But the shells are closed fast.
不过，贝壳合得很紧。
The oyster is yet alive, and to force the shell open with violence might injure the pearl that lies hidden within.
牡蛎还活着，用蛮力强行打开贝壳可能会伤到隐藏在里面的珍珠。
The pearl shells are put into pits dug in the earth, where mats are spread to receive them.
于是，要把含有珍珠的贝壳放到在土里挖好的坑中，在贝壳下面的土层上再垫一层垫子。
They are left there till the creatures within them die, when the shells, opening of themselves, allow of the pearls being safely removed.
一直把它们放在坑里，直到贝壳里的牡蛎死掉。于是，贝壳会自动打开，这样就能安全地取出珍珠了。
The chemist and the microscope have shown the secret of the composition of the pearl.
化学家使用显微镜已经向我们展示出珍珠的化学成分：
It is formed of alternate layers of membrane (animal substance), and carbonate of lime (mineral substance),
它由一层一层的细胞膜（动物成分）和石灰的碳酸盐（矿物成分）组成，
in the same way as the lustrous internal coating of the shell.
这也是贝壳那层光亮内壁的组成部分。

These layers are slowly and successively produced by the animal itself.
这一层一层的物质都是住在贝壳里的牡蛎自己生成的。所以，珍珠形成得十分缓慢。
Some injury, probably, has happened to the outside of the shell, and the hole must be filled up;
一旦贝壳的外部受损，就必须尽快修补好贝壳上破损的洞；
or a grain of sand or other irritating substance has entered inside the shell (sometimes by the cunning design of man),
要么就是一粒沙子，或其他具有刺激性的物质不小心进到贝壳里（有时是人类有意把它们漏进去的）。
and this must be covered over, that it may no longer wound. —and lo, the result!
这些东西都必须被包裹起来，直到它们对牡蛎的身体不再具有伤害性。珍珠，就是这样产生的。
By a creature ranking amongst the lowest in the scale of creation is produced a marvel of beauty—an incomparable gem,
在生物进化史上几乎位于最底层的动物牡蛎，居然能够创造出如此惊人美丽的宝石！
to glisten in a monarch's diadem, and to be the poet's symbol for all that is most precious and most pure!
它们在帝王的皇冠上闪耀光芒，也被诗人们用来比喻最珍贵、纯洁的事物。