CHAPTER VII THE HYMN OF THE CANNON-BALL 第七章 炮弹的赞美诗
The Observatory of Cambridge in its memorable letter had treated the question from a purely astronomical point of view. The mechanical part still remained.
剑桥天文台已经在那封具有纪念意义的信中，从纯粹天文学的角度探讨了这个问题。但这个问题还需要从机械角度加以探讨。
President Barbicane had, without loss of time, nominated a working committee of the Gun Club. The duty of this committee was to resolve the three grand questions of the cannon, the projectile, and the powder. It was composed of four members of great technical knowledge, Barbicane (with a casting vote in case of equality), General Morgan, Major Elphinstone, and J. T. Maston, to whom were confided the functions of secretary. On the 8th of October the committee met at the house of President Barbicane, 3 Republican Street. The meeting was opened by the president himself.
巴比康主席不失时机地任命了枪炮俱乐部的管理委员会。这个委员会的任务是解决大炮、炮弹和火药这三大问题。委员会由四位技术知识渊博的成员组成，他们分别是：巴比康（在双方票数相同的时候，他持有决定性的一票），摩根将军，埃尔芬斯通少校和负责秘书工作的J. T. 马斯顿。委员会于十月八日在共和街三号——巴比康主席的家里召开。巴比康主席亲自宣布会议开始。
"Gentlemen," said he, "we have to resolve one of the most important problems in the whole of the noble science of gunnery. It might appear, perhaps, the most logical course to devote our first meeting to the discussion of the engine to be employed. Nevertheless, after mature consideration, it has appeared to me that the question of the projectile must take precedence of that of the cannon, and that the dimensions of the latter must necessarily depend on those of the former."
“先生们，”他说，“我们不得不解决整个高尚的枪炮制造学中一个最重要的问题。也许，第一次会议应该讨论使用何种引擎，这样显得最符合逻辑。但是，经过深思熟虑后，我觉得炮弹的问题必须放在大炮之前，并且大炮的体积必须视炮弹的体积而定。”
"Suffer me to say a word," here broke in J. T. Maston. Permission having been granted, "Gentlemen," said he with an inspired accent, "our president is right in placing the question of the projectile above all others. The ball we are about to discharge at the moon is our ambassador to her, and I wish to consider it from a moral point of view. The cannon-ball, gentlemen, to my mind, is the most magnificent manifestation of human power. If Providence has created the stars and the planets, man has called the cannon-ball into existence. Let Providence claim the swiftness of electricity and of light, of the stars, the comets, and the planets, of wind and sound— we claim to have invented the swiftness of the cannon-ball, a hundred times superior to that of the swiftest horses or railway train. How glorious will be the moment when, infinitely exceeding all hitherto attained velocities, we shall launch our new projectile with the rapidity of seven miles a second! Shall it not, gentlemen—shall it not be received up there with the honors due to a terrestrial ambassador?”
“容我说句话。”J. T. 马斯顿插嘴道，“先生们，”得到允许后，他用颇受鼓舞的腔调说道，“我们的主席把炮弹的问题放在所有问题之首，这一做法是正确的。我们即将向月球发射的这颗炮弹就好比地球向月球派遣的大使，我希望我们能从道德的角度去考虑这一问题。先生们，在我看来，炮弹是人类力量最伟大的体现。如果是上天创造了恒星和行星，那么是人类创造了炮弹。如果说，是上天创造了电、光、恒星、彗星、行星、风和声音所拥有的迅捷的速度——那么，是我们赋予了炮弹迅捷的速度，这一速度比最快的骏马或飞驰的火车都要快上一百倍。当我们大大超越一切已有的速度极限，以每秒七英里的速度发射新炮弹时，那将会是一个多么光荣的时刻啊！先生们，作为地球人的使者，这枚炮弹抵达月球后怎能不受到热烈欢迎呢？”
Overcome with emotion the orator sat down and applied himself to a huge plate of sandwiches before him.
他控制住情绪，坐了下来，把注意力集中在他面前的一大碟三明治上。
"And now," said Barbicane, "let us quit the domain of poetry and come direct to the question."
“现在，”巴比康说，“我们不要总唱赞美诗了，请直接切题。”
"By all means," replied the members, each with his mouth full of sandwich.
“没问题。”会员们回答道，每个人的嘴里都塞满了三明治。
"The problem before us," continued the president, "is how to communicate to a projectile a velocity of 12,000 yards per second. Let us at present examine the velocities hitherto attained. General Morgan will be able to enlighten us on this point.”
“摆在我们面前的问题，”主席继续说道，“是如何使炮弹的速度达到每秒12,000码。现在，让我们回顾一下迄今为止所达到的速度记录。摩根将军将就这一点为我们进行说明。”
"And the more easily," replied the general, "that during the war I was a member of the committee of experiments. I may say, then, that the 100-pounder Dahlgrens, which carried a distance of 5,000 yards, impressed upon their projectile an initial velocity of 500 yards a second. The Rodman Columbiad threw a shot weighing half a ton a distance of six miles, with a velocity of 800 yards per second— a result which Armstrong and Palisser have never obtained in England.”
“这太容易了，”将军答道，“战争期间我是实验委员会的成员之一。那时，重100磅的达尔格伦大炮射程是5,000码，其炮弹的初速度为每秒500码。罗德曼的哥伦比亚大炮曾发射了一颗半吨重、射程六英里、速度每秒800码的炮弹，这一成绩是英国的阿姆斯特朗和帕利瑟从未取得的。
"This," replied Barbicane, "is, I believe, the maximum velocity ever attained?"
“这，”巴比康说，“我认为就是曾达到的最高速度吧？”
"It is so," replied the general.
“是这样的。”将军回答。
"Ah!" groaned J. T. Maston, "if my mortar had not burst——”
“啊！”J. T. 马斯顿叹了口气说，“要是我的迫击炮没爆炸的话——“
"Yes," quietly replied Barbicane, "but it did burst. We must take, then, for our starting point, this velocity of 800 yards. We must increase it twenty-fold. Now, reserving for another discussion the means of producing this velocity, I will call your attention to the dimensions which it will be proper to assign to the shot. You understand that we have nothing to do here with projectiles weighing at most but half a ton.”
“是的，”巴比康平静地答道，“但它确实爆炸了。那么，我们必须从这个800码的速度入手。我们必须让它成为原来的20倍。现在，让我们把产生这一速度的方法留到下次会议讨论，我们接下来要探讨炮弹应该多大合适。要知道，我们可决不能使用那些最多不过半吨重的炮弹。”
"Why not?" demanded the major.
“为什么不能呢？”少校问道。
"Because the shot," quickly replied J. T. Maston, "must be big enough to attract the attention of the inhabitants of the moon, if there are any?"
“因为炮弹一定要够大，”J. T. 马斯顿马上答道，“这样才能吸引月球上居民们的注意——如果月球上真的有人的话。”
"Yes," replied Barbicane, "and for another reason more important still."
“是的，”巴比康答道，“不过还有一个更重要的原因。”
"What mean you?" asked the major.
“这话什么意思？”少校问道。
"I mean that it is not enough to discharge a projectile, and then take no further notice of it; we must follow it throughout its course, up to the moment when it shall reach its goal."
“我的意思是，发射炮弹后就再也不管它了，这样是远远不够的，我们必须对它进行全程跟进，直到它达到目的地的那一刻。”
"What?" shouted the general and the major in great surprise.
“什么？”将军和少校惊奇地叫道。
"Undoubtedly," replied Barbicane composedly, "or our experiment would produce no result."
“毫无疑问，”巴比康沉着地说，“不然我们的实验将无法产生结果。”
"But then," replied the major, "you will have to give this projectile enormous dimensions."
“那么，”少校答道，“这颗炮弹的体积必须得很大了。”
"No! Be so good as to listen. You know that optical instruments have acquired great perfection; with certain instruments we have succeeded in obtaining enlargements of 6,000 times and reducing the moon to within forty miles' distance. Now, at this distance, any objects sixty feet square would be perfectly visible.
“不！请好好听我说。你们知道，光学仪器已经做得非常完美了；通过某些仪器，我们可以成功地将某个物体放大6,000倍，并将月球的距离缩短到40英里以内。现在，从这个距离绝对能看见任何60英尺宽的物体。
"If, then, the penetrative power of telescopes has not been further increased, it is because that power detracts from their light; and the moon, which is but a reflecting mirror, does not give back sufficient light to enable us to perceive objects of lesser magnitude."
“那么，我们之所以没有进一步提高望远镜的穿透力，是因为那样会降低它们的亮度；而仅仅作为反射镜的月球，也不能反射足够的光，使我们看清更小的物体。”
"Well, then, what do you propose to do?" asked the general. "Would you give your projectile a diameter of sixty feet?"
“那么，你有什么建议？”将军问道，“你能使炮弹的直径达到60英尺吗？”
"Not so."
“不用这样。”
"Do you intend, then, to increase the luminous power of the moon?"
“那么，你打算增加月球的亮度吗？”
"Exactly so. If I can succeed in diminishing the density of the atmosphere through which the moon's light has to travel I shall have rendered her light more intense. To effect that object it will be enough to establish a telescope on some elevated mountain. That is what we will do.”
“正是如此。如果我能成功地降低月光必须穿过的大气层的密度，我想月光就会变得更亮。为了达到这一目标，我们将在一些高山上安装望远镜。那就是我们将要做的。”
"I give it up," answered the major. "You have such a way of simplifying things. And what enlargement do you expect to obtain in this way?"
“我甘拜下风，”少校回答道，“你竟有这么一个简化问题的方法。那么，通过这种方法，你想将月球放大多少倍呢？”
"One of 48,000 times, which should bring the moon within an apparent distance of five miles; and, in order to be visible, objects need not have a diameter of more than nine feet.”
“放大48,000倍，这样一来，就能把月球的视觉距离控制在五英里以内，而且，物体的直径只需达到九英尺，就能被看见。”
"So, then," cried J. T. Maston, "our projectile need not be more than nine feet in diameter."
“所以，”J. T. 马斯顿叫道，“我们的炮弹直径只需达到九英尺即可。”
"Let me observe, however," interrupted Major Elphinstone, "this will involve a weight such as——”
“但是，要我说，”埃尔芬斯通少校插嘴道，“这样炮弹的重量就会达到——”
"My dear major," replied Barbicane, "before discussing its weight permit me to enumerate some of the marvels which our ancestors have achieved in this respect. I don't mean to pretend that the science of gunnery has not advanced, but it is as well to bear in mind that during the middle ages they obtained results more surprising, I will venture to say, than ours. For instance, during the siege of Constantinople by Mahomet II., in 1453, stone shot of 1,900 pounds weight were employed. At Malta, in the time of the knights, there was a gun of the fortress of St. Elmo which threw a projectile weighing 2,500 pounds. And, now, what is the extent of what we have seen ourselves? Armstrong guns discharging shot of 500 pounds, and the Rodman guns projectiles of half a ton! It seems, then, that if projectiles have gained in range, they have lost far more in weight. Now, if we turn our efforts in that direction, we ought to arrive, with the progress on science, at ten times the weight of the shot of Mahomet II. and the Knights of Malta.”
“我亲爱的少校，”巴比康说道，“在讨论它的重量之前，请允许我列举我们的祖先曾在这一领域创造的一些奇迹。我并不是说枪炮制造学没有进步，但是，我们应该记住，他们在中世纪所取得的成果，我敢说比我们的更加令人惊叹。比如说，在1453年穆罕默德二世围攻君士坦丁堡期间，人们使用了重1,900磅的石炮弹。在骑士时代的马耳他，圣埃尔莫堡垒有一门大炮曾经发射了一颗两千五百磅重的炮弹。那么，现在，我们认为我们自己能做到什么程度呢？阿姆斯特朗大炮发射了重五百磅的炮弹，罗德曼大炮发射了重半吨的炮弹！似乎炮弹的射程一旦提高，重量就会大大减轻。现在，如果我们朝着这一方向努力，凭借科学的进步，我们应该能让穆罕默德二世和马耳他骑士的炮弹再重十倍。
"Clearly," replied the major; "but what metal do you calculate upon employing?"
“讲得很清楚，”少校回答说；“但是你打算用什么金属来造炮弹呢？”
"Simply cast iron," said General Morgan.
“铸铁就行啊。”摩根将军说。
"But," interrupted the major, "since the weight of a shot is proportionate to its volume, an iron ball of nine feet in diameter would be of tremendous weight."
“但是，”少校打断他，“由于炮弹的重量和它的体积是成比例的，一颗直径九英尺的铸铁炮弹将会重得惊人。”
"Yes, if it were solid, not if it were hollow."
“如果炮弹是实心的，就会很重，但如果是空心的，就不会太重了。”
"Hollow? then it would be a shell?"
“空心？那不就成弹壳了？”
"Yes, a shell," replied Barbicane; "decidely it must be. A solid shot of 108 inches would weigh more than 200,000 pounds, a weight evidently far too great. Still, as we must reserve a certain stability for our projectile, I propose to give it a weight of 20,000 pounds.”
“是的，就是弹壳。”巴比康回答说；“炮弹一定得是空心的。一个208英寸的实心炮弹重量会超过20万磅，很明显太重了。然而，由于我们必须保证我们的炮弹具有一定稳定性，所以我建议让它重20,000磅。”
"What, then, will be the thickness of the sides?" asked the major.
“那么，炮弹壁的厚度是多少呢？”少校问道。
"If we follow the usual proportion," replied Morgan, "a diameter of 108 inches would require sides of two feet thickness, or less.”
“如果按照通常的比例，”摩根回答说，“直径108英寸的炮弹需要差不多两英尺厚的内壁。”
"That would be too much," replied Barbicane; "for you will observe that the question is not that of a shot intended to pierce an iron plate; it will suffice to give it sides strong enough to resist the pressure of the gas. The problem, therefore, is this— What thickness ought a cast-iron shell to have in order not to weight more than 20,000 pounds? Our clever secretary will soon enlighten us upon this point.”
“那太厚啦，”巴比康说；“要知道，现在的问题不是让炮弹射穿铁板，只要它的内壁能承受大气的压力就足够了。因此，现在的问题是——为了使重量不超过两万磅，铸铁弹壳的厚度应该是多少呢？我们聪明的秘书很快就会告诉我们的。”
"Nothing easier." replied the worthy secretary of the committee; and, rapidly tracing a few algebraical formulae upon paper, among which n^2 and x^2 frequently appeared, he presently said:
“再简单不过了。”委员会那令人尊敬的秘书说。然后，他迅速在纸上写下了一些代数公式，在这些公式中，ｎ的二次幂和ｘ的二次幂频频出现。接着他说：
"The sides will require a thickness of less than two inches."
“弹壁的厚度不能大于两英寸。”
"Will that be enough?" asked the major doubtfully.
“这样够吗？”少校半信半疑地问道。
"Clearly not!" replied the president.
“明显不够！”主席回答说。
"What is to be done, then?" said Elphinstone, with a puzzled air.
“那该怎么办呢？”埃尔芬斯通疑惑地问道。
"Employ another metal instead of iron."
“用另一种金属代替铁。”
"Copper?" said Morgan.
“铜？”摩根说。
"No! that would be too heavy. I have better than that to offer."
“不！太重了。我有更好的材料。”
"What then?" asked the major.
“那是什么呢？”少校问道。
"Aluminum!" replied Barbicane.
“铝！”巴比康回答说。
"Aluminum?" cried his three colleagues in chorus.
“铝？”三位同事一齐叫道。
"Unquestionably, my friends. This valuable metal possesses the whiteness of silver, the indestructibility of gold, the tenacity of iron, the fusibility of copper, the lightness of glass. It is easily wrought, is very widely distributed, forming the base of most of the rocks, is three times lighter than iron, and seems to have been created for the express purpose of furnishing us with the material for our projectile."
“当然，我的朋友们。这种珍贵的金属如银一般白亮，如金一般牢固，如铁一般坚韧，如铜一般易于熔化，如玻璃一般光亮。它易于锻造，分布广泛，是大多数岩石的主要成分，重量是铁的三分之一。上天创造铝，仿佛就是专门为了给我们制造炮弹提供材料的。”
"But, my dear president," said the major, "is not the cost price of aluminum extremely high?"
“但是，我亲爱的主席，”少校说，“铝的价格不是很贵吗？”
"It was so at its first discovery, but it has fallen now to nine dollars a pound."
“刚被发现时，它的价格很昂贵，但是现在已经跌到了每磅九美元。”
"But still, nine dollars a pound!" replied the major, who was not willing readily to give in; "even that is an enormous price."
“但是，九美元一磅啊！”少校不想让步；“这个价格还是太昂贵了。”
"Undoubtedly, my dear major; but not beyond our reach."
“确实很昂贵，我亲爱的少校；但是我们能够承受得起。”
"What will the projectile weigh then?" asked Morgan.
“这样，炮弹会有多重啊？”摩根问道。
"Here is the result of my calculations," replied Barbicane. "A shot of 108 inches in diameter, and twelve inches in thickness, would weigh, in cast-iron, 67,440 pounds; cast in aluminum, its weight will be reduced to 19,250 pounds.”
“这就是我的计算结果，”巴比康回答道，“我们的铸铁炮弹直径为108英寸，厚度为12英寸，重量为67,400磅。如果用铝作为材料的话，它的重量就只有1,9250磅了。”
"Capital!" cried the major; "but do you know that, at nine dollars a pound, this projectile will cost——”
“太好啦！”少校大声说道；“但是，你们知道吗，如果以每磅九美元的价格来计算，那么这颗炮弹将会花费——”
"One hundred and seventy-three thousand and fifty dollars ($173,050). I know it quite well. But fear not, my friends; the money will not be wanting for our enterprise. I will answer for it. Now what say you to aluminum, gentlemen?”
“173,050美元。我很清楚。但是，不要害怕，我的朋友们，我们的事业是不会缺少资金的。我将对此负责。现在，你们认为用铝作材料怎么样，先生们？”
"Adopted!" replied the three members of the committee. So ended the first meeting. The question of the projectile was definitely settled.
“通过！”委员会的三个成员回答说。就这样，第一次会议结束了。炮弹的问题已经明确地解决了。
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