英语听书《白鲸记》第796期

 　　For amber¹, though at times found on the sea-coast, is also dug up in some far inland soils, whereas ambergris is never found except upon the sea. 因为琥珀虽则可以不时地在海边找到，但也可以在遥远的内陆的土壤里挖到；而龙涎香，则是除了在海上，随便什么地方都找不到的。

　　Besides, amber is a hard, transparent², brittle³, odorless substance, used for mouth-pieces to pipes, for beads⁴ and ornaments⁵; 此外，琥珀是一种质硬、透明、性脆、毫无味道，可以用来作烟斗上的烟嘴、念珠和装饰品的东西；

　　but ambergris is soft, waxy⁶, and so highly fragrant⁷ and spicy⁸, that it is largely used in perfumery, in pastiles, precious candles, hair-powders, and pomatum. 而龙诞香却是质软，呈蜡黄色，非常馥郁，是被大量使用于香料品、香锭、名贵的蜡烛、发粉和香油的东西。

　　The Turks use it in cooking, and also carry it to Mecca, for the same purpose that frankincense is carried to St. Peter's in Rome. 土耳其人用它来煮东西，也把龙诞香带到圣地去，如同人们为了同样的目的把乳香带到罗马的圣彼得教堂去一样。

　　Some wine merchants drop a few grains into claret, to flavor it. 有些酿酒商，还在红葡萄酒里滴它几滴，增加酒香。

　　Who would think, then, that such fine ladies and gentlemen should regale⁹ themselves with an essence found in the inglorious bowels¹⁰ of a sick whale! 那么，谁想得到那些高雅的太太老爷们往自己身上洒上的一滴香精，竟是从一只病鲸的不干不净的肚皮里取出来的呢！

　　Yet so it is. By some, ambergris is supposed to be the cause, and by others the effect, of the dyspepsia in the whale. 然而，事实的确如此。有些人认为龙涎香是大鲸患消化不良症的原因，另一些人则认为它是这种病症的结果。

　　How to cure such a dyspepsia it were hard to say, 究竟应该怎样治疗这种消化不良症，倒是很难说得上来，

　　unless by administering three or four boat loads of Brandreth's pills, and then running out of harm's way, as laborers¹¹ do in blasting rocks. 除非是装上三四只小艇的布兰德雷思丸药（一种烈性泻药。），这才可以象工人炸岩石那样，消除这一大患。

　　I have forgotten to say that there were found in this ambergris, certain hard, round, bony plates, 我还忘记说，在这种龙涎香中，还发现有一种质硬、浑圆而象骨板样的东西，

　　which at first Stubb thought might be sailors' trousers buttons; 起初斯塔布还当它是水手的裤钮，

　　but it afterwards turned out that they were nothing, more than pieces of small squid bones embalmed¹² in that manner. 不过，后来又发现，它原来不过是象搽过香油的乌贼骨那样的东西。

1 amber   

n.琥珀；琥珀色；adj.琥珀制的

参考例句：

• Would you like an amber necklace for your birthday?你过生日想要一条琥珀项链吗？
• This is a piece of little amber stones.这是一块小小的琥珀化石。

2 transparent   

adj.明显的，无疑的；透明的

参考例句：

• The water is so transparent that we can see the fishes swimming.水清澈透明，可以看到鱼儿游来游去。
• The window glass is transparent.窗玻璃是透明的。

3 brittle   

adj.易碎的；脆弱的；冷淡的；(声音)尖利的

参考例句：

• The pond was covered in a brittle layer of ice.池塘覆盖了一层易碎的冰。
• She gave a brittle laugh.她冷淡地笑了笑。

4 beads   

n.（空心）小珠子( bead的名词复数 )；水珠；珠子项链

参考例句：

• a necklace of wooden beads 一条木珠项链
• Beads of perspiration stood out on his forehead. 他的前额上挂着汗珠。

5 ornaments   

n.装饰( ornament的名词复数 )；点缀；装饰品；首饰v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The shelves were chock-a-block with ornaments. 架子上堆满了装饰品。
• Playing the piano sets up resonance in those glass ornaments. 一弹钢琴那些玻璃饰物就会产生共振。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 waxy   

adj.苍白的；光滑的

参考例句：

• Choose small waxy potatoes for the salad.选些个头小、表皮光滑的土豆做色拉。
• The waxy oil keeps ears from getting too dry.这些蜡状耳油可以保持耳朵不会太干燥。

7 fragrant   

adj.芬香的，馥郁的，愉快的

参考例句：

• The Fragrant Hills are exceptionally beautiful in late autumn.深秋的香山格外美丽。
• The air was fragrant with lavender.空气中弥漫薰衣草香。

8 spicy   

adj.加香料的；辛辣的，有风味的

参考例句：

• The soup tasted mildly spicy.汤尝起来略有点辣。
• Very spicy food doesn't suit her stomach.太辣的东西她吃了胃不舒服。

9 regale   

v.取悦，款待

参考例句：

• He was constantly regaled with tales of woe.别人老是给他讲些倒霉事儿来逗他开心。
• He loved to regale his friends with tales about the many memorable characters he had known as a newspaperman.他喜欢讲些他当记者时认识的许多名人的故事给朋友们消遣。

10 bowels   

n.肠，内脏，内部；肠( bowel的名词复数 )；内部，最深处

参考例句：

• Salts is a medicine that causes movements of the bowels. 泻盐是一种促使肠子运动的药物。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The cabins are in the bowels of the ship. 舱房设在船腹内。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 laborers   

n.体力劳动者，工人( laborer的名词复数 )；（熟练工人的）辅助工

参考例句：

• Laborers were trained to handle 50-ton compactors and giant cranes. 工人们接受操作五十吨压土机和巨型起重机的训练。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• Wage-labour rests exclusively on competition between the laborers. 雇佣劳动完全是建立在工人的自相竞争之上的。 来自英汉非文学 - 共产党宣言

12 embalmed   

adj.用防腐药物保存（尸体）的v.保存（尸体）不腐( embalm的过去式和过去分词 )；使不被遗忘；使充满香气

参考例句：

• Many fine sentiments are embalmed in poetry. 许多微妙的情感保存于诗歌中。 来自辞典例句
• In books, are embalmed the greatest thoughts of all ages. 伟大思想古今有，载入书中成不朽。 来自互联网