英语听书《白鲸记》第381期

 BOOK II. (Octavo), CHAPTER II. (Black Fish).--I give the popular fishermen's names for all these fish, for generally they are the best.  第二篇(八开型)　第二章(黑鲸)...我给这种鲸用了一个捕鱼者所通称的名称,因为一般说来,这名字是最恰当的。

Where any name happens to be vague or inexpressive, I shall say so, and suggest another.  如果碰到一个模糊。或者是名不副实的名字,那么我就给它另取一个名字。

I do so now touching¹ the Black Fish, so called because blackness is the rule among almost all whales. So, call him the Hyena² Whale, if you please.  我现在就是这样处理所谓黑鲸的,因为黑色差不多也是各种鲸所通有的颜色。所以,如果你高兴,就管它叫花鬣鲸吧。

His voracity³ is well known and from the circumstance that the inner angles of his lips are curved upwards⁴, he carries an everlasting⁵ Mephistophelean grin on his face.  它的贪食是名震遐迩的,而且由于实际上它嘴巴的内角是向上卷起的,它脸上就始终有着一副摩菲斯特的笑容。

This whale averages some sixteen or eighteen feet in length. He is found in almost all latitudes⁶.  这种鲸的身长平均在十六英尺到十八英尺左右。它几乎是到处都可发现的。

He has a peculiar⁷ way of showing his dorsal⁸ hooked fin⁹ in swimming, which looks something like a Roman nose.  它在游来游去的时候,总爱露出它那只钩状的背脊来,看来有点儿象只罗马式的鼻子。

When not more profitably employed, the sperm¹⁰ whale hunters sometimes capture the Hyena whale, to keep up the supply of cheap oil for domestic employment 捕抹香鲸者在没有什么大利可图的时候,有时也去捕捉这种花鬣鲸,以便积起一些家用的便宜油料...

as some frugal¹¹ housekeepers¹², in the absence of company, and quite alone by themselves, burn unsavory tallow instead of odorous wax.  如同一些俭省的主妇,每当老伴出门,孤零零一个人在家的时候,便点起味道不佳的牛油来,舍不得燃点芬香的蜡烛。

Though their blubber is very thin, some of these whales will yield you upwards of thirty gallons of oil. 虽然它们的油脂很稀薄,然而,其中有些鲸却会给你出产三十加仑以上的油量。

BOOK II. (Octavo), CHAPTER III. (Narwhale), that is, Nostril¹³ whale. 第二篇(八开型)　第三章(独角鲸)也叫尖鼻鲸...

Another instance of a curiously¹⁴ named whale, so named I suppose from his peculiar horn being originally mistaken for a peaked nose.  又是一种名称古怪的鲸,人们所以这样称法,我认为是因为它那特殊的角原来就被错认为一只尖鼻子的缘故。

The creature is some sixteen feet in length, while its horn averages five feet, though some exceed ten, and even attain¹⁵ to fifteen feet.  这种生物约有十六英尺长,而那只角却平均有五英尺长,有些还要超过十英尺,甚至还有长到十五英尺的。

1 touching   

adj.动人的，使人感伤的

参考例句：

• It was a touching sight.这是一幅动人的景象。
• His letter was touching.他的信很感人。

2 hyena   

n.土狼，鬣狗

参考例句：

• African hyena noted for its distinctive howl.非洲鬣狗，以其特别的嚎叫而闻名。
• The hyena's public image is not aided by its ridiculous appearance.鬣狗滑稽的外表无助于改善它在公众心中的形象。

3 voracity   

n.贪食，贪婪

参考例句：

• Their voracity is legendary and even the most hardened warriors cannot repress a shiver if one speaks about them. 他们的贪食是传奇性的，甚至强壮的战士也会因为提起他们而无法抑制的颤抖。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He ate with the voracity of a starving man. 他饿鬼似的贪婪地吃着。 来自互联网

4 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。

5 everlasting   

adj.永恒的，持久的，无止境的

参考例句：

• These tyres are advertised as being everlasting.广告上说轮胎持久耐用。
• He believes in everlasting life after death.他相信死后有不朽的生命。

6 latitudes   

纬度

参考例句：

• Latitudes are the lines that go from east to west. 纬线是从东到西的线。
• It was the brief Indian Summer of the high latitudes. 这是高纬度地方的那种短暂的晚秋。

7 peculiar   

adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的

参考例句：

• He walks in a peculiar fashion.他走路的样子很奇特。
• He looked at me with a very peculiar expression.他用一种很奇怪的表情看着我。

8 dorsal   

adj.背部的，背脊的

参考例句：

• His dorsal fin was down and his huge pectorals were spread wide.它的脊鳍朝下耷拉着，巨大的胸鳍大张着。
• The shark's dorsal fin was cut off by the fisherman.鲨鱼的背鳍被渔夫割了下来。

9 fin   

n.鳍；(飞机的)安定翼

参考例句：

• They swim using a small fin on their back.它们用背上的小鳍游动。
• The aircraft has a long tail fin.那架飞机有一个长长的尾翼。

10 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。

11 frugal   

adj.节俭的，节约的，少量的，微量的

参考例句：

• He was a VIP,but he had a frugal life.他是位要人，但生活俭朴。
• The old woman is frugal to the extreme.那老妇人节约到了极点。

12 housekeepers   

n.（女）管家( housekeeper的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Can you send up one of your housekeepers to make bed? 请你派个女服务员来整理床铺好吗？ 来自互联网
• They work as gas station attendants, firemen, housekeepers,and security personnel. 本句翻译：机器人也能够作为煤气站的服务员，救火队员等保安作用。 来自互联网

13 nostril   

n.鼻孔

参考例句：

• The Indian princess wore a diamond in her right nostril.印弟安公主在右鼻孔中戴了一颗钻石。
• All South American monkeys have flat noses with widely spaced nostril.所有南美洲的猴子都有平鼻子和宽大的鼻孔。

14 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。

15 attain   

vt.达到，获得，完成

参考例句：

• I used the scientific method to attain this end. 我用科学的方法来达到这一目的。
• His painstaking to attain his goal in life is praiseworthy. 他为实现人生目标所下的苦功是值得称赞的。