英语听书《白鲸记》第459期

 But though without dissent¹ this point be fixed², how is mortal man to account for it?  虽然在这一点上还不能肯定有什么不同的意见,可是,人们究竟对它怎样看法?

To analyse it, would seem impossible. Can we, then, by the citation³ of some of those instances wherein this thing of whiteness-though for the time either wholly or in great part stripped of all direct associations calculated to impart to it aught fearful,  要把它分析一下,倒也似乎是不可能的。那么,我们能否通过引证其中有白色这种东西的一些事例(虽说暂时全部或大部分抛弃了故意要给白色添上任何使人恐怖的一切直接联想,

but nevertheless, is found to exert over us the same sorcery, however modified;can we thus hope to light upon some chance clue to conduct us to the hidden cause we seek? 可是,还会发现这种白色的东西在对我们施加哪怕是很轻微的魔力),我们能否从而希望偶然碰上一种幸遇的线索,引导我们找到正在搜索的秘密原因呢?

Let us try. But in a matter like this, subtlety⁴ appeals to subtlety, and without imagination no man can follow another into these halls.  我们不妨试一下。可是,象这种事情,这种巧妙得靠巧妙来解决的事情,如果没有想象力,谁都不能跟着别人登堂入室。

And though, doubtless, some at least of the imaginative impressions about to be presented may have been shared by most men, yet few perhaps were entirely⁵ conscious of them at the time, and therefore may not be able to recall them now. 虽然,毫无疑义,这些行将提出的想象的意念中,也许至少有一些是大多数人都有同感的,但是,说不定当时完全认识到这种意念的为数寥寥,因此,现在也许记不起这些意念了。

Why to the man of untutored ideality, who happens to be but loosely acquainted with the peculiar⁶ character of the day,  为什么对现代一个不很熟悉奇事怪物,而具有无师自通的想象力的人,只要一提到那个圣灵降临周的司仪人员,他就会在心里想到那么怕人的。

does the bare mention of Whitsuntide marshal in the fancy such long, dreary⁷, speechless processions of slow-pacing pilgrims, down-cast and hooded⁸ with new-fallen snow?  悄没声音的长长的队伍,那些慢步前进。垂头丧气,满身洒着新雪的香客呢?

Or to the unread, unsophisticated Protestant of the Middle American States, why does the passing mention of a White Friar or a White Nun⁹, evoke¹⁰ such an eyeless statue in the soul? 为什么对中美洲的目不识丁的,朴实的新教徒,偶然一提到白袍僧或者白衣尼时,他心里就会出现这么一个无眼睛的雕像呢?

1 dissent   

n./v.不同意，持异议

参考例句：

• It is too late now to make any dissent.现在提出异议太晚了。
• He felt her shoulders gave a wriggle of dissent.他感到她的肩膀因为不同意而动了一下。

2 fixed   

adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的

参考例句：

• Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗？
• Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定，我们就不应该随意改变。

3 citation   

n.引用，引证，引用文；传票

参考例句：

• He had to sign the proposition for the citation.他只好在受奖申请书上签了字。
• The court could issue a citation and fine Ms. Robbins.法庭可能会发传票，对罗宾斯女士处以罚款。

4 subtlety   

n.微妙，敏锐，精巧；微妙之处，细微的区别

参考例句：

• He has shown enormous strength,great intelligence and great subtlety.他表现出充沛的精力、极大的智慧和高度的灵活性。
• The subtlety of his remarks was unnoticed by most of his audience.大多数听众都没有觉察到他讲话的微妙之处。

5 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

6 peculiar   

adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的

参考例句：

• He walks in a peculiar fashion.他走路的样子很奇特。
• He looked at me with a very peculiar expression.他用一种很奇怪的表情看着我。

7 dreary   

adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的

参考例句：

• They live such dreary lives.他们的生活如此乏味。
• She was tired of hearing the same dreary tale of drunkenness and violence.她听够了那些关于酗酒和暴力的乏味故事。

8 hooded   

adj.戴头巾的；有罩盖的；颈部因肋骨运动而膨胀的

参考例句：

• A hooded figure waited in the doorway. 一个戴兜帽的人在门口等候。
• Black-eyed gipsy girls, hooded in showy handkerchiefs, sallied forth to tell fortunes. 黑眼睛的吉卜赛姑娘，用华丽的手巾包着头，突然地闯了进来替人算命。 来自辞典例句

9 nun   

n.修女，尼姑

参考例句：

• I can't believe that the famous singer has become a nun.我无法相信那个著名的歌星已做了修女。
• She shaved her head and became a nun.她削发为尼。

10 evoke   

vt.唤起，引起，使人想起

参考例句：

• These images are likely to evoke a strong response in the viewer.这些图像可能会在观众中产生强烈反响。
• Her only resource was the sympathy she could evoke.她以凭借的唯一力量就是她能从人们心底里激起的同情。