英语听书《白鲸记》第764期

 so now, Starbuck saw long coils of the umbilical cord of Madame Leviathan, by which the young cub¹ seemed still tethered to its dam. 这时，斯达巴克所看到的，就是这般情况。原来是一条鲸太太的一大卷脐带，而那条小鲸似乎还跟它母亲连在一起。

Not seldom in the rapid vicissitudes² of the chase, 在变化多端的追捕中，这并不是罕见的事，

this natural line, with the maternal³ end loose, becomes entangled⁴ with the hempen⁵ one, so that the cub is thereby⁶ trapped. 这根天然绳子，往往一从母鲸后边脱落下来，就跟那根麻绳纠缠在一起，所以也把那只小鲸给套住了。

Some of the subtlest secrets of the seas seemed divulged⁷ to us in this enchanted⁸ pond. 在这个令人迷惑的大池里，好象海洋的一些极难解的秘密也向我们展现出来了。

We saw young Leviathan amours in the deep. 我们竟看到了小鲸在海底里的亲昵景象。

Footnote: The sperm⁹ whale, as with all other species of the Leviathan, but unlike most other fish, breeds indifferently at all seasons; （原注：抹香鲸，和其它鲸类一样（不过不同于其它大多数鱼类），一年四季都能生育。

after a gestation¹⁰ which may probably be set down at nine months, producing but one at a time; 它的受孕期大概是九个月，每次只生一条小鲸；

though in some few known instances giving birth to an Esau and Jacob: 虽然偶尔也会有双胞胎。为防这样的意外事项，

a contingency¹¹ provided for in suckling by two teats, curiously¹² situated¹³, one on each side of the anus; 它们长有两只奶头，乳部的位置非常奇怪，生在肛门的两边，

but the breasts themselves extend upwards¹⁴ from that. 而胸脯却跟它隔得颇远。

When by chance these precious parts in a nursing whale are cut by the hunter's lance, 这种希奇的部位偶然被猎人戳到的时候，

the mother's pouring milk and blood rivallingly discolor the sea for rods. 母鲸所流出来的奶和血就会使周围好几英里的海水都变了色。

The milk is very sweet and rich; it has been tasted by man; it might do well with strawberries. 鲸乳芳甜浓冽，人们曾吃到这东西，据说掺上野杨梅，十分可口。

When overflowing¹⁵ with mutual¹⁶ esteem¹⁷, the whales salute¹⁸ more hominum. End of footnote. 鲸在彼此爱慕得情不自禁的时候，也会象人类一样接吻。）脚注完。

1 cub   

n.幼兽，年轻无经验的人

参考例句：

• The lion cub's mother was hunting for what she needs. 这只幼师的母亲正在捕猎。
• The cub licked the milk from its mother's breast. 这头幼兽吸吮着它妈妈的奶水。

2 vicissitudes   

n.变迁，世事变化；变迁兴衰( vicissitude的名词复数 )；盛衰兴废

参考例句：

• He experienced several great social vicissitudes in his life. 他一生中经历了几次大的社会变迁。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• A man used to vicissitudes is not easily dejected. 饱经沧桑，不易沮丧。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 maternal   

adj.母亲的，母亲般的，母系的，母方的

参考例句：

• He is my maternal uncle.他是我舅舅。
• The sight of the hopeless little boy aroused her maternal instincts.那个绝望的小男孩的模样唤起了她的母性。

4 entangled   

adj.卷入的；陷入的；被缠住的；缠在一起的v.使某人（某物/自己）缠绕，纠缠于（某物中），使某人（自己）陷入（困难或复杂的环境中）( entangle的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The bird had become entangled in the wire netting. 那只小鸟被铁丝网缠住了。
• Some military observers fear the US could get entangled in another war. 一些军事观察家担心美国会卷入另一场战争。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 hempen   

adj. 大麻制的, 大麻的

参考例句：

• The net destined to support the car was made of very solid hempen cord. 承受着吊篮的网子是用非常结实的麻绳编的。
• Plant the crop such as wheaten, corn, potato, horsebean, hempen, cole aptly, a year one ripe. 适宜种植小麦、玉米、马铃薯、蚕豆、大麻、油菜等作物，一年一熟。

6 thereby   

adv.因此，从而

参考例句：

• I have never been to that city,,ereby I don't know much about it.我从未去过那座城市，因此对它不怎么熟悉。
• He became a British citizen,thereby gaining the right to vote.他成了英国公民，因而得到了投票权。

7 divulged   

v.吐露，泄露( divulge的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He divulged nothing to him save the terrible handicap of being young. 他想不出个所以然来，只是想到自己年纪尚幼，极端不利。 来自辞典例句
• The spy divulged the secret plans to the enemy. 那名间谍把秘密计划泄漏给敌人。 来自辞典例句

8 enchanted   

adj. 被施魔法的，陶醉的，入迷的 动词enchant的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• She was enchanted by the flowers you sent her. 她非常喜欢你送给她的花。
• He was enchanted by the idea. 他为这个主意而欣喜若狂。

9 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。

10 gestation   

n.怀孕；酝酿

参考例句：

• The gestation period can be anything between 95 and 150 days.妊娠期从95天至150天不等。
• This film was two years in gestation.这部电影酝酿了两年。

11 contingency   

n.意外事件，可能性

参考例句：

• We should be prepared for any contingency.我们应该对任何应急情况有所准备。
• A fire in our warehouse was a contingency that we had not expected.库房的一场大火是我们始料未及的。

12 curiously   

adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地

参考例句：

• He looked curiously at the people.他好奇地看着那些人。
• He took long stealthy strides. His hands were curiously cold.他迈着悄没声息的大步。他的双手出奇地冷。

13 situated   

adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的

参考例句：

• The village is situated at the margin of a forest.村子位于森林的边缘。
• She is awkwardly situated.她的处境困难。

14 upwards   

adv.向上，在更高处...以上

参考例句：

• The trend of prices is still upwards.物价的趋向是仍在上涨。
• The smoke rose straight upwards.烟一直向上升。

15 overflowing   

n. 溢出物,溢流 adj. 充沛的，充满的 动词overflow的现在分词形式

参考例句：

• The stands were overflowing with farm and sideline products. 集市上农副产品非常丰富。
• The milk is overflowing. 牛奶溢出来了。

16 mutual   

adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的

参考例句：

• We must pull together for mutual interest.我们必须为相互的利益而通力合作。
• Mutual interests tied us together.相互的利害关系把我们联系在一起。

17 esteem   

n.尊敬，尊重；vt.尊重，敬重；把…看作

参考例句：

• I did not esteem him to be worthy of trust.我认为他不值得信赖。
• The veteran worker ranks high in public love and esteem.那位老工人深受大伙的爱戴。

18 salute   

vi.行礼，致意，问候，放礼炮；vt.向…致意，迎接，赞扬；n.招呼，敬礼，礼炮

参考例句：

• Merchant ships salute each other by dipping the flag.商船互相点旗致敬。
• The Japanese women salute the people with formal bows in welcome.这些日本妇女以正式的鞠躬向人们施礼以示欢迎。