They were now so high，that a large ship beneath them looked like a white seagull skimming the waves.A great cloud floating behind them appeared like a vast mountain，and upon it Eliza saw her own shadow and those of the eleven swans，looking giganticgigantic adj.巨人般的，巨大的in size.Altogether it formed a more beautiful picture than she had ever seen；but as the sun rose higher，and the clouds were left behind，the shadowy picture vanished away.
他们飞得那么高，以至于下面浮着的一条大船看起来就像浮游在水上的一只白色的海鸥。在他们的后面耸立着一大块乌云——这就是一座完整的山。伊莱扎在那上面看到她自己和十一只天鹅倒映下来的影子。他们飞行的行列是非常庞大的。这好像是一幅图画，比他们从前看到的任何东西还要美丽。可是太阳越升越高，在他们后面的云块也越离越远了。那些浮动着的形象也消逝了。
Onward the whole day they flew through the air like a winged arrow，yet more slowly than usual，for they had their sister to carry.The weather seemed inclined to be stormy(stormy adj.暴风雨的，多风暴的，激烈的，暴怒的，有暴风雨的)，and Eliza watched the sinking sun with great anxiety，for the little rock in the ocean was not yet in sight.It appeared to her as if the swans were making great efforts with their wings.Alas！She was the cause of their not advancing more quickly.When the sun set，they would change to men，fall into the sea and be drowned.Then she offered a prayer from her inmost heart，but still no appearance of the rock.Dark clouds came nearer，the gusts of wind told of a coming storm，while from a thick，heavy mass of clouds the lightning burst forth flash after flash.
他们整天像呼啸着的箭头一样，在空中向前飞。不过，因为他们得带着妹妹同行，他们的速度比起平时来要低得多了。天气变坏了，黄昏逼近了。伊莱扎怀着焦急的心情看到太阳徐徐地下沉，然而大海中那座孤独的礁石至今还没有在眼前出现。她似乎觉得这些天鹅现在正以更大的气力来拍着翅膀。咳！他们飞不快，完全是因为她的缘故。在太阳落下去以后，他们就得恢复人的原形，掉到海里淹死。这时她在心的深处向我们的主祈祷了一番，但是她还是看不见任何礁石。大块乌云越逼越近，狂风预示着暴风雨就要到来。汹涌的、带有威胁性的狂涛在向前推进，像一大堆铅块。闪电掣动起来，一会儿也不停。
The sun had reached the edge of the sea，when the swans darted down so swiftly，that Elizas head trembled.She believed they were falling，but they again soared onward.Presently she caught sight of the rock just below them，and by this time the sun was half hidden by the waves.The rock did not appear larger than a seals head thrust out of the water.They sunk so rapidly，that at the moment their feet touched the rock，it shone only like a star，and at last disappeared like the last spark in a piece of burnt paper.Then she saw her brothers standing closely round her with their arms linked together.There was but just room enough for them，and not the smallest space to spare.The sea dashed against the rock，and covered them with spray(spray n.喷雾，飞沫vt.喷射，喷溅).The heavens were lighted up with continual flashes，and peal after peal of thunder rolled.But the sister and brothers sat holding each others hands，and singing hymns，from which they gained hope and courage.
现在太阳已经接近海岸线了。伊莱扎的心颤抖起来。这时天鹅就向下疾飞，飞得那么快，她相信自己一定会坠落下来。不过他们马上就稳住了。太阳已经有一半沉到水里去。这时她才第一次看到她下面有一座小小的礁石——它看起来比冒出水面的海豹的头大不了多少。太阳在很快地下沉，最后变得只有一颗星星那么大了。这时她的脚就踏上坚实的陆地。太阳像纸烧过后的残余的火星，一忽儿就消逝了。她看到她的哥哥们手挽着手站在她的周围，不过除了仅够他们和她自己站着的空间以外，再也没有多余的地位了。海涛打着这块礁石，像阵雨似的向他们袭来。天空不停地闪着燃烧的火焰，雷声一阵接着一阵地在隆隆作响。可是兄妹们紧紧地手挽着手，同时唱起圣诗来——这使他们得到安慰和勇气。
In the early dawn the air became calm and still，and at sunrise the swans flew away from the rock with Eliza.The sea was still rough，and from their high position in the air，the white foam on the dark green waves looked like millions of swans swimming on the water.
在晨曦中，空气是纯洁和沉静的。太阳一出来的时候，天鹅们就带着伊莱扎从这小岛上起飞。海浪仍然很汹涌。不过当他们飞过高空以后，下边白色的泡沫看起来就像浮在水上的无数的天鹅。
As the sun rose higher，Eliza saw before her，floating on the air，a range of mountains，with shining masses of ice on their summits(summit n.顶点，最高阶层adj.政府首脑的vi.参加最高级会议的).In the centre，rose a castle apparently a mile long，with rows of columns，rising one above another，while，around it，palmtrees waved and flowers bloomed as large as mill wheels.She asked if this was the land to which they were hastening.The swans shook their heads，for what she beheld were the beautiful everchanging cloud palaces of the“Fata Morgana”，into which no mortal can enter.Eliza was still gazing at the scene，when mountains，forests，and castles melted away，and twenty stately churches rose in their stead，with high towers and pointed gothic(gothic adj.哥特式的，野蛮的n.哥特式)windows.Eliza even fancied she could hear the tones of the organ，but it was the music of the murmuring sea which she heard.
太阳升得更高了，伊莱扎看到前面有一个多山的国度，浮在空中。那些山上盖着发光的冰层；在这地方的中间耸立着一个有两三里路长的宫殿，里面竖着一排一排的庄严的圆柱。在这下面展开一片起伏不平的棕榈树林和许多像水车轮那么大的鲜艳的花朵。她问这是不是她所要去的那个国度。但是天鹅们都摇着头，因为她看到的只不过是仙女莫尔甘娜的华丽的、永远变幻的云中宫殿罢了，他们不敢把凡人带进里面去。伊莱扎凝视着它。忽然间，山岳、森林和宫殿都一起消逝了，而代替它们的是二十所壮丽的教堂。它们全都是一个样子：高塔，尖顶窗子。她在幻想中以为听到了教堂风琴的声音，事实上她所听到的是海的呼啸。
As they drew nearer to the churches，they also changed into a fleet of ships，which seemed to be sailing beneath her.But as she looked again，she found it was only a sea mist gliding over the ocean.So there continued to pass before her eyes a constant change of scene，till at last she saw the real land to which they were bound，with its blue mountains，its cedar forests，and its cities and palaces.Long before the sun went down，she sat on a rock，in front of a large cave，on the floor of which the overgrown yet delicate green creeping plants looked like an embroidered carpet.“Now we shall expect to hear what you dream of tonight.”said the youngest brother，as he showed his sister her bedroom.
它们飞近这些教堂，同时它们都变成了一行帆船，看起来像浮在她的下面。但是她又向下面望，发现那原来不过是漂在水上的一层海雾。的确，这是一连串的、无穷尽的变幻，不断呈现在她眼前。最后她终于看到她所要去的那个真正的国度。这儿有壮丽的青山、杉木林、城市和王宫。在太阳还没有落下去以前，她早已落到一个大山洞的前面了。洞口生满了细嫩的、绿色的蔓藤植物，看起来很像锦绣的地毯。“我们要看看你今晚会在这儿做些什么梦！”她最小的哥哥说，同时把她的卧室指给她看。
