英语听书《白鲸记》第140期

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WHALING NOT RESPECTABLE? Whaling is imperial! By old English statutory law, the whale is declared a royal fish. 这大概要看一下捕鲸者所捕的鲸在人们心目中的地位了：在古代的英国，鲸鱼是皇族崇尚的钦定鱼。

Oh, that's only nominal¹! The whale himself has never figured in any grand imposing² way.  哦,这只是名义上的!我记得史实中有这样的记载：

THE WHALE NEVER FIGURED IN ANY GRAND IMPOSING WAY?  又有人说了，捕鲸吗，总归是不大威风吧！

In one of the mighty³ triumphs given to a Roman general upon his entering the world's capital, the bones of a whale, brought all the way from the Syrian coast,  在为一个罗马将军进行的欢迎仪式上，摆着一架特意从叙利亚运来的鲸骨， 

were the most conspicuous⁴ object in the cymballed procession. 以示隆重。

See subsequent chapters for something more on this head.  鲸座是天上的一个星座，捕鲸者是何等的威风也便可想而知了。如果你对沙皇脱帽的话，那么我相信你也会对魁魁格脱帽的！

Grant it, since you cite it; but, say what you will, there is no real dignity in whaling.  噢，天知道，人们除了捕鲸还有什么可以称为威风的事呢？  

NO DIGNITY IN WHALING?  总归是不大威风?

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