英語聽書《白鯨記》第438期

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And as if the now tested reality of his might had in former legendary times thrown its shadow before it;

現(xiàn)在業(yè)經(jīng)證實的有關抹香鯨的威猛實情,仿佛是早在以前的傳說時代就已有跡象可循了;

we find some book naturalists- Olassen and Povelson-declaring the Sperm Whale not only to be a consternation to every other creature in the sea, but also to be so incredibly ferocious as continually to be athirst for human blood.

我們發(fā)現(xiàn)有若干著書立說的博物學家,奧拉森和鮑維爾生都宣稱,抹香鯨不僅是使海洋中其它生物感到恐怖的一種大獸,也是經(jīng)常要喝人血的非常兇殘無比的巨獸。

Nor even down to so late a time as Cuvier's, were these or almost similar impressions effaced.

甚至時至晚近的居維埃,仍不免或多或少有類似的看法。

For in his Natural History, the Baron himself affirms that at sight of the Sperm Whale, all fish (sharks included) are "struck with the most lively terrors," and "often in the precipitancy of their flight dash themselves against the rocks with such violence as to cause instantaneous death."

因為,在他的《博物學史》一書中,這位伯爵本人就堅稱,一切魚類(包括鯊魚在內(nèi))一看到抹香鯨,就都"嚇得魂不附體",而且,"在它們慌忙逃走中,往往會直沖向巖礁,用力之猛,幾至當場撞死。"

And however the general experiences in the fishery may amend such reports as these; yet in their full terribleness, even to the bloodthirsty item of Povelson, the superstitious belief in them is, in some vicissitudes of their vocation, revived in the minds of the hunters.

不管捕魚業(yè)中的一般經(jīng)驗怎樣可以修正類似的報告;然而,就捕魚業(yè)的整個可怖的經(jīng)歷,甚至就鮑維爾生所提出的喝血這一點說來,證之他們那行業(yè)的榮枯變幻的情況,就不免要教捕鯨者的腦際重新出現(xiàn)迷信的信念了。

So that overawed by the rumors and portents concerning him, not a few of the fishermen recalled, in reference to Moby Dick, the earlier days of the Sperm Whale fishery,

因此,由于被有關莫比－迪克的種種謠言與兇兆所懾服,不少捕魚者一提到它的時候,就要想起捕抹香鯨業(yè)的早期情況,

when it was oftentimes hard to induce long practised Right whalemen to embark in the perils of this new and daring warfare; such men protesting that although other leviathans might be hopefully pursued, yet to chase and point lances at such an apparition as the Sperm Whale was not for mortal man.

當時,往往不很容易勸使那些經(jīng)驗豐富的捕露脊鯨者來從事這種新興而勇敢的危險事業(yè)。這些人堅決表示,雖然其它的大海獸也許可以一追即中,然而要對這種有如幽靈一般的抹香鯨加以追擊,投以魚槍,卻不是凡人所能勝任的。