英语听书《白鲸记》第459期

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To analyse it, would seem impossible. Can we, then, by the citation³ of some of those instances wherein this thing of whiteness-though for the time either wholly or in great part stripped of all direct associations calculated to impart to it aught fearful,  要把它分析一下,倒也似乎是不可能的。那么,我们能否通过引证其中有白色这种东西的一些事例(虽说暂时全部或大部分抛弃了故意要给白色添上任何使人恐怖的一切直接联想,

but nevertheless, is found to exert over us the same sorcery, however modified;can we thus hope to light upon some chance clue to conduct us to the hidden cause we seek? 可是,还会发现这种白色的东西在对我们施加哪怕是很轻微的魔力),我们能否从而希望偶然碰上一种幸遇的线索,引导我们找到正在搜索的秘密原因呢?

Let us try. But in a matter like this, subtlety⁴ appeals to subtlety, and without imagination no man can follow another into these halls.  我们不妨试一下。可是,象这种事情,这种巧妙得靠巧妙来解决的事情,如果没有想象力,谁都不能跟着别人登堂入室。

And though, doubtless, some at least of the imaginative impressions about to be presented may have been shared by most men, yet few perhaps were entirely⁵ conscious of them at the time, and therefore may not be able to recall them now. 虽然,毫无疑义,这些行将提出的想象的意念中,也许至少有一些是大多数人都有同感的,但是,说不定当时完全认识到这种意念的为数寥寥,因此,现在也许记不起这些意念了。

Why to the man of untutored ideality, who happens to be but loosely acquainted with the peculiar⁶ character of the day,  为什么对现代一个不很熟悉奇事怪物,而具有无师自通的想象力的人,只要一提到那个圣灵降临周的司仪人员,他就会在心里想到那么怕人的。

does the bare mention of Whitsuntide marshal in the fancy such long, dreary⁷, speechless processions of slow-pacing pilgrims, down-cast and hooded⁸ with new-fallen snow?  悄没声音的长长的队伍,那些慢步前进。垂头丧气,满身洒着新雪的香客呢?

Or to the unread, unsophisticated Protestant of the Middle American States, why does the passing mention of a White Friar or a White Nun⁹, evoke¹⁰ such an eyeless statue in the soul? 为什么对中美洲的目不识丁的,朴实的新教徒,偶然一提到白袍僧或者白衣尼时,他心里就会出现这么一个无眼睛的雕像呢?

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