英语听书《白鲸记》第719期
日期:2017-09-22 16:58

(单词翻译:单击)

But there are instances where, after the lapse of many hours or several days, the sunken whale again rises, more buoyant than in life. But the reason of this is obvious. Gases are generated in him; he swells to a prodigious magnitude; becomes a sort of animal balloon. A line-of-battle ship could hardly keep him under then. In the Shore Whaling, on soundings, among the Bays of New Zealand, when a Right Whale gives token of sinking, they fasten buoys to him, with plenty of rope; so that when the body has gone down, they know where to look for it when it shall have ascended again.
但是,也有许多场合,在经过许多钟头或者好几天后,那条沉下去的鲸又会再浮上来,比它活着的时候更有浮力。不过为什么会这样,道理却很明白,因为它满身是气,胀得那么硕大无比,已经成了一只大气球。碰到这种场合,就是一只大战舰也压它不下去。在古代的捕鲸业中,每当在新西兰海湾一带搜索的时候,如果碰到一条有下沉迹象的露脊鲸,他们就用许多绳索把它拴在浮筒上,这样,等到那尸身沉下去的时候,他们就可以在它再浮起来的时候,在那个地方找到它了。
It was not long after the sinking of the body that a cry was heard from the Pequod's mast-heads, announcing that the Jungfrau was again lowering her boats; though the only spout in sight was that of a Fin-Back, belonging to the species of uncapturable whales, because of its incredible power of swimming. Nevertheless, the Fin-Back's spout is so similar to the Sperm Whale's, that by unskilful fishermen it is often mistaken for it. And consequently Derick and all his host were now in valiant chase of this unnearable brute. The Virgin crowding all sail, made after her four young keels, and thus they all disappeared far to leeward, still in bold, hopeful chase.
那尸体沉了不多久,"裴廓德号"的桅顶又叫喊起来,说是"处女号"又在放下小艇了;不过唯一可见的喷水,是那种叫做脊鳍鲸,那种不能捕捉的鲸的喷水,因为它具有无可置疑的游水能耐。尽管如此,脊鳍鲸的喷水却跟抹香鲸极为相象,因此,不高明的捕鱼人,往往会把它弄错。难怪德立克和他的全体水手,这会儿都去骁勇地追击起这种不能接近的野兽了。"处女号"扯满所有的篷帆,紧跟着它那四只小艇,就此消失在下风处,继续在作勇敢的、满怀希望的追击。
Oh! many are the Fin-Backs, and many are the Dericks, my friend.
我的朋友啊,脊鳍鲸何其多,德立克也何其多哟!

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