Michael Chugani 褚簡寧 - The fabled ship|又中又英

It's been over a century since the Titanic sank in the North Atlantic Ocean but interest in the fabled ship remains high. The Titanic sank in 1912, but it wasn't until 1985 that an expedition led by National Geographic discovered it on the ocean floor 12,500 feet below the surface. National Geographic has described interest in the sunken ship as insatiable, which means a need, such as hunger, thirst, or interest, that is impossible to satisfy.

The Titanic was considered unsinkable but sank just five days after it set sail on its maiden voyage from Southampton to New York after hitting an iceberg, killing over 1,500 people.

Wealthy people have, for many years, paid a lot of money for submersibles (tiny submarines) to see the fabled ship because of insatiable interest in the Titanic. James Cameron, who directed the Oscar-winning movie Titanic, made 33 trips to see the Titanic. Five wealthy people recently paid US$250,000 each to see the fabled ship. Sadly, their submersible imploded (exploded inwards), killing them. The word “fabled” is used to describe something or someone that has become famous because of insatiable interest. A fabled ship is a famous ship because people are interested in it.

To set sail means to begin a trip on a ship or boat. A maiden voyage is a ship’s first journey. Experts say wealthy tourists who pay for submersibles to see the Titanic are making the fabled ship disintegrate (break up) faster. I feel sad for the families of the five who died when their submersible imploded, but I hope wealthy people will let those who died on the Titanic rest in peace.
* * * * * * * * *

鐵達尼號沉於北大西洋海底已經超過一世紀,但對於這艘著名的船(fabled ship)的興趣卻歷久不衰。鐵達尼號於1912年沉沒,但直至1985年,由國家地理學會成員領導的探險航程,終於在12500呎的深海底發現到它。國家地理學會形容,對於這艘沉船的興致是insatiable,意即對於某一樣需求,例如飢餓、口渴或興趣等,是貪得無厭、無法滿足的。鐵達尼號被認為是永不沉沒的,但在修咸頓開往紐約的處女航(maiden voyage)上,只不過啟航(set sail)了五天,便因為撞上冰山而沉沒,超過1500人遇難。

多年來,出於對鐵達尼號入迷的(insatiable)興趣,不少有錢人付了許多的錢要搭乘潛水器(submersibles)去看這艘名船(fabled ship)。執導奧斯卡得獎電影《鐵達尼號》的占士‧金馬倫,就曾深潛33次去看鐵達尼號。五個有錢人最近就付了每人25萬美元,要一睹名船(fabled ship)真貌。不幸地,他們的潛水器(submersible)內爆(imploded),導致五人身亡。Fabled是用來形容某事物或某人因為他人入迷(insatiable)的興趣而出名。A fabled ship就是著名的船,因為許多人都對它興致勃勃。

To set sail意即船隻啟航。A maiden voyage就是船隻的首航、處女航。專家指,有錢的遊客付錢搭乘潛水器(submersibles)去看鐵達尼號,會令這艘名船(fabled ship)更快瓦解(disintegrate)。我為那在潛水器(submersible)內爆(imploded)時身亡的五位死者的家屬感到難過,但我也希望有錢人可以讓鐵達尼號的遇難者安息。
[email protected]
中譯:七刻
Michael Chugani 褚簡寧
更多文章