublé, retenir
knapsack - sac a dos, sac a dos
bellows - soufflets, mugir, beugler
tension - tension, traction
In the Rouquayrol apparatus such as we use, two india-rubber pipes leave this box and join a sort of tent which holds the nose and mouth; one is to introduce fresh air, the other to let out the foul, and the tongue closes one or the other according to the wants of the respirator.
pipes - des tuyaux, cornemuse, conduit, tuyau, barre verticale, tube
tent - tente
foul - la faute, infâme
respirator - respirateur
But I, in encountering great pressures at the bottom of the sea, was obliged to shut my head, like that of a diver in a ball of copper; and it is to this ball of copper that the two pipes, the inspirator and the expirator, open."
encountering - rencontre, rencontrer
Pressures - pressions, pression
diver - plongeur, plongeuse, (div)
inspirator - inspirateur
expirator - l'expirateur
"Perfectly, Captain Nemo; but the air that you carry with you must soon be used; when it only contains fifteen per cent. of oxygen it is no longer fit to breathe."
"Right! But I told you, M. Aronnax, that the pumps of the Nautilus allow me to store the air under considerable pressure, and on those conditions the reservoir of the apparatus can furnish breathable air for nine or ten hours."
"I have no further objections to make," I answered; "I will only ask you one thing, Captain"how can you light your road at the bottom of the sea?"
objections - objections, objection
"With the Ruhmkorff apparatus, M. Aronnax; one is carried on the back, the other is fastened to the waist. It is composed of a Bunsen pile, which I do not work with bichromate of potash, but with sodium. A wire is introduced which collects the electricity produced, and directs it towards a particularly made lantern. In this lantern is a spiral glass which contains a small quantity of carbonic gas.
pile - pile, tapée, pilotis, foule, amas
bichromate - bichromate
potash - la potasse, potasse
wire - fil de fer, fil
spiral - spirale, hélice, spiraler
When the apparatus is at work this gas becomes luminous, giving out a white and continuous light. Thus provided, I can breathe and I can see."
giving out - a distribuer
continuous - continue
"Captain Nemo, to all my objections you make such crushing answers, that I dare no longer doubt. But if I am forced to admit the Rouquayrol and Ruhmkorff apparatus, I must be allowed some reservations with regard to the gun I am to carry."
crushing - l'écrasement, barricade, béguin, amourette, faible
reservations - des réservations, réservation, réserve
"But it is not a gun for powder," answered the Captain.
powder - poudre, réduire en poudre, pulvériser, poudrer
"Then it is an air-gun."
"Doubtless! How would you have me manufacture gunpowder on board, without either saltpetre, sulphur, or charcoal?"
saltpetre - le salpetre
sulphur - le soufre, soufre
charcoal - charbon de bois, fusain
"Besides," I added, "to fire under water in a medium eight hundred and fifty-five times denser than the air, we must conquer very considerable resistance."
denser - plus dense, dense, obscur, bouché
conquer - conquérir
"That would be no difficulty. There exist guns, according to Fulton, perfected in England by Philip Coles and Burley, in France by Furcy, and in Italy by Landi, which are furnished with a peculiar system of closing, which can fire under these conditions. But I repeat, having no powder, I use air under great pressure, which the pumps of the Nautilus furnish abundantly."
burley - burley
"But this air must be rapidly used?"
"Well, have I not my Rouquayrol reservoir, which can furnish it at need? A tap is all that is required. Besides, M. Aronnax, you must see yourself that, during our submarine hunt, we can spend but little air and but few balls."
tap - robinet, forer, toucher, rencontrer
"But it seems to me that in this twilight, and in the midst of this fluid, which is very dense compared with the atmosphere, shots could not go far, nor easily prove mortal."
twilight - demi-jour, crépuscule, entre chien et loup, pénombre, brumes
shots - tirs, coup
Prove - prouver, éprouvent, éprouvons, éprouvez, prouvent
"Sir, on the contrary, with this gun every blow is mortal; and however lightly the animal is touched, it falls as if struck by a thunderbolt."
thunderbolt - coup de tonnerre
"Why?"
"Because the balls sent by this gun are not ordinary balls, but little cases of glass (invented by Leniebroek, an Austrian chemist), of which I have a large supply. These glass cases are covered with a case of steel, and weighted with a pellet of lead; they are real Leyden bottles, into which the electricity is forced to a very high tension.
Austrian - autrichien, Autrichienne
chemist - chimiste
pellet - pastille, granule, plomb, pelote
lead - plomb, guider, conduire, mener
Leyden - Leyde
high tension - haute tension
With the slightest shock they are discharged, and the animal, however strong it may be, falls dead. I must tell you that these cases are size number four, and that the charge for an ordinary gun would be ten."
slightest - le moins du monde, insignifiant, léger
"I will argue no longer," I replied, rising from the table; "I have nothing left me but to take my gun. At all events, I will go where you go."
Captain Nemo then led me aft; and in passing before Ned's and Conseil's cabin, I called my two companions, who followed immediately. We then came to a kind of cell near the machinery-room, in which we were to put on our walking-dress.
This cell was, to speak correctly, the arsenal and wardrobe of the Nautilus. A dozen diving apparatuses hung from the partition, waiting our use.
arsenal - arsenal
wardrobe - garde-robe, armoire
apparatuses - appareils, appareil
Ned Land, on seeing them, showed evident repugnance to dress himself in one.
repugnance - répugnance
"But, my worthy Ned, the forests of the Island of Crespo are nothing but submarine forests."
"Good!" said the disappointed harpooner, who saw his dreams of fresh meat fade away. "And you, M. Aronnax, are you going to dress yourself in those clothes?"
disappointed - déçue, décevoir, désappointer
fade away - s'éteindre
"There is no alternative, Master Ned."
"As you please, sir," replied the harpooner, shrugging his shoulders; "but as for me, unless I am forced, I will never get into one."
shrugging - hausser les épaules, haussement d'épaules
"No one will force you, Master Ned," said Captain Nemo.
"Is Conseil going to risk it?" asked Ned.
"I follow my master wherever he goes," replied Conseil.
At the Captain's call two of the ship's crew came to help us to dress in these heavy and impervious clothes, made of india-rubber without seam, and constructed expressly to resist considerable pressure. One would have thought it a suit of armour, both supple and resisting. This suit formed trousers and waistcoat. The trousers were finished off with thick boots, weighted with heavy leaden soles.
seam - couture
constructed - construit, construction, construire
armour - armure, blindez, blinder, blindons, cuirass, blindent
supple - souple
waistcoat - gilet
soles - semelles, plante (du pied)
The texture of the waistcoat was held together by bands of copper, which crossed the chest, protecting it from the great pressure of the water, and leaving the lungs free to act; the sleeves ended in gloves, which in no way restrained the movement of the hands.
sleeves - manches, manche, chemise (inner), gaine (outer), manchon
gloves - gants, gant
There was a vast difference noticeable between these consummate apparatuses and the old cork breastplates, jackets, and other contrivances in vogue during the eighteenth century.
noticeable - perceptible, repérable, détectable, remarquable
consummate - consommé, consommer
breastplates - des cuirasses, cuirasse, poitrail, plastron
vogue - vogue, mode
eighteenth - dix-huitieme, dix-huitieme ('before the noun'), ('in names of monarchs and popes') dix-huit ('after the name') ('abbreviation' XVIII)
Captain Nemo and one of his companions (a sort of Hercules, who must have possessed great strength), Conseil, and myself, were soon enveloped in the dresses. There remained nothing more to be done but to enclose our heads in the metal box. But before proceeding to this operation, I asked the Captain's permission to examine the guns we were to carry.
Hercules - hercule
proceeding - la poursuite de la procédure, acte, (proceed), avancer
One of the Nautilus men gave me a simple gun, the butt end of which, made of steel, hollow in the centre, was rather large. It served as a reservoir for compressed air, which a valve, worked by a spring, allowed to escape into a metal tube.
butt - de fesses, crosse
hollow - creux, cavez, caver, cavent, cavons
compressed air - l'air comprimé
valve - valve, clapet, soupape, valvule
A box of projectiles, in a groove in the thickness of the butt end, contained about twenty of these electric balls, which, by means of a spring, were forced into the barrel of the gun. As soon as one shot was fired, another was ready.
projectiles - des projectiles, projectile
groove - rainure, sillon, routine, groove, puits
thickness - l'épaisseur, épaisseur, grosseur
"Captain Nemo," said I, "this arm is perfect, and easily handled: I only ask to be allowed to try it. But how shall we gain the bottom of the sea?"
handled - manipulé, anse, poignée, manche
"At this moment, Professor, the Nautilus is stranded in five fathoms, and we have nothing to do but to start."
stranded - en panne, etre échoué
"But how shall we get off?"
"You shall see."
Captain Nemo thrust his head into the helmet, Conseil and I did the same, not without hearing an ironical "Good sport!" from the Canadian. The upper part of our dress terminated in a copper collar upon which was screwed the metal helmet. Three holes, protected by thick glass, allowed us to see in all directions, by simply turning our head in the interior of the head-dress.
ironical - ironique
terminated - résilié, terminer
collar - col, collier
screwed - vissé, vis, hélice, visser, baiser, coucher avec
As soon as it was in position, the Rouquayrol apparatus on our backs began to act; and, for my part, I could breathe with ease.
With the Ruhmkorff lamp hanging from my belt, and the gun in my hand, I was ready to set out. But to speak the truth, imprisoned in these heavy garments, and glued to the deck by my leaden soles, it was impossible for me to take a step.
garments - vetements, vetement
I was ready to set out
But this state of things was provided for. I felt myself being pushed into a little room contiguous to the wardrobe-room. My companions followed, towed along in the same way. I heard a water-tight door, furnished with stopper-plates, close upon us, and we were wrapped in profound darkness.
contiguous - contiguës
towed - remorqué, remorquer
After some minutes, a loud hissing was heard. I felt the cold mount from my feet to my chest. Evidently from some part of the vessel they had, by means of a tap, given entrance to the water, which was invading us, and with which the room was soon filled. A second door cut in the side of the Nautilus then opened. We saw a faint light. In another instant our feet trod the bottom of the sea.
mount - monter, montent, montez, montons
invading - l'envahissement, envahir
faint - évanouissement, s'évanouir, défailles, défaillez, défaillir
trod - trod, (tread) trod
And now, how can I retrace the impression left upon me by that walk under the waters? Words are impotent to relate such wonders! Captain Nemo walked in front, his companion followed some steps behind. Conseil and I remained near each other, as if an exchange of words had been possible through our metallic cases.
impotent - impuissant
I no longer felt the weight of my clothing, or of my shoes, of my reservoir of air, or my thick helmet, in the midst of which my head rattled like an almond in its shell.
rattled - secouée, (faire) cliqueter
almond - amande, amandier
The light, which lit the soil thirty feet below the surface of the ocean, astonished me by its power. The solar rays shone through the watery mass easily, and dissipated all colour, and I clearly distinguished objects at a distance of a hundred and fifty yards. Beyond that the tints darkened into fine gradations of ultramarine, and faded into vague obscurity.
soil - sol, terre, barbouillons, barbouiller, foncierere
shone through - a brillé a travers
watery - aqueux
dissipated - dissipée, dissiper
ultramarine - ultramarine, ultramarin, outremer
faded - fanée, (s')affaiblir, diminuer
Truly this water which surrounded me was but another air denser than the terrestrial atmosphere, but almost as transparent. Above me was the calm surface of the sea.
We were walking on fine, even sand, not wrinkled, as on a flat shore, which retains the impression of the billows. This dazzling carpet, really a reflector, repelled the rays of the sun with wonderful intensity, which accounted for the vibration which penetrated every atom of liquid. Shall I be believed when I say that, at the depth of thirty feet, I could see as if I was in broad daylight?
wrinkled - ridé, ride
shore - rivage, riverain, parages, bord, rive, borde
retains - conserve, retenir, conserver, maintenir
billows - des bouées, flot, ondoyer
repelled - repoussé, rebuter, repousser
vibration - vibration
penetrated - pénétré, pénétrer
atom - atome
For a quarter of an hour I trod on this sand, sown with the impalpable dust of shells. The hull of the Nautilus, resembling a long shoal, disappeared by degrees; but its lantern, when darkness should overtake us in the waters, would help to guide us on board by its distinct rays.
impalpable - impalpable
resembling - ressemblant, ressembler
overtake - dépasser, doubler, surprendre
Soon forms of objects outlined in the distance were discernible. I recognised magnificent rocks, hung with a tapestry of zoophytes of the most beautiful kind, and I was at first struck by the peculiar effect of this medium.
outlined - esquissé, contour, silhouette, esquisse, aperçu, résumé
It was then ten in the morning; the rays of the sun struck the surface of the waves at rather an oblique angle, and at the touch of their light, decomposed by refraction as through a prism, flowers, rocks, plants, shells, and polypi were shaded at the edges by the seven solar colours.
oblique angle - angle oblique
decomposed - décomposé, décomposer, se décomposer
refraction - la réfraction, réfraction
prism - prisme
shaded - ombragée, alose
edges - des bords, bord, côté, arete, carre
It was marvellous, a feast for the eyes, this complication of coloured tints, a perfect kaleidoscope of green, yellow, orange, violet, indigo, and blue; in one word, the whole palette of an enthusiastic colourist! Why could I not communicate to Conseil the lively sensations which were mounting to my brain, and rival him in expressions of admiration?
feast - la fete, délibéré
complication - complication
kaleidoscope - kaléidoscope, caléidoscope
palette - palette
enthusiastic - enthousiaste
colourist - coloriste
mounting - montant, monture, ajustage, (mount) montant
for aught I knew, Captain Nemo and his companion might be able to exchange thoughts by means of signs previously agreed upon. So, for want of better, I talked to myself; I declaimed in the copper box which covered my head, thereby expending more air in vain words than was perhaps expedient.
for aught I knew - pour ce que j'en sais
previously - autrefois, auparavant, antérieurement, précédemment
declaimed - déclamée, déclamer
thereby - et donc, ainsi, de ce fait, par la
expending - l'utilisation, dépenser
expedient - opportun, expédient
Various kinds of isis, clusters of pure tuft-coral, prickly fungi, and anemones formed a brilliant garden of flowers, enamelled with porphitæ, decked with their collarettes of blue tentacles, sea-stars studding the sandy bottom, together with asterophytons like fine lace embroidered by the hands of naïads, whose festoons were waved by the gentle undulations caused by our walk.
clusters - les grappes, groupe, grappe, régime, amas, rench: -neededr
tuft - touffe
coral - corail, corallien
prickly - épineux, irritable, irascible
fungi - Les champignons, (fungus), fongus
enamelled - émaillé, (d'/en) émail
studding - le colombage, (stud) le colombage
asterophytons - les astérophytons
lace - dentelle, pointue
embroidered - brodée, broder
festoons - festons, feston, guirlande
gentle - gentil, doux
It was a real grief to me to crush under my feet the brilliant specimens of molluscs which strewed the ground by thousands, of hammer-heads, donaciae (veritable bounding shells), of staircases, and red helmet-shells, angel-wings, and many others produced by this inexhaustible ocean.
grief - le chagrin, douleur, peine
crush - le coup de foudre, barricade, béguin, amourette, faible
strewed - parsemée, parsemer, joncher
veritable - véritable
staircases - des escaliers, escalier
angel - ange
wings - des ailes, aile, ailier
But we were bound to walk, so we went on, whilst above our heads waved shoals of physalides leaving their tentacles to float in their train, medusæ whose umbrellas of opal or rose-pink, escalloped with a band of blue, sheltered us from the rays of the sun and fiery pelagiæ, which, in the darkness, would have strewn our path with phosphorescent light.
shoals - des bancs, banc (de poissons)
physalides - physalides
opal - opale
sheltered - a l'abri, abri, refuge, abriter
fiery - ardente, ardent, brulant, flamboyant, enflammé
strewn - éparpillés
path - chemin, sentier
All these wonders I saw in the space of a quarter of a mile, scarcely stopping, and following Captain Nemo, who beckoned me on by signs. Soon the nature of the soil changed; to the sandy plain succeeded an extent of slimy mud, which the Americans call "ooze," composed of equal parts of silicious and calcareous shells. We then travelled over a plain of sea-weed of wild and luxuriant vegetation.
beckoned - fait signe, faire signe
plain - simple, unie, net, plaine
slimy - visqueux, visqueuse, gluant, gluante
mud - de la boue, boue, bourbe, vase
ooze - suintements, suinter
silicious - silicieux
luxuriant - luxuriante, luxuriant
vegetation - la végétation, végétation
This sward was of close texture, and soft to the feet, and rivalled the softest carpet woven by the hand of man. But whilst verdure was spread at our feet, it did not abandon our heads. A light network of marine plants, of that inexhaustible family of sea-weeds of which more than two thousand kinds are known, grew on the surface of the water.
sward - sward
rivalled - rivalisé, rival, rivale, rivaliser
woven - tissé, (weave)
verdure - verdure, vigueur
weeds - les mauvaises herbes, (weed) les mauvaises herbes
I saw long ribbons of fucus floating, some globular, others tuberous; laurenciæ and cladostephi of most delicate foliage, and some rhodomeniæ palmatæ, resembling the fan of a cactus.
ribbons - rubans, ruban
globular - globulaire
tuberous - tubéreux
foliage - le feuillage, feuillage
cactus - cactus
I noticed that the green plants kept nearer the top of the sea, whilst the red were at a greater depth, leaving to the black or brown hydrophytes the care of forming gardens and parterres in the remote beds of the ocean.
We had quitted the Nautilus about an hour and a half. It was near noon; I knew by the perpendicularity of the sun's rays, which were no longer refracted. The magical colours disappeared by degrees, and the shades of emerald and sapphire were effaced.
perpendicularity - perpendicularité
refracted - réfracté, réfracter
magical - magique
shades - nuances, ombre, store, nuance, ton, esprit
emerald - émeraude
sapphire - saphir, colibri a menton bleu
We walked with a regular step, which rang upon the ground with astonishing intensity; the slightest noise was transmitted with a quickness to which the ear is unaccustomed on the earth; indeed, water is a better conductor of sound than air, in the ratio of four to one. At this period the earth sloped downwards; the light took a uniform tint.
transmitted - transmise, transmettre (1, 2, 3, 4, 5), fr
unaccustomed - pas habitué
conductor - chef d'orchestre, contrôleur, poinçonneur (ancient, in bus)
ratio - rapport (1), ratio
sloped - en pente, pente, inclinaison
tint - teinte, nuance, teindre
We were at a depth of a hundred and five yards and twenty inches, undergoing a pressure of six atmospheres.
At this depth I could still see the rays of the sun, though feebly; to their intense brilliancy had succeeded a reddish twilight, the lowest state between day and night; but we could still see well enough; it was not necessary to resort to the Ruhmkorff apparatus as yet.
feebly - faiblement
At this moment Captain Nemo stopped; he waited till I joined him, and then pointed to an obscure mass, looming in the shadow, at a short distance.
looming - a venir, métier a tisser
shadow - l'ombre, ombre, prendre en filature, filer
"It is the forest of the Island of Crespo," thought I;"and I was not mistaken.
We had at last arrived on the borders of this forest, doubtless one of the finest of Captain Nemo's immense domains. He looked upon it as his own, and considered he had the same right over it that the first men had in the first days of the world. And, indeed, who would have disputed with him the possession of this submarine property?
borders - frontieres, frontiere, bord, bordure, délimiter, border
domains - domaines, domaine, domaine de définition
What other hardier pioneer would come, hatchet in hand, to cut down the dark copses?
hardier - plus résistants, robuste, rustique
Pioneer - pionnier, pionniere
hatchet - hachette
Copses - copses, fourré
This forest was composed of large tree-plants; and the moment we penetrated under its vast arcades, I was struck by the singular position of their branches"a position I had not yet observed.
arcades - arcades, arcade, galerie marchande, salle d'arcade
branches - branches, branche, t+rameau, affluent, filiale
Not a herb which carpeted the ground, not a branch which clothed the trees, was either broken or bent, nor did they extend horizontally; all stretched up to the surface of the ocean. Not a filament, not a ribbon, however thin they might be, but kept as straight as a rod of iron. The fuci and llianas grew in rigid perpendicular lines, due to the density of the element which had produced them.
herb - l'herbe, herbe, herbes, plante médicinale
bent - plié, courba, courbai, courbés, courbé, cambrai
extend - étendre, prolonger
filament - filament
ribbon - ruban
rod - tige, canne a peche, verges, bite, paf, pine, queue, vit, zob
llianas - llianas
rigid - rigide
Motionless, yet when bent to one side by the hand, they directly resumed their former position. Truly it was the region of perpendicularity!
former - ancien, ancienne, ci devant
I soon accustomed myself to this fantastic position, as well as to the comparative darkness which surrounded us. The soil of the forest seemed covered with sharp blocks, difficult to avoid. The submarine flora struck me as being very perfect, and richer even than it would have been in the arctic or tropical zones, where these productions are not so plentiful.
comparative - comparatif
blocks - blocs, bloc
Flora - flora, flore, flore intestinale
Arctic - l'arctique, arctique
zones - zones, zone
plentiful - abondante, abondant, copieux, ample
But for some minutes I involuntarily confounded the genera, taking zoophytes for hydrophytes, animals for plants; and who would not have been mistaken? The fauna and the flora are too closely allied in this submarine world.
genera - genres, genre
fauna - faune
allied - alliés, s'allier (a, avec)
These plants are self-propagated, and the principle of their existence is in the water, which upholds and nourishes them. The greater number, instead of leaves, shot forth blades of capricious shapes, comprised within a scale of colours,"pink, carmine, green, olive, fawn, and brown.
propagated - propagé, se propager
upholds - maintient, soutenir
nourishes - nourrit, nourrir
blades - lames, lame
comprised - compris, contenir, comprendre, etre composé de
carmine - carmin, carminé, checkcarminé
olive - olive
Fawn - fauve, faon
I saw there (but not dried up, as our specimens of the Nautilus are) pavonari spread like a fan, as if to catch the breeze; scarlet ceramies, whose laminaries extended their edible shoots of fern-shaped nereocysti, which grow to a height of fifteen feet; clusters of acetabuli, whose stems increase in size upwards; and numbers of other marine plants, all devoid of flowers!
laminaries - laminaires
edible - comestible, mangeable
shoots - des prises de vue, tirer
fern - fougere, fougere
devoid - dépourvu
"Curious anomaly, fantastic element!" said an ingenious naturalist, "in which the animal kingdom blossoms, and the vegetable does not!"
anomaly - anomalie
ingenious - ingénieux
animal kingdom - le royaume des animaux
blossoms - fleurs, fleur, floraison, fleurir, s'épanouir
Under these numerous shrubs (as large as trees of the temperate zone), and under their damp shadow, were massed together real bushes of living flowers, hedges of zoophytes, on which blossomed some zebrameandrines, with crooked grooves, some yellow caryophylliæ; and, to complete the allusion, the fish-flies flew from branch to branch like a swarm of humming-birds, whilst yellow lepisacomthi, with bristling jaws, dactylopteri, and monocentrides rose at our feet like a flight of snipes.
shrubs - des arbustes, arbuste
temperate - tempéré
damp - humide, moite, mouillé, humidité, grisou, amortir
massed - en masse, Masse, Massé
bushes - buissons, buisson
hedges - des haies, haie
blossomed - s'est épanouie, fleur, floraison, fleurir, s'épanouir
crooked - tortu, (crook) tortu
grooves - sillons, rainure, sillon, routine, groove, puits
swarm - essaim (flying insects), grouillement (crawling insects), nuée
humming - fredonner, (hum), bourdonner, fourmiller
jaws - mâchoires, mâchoire
monocentrides - monocentrides
snipes - snipes, tirer (en restant caché)
In about an hour Captain Nemo gave the signal to halt. I, for my part, was not sorry, and we stretched ourselves under an arbour of alariæ, the long thin blades of which stood up like arrows.
signal - signal, signaler
halt - halte, s'arreter, stop, stopper
arbour - tonnelle
This short rest seemed delicious to me; there was nothing wanting but the charm of conversation; but, impossible to speak, impossible to answer, I only put my great copper head to Conseil's. I saw the worthy fellow's eyes glistening with delight, and to show his satisfaction, he shook himself in his breastplate of air in the most comical way in the world.
glistening - scintillant, reluire
breastplate - cuirasse, poitrail, plastron
comical - comique
After four hours of this walking I was surprised not to find myself dreadfully hungry. How to account for this state of the stomach I could not tell. But instead I felt an insurmountable desire to sleep, which happens to all divers. And my eyes soon closed behind the thick glasses, and I fell into a heavy slumber, which the movement alone had prevented before.
dreadfully - terriblement
insurmountable - insurmontable
slumber - sommeil, somnolence, somnoler
Captain Nemo and his robust companion, stretched in the clear crystal, set us the example.
How long I remained buried in this drowsiness I cannot judge; but, when I woke, the sun seemed sinking towards the horizon. Captain Nemo had already risen, and I was beginning to stretch my limbs, when an unexpected apparition brought me briskly to my feet.
drowsiness - somnolence, assoupissement, torpeur
stretch - étendre, s'étendre, s'étirer, étirement
briskly - rapidement, vivement
A few steps off, a monstrous sea-spider, about thirty-eight inches high, was watching me with squinting eyes, ready to spring upon me. Though my diver's dress was thick enough to defend me from the bite of this animal, I could not help shuddering with horror. Conseil and the sailor of the Nautilus awoke at this moment.
monstrous - monstrueux
squinting - loucher, (squint), plisser les yeux, louvoyer
bite - mordre, maintenir, garder, tomber dans le panneau, marcher
shuddering - tremblant, (shudder), tremblement, frisson, frissonner, trembler
horror - l'horreur, horreur, effroi, dégout, aversion
Captain Nemo pointed out the hideous crustacean, which a blow from the butt end of the gun knocked over, and I saw the horrible claws of the monster writhe in terrible convulsions. This accident reminded me that other animals more to be feared might haunt these obscure depths, against whose attacks my diving-dress would not protect me.
hideous - hideux, strident, atroce, répugnant
crustacean - crustacé
knocked over - renversé
horrible - horrible, affreux, épouvantable
claws - griffes, griffe
writhe - se tordre, se débattre, se démener, se tortiller
convulsions - des convulsions, convulsion
reminded - rappelée, rappeler
haunt - hanter, demeurer, point de rencontre
I had never thought of it before, but I now resolved to be upon my guard. Indeed, I thought that this halt would mark the termination of our walk; but I was mistaken, for, instead of returning to the Nautilus, Captain Nemo continued his bold excursion. The ground was still on the incline, its declivity seemed to be getting greater, and to be leading us to greater depths.
termination - la résiliation, terminaison, fin
excursion - excursion, randonnée
declivity - déclivité
It must have been about three o'clock when we reached a narrow valley, between high perpendicular walls, situated about seventy-five fathoms deep. Thanks to the perfection of our apparatus, we were forty-five fathoms below the limit which nature seems to have imposed on man as to his submarine excursions.
limit - limite, circonscrivez, limitons, circonscrivons, limitez
imposed - imposée, imposer
excursions - excursions, excursion, randonnée
I say seventy-five fathoms, though I had no instrument by which to judge the distance. But I knew that even in the clearest waters the solar rays could not penetrate further. And accordingly the darkness deepened. At ten paces not an object was visible. I was groping my way, when I suddenly saw a brilliant white light.
deepened - approfondi, approfondir, intensifier
paces - des allures, pas
groping - tripotage, tâter, tâtonner, tripoter, peloter
Captain Nemo had just put his electric apparatus into use; his companion did the same, and Conseil and I followed their example. By turning a screw I established a communication between the wire and the spiral glass, and the sea, lit by our four lanterns, was illuminated for a circle of thirty-six yards.
established - établie, affermir, établir
lanterns - lanternes, lanterne
Captain Nemo was still plunging into the dark depths of the forest, whose trees were getting scarcer at every step. I noticed that vegetable life disappeared sooner than animal life. The medusæ had already abandoned the arid soil, from which a great number of animals, zoophytes, articulata, molluscs, and fishes, still obtained sustenance.
plunging - plongeant, (plunge) plongeant
scarcer - plus rares, rare
animal life - la vie animale
arid - aride
obtained - obtenu, obtenir, se procurer, réussir, avoir succes, avoir
As we walked I, thought the light of our Ruhmkorff apparatus could not fail to draw some inhabitant from its dark couch. But if they did approach us, they at least kept at a respectful distance from the hunters. Several times I saw Captain Nemo stop, put his gun to his shoulder, and after some moments drop it and walk on. At last, after about four hours, this marvellous excursion came to an end.
inhabitant - habitant, habitante, résident, résidente
respectful - respectueux
hunters - chasseurs, chasseur, chien de chasse, cheval de chasse
A wall of superb rocks, in an imposing mass, rose before us, a heap of gigantic blocks, an enormous, steep granite shore, forming dark grottos, but which presented no practicable slope; it was the prop of the Island of Crespo. It was the earth! Captain Nemo stopped suddenly. A gesture of his brought us all to a halt, and, however desirous I might be to scale the wall, I was obliged to stop.
imposing - imposant, imposer
heap - tas, pile, monceau
steep - raide
granite - granite, granit
grottos - grottes
slope - pente, inclinaison
prop - accessoire, support
Here ended Captain Nemo's domains. And he would not go beyond them. further on was a portion of the globe he might not trample upon.
further on - plus loin
trample - fouler, piétiner
The return began. Captain Nemo had returned to the head of his little band, directing their course without hesitation. I thought we were not following the same road to return to the Nautilus. The new road was very steep, and consequently very painful. We approached the surface of the sea rapidly.
But this return to the upper strata was not so sudden as to cause relief from the pressure too rapidly, which might have produced serious disorder in our organisation, and brought on internal lesions, so fatal to divers. Very soon light reappeared and grew, and the sun being low on the horizon, the refraction edged the different objects with a spectral ring.
relief - secours, allégement, relief, soulagement
lesions - des lésions, lésion, blesser
spectral - spectrale, spectral, spectral?
ring - anneau, cerne, ring, tinter
At ten yards and a half deep, we walked amidst a shoal of little fishes of all kinds, more numerous than the birds of the air, and also more agile; but no aquatic game worthy of a shot had as yet met our gaze, when at that moment I saw the Captain shoulder his gun quickly, and follow a moving object into the shrubs.
more agile - plus agile
gaze - regard, fixer
He fired;"I heard a slight hissing, and a creature fell stunned at some distance from us. It was a magnificent sea-otter, an enhydrus, the only exclusively marine quadruped. This otter was five feet long, and must have been very valuable.
exclusively - exclusivement, uniquement
quadruped - quadrupede, quadrupede, tétrapode
valuable - de valeur, précieux, valeur
Its skin, chestnut-brown above and silvery underneath, would have made one of those beautiful furs so sought after in the Russian and Chinese markets; the fineness and the lustre of its coat would certainly fetch ÂŁ80.
chestnut - châtaigne, marron, châtain, châtaigner, marronnier
underneath - dessous, en dessous, du dessous, d'en dessous
furs - fourrures, poil, pelage
Russian - russe, ruthénien, langue russe, langue de Tolstoi
fineness - finesse, élancement
lustre - l'éclat, lustre, éclat
fetch - chercher, apporter, aveignez, amener, aveignent, apportons
I admired this curious mammal, with its rounded head ornamented with short ears, its round eyes, and white whiskers like those of a cat, with webbed feet and nails, and tufted tail. This precious animal, hunted and tracked by fishermen, has now become very rare, and taken refuge chiefly in the northern parts of the Pacific, or probably its race would soon become extinct.
whiskers - moustaches, favoris-p, poil de barbe, moustache, vibrisse
nails - clous, ongle
tufted - tufté, touffe
hunted - chassé, chasser, chercher, chasse
become extinct - s'éteindre
Captain Nemo's companion took the beast, threw it over his shoulder, and we continued our journey. For one hour a plain of sand lay stretched before us. Sometimes it rose to within two yards and some inches of the surface of the water.
I then saw our image clearly reflected, drawn inversely, and above us appeared an identical group reflecting our movements and our actions; in a word, like us in every point, except that they walked with their heads downward and their feet in the air.
inversely - inversement
identical - identique, meme
reflecting - réfléchissant, refléter, réfléchir
Another effect I noticed, which was the passage of thick clouds which formed and vanished rapidly; but on reflection I understood that these seeming clouds were due to the varying thickness of the reeds at the bottom, and I could even see the fleecy foam which their broken tops multiplied on the water, and the shadows of large birds passing above our heads, whose rapid flight I could discern on the surface of the sea.
vanished - disparue, disparaître, s'évanouir, s'annuler
varying - varier
reeds - anches, roseau
fleecy - molletonné
shadows - ombres, ombre, prendre en filature, t+filer
On this occasion, I was witness to one of the finest gun-shots which ever made the nerves of a hunter thrill. A large bird of great breadth of wing, clearly visible, approached, hovering over us. Captain Nemo's companion shouldered his gun and fired, when it was only a few yards above the waves.
Occasion - occasion
witness - témoin
Hunter - hunter, chasseur, chien de chasse, cheval de chasse, chercheur
thrill - l'excitation, exciter
Wing - aile, ailier, improviser
hovering - en vol stationnaire, éventiller, faire du sur-place, hésiter
The creature fell stunned, and the force of its fall brought it within the reach of dexterous hunter's grasp. It was an albatross of the finest kind.
dexterous - dextre, adroit, habile
grasp - saisir, agripper, comprendre
albatross - albatros
Our march had not been interrupted by this incident. For two hours we followed these sandy plains, then fields of algæ very disagreeable to cross. Candidly, I could do no more when I saw a glimmer of light, which, for a half mile, broke the darkness of the waters. It was the lantern of the Nautilus.
plains - plaines, simple
candidly - franchement, de bonne foi
Before twenty minutes were over we should be on board, and I should be able to breathe with ease, for it seemed that my reservoir supplied air very deficient in oxygen. But I did not reckon on an accidental meeting, which delayed our arrival for some time.
supplied - fourni, fournir, approvisionner
I had remained some steps behind, when I presently saw Captain Nemo coming hurriedly towards me. With his strong hand he bent me to the ground, his companion doing the same to Conseil. At first I knew not what to think of this sudden attack, but I was soon reassured by seeing the Captain lie down beside me, and remain immovable.
hurriedly - en toute hâte, a la hâte, a la sauvette, a la va-vite
beside - a côté, aupres
immovable - inamovible, immeuble
I was stretched on the ground, just under the shelter of a bush of algæ, when, raising my head, I saw some enormous mass, casting phosphorescent gleams, pass blusteringly by.
bush - buisson, arbuste, brousse
casting - casting, moulage, (cast), jeter, diriger, lancer, additionner
gleams - des lueurs, luire
blusteringly - avec fanfaronnade
My blood froze in my veins as I recognised two formidable sharks which threatened us. It was a couple of tintoreas, terrible creatures, with enormous tails and a dull glassy stare, the phosphorescent matter ejected from holes pierced around the muzzle. Monstrous brutes! which would crush a whole man in their iron jaws.
froze - gelé, geler
veins - veines, veine
creatures - créatures, créature, etre
dull - émoussé, ennuyeux, barbant, mat, terne, sot, obtus
stare - fixer, regarder (fixement), dévisager
muzzle - la museliere, museau, museliere, museler
brutes - brutes, bete, brutal
I did not know whether Conseil stopped to classify them; for my part, I noticed their silver bellies, and their huge mouths bristling with teeth, from a very unscientific point of view, and more as a possible victim than as a naturalist.
classify - classer, classifier
unscientific - non scientifique
Happily the voracious creatures do not see well. They passed without seeing us, brushing us with their brownish fins, and we escaped by a miracle from a danger certainly greater than meeting a tiger full-face in the forest. Half an hour after, guided by the electric light, we reached the Nautilus.
voracious - vorace
brownish - brunâtre
miracle - miracle
tiger - tigre, tigresse
The outside door had been left open, and Captain Nemo closed it as soon as we had entered the first cell. He then pressed a knob. I heard the pumps working in the midst of the vessel, I felt the water sinking from around me, and in a few moments the cell was entirely empty. The inside door then opened, and we entered the vestry.
left open - laissé ouvert
knob - poignée, bouton, pommeau, noix, noud
vestry - la sacristie, sacristie
There our diving-dress was taken off, not without some trouble; and, fairly worn out from want of food and sleep. I returned to my room, in great wonder at this surprising excursion at the bottom of the sea.
wonder - merveille, se demander, conjecturer
The next morning, the 18th of November, I had quite recovered from my fatigues of the day before, and I went up on to the platform, just as the second lieutenant was uttering his daily phrase.
recovered - récupéré, recouvrer (la santé)
lieutenant - lieutenant
uttering - prononcer, (utter) prononcer
I was admiring the magnificent aspect of the ocean when Captain Nemo appeared. He did not seem to be aware of my presence, and began a series of astronomical observations. Then, when he had finished, he went and leant on the cage of the watch-light, and gazed abstractedly on the ocean.
aware - conscient, attentif, vigilant, en éveil, en alerte
astronomical - astronomique
leant - leant, pencher
gazed - regardé, fixer
abstractedly - de maniere abstraite
In the meantime, a number of the sailors of the Nautilus, all strong and healthy men, had come up onto the platform. They came to draw up the nets that had been laid all night. These sailors were evidently of different nations, although the European type was visible in all of them. I recognised some unmistakable Irishmen, Frenchmen, some Sclaves, and a Greek, or a Candiote.
meantime - entre-temps, pendant ce temps
draw up - rédiger
nations - nations, nation
Irishmen - irlandais
Greek - grec, grecque, grecques
Candiote - Candiote
They were civil, and only used that odd language among themselves, the origin of which I could not guess, neither could I question them.
civil - civile, civil
The nets were hauled in. They were a large kind of "chaluts," like those on the Normandy coasts, great pockets that the waves and a chain fixed in the smaller meshes kept open. These pockets, drawn by iron poles, swept through the water, and gathered in everything in their way. That day they brought up curious specimens from those productive coasts.
hauled - transporté, haler, trainer, butin, magot
Normandy - la normandie, Normandie
chain - chaîne, enchaîner
meshes - mailles, maillage, maille, engrenage, concorder
poles - poteaux, pôle
swept - balayé, balayer, balayage
productive - productif
I reckoned that the haul had brought in more than nine hundredweight of fish. It was a fine haul, but not to be wondered at. Indeed, the nets are let down for several hours, and enclose in their meshes an infinite variety. We had no lack of excellent food, and the rapidity of the Nautilus and the attraction of the electric light could always renew our supply.
haul - de l'eau de pluie, haler, trainer, butin, magot
hundredweight - poids cent, quintal
wondered - s'est demandé, merveille, étonner
let down - déçu
lack - manque
These several productions of the sea were immediately lowered through the panel to the steward's room, some to be eaten fresh, and others pickled.
lowered - abaissé, (s')assombrir
pickled - mariné, marinade(s)
The fishing ended, the provision of air renewed, I thought that the Nautilus was about to continue its submarine excursion, and was preparing to return to my room, when, without further preamble, the Captain turned to me, saying:
preamble - préambule
"Professor, is not this ocean gifted with real life? It has its tempers and its gentle moods. Yesterday it slept as we did, and now it has woke after a quiet night. Look!" he continued, "it wakes under the caresses of the sun. It is going to renew its diurnal existence. It is an interesting study to watch the play of its organisation.
moods - d'humeur, humeur
caresses - caresses, caresser
diurnal - diurne, journalier, quotidien
It has a pulse, arteries, spasms; and I agree with the learned Maury, who discovered in it a circulation as real as the circulation of blood in animals.
pulse - l'impulsion, pouls
arteries - arteres, artere
spasms - spasmes, spasme
Circulation - circulation
"Yes, the ocean has indeed circulation, and to promote it, the Creator has caused things to multiply in it"caloric, salt, and animalculae."
promote - promouvoir, faire la promotion de
multiply - se multiplier, multipliez, multiplions, multiplier, multiplient
caloric - calorique
When Captain Nemo spoke thus, he seemed altogether changed, and aroused an extraordinary emotion in me.
altogether - tout a fait, completement, en meme temps, quoi qu'il en soit
aroused - excité, émoustiller, exciter
"Also," he added, "true existence is there; and I can imagine the foundations of nautical towns, clusters of submarine houses, which, like the Nautilus, would ascend every morning to breathe at the surface of the water, free towns, independent cities. Yet who knows whether some despot"""
foundations - des fondations, fondation, fondement
ascend - s'élever, monter
despot - despote
Captain Nemo finished his sentence with a violent gesture. Then, addressing me as if to chase away some sorrowful thought:
chase away - chasser
sorrowful - chagrin
"M. Aronnax," he asked, "do you know the depth of the ocean?"
"I only know, Captain, what the principal soundings have taught us."
"Could you tell me them, so that I can suit them to my purpose?"
"These are some," I replied, "that I remember. If I am not mistaken, a depth of 8,000 yards has been found in the North Atlantic, and 2,500 yards in the Mediterranean. The most remarkable soundings have been made in the South Atlantic, near the thirty-fifth parallel, and they gave 12,000 yards, 14,000 yards, and 15,000 yards.
Mediterranean - méditerranée, méditerranéen, Bassin méditerranéen
To sum up all, it is reckoned that if the bottom of the sea were levelled, its mean depth would be about one and three-quarter leagues."
"Well, Professor," replied the Captain, "we shall show you better than that I hope. As to the mean depth of this part of the Pacific, I tell you it is only 4,000 yards."
Having said this, Captain Nemo went towards the panel, and disappeared down the ladder. I followed him, and went into the large drawing-room. The screw was immediately put in motion, and the log gave twenty miles an hour.
During the days and weeks that passed, Captain Nemo was very sparing of his visits. I seldom saw him. The lieutenant pricked the ship's course regularly on the chart, so I could always tell exactly the route of the Nautilus.
sparing - épargnant, se passer de
seldom - rarement
pricked - piqué, piquer, percer
Nearly every day, for some time, the panels of the drawing-room were opened, and we were never tired of penetrating the mysteries of the submarine world.
The general direction of the Nautilus was south-east, and it kept between 100 and 150 yards of depth. One day, however, I do not know why, being drawn diagonally by means of the inclined planes, it touched the bed of the sea. The thermometer indicated a temperature of 4.25 (cent.): a temperature that at this depth seemed common to all latitudes.
At three o'clock in the morning of the 26th of November the Nautilus crossed the tropic of Cancer at 172° long. On 27th instant it sighted the Sandwich Islands, where Cook died, February 14, 1779. We had then gone 4,860 leagues from our starting-point. In the morning, when I went on the platform, I saw two miles to windward, Hawaii, the largest of the seven islands that form the group.
Hawaii - hawai, Hawai, Hawaii, les îles Hawai
I saw clearly the cultivated ranges, and the several mountain-chains that run parallel with the side, and the volcanoes that overtop Mouna-Rea, which rise 5,000 yards above the level of the sea. Besides other things the nets brought up, were several flabellariae and graceful polypi, that are peculiar to that part of the ocean. The direction of the Nautilus was still to the south-east.
cultivated - cultivé, cultiver
ranges - gammes, chaîne (de montagnes), cuisiniere, sélection, gamme
chains - chaînes, chaîne, enchaîner
volcanoes - volcans, volcan
overtop - sur le dessus
graceful - gracieux
It crossed the equator December 1, in 142° long.; and on the 4th of the same month, after crossing rapidly and without anything in particular occurring, we sighted the Marquesas group. I saw, three miles off, Martin's peak in Nouka-Hiva, the largest of the group that belongs to France.
occurring - se produisant, produire
Martin - martin
I only saw the woody mountains against the horizon, because Captain Nemo did not wish to bring the ship to the wind.
woody - ligneuxse, ligneux
There the nets brought up beautiful specimens of fish: some with azure fins and tails like gold, the flesh of which is unrivalled; some nearly destitute of scales, but of exquisite flavour; others, with bony jaws, and yellow-tinged gills, as good as bonitos; all fish that would be of use to us.
Azure - l'azur, azur
flesh - de la chair, chair, peau, viande, corps, pulpe
destitute - sans ressources
tinged - teinté, teinte, touche, nuance, teindre
gills - branchies, ouies
After leaving these charming islands protected by the French flag, from the 4th to the 11th of December the Nautilus sailed over about 2,000 miles.
charming - charmant, (charm)
flag - drapeau, étendard, fanion, pavillon
During the daytime of the 11th of December I was busy reading in the large drawing-room. Ned Land and Conseil watched the luminous water through the half-open panels. The Nautilus was immovable. While its reservoirs were filled, it kept at a depth of 1,000 yards, a region rarely visited in the ocean, and in which large fish were seldom seen.
daytime - journée, jour
rarely - rarement
I was then reading a charming book by Jean Mace, The Slaves of the Stomach, and I was learning some valuable lessons from it, when Conseil interrupted me.
mace - masse, massue
slaves - esclaves, esclave, t+serf, t+serve
"Will master come here a moment?" he said, in a curious voice.
"What is the matter, Conseil?"
"I want master to look."
I rose, went, and leaned on my elbows before the panes and watched.
leaned - penché, pencher
elbows - coudes, coude, coup de coude, jouer des coudes
panes - vitres, vitre
In a full electric light, an enormous black mass, quite immovable, was suspended in the midst of the waters. I watched it attentively, seeking to find out the nature of this gigantic cetacean. But a sudden thought crossed my mind. "A vessel!" I said, half aloud.
aloud - a haute voix, a voix haute, a haute voix, fort
"Yes," replied the Canadian, "a disabled ship that has sunk perpendicularly."
disabled - désactivé, désactiver
perpendicularly - perpendiculairement
Ned Land was right; we were close to a vessel of which the tattered shrouds still hung from their chains. The keel seemed to be in good order, and it had been wrecked at most some few hours. Three stumps of masts, broken off about two feet above the bridge, showed that the vessel had had to sacrifice its masts. But, lying on its side, it had filled, and it was heeling over to port.
shrouds - les haubans, linceul
wrecked - épave, carcasse, accident, bousiller, ruiner
stumps - des souches, souche, moignon, estompe
broken off - Rompu
sacrifice - sacrifier, sacrifice, offrande
heeling - le gîte, (heel) le gîte
This skeleton of what it had once been was a sad spectacle as it lay lost under the waves, but sadder still was the sight of the bridge, where some corpses, bound with ropes, were still lying. I counted five"four men, one of whom was standing at the helm, and a woman standing by the poop, holding an infant in her arms. She was quite young.
skeleton - squelette, ossature
corpses - des cadavres, cadavre, corps, corps sans vie
ropes - des cordes, corde
infant - nourrisson, enfant en bas âge, poupon
I could distinguish her features, which the water had not decomposed, by the brilliant light from the Nautilus. In one despairing effort, she had raised her infant above her head"poor little thing!"whose arms encircled its mother's neck.
encircled - encerclé, encercler
The attitude of the four sailors was frightful, distorted as they were by their convulsive movements, whilst making a last effort to free themselves from the cords that bound them to the vessel.
attitude - posture, état d'esprit, attitude
frightful - effrayante, effrayant
distorted - déformé, déformer, distordre
convulsive - convulsif
cords - cordons, corde, cordon
The steersman alone, calm, with a grave, clear face, his grey hair glued to his forehead, and his hand clutching the wheel of the helm, seemed even then to be guiding the three broken masts through the depths of the ocean.
clutching - l'embrayage, se raccrocher (a)
What a scene! We were dumb; our hearts beat fast before this shipwreck, taken as it were from life and photographed in its last moments. And I saw already, coming towards it with hungry eyes, enormous sharks, attracted by the human flesh.
shipwreck - épave, naufrage, naufrager
However, the Nautilus, turning, went round the submerged vessel, and in one instant I read on the stern""The Florida, Sunderland."
Florida - la floride, Floride
This terrible spectacle was the forerunner of the series of maritime catastrophes that the Nautilus was destined to meet with in its route. As long as it went through more frequented waters, we often saw the hulls of shipwrecked vessels that were rotting in the depths, and deeper down cannons, bullets, anchors, chains, and a thousand other iron materials eaten up by rust.
forerunner - précurseur, rench: prédécesseur avant coureur
catastrophes - des catastrophes, catastrophe
shipwrecked - naufragés, épave, naufrage, naufrager
rotting - la pourriture, pourrir
cannons - canons, canon
anchors - ancres, ancre
rust - rouille, se rouiller
However, on the 11th of December we sighted the Pomotou Islands, the old "dangerous group" of Bougainville, that extend over a space of 500 leagues at E.S.E. to W.N.W., from the Island Ducie to that of Lazareff. This group covers an area of 370 square leagues, and it is formed of sixty groups of islands, among which the Gambier group is remarkable, over which France exercises sway.
Bougainville - Bougainville
sway - se balancer, autorité, poids, influence, prépondérance
These are coral islands, slowly raised, but continuous, created by the daily work of polypi. Then this new island will be joined later on to the neighboring groups, and a fifth continent will stretch from New Zealand and New Caledonia, and from thence to the Marquesas.
neighboring - voisins, voisin/-ine
New Caledonia - La Nouvelle-Calédonie
thence - d'ou, des lors
One day, when I was suggesting this theory to Captain Nemo, he replied coldly:
theory - théorie
"The earth does not want new continents, but new men."
Chance had conducted the Nautilus towards the Island of Clermont-Tonnere, one of the most curious of the group, that was discovered in 1822 by Captain Bell of the Minerva. I could study now the madreporal system, to which are due the islands in this ocean.
Madrepores (which must not be mistaken for corals) have a tissue lined with a calcareous crust, and the modifications of its structure have induced M. Milne Edwards, my worthy master, to class them into five sections. The animalcule that the marine polypus secretes live by millions at the bottom of their cells. Their calcareous deposits become rocks, reefs, and large and small islands.
tissue - tissu, mouchoir en papier, kleenex
crust - croute, croute, écorce
modifications - modifications, modification
induced - induite, induire
animalcule - animalcule
Polypus - polypus
secretes - secrete, sécréter
cells - cellules, cellule
deposits - dépôts, dépôt, gisement, acompte, arrhes-p
reefs - récifs, récif
Here they form a ring, surrounding a little inland lake, that communicates with the sea by means of gaps. There they make barriers of reefs like those on the coasts of New Caledonia and the various Pomoton islands. In other places, like those at Reunion and at Maurice, they raise fringed reefs, high, straight walls, near which the depth of the ocean is considerable.
barriers - barrieres, barriere, limite, frontiere
Reunion - réunion, réunification, rassemblement
fringed - a franges, frange, périphérie, radicaux
Some cable-lengths off the shores of the Island of Clermont I admired the gigantic work accomplished by these microscopical workers. These walls are specially the work of those madrepores known as milleporas, porites, madrepores, and astraeas.
shores - rivages, rivage
microscopical - microscopique
Workers - les travailleurs, travailleur, travailleuse, ouvrier, ouvriere
specially - particulierement, spécialement
These polypi are found particularly in the rough beds of the sea, near the surface; and consequently it is from the upper part that they begin their operations, in which they bury themselves by degrees with the debris of the secretions that support them.
operations - des opérations, opération, fonctionnement, exploitation
bury - enterrer, enterrez, enterrent, enterrons
debris - débris
Such is, at least, Darwin's theory, who thus explains the formation of the atolls, a superior theory (to my mind) to that given of the foundation of the madreporical works, summits of mountains or volcanoes, that are submerged some feet below the level of the sea.
atolls - atolls, atoll
foundation - fondation, fondement, fond de teint
summits - sommets, sommet
I could observe closely these curious walls, for perpendicularly they were more than 300 yards deep, and our electric sheets lighted up this calcareous matter brilliantly. Replying to a question Conseil asked me as to the time these colossal barriers took to be raised, I astonished him much by telling him that learned men reckoned it about the eighth of an inch in a hundred years.
lighted up - allumé
Eighth - huitieme, huitieme
towards evening Clermont-Tonnerre was lost in the distance, and the route of the Nautilus was sensibly changed. After having crossed the tropic of Capricorn in 135° longitude, it sailed W.N.W., making again for the tropical zone.
towards evening - vers le soir
sensibly - raisonnablement
Although the summer sun was very strong, we did not suffer from heat, for at fifteen or twenty fathoms below the surface, the temperature did not rise above from ten to twelve degrees.
suffer - souffrir, souffrir de, pâtir de, endurer, supporter, subir
On 15th of December, we left to the east the bewitching group of the Societies and the graceful Tahiti, queen of the Pacific. I saw in the morning, some miles to the windward, the elevated summits of the island. These waters furnished our table with excellent fish, mackerel, bonitos, and some varieties of a sea-serpent.
bewitching - envoutant, ensorceler, envouter
Tahiti - tahiti
elevated - élevé, (elevate), élever, augmenter
On the 25th of December the Nautilus sailed into the midst of the New Hebrides, discovered by Quiros in 1606, and that Bougainville explored in 1768, and to which Cook gave its present name in 1773. This group is composed principally of nine large islands, that form a band of 120 leagues N.N.S. to S.S.W., between 15° and 2° S. lat., and 164 deg. and 168° long.
Hebrides - Hébrides
principally - principalement
We passed tolerably near to the Island of Aurou, that at noon looked like a mass of green woods, surmounted by a peak of great height.
surmounted - surmonté, surmonter
That day being Christmas Day, Ned Land seemed to regret sorely the non-celebration of "Christmas," the family fete of which Protestants are so fond. I had not seen Captain Nemo for a week, when, on the morning of the 27th, he came into the large drawing-room, always seeming as if he had seen you five minutes before. I was busily tracing the route of the Nautilus on the planisphere.
Christmas - Noël
sorely - douloureusement
non - non
celebration - célébration, fete
fete - fete, kermesse, feter
Protestants - les protestants, protestant, protestante
fond - fond, tendre, amoureux
busily - avec activité
tracing - le traçage, (trace) le traçage
The Captain came up to me, put his finger on one spot on the chart, and said this single word.
"Vanikoro."
The effect was magical! It was the name of the islands on which La Perouse had been lost! I rose suddenly.
"The Nautilus has brought us to Vanikoro?" I asked.
"Yes, Professor," said the Captain.
"And I can visit the celebrated islands where the Boussole and the Astrolabe struck?"
Astrolabe - astrolabe
"If you like, Professor."
"When shall we be there?"
"We are there now."
Followed by Captain Nemo, I went up on to the platform, and greedily scanned the horizon.
To the N.E. two volcanic islands emerged of unequal size, surrounded by a coral reef that measured forty miles in circumference. We were close to Vanikoro, really the one to which Dumont d'Urville gave the name of Isle de la Recherche, and exactly facing the little harbour of Vanou, situated in 16° 4˛ S. lat., and 164° 32˛ E. long.
volcanic - volcanique
coral reef - récif corallien
Isle - l'île, île
recherche - recherche
harbour - port
The earth seemed covered with verdure from the shore to the summits in the interior, that were crowned by Mount Kapogo, 476 feet high. The Nautilus, having passed the outer belt of rocks by a narrow strait, found itself among breakers where the sea was from thirty to forty fathoms deep.
crowned - couronné, couronne
Strait - le détroit, détroit
Under the verdant shade of some mangroves I perceived some savages, who appeared greatly surprised at our approach. In the long black body, moving between wind and water, did they not see some formidable cetacean that they regarded with suspicion?
verdant - verdoyant, vert, luxuriant
shade - ombre, store, nuance, ton, esprit, ombrager, faire de l'ombre
mangroves - les mangroves, palétuvier, mangrove
savages - sauvages, barbare, féroce, sauvage
suspicion - suspicion, soupçon
Just then Captain Nemo asked me what I knew about the wreck of La Perouse.
"Only what everyone knows, Captain," I replied.
"And could you tell me what everyone knows about it?" he inquired, ironically.
inquired - a demandé, enqueter, renseigner
ironically - ironiquement
"Easily."
I related to him all that the last works of Dumont d'Urville had made known"works from which the following is a brief account.
made known - fait connaître
brief - bref, court
La Perouse, and his second, Captain de Langle, were sent by Louis XVI, in 1785, on a voyage of circumnavigation. They embarked in the corvettes Boussole and the Astrolabe, neither of which were again heard of.
circumnavigation - circumnavigation
embarked - embarqué, monter, embarquer
corvettes - corvettes, corvette
In 1791, the French Government, justly uneasy as to the fate of these two sloops, manned two large merchantmen, the Recherche and the Esperance, which left Brest the 28th of September under the command of Bruni d'Entrecasteaux.
uneasy - mal a l'aise, inquiet
sloops - sloops, sloop
Esperance - esperance
Two months after, they learned from Bowen, commander of the Albemarle, that the debris of shipwrecked vessels had been seen on the coasts of New Georgia. But D'Entrecasteaux, ignoring this communication"rather uncertain, besides"directed his course towards the Admiralty Islands, mentioned in a report of Captain Hunter's as being the place where La Perouse was wrecked.
ignoring - ignorer, ne pas preter attention a
uncertain - incertaine
Admiralty - l'amirauté, amirauté
They sought in vain. The Esperance and the Recherche passed before Vanikoro without stopping there, and, in fact, this voyage was most disastrous, as it cost D'Entrecasteaux his life, and those of two of his lieutenants, besides several of his crew.
most disastrous - le plus désastreux
lieutenants - lieutenants, lieutenant, qualifier
Captain Dillon, a shrewd old Pacific sailor, was the first to find unmistakable traces of the wrecks. On the 15th of May, 1824, his vessel, the St. Patrick, passed close to Tikopia, one of the New Hebrides. There a Lascar came alongside in a canoe, sold him the handle of a sword in silver that bore the print of characters engraved on the hilt.
shrewd - astucieux, perspicace, sagace, habile, roublard, futé
traces - des traces, trace
wrecks - épaves, épave, carcasse, accident, bousiller, ruiner
Patrick - patrick, Patrice
Lascar - Lascar
alongside - a côté, a côté, a côté de, le long de
canoe - canoë
handle - poignée, crosse, manions, traiter, manient, maniez
hilt - hilt, poignée
The Lascar pretended that six years before, during a stay at Vanikoro, he had seen two Europeans that belonged to some vessels that had run aground on the reefs some years ago.
run aground - échoué
Dillon guessed that he meant La Perouse, whose disappearance had troubled the whole world. He tried to get on to Vanikoro, where, according to the Lascar, he would find numerous debris of the wreck, but winds and tides prevented him.
winds - vents, vent
Dillon returned to Calcutta. There he interested the Asiatic Society and the Indian Company in his discovery. A vessel, to which was given the name of the Recherche, was put at his disposal, and he set out, 23rd January, 1827, accompanied by a French agent.
Asiatic - Asiatique
The Recherche, after touching at several points in the Pacific, cast anchor before Vanikoro, 7th July, 1827, in that same harbour of Vanou where the Nautilus was at this time.
anchor - l'ancre, ancre, ancrons, ancrent, portant, ancrez
There it collected numerous relics of the wreck"iron utensils, anchors, pulley-strops, swivel-guns, an 18 lbs. shot, fragments of astronomical instruments, a piece of crown work, and a bronze clock, bearing this inscription""Bazin m'a fait," the mark of the foundry of the arsenal at Brest about 1785. There could be no further doubt.
relics - des reliques, reliquat, relique
pulley - poulie
swivel - pivotant, émerillon, pivoter
fragments - fragments, fragment, fragmenter
crown - couronne, couronner
inscription - inscription, légende, dédicace
foundry - fonderie
Dillon, having made all inquiries, stayed in the unlucky place till October. Then he quitted Vanikoro, and directed his course towards New Zealand; put into Calcutta, 7th April, 1828, and returned to France, where he was warmly welcomed by Charles X.
Charles - charles
But at the same time, without knowing Dillon's movements, Dumont d'Urville had already set out to find the scene of the wreck. And they had learned from a whaler that some medals and a cross of St. Louis had been found in the hands of some savages of Louisiade and New Caledonia.
medals - des médailles, médaille
Dumont d'Urville, commander of the Astrolabe, had then sailed, and two months after Dillon had left Vanikoro he put into Hobart Town. There he learned the results of Dillon's inquiries, and found that a certain James Hobbs, second lieutenant of the Union of Calcutta, after landing on an island situated 8° 18˛ S. lat., and 156° 30˛ E. long.
, had seen some iron bars and red stuffs used by the natives of these parts. Dumont d'Urville, much perplexed, and not knowing how to credit the reports of low-class journals, decided to follow Dillon's track.
stuffs - trucs, truc, substance (1), frachin (2), fr
perplexed - perplexe, déconcerter, troubler, dérouter
On the 10th of February, 1828, the Astrolabe appeared off Tikopia, and took as guide and interpreter a deserter found on the island; made his way to Vanikoro, sighted it on the 12th inst., lay among the reefs until the 14th, and not until the 20th did he cast anchor within the barrier in the harbour of Vanou.
interpreter - interprete, interprete, interpréteur
inst - inst
barrier - barriere, barriere, limite, frontiere
On the 23rd, several officers went round the island and brought back some unimportant trifles. The natives, adopting a system of denials and evasions, refused to take them to the unlucky place. This ambiguous conduct led them to believe that the natives had ill-treated the castaways, and indeed they seemed to fear that Dumont d'Urville had come to avenge La Perouse and his unfortunate crew.
trifles - des broutilles, bagatelle, broutille, babiole, bricole
adopting - l'adoption, adopter
denials - des dénégations, négation, dénégation, refus, déni
evasions - évasions, esquive
refused - refusé, refuser de
ambiguous - ambiguë
conduct - comportement, conduite, se comporter, conduire, mener
castaways - les naufragés, naufragé
avenge - venger, rench: t-needed r
However, on the 26th, appeased by some presents, and understanding that they had no reprisals to fear, they led M. Jacquireot to the scene of the wreck.
appeased - apaisé, apaiser
reprisals - des représailles, représailles-p
There, in three or four fathoms of water, between the reefs of Pacou and Vanou, lay anchors, cannons, pigs of lead and iron, embedded in the limy concretions. The large boat and the whaler belonging to the Astrolabe were sent to this place, and, not without some difficulty, their crews hauled up an anchor weighing 1,800 lbs., a brass gun, some pigs of iron, and two copper swivel-guns.
embedded - intégré, insérer, encastrer, incruster, plonger dans
crews - équipages, équipage
Dumont d'Urville, questioning the natives, learned too that La Perouse, after losing both his vessels on the reefs of this island, had constructed a smaller boat, only to be lost a second time. Where, no one knew.
But the French Government, fearing that Dumont d'Urville was not acquainted with Dillon's movements, had sent the sloop Bayonnaise, commanded by Legoarant de Tromelin, to Vanikoro, which had been stationed on the west coast of America.
sloop - sloop
The Bayonnaise cast her anchor before Vanikoro some months after the departure of the Astrolabe, but found no new document; but stated that the savages had respected the monument to La Perouse. That is the substance of what I told Captain Nemo.
respected - respecté, respect, respecter
monument - monument, mémorial
"So," he said, "no one knows now where the third vessel perished that was constructed by the castaways on the island of Vanikoro?"
perished - a péri, périr
"No one knows."
Captain Nemo said nothing, but signed to me to follow him into the large saloon. The Nautilus sank several yards below the waves, and the panels were opened.
I hastened to the aperture, and under the crustations of coral, covered with fungi, syphonules, alcyons, madrepores, through myriads of charming fish"girelles, glyphisidri, pompherides, diacopes, and holocentres"I recognised certain debris that the drags had not been able to tear up"iron stirrups, anchors, cannons, bullets, capstan fittings, the stem of a ship, all objects clearly proving the wreck of some vessel, and now carpeted with living flowers. While I was looking on this desolate scene, Captain Nemo said, in a sad voice:
syphonules - syphonules
myriads - myriades, myriade, nombreux
pompherides - pompherides
diacopes - diacopes
drags - traîne, tirer, entraîner
tear up - déchirer
stirrups - étriers, étrier
capstan - cabestan
fittings - les raccords, approprié, conforme, convenable, coupleur
proving - prouvant, prouver
desolate - désolée, ravager, désoler
"Commander La Perouse set out 7th December, 1785, with his vessels La Boussole and the Astrolabe. He first cast anchor at Botany Bay, visited the Friendly Isles, New Caledonia, then directed his course towards Santa Cruz, and put into Namouka, one of the Hapai group. Then his vessels struck on the unknown reefs of Vanikoro. The Boussole, which went first, ran aground on the southerly coast.
Botany - la botanique, botanique
Isles - isles, île
aground - échoué
southerly - au sud, du sud
The Astrolabe went to its help, and ran aground too. The first vessel was destroyed almost immediately. The second, stranded under the wind, resisted some days. The natives made the castaways welcome. They installed themselves in the island, and constructed a smaller boat with the debris of the two large ones.
resisted - résisté, résister, s'opposer, rejeter, dégouter
Some sailors stayed willingly at Vanikoro; the others, weak and ill, set out with La Perouse. They directed their course towards the Solomon Islands, and there perished, with everything, on the westerly coast of the chief island of the group, between Capes Deception and Satisfaction."
willingly - volontairement, volontiers
Solomon Islands - Les îles Salomon
capes - capes, cape
deception - supercherie, tromperie
"How do you know that?"
"By this, that I found on the spot where was the last wreck."
Captain Nemo showed me a tin-plate box, stamped with the French arms, and corroded by the salt water. He opened it, and I saw a bundle of papers, yellow but still readable.
tin - l'étain, étain, conserve, boîte de conserve, moule, gamelle
corroded - corrodée, éroder, rouiller, corroder
bundle - bundle, faisceau, fagot, paquet, ballot (of goods)
They were the instructions of the naval minister to Commander La Perouse, annotated in the margin in Louis XVI's handwriting.
minister - ministre, ministériel
annotated - annoté, annoter
margin - marge
handwriting - l'écriture, écriture de main
"Ah! it is a fine death for a sailor!" said Captain Nemo, at last. "A coral tomb makes a quiet grave; and I trust that I and my comrades will find no other."
tomb - tombe, tombeau
comrades - camarades, camaradef, camarade
During the night of the 27th or 28th of December, the Nautilus left the shores of Vanikoro with great speed. Her course was south-westerly, and in three days she had gone over the 750 leagues that separated it from La Perouse's group and the south-east point of Papua.
Papua - Papouasie
Early on the 1st of January, 1863, Conseil joined me on the platform.
"Master, will you permit me to wish you a happy New Year?"
"What! Conseil; exactly as if I was at Paris in my study at the Jardin des Plantes? Well, I accept your good wishes, and thank you for them. Only, I will ask you what you mean by a Happy New Year'under our circumstances? Do you mean the year that will bring us to the end of our imprisonment, or the year that sees us continue this strange voyage?"
good wishes - Meilleur voux
imprisonment - l'emprisonnement, emprisonnement
"Really, I do not know how to answer, master. We are sure to see curious things, and for the last two months we have not had time for dullness. The last marvel is always the most astonishing; and, if we continue this progression, I do not know how it will end. It is my opinion that we shall never again see the like.
dullness - la grisaille, obtusité
marvel - marvel, etre
most astonishing - le plus étonnant
progression - progression
I think then, with No offence to master, that a happy year would be one in which we could see everything."
No offence - Aucune offense
On 2nd January we had made 11,340 miles, or 5,250 French leagues, since our starting-point in the Japan Seas. Before the ship's head stretched the dangerous shores of the coral sea, on the north-east coast of Australia. Our boat lay along some miles from the redoubtable bank on which Cook's vessel was lost, 10th June, 1770.
redoubtable - redoutable
bank on - Miser sur
The boat in which Cook was struck on a rock, and, if it did not sink, it was owing to a piece of coral that was broken by the shock, and fixed itself in the broken keel.
I had wished to visit the reef, 360 leagues long, against which the sea, always rough, broke with great violence, with a noise like thunder. But just then the inclined planes drew the Nautilus down to a great depth, and I could see nothing of the high coral walls. I had to content myself with the different specimens of fish brought up by the nets.
thunder - le tonnerre, tonnerre, tonitruer
content - contenu, satisfait, contentement
I remarked, among others, some germons, a species of mackerel as large as a tunny, with bluish sides, and striped with transverse bands, that disappear with the animal's life.
germons - germons
Tunny - thon
bluish - bleuâtre, bleuté, légerement bleu
striped - rayé, rayure, galon, rayer
These fish followed us in shoals, and furnished us with very delicate food. We took also a large number of gilt-heads, about one and a half inches long, tasting like dorys; and flying pyrapeds like submarine swallows, which, in dark nights, light alternately the air and water with their phosphorescent light.
gilt - doré, dorure, (gild) doré
pyrapeds - pyrapedes
swallows - hirondelles, avaler
alternately - en alternance
Among the molluscs and zoophytes, I found in the meshes of the net several species of alcyonarians, echini, hammers, spurs, dials, cerites, and hyalleae.
net - net, réseau, filet
hammers - marteaux, marteau, chien, malléus, t+marteau, marteler
spurs - les éperons, éperon
dials - les cadrans, cadran, bouille, tronche, composer
The flora was represented by beautiful floating seaweeds, laminariae, and macrocystes, impregnated with the mucilage that transudes through their pores; and among which I gathered an admirable Nemastoma Geliniarois, that was classed among the natural curiosities of the museum.
seaweeds - les algues, algues-p
impregnated - fécondée, rendre enceinte, mettre enceinte, enceinter
pores - pores, pore
Two days after crossing the coral sea, 4th January, we sighted the Papuan coasts. On this occasion, Captain Nemo informed me that his intention was to get into the Indian Ocean by the Strait of Torres. His communication ended there.
Papuan - papou, papoue
informed - informé, informer, avertir (de)
intention - intention
The Torres Straits are nearly thirty-four leagues wide; but they are obstructed by an innumerable quantity of islands, islets, breakers, and rocks, that make its navigation almost impracticable; so that Captain Nemo took all needful precautions to cross them. The Nautilus, floating betwixt wind and water, went at a moderate pace. Her screw, like a cetacean's tail, beat the waves slowly.
obstructed - obstrué, obstruer, bloquer, retarder, interférer
innumerable - innombrables
islets - îlots, îlot, ilot
impracticable - impraticable
needful - nécessaire
precautions - des précautions, précaution
betwixt - entre les deux, entre
moderate - modéré, moderer, modérer
Profiting by this, I and my two companions went up on to the deserted platform. Before us was the steersman's cage, and I expected that Captain Nemo was there directing the course of the Nautilus. I had before me the excellent charts of the Straits of Torres, and I consulted them attentively. Round the Nautilus the sea dashed furiously.
profiting - en profitent, bénéficiant, (profit), profit, gain, bénéfice
dashed - en pointillés, tiret, trait, ta, sprint, soupçon, se précipiter
furiously - furieusement
The course of the waves, that went from south-east to north-west at the rate of two and a half miles, broke on the coral that showed itself here and there.
"This is a bad sea!" remarked Ned Land.
"Detestable indeed, and one that does not suit a boat like the Nautilus."
detestable - détestable
"The Captain must be very sure of his route, for I see there pieces of coral that would do for its keel if it only touched them slightly."
Indeed the situation was dangerous, but the Nautilus seemed to slide like magic off these rocks. It did not follow the routes of the Astrolabe and the Zelee exactly, for they proved fatal to Dumont d'Urville. It bore more northwards, coasted the Islands of Murray, and came back to the south-west towards Cumberland Passage.
magic - la magie, magie, magique, sorcelerie, checkensorcelé
I thought it was going to pass it by, when, going back to north-west, it went through a large quantity of islands and islets little known, towards the Island Sound and Canal Mauvais.
Canal - canal
I wondered if Captain Nemo, foolishly imprudent, would steer his vessel into that pass where Dumont d'Urville's two corvettes touched; when, swerving again, and cutting straight through to the west, he steered for the Island of Gilboa.
foolishly - betement
swerving - une embardée, (swerve), dévier, se détourner
straight through - directement a travers
steered - piloté, bouvillon
It was then three in the afternoon. The tide began to recede, being quite full. The Nautilus approached the island, that I still saw, with its remarkable border of screw-pines. He stood off it at about two miles distant. Suddenly a shock overthrew me. The Nautilus just touched a rock, and stayed immovable, laying lightly to port side.
tide - marée, marées, reflux
recede - reculer, se retirer
border - frontiere, frontiere, bord, bordure, délimiter, border
pines - des pins, pin
overthrew - renversé, renverser
laying - pose, (lay) pose
port side - côté bâbord
When I rose, I perceived Captain Nemo and his lieutenant on the platform. They were examining the situation of the vessel, and exchanging words in their incomprehensible dialect.
exchanging - échanger, (é)changer
She was situated thus: Two miles, on the starboard side, appeared Gilboa, stretching from north to west like an immense arm. Towards the south and east some coral showed itself, left by the ebb. We had run aground, and in one of those seas where the tides are middling"a sorry matter for the floating of the Nautilus. However, the vessel had not suffered, for her keel was solidly joined.
stretching - l'étirement, étendre, s'étendre, s'étirer, étirement
Ebb - le reflux, reflux, jusant, refluer, décliner
But, if she could neither glide off nor move, she ran the risk of being for ever fastened to these rocks, and then Captain Nemo's submarine vessel would be done for.
glide - glisser, planer
I was reflecting thus, when the Captain, cool and calm, always master of himself, approached me.
"An accident?" I asked.
"No; an incident."
"But an incident that will oblige you perhaps to become an inhabitant of this land from which you flee?"
flee - s'enfuir, prendre la fuite, échapper
Captain Nemo looked at me curiously, and made a negative gesture, as much as to say that nothing would force him to set foot on terra firma again. Then he said:
curiously - curieusement
"Besides, M. Aronnax, the Nautilus is not lost; it will carry you yet into the midst of the marvels of the ocean. Our voyage is only begun, and I do not wish to be deprived so soon of the honour of your company."
deprived - privés, priver
"However, Captain Nemo," I replied, without noticing the ironical turn of his phrase, "the Nautilus ran aground in open sea. Now the tides are not strong in the Pacific; and, if you cannot lighten the Nautilus, I do not see how it will be reinflated."
open sea - en pleine mer
"The tides are not strong in the Pacific: you are right there, Professor; but in Torres Straits one finds still a difference of a yard and a half between the level of high and low seas. To-day is 4th January, and in five days the moon will be full.
Now, I shall be very much astonished if that satellite does not raise these masses of water sufficiently, and render me a service that I should be indebted to her for."
satellite - satellite
masses - masses, amas
indebted - endetté
Having said this, Captain Nemo, followed by his lieutenant, redescended to the interior of the Nautilus. As to the vessel, it moved not, and was immovable, as if the coralline polypi had already walled it up with their in destructible cement.
coralline - coralline
destructible - destructible
cement - le ciment, ciment, colle, adhésif, cimenter
"Well, sir?" said Ned Land, who came up to me after the departure of the Captain.
"Well, friend Ned, we will wait patiently for the tide on the 9th instant; for it appears that the moon will have the goodness to put it off again."
wait patiently - attendre patiemment
goodness - la bonté, bonté, bonté divine, corbleu, crebleu, jarnibleu
"Really?"
"Really."
"And this Captain is not going to cast anchor at all since the tide will suffice?" said Conseil, simply.
The Canadian looked at Conseil, then shrugged his shoulders.
"Sir, you may believe me when I tell you that this piece of iron will navigate neither on nor under the sea again; it is only fit to be sold for its weight. I think, therefore, that the time has come to part company with Captain Nemo."
navigate - naviguer
"Friend Ned, I do not despair of this stout Nautilus, as you do; and in four days we shall know what to hold to on the Pacific tides.
stout - stout, solide
Besides, flight might be possible if we were in sight of the English or Provencal coast; but on the Papuan shores, it is another thing; and it will be time enough to come to that extremity if the Nautilus does not recover itself again, which I look upon as a grave event."
Provencal - Provençal
recover - récupérer, captons, capter, recouvrent, recouvrer, recouvrons
"But do they know, at least, how to act circumspectly? There is an island; on that island there are trees; under those trees, terrestrial animals, bearers of cutlets and roast beef, to which I would willingly give a trial."
circumspectly - avec circonspection
trial - proces, manipulation
bearers - porteurs, porteur, porteuse
cutlets - escalopes, côtelette
roast beef - du rosbif
"In this, friend Ned is right," said Conseil, "and I agree with him. Could not master obtain permission from his friend Captain Nemo to put us on land, if only so as not to lose the habit of treading on the solid parts of our planet?"
treading - le piétinement, (tread) le piétinement
"I can ask him, but he will refuse."
refuse - refuser, refusons, refusent, refusez
"Will master risk it?" asked Conseil, "and we shall know how to rely upon the Captain's amiability."
rely - s'appuyer, compter sur
amiability - l'amabilité
To my great surprise, Captain Nemo gave me the permission I asked for, and he gave it very agreeably, without even exacting from me a promise to return to the vessel; but flight across New Guinea might be very perilous, and I should not have counselled Ned Land to attempt it. Better to be a prisoner on board the Nautilus than to fall into the hands of the natives.
agreeably - a l'aise, agréablement
guinea - Guinée
perilous - périlleux
counselled - conseillée, conseil, expertise, plan, projet
At eight o'clock, armed with guns and hatchets, we got off the Nautilus. The sea was pretty calm; a slight breeze blew on land. Conseil and I rowing, we sped along quickly, and Ned steered in the straight passage that the breakers left between them. The boat was well handled, and moved rapidly.
hatchets - hachettes, hachette
rowing - aviron, (row) aviron
Ned Land could not restrain his joy. He was like a prisoner that had escaped from prison, and knew not that it was necessary to re-enter it.
restrain - retenir, contraignez, contraignons, gouverner, contrains
joy - joie
"Meat! We are going to eat some meat; and what meat!" he replied. "Real game! no, bread, indeed."
"I do not say that fish is not good; we must not abuse it; but a piece of fresh venison, grilled on live coals, will agreeably vary our ordinary course."
grilled - grillé, (faire) griller
coals - charbons, charbon, houille, tisons-p, fr
vary - varier
"Glutton!" said Conseil, "he makes my mouth water."
glutton - glouton, gourmand
"It remains to be seen," I said, "if these forests are full of game, and if the game is not such as will hunt the hunter himself."
remains - reste, rester, demeurer
"Well said, M. Aronnax," replied the Canadian, whose teeth seemed sharpened like the edge of a hatchet; "but I will eat tiger"loin of tiger"if there is no other quadruped on this island."
sharpened - aiguisé, affiler, affuter, aiguiser
edge - bord, côté, arete, carre
loin - longe, lombes, filet (in US), côtes premieres (in UK)
"Friend Ned is uneasy about it," said Conseil.
"Whatever it may be," continued Ned Land, "every animal with four paws without feathers, or with two paws without feathers, will be saluted by my first shot."
paws - pattes, patte
feathers - plumes, plume, fanon, mettre en drapeau, emplumer, fr
"Very well! Master Land's imprudences are beginning."
"Never fear, M. Aronnax," replied the Canadian; "I do not want twenty-five minutes to offer you a dish, of my sort."
At half-past eight the Nautilus boat ran softly aground on a heavy sand, after having happily passed the coral reef that surrounds the Island of Gilboa.
softly - en douceur, doucement
I was much impressed on touching land. Ned Land tried the soil with his feet, as if to take possession of it. However, it was only two months before that we had become, according to Captain Nemo, "passengers on board the Nautilus," but, in reality, prisoners of its commander.
impressed - impressionné, impressionner
In a few minutes we were within musket-shot of the coast. The whole horizon was hidden behind a beautiful curtain of forests. Enormous trees, the trunks of which attained a height of 200 feet, were tied to each other by garlands of bindweed, real natural hammocks, which a light breeze rocked.
musket - mousquet
curtain - rideau
garlands - des guirlandes, guirlande, rench: -neededr
bindweed - le liseron, liseron
hammocks - des hamacs, hamac, hammock
They were mimosas, figs, hibisci, and palm trees, mingled together in profusion; and under the shelter of their verdant vault grew orchids, leguminous plants, and ferns.
figs - figues, figue
palm - palmier, paume
vault - chambre forte, voute, dôme
orchids - des orchidées, orchidée
leguminous plants - les plantes légumineuses
ferns - des fougeres, fougere
But, without noticing all these beautiful specimens of Papuan flora, the Canadian abandoned the agreeable for the useful. He discovered a coco-tree, beat down some of the fruit, broke them, and we drunk the milk and ate the nut with a satisfaction that protested against the ordinary food on the Nautilus.
beat down - abattre
protested - protesté, protester, protestation, manifestation
"Excellent!" said Ned Land.
"Exquisite!" replied Conseil.
"And I do not think," said the Canadian, "that he would object to our introducing a cargo of coco-nuts on board."
cargo - cargo, cargaison
"I do not think he would, but he would not taste them."
"So much the worse for him," said Conseil.
"And so much the better for us," replied Ned Land. "There will be more for us."
"One word only, Master Land," I said to the harpooner, who was beginning to ravage another coco-nut tree. "Coco-nuts are good things, but before filling the canoe with them it would be wise to reconnoitre and see if the island does not produce some substance not less useful. Fresh vegetables would be welcome on board the Nautilus."
ravage - ravager
wise - sage, sensé, genre, raisonnable
reconnoitre - reconnaître (le terrain)
"Master is right," replied Conseil; "and I propose to reserve three places in our vessel, one for fruits, the other for vegetables, and the third for the venison, of which I have not yet seen the smallest specimen."
propose - proposer, demander en mariage
"Conseil, we must not despair," said the Canadian.
"Let us continue," I returned, "and lie in wait. Although the island seems uninhabited, it might still contain some individuals that would be less hard than we on the nature of game."
uninhabited - inhabité
"Ho! ho!" said Ned Land, moving his jaws significantly.
significantly - de maniere significative
"Well, Ned!" said Conseil.
"My word!" returned the Canadian, "I begin to understand the charms of anthropophagy."
anthropophagy - anthropophagie
"Ned! Ned! what are you saying? You, a man-eater? I should not feel safe with you, especially as I share your cabin. I might perhaps wake one day to find myself half devoured."
eater - mangeur
"Friend Conseil, I like you much, but not enough to eat you unnecessarily."
unnecessarily - inutilement
"I would not trust you," replied Conseil. "But enough. We must absolutely bring down some game to satisfy this cannibal, or else one of these fine mornings, master will find only pieces of his servant to serve him."
satisfy - satisfaire
cannibal - cannibale
While we were talking thus, we were penetrating the sombre arches of the forest, and for two hours we surveyed it in all directions.
sombre - sombre
arches - arcs, voute, arche
Chance rewarded our search for eatable vegetables, and one of the most useful products of the tropical zones furnished us with precious food that we missed on board. I would speak of the bread-fruit tree, very abundant in the island of Gilboa; and I remarked chiefly the variety destitute of seeds, which bears in Malaya the name of "rima."
rewarded - récompensée, récompense
eatable - mangeable
seeds - les semences, graine
rima - rima
Ned Land knew these fruits well. He had already eaten many during his numerous voyages, and he knew how to prepare the eatable substance. Moreover, the sight of them excited him, and he could contain himself no longer.
voyages - voyages, voyage
"Master," he said, "I shall die if I do not taste a little of this bread-fruit pie."
pie - tarte, saccager, pâte, pâté
"Taste it, friend Ned"taste it as you want. We are here to make experiments"make them."
"It won't take long," said the Canadian.
And, provided with a lentil, he lighted a fire of dead wood that crackled joyously. During this time, Conseil and I chose the best fruits of the bread-fruit. Some had not then attained a sufficient degree of maturity; and their thick skin covered a white but rather fibrous pulp. Others, the greater number yellow and gelatinous, waited only to be picked.
lentil - lentilles, lentille
crackled - crépité, crépitement, crépiter
joyously - joyeusement
maturity - maturité
fibrous - fibreux
pulp - pulpe, (presse) a sensation
gelatinous - gélatineux
These fruits enclosed no kernel. Conseil brought a dozen to Ned Land, who placed them on a coal fire, after having cut them in thick slices, and while doing this repeating:
kernel - fond, cour, amande, cerneau, grain, noyau
"You will see, master, how good this bread is. More so when one has been deprived of it so long. It is not even bread," added he, "but a delicate pastry. You have eaten none, master?"
pastry - pâtisserie
"No, Ned."
"Very well, prepare yourself for a juicy thing. If you do not come for more, I am no longer the king of harpooners."
juicy - juteux, croustillant
After some minutes, the part of the fruits that was exposed to the fire was completely roasted. The interior looked like a white pasty, a sort of soft crumb, the flavour of which was like that of an artichoke.
Roasted - rôti, rôtir, incendier, bien-cuit
pasty - pâteux
crumb - miette, mie, paner
flavour of - saveur de
artichoke - artichaut
It must be confessed this bread was excellent, and I ate of it with great relish.
confessed - avoué, avouer, confesser
relish - relish, savourer, parfumer
"What time is it now?" asked the Canadian.
"Two o'clock at least," replied Conseil.
"How time flies on firm ground!" sighed Ned Land.
time flies - le temps passe vite
sighed - soupiré, soupirer
"Let us be off," replied Conseil.
We returned through the forest, and completed our collection by a raid upon the cabbage-palms, that we gathered from the tops of the trees, little beans that I recognised as the "abrou" of the Malays, and yams of a superior quality.
raid - raid, razzia, descente
cabbage - choux, chou
palms - des palmiers, paume
Malays - les malais, malais, Malaise
yams - des ignames, igname
We were loaded when we reached the boat. But Ned Land did not find his provisions sufficient. Fate, however, favoured us. Just as we were pushing off, he perceived several trees, from twenty-five to thirty feet high, a species of palm-tree.
Provisions - dispositions, provision, provisionner
favoured - favorisée, service
pushing off - pousser
palm-tree - (palm-tree) un palmier
At last, at five o'clock in the evening, loaded with our riches, we quitted the shore, and half an hour after we hailed the Nautilus. No one appeared on our arrival. The enormous iron-plated cylinder seemed deserted. The provisions embarked, I descended to my chamber, and after supper slept soundly.
hailed - salué, grele
The next day, 6th January, nothing new on board. Not a sound inside, not a sign of life. The boat rested along the edge, in the same place in which we had left it. We resolved to return to the island. Ned Land hoped to be more fortunate than on the day before with regard to the hunt, and wished to visit another part of the forest.
At dawn we set off. The boat, carried on by the waves that flowed to shore, reached the island in a few minutes.
dawn - l'aube, se lever, naître, aube, lever du soleil, aurore
flowed - s'est écoulée, couler
We landed, and, thinking that it was better to give in to the Canadian, we followed Ned Land, whose long limbs threatened to distance us. He wound up the coast towards the west: then, fording some torrents, he gained the high plain that was bordered with admirable forests. Some kingfishers were rambling along the water-courses, but they would not let themselves be approached.
fording - le passage a gué, gué, passer a gué
bordered - bordé, frontiere, bord, bordure, délimiter, border
kingfishers - des martins-pecheurs, martin-pecheur
Their circumspection proved to me that these birds knew what to expect from bipeds of our species, and I concluded that, if the island was not inhabited, at least human beings occasionally frequented it.
circumspection - circonspection
bipeds - bipedes, bipede
inhabited - habité, habiter
After crossing a rather large prairie, we arrived at the skirts of a little wood that was enlivened by the songs and flight of a large number of birds.
prairie - prairie
enlivened - animée, animer
"There are only birds," said Conseil.
"But they are eatable," replied the harpooner.
"I do not agree with you, friend Ned, for I see only parrots there."
parrots - perroquets, perroquet, perroqueter, perrucher
"Friend Conseil," said Ned, gravely, "the parrot is like pheasant to those who have nothing else."
gravely - gravement
parrot - perroquet, perroqueter, perrucher
pheasant - faisan
"And," I added, "this bird, suitably prepared, is worth knife and fork."
suitably - de maniere appropriée, convenablement
Indeed, under the thick foliage of this wood, a world of parrots were flying from branch to branch, only needing a careful education to speak the human language.
For the moment, they were chattering with parrots of all colours, and grave cockatoos, who seemed to meditate upon some philosophical problem, whilst brilliant red lories passed like a piece of bunting carried away by the breeze, papuans, with the finest azure colours, and in all a variety of winged things most charming to behold, but few eatable.
chattering - bavardage, (chatter) bavardage
cockatoos - les cacatoes, cacatoes
meditate - méditer
philosophical - philosophique
lories - lories, lori
Bunting - bunting, drapeaux, (bunt), amorti
Papuans - les papous, papou, papoue
winged - ailée, aile, ailier, improviser
most charming - le plus charmant
behold - regarder, voir, observer, voici, voila
However, a bird peculiar to these lands, and which has never passed the limits of the Arrow and Papuan islands, was wanting in this collection. But fortune reserved it for me before long.
limits - des limites, limite, limitation
arrow - fleche, fleche
After passing through a moderately thick copse, we found a plain obstructed with bushes. I saw then those magnificent birds, the disposition of whose long feathers obliges them to fly against the wind. Their undulating flight, graceful aerial curves, and the shading of their colours, attracted and charmed one's looks. I had no trouble in recognising them.
moderately - modérément
copse - bosquet, fourré
disposition - disposition, tempérament
obliges - oblige, imposer, obliger, rendre service
undulating - ondulée, onduler, ondoyer
aerial - aérien, antenne
shading - ombrage, (shad), alose
charmed - charmé, charme
"Birds of paradise!" I exclaimed.
paradise - le paradis, paradis, cieux
The Malays, who carry on a great trade in these birds with the Chinese, have several means that we could not employ for taking them. Sometimes they put snares on the top of high trees that the birds of paradise prefer to frequent. Sometimes they catch them with a viscous birdlime that paralyses their movements. They even go so far as to poison the fountains that the birds generally drink from.
trade - le commerce
snares - des collets, collet, piege, caisse claire
viscous - visqueux
birdlime - la chaux d'oiseau, glu, engluer
paralyses - les paralysies, paralyser
poison - poison, empoisonner
fountains - fontaines, fontaine
But we were obliged to fire at them during flight, which gave us few chances to bring them down; and, indeed, we vainly exhausted one half our ammunition.
ammunition - munitions
About eleven o'clock in the morning, the first range of mountains that form the centre of the island was traversed, and we had killed nothing. Hunger drove us on. The hunters had relied on the products of the chase, and they were wrong. Happily Conseil, to his great surprise, made a double shot and secured breakfast.
range - chaîne (de montagnes), cuisiniere, sélection, gamme, champ
traversed - traversé, franchir, traverser
relied - s'est appuyé, compter sur
secured - sécurisé, sur, sécuriser
He brought down a white pigeon and a wood-pigeon, which, cleverly plucked and suspended from a skewer, was roasted before a red fire of dead wood. While these interesting birds were cooking, Ned prepared the fruit of the bread-tree. Then the wood-pigeons were devoured to the bones, and declared excellent.
plucked - plumé, tirer, pincer, plumer, voler, abats-p, persévérance
skewer - brochette, broche(tte), (skew) brochette
pigeons - pigeons, pigeon
declared - déclarée, expliquer, déclarer
The nutmeg, with which they are in the habit of stuffing their crops, flavours their flesh and renders it delicious eating.
nutmeg - muscadier, noix de muscade, noix muscade, petit pont, muscader
stuffing - rembourrage, farce, (stuff), truc, substance (1)
crops - les cultures, récolte, produits agricoles
flavours - saveurs, saveur, parfum
renders - les rendus, rendre
"Now, Ned, what do you miss now?"
"Some four-footed game, M. Aronnax. All these pigeons are only side-dishes and trifles; and until I have killed an animal with cutlets I shall not be content."
"Nor I, Ned, if I do not catch a bird of paradise."
"Let us continue hunting," replied Conseil. "Let us go towards the sea. We have arrived at the first declivities of the mountains, and I think we had better regain the region of forests."
declivities - les déclivités, déclivité
regain - retrouver, reconquérir, reprendre
That was sensible advice, and was followed out. After walking for one hour we had attained a forest of sago-trees. Some inoffensive serpents glided away from us. The birds of paradise fled at our approach, and truly I despaired of getting near one when Conseil, who was walking in front, suddenly bent down, uttered a triumphal cry, and came back to me bringing a magnificent specimen.
sensible - sensible, sensé, raisonnable
Sago - le sagou, sagou, sagoutier
inoffensive - inoffensif
glided - glissé, glisser, planer
despaired - désespéré, désespérer, désespoir
triumphal - triomphal, de triomphe
"Ah! bravo, Conseil!"
"Master is very good."
"No, my boy; you have made an excellent stroke. Take one of these living birds, and carry it in your hand."
"If master will examine it, he will see that I have not deserved great merit."
deserved - mérité, mériter
merit - mérite, mériter
"Why, Conseil?"
"Because this bird is as drunk as a quail."
quail - caille
"Drunk!"
"Yes, sir; drunk with the nutmegs that it devoured under the nutmeg-tree, under which I found it. See, friend Ned, see the monstrous effects of intemperance!"
nutmegs - des noix de muscade, muscadier, noix de muscade, noix muscade
intemperance - l'intempérance, intempérance
"By Jove!" exclaimed the Canadian, "because I have drunk gin for two months, you must needs reproach me!"
Jove - jove, Jupin
gin - gin
However, I examined the curious bird. Conseil was right. The bird, drunk with the juice, was quite powerless. It could not fly; it could hardly walk.
powerless - impuissante, impuissant
This bird belonged to the most beautiful of the eight species that are found in Papua and in the neighbouring islands. It was the "large emerald bird, the most rare kind." It measured three feet in length. Its head was comparatively small, its eyes placed near the opening of the beak, and also small.
comparatively - comparativement
But the shades of colour were beautiful, having a yellow beak, brown feet and claws, nut-coloured wings with purple tips, pale yellow at the back of the neck and head, and emerald colour at the throat, chestnut on the breast and belly.
pale yellow - jaune pâle
belly - ventre
Two horned, downy nets rose from below the tail, that prolonged the long light feathers of admirable fineness, and they completed the whole of this marvellous bird, that the natives have poetically named the "bird of the sun."
horned - a cornes, corne, cor, klaxon, cuivres-p
downy - duveteux
poetically - poétiquement
But if my wishes were satisfied by the possession of the bird of paradise, the Canadian's were not yet. Happily, about two o'clock, Ned Land brought down a magnificent hog; from the brood of those the natives call "bari-outang." The animal came in time for us to procure real quadruped meat, and he was well received. Ned Land was very proud of his shot.
hog - porc
brood - couvée, couver, protéger, se morfondre, broyer du noir
bari - Bari
procure - se procurer, acquérir, obtenir, proxénétisme, procurer
proud - fiers, fier, orgueilleux
The hog, hit by the electric ball, fell stone dead. The Canadian skinned and cleaned it properly, after having taken half a dozen cutlets, destined to furnish us with a grilled repast in the evening. Then the hunt was resumed, which was still more marked by Ned and Conseil's exploits.
properly - proprement, correctement, convenablement
exploits - des exploits, exploit, exploiter
Indeed, the two friends, beating the bushes, roused a herd of kangaroos that fled and bounded along on their elastic paws. But these animals did not take to flight so rapidly but what the electric capsule could stop their course.
herd - troupeau
kangaroos - les kangourous, kangourou
elastic - élastique
capsule - capsule, gélule
"Ah, Professor!" cried Ned Land, who was carried away by the delights of the chase, "what excellent game, and stewed, too! What a supply for the Nautilus! Two! three! five down! And to think that we shall eat that flesh, and that the idiots on board shall not have a crumb!"
stewed - a l'étouffée, mijoter
Idiots - idiots, idiot, idiote
I think that, in the excess of his joy, the Canadian, if he had not talked so much, would have killed them all. But he contented himself with a single dozen of these interesting marsupians. These animals were small.
excess - l'exces, exces, franchise, en exces, en trop, excessif
marsupians - marsupiens
They were a species of those "kangaroo rabbitss" that live habitually in the hollows of trees, and whose speed is extreme; but they are moderately fat, and furnish, at least, estimable food. We were very satisfied with the results of the hunt. Happy Ned proposed to return to this enchanting island the next day, for he wished to depopulate it of all the eatable quadrupeds.
kangaroo - kangourou
rabbitss - des lapins
habitually - de maniere habituelle
hollows - creux
estimable - estimable
depopulate - dépeupler
quadrupeds - quadrupedes, quadrupede, tétrapode
But he had reckoned without his host.
At six o'clock in the evening we had regained the shore; our boat was moored to the usual place. The Nautilus, like a long rock, emerged from the waves two miles from the beach. Ned Land, without waiting, occupied himself about the important dinner business. He understood all about cooking well. The "bari-outang," grilled on the coals, soon scented the air with a delicious odour.
moored - amarré, lande
scented - parfumée, odeur, odorat, sentir
odour - odeur
Indeed, the dinner was excellent. Two wood-pigeons completed this extraordinary menu. The sago pasty, the artocarpus bread, some mangoes, half a dozen pineapples, and the liquor fermented from some coco-nuts, overjoyed us. I even think that my worthy companions'ideas had not all the plainness desirable.
artocarpus - Artocarpus
mangoes - des mangues, manguier, mangue
pineapples - ananas
desirable - souhaitable, désirable
"Suppose we do not return to the Nautilus this evening?" said Conseil.
"Suppose we never return?" added Ned Land.
Just then a stone fell at our feet and cut short the harpooner's proposition.
cut short - coupé court
We looked at the edge of the forest without rising, my hand stopping in the action of putting it to my mouth, Ned Land's completing its office.
"Stones do not fall from the sky," remarked Conseil, "or they would merit the name aerolites."
aerolites - aérolithes, aérolite, aérolithe
A second stone, carefully aimed, that made a savoury pigeon's leg fall from Conseil's hand, gave still more weight to his observation. We all three arose, shouldered our guns, and were ready to reply to any attack.
aimed - visé, viser, pointer
savoury - salé
arose - s'est élevé, se lever, relever
"Are they apes?" cried Ned Land.
apes - des singes, singe
"Very nearly"they are savages."
"To the boat!" I said, hurrying to the sea.
hurrying - se dépecher, dépechant, (hurry), précipitation, hâte
It was indeed necessary to beat a retreat, for about twenty natives armed with bows and slings appeared on the skirts of a copse that masked the horizon to the right, hardly a hundred steps from us.
retreat - retraite
slings - frondes, écharpe
Our boat was moored about sixty feet from us. The savages approached us, not running, but making hostile demonstrations. Stones and arrows fell thickly.
hostile - hostile
demonstrations - démonstrations, démonstration, manifestation
thickly - épais, épaissement
Ned Land had not wished to leave his provisions; and, in spite of his imminent danger, his pig on one side and kangaroos on the other, he went tolerably fast. In two minutes we were on the shore. To load the boat with provisions and arms, to push it out to sea, and ship the oars, was the work of an instant.
imminent - imminent
load - charge, chargement, fardeau
We had not gone two cable-lengths, when a hundred savages, howling and gesticulating, entered the water up to their waists. I watched to see if their apparition would attract some men from the Nautilus on to the platform. But no. The enormous machine, lying off, was absolutely deserted.
howling - hurler, (howl), hurlement
gesticulating - gesticuler
waists - taille, ceinture
Twenty minutes later we were on board. The panels were open. After making the boat fast, we entered into the interior of the Nautilus.
I descended to the drawing-room, from whence I heard some chords. Captain Nemo was there, bending over his organ, and plunged in a musical ecstasy.
whence - pourquoi, d'ou
chords - accords, accord, corde
bending - de flexion, flexion, (bend), courber, tordre, tourner
ecstasy - l'ecstasy, extase, ecstasy, exta
"Captain!"
He did not hear me.
"Captain!" I said, touching his hand.
He shuddered, and, turning round, said, "Ah! it is you, Professor? Well, have you had a good hunt, have you botanised successfully?"
shuddered - a tremblé, tremblement, frisson, frissonner, trembler
turning round - faire demi-tour
"Yes Captain; but we have unfortunately brought a troop of bipeds, whose vicinity troubles me."
troop - troupe
vicinity - proximité, voisinage, vicinité, environs
"What bipeds?"
"Savages."
"Savages!" he echoed, ironically. "So you are astonished, Professor, at having set foot on a strange land and finding savages? Savages! where are there not any? Besides, are they worse than others, these whom you call savages?"
echoed - en écho, écho
"But Captain"""
"How many have you counted?"
"A hundred at least."
"M. Aronnax," replied Captain Nemo, placing his fingers on the organ stops, "when all the natives of Papua are assembled on this shore, the Nautilus will have nothing to fear from their attacks."
The Captain's fingers were then running over the keys of the instrument, and I remarked that he touched only the black keys, which gave his melodies an essentially Scotch character. Soon he had forgotten my presence, and had plunged into a reverie that I did not disturb.
running over - en cours d'exécution
melodies - mélodies, mélodie
I went up again on to the platform: night had already fallen; for, in this low latitude, the sun sets rapidly and without twilight. I could only see the island indistinctly; but the numerous fires, lighted on the beach, showed that the natives did not think of leaving it.
sets - des ensembles, Seth
indistinctly - indistinctement
I was alone for several hours, sometimes thinking of the natives"but without any dread of them, for the imperturbable confidence of the Captain was catching"sometimes forgetting them to admire the splendours of the night in the tropics. My remembrances went to France in the train of those zodiacal stars that would shine in some hours'time.
dread - peur, redouter, craindre, crainte
tropics - tropiques, tropique
zodiacal - zodiacal
shine - briller, reluisons, reluisez, reluisent, reluire
The moon shone in the midst of the constellations of the zenith.
constellations - constellations, constellation
zenith - zénith
The night slipped away without any mischance, the islanders frightened no doubt at the sight of a monster aground in the bay. The panels were open, and would have offered an easy access to the interior of the Nautilus.
mischance - malchance
islanders - les insulaires, insulaire, habitant d'une île
access - l'acces, attaque, accéder, intelligence, entrée, accés
At six o'clock in the morning of the 8th January I went up on to the platform. The dawn was breaking. The island soon showed itself through the dissipating fogs, first the shore, then the summits.
dissipating - se dissiper, dissiper
fogs - les brouillards, brouillard
The natives were there, more numerous than on the day before"five or six hundred perhaps"some of them, profiting by the low water, had come on to the coral, at less than two cable-lengths from the Nautilus. I distinguished them easily; they were true Papuans, with athletic figures, men of good race, large high foreheads, large, but not broad and flat, and white teeth.
athletic - athlétique, sportif
foreheads - fronts, front
Their woolly hair, with a reddish tinge, showed off on their black shining bodies like those of the Nubians. From the lobes of their ears, cut and distended, hung chaplets of bones. Most of these savages were naked. Amongst them, I remarked some women, dressed from the hips to knees in quite a crinoline of herbs, that sustained a vegetable waistband.
woolly - cotonneux, laineuxse
tinge - teinte, touche, nuance, teindre
showed off - Montrer
shining - brillant, tibia
lobes - lobes, lobe
distended - distendu, distendre
hips - hanches, hanche
crinoline - crinoline
herbs - des herbes, herbe, herbes-p, plante médicinale
waistband - ceinture, élastique
Some chiefs had ornamented their necks with a crescent and collars of glass beads, red and white; nearly all were armed with bows, arrows, and shields and carried on their shoulders a sort of net containing those round stones which they cast from their slings with great skill. One of these chiefs, rather near to the Nautilus, examined it attentively.
chiefs - chefs, chef
Crescent - le croissant, croissant
collars - colliers, col, collier
glass beads - des perles de verre
shields - boucliers, bouclier
He was, perhaps, a "mado" of high rank, for he was draped in a mat of banana-leaves, notched round the edges, and set off with brilliant colours.
draped - drapé, draper
notched - entaillé, entaille, encoche, cran
I could easily have knocked down this native, who was within a short length; but I thought that it was better to wait for real hostile demonstrations. Between Europeans and savages, it is proper for the Europeans to parry sharply, not to attack.
knocked down - renversé
native - maternel, autochtone, indigene, natif, endémique
parry - parer, parade
During low water the natives roamed about near the Nautilus, but were not troublesome; I heard them frequently repeat the word "Assai," and by their gestures I understood that they invited me to go on land, an invitation that I declined.
roamed - a erré, errer
troublesome - genants
frequently - fréquemment
Assai - assai
gestures - gestes, geste, signe
declined - refusé, déclin
So that, on that day, the boat did not push off, to the great displeasure of Master Land, who could not complete his provisions.
push off - pousser
displeasure - mécontentement, dépncisir, courroux
This adroit Canadian employed his time in preparing the viands and meat that he had brought off the island. As for the savages, they returned to the shore about eleven o'clock in the morning, as soon as the coral tops began to disappear under the rising tide; but I saw their numbers had increased considerably on the shore.
adroit - adroit
Considerably - considérablement, largement
Probably they came from the neighbouring islands, or very likely from Papua. However, I had not seen a single native canoe. Having nothing better to do, I thought of dragging these beautiful limpid waters, under which I saw a profusion of shells, zoophytes, and marine plants.
dragging - traînant, tirer, entraîner
limpid - limpide
Moreover, it was the last day that the Nautilus would pass in these parts, if it float in open sea the next day, according to Captain Nemo's promise.
pass in - passer en
I therefore called Conseil, who brought me a little light drag, very like those for the oyster fishery. Now to work! For two hours we fished unceasingly, but without bringing up any rarities. The drag was filled with midas-ears, harps, melames, and particularly the most beautiful hammers I have ever seen.
drag - draguer, transbahuter, traîner
oyster - huître, huitre, sot-l’y-laisse
fishery - la peche, pecherie
unceasingly - sans cesse
rarities - raretés, rareté
Midas - midas
harps - harpes, harpe
We also brought up some sea-slugs, pearl-oysters, and a dozen little turtles that were reserved for the pantry on board.
slugs - limaces, limace
pearl - perle, joyau, perlure, parisienne, sédanoise
Oysters - les huîtres, huître, huitre, sot-l’y-laisse
turtles - tortues, tortue de mer
pantry - garde-manger
But just when I expected it least, I put my hand on a wonder, I might say a natural deformity, very rarely met with. Conseil was just dragging, and his net came up filled with divers ordinary shells, when, all at once, he saw me plunge my arm quickly into the net, to draw out a shell, and heard me utter a cry.
deformity - difformité, déformité
"What is the matter, sir?" he asked in surprise. "Has master been bitten?"
bitten - mordu, mordre, maintenir, garder
"No, my boy; but I would willingly have given a finger for my discovery."
"What discovery?"
"This shell," I said, holding up the object of my triumph.
triumph - triomphe, triomphal
"It is simply an olive porphyry, genus olive, order of the pectinibranchidæ, class of gasteropods, sub-class mollusca."
porphyry - porphyre
genus - genre, (genu)
gasteropods - gastéropodes
sub - sous, sous-, sub-
"Yes, Conseil; but, instead of being rolled from right to left, this olive turns from left to right."
rolled - roulé, rouleau
"Is it possible?"
"Yes, my boy; it is a left shell."
Shells are all right-handed, with rare exceptions; and, when by chance their spiral is left, amateurs are ready to pay their weight in gold.
exceptions - exceptions, exception
Conseil and I were absorbed in the contemplation of our treasure, and I was promising myself to enrich the museum with it, when a stone unfortunately thrown by a native struck against, and broke, the precious object in Conseil's hand. I uttered a cry of despair! Conseil took up his gun, and aimed at a savage who was poising his sling at ten yards from him.
absorbed in - absorbée
treasure - trésor, garder précieusement
enrich - enrichir
precious object - objet précieux
poising - l'empoisonnement, assurance, aisance, sang-froid, aplomb, poise
sling - fronde, dérapage
I would have stopped him, but his blow took effect and broke the bracelet of amulets which encircled the arm of the savage.
bracelet - bracelet
amulets - amulettes, amulette
Conseil seized his gun
"Conseil!" cried I. "Conseil!"
"Well, sir! do you not see that the cannibal has commenced the attack?"
"A shell is not worth the life of a man," said I.
"Ah! the scoundrel!" cried Conseil; "I would rather he had broken my shoulder!"
scoundrel - canaille, scélérat, scélérate, gredin, gredine
Conseil was in earnest, but I was not of his opinion. However, the situation had changed some minutes before, and we had not perceived. A score of canoes surrounded the Nautilus. These canoes, scooped out of the trunk of a tree, long, narrow, well adapted for speed, were balanced by means of a long bamboo pole, which floated on the water.
canoes - canoës, canoë
scooped out - Creuser
adapted - adapté, adapter, s'adapter
balanced - équilibré, contrepoids, équilibre, solde, balancier
bamboo - bambou, de bambou
pole - pôle, poteau, pieu, Gaule, pole
floated - flotté, flotter
They were managed by skilful, half-naked paddlers, and I watched their advance with some uneasiness. It was evident that these Papuans had already had dealings with the Europeans and knew their ships. But this long iron cylinder anchored in the bay, without masts or chimneys, what could they think of it? Nothing good, for at first they kept at a respectful distance.
skilful - pu
half-naked - (half-naked) a moitié nu
anchored - ancré, ancre
chimneys - les cheminées, cheminée
However, seeing it motionless, by degrees they took courage, and sought to familiarise themselves with it. Now this familiarity was precisely what it was necessary to avoid. Our arms, which were noiseless, could only produce a moderate effect on the savages, who have little respect for aught but blustering things.
familiarise - se familiariser
familiarity - familiarité
noiseless - sans bruit, silencieux
respect - respect, respecter
aught - rien
The thunderbolt without the reverberations of thunder would frighten man but little, though the danger lies in the lightning, not in the noise.
reverberations - les réverbérations, contrecoup, echo, réflexion, répercussion
At this moment the canoes approached the Nautilus, and a shower of arrows alighted on her.
alighted - descendus, descendre (de)
I went down to the saloon, but found no one there. I ventured to knock at the door that opened into the Captain's room. "Come in," was the answer.
ventured - s'est aventuré, s'aventurer, risquer, oser
knock at - frapper
I entered, and found Captain Nemo deep in algebraical calculations of x and other quantities.
algebraical - algébrique
"I am disturbing you," said I, for courtesy's sake.
courtesy - courtoisie, politesse, indulgence
sake - du saké, dans l'intéret de qqn
"That is true, M. Aronnax," replied the Captain; "but I think you have serious reasons for wishing to see me?"
"Very grave ones; the natives are surrounding us in their canoes, and in a few minutes we shall certainly be attacked by many hundreds of savages."
"Ah!" said Captain Nemo quietly, "they are come with their canoes?"
"Yes, sir."
"Well, sir, we must close the hatches."
hatches - les écoutilles, passe-plats
"Exactly, and I came to say to you"""
"Nothing can be more simple," said Captain Nemo. And, pressing an electric button, he transmitted an order to the ship's crew.
pressing - pressant, (pres) pressant
"It is all done, sir," said he, after some moments. "The pinnace is ready, and the hatches are closed. You do not fear, I imagine, that these gentlemen could stave in walls on which the balls of your frigate have had no effect?"
stave - stave, douve, fuseau, strophe, portée
"No, Captain; but a danger still exists."
"What is that, sir?"
"It is that to-morrow, at about this hour, we must open the hatches to renew the air of the Nautilus. Now, if, at this moment, the Papuans should occupy the platform, I do not see how you could prevent them from entering."
"Then, sir, you suppose that they will board us?"
"I am certain of it."
"Well, sir, let them come. I see no reason for hindering them. After all, these Papuans are poor creatures, and I am unwilling that my visit to the island should cost the life of a single one of these wretches."
hindering - entraver, gener
wretches - misérables, malheureux/-euse
Upon that I was going away; But Captain Nemo detained me, and asked me to sit down by him. He questioned me with interest about our excursions on shore, and our hunting; and seemed not to understand the craving for meat that possessed the Canadian. Then the conversation turned on various subjects, and, without being more communicative, Captain Nemo showed himself more amiable.
detained - détenu, détenir, arreter
on shore - sur le rivage
craving - envie, (crave), souhaiter, désirer, implorer
amiable - aimable, avenant, affable
Amongst other things, we happened to speak of the situation of the Nautilus, run aground in exactly the same spot in this strait where Dumont d'Urville was nearly lost. Apropos of this:
"This D'Urville was one of your great sailors," said the Captain to me, "one of your most intelligent navigators. He is the Captain Cook of you Frenchmen. Unfortunate man of science, after having braved the icebergs of the South Pole, the coral reefs of Oceania, the cannibals of the Pacific, to perish miserably in a railway train!
most intelligent - le plus intelligent
navigators - navigateurs, navigateur
braved - bravé, courageux
icebergs - icebergs, iceberg, montagne de glace
South Pole - Pôle Sud
coral reefs - les récifs coralliens
Oceania - Océanie
perish - périr
miserably - misérablement
If this energetic man could have reflected during the last moments of his life, what must have been uppermost in his last thoughts, do you suppose?"
energetic - énergique, énergétique
uppermost - le plus haut
So speaking, Captain Nemo seemed moved, and his emotion gave me a better opinion of him. Then, chart in hand, we reviewed the travels of the French navigator, his voyages of circumnavigation, his double detention at the South Pole, which led to the discovery of Adelaide and Louis Philippe, and fixing the hydrographical bearings of the principal islands of Oceania.
navigator - navigateur
detention - détention, arrestation, retenue
Adelaide - adélaide, Adélaide
hydrographical - hydrographique
"That which your D'Urville has done on the surface of the seas," said Captain Nemo, "that have I done under them, and more easily, more completely than he. The Astrolabe and the Zelee, incessantly tossed about by the hurricane, could not be worth the Nautilus, quiet repository of labour that she is, truly motionless in the midst of the waters.
incessantly - sans cesse
tossed - ballotté, jet, au pile ou face, tirage au sort, pile ou face
hurricane - ouragan
repository - chambre-forte, coffre-fort, repositoire, dépôt, référentiel
"To-morrow," added the Captain, rising, "to-morrow, at twenty minutes to three p.m., the Nautilus shall float, and leave the Strait of Torres uninjured."
uninjured - indemne
Having curtly pronounced these words, Captain Nemo bowed slightly. This was to dismiss me, and I went back to my room.
curtly - sechement
dismiss - licencier
There I found Conseil, who wished to know the result of my interview with the Captain.
"My boy," said I, "when I feigned to believe that his Nautilus was threatened by the natives of Papua, the Captain answered me very sarcastically. I have but one thing to say to you: Have confidence in him, and go to sleep in peace."
feigned - feint, feindre
sarcastically - de maniere sarcastique
"Have you no need of my services, sir?"
"No, my friend. What is Ned Land doing?"
"If you will excuse me, sir," answered Conseil, "friend Ned is busy making a kangaroo-pie which will be a marvel."
I remained alone and went to bed, but slept indifferently. I heard the noise of the savages, who stamped on the platform, uttering deafening cries. The night passed thus, without disturbing the ordinary repose of the crew. The presence of these cannibals affected them no more than the soldiers of a masked battery care for the ants that crawl over its front.
indifferently - avec indifférence
Battery - pile, coups et blessures, batterie
Ants - fourmis, fourmi
crawl - ramper
At six in the morning I rose. The hatches had not been opened. The inner air was not renewed, but the reservoirs, filled ready for any emergency, were now resorted to, and discharged several cubic feet of oxygen into the exhausted atmosphere of the Nautilus.
emergency - d'urgence, urgence, crise, urgences
resorted - recouru, avoir recours (a)
I worked in my room till noon, without having seen Captain Nemo, even for an instant. On board no preparations for departure were visible.
I waited still some time, then went into the large saloon. The clock marked half-past two. In ten minutes it would be high-tide: and, if Captain Nemo had not made a rash promise, the Nautilus would be immediately detached. If not, many months would pass ere she could leave her bed of coral.
rash - éruption cutanée, déviation
detached - détaché, détacher
ere - ici
However, some warning vibrations began to be felt in the vessel. I heard the keel grating against the rough calcareous bottom of the coral reef.
warning - l'avertissement, avertissement, attention, (warn), avertir
vibrations - des vibrations, vibration
grating - grinçant, grille, (grate) grinçant
At five-and-twenty minutes to three, Captain Nemo appeared in the saloon.
"We are going to start," said he.
"Ah!" replied I.
"I have given the order to open the hatches."
"And the Papuans?"
"The Papuans?" answered Captain Nemo, slightly shrugging his shoulders.
"Will they not come inside the Nautilus?"
come inside - entrer a l'intérieur
"How?"
"Only by leaping over the hatches you have opened."
leaping - sauter, bondir
"M. Aronnax," quietly answered Captain Nemo, "they will not enter the hatches of the Nautilus in that way, even if they were open."
I looked at the Captain.
"You do not understand?" said he.
"Hardly."
"Well, come and you will see."
I directed my steps towards the central staircase. There Ned Land and Conseil were slyly watching some of the ship's crew, who were opening the hatches, while cries of rage and fearful vociferations resounded outside.
slyly - sournoisement
rage - rage, furie, fureur, courroux, rager, faire rage
vociferations - vociférations, vocifération
resounded - a retenti, retentir
The port lids were pulled down outside. Twenty horrible faces appeared. But the first native who placed his hand on the stair-rail, struck from behind by some invisible force, I know not what, fled, uttering the most fearful cries and making the wildest contortions.
lids - couvercles, couvercle
pulled down - tiré vers le bas
most fearful - Le plus effrayant
contortions - des contorsions, contorsion
Ten of his companions followed him. They met with the same fate.
Conseil was in ecstasy. Ned Land, carried away by his violent instincts, rushed on to the staircase. But the moment he seized the rail with both hands, he, in his turn, was overthrown.
instincts - instincts, instinct
"I am struck by a thunderbolt," cried he, with an oath.
oath - serment, juron, jurer
This explained all. It was no rail; but a metallic cable charged with electricity from the deck communicating with the platform. Whoever touched it felt a powerful shock"and this shock would have been mortal if Captain Nemo had discharged into the conductor the whole force of the current.
discharged into - Rejeter dans
It might truly be said that between his assailants and himself he had stretched a network of electricity which none could pass with impunity.
assailants - des assaillants, agresseur, assaillant
Meanwhile, the exasperated Papuans had beaten a retreat paralysed with terror. As for us, half laughing, we consoled and rubbed the unfortunate Ned Land, who swore like one possessed.
exasperated - exaspéré, exaspérer
terror - la terreur, terreur, effroi, terrorisme
consoled - consolé, consoler
swore - juré, jurer
But at this moment the Nautilus, raised by the last waves of the tide, quitted her coral bed exactly at the fortieth minute fixed by the Captain. Her screw swept the waters slowly and majestically. Her speed increased gradually, and, sailing on the surface of the ocean, she quitted safe and sound the dangerous passes of the Straits of Torres.
majestically - majestueusement
The following day 10th January, the Nautilus continued her course between two seas, but with such remarkable speed that I could not estimate it at less than thirty-five miles an hour. The rapidity of her screw was such that I could neither follow nor count its revolutions.
When I reflected that this marvellous electric agent, after having afforded motion, heat, and light to the Nautilus, still protected her from outward attack, and transformed her into an ark of safety which no profane hand might touch without being thunderstricken, my admiration was unbounded, and from the structure it extended to the engineer who had called it into existence.
outward - externe
transformed - transformé, transformer, transformée
ark - arche
profane - impur, profane, sale, sacrilege, profaner
unbounded - sans limites
Our course was directed to the west, and on the 11th of January we doubled Cape Wessel, situation in 135° long. and 10° S. lat., which forms the east point of the Gulf of Carpentaria. The reefs were still numerous, but more equalised, and marked on the chart with extreme precision.
Carpentaria - carpentaria
precision - précision
The Nautilus easily avoided the breakers of Money to port and the Victoria reefs to starboard, placed at 130° long. and on the 10th parallel, which we strictly followed.
Victoria - victoria, Victoire
On the 13th of January, Captain Nemo arrived in the Sea of Timor, and recognised the island of that name in 122° long.
From this point the direction of the Nautilus inclined towards the south-west. Her head was set for the Indian Ocean. Where would the fancy of Captain Nemo carry us next? Would he return to the coast of Asia or would he approach again the shores of Europe? Improbable conjectures both, to a man who fled from inhabited continents. Then would he descend to the south?
conjectures - des conjectures, conjecture, conjecturer
descend - descendre
Was he going to double the Cape of Good Hope, then Cape Horn, and finally go as far as the Antarctic pole? Would he come back at last to the Pacific, where his Nautilus could sail free and independently? Time would show.
independently - de maniere indépendante
After having skirted the sands of Cartier, of Hibernia, Seringapatam, and Scott, last efforts of the solid against the liquid element, on the 14th of January we lost sight of land altogether. The speed of the Nautilus was considerably abated, and with irregular course she sometimes swam in the bosom of the waters, sometimes floated on their surface.
sands - sables, sable
Hibernia - Hibernia
abated - supprimée, diminuer, baisser, dévaloriser (
irregular - irréguliere, irrégulier
During this period of the voyage, Captain Nemo made some interesting experiments on the varied temperature of the sea, in different beds.
Under ordinary conditions these observations are made by means of rather complicated instruments, and with somewhat doubtful results, by means of thermometrical sounding-leads, the glasses often breaking under the pressure of the water, or an apparatus grounded on the variations of the resistance of metals to the electric currents. Results so obtained could not be correctly calculated.
complicated - compliqué, compliquer
doubtful - douteux, douteuse
thermometrical - thermométrique
variations - variations, variation, variante, déclinaison
On the contrary, Captain Nemo went himself to test the temperature in the depths of the sea, and his thermometer, placed in communication with the different sheets of water, gave him the required degree immediately and accurately.
accurately - avec précision
It was thus that, either by overloading her reservoirs or by descending obliquely by means of her inclined planes, the Nautilus successively attained the depth of three, four, five, seven, nine, and ten thousand yards, and the definite result of this experience was that the sea preserved an average temperature of four degrees and a half at a depth of five thousand fathoms under all latitudes.
overloading - surcharge, surcharger
descending - descendant, descendre
obliquely - de maniere indirecte
preserved - préservée, confiture, conserve, réserve naturelle
On the 16th of January, the Nautilus seemed becalmed only a few yards beneath the surface of the waves. Her electric apparatus remained inactive and her motionless screw left her to drift at the mercy of the currents. I supposed that the crew was occupied with interior repairs, rendered necessary by the violence of the mechanical movements of the machine.
inactive - inactif
drift - dérive, dériver, errer, dévier
mercy - la pitié, miséricorde, pitié
occupied with - occupés par
rendered - rendu, rendre
My companions and I then witnessed a curious spectacle. The hatches of the saloon were open, and, as the beacon light of the Nautilus was not in action, a dim obscurity reigned in the midst of the waters.
witnessed - témoins, témoignage, témoin, preuve, témoigner
dim - dim, faible, vague
I observed the state of the sea, under these conditions, and the largest fish appeared to me no more than scarcely defined shadows, when the Nautilus found herself suddenly transported into full light. I thought at first that the beacon had been lighted, and was casting its electric radiance into the liquid mass. I was mistaken, and after a rapid survey perceived my error.
The Nautilus floated in the midst of a phosphorescent bed which, in this obscurity, became quite dazzling. It was produced by myriads of luminous animalculae, whose brilliancy was increased as they glided over the metallic hull of the vessel.
I was surprised by lightning in the midst of these luminous sheets, as though they had been rivulets of lead melted in an ardent furnace or metallic masses brought to a white heat, so that, by force of contrast, certain portions of light appeared to cast a shade in the midst of the general ignition, from which all shade seemed banished.
rivulets - des ruisseaux, ruisselet, ru, rivelet
melted - fondu, fondre (1), se dissoudre (2)
furnace - four, haut fourneau, chaudiere
masses - masses, Masse, Massé
contrast - contraste, contraster
ignition - l'allumage, ignition, allumage
banished - banni, bannir
No; this was not the calm irradiation of our ordinary lightning. There was unusual life and vigour: this was truly living light!
vigour - force, vigueur, énergie
In reality, it was an infinite agglomeration of coloured infusoria, of veritable globules of jelly, provided with a threadlike tentacle, and of which as many as twenty-five thousand have been counted in less than two cubic half-inches of water.
infusoria - Infusoires
globules - globules, globule
jelly - gelée
threadlike - comme un fil
tentacle - tentacule, pieuvre
During several hours the Nautilus floated in these brilliant waves, and our admiration increased as we watched the marine monsters disporting themselves like salamanders.
disporting - le déport, s'amuser, divertissement
I saw there in the midst of this fire that burns not the swift and elegant porpoise (the indefatigable clown of the ocean), and some swordfish ten feet long, those prophetic heralds of the hurricane whose formidable sword would now and then strike the glass of the saloon.
swift - rapide, martinet, dévidoir
porpoise - marsouin
indefatigable - infatigable
clown - clown, clownesse, pitre, bouffon
swordfish - l'espadon, espadon
prophetic - prophétique
Heralds - hérauts, héraut, messager/-ere
Then appeared the smaller fish, the balista, the leaping mackerel, wolf-thorn-tails, and a hundred others which striped the luminous atmosphere as they swam. This dazzling spectacle was enchanting! Perhaps some atmospheric condition increased the intensity of this phenomenon. Perhaps some storm agitated the surface of the waves.
wolf - loup, tombeur, dévorer, engloutir
thorn - épine, thorn
But at this depth of some yards, the Nautilus was unmoved by its fury and reposed peacefully in still water.
unmoved - indifférent, insensible
reposed - reposé, repos
peacefully - pacifiquement
still water - Eau plate
So we progressed, incessantly charmed by some new marvel. The days passed rapidly away, and I took no account of them. Ned, according to habit, tried to vary the diet on board. Like snails, we were fixed to our shells, and I declare it is easy to lead a snail's life.
snails - escargots, escargot, limaçon
Thus this life seemed easy and natural, and we thought no longer of the life we led on land; but something happened to recall us to the strangeness of our situation.
strangeness - l'étrangeté, étrangeté
On the 18th of January, the Nautilus was in 105° long. and 15° S. lat. The weather was threatening, the sea rough and rolling. There was a strong east wind. The barometer, which had been going down for some days, foreboded a coming storm.
threatening - menaçante, menaçant, (threaten), menacer
I went up on to the platform just as the second lieutenant was taking the measure of the horary angles, and waited, according to habit till the daily phrase was said. But on this day it was exchanged for another phrase not less incomprehensible. Almost directly, I saw Captain Nemo appear with a glass, looking towards the horizon.
horary - l'horoscope
For some minutes he was immovable, without taking his eye off the point of observation. Then he lowered his glass and exchanged a few words with his lieutenant. The latter seemed to be a victim to some emotion that he tried in vain to repress. Captain Nemo, having more command over himself, was cool. He seemed, too, to be making some objections to which the lieutenant replied by formal assurances.
repress - réprimer
assurances - des assurances, assurance, culot
At least I concluded so by the difference of their tones and gestures. For myself, I had looked carefully in the direction indicated without seeing anything. The sky and water were lost in the clear line of the horizon.
tones - tons, ton
However, Captain Nemo walked from one end of the platform to the other, without looking at me, perhaps without seeing me. His step was firm, but less regular than usual. He stopped sometimes, crossed his arms, and observed the sea. What could he be looking for on that immense expanse?
The Nautilus was then some hundreds of miles from the nearest coast.
The lieutenant had taken up the glass and examined the horizon steadfastly, going and coming, stamping his foot and showing more nervous agitation than his superior officer. Besides, this mystery must necessarily be solved, and before long; for, upon an order from Captain Nemo, the engine, increasing its propelling power, made the screw turn more rapidly.
steadfastly - fermement
more nervous - plus nerveux
agitation - l'agitation, agitation
propelling - propulser, propulsant, (propel), catapulter
Just then the lieutenant drew the Captain's attention again. The latter stopped walking and directed his glass towards the place indicated. He looked long. I felt very much puzzled, and descended to the drawing-room, and took out an excellent telescope that I generally used.
telescope - télescope, lunette
Then, leaning on the cage of the watch-light that jutted out from the front of the platform, set myself to look over all the line of the sky and sea.
jutted - en saillie, saillir
But my eye was no sooner applied to the glass than it was quickly snatched out of my hands.
snatched - arraché, empoigner, happer, saisir, arracher, enlever
I turned round. Captain Nemo was before me, but I did not know him. His face was transfigured. His eyes flashed sullenly; his teeth were set; his stiff body, clenched fists, and head shrunk between his shoulders, betrayed the violent agitation that pervaded his whole frame. He did not move. My glass, fallen from his hands, had rolled at his feet.
flashed - flashé, éclair, lueur
sullenly - maussade
stiff - rigide, raide, macchabée
clenched - serré, serrer, prise (en main) ferme, poigne ferme
fists - poings, poing
shrunk - rétréci, se réduire, rétrécir, se resserrer
pervaded - imprégné, saturer, pénétrer, envahir
frame - encadrer, cadre, armature, ossature, image, manche, frame, trame
Had I unwittingly provoked this fit of anger? Did this incomprehensible person imagine that I had discovered some forbidden secret? No; I was not the object of this hatred, for he was not looking at me; his eye was steadily fixed upon the impenetrable point of the horizon. At last Captain Nemo recovered himself. His agitation subsided.
unwittingly - sans le vouloir
provoked - provoquée, provoquer
forbidden - interdites, interdire, nier, dénier
hatred - la haine, haine
steadily - régulierement
subsided - s'est apaisée, tomber, calmer
He addressed some words in a foreign language to his lieutenant, then turned to me. "M. Aronnax," he said, in rather an imperious tone, "I require you to keep one of the conditions that bind you to me."
imperious - impérieux
require - exiger, demander, avoir besoin de, requérir, nécessiter
"What is it, Captain?"
"You must be confined, with your companions, until I think fit to release you."
release - libération, lâcher, laisser, acquitement, libérent
"You are the master," I replied, looking steadily at him. "But may I ask you one question?"
"None, sir."
There was no resisting this imperious command, it would have been useless. I went down to the cabin occupied by Ned Land and Conseil, and told them the Captain's determination. You may judge how this communication was received by the Canadian.
But there was not time for altercation. Four of the crew waited at the door, and conducted us to that cell where we had passed our first night on board the Nautilus.
altercation - altercation, dispute
Ned Land would have remonstrated, but the door was shut upon him.
"Will master tell me what this means?" asked Conseil.
I told my companions what had passed. They were as much astonished as I, and equally at a loss how to account for it.
Meanwhile, I was absorbed in my own reflections, and could think of nothing but the strange fear depicted in the Captain's countenance. I was utterly at a loss to account for it, when my cogitations were disturbed by these words from Ned Land:
depicted - représenté, représenter, décrire
utterly - tout a fait
cogitations - cogitations, cogitation
disturbed - perturbé, déranger, perturber, gener
"Hallo! breakfast is ready."
Hallo - bonjour, salut
And indeed the table was laid. Evidently Captain Nemo had given this order at the same time that he had hastened the speed of the Nautilus.
"Will master permit me to make a recommendation?" asked Conseil.
recommendation - recommandation
"Yes, my boy."
"Well, it is that master breakfasts. It is prudent, for we do not know what may happen."
Prudent - prudent
"You are right, Conseil."
"Unfortunately," said Ned Land, "they have only given us the ship's fare."
fare - tarif, aller, tarifaire
"Friend Ned," asked Conseil, "what would you have said if the breakfast had been entirely forgotten?"
This argument cut short the harpooner's recriminations.
We sat down to table. The meal was eaten in silence.
Just then the luminous globe that lighted the cell went out, and left us in total darkness. Ned Land was soon asleep, and what astonished me was that Conseil went off into a heavy slumber. I was thinking what could have caused his irresistible drowsiness, when I felt my brain becoming stupefied. In spite of my efforts to keep my eyes open, they would close. A painful suspicion seized me.
Evidently soporific substances had been mixed with the food we had just taken. Imprisonment was not enough to conceal Captain Nemo's projects from us, sleep was more necessary. I then heard the panels shut. The undulations of the sea, which caused a slight rolling motion, ceased. Had the Nautilus quitted the surface of the ocean? Had it gone back to the motionless bed of water?
soporific - somnifere, soporifique
conceal - dissimuler, cacher
more necessary - plus nécessaire
I tried to resist sleep. It was impossible. My breathing grew weak. I felt a mortal cold freeze my stiffened and half-paralysed limbs. My eye lids, like leaden caps, fell over my eyes. I could not raise them; a morbid sleep, full of hallucinations, bereft me of my being. Then the visions disappeared, and left me in complete insensibility.
freeze - geler, congeler, gelez, gelent, gelons, gelent, geler
morbid - morbide, checkmacabre, checkmalsain, checkpathologique
hallucinations - des hallucinations, hallucination, illusion
bereft - perdue, privé de, (bereave), arracher
visions - visions, vision, vue, aspiration, apparition
insensibility - l'insensibilité
The next day I woke with my head singularly clear. To my great surprise, I was in my own room. My companions, no doubt, had been reinstated in their cabin, without having perceived it any more than I. Of what had passed during the night they were as ignorant as I was, and to penetrate this mystery I only reckoned upon the chances of the future.
reinstated - réintégrée, rétablir, réintégrer, réactiver
I then thought of quitting my room. Was I free again or a prisoner? Quite free. I opened the door, went to the half-deck, went up the central stairs. The panels, shut the evening before, were open. I went on to the platform.
quitting - démissionner, quitter, abandonner
Ned Land and Conseil waited there for me. I questioned them; they knew nothing. Lost in a heavy sleep in which they had been totally unconscious, they had been astonished at finding themselves in their cabin.
unconscious - inconscient, subconscient
As for the Nautilus, it seemed quiet and mysterious as ever. It floated on the surface of the waves at a moderate pace. Nothing seemed changed on board.
The second lieutenant then came on to the platform, and gave the usual order below.
As for Captain Nemo, he did not appear.
Of the people on board, I only saw the impassive steward, who served me with his usual dumb regularity.
About two o'clock, I was in the drawing-room, busied in arranging my notes, when the Captain opened the door and appeared. I bowed. He made a slight inclination in return, without speaking. I resumed my work, hoping that he would perhaps give me some explanation of the events of the preceding night. He made none. I looked at him.
He seemed fatigued; his heavy eyes had not been refreshed by sleep; his face looked very sorrowful. He walked to and fro, sat down and got up again, took a chance book, put it down, consulted his instruments without taking his habitual notes, and seemed restless and uneasy. At last, he came up to me, and said:
fatigued - fatigué, fatigue, épuisement, corvée, fatiguer
fro - fro
habitual - habituel
restless - inquiet, agité, checkimpatient
"Are you a doctor, M. Aronnax?"
I so little expected such a question that I stared some time at him without answering.
"Are you a doctor?" he repeated. "Several of your colleagues have studied medicine."
"Well," said I, "I am a doctor and resident surgeon to the hospital. I practised several years before entering the museum."
resident - résident, résidente, habitant, habitante
surgeon - chirurgien, chirurgienne
"Very well, sir."
My answer had evidently satisfied the Captain. But, not knowing what he would say next, I waited for other questions, reserving my answers according to circumstances.
Reserving - réserver, réservation, réserve, réserves-p
"M. Aronnax, will you consent to prescribe for one of my men?" he asked.
prescribe - prescrire, indiquer, ordonner
"Is he ill?"
"Yes."
"I am ready to follow you."
"Come, then."
I own my heart beat, I do not know why. I saw certain connection between the illness of one of the crew and the events of the day before; and this mystery interested me at least as much as the sick man.
connection - connexion, liaison, lien, rapport, complicité, correspondance
Captain Nemo conducted me to the poop of the Nautilus, and took me into a cabin situated near the sailors'quarters.
There, on a bed, lay a man about forty years of age, with a resolute expression of countenance, a true type of an Anglo-Saxon.
I leant over him. He was not only ill, he was wounded. His head, swathed in bandages covered with blood, lay on a pillow. I undid the bandages, and the wounded man looked at me with his large eyes and gave no sign of pain as I did it. It was a horrible wound. The skull, shattered by some deadly weapon, left the brain exposed, which was much injured.
swathed - enrobé, envelopper
bandages - des bandages, bandage, pansement, panser
pillow - oreiller, tetiere
undid - défait, défaire
skull - crâne, crane
shattered - brisé, fracasser, réduire en miettes, mettre en pieces, briser
deadly - mortelle, mortel, fatal, létal
injured - blessé, blesser
Clots of blood had formed in the bruised and broken mass, in colour like the dregs of wine.
clots - caillots, caillot, thrombus, imbécile, idiot, coaguler, cailler
bruised - contusionné, contusionner, meurtrir, taler, cotir, se taler
dregs - la lie, lie
There was both contusion and suffusion of the brain. His breathing was slow, and some spasmodic movements of the muscles agitated his face. I felt his pulse. It was intermittent. The extremities of the body were growing cold already, and I saw death must inevitably ensue. After dressing the unfortunate man's wounds, I readjusted the bandages on his head, and turned to Captain Nemo.
contusion - ecchymose, contusion, sang extravasé
spasmodic - spasmodique
inevitably - inévitablement
ensue - s'ensuivre, résulter, découler
readjusted - réajusté, (se) réadapter (a)
"What caused this wound?" I asked.
"What does it signify?" he replied, evasively. "A shock has broken one of the levers of the engine, which struck myself. But your opinion as to his state?"
signify - signifier
I hesitated before giving it.
"You may speak," said the Captain. "This man does not understand French."
I gave a last look at the wounded man.
"He will be dead in two hours."
"Can nothing save him?"
"Nothing."
Captain Nemo's hand contracted, and some tears glistened in his eyes, which I thought incapable of shedding any.
Tears - des larmes, larme
glistened - a brillé, reluire
incapable - incapable
shedding - la mue, (shed) la mue
For some moments I still watched the dying man, whose life ebbed slowly. His pallor increased under the electric light that was shed over his death-bed. I looked at his intelligent forehead, furrowed with premature wrinkles, produced probably by misfortune and sorrow. I tried to learn the secret of his life from the last words that escaped his lips.
dying - teignant, mourant, (dye) teignant
ebbed - ebbed, reflux, jusant, refluer, décliner
pallor - pâleur
premature - prématurée, prématuré
wrinkles - rides, ride
misfortune - malchance, mésaventure, malheur
sorrow - peine, chagrin
"You can go now, M. Aronnax," said the Captain.
I left him in the dying man's cabin, and returned to my room much affected by this scene. During the whole day, I was haunted by uncomfortable suspicions, and at night I slept badly, and between my broken dreams I fancied I heard distant sighs like the notes of a funeral psalm. Were they the prayers of the dead, murmured in that language that I could not understand?
much affected by - tres affectée par
haunted - hanté, hanter, demeurer, point de rencontre
uncomfortable - inconfortable
suspicions - des soupçons, suspicion, soupçon
sighs - soupirs, soupirer
funeral - funérailles, obseques
psalm - psaume
The next morning I went on to the bridge. Captain Nemo was there before me. As soon as he perceived me he came to me.
"Professor, will it be convenient to you to make a submarine excursion to-day?"
"With my companions?" I asked.
"If they like."
"We obey your orders, Captain."
"Will you be so good then as to put on your cork jackets?"
It was not a question of dead or dying. I rejoined Ned Land and Conseil, and told them of Captain Nemo's proposition. Conseil hastened to accept it, and this time the Canadian seemed quite willing to follow our example.
It was eight o'clock in the morning. At half-past eight we were equipped for this new excursion, and provided with two contrivances for light and breathing. The double door was open; and, accompanied by Captain Nemo, who was followed by a dozen of the crew, we set foot, at a depth of about thirty feet, on the solid bottom on which the Nautilus rested.
A slight declivity ended in an uneven bottom, at fifteen fathoms depth. This bottom differed entirely from the one I had visited on my first excursion under the waters of the Pacific Ocean. Here, there was no fine sand, no submarine prairies, no sea-forest. I immediately recognised that marvellous region in which, on that day, the Captain did the honours to us. It was the coral kingdom.
uneven - inégale, inégal
differed - différaient, différer (de)
honours - des honneurs, honneur
The light produced a thousand charming varieties, playing in the midst of the branches that were so vividly coloured. I seemed to see the membraneous and cylindrical tubes tremble beneath the undulation of the waters.
membraneous - membranes
cylindrical - cylindrique
tubes - tubes, tuyau, tube, canette (de biere)
tremble - trembler, vibrer, tremblement, vibration
I was tempted to gather their fresh petals, ornamented with delicate tentacles, some just blown, the others budding, while a small fish, swimming swiftly, touched them slightly, like flights of birds. But if my hand approached these living flowers, these animated, sensitive plants, the whole colony took alarm.
tempted - tentés, tenter, attirer
gather - rassembler, ramasser, recueillir, déduire
petals - pétales, pétale
budding - en herbe, (bud)
animated - animée, animé, animer
sensitive - sensible
colony - colonie
alarm - alarme, réveille-matin, réveil, alarmer, donner/sonner l'alerte
The white petals re-entered their red cases, the flowers faded as I looked, and the bush changed into a block of stony knobs.
faded - fanée, mode, lubie
stony - pierreux, froid, sec
knobs - boutons, poignée, bouton, pommeau, noix, noud
Chance had thrown me just by the most precious specimens of the zoophyte. This coral was more valuable than that found in the Mediterranean, on the coasts of France, Italy and Barbary. Its tints justified the poetical names of "Flower of Blood," and "Froth of Blood," that trade has given to its most beautiful productions.
poetical - poétique
froth - de l'écume, mousse, écume
trade - le commerce, commerce, magasin, négoce, corps de métier
Coral is sold for ÂŁ20 per ounce; and in this place the watery beds would make the fortunes of a company of coral-divers. This precious matter, often confused with other polypi, formed then the inextricable plots called "macciota," and on which I noticed several beautiful specimens of pink coral.
ounce - once
fortunes - fortune, destin, bonne chance
confused - confus, rendre perplexe, confondre
inextricable - inextricable
But soon the bushes contract, and the arborisations increase. Real petrified thickets, long joints of fantastic architecture, were disclosed before us. Captain Nemo placed himself under a dark gallery, where by a slight declivity we reached a depth of a hundred yards.
thickets - des fourrés, fourré, maquis
disclosed - divulguée, découvrir, laisser voir, révéler, divulguer
The light from our lamps produced sometimes magical effects, following the rough outlines of the natural arches and pendants disposed like lustres, that were tipped with points of fire.
outlines - les grandes lignes, contour, silhouette, esquisse, aperçu
pendants - pendentifs, pendentif
lustres - lustres, lustre, éclat
At last, after walking two hours, we had attained a depth of about three hundred yards, that is to say, the extreme limit on which coral begins to form. But there was no isolated bush, nor modest brushwood, at the bottom of lofty trees.
isolated - isolée, isoler, esseuler
modest - modeste, (mod)
brushwood - des broussailles, brindilles
It was an immense forest of large mineral vegetations, enormous petrified trees, united by garlands of elegant sea-bindweed, all adorned with clouds and reflections. We passed freely under their high branches, lost in the shade of the waves.
vegetations - la végétation, végétation
adorned - orné, décorer, orner, parer
Captain Nemo had stopped. I and my companions halted, and, turning round, I saw his men were forming a semi-circle round their chief. Watching attentively, I observed that four of them carried on their shoulders an object of an oblong shape.
halted - arreté, (s')arreter
semi - semi
We occupied, in this place, the centre of a vast glade surrounded by the lofty foliage of the submarine forest. Our lamps threw over this place a sort of clear twilight that singularly elongated the shadows on the ground. At the end of the glade the darkness increased, and was only relieved by little sparks reflected by the points of coral.
glade - clairiere, clairiere
Ned Land and Conseil were near me. We watched, and I thought I was going to witness a strange scene. On observing the ground, I saw that it was raised in certain places by slight excrescences encrusted with limy deposits, and disposed with a regularity that betrayed the hand of man.
witness - témoignage, témoin, preuve, témoigner
observing - l'observation, observer, remarquer, respecter, garder
excrescences - excroissances, exces, excroissance
encrusted - incrustés, encrouter, incruster
In the midst of the glade, on a pedestal of rocks roughly piled up, stood a cross of coral that extended its long arms that one might have thought were made of petrified blood. Upon a sign from Captain Nemo one of the men advanced; and at some feet from the cross he began to dig a hole with a pickaxe that he took from his belt. I understood all!
pedestal - piédestal
piled up - empilés
dig - creuser, creusez, creusons, creusent
pickaxe - pioche, piocher
This glade was a cemetery, this hole a tomb, this oblong object the body of the man who had died in the night! The Captain and his men had come to bury their companion in this general resting-place, at the bottom of this inaccessible ocean!
cemetery - cimetiere, cimetere
resting-place - (resting-place) lieu de repos
The grave was being dug slowly; the fish fled on all sides while their retreat was being thus disturbed; I heard the strokes of the pickaxe, which sparkled when it hit upon some flint lost at the bottom of the waters. The hole was soon large and deep enough to receive the body. Then the bearers approached; the body, enveloped in a tissue of white linen, was lowered into the damp grave.
dug - creusée, creusâmes, creusé, creusa, creuserent, (dig) creusée
hit upon - Draguer
Flint - flint, silex, pierre a fusil, pierre a briquet
linen - le linge, toile, lin, linge
Captain Nemo, with his arms crossed on his breast, and all the friends of him who had loved them, knelt in prayer.
knelt - a genoux, agenouiller
prayer - oraison, priere
All fell on their knees in an attitude of prayer
The grave was then filled in with the rubbish taken from the ground, which formed a slight mound. When this was done, Captain Nemo and his men rose; then, approaching the grave, they knelt again, and all extended their hands in sign of a last adieu.
mound - butte, monticule, tertre, butter
adieu - adieu, farewell
Then the funeral procession returned to the Nautilus, passing under the arches of the forest, in the midst of thickets, along the coral bushes, and still on the ascent. At last the light of the ship appeared, and its luminous track guided us to the Nautilus. At one o'clock we had returned.
funeral procession - le cortege funebre
As soon as I had changed my clothes I went up on to the platform, and, a prey to conflicting emotions, I sat down near the binnacle. Captain Nemo joined me. I rose and said to him:
prey - la proie, butin, prise, proie
conflicting - contradictoires, conflit, incompatibilité
binnacle - binnacle, habitacle
"So, as I said he would, this man died in the night?"
"Yes, M. Aronnax."
"And he rests now, near his companions, in the coral cemetery?"
"Yes, forgotten by all else, but not by us. We dug the grave, and the polypi undertake to seal our dead for eternity." And, burying his face quickly in his hands, he tried in vain to suppress a sob. Then he added: "Our peaceful cemetery is there, some hundred feet below the surface of the waves."
seal - sceau, scellez, phoque, cacheter, scellent
eternity - l'éternité, éternité
burying - l'enfouissement, enterrer
Suppress - contenir, checkréduire, checksupprimer, checkréprimer
sob - sanglot, fdp
peaceful - paisible
"Your dead sleep quietly, at least, Captain, out of the reach of sharks."
"Yes, sir, of sharks and men," gravely replied the Captain.
We now come to the second part of our journey under the sea. The first ended with the moving scene in the coral cemetery which left such a deep impression on my mind. Thus, in the midst of this great sea, Captain Nemo's life was passing, even to his grave, which he had prepared in one of its deepest abysses.
abysses - des abîmes, abîme, précipice, abysse, gouffre
There, not one of the ocean's monsters could trouble the last sleep of the crew of the Nautilus, of those friends riveted to each other in death as in life. "Nor any man, either," had added the Captain. Still the same fierce, implacable defiance towards human society!
fierce - féroce
implacable - implacable
I could no longer content myself with the theory which satisfied Conseil.
That worthy fellow persisted in seeing in the Commander of the Nautilus one of those unknown savants who return mankind contempt for indifference. For him, he was a misunderstood genius who, tired of earth's deceptions, had taken refuge in this inaccessible medium, where he might follow his instincts freely. To my mind, this explains but one side of Captain Nemo's character.
persisted - persisté, persister
mankind - l'humanité, humanité, genre humain, hommes
contempt - le mépris, mépris, outrage
misunderstood - incompris, mal interpréter, méprendre, mécomprendre
genius - génie
deceptions - des tromperies, supercherie, tromperie
Indeed, the mystery of that last night during which we had been chained in prison, the sleep, and the precaution so violently taken by the Captain of snatching from my eyes the glass I had raised to sweep the horizon, the mortal wound of the man, due to an unaccountable shock of the Nautilus, all put me on a new track. No; Captain Nemo was not satisfied with shunning man.
chained - enchaîné, chaîne, enchaîner
precaution - précaution
snatching from - arraché de
sweep - balayer, balayage
mortal wound - une blessure mortelle
shunning - l'exclusion, éviter, rejeter, fuir, esquiver
His formidable apparatus not only suited his instinct of freedom, but perhaps also the design of some terrible retaliation.
instinct - l'instinct, instinct
freedom - la liberté, liberté
retaliation - des représailles, représailles
At this moment nothing is clear to me; I catch but a glimpse of light amidst all the darkness, and I must confine myself to writing as events shall dictate.
confine - enfermer, confiner, limite
dictate - dicter
That day, the 24th of January, 1868, at noon, the second officer came to take the altitude of the sun. I mounted the platform, lit a cigar, and watched the operation.
It seemed to me that the man did not understand French; for several times I made remarks in a loud voice, which must have drawn from him some involuntary sign of attention, if he had understood them; but he remained undisturbed and dumb.
remarks - remarques, remarque
involuntary - involontaire
undisturbed - sans etre dérangé
As he was taking observations with the sextant, one of the sailors of the Nautilus (the strong man who had accompanied us on our first submarine excursion to the Island of Crespo) came to clean the glasses of the lantern.
I examined the fittings of the apparatus, the strength of which was increased a hundredfold by lenticular rings, placed similar to those in a lighthouse, and which projected their brilliance in a horizontal plane. The electric lamp was combined in such a way as to give its most powerful light. Indeed, it was produced in vacuo, which insured both its steadiness and its intensity.
lighthouse - phare
insured - assuré, (insure), assurer
steadiness - stabilité
This vacuum economised the graphite points between which the luminous arc was developed"an important point of economy for Captain Nemo, who could not easily have replaced them; and under these conditions their waste was imperceptible. When the Nautilus was ready to continue its submarine journey, I went down to the saloon. The panel was closed, and the course marked direct west.
vacuum - vide, vacuum, passer l'aspirateur
graphite - graphite
arc - arc de courbe, arc
economy - l'économie, économie
waste - déchets, pelée, gaspiller, gâcher
imperceptible - imperceptible
We were furrowing the waters of the Indian Ocean, a vast liquid plain, with a surface of 1,200,000,000 of acres, and whose waters are so clear and transparent that any one leaning over them would turn giddy. The Nautilus usually floated between fifty and a hundred fathoms deep. We went on so for some days.
furrowing - sillonner, sillon, rigole, ride, froncer
giddy - étourdi, étourdissant
To anyone but myself, who had a great love for the sea, the hours would have seemed long and monotonous; but the daily walks on the platform, when I steeped myself in the reviving air of the ocean, the sight of the rich waters through the windows of the saloon, the books in the library, the compiling of my memoirs, took up all my time, and left me not a moment of ennui or weariness.
monotonous - monotone
steeped - trempé, escarpé, raide
compiling - la compilation, compiler
Memoirs - mémoires, mémoires-p
ennui - l'ennui, apathie, indolence, mélancolie, dépression
For some days we saw a great number of aquatic birds, sea-mews or gulls. Some were cleverly killed and, prepared in a certain way, made very acceptable water-game.
mews - miaulements, (mew) miaulements
gulls - mouettes, mouette
acceptable - acceptable
Amongst large-winged birds, carried a long distance from all lands and resting upon the waves from the fatigue of their flight, I saw some magnificent albatrosses, uttering discordant cries like the braying of an ass, and birds belonging to the family of the long-wings.
resting upon - sur lequel il repose
albatrosses - albatros
discordant - discordant
braying - braire, braiement
ass - cul, aliboron, ane, âne
As to the fish, they always provoked our admiration when we surprised the secrets of their aquatic life through the open panels. I saw many kinds which I never before had a chance of observing.
I shall notice chiefly ostracions peculiar to the Red Sea, the Indian Ocean, and that part which washes the coast of tropical America. These fishes, like the tortoise, the armadillo, the sea-hedgehog, and the Crustacea, are protected by a breastplate which is neither chalky nor stony, but real bone. In some it takes the form of a solid triangle, in others of a solid quadrangle.
ostracions - ostracions
armadillo - tatou
hedgehog - hérisson
crustacea - Crustacés
chalky - plâtreux, crétacé
quadrangle - quadrangle, cour
Amongst the triangular I saw some an inch and a half in length, with wholesome flesh and a delicious flavour; they are brown at the tail, and yellow at the fins, and I recommend their introduction into fresh water, to which a certain number of sea-fish easily accustom themselves.
triangular - triangulaire
accustom - d'accoutumance, accoutumer
I would also mention quadrangular ostracions, having on the back four large tubercles; some dotted over with white spots on the lower part of the body, and which may be tamed like birds; trigons provided with spikes formed by the lengthening of their bony shell, and which, from their strange gruntings, are called "seapigs"; also dromedaries with large humps in the shape of a cone, whose flesh is very tough and leathery.
quadrangular - quadrangulaire
having on - avoir sur
dotted - en pointillés, point
tamed - apprivoisé
spikes - des pointes, clou, pointe, pieu, pic, pique, épi, crampons-p
Lengthening - allongement, rallonger
seapigs - les seapigs
dromedaries - dromadaires, dromadaire
humps - bosses, bosse, sauterie, cafard, arrondir
cone - surface conique, cône, pomme de pin, pive
tough - dur
I now borrow from the daily notes of Master Conseil. "Certain fish of the genus petrodon peculiar to those seas, with red backs and white chests, which are distinguished by three rows of longitudinal filaments; and some electrical, seven inches long, decked in the liveliest colours.
borrow from - emprunter de
chests - coffres, poitrine
rows - rangées, rang(ée)
filaments - filaments, filament
Then, as specimens of other kinds, some ovoides, resembling an egg of a dark brown colour, marked with white bands, and without tails; diodons, real sea-porcupines, furnished with spikes, and capable of swelling in such a way as to look like cushions bristling with darts; hippocampi, common to every ocean; some pegasi with lengthened snouts, which their pectoral fins, being much elongated and formed in the shape of wings, allow, if not to fly, at least to shoot into the air; pigeon spatulae, with tails covered with many rings of shell; macrognathi with long jaws, an excellent fish, nine inches long, and bright with most agreeable colours; pale-coloured calliomores, with rugged heads; and plenty of chaetpdons, with long and tubular muzzles, which kill insects by shooting them, as from an air-gun, with a single drop of water. These we may call the flycatchers of the seas.
dark brown - brun foncé
porcupines - des porcs-épics, porc-épic
swelling - gonflement, (swell)
cushions - coussins, coussin, amortir
darts - fléchettes, dard, fleche
hippocampi - hippocampes, hippocampe
lengthened - allongé, rallonger
snouts - museaux, museau, groin, indic
pectoral - pectoral
macrognathi - macrognathi
calliomores - calliomores
rugged - robuste, déchiqueté, accidenté, (rug), tapis, couverture
plenty - l'abondance, abondance
tubular - tubulaire
muzzles - muselieres, museau, museliere, museler
shooting - le tir, tir, fusillade, (shoot) le tir
"In the eighty-ninth genus of fishes, classed by Lacepede, belonging to the second lower class of bony, characterised by opercules and bronchial membranes, I remarked the scorpaena, the head of which is furnished with spikes, and which has but one dorsal fin; these creatures are covered, or not, with little shells, according to the sub-class to which they belong.
lower class - la classe inférieure
bronchial - bronchique, bronchial
membranes - membranes, membrane
scorpaena - Scorpaena
dorsal - dorsale, dorsal
fin - fin, nageoire
The second sub-class gives us specimens of didactyles fourteen or fifteen inches in length, with yellow rays, and heads of a most fantastic appearance.
didactyles - didactyles
most fantastic - le plus fantastique
As to the first sub-class, it gives several specimens of that singular looking fish appropriately called a seafrog,'with large head, sometimes pierced with holes, sometimes swollen with protuberances, bristling with spikes, and covered with tubercles; it has irregular and hideous horns; its body and tail are covered with callosities; its sting makes a dangerous wound; it is both repugnant and horrible to look at."
seafrog - grenouille de mer
protuberances - protubérances, saillie, protubérance
horns - des cornes, corne, cor, klaxon, cuivres-p
sting - piqure, morsure, aiguillon, piquons, piquer, piquent
repugnant - répugnant
From the 21st to the 23rd of January the Nautilus went at the rate of two hundred and fifty leagues in twenty-four hours, being five hundred and forty miles, or twenty-two miles an hour.
If we recognised so many different varieties of fish, it was because, attracted by the electric light, they tried to follow us; the greater part, however, were soon distanced by our speed, though some kept their place in the waters of the Nautilus for a time. The morning of the 24th, in 12° 5˛ S. lat., and 94° 33˛ long.
, we observed Keeling Island, a coral formation, planted with magnificent cocos, and which had been visited by Mr. Darwin and Captain Fitzroy. The Nautilus skirted the shores of this desert island for a little distance. Its nets brought up numerous specimens of polypi and curious shells of mollusca.
keeling - quille, (keel) quille
cocos - Cocos, (coco) Cocos
Some precious productions of the species of delphinulae enriched the treasures of Captain Nemo, to which I added an astraea punctifera, a kind of parasite polypus often found fixed to a shell.
parasite - parasite, profiteur
Soon Keeling Island disappeared from the horizon, and our course was directed to the north-west in the direction of the Indian Peninsula.
From Keeling Island our course was slower and more variable, often taking us into great depths. Several times they made use of the inclined planes, which certain internal levers placed obliquely to the waterline. In that way we went about two miles, but without ever obtaining the greatest depths of the Indian Sea, which soundings of seven thousand fathoms have never reached.
more variable - plus variable
waterline - ligne de flottaison
obtaining - l'obtention, obtenir, se procurer, réussir, avoir succes, avoir
As to the temperature of the lower strata, the thermometer invariably indicated 4° above zero. I only observed that in the upper regions the water was always colder in the high levels than at the surface of the sea.
invariably - invariablement
above zero - au-dessus de zéro
On the 25th of January the ocean was entirely deserted; the Nautilus passed the day on the surface, beating the waves with its powerful screw and making them rebound to a great height. Who under such circumstances would not have taken it for a gigantic cetacean? Three parts of this day I spent on the platform. I watched the sea.
rebound - rebondir, ricocher, ricochet, rebondissement
Nothing on the horizon, till about four o'clock a steamer running west on our counter. Her masts were visible for an instant, but she could not see the Nautilus, being too low in the water. I fancied this steamboat belonged to the P.O. Company, which runs from Ceylon to Sydney, touching at King George's Point and Melbourne.
counter - compteur, numérateur, jeton
steamboat - bateau a vapeur, bateau a vapeur
Ceylon - Ceylan
Sydney - sydney
George - george, Georges, Jorioz
Melbourne - melbourne
At five o'clock in the evening, before that fleeting twilight which binds night to day in tropical zones, Conseil and I were astonished by a curious spectacle.
fleeting - éphémere, flotte
It was a shoal of argonauts travelling along on the surface of the ocean. We could count several hundreds. They belonged to the tubercle kind which are peculiar to the Indian seas.
Argonauts - les argonautes, argonaute
These graceful molluscs moved backwards by means of their locomotive tube, through which they propelled the water already drawn in. Of their eight tentacles, six were elongated, and stretched out floating on the water, whilst the other two, rolled up flat, were spread to the wing like a light sail. I saw their spiral-shaped and fluted shells, which Cuvier justly compares to an elegant skiff.
light sail - voile légere
fluted - cannelé, flute
skiff - skiff
A boat indeed! It bears the creature which secretes it without its adhering to it.
adhering to - a laquelle il adhere
For nearly an hour the Nautilus floated in the midst of this shoal of molluscs. Then I know not what sudden fright they took. But as if at a signal every sail was furled, the arms folded, the body drawn in, the shells turned over, changing their centre of gravity, and the whole fleet disappeared under the waves. Never did the ships of a squadron manĹ"uvre with more unity.
fright - d'effroi, anxiété, peur, frayeur
furled - enroulé, ferler
centre of gravity - le centre de gravité
Fleet - la flotte, flotte
squadron - escadron, escadre
At that moment night fell suddenly, and the reeds, scarcely raised by the breeze, lay peaceably under the sides of the Nautilus.
The next day, 26th of January, we cut the equator at the eighty-second meridian and entered the northern hemisphere. During the day a formidable troop of sharks accompanied us, terrible creatures, which multiply in these seas and make them very dangerous.
hemisphere - hémisphere, hémisphere
They were "cestracio philippi" sharks, with brown backs and whitish bellies, armed with eleven rows of teeth"eyed sharks"their throat being marked with a large black spot surrounded with white like an eye. There were also some Isabella sharks, with rounded snouts marked with dark spots.
Philippi - Philippes
whitish - blanchâtre
black spot - point noir
These powerful creatures often hurled themselves at the windows of the saloon with such violence as to make us feel very insecure. At such times Ned Land was no longer master of himself.
insecure - peu sur de lui
He wanted to go to the surface and harpoon the monsters, particularly certain smooth-hound sharks, whose mouth is studded with teeth like a mosaic; and large tiger-sharks nearly six yards long, the last named of which seemed to excite him more particularly. But the Nautilus, accelerating her speed, easily left the most rapid of them behind.
hound - chien de chasse, chien (de chasse)
studded - clouté, écurie
accelerating - s'accélere, accélérer
The 27th of January, at the entrance of the vast Bay of Bengal, we met repeatedly a forbidding spectacle, dead bodies floating on the surface of the water. They were the dead of the Indian villages, carried by the Ganges to the level of the sea, and which the vultures, the only undertakers of the country, had not been able to devour. But the sharks did not fail to help them at their funeral work.
repeatedly - de façon répétée
dead bodies - des cadavres
Ganges - le gange, Gange
vultures - des vautours, vautour, carencro, charognard
undertakers - les pompes funebres, croque-mort, directeur de funérailles
devour - dévorer
About seven o'clock in the evening, the Nautilus, half-immersed, was sailing in a sea of milk. At first sight the ocean seemed lactified. Was it the effect of the lunar rays? No; for the moon, scarcely two days old, was still lying hidden under the horizon in the rays of the sun. The whole sky, though lit by the sidereal rays, seemed black by contrast with the whiteness of the waters.
lactified - lactifié
lunar - lunaire, sélénite, rench: t-needed r
sidereal - sidéral
Conseil could not believe his eyes, and questioned me as to the cause of this strange phenomenon. Happily I was able to answer him.
"It is called a milk sea," I explained. "A large extent of white wavelets often to be seen on the coasts of Amboyna, and in these parts of the sea."
wavelets - ondelettes, vaguelette, ondelette
Amboyna - amboyna
"But, sir," said Conseil, "can you tell me what causes such an effect? for I suppose the water is not really turned into milk."
"No, my boy; and the whiteness which surprises you is caused only by the presence of myriads of infusoria, a sort of luminous little worm, gelatinous and without colour, of the thickness of a hair, and whose length is not more than seven-thousandths of an inch. These insects adhere to one another sometimes for several leagues."
thousandths - milliemes, millieme
adhere - adhérer
"Several leagues!" exclaimed Conseil.
"Yes, my boy; and you need not try to compute the number of these infusoria. You will not be able, for, if I am not mistaken, ships have floated on these milk seas for more than forty miles."
compute - computer, calculer
Towards midnight the sea suddenly resumed its usual colour; but behind us, even to the limits of the horizon, the sky reflected the whitened waves, and for a long time seemed impregnated with the vague glimmerings of an aurora borealis.
aurora - aurore polaire
On the 28th of February, when at noon the Nautilus came to the surface of the sea, in 9° 4˛ N. lat., there was land in sight about eight miles to westward. The first thing I noticed was a range of mountains about two thousand feet high, the shapes of which were most capricious.
most capricious - le plus capricieux
On taking the bearings, I knew that we were nearing the island of Ceylon, the pearl which hangs from the lobe of the Indian Peninsula.
hangs - pendu, suspendre, etre accroché
lobe - lobe
Captain Nemo and his second appeared at this moment. The Captain glanced at the map. Then turning to me, said:
glanced - a glissé, jeter un coup d’oil, coup d'oil
"The Island of Ceylon, noted for its pearl-fisheries. Would you like to visit one of them, M. Aronnax?"
fisheries - la peche, pecherie
"Certainly, Captain."
"Well, the thing is easy. Though, if we see the fisheries, we shall not see the fishermen. The annual exportation has not yet begun. Never mind, I will give orders to make for the Gulf of Manaar, where we shall arrive in the night."
annual - annuelle, annuel
exportation - l'exportation
The Captain said something to his second, who immediately went out. Soon the Nautilus returned to her native element, and the manometer showed that she was about thirty feet deep.
"Well, sir," said Captain Nemo, "you and your companions shall visit the Bank of Manaar, and if by chance some fisherman should be there, we shall see him at work."
fisherman - pecheur, pecheur, pecheuse
"Agreed, Captain!"
"By the bye, M. Aronnax you are not afraid of sharks?"
"Sharks!" exclaimed I.
This question seemed a very hard one.
"Well?" continued Captain Nemo.
"I admit, Captain, that I am not yet very familiar with that kind of fish."
familiar - familier, esprit familier
"We are accustomed to them," replied Captain Nemo, "and in time you will be too. However, we shall be armed, and on the road we may be able to hunt some of the tribe. It is interesting. So, till to-morrow, sir, and early."
This said in a careless tone, Captain Nemo left the saloon. Now, if you were invited to hunt the bear in the mountains of Switzerland, what would you say?
careless - négligent, étourdi, distrait
Switzerland - la suisse, Suisse
"Very well! to-morrow we will go and hunt the bear." If you were asked to hunt the lion in the plains of Atlas, or the tiger in the Indian jungles, what would you say?
atlas - atlas
jungles - jungles, jungle, foret vierge, foret tropicale
"Ha! ha! it seems we are going to hunt the tiger or the lion!" But when you are invited to hunt the shark in its natural element, you would perhaps reflect before accepting the invitation. As for myself, I passed my hand over my forehead, on which stood large drops of cold perspiration. "Let us reflect," said I, "and take our time.
ha - HA
perspiration - la transpiration, transpiration
Hunting otters in submarine forests, as we did in the Island of Crespo, will pass; but going up and down at the bottom of the sea, where one is almost certain to meet sharks, is quite another thing!
otters - les loutres, loutre
I know well that in certain countries, particularly in the Andaman Islands, the negroes never hesitate to attack them with a dagger in one hand and a running noose in the other; but I also know that few who affront those creatures ever return alive. However, I am not a negro, and if I were I think a little hesitation in this case would not be ill-timed."
Negroes - negres, negre
dagger - poignard, surin
noose - noud coulant, noud coulant, lacs
affront - affront, défier, jeter le gant, envoyer un cartel
At this moment Conseil and the Canadian entered, quite composed, and even joyous. They knew not what awaited them.
"Faith, sir," said Ned Land, "your Captain Nemo"the devil take him!"has just made us a very pleasant offer."
pleasant - agréable, plaisant
"Ah!" said I, "you know?"
"If agreeable to you, sir," interrupted Conseil, "the commander of the Nautilus has invited us to visit the magnificent Ceylon fisheries to-morrow, in your company; he did it kindly, and behaved like a real gentleman."
"He said nothing more?"
"Nothing more, sir, except that he had already spoken to you of this little walk."
"Sir," said Conseil, "would you give us some details of the pearl fishery?"
"As to the fishing itself," I asked, "or the incidents, which?"
Incidents - incidents, incident, frait-divers, fr
"On the fishing," replied the Canadian; "before entering upon the ground, it is as well to know something about it."
"Very well; sit down, my friends, and I will teach you."
Ned and Conseil seated themselves on an ottoman, and the first thing the Canadian asked was:
ottoman - ottoman, divan, ottomane, pouf
"Sir, what is a pearl?"
"My worthy Ned," I answered, "to the poet, a pearl is a tear of the sea; to the Orientals, it is a drop of dew solidified; to the ladies, it is a jewel of an oblong shape, of a brilliancy of mother-of-pearl substance, which they wear on their fingers, their necks, or their ears; for the chemist it is a mixture of phosphate and carbonate of lime, with a little gelatine; and lastly, for naturalists, it is simply a morbid secretion of the organ that produces the mother-of-pearl amongst certain bivalves."
poet - poete, poete
dew - rosée
solidified - solidifié, solidifier
jewel - joyau, bijou, pierre d'horlogerie, rubis
wear on - porter
mixture - mélange, mixture
phosphate - phosphate
gelatine - gélatine
secretion - éjection
bivalves - bivalves, bivalve
"Branch of molluscs," said Conseil.
"Precisely so, my learned Conseil; and, amongst these testacea the earshell, the tridacnae, the turbots, in a word, all those which secrete mother-of-pearl, that is, the blue, bluish, violet, or white substance which lines the interior of their shells, are capable of producing pearls."
testacea - Testacea
earshell - oreilles
turbots - turbots, turbot
secrete - secrete, sécréter
"Mussels too?" asked the Canadian.
"Yes, mussels of certain waters in Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Saxony, Bohemia, and France."
Scotland - l'ecosse, Écosse
Wales - pays de galles
Ireland - irlande
Saxony - Saxe
Bohemia - bohemia, Boheme
"Good! For the future I shall pay attention," replied the Canadian.
"But," I continued, "the particular mollusc which secretes the pearl is the pearl-oyster, the meleagrina margaritiferct, that precious pintadine. The pearl is nothing but a nacreous formation, deposited in a globular form, either adhering to the oyster shell, or buried in the folds of the creature.
mollusc - mollusque
nacreous - nacré
deposited - déposé, dépôt, gisement, acompte, arrhes-p
adhering - adhérer
On the shell it is fast; in the flesh it is loose; but always has for a kernel a small hard substance, may be a barren egg, may be a grain of sand, around which the pearly matter deposits itself year after year successively, and by thin concentric layers."
barren - stérile
grain - céréales, grain, graine
pearly - nacré
concentric - concentrique
"Are many pearls found in the same oyster?" asked Conseil.
"Yes, my boy. Some are a perfect casket. One oyster has been mentioned, though I allow myself to doubt it, as having contained no less than a hundred and fifty sharks."
casket - cercueil, coffret
"A hundred and fifty sharks!" exclaimed Ned Land.
"Did I say sharks?" said I hurriedly. "I meant to say a hundred and fifty pearls. Sharks would not be sense."
"Certainly not," said Conseil; "but will you tell us now by what means they extract these pearls?"
"They proceed in various ways. When they adhere to the shell, the fishermen often pull them off with pincers; but the most common way is to lay the oysters on mats of the seaweed which covers the banks. Thus they die in the open air; and at the end of ten days they are in a forward state of decomposition. They are then plunged into large reservoirs of sea-water; then they are opened and washed."
mats - tapis, (petit) tapis
seaweed - des algues, algues
open air - a l'air libre
decomposition - décomposition, démontage
"The price of these pearls varies according to their size?" asked Conseil.
varies - varie, varier
"Not only according to their size," I answered, "but also according to their shape, their water (that is, their colour), and their lustre: that is, that bright and diapered sparkle which makes them so charming to the eye. The most beautiful are called virgin pearls, or paragons.
diapered - avec des couches, couche, langer
sparkle - étincelle, brillons, brillez, brillent
paragons - des parangons, parangon, petit-parangon, parangonner
They are formed alone in the tissue of the mollusc, are white, often opaque, and sometimes have the transparency of an opal; they are generally round or oval. The round are made into bracelets, the oval into pendants, and, being more precious, are sold singly. Those adhering to the shell of the oyster are more irregular in shape, and are sold by weight.
bracelets - bracelets, bracelet
more precious - plus précieux
singly - un a un
more irregular - plus irréguliere
Lastly, in a lower order are classed those small pearls known under the name of seed-pearls; they are sold by measure, and are especially used in embroidery for church ornaments."
seed - semences, semailles, semence, pépin
embroidery - la broderie, broderie
ornaments - ornements, ornement, ornement musical
"But," said Conseil, "is this pearl-fishery dangerous?"
"No," I answered, quickly; "particularly if certain precautions are taken."
"What does one risk in such a calling?" said Ned Land, "the swallowing of some mouthfuls of sea-water?"
swallowing - avaler
"As you say, Ned. By the bye," said I, trying to take Captain Nemo's careless tone, "are you afraid of sharks, brave Ned?"
"I!" replied the Canadian; "a harpooner by profession? It is my trade to make light of them."
profession - profession, métier, corps de métier
"But," said I, "it is not a question of fishing for them with an iron-swivel, hoisting them into the vessel, cutting off their tails with a blow of a chopper, ripping them up, and throwing their heart into the sea!"
chopper - hélico
ripping - déchirer, (se) déchirer
"Then, it is a question of"""
"Precisely."
"In the water?"
"In the water."
"Faith, with a good harpoon! You know, sir, these sharks are ill-fashioned beasts. They turn on their bellies to seize you, and in that time"""
beasts - betes, bete, bete sauvage
Ned Land had a way of saying "seize" which made my blood run cold.
"Well, and you, Conseil, what do you think of sharks?"
"Me!" said Conseil. "I will be frank, sir."
frank - franche, franc
"So much the better," thought I.
"If you, sir, mean to face the sharks, I do not see why your faithful servant should not face them with you."
The next morning at four o'clock I was awakened by the steward whom Captain Nemo had placed at my service. I rose hurriedly, dressed, and went into the saloon.
awakened - éveillé, réveiller, se réveiller
Captain Nemo was awaiting me.
awaiting - en attente, attendre, s'attendre a, servir, guetter
"M. Aronnax," said he, "are you ready to start?"
"I am ready."
"Then please to follow me."
"And my companions, Captain?"
"They have been told and are waiting."
"Are we not to put on our diver's dresses?" asked I.
"Not yet. I have not allowed the Nautilus to come too near this coast, and we are some distance from the Manaar Bank; but the boat is ready, and will take us to the exact point of disembarking, which will save us a long way. It carries our diving apparatus, which we will put on when we begin our submarine journey."
disembarking - débarquement, débarquer
Captain Nemo conducted me to the central staircase, which led on the platform. Ned and Conseil were already there, delighted at the idea of the "pleasure party" which was preparing. Five sailors from the Nautilus, with their oars, waited in the boat, which had been made fast against the side.
delighted - ravie, plaisir, délice, joie, enchanter, ravir
The night was still dark. Layers of clouds covered the sky, allowing but few stars to be seen. I looked on the side where the land lay, and saw nothing but a dark line enclosing three parts of the horizon, from south-west to north west.
The Nautilus, having returned during the night up the western coast of Ceylon, was now west of the bay, or rather gulf, formed by the mainland and the Island of Manaar. There, under the dark waters, stretched the pintadine bank, an inexhaustible field of pearls, the length of which is more than twenty miles.
Western - occidentale, occidental, western
mainland - continentale, continent
Captain Nemo, Ned Land, Conseil, and I took our places in the stern of the boat. The master went to the tiller; his four companions leaned on their oars, the painter was cast off, and we sheered off.
tiller - timon, barre
sheered - tondus, pur
The boat went towards the south; the oarsmen did not hurry. I noticed that their strokes, strong in the water, only followed each other every ten seconds, according to the method generally adopted in the navy. Whilst the craft was running by its own velocity, the liquid drops struck the dark depths of the waves crisply like spats of melted lead.
crisply - de façon nette
A little billow, spreading wide, gave a slight roll to the boat, and some samphire reeds flapped before it.
roll - rouler, petit pain, enroulez, roulons, enroulent, roulez
samphire - salicorne, inule fausse criste, inule perceierre
flapped - battu, pan
We were silent. What was Captain Nemo thinking of? Perhaps of the land he was approaching, and which he found too near to him, contrary to the Canadian's opinion, who thought it too far off. As to Conseil, he was merely there from curiosity.
merely - simplement, uniquement, seulement
About half-past five the first tints on the horizon showed the upper line of coast more distinctly. Flat enough in the east, it rose a little to the south. Five miles still lay between us, and it was indistinct owing to the mist on the water. At six o'clock it became suddenly daylight, with that rapidity peculiar to tropical regions, which know neither dawn nor twilight.
mist - brouillard, brume
The solar rays pierced the curtain of clouds, piled up on the eastern horizon, and the radiant orb rose rapidly. I saw land distinctly, with a few trees scattered here and there. The boat neared Manaar Island, which was rounded to the south. Captain Nemo rose from his seat and watched the sea.
piled - empilés, pile, tas
At a sign from him the anchor was dropped, but the chain scarcely ran, for it was little more than a yard deep, and this spot was one of the highest points of the bank of pintadines.
"Here we are, M. Aronnax," said Captain Nemo. "You see that enclosed bay? Here, in a month will be assembled the numerous fishing boats of the exporters, and these are the waters their divers will ransack so boldly. Happily, this bay is well situated for that kind of fishing. It is sheltered from the strongest winds; the sea is never very rough here, which makes it favourable for the diver's work.
fishing boats - des bateaux de peche
exporters - exportateurs, exportateur, exportatrice
ransack - mettre a sac, saccager, fouiller
boldly - hardiment
We will now put on our dresses, and begin our walk."
I did not answer, and, while watching the suspected waves, began with the help of the sailors to put on my heavy sea-dress. Captain Nemo and my companions were also dressing. None of the Nautilus men were to accompany us on this new excursion.
Soon we were enveloped to the throat in india-rubber clothing; the air apparatus fixed to our backs by braces. As to the Ruhmkorff apparatus, there was no necessity for it. Before putting my head into the copper cap, I had asked the question of the Captain.
necessity - nécessité, besoin
cap - cap, bonnet, calotte, casquette, toque, képi
"They would be useless," he replied. "We are going to no great depth, and the solar rays will be enough to light our walk. Besides, it would not be prudent to carry the electric light in these waters; its brilliancy might attract some of the dangerous inhabitants of the coast most inopportunely."
inhabitants - habitants, habitant, habitante, résident, résidente
inopportunely - inopportunément
As Captain Nemo pronounced these words, I turned to Conseil and Ned Land. But my two friends had already encased their heads in the metal cap, and they could neither hear nor answer.
One last question remained to ask of Captain Nemo.
"And our arms?" asked I; "our guns?"
"Guns! What for? Do not mountaineers attack the bear with a dagger in their hand, and is not steel surer than lead? Here is a strong blade; put it in your belt, and we start."
mountaineers - les alpinistes, montagnard, montagnarde, alpiniste
blade - lame
I looked at my companions; they were armed like us, and, more than that, Ned Land was brandishing an enormous harpoon, which he had placed in the boat before leaving the Nautilus.
Then, following the Captain's example, I allowed myself to be dressed in the heavy copper helmet, and our reservoirs of air were at once in activity. An instant after we were landed, one after the other, in about two yards of water upon an even sand. Captain Nemo made a sign with his hand, and we followed him by a gentle declivity till we disappeared under the waves.
Over our feet, like coveys of snipe in a bog, rose shoals of fish, of the genus monoptera, which have no other fins but their tail. I recognized the Javanese, a real serpent two and a half feet long, of a livid colour underneath, and which might easily be mistaken for a conger eel if it were not for the golden stripes on its side.
snipe - bécassine, gâcheuse
bog - bog, fondriere
Javanese - Javanais, Javanaise
livid - livide, furieux
conger eel - Congre
stripes - des rayures, rayure, galon, rayer
In the genus stromateus, whose bodies are very flat and oval, I saw some of the most brilliant colours, carrying their dorsal fin like a scythe; an excellent eating fish, which, dried and pickled, is known by the name of Karawade; then some tranquebars, belonging to the genus apsiphoroides, whose body is covered with a shell cuirass of eight longitudinal plates.
most brilliant - le plus brillant
scythe - faux, faucher
tranquebars - tranquebars
The heightening sun lit the mass of waters more and more. The soil changed by degrees. To the fine sand succeeded a perfect causeway of boulders, covered with a carpet of molluscs and zoophytes.
heightening - l'intensification, hausser
causeway - pont-jetée, chaussée
boulders - blocs rocheux, rocher, boulder
Amongst the specimens of these branches I noticed some placenae, with thin unequal shells, a kind of ostracion peculiar to the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean; some orange lucinae with rounded shells; rockfish three feet and a half long, which raised themselves under the waves like hands ready to seize one.
rockfish - le sébaste, sébaste
There were also some panopyres, slightly luminous; and lastly, some oculines, like magnificent fans, forming one of the richest vegetations of these seas.
oculines - oculines
In the midst of these living plants, and under the arbours of the hydrophytes, were layers of clumsy articulates, particularly some raninae, whose carapace formed a slightly rounded triangle; and some horrible looking parthenopes.
clumsy - empoté, gauche, lourd, maladroit
articulates - s'articule, articuler
parthenopes - parthénopes
At about seven o'clock we found ourselves at last surveying the oyster-banks on which the pearl-oysters are reproduced by millions.
reproduced - reproduit, reproduire, se reproduire
Captain Nemo pointed with his hand to the enormous heap of oysters; and I could well understand that this mine was inexhaustible, for Nature's creative power is far beyond man's instinct of destruction. Ned Land, faithful to his instinct, hastened to fill a net which he carried by his side with some of the finest specimens. But we could not stop.
creative power - le pouvoir créatif
We must follow the Captain, who seemed to guide him self by paths known only to himself. The ground was sensibly rising, and sometimes, on holding up my arm, it was above the surface of the sea. Then the level of the bank would sink capriciously. Often we rounded high rocks scarped into pyramids.
paths - chemins, sentier
capriciously - capricieusement
pyramids - les pyramides, pyramide
In their dark fractures huge crustacea, perched upon their high claws like some war-machine, watched us with fixed eyes, and under our feet crawled various kinds of annelides.
fractures - des fractures, fracture, fracturer
crawled - rampé, ramper
annelides - annélides
At this moment there opened before us a large grotto dug in a picturesque heap of rocks and carpeted with all the thick warp of the submarine flora. At first it seemed very dark to me. The solar rays seemed to be extinguished by successive gradations, until its vague transparency became nothing more than drowned light. Captain Nemo entered; we followed.
grotto - grotte
picturesque - pittoresque
warp - déformation, gauchir
be extinguished - s'éteindre
drowned - noyé, noyer
My eyes soon accustomed themselves to this relative state of darkness. I could distinguish the arches springing capriciously from natural pillars, standing broad upon their granite base, like the heavy columns of Tuscan architecture. Why had our incomprehensible guide led us to the bottom of this submarine crypt? I was soon to know.
relative - relative, relatif, parent, géniteur, génitrice
pillars - piliers, pilier, pile
Tuscan - Toscan, Toscane
crypt - crypte
After descending a rather sharp declivity, our feet trod the bottom of a kind of circular pit. There Captain Nemo stopped, and with his hand indicated an object I had not yet perceived.
circular - circulaire, rond
pit - fosse, écart, précipice, noyau
It was an oyster of extraordinary dimensions, a gigantic tridacne, a goblet which could have contained a whole lake of holy-water, a basin the breadth of which was more than two yards and a half, and consequently larger than that ornamenting the saloon of the Nautilus. I approached this extraordinary mollusc.
tridacne - tridacne
goblet - gobelet
holy-water - (holy-water) de l'eau bénite
ornamenting - l'ornementation, ornement, ornement musical
It adhered by its filaments to a table of granite, and there, isolated, it developed itself in the calm waters of the grotto. I estimated the weight of this tridacne at 600 lbs. Such an oyster would contain 30 lbs. of meat; and one must have the stomach of a Gargantua to demolish some dozens of them.
adhered - adhéré, adhérer
demolish - démolir
dozens - douzaines, douzaine, dizaine
Captain Nemo was evidently acquainted with the existence of this bivalve, and seemed to have a particular motive in verifying the actual state of this tridacne. The shells were a little open; the Captain came near and put his dagger between to prevent them from closing; then with his hand he raised the membrane with its fringed edges, which formed a cloak for the creature.
verifying - vérifier
actual - réel, effectif, checkeffectif, checkprésent
membrane - membrane
cloak - cape, pelisse, pelerine
There, between the folded plaits, I saw a loose pearl, whose size equalled that of a coco-nut. Its globular shape, perfect clearness, and admirable lustre made it altogether a jewel of inestimable value.
plaits - tresses, pli
equalled - égalée, égal, égaler a, égale
Carried away by my curiosity, I stretched out my hand to seize it, weigh it, and touch it; but the Captain stopped me, made a sign of refusal, and quickly withdrew his dagger, and the two shells closed suddenly. I then understood Captain Nemo's intention. In leaving this pearl hidden in the mantle of the tridacne he was allowing it to grow slowly.
refusal - refus
withdrew - s'est retiré, (se) retirer
mantle - manteau, les renes, manchon
Each year the secretions of the mollusc would add new concentric circles. I estimated its value at ÂŁ500,000 at least.
concentric circles - des cercles concentriques
After ten minutes Captain Nemo stopped suddenly. I thought he had halted previously to returning. No; by a gesture he bade us crouch beside him in a deep fracture of the rock, his hand pointed to one part of the liquid mass, which I watched attentively.
bade - Bade
crouch - s'accroupir
fracture - fracture, fracturer
About five yards from me a shadow appeared, and sank to the ground. The disquieting idea of sharks shot through my mind, but I was mistaken; and once again it was not a monster of the ocean that we had anything to do with.
shot through - tiré a travers
It was a man, a living man, an Indian, a fisherman, a poor devil who, I suppose, had come to glean before the harvest. I could see the bottom of his canoe anchored some feet above his head. He dived and went up successively. A stone held between his feet, cut in the shape of a sugar loaf, whilst a rope fastened him to his boat, helped him to descend more rapidly. This was all his apparatus.
glean - glaner
harvest - la récolte, récolte, moisson, récolter, moissonner, recueillir
dived - plongé, plonger
sugar loaf - pain de sucre
rope - corde, funiculaire
Reaching the bottom, about five yards deep, he went on his knees and filled his bag with oysters picked up at random. Then he went up, emptied it, pulled up his stone, and began the operation once more, which lasted thirty seconds.
random - au hasard, inconnu, aléatoire, stochastique, pseudo-aléatoire
The diver did not see us. The shadow of the rock hid us from sight. And how should this poor Indian ever dream that men, beings like himself, should be there under the water watching his movements and losing no detail of the fishing? Several times he went up in this way, and dived again.
He did not carry away more than ten at each plunge, for he was obliged to pull them from the bank to which they adhered by means of their strong byssus. And how many of those oysters for which he risked his life had no pearl in them! I watched him closely; his manĹ"uvres were regular; and for the space of half an hour no danger appeared to threaten him.
risked - risqué, risque
threaten - menacer
I was beginning to accustom myself to the sight of this interesting fishing, when suddenly, as the Indian was on the ground, I saw him make a gesture of terror, rise, and make a spring to return to the surface of the sea.
I understood his dread. A gigantic shadow appeared just above the unfortunate diver. It was a shark of enormous size advancing diagonally, his eyes on fire, and his jaws open. I was mute with horror and unable to move.
advancing - l'avancement, élever, avancer, avancée, progression
unable - incapable, inapte, inhabile
The voracious creature shot towards the Indian, who threw himself on one side to avoid the shark's fins; but not its tail, for it struck his chest and stretched him on the ground.
This scene lasted but a few seconds: the shark returned, and, turning on his back, prepared himself for cutting the Indian in two, when I saw Captain Nemo rise suddenly, and then, dagger in hand, walk straight to the monster, ready to fight face to face with him.
The very moment the shark was going to snap the unhappy fisherman in two, he perceived his new adversary, and, turning over, made straight towards him.
snap - snap, claquer, claquement de doigts, photographie, photo
turning over - Tourner
I can still see Captain Nemo's position. Holding himself well together, he waited for the shark with admirable coolness; and, when it rushed at him, threw himself on one side with wonderful quickness, avoiding the shock, and burying his dagger deep into its side. But it was not all over. A terrible combat ensued.
ensued - s'ensuivit, résulter, découler
A terrible combat began
The shark had seemed to roar, if I might say so. The blood rushed in torrents from its wound. The sea was dyed red, and through the opaque liquid I could distinguish nothing more.
roar - rugir, hurler, s'esclaffer, rire aux éclats
dyed - teintée, (se) teindre
Nothing more until the moment when, like lightning, I saw the undaunted Captain hanging on to one of the creature's fins, struggling, as it were, hand to hand with the monster, and dealing successive blows at his enemy, yet still unable to give a decisive one.
undaunted - sans se décourager
struggling - en difficulté, luttant, (struggle), lutte, lutter, s'efforcer
enemy - l'ennemi, ennemi, ennemie
decisive - décisif
The shark's struggles agitated the water with such fury that the rocking threatened to upset me.
struggles - des luttes, lutte, lutter, s'efforcer, combattre
upset - fâché, dérangé, perturbé, bouleversé, remué, énerver
I wanted to go to the Captain's assistance, but, nailed to the spot with horror, I could not stir.
assistance - l'assistance, assistance
I saw the haggard eye; I saw the different phases of the fight. The Captain fell to the earth, upset by the enormous mass which leant upon him. The shark's jaws opened wide, like a pair of factory shears, and it would have been all over with the Captain; but, quick as thought, harpoon in hand, Ned Land rushed towards the shark and struck it with its sharp point.
haggard - hagard, émacié
phases - phases, phase
shears - cisailles, couper, tondre, cisailler, cisailles-p, cisaille
sharp point - point net
The waves were impregnated with a mass of blood. They rocked under the shark's movements, which beat them with indescribable fury. Ned Land had not missed his aim. It was the monster's death-rattle. Struck to the heart, it struggled in dreadful convulsions, the shock of which overthrew Conseil.
indescribable - indescriptible
rattle - cliquetis, claquer, pétarade, ferrailler
But Ned Land had disentangled the Captain, who, getting up without any wound, went straight to the Indian, quickly cut the cord which held him to his stone, took him in his arms, and, with a sharp blow of his heel, mounted to the surface.
disentangled - démelé, (se) démeler
cord - corde, cordon
heel - talon, alinéa
We all three followed in a few seconds, saved by a miracle, and reached the fisherman's boat.
Captain Nemo's first care was to recall the unfortunate man to life again. I did not think he could succeed. I hoped so, for the poor creature's immersion was not long; but the blow from the shark's tail might have been his death-blow.
immersion - l'immersion, immersion
Happily, with the Captain's and Conseil's sharp friction, I saw consciousness return by degrees. He opened his eyes. What was his surprise, his terror even, at seeing four great copper heads leaning over him! And, above all, what must he have thought when Captain Nemo, drawing from the pocket of his dress a bag of pearls, placed it in his hand!
friction - frottement, friction, désaccord
consciousness - la conscience, conscience
This munificent charity from the man of the waters to the poor Cingalese was accepted with a trembling hand. His wondering eyes showed that he knew not to what super-human beings he owed both fortune and life.
munificent - munificent
wondering - se demander, (wonder), merveille, conjecturer
owed - du, devoir
super - super, formidable
At a sign from the Captain we regained the bank, and, following the road already traversed, came in about half an hour to the anchor which held the canoe of the Nautilus to the earth.
Once on board, we each, with the help of the sailors, got rid of the heavy copper helmet.
Captain Nemo's first word was to the Canadian.
"Thank you, Master Land," said he.
"It was in revenge, Captain," replied Ned Land. "I owed you that."
in revenge - pour se venger
A ghastly smile passed across the Captain's lips, and that was all.
ghastly - épouvantable, effrayant, affreux, horrible
"To the Nautilus," said he.
The boat flew over the waves. Some minutes after we met the shark's dead body floating. By the black marking of the extremity of its fins, I recognised the terrible melanopteron of the Indian Seas, of the species of shark so properly called. It was more than twenty-five feet long; its enormous mouth occupied one-third of its body.
flew over - survoler
It was an adult, as was known by its six rows of teeth placed in an isosceles triangle in the upper jaw.
upper jaw - la mâchoire supérieure
Whilst I was contemplating this inert mass, a dozen of these voracious beasts appeared round the boat; and, without noticing us, threw themselves upon the dead body and fought with one another for the pieces.
contemplating - contempler, envisager, étudier
At half-past eight we were again on board the Nautilus. There I reflected on the incidents which had taken place in our excursion to the Manaar Bank.
Two conclusions I must inevitably draw from it"one bearing upon the unparalleled courage of Captain Nemo, the other upon his devotion to a human being, a representative of that race from which he fled beneath the sea. Whatever he might say, this strange man had not yet succeeded in entirely crushing his heart.
conclusions - conclusions, conclusion, fin
unparalleled - inégalée
devotion - la dévotion, dévouement, dévotion
representative - typique, représentatif, représentant, représentante, délégué
When I made this observation to him, he answered in a slightly moved tone:
"That Indian, sir, is an inhabitant of an oppressed country; and I am still, and shall be, to my last breath, one of them!"
oppressed - opprimés, opprimer, oppresser
In the course of the day of the 29th of January, the island of Ceylon disappeared under the horizon, and the Nautilus, at a speed of twenty miles an hour, slid into the labyrinth of canals which separate the Maldives from the Laccadives.
labyrinth - labyrinthe
canals - canaux, canal
Maldives - les maldives, Maldives-p
It coasted even the Island of Kiltan, a land originally coraline, discovered by Vasco da Gama in 1499, and one of the nineteen principal islands of the Laccadive Archipelago, situated between 10° and 14° 30˛ N. lat., and 69° 50˛ 72ł E. long.
We had made 16,220 miles, or 7,500 (French) leagues from our starting-point in the Japanese Seas.
The next day (30th January), when the Nautilus went to the surface of the ocean there was no land in sight. Its course was N.N.E., in the direction of the Sea of Oman, between Arabia and the Indian Peninsula, which serves as an outlet to the Persian Gulf. It was evidently a block without any possible egress. Where was Captain Nemo taking us to? I could not say.
Oman - oman
Arabia - Arabie
outlet - sortie, conduit, exutoire, issue, dérivatif, magasin d’usine
Persian - Persan
egress - l'évacuation
This, however, did not satisfy the Canadian, who that day came to me asking where we were going.
"We are going where our Captain's fancy takes us, Master Ned."
"His fancy cannot take us far, then," said the Canadian. "The Persian Gulf has no outlet: and, if we do go in, it will not be long before we are out again."
"Very well, then, we will come out again, Master Land; and if, after the Persian Gulf, the Nautilus would like to visit the Red Sea, the Straits of Bab-el-mandeb are there to give us entrance."
Bab - Bab
"I need not tell you, sir," said Ned Land, "that the Red Sea is as much closed as the Gulf, as the Isthmus of Suez is not yet cut; and, if it was, a boat as mysterious as ours would not risk itself in a canal cut with sluices. And again, the Red Sea is not the road to take us back to Europe."
Isthmus - isthme
sluices - les écluses, écluse
"But I never said we were going back to Europe."
"What do you suppose, then?"
"I suppose that, after visiting the curious coasts of Arabia and Egypt, the Nautilus will go down the Indian Ocean again, perhaps cross the Channel of Mozambique, perhaps off the Mascarenhas, so as to gain the Cape of Good Hope."
Mozambique - Mozambique
"And once at the Cape of Good Hope?" asked the Canadian, with peculiar emphasis.
emphasis - l'accent, accent, emphase, graisse (4)
"Well, we shall penetrate into that Atlantic which we do not yet know. Ah! friend Ned, you are getting tired of this journey under the sea; you are surfeited with the incessantly varying spectacle of submarine wonders. For my part, I shall be sorry to see the end of a voyage which it is given to so few men to make."
For four days, till the 3rd of February, the Nautilus scoured the Sea of Oman, at various speeds and at various depths. It seemed to go at random, as if hesitating as to which road it should follow, but we never passed the Tropic of Cancer.
hesitating - hésitant, hésiter
In quitting this sea we sighted Muscat for an instant, one of the most important towns of the country of Oman. I admired its strange aspect, surrounded by black rocks upon which its white houses and forts stood in relief. I saw the rounded domes of its mosques, the elegant points of its minarets, its fresh and verdant terraces. But it was only a vision!
domes - dômes, dôme
Mosques - les mosquées, mosquée
minarets - minarets, minaret
Terraces - les terrasses, toit-terrasse, terrasse, gradins-p
The Nautilus soon sank under the waves of that part of the sea.
We passed along the Arabian coast of Mahrah and Hadramaut, for a distance of six miles, its undulating line of mountains being occasionally relieved by some ancient ruin. The 5th of February we at last entered the Gulf of Aden, a perfect funnel introduced into the neck of Bab-el-mandeb, through which the Indian waters entered the Red Sea.
ruin - la ruine, ruine, ruiner, abîmer, foutre en l'air
funnel - entonnoir
The 6th of February, the Nautilus floated in sight of Aden, perched upon a promontory which a narrow isthmus joins to the mainland, a kind of inaccessible Gibraltar, the fortifications of which were rebuilt by the English after taking possession in 1839. I caught a glimpse of the octagon minarets of this town, which was at one time the richest commercial magazine on the coast.
promontory - promontoire
Gibraltar - Gibraltar
fortifications - des fortifications, fortification, renforcement
rebuilt - reconstruit, reconstruire
octagon - octogone
commercial - publicité, commercial
I certainly thought that Captain Nemo, arrived at this point, would back out again; but I was mistaken, for he did no such thing, much to my surprise.
my surprise - ma surprise
The next day, the 7th of February, we entered the Straits of Bab-el-mandeb, the name of which, in the Arab tongue, means The Gate of Tears.
Arab - arabe
To twenty miles in breadth, it is only thirty-two in length. And for the Nautilus, starting at full speed, the crossing was scarcely the work of an hour. But I saw nothing, not even the Island of Perim, with which the British Government has fortified the position of Aden.
fortified - fortifié, fortifier, renforcer, supplémenter
There were too many English or French steamers of the line of Suez to Bombay, Calcutta to Melbourne, and from Bourbon to the Mauritius, furrowing this narrow passage, for the Nautilus to venture to show itself. So it remained prudently below. At last about noon, we were in the waters of the Red Sea.
Bombay - Bombay
Mauritius - l'île maurice, Maurice, île Maurice
Venture - venture, s'aventurer, risquer, oser
prudently - prudemment
I would not even seek to understand the caprice which had decided Captain Nemo upon entering the gulf. But I quite approved of the Nautilus entering it. Its speed was lessened: sometimes it kept on the surface, sometimes it dived to avoid a vessel, and thus I was able to observe the upper and lower parts of this curious sea.
caprice - caprice
The 8th of February, from the first dawn of day, Mocha came in sight, now a ruined town, whose walls would fall at a gunshot, yet which shelters here and there some verdant date-trees; once an important city, containing six public markets, and twenty-six mosques, and whose walls, defended by fourteen forts, formed a girdle of two miles in circumference.
Mocha - moka
ruined - ruiné, ruine, ruiner, abîmer, foutre en l'air
gunshot - coup de feu
shelters - les refuges, abri, refuge, abriter
defended - défendue, défendre
girdle - gaine, corset, ceinture
The Nautilus then approached the African shore, where the depth of the sea was greater. There, between two waters clear as crystal, through the open panels we were allowed to contemplate the beautiful bushes of brilliant coral and large blocks of rock clothed with a splendid fur of green variety of sites and landscapes along these sandbanks and algæ and fuci.
contemplate - envisager, étudier, contempler
splendid - splendide, fameux
sandbanks - bancs de sable, banc de sable
What an indescribable spectacle, and what variety of sites and landscapes along these sandbanks and volcanic islands which bound the Libyan coast! But where these shrubs appeared in all their beauty was on the eastern coast, which the Nautilus soon gained.
Libyan - libyen, libyque, Libyenne
It was on the coast of Tehama, for there not only did this display of zoophytes flourish beneath the level of the sea, but they also formed picturesque interlacings which unfolded themselves about sixty feet above the surface, more capricious but less highly coloured than those whose freshness was kept up by the vital power of the waters.
display - l'affichage, représentation, spectacle, moniteur, écran
flourish - s'épanouir, fleurir, brandir, gesticulation, fioriture
interlacings - entrelacs
unfolded - déployé, déplier, dérouler, fr
more capricious - plus capricieux
freshness - fraîcheur
vital - vitale, vital
What charming hours I passed thus at the window of the saloon! What new specimens of submarine flora and fauna did I admire under the brightness of our electric lantern!
The 9th of February the Nautilus floated in the broadest part of the Red Sea, which is comprised between Souakin, on the west coast, and Komfidah, on the east coast, with a diameter of ninety miles.
broadest - le plus large, large
That day at noon, after the bearings were taken, Captain Nemo mounted the platform, where I happened to be, and I was determined not to let him go down again without at least pressing him regarding his ulterior projects. As soon as he saw me he approached and graciously offered me a cigar.
ulterior - arriere-pensée
graciously - gracieusement
"Well, sir, does this Red Sea please you? Have you sufficiently observed the wonders it covers, its fishes, its zoophytes, its parterres of sponges, and its forests of coral? Did you catch a glimpse of the towns on its borders?"
"Yes, Captain Nemo," I replied; "and the Nautilus is wonderfully fitted for such a study. Ah! it is an intelligent boat!"
wonderfully - a merveille
"Yes, sir, intelligent and invulnerable. It fears neither the terrible tempests of the Red Sea, nor its currents, nor its sandbanks."
invulnerable - invulnérable
"Certainly," said I, "this sea is quoted as one of the worst, and in the time of the ancients, if I am not mistaken, its reputation was detestable."
"Detestable, M. Aronnax. The Greek and Latin historians do not speak favourably of it, and Strabo says it is very dangerous during the Etesian winds and in the rainy season. The Arabian Edrisi portrays it under the name of the Gulf of Colzoum, and relates that vessels perished there in great numbers on the sandbanks and that no one would risk sailing in the night.
historians - les historiens, historien, historienne
favourably - favorablement
Etesian - etesian, étésien
rainy season - la saison des pluies
portrays - représente, dépeindre, représenter, portraire, décrire
relates - se rapporte, raconter, relater
It is, he pretends, a sea subject to fearful hurricanes, strewn with inhospitable islands, and which offers nothing good either on its surface or in its depths.'"
pretends - prétend, prétendre, prétendre a, feindre, faire semblant
hurricanes - les ouragans, ouragan
offers - offres, offrir, proposer
"One may see," I replied, "that these historians never sailed on board the Nautilus."
"Just so," replied the Captain, smiling; "and in that respect moderns are not more advanced than the ancients. It required many ages to find out the mechanical power of steam. Who knows if, in another hundred years, we may not see a second Nautilus? Progress is slow, M. Aronnax."
"It is true," I answered; "your boat is at least a century before its time, perhaps an era. What a misfortune that the secret of such an invention should die with its inventor!"
era - l'époque, ere, période, époque
inventor - inventeur, inventrice
Captain Nemo did not reply. After some minutes'silence he continued:
"You were speaking of the opinions of ancient historians upon the dangerous navigation of the Red Sea."
"It is true," said I; "but were not their fears exaggerated?"
"Yes and no, M. Aronnax," replied Captain Nemo, who seemed to know the Red Sea by heart. "That which is no longer dangerous for a modern vessel, well rigged, strongly built, and master of its own course, thanks to obedient steam, offered all sorts of perils to the ships of the ancients.
by heart - par cour
rigged - truqué, gréer
perils - périls, péril, risque
Picture to yourself those first navigators venturing in ships made of planks sewn with the cords of the palmtree, saturated with the grease of the seadog, and covered with powdered resin! They had not even instruments wherewith to take their bearings, and they went by guess amongst currents of which they scarcely knew anything. Under such conditions shipwrecks were, and must have been, numerous.
venturing - s'aventurer, (venture), risquer, oser
planks - des planches, planche, gainage
sewn - cousu, coudre
palmtree - palmier
grease - graisse, graisser, graisser la patte, corrompre, lubrifier
seadog - chien de mer, loup de mer
powdered - en poudre, poudre, réduire en poudre, pulvériser, poudrer
resin - résine
wherewith - avec quoi
But in our time, steamers running between Suez and the South Seas have nothing more to fear from the fury of this gulf, in spite of contrary trade-winds. The captain and passengers do not prepare for their departure by offering propitiatory sacrifices; and, on their return, they no longer go ornamented with wreaths and gilt fillets to thank the gods in the neighbouring temple."
propitiatory - propitiatoire
sacrifices - sacrifices, sacrifier, sacrifice, offrande
wreaths - couronnes, couronne, guirlande, tortil
Temple - le temple, tempe, temple
"I agree with you," said I; "and steam seems to have killed all gratitude in the hearts of sailors. But, Captain, since you seem to have especially studied this sea, can you tell me the origin of its name?"
gratitude - la gratitude, gratitude
"There exist several explanations on the subject, M. Aronnax. Would you like to know the opinion of a chronicler of the fourteenth century?"
chronicler - chroniqueur
Fourteenth - quatorzieme, quatorzieme ('before the noun'), ('in names of monarchs and popes') quatorze ('after the name') ('abbreviation' XIV)
"Willingly."
"This fanciful writer pretends that its name was given to it after the passage of the Israelites, when Pharaoh perished in the waves which closed at the voice of Moses."
fanciful - fantaisiste
Israelites - les israélites, Israélite, fils d'Israël
Pharaoh - pharaon
Moses - moise, Moise, (mos) moise
"A poet's explanation, Captain Nemo," I replied; "but I cannot content myself with that. I ask you for your personal opinion."
"Here it is, M. Aronnax. According to my idea, we must see in this appellation of the Red Sea a translation of the Hebrew word Edom'; and if the ancients gave it that name, it was on account of the particular colour of its waters."
translation - traduction, translation, transmission
Hebrew - l'hébreu, hébreu, hébraique
"But up to this time I have seen nothing but transparent waves and without any particular colour."
"Very likely; but as we advance to the bottom of the gulf, you will see this singular appearance. I remember seeing the Bay of Tor entirely red, like a sea of blood."
"And you attribute this colour to the presence of a microscopic seaweed?"
attribute - attribut, épithete or déterminant
microscopic - microscopique
"Yes."
"So, Captain Nemo, it is not the first time you have overrun the Red Sea on board the Nautilus?"
overrun - débordé, exceder
"No, sir."
"As you spoke a while ago of the passage of the Israelites and of the catastrophe to the Egyptians, I will ask whether you have met with the traces under the water of this great historical fact?"
Egyptians - les égyptiens, égyptien, égyptienne
historical - historique
"No, sir; and for a good reason."
"What is it?"
"It is that the spot where Moses and his people passed is now so blocked up with sand that the camels can barely bathe their legs there. You can well understand that there would not be water enough for my Nautilus."
blocked up - bloqué
camels - chameaux, chameau
barely - a peine, a peine
bathe - prendre un bain, se baigner, faire prendre un bain, baignade
"And the spot?" I asked.
"The spot is situated a little above the Isthmus of Suez, in the arm which formerly made a deep estuary, when the Red Sea extended to the Salt Lakes.
estuary - l'estuaire, estuaire
Now, whether this passage were miraculous or not, the Israelites, nevertheless, crossed there to reach the Promised Land, and Pharaoh's army perished precisely on that spot; and I think that excavations made in the middle of the sand would bring to light a large number of arms and instruments of Egyptian origin."
miraculous - miraculeux
excavations - des fouilles, fouille
Egyptian - égyptien, égyptienne
"That is evident," I replied; "and for the sake of archaeologists let us hope that these excavations will be made sooner or later, when new towns are established on the isthmus, after the construction of the Suez Canal; a canal, however, very useless to a vessel like the Nautilus."
archaeologists - archéologues, archéologue, archéologiste
"Very likely; but useful to the whole world," said Captain Nemo. "The ancients well understood the utility of a communication between the Red Sea and the Mediterranean for their commercial affairs: but they did not think of digging a canal direct, and took the Nile as an intermediate. Very probably the canal which united the Nile to the Red Sea was begun by Sesostris, if we may believe tradition.
utility - d'utilité publique, utilité, utilitaire
affairs - affaires, aventure, liaison
digging - creusant, (dig) creusant
Nile - le nil, Nil
intermediate - intermédiaire, concilier
One thing is certain, that in the year 615 before Jesus Christ, Necos undertook the works of an alimentary canal to the waters of the Nile across the plain of Egypt, looking towards Arabia. It took four days to go up this canal, and it was so wide that two triremes could go abreast. It was carried on by Darius, the son of Hystaspes, and probably finished by Ptolemy II.
Christ - le christ, Christ, Messie, bon Dieu de merde
undertook - a entrepris, entreprendre
alimentary - alimentaire
triremes - les triremes, trireme
Ptolemy - Ptolémée
Strabo saw it navigated: but its decline from the point of departure, near Bubastes, to the Red Sea was so slight that it was only navigable for a few months in the year. This canal answered all commercial purposes to the age of Antonius, when it was abandoned and blocked up with sand.
navigated - navigué, naviguer
decline - déclin
navigable - navigable
blocked - bloqué, bloc
Restored by order of the Caliph Omar, it was definitely destroyed in 761 or 762 by Caliph Al-Mansor, who wished to prevent the arrival of provisions to Mohammed-ben-Abdallah, who had revolted against him.
restored - restaurée, restaurer, rétablir, rendre, restituer
Caliph - calife
revolted - révoltés, révolter
During the expedition into Egypt, your General Bonaparte discovered traces of the works in the Desert of Suez; and, surprised by the tide, he nearly perished before regaining Hadjaroth, at the very place where Moses had encamped three thousand years before him."
Regaining - la reconquete, reconquérir, reprendre
"Well, Captain, what the ancients dared not undertake, this junction between the two seas, which will shorten the road from Cadiz to India, M. Lesseps has succeeded in doing; and before long he will have changed Africa into an immense island."
dared - osé, oser
junction - jonction
shorten - raccourcir, écourter
Africa - l'afrique, l’Afrique
"Yes, M. Aronnax; you have the right to be proud of your countryman. Such a man brings more honour to a nation than great captains. He began, like so many others, with disgust and rebuffs; but he has triumphed, for he has the genius of will.
nation - nation, peuple
rebuffs - des rebuffades, rebuffade
triumphed - triomphé, triomphe
And it is sad to think that a work like that, which ought to have been an international work and which would have sufficed to make a reign illustrious, should have succeeded by the energy of one man. All honour to M. Lesseps!"
sufficed - suffisent, suffire, suffire 2, fr
illustrious - illustre
"Yes! honour to the great citizen," I replied, surprised by the manner in which Captain Nemo had just spoken.
citizen - citoyen, citoyenne, habitant
"Unfortunately," he continued, "I cannot take you through the Suez Canal; but you will be able to see the long jetty of Port Said after to-morrow, when we shall be in the Mediterranean."
jetty - jetée, mole
"The Mediterranean!" I exclaimed.
"Yes, sir; does that astonish you?"
astonish - étonner, surprendre
"What astonishes me is to think that we shall be there the day after to-morrow."
astonishes - étonne, étonner, surprendre
"Indeed?"
"Yes, Captain, although by this time I ought to have accustomed myself to be surprised at nothing since I have been on board your boat."
"But the cause of this surprise?"
"Well! it is the fearful speed you will have to put on the Nautilus, if the day after to-morrow she is to be in the Mediterranean, having made the round of Africa, and doubled the Cape of Good Hope!"
"Who told you that she would make the round of Africa and double the Cape of Good Hope, sir?"
"Well, unless the Nautilus sails on dry land, and passes above the isthmus"""
"Or beneath it, M. Aronnax."
"Beneath it?"
"Certainly," replied Captain Nemo quietly. "A long time ago Nature made under this tongue of land what man has this day made on its surface."
"What! such a passage exists?"
"Yes; a subterranean passage, which I have named the Arabian Tunnel. It takes us beneath Suez and opens into the Gulf of Pelusium."
subterranean - souterraine, souterrain
tunnel - tunnel
"But this isthmus is composed of nothing but quick sands?"
"To a certain depth. But at fifty-five yards only there is a solid layer of rock."
layer - couche, (lay) couche
"Did you discover this passage by chance?" I asked more and more surprised.
"Chance and reasoning, sir; and by reasoning even more than by chance. Not only does this passage exist, but I have profited by it several times. Without that I should not have ventured this day into the impassable Red Sea. I noticed that in the Red Sea and in the Mediterranean there existed a certain number of fishes of a kind perfectly identical.
profited - en a profité, profit, gain, bénéfice, profitable
impassable - impraticable
Certain of the fact, I asked myself was it possible that there was no communication between the two seas? If there was, the subterranean current must necessarily run from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean, from the sole cause of difference of level. I caught a large number of fishes in the neighbourhood of Suez. I passed a copper ring through their tails, and threw them back into the sea.
neighbourhood - quartier
Some months later, on the coast of Syria, I caught some of my fish ornamented with the ring. Thus the communication between the two was proved. I then sought for it with my Nautilus; I discovered it, ventured into it, and before long, sir, you too will have passed through my Arabian tunnel!"
That same evening, in 21° 30˛ N. lat., the Nautilus floated on the surface of the sea, approaching the Arabian coast. I saw Djeddah, the most important counting-house of Egypt, Syria, Turkey, and India. I distinguished clearly enough its buildings, the vessels anchored at the quays, and those whose draught of water obliged them to anchor in the roads.
quays - quais, quai
The sun, rather low on the horizon, struck full on the houses of the town, bringing out their whiteness. Outside, some wooden cabins, and some made of reeds, showed the quarter inhabited by the Bedouins. Soon Djeddah was shut out from view by the shadows of night, and the Nautilus found herself under water slightly phosphorescent.
bringing out - a faire sortir
Bedouins - bédouins, Bédouin, Bédouine
The next day, the 10th of February, we sighted several ships running to windward. The Nautilus returned to its submarine navigation; but at noon, when her bearings were taken, the sea being deserted, she rose again to her waterline.
Accompanied by Ned and Conseil, I seated myself on the platform. The coast on the eastern side looked like a mass faintly printed upon a damp fog.
faintly - faiblement
We were leaning on the sides of the pinnace, talking of one thing and another, when Ned Land, stretching out his hand towards a spot on the sea, said:
"Do you see anything there, sir?"
"No, Ned," I replied; "but I have not your eyes, you know."
"Look well," said Ned, "there, on the starboard beam, about the height of the lantern! Do you not see a mass which seems to move?"
"Certainly," said I, after close attention; "I see something like a long black body on the top of the water."
And certainly before long the black object was not more than a mile from us. It looked like a great sandbank deposited in the open sea. It was a gigantic dugong!
dugong - vache marine, dugong
Ned Land looked eagerly. His eyes shone with covetousness at the sight of the animal. His hand seemed ready to harpoon it. One would have thought he was awaiting the moment to throw himself into the sea and attack it in its element.
covetousness - la convoitise, convoitise
At this instant Captain Nemo appeared on the platform. He saw the dugong, understood the Canadian's attitude, and, addressing him, said:
"If you held a harpoon just now, Master Land, would it not burn your hand?"
"Just so, sir."
"And you would not be sorry to go back, for one day, to your trade of a fisherman and to add this cetacean to the list of those you have already killed?"
"I should not, sir."
"Well, you can try."
"Thank you, sir," said Ned Land, his eyes flaming.
flaming - flammes, enflammé, flambant, (flame), flamme, polémique
"Only," continued the Captain, "I advise you for your own sake not to miss the creature."
"Is the dugong dangerous to attack?" I asked, in spite of the Canadian's shrug of the shoulders.
shrug - haussement d'épaules, hausser les épaules
"Yes," replied the Captain; "sometimes the animal turns upon its assailants and overturns their boat. But for Master Land this danger is not to be feared. His eye is prompt, his arm sure."
overturns - renversements, renverser, retourner, capoter, verser
prompt - rapide, ponctuel, indicateur, invite de commande, inciter
At this moment seven men of the crew, mute and immovable as ever, mounted the platform. One carried a harpoon and a line similar to those employed in catching whales. The pinnace was lifted from the bridge, pulled from its socket, and let down into the sea. Six oarsmen took their seats, and the coxswain went to the tiller. Ned, Conseil, and I went to the back of the boat.
socket - la prise, prise, douille, orbite (for the eye), cavité
"You are not coming, Captain?" I asked.
"No, sir; but I wish you good sport."
The boat put off, and, lifted by the six rowers, drew rapidly towards the dugong, which floated about two miles from the Nautilus.
rowers - rameurs, rameur
Arrived some cables-length from the cetacean, the speed slackened, and the oars dipped noiselessly into the quiet waters. Ned Land, harpoon in hand, stood in the fore part of the boat. The harpoon used for striking the whale is generally attached to a very long cord which runs out rapidly as the wounded creature draws it after him.
dipped - trempé, tremper
But here the cord was not more than ten fathoms long, and the extremity was attached to a small barrel which, by floating, was to show the course the dugong took under the water.
I stood and carefully watched the Canadian's adversary. This dugong, which also bears the name of the halicore, closely resembles the manatee; its oblong body terminated in a lengthened tail, and its lateral fins in perfect fingers. Its difference from the manatee consisted in its upper jaw, which was armed with two long and pointed teeth which formed on each side diverging tusks.
halicore - halicore
resembles - ressemble, ressembler
manatee - lamantin
lateral - latéral
jaw - mâchoire
diverging - divergent, diverger
This dugong which Ned Land was preparing to attack was of colossal dimensions; it was more than seven yards long. It did not move, and seemed to be sleeping on the waves, which circumstance made it easier to capture.
capture - capture, prisonnier, saisir, capturer, enregistrer, prendre
The boat approached within six yards of the animal. The oars rested on the rowlocks. I half rose. Ned Land, his body thrown a little back, brandished the harpoon in his experienced hand.
rowlocks - les serrures, dame de nage
brandished - brandi, brandir
Suddenly a hissing noise was heard, and the dugong disappeared. The harpoon, although thrown with great force; had apparently only struck the water.
apparently - apparemment, évidemment, en apparence
"Curse it!" exclaimed the Canadian furiously; "I have missed it!"
curse - malédiction, maudire, maudisent, maudisons, blasphémer
"No," said I; "the creature is wounded"look at the blood; but your weapon has not stuck in his body."
"My harpoon! my harpoon!" cried Ned Land.
The sailors rowed on, and the coxswain made for the floating barrel. The harpoon regained, we followed in pursuit of the animal.
rowed - a l'aviron, rang(ée)
The latter came now and then to the surface to breathe. Its wound had not weakened it, for it shot onwards with great rapidity.
weakened - affaibli, affaiblir
onwards - a partir de, en avant
The boat, rowed by strong arms, flew on its track. Several times it approached within some few yards, and the Canadian was ready to strike, but the dugong made off with a sudden plunge, and it was impossible to reach it.
made off - Partir en courant
Imagine the passion which excited impatient Ned Land! He hurled at the unfortunate creature the most energetic expletives in the English tongue. For my part, I was only vexed to see the dugong escape all our attacks.
passion - passion
most energetic - le plus énergique
expletives - des jurons, explétif
vexed - contrarié, ennuyer, énerver, vexer 'informal', tourmenter, vexer
We pursued it without relaxation for an hour, and I began to think it would prove difficult to capture, when the animal, possessed with the perverse idea of vengeance of which he had cause to repent, turned upon the pinnace and assailed us in its turn.
relaxation - la détente, relaxation, détente, relaxation (1, 5)
perverse - pervers
vengeance - vengeance
repent - se repentir, repentir, repentez, repentons, repentent
assailed - assailli, assaillir
This manĹ"uvre did not escape the Canadian.
"Look out!" he cried.
The coxswain said some words in his outlandish tongue, doubtless warning the men to keep on their guard.
outlandish - farfelu
The dugong came within twenty feet of the boat, stopped, sniffed the air briskly with its large nostrils (not pierced at the extremity, but in the upper part of its muzzle). Then, taking a spring, he threw himself upon us.
sniffed - reniflé, renifler, sniffer
nostrils - narines, narine, qualifier
The pinnace could not avoid the shock, and half upset, shipped at least two tons of water, which had to be emptied; but, thanks to the coxswain, we caught it sideways, not full front, so we were not quite overturned.
overturned - annulée, renverser, retourner, capoter, verser
While Ned Land, clinging to the bows, belaboured the gigantic animal with blows from his harpoon, the creature's teeth were buried in the gunwale, and it lifted the whole thing out of the water, as a lion does a roebuck. We were upset over one another, and I know not how the adventure would have ended, if the Canadian, still enraged with the beast, had not struck it to the heart.
clinging - s'accrocher, s'accrocher (a)
gunwale - le plat-bord, plat-bord
Roebuck - roebuck, cerf (du chevreuil)
enraged - enragé, rendre furieux, mettre en rage, enrager
I heard its teeth grind on the iron plate, and the dugong disappeared, carrying the harpoon with him. But the barrel soon returned to the surface, and shortly after the body of the animal, turned on its back. The boat came up with it, took it in tow, and made straight for the Nautilus.
grind - broyage, crisser, moudre
shortly - dans peu de temps, rapidement, brievement
It required tackle of enormous strength to hoist the dugong on to the platform. It weighed 10,000 lbs.
The next day, 11th February, the larder of the Nautilus was enriched by some more delicate game. A flight of sea-swallows rested on the Nautilus. It was a species of the Sterna nilotica, peculiar to Egypt; its beak is black, head grey and pointed, the eye surrounded by white spots, the back, wings, and tail of a greyish colour, the belly and throat white, and claws red.
larder - garde-manger, cellier
more delicate - plus délicate
Sterna - Sterna
greyish - grisâtre
They also took some dozen of Nile ducks, a wild bird of high flavour, its throat and upper part of the head white with black spots.
ducks - canards, plonger (dans l'eau)
About five o'clock in the evening we sighted to the north the Cape of Ras-Mohammed. This cape forms the extremity of Arabia Petraea, comprised between the Gulf of Suez and the Gulf of Acabah.
ras - ras, (RA) ras
The Nautilus penetrated into the Straits of Jubal, which leads to the Gulf of Suez. I distinctly saw a high mountain, towering between the two gulfs of Ras-Mohammed. It was Mount Horeb, that Sinai at the top of which Moses saw God face to face.
gulfs - les golfes, golfe
Sinai - le sinai, Sinai
At six o'clock the Nautilus, sometimes floating, sometimes immersed, passed some distance from Tor, situated at the end of the bay, the waters of which seemed tinted with red, an observation already made by Captain Nemo.
tinted - teinté, nuance, teinte
Then night fell in the midst of a heavy silence, sometimes broken by the cries of the pelican and other night-birds, and the noise of the waves breaking upon the shore, chafing against the rocks, or the panting of some far-off steamer beating the waters of the Gulf with its noisy paddles.
pelican - pélican
chafing - les frottements, chauffer en frictionnant, inflammation
the panting - le haletement
From eight to nine o'clock the Nautilus remained some fathoms under the water. According to my calculation we must have been very near Suez. Through the panel of the saloon I saw the bottom of the rocks brilliantly lit up by our electric lamp. We seemed to be leaving the Straits behind us more and more.
At a quarter-past nine, the vessel having returned to the surface, I mounted the platform. most impatient to pass through Captain Nemo's tunnel, I could not stay in one place, so came to breathe the fresh night air.
most impatient - le plus impatient
Soon in the shadow I saw a pale light, half discoloured by the fog, shining about a mile from us.
discoloured - décoloré, (se) décolorer
"A floating lighthouse!" said someone near me.
I turned, and saw the Captain.
"It is the floating light of Suez," he continued. "It will not be long before we gain the entrance of the tunnel."
"The entrance cannot be easy?"
"No, sir; for that reason I am accustomed to go into the steersman's cage and myself direct our course. And now, if you will go down, M. Aronnax, the Nautilus is going under the waves, and will not return to the surface until we have passed through the Arabian Tunnel."
Captain Nemo led me towards the central staircase; half way down he opened a door, traversed the upper deck, and landed in the pilot's cage, which it may be remembered rose at the extremity of the platform. It was a cabin measuring six feet square, very much like that occupied by the pilot on the steamboats of the Mississippi or Hudson.
upper deck - Le pont supérieur
measuring - mesurer, mesurant, (measure), mesure
steamboats - les bateaux a vapeur, bateau a vapeur
In the midst worked a wheel, placed vertically, and caught to the tiller-rope, which ran to the back of the Nautilus. Four light-ports with lenticular glasses, let in a groove in the partition of the cabin, allowed the man at the wheel to see in all directions.
ports - ports, port
let in - laisser entrer
This cabin was dark; but soon my eyes accustomed themselves to the obscurity, and I perceived the pilot, a strong man, with his hands resting on the spokes of the wheel. Outside, the sea appeared vividly lit up by the lantern, which shed its rays from the back of the cabin to the other extremity of the platform.
spokes - rayons, rayon
"Now," said Captain Nemo, "let us try to make our passage."
Electric wires connected the pilot's cage with the machinery room, and from there the Captain could communicate simultaneously to his Nautilus the direction and the speed. He pressed a metal knob, and at once the speed of the screw diminished.
wires - fils, fil
simultaneously - simultanément
diminished - diminué, réduire, rétrécir, rapetisser, diminuer, amincir
I looked in silence at the high straight wall we were running by at this moment, the immovable base of a massive sandy coast. We followed it thus for an hour only some few yards off.
massive - massive, massif
Captain Nemo did not take his eye from the knob, suspended by its two concentric circles in the cabin. At a simple gesture, the pilot modified the course of the Nautilus every instant.
modified - modifié, modifier
I had placed myself at the port-scuttle, and saw some magnificent substructures of coral, zoophytes, seaweed, and fucus, agitating their enormous claws, which stretched out from the fissures of the rock.
scuttle - s'éclipser, saborder, sabordez, sabordent, sabordons
substructures - les sous-structures, substructure
fissures - fissures, fissure
At a quarter-past ten, the Captain himself took the helm. A large gallery, black and deep, opened before us. The Nautilus went boldly into it. A strange roaring was heard round its sides. It was the waters of the Red Sea, which the incline of the tunnel precipitated violently towards the Mediterranean.
precipitated - précipité
The Nautilus went with the torrent, rapid as an arrow, in spite of the efforts of the machinery, which, in order to offer more effective resistance, beat the waves with reversed screw.
effective - efficace, décisif, en vigueur
reversed - inversé, faire marche arriere, inverser
On the walls of the narrow passage I could see nothing but brilliant rays, straight lines, furrows of fire, traced by the great speed, under the brilliant electric light. My heart beat fast.
furrows - sillons, sillon, rigole, ride, sillonner, froncer
At thirty-five minutes past ten, Captain Nemo quitted the helm, and, turning to me, said:
"The Mediterranean!"
In less than twenty minutes, the Nautilus, carried along by the torrent, had passed through the Isthmus of Suez.
carried along - transporté
The next day, the 12th of February, at the dawn of day, the Nautilus rose to the surface. I hastened on to the platform. Three miles to the south the dim outline of Pelusium was to be seen. A torrent had carried us from one sea to another. About seven o'clock Ned and Conseil joined me.
outline - les grandes lignes, contour, silhouette, esquisse, aperçu
"Well, Sir Naturalist," said the Canadian, in a slightly jovial tone, "and the Mediterranean?"
jovial - jovial
"We are floating on its surface, friend Ned."
"What!" said Conseil, "this very night."
"Yes, this very night; in a few minutes we have passed this impassable isthmus."
"I do not believe it," replied the Canadian.
"Then you are wrong, Master Land," I continued; "this low coast which rounds off to the south is the Egyptian coast. And you who have such good eyes, Ned, you can see the jetty of Port Said stretching into the sea."
The Canadian looked attentively.
"Certainly you are right, sir, and your Captain is a first-rate man. We are in the Mediterranean. Good! Now, if you please, let us talk of our own little affair, but so that no one hears us."
I saw what the Canadian wanted, and, in any case, I thought it better to let him talk, as he wished it; so we all three went and sat down near the lantern, where we were less exposed to the spray of the blades.
spray - pulvériser, embrun
"Now, Ned, we listen; what have you to tell us?"
"What I have to tell you is very simple. We are in Europe; and before Captain Nemo's caprices drag us once more to the bottom of the Polar Seas, or lead us into Oceania, I ask to leave the Nautilus."
caprices - caprices, caprice
I wished in no way to shackle the liberty of my companions, but I certainly felt no desire to leave Captain Nemo.
shackle - manille, chaîne
Thanks to him, and thanks to his apparatus, I was each day nearer the completion of my submarine studies; and I was rewriting my book of submarine depths in its very element. Should I ever again have such an opportunity of observing the wonders of the ocean? No, certainly not! And I could not bring myself to the idea of abandoning the Nautilus before the cycle of investigation was accomplished.
completion - l'achevement, achevement, exécution
rewriting - réécriture, réécrire, récrire
Abandoning - abandon, abandonner
investigation - enquete, investigation
"Friend Ned, answer me frankly, are you tired of being on board? Are you sorry that destiny has thrown us into Captain Nemo's hands?"
frankly - franchement
destiny - destin, destinée, sort
The Canadian remained some moments without answering. Then, crossing his arms, he said:
"Frankly, I do not regret this journey under the seas. I shall be glad to have made it; but, now that it is made, let us have done with it. That is my idea."
Glad - heureux, heureuse
"It will come to an end, Ned."
"Where and when?"
"Where I do not know"when I cannot say; or, rather, I suppose it will end when these seas have nothing more to teach us."
"Then what do you hope for?" demanded the Canadian.
"That circumstances may occur as well six months hence as now by which we may and ought to profit."
occur - se produisent, produire
"Oh!" said Ned Land, "and where shall we be in six months, if you please, Sir Naturalist?"
"Perhaps in China; you know the Nautilus is a rapid traveller. It goes through water as swallows through the air, or as an express on the land. It does not fear frequented seas; who can say that it may not beat the coasts of France, England, or America, on which flight may be attempted as advantageously as here."
attempted - tenté, tenter, essayer, tentative, attentat
advantageously - avantageusement
"M. Aronnax," replied the Canadian, "your arguments are rotten at the foundation. You speak in the future, We shall be there! we shall be here!'I speak in the present, We are here, and we must profit by it.'"
rotten - pourri, mauvais
Ned Land's logic pressed me hard, and I felt myself beaten on that ground. I knew not what argument would now tell in my favour.
"Sir," continued Ned, "let us suppose an impossibility: if Captain Nemo should this day offer you your liberty; would you accept it?"
"I do not know," I answered.
"And if," he added, "the offer made you this day was never to be renewed, would you accept it?"
"Friend Ned, this is my answer. Your reasoning is against me. We must not rely on Captain Nemo's good-will. Common prudence forbids him to set us at liberty. On the other side, prudence bids us profit by the first opportunity to leave the Nautilus."
forbids - interdit, interdire, nier, dénier
"Well, M. Aronnax, that is wisely said."
wisely - a bon escient, sagement, savamment
"Only one observation"just one. The occasion must be serious, and our first attempt must succeed; if it fails, we shall never find another, and Captain Nemo will never forgive us."
forgive - pardonner
"All that is true," replied the Canadian. "But your observation applies equally to all attempts at flight, whether in two years'time, or in two days'. But the question is still this: If a favourable opportunity presents itself, it must be seized."
"Agreed! And now, Ned, will you tell me what you mean by a favourable opportunity?"
"It will be that which, on a dark night, will bring the Nautilus a short distance from some European coast."
"And you will try and save yourself by swimming?"
"Yes, if we were near enough to the bank, and if the vessel was floating at the time. Not if the bank was far away, and the boat was under the water."
"And in that case?"
"In that case, I should seek to make myself master of the pinnace. I know how it is worked. We must get inside, and the bolts once drawn, we shall come to the surface of the water, without even the pilot, who is in the bows, perceiving our flight."
"Well, Ned, watch for the opportunity; but do not forget that a hitch will ruin us."
Hitch - l'attelage, noud d'accroche, dispositif d'attelage, accroc
"I will not forget, sir."
"And now, Ned, would you like to know what I think of your project?"
"Certainly, M. Aronnax."
"Well, I think"I do not say I hope"I think that this favourable opportunity will never present itself."
"Why not?"
"Because Captain Nemo cannot hide from himself that we have not given up all hope of regaining our liberty, and he will be on his guard, above all, in the seas and in the sight of European coasts."
"We shall see," replied Ned Land, shaking his head determinedly.
determinedly - avec détermination
"And now, Ned Land," I added, "let us stop here. Not another word on the subject. The day that you are ready, come and let us know, and we will follow you. I rely entirely upon you."
Thus ended a conversation which, at no very distant time, led to such grave results. I must say here that facts seemed to confirm my foresight, to the Canadian's great despair. Did Captain Nemo distrust us in these frequented seas? or did he only wish to hide himself from the numerous vessels, of all nations, which ploughed the Mediterranean?
confirm - confirmer
foresight - la prévoyance, clairvoyance, prévoyance, prescience
distrust - défiance, méfiance, se méfier
ploughed - labouré, charrue, araire, labourer, pilonner
I could not tell; but we were oftener between waters and far from the coast. Or, if the Nautilus did emerge, nothing was to be seen but the pilot's cage; and sometimes it went to great depths, for, between the Grecian Archipelago and Asia Minor we could not touch the bottom by more than a thousand fathoms.
minor - mineur
Thus I only knew we were near the Island of Carpathos, one of the Sporades, by Captain Nemo reciting these lines from Virgil:
reciting - réciter
Virgil - virgile
"Est Carpathio Neptuni gurgite vates,
est - est, HNE, STA
gurgite - gurgite
Caeruleus Proteus,"
Proteus - proteus, Protée
as he pointed to a spot on the planisphere.
It was indeed the ancient abode of Proteus, the old shepherd of Neptune's flocks, now the Island of Scarpanto, situated between Rhodes and Crete. I saw nothing but the granite base through the glass panels of the saloon.
abode - domicile, demeure, (abide), endurer, tolérer
shepherd - berger, bergere, pasteur, pâtre
Crete - crete, Crete
The next day, the 14th of February, I resolved to employ some hours in studying the fishes of the Archipelago; but for some reason or other the panels remained hermetically sealed. Upon taking the course of the Nautilus, I found that we were going towards Candia, the ancient Isle of Crete.
sealed - scellé, sceau
At the time I embarked on the Abraham Lincoln, the whole of this island had risen in insurrection against the despotism of the Turks. But how the insurgents had fared since that time I was absolutely ignorant, and it was not Captain Nemo, deprived of all land communications, who could tell me.
insurrection - l'insurrection, insurrection
despotism - le despotisme, despotisme
insurgents - insurgés, insurgé, insurgée
I made no allusion to this event when that night I found myself alone with him in the saloon. Besides, he seemed to be taciturn and preoccupied. Then, contrary to his custom, he ordered both panels to be opened, and, going from one to the other, observed the mass of waters attentively. To what end I could not guess; so, on my side, I employed my time in studying the fish passing before my eyes.
preoccupied - préoccupé, préoccuper
In the midst of the waters a man appeared, a diver, carrying at his belt a leathern purse. It was not a body abandoned to the waves; it was a living man, swimming with a strong hand, disappearing occasionally to take breath at the surface.
leathern - leathern
purse - sac a main, bourse, portemonnaie, portefeuille, sac a main
I turned towards Captain Nemo, and in an agitated voice exclaimed:
"A man shipwrecked! He must be saved at any price!"
"A man! A shipwrecked sailor!" I cried
The Captain did not answer me, but came and leaned against the panel.
The man had approached, and, with his face flattened against the glass, was looking at us.
To my great amazement, Captain Nemo signed to him. The diver answered with his hand, mounted immediately to the surface of the water, and did not appear again.
"Do not be uncomfortable," said Captain Nemo. "It is Nicholas of Cape Matapan, surnamed Pesca. He is well known in all the Cyclades. A bold diver! water is his element, and he lives more in it than on land, going continually from one island to another, even as far as Crete."
surnamed - nom de famille, nom, patronyme
Cyclades - Cyclades
"You know him, Captain?"
"Why not, M. Aronnax?"
Saying which, Captain Nemo went towards a piece of furniture standing near the left panel of the saloon. Near this piece of furniture, I saw a chest bound with iron, on the cover of which was a copper plate, bearing the cypher of the Nautilus with its device.
copper plate - plaque de cuivre
cypher - cypher
At that moment, the Captain, without noticing my presence, opened the piece of furniture, a sort of strong box, which held a great many ingots.
strong box - boîte forte
ingots - lingots, lingot
They were ingots of gold. From whence came this precious metal, which represented an enormous sum? Where did the Captain gather this gold from? and what was he going to do with it?
precious metal - métal précieux
I did not say one word. I looked. Captain Nemo took the ingots one by one, and arranged them methodically in the chest, which he filled entirely. I estimated the contents at more than 4,000 lbs. weight of gold, that is to say, nearly ÂŁ200,000.
methodically - méthodiquement
The chest was securely fastened, and the Captain wrote an address on the lid, in characters which must have belonged to Modern Greece.
securely - en toute sécurité
lid - couvercle
Greece - la grece, Grece
This done, Captain Nemo pressed a knob, the wire of which communicated with the quarters of the crew. Four men appeared, and, not without some trouble, pushed the chest out of the saloon. Then I heard them hoisting it up the iron staircase by means of pulleys.
pulleys - poulies, poulie
At that moment, Captain Nemo turned to me.
"And you were saying, sir?" said he.
"I was saying nothing, Captain."
"Then, sir, if you will allow me, I will wish you good night."
Whereupon he turned and left the saloon.
I returned to my room much troubled, as one may believe. I vainly tried to sleep"I sought the connecting link between the apparition of the diver and the chest filled with gold. Soon, I felt by certain movements of pitching and tossing that the Nautilus was leaving the depths and returning to the surface.
pitching - le tangage, (pitch) le tangage
tossing - le lancer, (toss), jet, au pile ou face, tirage au sort, lancer
Then I heard steps upon the platform; and I knew they were unfastening the pinnace and launching it upon the waves. For one instant it struck the side of the Nautilus, then all noise ceased.
unfastening - le déverrouillage, défaire
Launching - lancement, lancer
Two hours after, the same noise, the same going and coming was renewed; the boat was hoisted on board, replaced in its socket, and the Nautilus again plunged under the waves.
hoisted - hissé, hisser
So these millions had been transported to their address. To what point of the continent? Who was Captain Nemo's correspondent?
correspondent - correspondant, correspondante
The next day I related to Conseil and the Canadian the events of the night, which had excited my curiosity to the highest degree. My companions were not less surprised than myself.
"But where does he take his millions to?" asked Ned Land.
To that there was no possible answer. I returned to the saloon after having breakfast and set to work. Till five o'clock in the evening I employed myself in arranging my notes. At that moment"(ought I to attribute it to some peculiar idiosyncrasy)"I felt so great a heat that I was obliged to take off my coat.
having breakfast - en train de prendre le petit-déjeuner
idiosyncrasy - idiosyncrasie
It was strange, for we were under low latitudes; and even then the Nautilus, submerged as it was, ought to experience no change of temperature. I looked at the manometer; it showed a depth of sixty feet, to which atmospheric heat could never attain.
I continued my work, but the temperature rose to such a pitch as to be intolerable.
intolerable - intolérable
"Could there be fire on board?" I asked myself.
I was leaving the saloon, when Captain Nemo entered; he approached the thermometer, consulted it, and, turning to me, said:
"Forty-two degrees."
"I have noticed it, Captain," I replied; "and if it gets much hotter we cannot bear it."
"Oh, sir, it will not get better if we do not wish it."
"You can reduce it as you please, then?"
"No; but I can go farther from the stove which produces it."
stove - poele, fourneau, cuisiniere, (stave), douve, fuseau
"It is outward, then!"
"Certainly; we are floating in a current of boiling water."
"Is it possible!" I exclaimed.
"Look."
The panels opened, and I saw the sea entirely white all round. A sulphurous smoke was curling amid the waves, which boiled like water in a copper. I placed my hand on one of the panes of glass, but the heat was so great that I quickly took it off again.
sulphurous - sulfureux
curling - le curling, curling, (curl), boucle, rotationnel, boucler
amid - amid, au milieu de, parmi, entre
"Where are we?" I asked.
"Near the Island of Santorin, sir," replied the Captain. "I wished to give you a sight of the curious spectacle of a submarine eruption."
"I thought," said I, "that the formation of these new islands was ended."
"Nothing is ever ended in the volcanic parts of the sea," replied Captain Nemo; "and the globe is always being worked by subterranean fires. Already, in the nineteenth year of our era, according to Cassiodorus and Pliny, a new island, Theia (the divine), appeared in the very place where these islets have recently been formed.
nineteenth - dix-neuvieme, dix-neuvieme ('before the noun'), ('in names of monarchs and popes') dix-neuf ('after the name') ('abbreviation' XIX)
divine - divine, divin
Then they sank under the waves, to rise again in the year 69, when they again subsided. Since that time to our days the Plutonian work has been suspended. But on the 3rd of February, 1866, a new island, which they named George Island, emerged from the midst of the sulphurous vapour near Nea Kamenni, and settled again the 6th of the same month.
Seven days after, the 13th of February, the Island of Aphroessa appeared, leaving between Nea Kamenni and itself a canal ten yards broad. I was in these seas when the phenomenon occurred, and I was able therefore to observe all the different phases. The Island of Aphroessa, of round form, measured 300 feet in diameter, and 30 feet in height.
It was composed of black and vitreous lava, mixed with fragments of felspar. And lastly, on the 10th of March, a smaller island, called Reka, showed itself near Nea Kamenni, and since then these three have joined together, forming but one and the same island."
vitreous - vitreux
lava - lave
felspar - felspar
"And the canal in which we are at this moment?" I asked.
"Here it is," replied Captain Nemo, showing me a map of the Archipelago. "You see, I have marked the new islands."
I returned to the glass. The Nautilus was no longer moving, the heat was becoming unbearable. The sea, which till now had been white, was red, owing to the presence of salts of iron. In spite of the ship's being hermetically sealed, an insupportable smell of sulphur filled the saloon, and the brilliancy of the electricity was entirely extinguished by bright scarlet flames.
till now - jusqu'a maintenant
insupportable - insupportable
flames - flammes, flamme, polémique
I was in a bath, I was choking, I was broiled.
broiled - grillé, (faire) griller
"We can remain no longer in this boiling water," said I to the Captain.
"It would not be prudent," replied the impassive Captain Nemo.
An order was given; the Nautilus tacked about and left the furnace it could not brave with impunity. A quarter of an hour after we were breathing fresh air on the surface. The thought then struck me that, if Ned Land had chosen this part of the sea for our flight, we should never have come alive out of this sea of fire.
tacked - plaqué, punaise
The next day, the 16th of February, we left the basin which, between Rhodes and Alexandria, is reckoned about 1,500 fathoms in depth, and the Nautilus, passing some distance from Cerigo, quitted the Grecian Archipelago after having doubled Cape Matapan.
Alexandria - alexandrie
The Mediterranean, the blue sea par excellence, "the great sea" of the Hebrews, "the sea" of the Greeks, the "mare nostrum" of the Romans, bordered by orange-trees, aloes, cacti, and sea-pines; embalmed with the perfume of the myrtle, surrounded by rude mountains, saturated with pure and transparent air, but incessantly worked by underground fires; a perfect battlefield in which Neptune and Pluto still dispute the empire of the world!
par - par, égalité
excellence - l'excellence, excellence
Hebrews - hébreux, hébreu, hébraique
Greeks - les grecs, grec, grecque, grecques
nostrum - nostrum, poudre de perlimpimpin, remede de bonne femme
aloes - aloes, aloes
cacti - des cactus, cactus
embalmed - embaumé, embaumer
perfume - parfum, fragrance, parfumer
Myrtle - myrte
battlefield - champ de bataille
Pluto - pluton
Empire - l'empire, empire
It is upon these banks, and on these waters, says Michelet, that man is renewed in one of the most powerful climates of the globe. But, beautiful as it was, I could only take a rapid glance at the basin whose superficial area is two million of square yards. Even Captain Nemo's knowledge was lost to me, for this puzzling person did not appear once during our passage at full speed.
superficial - superficielle, superficiel
I estimated the course which the Nautilus took under the waves of the sea at about six hundred leagues, and it was accomplished in forty-eight hours. Starting on the morning of the 16th of February from the shores of Greece, we had crossed the Straits of Gibraltar by sunrise on the 18th.
It was plain to me that this Mediterranean, enclosed in the midst of those countries which he wished to avoid, was distasteful to Captain Nemo. Those waves and those breezes brought back too many remembrances, if not too many regrets.
distasteful - de mauvais gout
breezes - brises, brise
regrets - des regrets, regretter, regret
Here he had no longer that independence and that liberty of gait which he had when in the open seas, and his Nautilus felt itself cramped between the close shores of Africa and Europe.
gait - démarche
Our speed was now twenty-five miles an hour. It may be well understood that Ned Land, to his great disgust, was obliged to renounce his intended flight. He could not launch the pinnace, going at the rate of twelve or thirteen yards every second. To quit the Nautilus under such conditions would be as bad as jumping from a train going at full speed"an imprudent thing, to say the least of it.
intended - prévu, planifié, voulu, (intend), avoir l'intention
quit - démissionner, quittons, quittez, démissioner, quittent
Besides, our vessel only mounted to the surface of the waves at night to renew its stock of air; it was steered entirely by the compass and the log.
stock - stock, provision, stockage
I saw no more of the interior of this Mediterranean than a traveller by express train perceives of the landscape which flies before his eyes; that is to say, the distant horizon, and not the nearer objects which pass like a flash of lightning.
perceives - perçoit, percevoir
landscape - paysage
We were then passing between Sicily and the coast of Tunis. In the narrow space between Cape Bon and the Straits of Messina the bottom of the sea rose almost suddenly. There was a perfect bank, on which there was not more than nine fathoms of water, whilst on either side the depth was ninety fathoms.
Sicily - la sicile, Sicile
Tunis - tunis
Messina - messine
The Nautilus had to manĹ"uvre very carefully so as not to strike against this submarine barrier.
I showed Conseil, on the map of the Mediterranean, the spot occupied by this reef.
"But if you please, sir," observed Conseil, "it is like a real isthmus joining Europe to Africa."
"Yes, my boy, it forms a perfect bar to the Straits of Lybia, and the soundings of Smith have proved that in former times the continents between Cape Boco and Cape Furina were joined."
Smith - smith, Lefevre, Lefébure, Lefebvre
"I can well believe it," said Conseil.
"I will add," I continued, "that a similar barrier exists between Gibraltar and Ceuta, which in geological times formed the entire Mediterranean."
"What if some volcanic burst should one day raise these two barriers above the waves?"
"It is not probable, Conseil."
"Well, but allow me to finish, please, sir; if this phenomenon should take place, it will be troublesome for M. Lesseps, who has taken so much pains to pierce the isthmus."
"I agree with you; but I repeat, Conseil, this phenomenon will never happen. The violence of subterranean force is ever diminishing.
diminishing - en baisse, diminuant, (diminish), réduire, rétrécir, rapetisser
Volcanoes, so plentiful in the first days of the world, are being extinguished by degrees; the internal heat is weakened, the temperature of the lower strata of the globe is lowered by a perceptible quantity every century to the detriment of our globe, for its heat is its life."
perceptible - perceptible
detriment - au détriment, détriment
"But the sun?"
"The sun is not sufficient, Conseil. Can it give heat to a dead body?"
"Not that I know of."
"Well, my friend, this earth will one day be that cold corpse; it will become uninhabitable and uninhabited like the moon, which has long since lost all its vital heat."
corpse - cadavre, corps, corps sans vie
uninhabitable - inhabitable
"In how many centuries?"
"In some hundreds of thousands of years, my boy."
"Then," said Conseil, "we shall have time to finish our journey"that is, if Ned Land does not interfere with it."
interfere - meler
And Conseil, reassured, returned to the study of the bank, which the Nautilus was skirting at a moderate speed.
During the night of the 16th and 17th February we had entered the second Mediterranean basin, the greatest depth of which was 1,450 fathoms. The Nautilus, by the action of its crew, slid down the inclined planes and buried itself in the lowest depths of the sea.
On the 18th of February, about three o'clock in the morning, we were at the entrance of the Straits of Gibraltar. There once existed two currents: an upper one, long since recognised, which conveys the waters of the ocean into the basin of the Mediterranean; and a lower counter-current, which reasoning has now shown to exist.
conveys - transmet, transporter, véhiculer, communiquer
Indeed, the volume of water in the Mediterranean, incessantly added to by the waves of the Atlantic and by rivers falling into it, would each year raise the level of this sea, for its evaporation is not sufficient to restore the equilibrium.
restore - restaurer, rétablir, rendre, restituer
As it is not so, we must necessarily admit the existence of an under-current, which empties into the basin of the Atlantic through the Straits of Gibraltar the surplus waters of the Mediterranean. A fact indeed; and it was this counter-current by which the Nautilus profited. It advanced rapidly by the narrow pass.
surplus - surplus, excédentaire
For one instant I caught a glimpse of the beautiful ruins of the temple of Hercules, buried in the ground, according to Pliny, and with the low island which supports it; and a few minutes later we were floating on the Atlantic.
ruins - des ruines, ruine, ruiner, abîmer
The Atlantic! a vast sheet of water whose superficial area covers twenty-five millions of square miles, the length of which is nine thousand miles, with a mean breadth of two thousand seven hundred"an ocean whose parallel winding shores embrace an immense circumference, watered by the largest rivers of the world, the St.
winding - bobinage, (wind) bobinage
Embrace - étreindre, embrasser, accolade, embrassement, embrassade
Lawrence, the Mississippi, the Amazon, the Plata, the Orinoco, the Niger, the Senegal, the Elbe, the Loire, and the Rhine, which carry water from the most civilised, as well as from the most savage, countries!
Amazon - amazon, amazone
Orinoco - l'orénoque, Orénoque
Niger - le niger, Niger
Elbe - Elbe
Loire - la loire, Loire
Rhine - le rhin, Rhin
Magnificent field of water, incessantly ploughed by vessels of every nation, sheltered by the flags of every nation, and which terminates in those two terrible points so dreaded by mariners, Cape Horn and the Cape of Tempests.
terminates - se termine, terminer
mariners - marins, marin
The Nautilus was piercing the water with its sharp spur, after having accomplished nearly ten thousand leagues in three months and a half, a distance greater than the great circle of the earth. Where were we going now, and what was reserved for the future? The Nautilus, leaving the Straits of Gibraltar, had gone far out.
It returned to the surface of the waves, and our daily walks on the platform were restored to us.
I mounted at once, accompanied by Ned Land and Conseil. At a distance of about twelve miles, Cape St. Vincent was dimly to be seen, forming the south-western point of the Spanish peninsula. A strong southerly gale was blowing. The sea was swollen and billowy; it made the Nautilus rock violently.
dimly - faiblement, obscurément, vaguement, confusément
gale - coup de vent, tempete
It was almost impossible to keep one's foot on the platform, which the heavy rolls of the sea beat over every instant. So we descended after inhaling some mouthfuls of fresh air.
rolls - rouleaux, rouleau
in