英语听书《白鲸记》第865期

 The ribs² were ten on a side. 这些肋骨每边各有十根。

The first, to begin from the neck, was nearly six feet long; the second, third, and fourth were each successively longer, 第一根，就是从颈部数起的那一根，几乎有六英尺长；第二根、第三根和第四根都一根比一根长，

till you came to the climax³ of the fifth, or one of the middle ribs, which measured eight feet and some inches. 等你数到最长的第五根或者是中间的那一根，它量起来有八英尺几英寸长。

From that part, the remaining ribs diminished, till the tenth and last only spanned five feet and some inches. 打从第五根起，其余的肋骨就逐渐缩短了，直缩到第十根，也就是最后的一根，看来只不过五英尺多点。

In general thickness, they all bore a seemly correspondence to their length. 就一般的粗细说来，它们都跟长度差不多。

The middle ribs were the most arched. 不过中间的那些肋骨都很弯。

In some of the Arsacides they are used for beams whereon to lay footpath⁴ bridges over small streams. 在阿萨西提地方，有些肋骨还被当横木用，拿来架在小河上做小桥。

In considering these ribs, I could not but be struck anew with the circumstance, so variously repeated in this book,  一想到这些肋骨，我不禁重新想起本书中一再提到的那些情况，

that the skeleton of the whale is by no means the mould of his invested form. 那就是说，鲸骷髅绝不就是它原来的身体的形状。

The largest of the Tranque ribs, one of the middle ones, occupied that part of the fish which, in life, is greatest in depth. 托朗魁那条鲸的最大的肋骨，也就是中间的那根，在鲸活着的时候，就是鲸身的最厚部分。

Now, the greatest depth of the invested body of this particular whale must have been at least sixteen feet; 而这条鲸本来的身躯的最厚部分至少一定有十六英尺长；

whereas, the corresponding rib¹ measured but little more than eight feet. 可是，这根肋骨量起来却不过是八英尺。

So that this rib only conveyed half of the true notion of the living magnitude of that part. 所以这根肋骨只不过是表达了这只大活物的那一部分的一半真相而已。

Besides, for some way, where I now saw but a naked spine⁵, 此外，我总觉得，我现在所看到的这种不过是一根光堂堂的椎骨，

all that had been once wrapped round with tons of added bulk in flesh, muscle, blood, and bowels⁶. 却曾经给一吨一吨的鲜肉，肌肉，鲜血和内脏四面紧紧包围着。

Still more, for the ample fins⁷, I here saw but a few disordered joints⁸; 还有，说到那些原来是丰满的鳍，我现在所看到的，却只是一堆零乱的骨节了；

and in place of the weighty and majestic⁹, but boneless flukes, an utter blank! 而且原来那些极有分量与威风凛凛的，而且一点骨头也没有的鲸尾裂片，如今纯然一无所有了！

1 rib   

n.肋骨，肋状物

参考例句：

• He broke a rib when he fell off his horse.他从马上摔下来折断了一根肋骨。
• He has broken a rib and the doctor has strapped it up.他断了一根肋骨，医生已包扎好了。

2 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。

3 climax   

n.顶点；高潮；v.(使)达到顶点

参考例句：

• The fifth scene was the climax of the play.第五场是全剧的高潮。
• His quarrel with his father brought matters to a climax.他与他父亲的争吵使得事态发展到了顶点。

4 footpath   

n.小路，人行道

参考例句：

• Owners who allow their dogs to foul the footpath will be fined.主人若放任狗弄脏人行道将受处罚。
• They rambled on the footpath in the woods.他俩漫步在林间蹊径上。

5 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。

6 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》

7 fins   

[医]散热片；鱼鳍；飞边；鸭掌

参考例句：

• The level of TNF-α positively correlated with BMI,FPG,HbA1C,TG,FINS and IRI,but not with SBP and DBP. TNF-α水平与BMI、FPG、HbA1C、TG、FINS和IRI呈显著正相关，与SBP、DBP无相关。 来自互联网
• Fins are a feature specific to fish. 鱼鳍是鱼类特有的特征。 来自辞典例句

8 joints   

接头( joint的名词复数 )； 关节； 公共场所（尤指价格低廉的饮食和娱乐场所） （非正式）； 一块烤肉 （英式英语）

参考例句：

• Expansion joints of various kinds are fitted on gas mains. 各种各样的伸缩接头被安装在煤气的总管道上了。
• Expansion joints of various kinds are fitted on steam pipes. 各种各样的伸缩接头被安装在蒸气管道上了。

9 majestic   

adj.雄伟的，壮丽的，庄严的，威严的，崇高的

参考例句：

• In the distance rose the majestic Alps.远处耸立着雄伟的阿尔卑斯山。
• He looks majestic in uniform.他穿上军装显得很威风。