英语听书《白鲸记》第733期

 But he cannot in any degree breathe through his mouth, 不过，不管怎样，它是不能用嘴呼吸的，

for, in his ordinary attitude, the Sperm¹ Whale's mouth is buried at least eight feet beneath the surface; 因为，按它通常的状态说来，抹香鲸的嘴巴深藏在水面之下至少有八英尺的地方，

and what is still more, his windpipe has no connexion with his mouth. 而且，它的气管跟嘴巴又毫无联系。

No, he breathes through his spiracle alone; and this is on the top of his head. 不，它只靠那只喷水孔呼吸，而那只喷水孔却长在头顶。

If I say, that in any creature breathing is only a function indispensable to vitality², 如果我说，任何一种动物的呼吸就是生命的不可或缺的职能，

inasmuch as it withdraws from the air a certain element, 因此，它从空气中吸收到了一种要素后，

which being subsequently brought into contact with the blood imparts to the blood its vivifying principle, 就使它跟血液接触，把它的富有生气的要素灌输给血液，

I do not think I shall err³; though I may possibly use some superfluous⁴ scientific words. 我想我大概是没有说错的；虽则我也许还可以用上若干罗里罗唆的科学词汇。

Assume it, and it follows that if all the blood in a man could be aerated⁵ with one breath, 如果是这样，那么接着而来就是，如果一口气就能把人体的全部血液都充以空气的话，

he might then seal up his nostrils⁶ and not fetch another for a considerable time. 那么人类也许可以封起鼻孔，好久不需要再吸进另一口气了。

That is to say, he would then live without breathing. 这就是说，他从此可以不要呼吸而活下去。

Anomalous⁷ as it may seem, this is precisely⁸ the case with the whale, 尽管这事情看来也许颇为反常，可是，大鲸就正是这般情况。

who systematically⁹ lives, by intervals¹⁰, his full hour and more (when at the bottom) without drawing a single breath, 大鲸在海底的时候，能够在一个多钟头的时间里不需吸一口气，

or so much as in any way inhaling¹¹ a particle of air; for, remember, he has no gills. How is this? 或者可以说一点点气都用不着吸，而能够照常生活下去；因为，请记住，它是没有鳃的。这究竟是怎么回事呢？

Between his ribs¹² and on each side of his spine¹³ he is supplied with a remarkable¹⁴ involved Cretan labyrinth¹⁵ of vermicelli-like vessels¹⁶, 因为在它的肋骨间和脊骨的两边，它装备有一件特别的东西，如同克里特岛人做管状面的那种曲曲折折的器皿一般，

which vessels, when he quits the surface, are completely distended¹⁷ with oxygenated blood.  这些器皿，当它离开水面的时候，就已经完全胀满充有氧气的血液了。

1 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。

2 vitality   

n.活力，生命力，效力

参考例句：

• He came back from his holiday bursting with vitality and good health.他度假归来之后，身强体壮，充满活力。
• He is an ambitious young man full of enthusiasm and vitality.他是个充满热情与活力的有远大抱负的青年。

3 err   

vi.犯错误，出差错

参考例句：

• He did not err by a hair's breadth in his calculation.他的计算结果一丝不差。
• The arrows err not from their aim.箭无虚发。

4 superfluous   

adj.过多的，过剩的，多余的

参考例句：

• She fined away superfluous matter in the design. 她删去了这图案中多余的东西。
• That request seemed superfluous when I wrote it.我这样写的时候觉得这个请求似乎是多此一举。

5 aerated   

v.使暴露于空气中，使充满气体( aerate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Blood is aerated in the lungs. 血液在肺中与氧结合。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• The rooting medium should be moist, well aerated, and sterile. 生根的基质应当是湿润，透气良好和消过毒的。 来自辞典例句

6 nostrils   

鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Her nostrils flared with anger. 她气得两个鼻孔都鼓了起来。
• The horse dilated its nostrils. 马张大鼻孔。

7 anomalous   

adj.反常的；不规则的

参考例句：

• For years this anomalous behaviour has baffled scientists.几年来这种反常行为让科学家们很困惑。
• The mechanism of this anomalous vascular response is unknown.此种不规则的血管反应的机制尚不清楚。

8 precisely   

adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地

参考例句：

• It's precisely that sort of slick sales-talk that I mistrust.我不相信的正是那种油腔滑调的推销宣传。
• The man adjusted very precisely.那个人调得很准。

9 systematically   

adv.有系统地

参考例句：

• This government has systematically run down public services since it took office.这一屆政府自上台以来系统地削减了公共服务。
• The rainforest is being systematically destroyed.雨林正被系统地毀灭。

10 intervals   

n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息

参考例句：

• The forecast said there would be sunny intervals and showers. 预报间晴，有阵雨。
• Meetings take place at fortnightly intervals. 每两周开一次会。

11 inhaling   

v.吸入( inhale的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• He was treated for the effects of inhaling smoke. 他因吸入烟尘而接受治疗。 来自辞典例句
• The long-term effects of inhaling contaminated air is unknown. 长期吸入被污染空气的影响还无从知晓。 来自互联网

12 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。

13 spine   

n.脊柱，脊椎；(动植物的)刺；书脊

参考例句：

• He broke his spine in a fall from a horse.他从马上跌下摔断了脊梁骨。
• His spine developed a slight curve.他的脊柱有点弯曲。

14 remarkable   

adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的

参考例句：

• She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。
• These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。

15 labyrinth   

n.迷宫；难解的事物；迷路

参考例句：

• He wandered through the labyrinth of the alleyways.他在迷宫似的小巷中闲逛。
• The human mind is a labyrinth.人的心灵是一座迷宫。

16 vessels   

n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人

参考例句：

• The river is navigable by vessels of up to 90 tons. 90 吨以下的船只可以从这条河通过。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• All modern vessels of any size are fitted with radar installations. 所有现代化船只都有雷达装置。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

17 distended   

v.（使）膨胀，肿胀( distend的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• starving children with huge distended bellies 鼓着浮肿肚子的挨饿儿童
• The balloon was distended. 气球已膨胀。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》