英语听书《白鲸记》第567期

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　　even Scoresby, a long experienced man as touching¹ that species, declares not to have its counterpart in nature. 甚至象斯哥斯比这个对这方面富有经验的人物，也都认为它连一半都不象。

　　But the placing of the cap-sheaf to all this blundering business was reserved for the scientific Frederick Cuvier, brother to the famous Baron². 但是，集所有这种错误百出之大成的，还得算那个科学家弗里德里克·居维埃，也就是那位著名的男爵的弟弟。

　　In 1836, he published a Natural History of Whales, in which he gives what he calls a picture of the Sperm³ Whale. 一八三六年，他出版了一本《鲸博物史》，在那里边，他画出一幅他所谓抹香鲸的图。

　　Before showing that picture to any Nantucketer, you had best provide for your summary retreat from Nantucket. 你在把这幅图拿给随便哪个南塔开特人看之前，你最好得有立刻离开南塔开特的准备。

　　In a word, Frederick Cuvier's Sperm Whale is not a Sperm Whale, but a squash.  总之，弗里德里克。居维埃的抹香鲸并不是一条抹香鲸，而是一只大南瓜。

　　Of course, he never had the benefit of a whaling voyage (such men seldom have), but whence he derived⁴ that picture, who can tell?  自然啦，他从来没有去捕过鲸（这种人也不大会有这种机会），不过，究竟他是从哪里弄到那幅图，谁知道他？

　　Perhaps he got it as his scientific predecessor⁵ in the same field, Desmarest, got one of his authentic⁶ abortions⁷; that is, from a Chinese drawing. 也许他跟他的前辈的科学家德马雷斯一样，是从他那原始的流产品，也就是说，是从中国画得来的。

　　And what sort of lively lads with the pencil those Chinese are, many queer cups and saucers inform us. 而那些拿着画笔，蘸着许多希奇古怪的色杯和笔洗儿的中国小伙子，能给我们一些什么呢？

　　As for the sign-painters' whales seen in the streets hanging over the shops of oil-dealers, what shall be said of them? 至于街上所看到的，那些挂在鲸油商铺门前，由漆招牌匠画出来的鲸，又该怎么说呢？

　　They are generally Richard III. whales, with dromedary humps, and very savage⁸;  它们一般都是理查三世（理查三世（1452—1485）——英国皇帝，以强悍凶残见称。）的鲸，有着单峰骆驼似的背峰，十分野蛮；

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