Referring to page 344 again (368/1. "Origin of Species," Edition III., pages 343-4: "In some cases, however, as by the breaking of an isthmus and the consequent irruption of a multitude of new inhabitants, or by the final subsidence of an island, the extinction may have been comparatively rapid."), it never occurred to me that you alluded to extinction of marine life: an isthmus is a piece of land, and you go on in the same sentence about "an island," which quite threw me out, for the destruction of an isthmus makes an island!英文原著 · 《More Letters of Charles Darwin Volume I》
But on he went nevertheless, till he could see both the seas and the citadel of Corinth towering high above all the land. And he past swiftly along the Isthmus, for his heart burned to meet that cruel Sinis; and in a pine-wood at last he met him, where the Isthmus was narrowest and the road ran between high rocks. There he sat upon a stone by the wayside, with a young fir-tree for a club across his knees, and a cord laid ready by his side; and over his head, upon the fir-tops, hung the bones of murdered men.英文原著 · 《The Heroes》
He made no reply, but Maskull felt as if he were being thrust backward by an iron hand on his throat. "The morning's work is now concluded, Sature. Come here again after Blodsombre. After tonight you will remain here permanently, I expect, so you had better set to work to clear a patch of ground for your roots. Never forget - however fresh and charming these plants appear to you now, in the future they will be your deadliest rivals and enemies. Now you may go."
The man limped painfully away, across the isthmus, out of sight. Oceaxe yawned. Maskull pushed his way forward, as if against a wall.英文原著 · 《A Voyage to Arcturus》
"We know each other too well."
"Play no tricks!" said Oceaxe, and she turned to go. "Surely you must be dreaming," said Tydomin. "That's the way - unless you want to walk over the cliffside."
The path Oceaxe had chosen led across the isthmus. The direction which Tydomin proposed for her was over the edge of the precipice, into empty space. "Shaping! I must be mad," cried Oceaxe, with a laugh. And she obediently followed the other's finger. She walked straight on toward the edge of the abyss, twenty paces away.英文原著 · 《A Voyage to Arcturus》
"These crimes are yours, Maskull," she said in a low but incisive voice. They walked over to Crimtyphon's body, and Maskull hoisted it on to his shoulders. It weighed heavier than he had thought. Tydomin did not offer to assist him to adjust the ghastly burden. She crossed the isthmus, followed by Maskull. Their path lay through sunshine and shadow. Branchspell was blazing in a cloudless sky, the heat was insufferable - streams of sweat coursed down his face, and the corpse seemed to grow heavier and heavier. Tydomin always walked in front of him.英文原著 · 《A Voyage to Arcturus》
The man whom once, Melpomene, Thou look'st on with benignant sight, Shall never at the Isthmus be A boxer eminent in fight, Nor fares he foremost in the flight Of Grecian cars to victory, Nor goes with Delian laurels dight, The man thou lov'st, Melpomene!英文原著 · 《Ballads in Blue China and Verses and Translations》