英语听书《白鲸记》第720期

 Chapter 82 The Honor and Glory of Whaling 第八十二章 捕鲸业的令誉与荣华

There are some enterprises in which a careful disorderliness is the true method. 有若干冒险事业，它的真正的规律就是小心翼翼而又杂乱无章。

The more I dive into this matter of whaling, and push my researches up to the very spring-head of it, 我越是钻研捕鲸这事业，更进一步地探索它的源流，

so much the more am I impressed with its great honorableness and antiquity¹; 就越为它那伟大的光荣和悠久的历史所深深感动；

and especially when I find so many great demi-gods and heroes, prophets of all sorts, who one way or other have shed distinction upon it, 尤其是在我发现有那么许多伟大的神明、英雄以及各式各样的先知时，更是如此，因为他们都多少在这方面有过丰功伟绩，

I am transported with the reflection that I myself belong, though but subordinately, to so emblazoned a fraternity. 而一想到我自己，不过是个不入流人物，居然也忝属如此显赫的集团，可真教我心荡神移。

The gallant² Perseus, a son of Jupiter, was the first whaleman; 丘必特之子，那个英勇的柏修斯就是捕鲸人的鼻祖；

and to the eternal honor of our calling be it said, that the first whale attacked by our brotherhood³ was not killed with any sordid⁴ intent. 而且实际上，就我们这个具有永恒令誉的行业说来，我们的道友所攻打的第一条鲸，并不是怀着任何卑鄙的意图而把它打死的。

Those were the knightly⁵ days of our profession, when we only bore arms to succor⁶ the distressed⁷, and not to fill men's lamp-feeders. 那还是我们这一行业替天行道的时代，我们只是为了援救落难者，而不是为了要为人类添加油壶，才拿起武器的。

Every one knows the fine story of Perseus and Andromeda; 人人都知道柏修斯和安特洛美达这个绮丽的故事；

how the lovely Andromeda, the daughter of a king, was tied to a rock on the sea-coast, and as Leviathan was in the very act of carrying her off, 这个可爱的安特洛美达，这个国王的女儿，被缚在海边一块大石头上，当大海兽正要把她攫走时，

Perseus, the prince of whalemen, intrepidly⁸ advancing, harpooned⁹ the monster, and delivered and married the maid.  那个捕鲸者的王子柏修斯，就勇猛地冲上前去，用标枪把那巨兽戳死，救了这位姑娘，同她成亲。

1 antiquity   

n.古老；高龄；古物，古迹

参考例句：

• The museum contains the remains of Chinese antiquity.博物馆藏有中国古代的遗物。
• There are many legends about the heroes of antiquity.有许多关于古代英雄的传说。

2 gallant   

adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的

参考例句：

• Huang Jiguang's gallant deed is known by all men. 黄继光的英勇事迹尽人皆知。
• These gallant soldiers will protect our country.这些勇敢的士兵会保卫我们的国家的。

3 brotherhood   

n.兄弟般的关系，手中情谊

参考例句：

• They broke up the brotherhood.他们断绝了兄弟关系。
• They live and work together in complete equality and brotherhood.他们完全平等和兄弟般地在一起生活和工作。

4 sordid   

adj.肮脏的，不干净的，卑鄙的，暗淡的

参考例句：

• He depicts the sordid and vulgar sides of life exclusively.他只描写人生肮脏和庸俗的一面。
• They lived in a sordid apartment.他们住在肮脏的公寓房子里。

5 knightly   

adj. 骑士般的 adv. 骑士般地

参考例句：

• He composed heroic songs and began to write many a tale of enchantment and knightly adventure. 他谱写英雄短歌并着手编写不少记叙巫术和骑士历险的故事。
• If you wear knight costumes, you will certainly have a knightly manner. 身着骑士装，令您具有骑士风度。

6 succor   

n.援助，帮助；v.给予帮助

参考例句：

• In two short hours we may look for succor from Webb.在短短的两小时内，韦布将军的救兵就可望到达。
• He was so much in need of succor,so totally alone.他当时孑然一身，形影相吊，特别需要援助。

7 distressed   

痛苦的

参考例句：

• He was too distressed and confused to answer their questions. 他非常苦恼而困惑，无法回答他们的问题。
• The news of his death distressed us greatly. 他逝世的消息使我们极为悲痛。

8 intrepidly   

adv.无畏地，勇猛地

参考例句：

9 harpooned   

v.鱼镖，鱼叉( harpoon的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He said he once harpooned a 2, 000-pound shark off the coast of New York. 他称，他曾经在纽约海面上，用鱼叉捕获过一条重达2.000磅的鲨鱼。 来自互联网