英语听书《白鲸记》第683期

 If this be so, fancy the irresistibleness of that might, to which the most impalpable and destructive of all elements contributes. 如果这个臆测是对的话，那么，请想一想那种最难解而又最具有破坏力的种种原质所提供的那种无法抗拒的威力吧。

Now, mark. Unerringly impelling¹ this dead, impregnable, uninjurable wall, and this most buoyant thing within; 现在，请注意，这堵无法抗拒。不会受伤的硬墙的这种真不二价的推进力，加上那里面的最有浮性的东西，

there swims behind it all a mass of tremendous life, only to be adequately estimated as piled wood is— by the cord; 它游起来的时候，身后拖的又是一个硕大无比、惊人的生命，那只有把它估量成是由绳索拖着的一大堆木头才较确切；

and all obedient to one volition², as the smallest insect. 而且也象最小的昆虫一般，一切都听从着一个意志的指挥。

So that when I shall hereafter detail to you all the specialities and concentrations of potency³ everywhere lurking⁴ in this expansive monster; 所以，等我以后详述这种庞大的巨兽那种无处不有威力的种种特色的时候，

when I shall show you some of his more inconsiderable braining feats⁵; 等我告诉你它那些更为琐碎的有关剖脑的事迹的时候，

I trust you will have renounced⁶ all ignorant incredulity, and be ready to abide⁷ by this; 我相信你就会摒弃一切无知的怀疑，随时都会坚持这种看法了；

that though the Sperm⁸ Whale stove a passage through the Isthmus⁹ of Darien, and mixed the Atlantic with the Pacific, 即使听到抹香鲸会把德利英地峡的航路打通，把大西洋跟太平洋汇合起来了，

you would not elevate one hair of your eye-brow. 你也准会绝不动容。

For unless you own the whale, you are but a provincial¹⁰ and sentimentalist in Truth. 因为除非你承认了大鲸的价值，否则，在真理方面，你就不过是个思想狭隘者和感伤主义者而已。

But clear Truth is a thing for salamander giants only to encounter;  然而，既然懂得真理是只有那些不怕赴汤蹈火的巨人才办得到的事情；

how small the chances for the provincials¹¹ then? 那么褊狭的人不就机会很少了吗？

What befell the weakling youth lifting the dread¹² goddess's veil at Lais? 那个在舍易斯揭起可怕的女神的面纱的柔弱少年，他的结果是怎样啊？

1 impelling   

adj.迫使性的，强有力的v.推动、推进或敦促某人做某事( impel的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Impelling-binding mechanism is the micro foundation of venture capital operation. 激励约束机制是创业投资运作的微观基础。 来自互联网
• Impelling supervision is necessary measure of administrative ethic construction. 强有力的监督是行政伦理建设的重要保证。 来自互联网

2 volition   

n.意志；决意

参考例句：

• We like to think that everything we do and everything we think is a product of our volition.我们常常认为我们所做和所想的一切都出自自己的意愿。
• Makin said Mr Coombes had gone to the police of his own volition.梅金说库姆斯先生是主动去投案的。

3 potency   

n. 效力，潜能

参考例句：

• Alcohol increases the drug's potency.酒精能增加这种毒品的效力。
• Sunscreen can lose its potency if left over winter in the bathroom cabinet.如果把防晒霜在盥洗室的壁橱里放一个冬天，就有可能失效。

4 lurking   

潜在

参考例句：

• Why are you lurking around outside my house? 你在我房子外面鬼鬼祟祟的，想干什么？
• There is a suspicious man lurking in the shadows. 有一可疑的人躲在阴暗中。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

5 feats   

功绩，伟业，技艺( feat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• He used to astound his friends with feats of physical endurance. 过去，他表现出来的惊人耐力常让朋友们大吃一惊。
• His heroic feats made him a legend in his own time. 他的英雄业绩使他成了他那个时代的传奇人物。

6 renounced   

v.声明放弃( renounce的过去式和过去分词 )；宣布放弃；宣布与…决裂；宣布摒弃

参考例句：

• We have renounced the use of force to settle our disputes. 我们已再次宣布放弃使用武力来解决争端。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Andrew renounced his claim to the property. 安德鲁放弃了财产的所有权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 abide   

vi.遵守；坚持；vt.忍受

参考例句：

• You must abide by the results of your mistakes.你必须承担你的错误所造成的后果。
• If you join the club,you have to abide by its rules.如果你参加俱乐部，你就得遵守它的规章。

8 sperm   

n.精子，精液

参考例句：

• Only one sperm fertilises an egg.只有一个精子使卵子受精。
• In human reproduction,one female egg is usually fertilized by one sperm.在人体生殖过程中，一个精子使一个卵子受精。

9 isthmus   

n.地峡

参考例句：

• North America is connected with South America by the Isthmus of Panama.巴拿马海峡把北美同南美连接起来。
• The north and south of the island are linked by a narrow isthmus.岛的北部和南部由一条狭窄的地峡相连。

10 provincial   

adj.省的，地方的；n．外省人，乡下人

参考例句：

• City dwellers think country folk have provincial attitudes.城里人以为乡下人思想迂腐。
• Two leading cadres came down from the provincial capital yesterday.昨天从省里下来了两位领导干部。

11 provincials   

n.首都以外的人，地区居民( provincial的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• We were still provincials in the full sense of the word. 严格说来，我们都还是乡巴佬。 来自辞典例句
• Only provincials love such gadgets. 只有粗俗的人才喜欢玩这玩意。 来自辞典例句

12 dread   

vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧

参考例句：

• We all dread to think what will happen if the company closes.我们都不敢去想一旦公司关门我们该怎么办。
• Her heart was relieved of its blankest dread.她极度恐惧的心理消除了。