英语听书《白鲸记》第371期

 Far above all other hunted whales, his is an unwritten life. 抹香鲸的情况远比不上一切已被捕获的大鲸,关于它的生活情形仍是一片空白。

Now the various species of whales need some sort of popular comprehensive classification,  现在对各种大鲸必须作出一种通俗易懂的分类来,

if only an easy outline one for the present, hereafter to be filled in all-outward its departments by subsequent laborers¹.  如果暂时能够做出一个简便的纲要,让以后的劳作者去分门别类地进行补充也就不错了。

As no better man advances to take this matter in hand, I hereupon offer my own poor endeavors.  既然没有高明人士来做这种事情,那我就不揣冒昧地尝试一番。

I promise nothing complete; because any human thing supposed to be complete must for that very reason infallibly be faulty.  我一点也不敢说能做得完满,因为任何一个自以为会做得完满的人,一定会由此而招致错误。

I shall not pretend to a minute anatomical description of the various species, or-in this space at least-to much of any description.  我也不想从解剖学角度详细记述各种大鲸,也不想...至少在这里...做出任何过多的记述。

My object here is simply to project the draught² of a systematization of cetology. I am the architect, not the builder. 我的目的只想勾勒出一幅鲸类学的有系统的草图来。我是工程师,而不是营造者。

But it is a ponderous³ task; no ordinary letter-sorter in the Post-Office is equal to it.  不过,这可是一件烦重的工作,决不是通常的邮政局检信员所能胜任的。

To grope down into the bottom of the sea after them; to have one's hands among the unspeakable foundations, ribs⁴, and very pelvis of the world; this is a fearful thing.  得钻到海底里跟踪摸索,得把双手去探索世间所无法描摹的喷泉。肋骨和骨盆;这是一件可怕的事情。

What am I that I should essay to hook the nose of this leviathan! The awful tauntings in Job might well appal⁵ me.  我是什么人,竟敢企图去钩住这种大海兽的鼻子!约伯遭到的那种可怕的奚落就足以把我吓坏了。

Will he (the leviathan) make a covenant⁶ with thee? Behold⁷ the hope of him is vain!  他(大海兽)岂肯与你立约?人们指望捉拿他,是徒然的!

But I have swam through libraries and sailed through oceans; I have had to do with whales with these visible hands;  但是,我已经跑遍了许多图书馆,航遍了各大洋;我只得用我这双看得见的手来处置这些大鲸;

I am in earnest; and I will try. There are some preliminaries to settle. 我是认认真真的,因此,我要试一试。这里得把一些准备工作安排一下。

1 laborers   

n.体力劳动者，工人( laborer的名词复数 )；（熟练工人的）辅助工

参考例句：

• Laborers were trained to handle 50-ton compactors and giant cranes. 工人们接受操作五十吨压土机和巨型起重机的训练。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• Wage-labour rests exclusively on competition between the laborers. 雇佣劳动完全是建立在工人的自相竞争之上的。 来自英汉非文学 - 共产党宣言

2 draught   

n.拉，牵引，拖；一网（饮，吸，阵)；顿服药量，通风；v.起草，设计

参考例句：

• He emptied his glass at one draught.他将杯中物一饮而尽。
• It's a pity the room has no north window and you don't get a draught.可惜这房间没北窗，没有过堂风。

3 ponderous   

adj.沉重的，笨重的，(文章)冗长的

参考例句：

• His steps were heavy and ponderous.他的步伐沉重缓慢。
• It was easy to underestimate him because of his occasionally ponderous manner.由于他偶尔现出的沉闷的姿态，很容易使人小看了他。

4 ribs   

n.肋骨( rib的名词复数 )；（船或屋顶等的）肋拱；肋骨状的东西；（织物的）凸条花纹

参考例句：

• He suffered cracked ribs and bruising. 他断了肋骨还有挫伤。
• Make a small incision below the ribs. 在肋骨下方切开一个小口。

5 appal   

vt.使胆寒，使惊骇

参考例句：

• I was appalled at the news.我被这消息吓坏了。
• This "Hamlet" will appal some for being so resolutely unclassical.新版《哈姆雷特 》如此违背经典，确实惊世骇俗。

6 covenant   

n.盟约，契约；v.订盟约

参考例句：

• They refused to covenant with my father for the property.他们不愿与我父亲订立财产契约。
• The money was given to us by deed of covenant.这笔钱是根据契约书付给我们的。

7 behold   

v.看，注视，看到

参考例句：

• The industry of these little ants is wonderful to behold.这些小蚂蚁辛勤劳动的样子看上去真令人惊叹。
• The sunrise at the seaside was quite a sight to behold.海滨日出真是个奇景。