英语听书《白鲸记》第850期

 The voyage was a skilful¹ and lucky one; and returning to her berth² with her hold full of the precious sperm³, 这是一次灵巧而幸运的航行；载着满舱名贵的鲸脑回到了停泊地，

the Amelia's example was soon followed by other ships, English and American, 阿美利亚立刻便成为其它英美船只所追循的模范，

and thus the vast Sperm Whale grounds of the Pacific were thrown open. 于是，太平洋上的巨大的抹香鲸渔场给开辟下来了。

But not content with this good deed, the indefatigable⁴ house again bestirred itself: 可是，这个精力不倦的公司并不满足于这些优异成绩，又大事活跃起来：

Samuel and all his Sons—how many, their mother only knows—and under their immediate⁵ auspices⁶, and partly, I think, at their expense, 撒母耳公司和各分支公司——究竟有多少，那只有他们的总公司才知道——在他们的直接监督下，而且我想大半还有他们的投资，

the British government was induced to send the sloop-of-war Rattler on a whaling voyage of discovery into the South Sea. 弄得英国政府也兴致勃勃地派出了炮舰"漂亮号"，到南海去开辟捕鲸航线了。

Commanded by a naval⁷ Post-Captain, the Rattler made a rattling⁸ voyage of it, and did some service; how much does not appear. 这艘"漂亮号"，由一个海军的小舰长率领，倒是做了一次漂亮的航行，也做了一些事情；成绩如何却不得而知。

But this is not all. 但是，事情还有着呢。

In 1819, the same house fitted out a discovery whale ship of their own, to go on a tasting cruise to the remote waters of Japan. 一八一九年，这个公司又亲自装备了一艘开辟捕鲸航线的船，直驶到遥远的日本海，去作一次试探性的巡游。

That ship— well called the "Syren"—made a noble experimental cruise; 那艘船——名字真好听，叫做"海妖"——完成了一次了不起的试验性的巡游；

and it was thus that the great Japanese Whaling Ground first became generally known. 也正由于这样，日本的大捕鲸渔场初次显了名。

The Syren in this famous voyage was commanded by a Captain Coffin⁹, a Nantucketer. 在这次著名的航行中，"海妖"的船长就是一个叫做科芬的南塔开特人。

All honor to the Enderbies, therefore, whose house, I think, exists to the present day; 光荣归于恩德比家族，因此，我想这个公司，迄今还是存在的；

though doubtless the original Samuel must long ago have slipped his cable for the great South Sea of the other world. 不过，毫无疑问，原来的那个撒母耳，一定是早就启碇到另一个世界的南海里去了。

1 skilful   

(=skillful)adj.灵巧的，熟练的

参考例句：

• The more you practise,the more skilful you'll become.练习的次数越多，熟练的程度越高。
• He's not very skilful with his chopsticks.他用筷子不大熟练。

2 berth   

n.卧铺，停泊地，锚位；v.使停泊

参考例句：

• She booked a berth on the train from London to Aberdeen.她订了一张由伦敦开往阿伯丁的火车卧铺票。
• They took up a berth near the harbor.他们在港口附近找了个位置下锚。

3 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。

4 indefatigable   

adj.不知疲倦的，不屈不挠的

参考例句：

• His indefatigable spirit helped him to cope with his illness.他不屈不挠的精神帮助他对抗病魔。
• He was indefatigable in his lectures on the aesthetics of love.在讲授关于爱情的美学时，他是不知疲倦的。

5 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

6 auspices   

n.资助，赞助

参考例句：

• The association is under the auspices of Word Bank.这个组织是在世界银行的赞助下办的。
• The examination was held under the auspices of the government.这次考试是由政府主办的。

7 naval   

adj.海军的，军舰的，船的

参考例句：

• He took part in a great naval battle.他参加了一次大海战。
• The harbour is an important naval base.该港是一个重要的海军基地。

8 rattling   

adj. 格格作响的, 活泼的, 很好的 adv. 极其, 很, 非常 动词rattle的现在分词

参考例句：

• This book is a rattling good read. 这是一本非常好的读物。
• At that same instant,a deafening explosion set the windows rattling. 正在这时，一声震耳欲聋的爆炸突然袭来，把窗玻璃震得当当地响。

9 coffin   

n.棺材，灵柩

参考例句：

• When one's coffin is covered,all discussion about him can be settled.盖棺论定。
• The coffin was placed in the grave.那口棺材已安放到坟墓里去了。