The idea of a metal stand carrying a pyramid of cannon balls so delicately balanced as to be affected by the tiny differential expansion of brass and iron does not bear thinking about in a heavy sea.
( ( ( The idea ) ( of ( a metal ) ) ) ( ( stand ( ( carrying ( ( a pyramid ) ( of ( cannon balls ) ) ) ) ( so ( ( ( delicately balanced ) ( as ( to ( be ( affected ( by ( ( the ( tiny ( differential expansion ) ) ) ( of ( ( brass and ) iron ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( ( does not ) ( bear ( ( thinking about ) ( in ( a ( heavy sea ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) . ) )
(ROOT (S (NP (NP (DT The) (NN idea)) (PP (IN of) (NP (DT a) (NN metal)))) (VP (VBP stand) (S (VP (VBG carrying) (NP (NP (DT a) (NN pyramid)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NN cannon) (NNS balls)))) (SBAR (IN so) (S (NP (NP (RB delicately) (JJ balanced)) (SBAR (IN as) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB be) (VP (VBN affected) (PP (IN by) (NP (NP (DT the) (JJ tiny) (NN differential) (NN expansion)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NN brass) (CC and) (NN iron))))))))))) (VP (VBZ does) (RB not) (VP (VB bear) (S (VP (VBG thinking) (PRT (RP about)) (PP (IN in) (NP (DT a) (JJ heavy) (NN sea)))))))))))) (. .)))
An expansion of brass or iron could cause the cannon balls to fall loose and damage the ship.
( ( ( An expansion ) ( of ( ( brass or ) iron ) ) ) ( ( could ( cause ( ( the ( cannon balls ) ) ( to ( ( ( fall loose ) and ) ( damage ( the ship ) ) ) ) ) ) ) . ) )
(ROOT (S (NP (NP (DT An) (NN expansion)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NN brass) (CC or) (NN iron)))) (VP (MD could) (VP (VB cause) (S (NP (DT the) (NN cannon) (NNS balls)) (VP (TO to) (VP (VP (VB fall) (ADVP (RB loose))) (CC and) (VP (VB damage) (NP (DT the) (NN ship)))))))) (. .)))