英語聽書《白鯨記》第382期

Strictly speaking, this horn is but a lengthened tusk, growing out from the jaw in a line a little depressed from the horizontal.

嚴格地說,這只角不過是一只打從嘴里稍微向下生出來的伸長的牙齒而已。

But it is only found on the sinister side, which has an ill effect, giving its owner something analogous to the aspect of a clumsy left-handed man.

但是,它只是生在左邊,因此,它就有了一種不佳的后果,使得它的主人的相貌有點象是一個笨拙地使用左手的人。

What precise purpose this ivory horn or lance answers, it would be hard to say.

這種牙角或者槍矛究竟有什么真正的用場,那倒很難置答。

It does not seem to be used like the blade of the sword-fish and bill-fish; though some sailors tell me that the Narwhale employs it for a rake in turning over the bottom of the sea for food.

它似乎不象劍魚和鐮魚的峰背那樣派得來用場;不過,有些水手對我說,獨角鯨在翻耙海底找尋食物的時候,是把它當做耙子用的。

Charley Coffin said it was used for an ice-piercer; for the Narwhale, rising to the surface of the Polar Sea, and finding it sheeted with ice, thrusts his horn up, and so breaks through.

查利科芬卻說那是被當做冰錐子用的;因為當獨角鯨沖出北極洋面,發(fā)現(xiàn)上面罩著冰塊的時候,就把它那只角往上一沖,把冰塊給戳穿了。

But you cannot prove either of these surmises to be correct.

但是,這些揣測究竟是哪一種對,卻無法證實。

My own opinion is, that however this one-sided horn may really be used by the Narwhale-however that may be-it would certainly be very convenient to him for a folder in reading pamphlets.

我的意見是,不管獨角鯨究竟把這只獨角派什么用場...不管是怎么樣...有一點可以肯定的是,它在看書的時候,一定可以十分方便地把它做裁紙刀用。

The Narwhale I have heard called the Tusked whale, the Horned whale, and the Unicorn whale.

我聽說有人把獨角鯨叫做牙鯨。角鯨和一角鯨。

He is certainly a curious example of the Unicornism to be found in almost every kingdom of animated nature.

它簡直應該算是一切生物界中所能找到的一角派的有趣的范例。

From certain cloistered old authors I have gathered that this same sea-unicorn's horn was in ancient days regarded as the great antidote against poison, and as such, preparations of it brought immense prices.

我從一些隱居的老作家那邊搜集到一些材料,據(jù)說這種海上的獨角生物的角,在古代是被當做抗毒的靈劑的,因此,它的制劑售價很高。

It was also distilled to a volatile salts for fainting ladies the same way that the horns of the male deer are manufactured into hartshorn.

它也被蒸餾成一種揮發(fā)鹽,供昏厥的貴婦當嗅鹽用,一如雄鹿角被制成鹿角精。