🔊 So then the seventh planet was the Earth.

於是第七顆行星便是地球。

🔊 The Earth is not just an ordinary planet! One can count, there, 111 kings, 900,000 businessmen, 7,500,000 tipplers, 311,000,000 conceited men—that is, the six continents, a veritable army of 462,511 lamplighters for the street lamps.

地球可不是一顆普通的行星！在那裡,你可以數出111位國王、90萬名商人、750萬個酒鬼、3億1100萬個自負的人——也就是說,六大洲上總共有4億6251萬1千個點燈人,組成了一支名副其實的街燈大軍。

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businessmen /ˈbɪznəsmən/

n. 商人；實業家

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tipplers /ˈtɪplərz/

n. 酒徒；嗜酒者

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conceited /kənˈsiːtɪd/

adj. 自負的；驕傲自滿的

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veritable /ˈverɪtəbl/

adj. 真正的；名副其實的

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lamplighters /ˈlæmplaɪtərz/

n. 點燈人；街燈點燃者

🔊 Seen from a slight distance, that would make a splendid spectacle. The movements of this army would be regulated like those of the ballet in the opera. First would come the turn of the lamplighters of New Zealand and Australia. After they had retired into the wings, then the lamplighters of China and Siberia would enter for their steps in the dance. Next would come the turn of the lamplighters of Russia and the Indies; then those of Africa and Europe; then those of South America; then those of North America. And never would they make a mistake in the order of their entry upon the stage. It would be magnificent.

從稍遠處觀看,那景象將蔚為壯觀。這支大軍的動作會像歌劇中的芭蕾舞那樣井然有序。首先登場的將是紐西蘭和澳洲的點燈人。他們退場後,接著輪到中國和西伯利亞的點燈人上場舞動步伐。然後是俄羅斯和印度群島的點燈人；接著是非洲和歐洲的點燈人；再來是南美洲的點燈人；最後是北美洲的點燈人。他們從不會搞錯登場的順序。那場面將會無比輝煌。

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spectacle /ˈspektəkl/

n. 壯觀的景象；奇觀

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regulated /ˈreɡjuleɪtɪd/

v. 被調節的；被管理的

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ballet /ˈbæleɪ/

n. 芭蕾舞；芭蕾舞劇

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opera /ˈɒprə/

n. 歌劇

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retired /rɪˈtaɪəd/

v. 退下；退休

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wings /wɪŋz/

n. （舞臺的）側翼；側幕

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Siberia /saɪˈbɪəriə/

n. 西伯利亞

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Indies /ˈɪndiz/

n. 東印度群島（舊稱）

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magnificent /mæɡˈnɪfɪsnt/

adj. 宏偉的；壯麗的；極好的

🔊 Only the man who was in charge of the single lamp at the North Pole, and his colleague who was responsible for the single lamp at the South Pole —only these two would live free from toil and care: they would be busy

只有那位負責北極唯一一盞燈的人,以及他在南極負責唯一一盞燈的同事——唯有這兩位能免於辛勞與憂慮:他們將忙碌於

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colleague /ˈkɒliːɡ/

n. 同事；同僚

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responsible /rɪˈspɒnsəbl/

adj. 負有責任的；需承擔責任的

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toil /tɔɪl/

n. 苦工；辛苦勞累的工作

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care /keə(r)/

n. 憂慮；煩惱

Chapter XVI (第十六章)