From the 17th century empire（帝国） of Sweden（瑞典）, the story of a galleon that sank at the start of her maiden（未婚的） voyage in 1628 must be one of the strangest tales（故事） of the sea. For nearly three and a half centuries, she lay at the bottom of Stockholm harbour（海港） until her discovery in 1956. This was the Vasa, royal flagship of the Great Imperial（纸张尺寸） Fleet（舰队）. King Gustavus Adolphus, the northern hurricane, then at the height of his military（军事的） success in the Thirty Years' War, had dictated（口述） her measurements（测量） and armament. Triple（三倍数） Gundex mounted（增加） 64 bronze cannon（大炮）. She was intended to play a leading role in the growing might of Sweden.

  As she was prepared for her maiden voyage on August 10th, 1628, Stockholm was in a ferment. From the Skepsbron and surrounding（围绕） islands, the people watched this thing of beauty begin to spread her sails and catch the wind.