英语听书《白鲸记》第877期

 Nor, considered aright, does it seem any argument in favor of the gradual extinction¹ of the Sperm² Whale, for example, 而且，正确地考虑一番，似乎也还提供不出任何论据，足以证明抹香鲸会逐渐趋于灭亡，比如说，

that in former years (the latter part of the last century, say) these Leviathans, in small pods, were encountered much oftener than at present, 在早些年间（十八世纪后期），这些大海兽，三五成群的出现，比之现今所碰到的次数还要多，

and, in consequence, the voyages were not so prolonged, and were also much more remunerative³. 而且，到头来航程并不需要这么长，所得的酬劳也比现在多。

Because, as has been elsewhere noticed, those whales, influenced by some views to safety, now swim the seas in immense caravans⁴, 因为，一如在其它场合已经看到了的，这些鲸，也许受到一些安全观点的影响，现在游在海里的都是成群结队，

so that to a large degree the scattered⁵ solitaries⁶, yokes⁷, and pods, and schools of other days are now aggregated⁸ into vast but widely separated, unfrequent armies. 所以，早日那些离群索居的、成对的、小队小群的鲸只，今天都集结成声势浩大的、而且是分布很广的罕见的队伍了。

That is all. 这就足以说明全般情况。

And equally fallacious seems the conceit⁹, that because the so-called whale-bone whales no longer haunt many grounds in former years abounding¹⁰ with them, 不过，因为所谓须鲸已不再出现于早年群集的许多渔场上，

hence that species also is declining. 因而这种鲸也已逐渐消失了的想法，似乎也同样是错误的。

For they are only being driven from promontory¹¹ to cape¹²; and if one coast is no longer enlivened with their jets, 因为，它们不过是被人们从这个岬赶到那一个角，而如果这个地方不再发现到它们的喷水，

then, be sure, some other and remoter strand¹³ has been very recently startled by the unfamiliar¹⁴ spectacle. 那么，在另外一些遥远的海矶岸边，一定还有人因为刚刚看到这种不常有的光景而大吃一惊的。

Furthermore: concerning these last mentioned Leviathans, they have two firm fortresses¹⁵, which, in all human probability, will for ever remain impregnable. 而且，关于上述这些大海兽，它们也有两大坚固堡垒，这两大堡垒，就一切人类的能耐说来，将是永远无法攻击的。

1 extinction   

n.熄灭，消亡，消灭，灭绝，绝种

参考例句：

• The plant is now in danger of extinction.这种植物现在有绝种的危险。
• The island's way of life is doomed to extinction.这个岛上的生活方式注定要消失。

2 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。

3 remunerative   

adj.有报酬的

参考例句：

• He is prepared to make a living by accepting any remunerative chore.为了生计，他准备接受任何有酬报的杂活。
• A doctor advised her to seek remunerative employment.一个医生建议她去找有酬劳的工作。

4 caravans   

（可供居住的）拖车（通常由机动车拖行）( caravan的名词复数 )； 篷车； （穿过沙漠地带的）旅行队（如商队）

参考例句：

• Old-fashioned gypsy caravans are painted wooden vehicles that are pulled by horses. 旧式的吉卜赛大篷车是由马拉的涂了颜色的木质车辆。
• Old-fashioned gypsy caravans are painted wooden vehicles. 旧时的吉普赛大篷车是涂了颜色的木质车辆。

5 scattered   

adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的

参考例句：

• Gathering up his scattered papers,he pushed them into his case.他把散乱的文件收拾起来，塞进文件夹里。

6 solitaries   

n.独居者，隐士( solitary的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Shepherds live their lives largely as solitaries. 牧师的生活很像独居者。 来自互联网

7 yokes   

轭( yoke的名词复数 )； 奴役； 轭形扁担； 上衣抵肩

参考例句：

• The rhombic drive mechanism has two "yokes". 菱形驱动机构有两个“轭”。
• Contact pressure increase by 1.5 –5 with same stems and yokes. 即使采用相同的阀杆和轭架，接触压力也能够增加1.5至5倍。

8 aggregated   

a.聚合的，合计的

参考例句：

• He aggregated her to a political party. 他吸收她参加一政党。
• The audiences aggregated a million people. 观众总数达100万人。

9 conceit   

n.自负，自高自大

参考例句：

• As conceit makes one lag behind,so modesty helps one make progress.骄傲使人落后，谦虚使人进步。
• She seems to be eaten up with her own conceit.她仿佛已经被骄傲冲昏了头脑。

10 abounding   

adj.丰富的，大量的v.大量存在，充满，富于( abound的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Ahead lay the scalloped ocean and the abounding blessed isles. 再往前是水波荡漾的海洋和星罗棋布的宝岛。 来自英汉文学 - 盖茨比
• The metallic curve of his sheep-crook shone silver-bright in the same abounding rays. 他那弯柄牧羊杖上的金属曲线也在这一片炽盛的火光下闪着银亮的光。 来自辞典例句

11 promontory   

n.海角；岬

参考例句：

• Genius is a promontory jutting out of the infinite.天才是茫茫大地突出的岬角。
• On the map that promontory looks like a nose,naughtily turned up.从地图上面，那个海角就像一只调皮地翘起来的鼻子。

12 cape   

n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风

参考例句：

• I long for a trip to the Cape of Good Hope.我渴望到好望角去旅行。
• She was wearing a cape over her dress.她在外套上披着一件披肩。

13 strand   

vt.使（船）搁浅，使（某人）困于（某地）

参考例句：

• She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ears.她把一缕散发夹到了耳后。
• The climbers had been stranded by a storm.登山者被暴风雨困住了。

14 unfamiliar   

adj.陌生的，不熟悉的

参考例句：

• I am unfamiliar with the place and the people here.我在这儿人地生疏。
• The man seemed unfamiliar to me.这人很面生。

15 fortresses   

堡垒，要塞( fortress的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• They will establish impregnable fortresses. 他们将建造坚不可摧的城堡。
• Indra smashed through Vritra ninety-nine fortresses, and then came upon the dragon. 因陀罗摧毁了维他的九十九座城堡，然后与维他交手。 来自神话部分