英语听书《白鲸记》第685期

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And as that famous great tierce is mystically carved in front, 因为那只著名的中号大桶（中号大桶——四十二加仑）就神秘地嵌在前边，

so the whale's vast plaited forehead forms innumerable strange devices for the emblematical² adornment³ of his wondrous⁴ tun. 所以这条鲸的辫状的大前额上，就给它那个具有标志性的奇形怪状的大桶平添了无数奇特的图案。

Moreover, as that of Heidelburgh was always replenished⁵ with the most excellent of the wines of the Rhenish valleys, 而且正如那种海德堡大桶始终是灌满了莱茵河流域一带的名酒一般，

so the tun of the whale contains by far the most precious of all his oily vintages; 这种鲸的大桶也同样藏有最最名贵的油；

namely, the highly-prized spermaceti, in its absolutely pure, limpid⁶, and odoriferous state. 就是说，有被视若至宝的鲸脑：质地纯净，色泽透明，芬香扑鼻。

Nor is this precious substance found unalloyed in any other part of the creature. 这种名贵的东西，并不是可以在鲸身的任何其它部分找得到的。

Though in life it remains⁷ perfectly⁸ fluid, yet, upon exposure to the air, after death, it soon begins to concrete; 这种东西，虽然在鲸活着的时候，是一种纯粹的液体，但在它死后，一接触空气，就立刻凝结起来，

sending forth⁹ beautiful crystalline shoots, as when the first thin delicate ice is just forming in water. 变成美丽的芽状结晶，有如清水初度凝结为悦目的薄冰。

A large whale's case generally yields about five hundred gallons of sperm, though from unavoidable circumstances,  一条大鲸的脑窝通常的出油量约在五百加仑左右，不过，由于一些不可避免的情况，

considerable of it is spilled, leaks, and dribbles¹⁰ away, or is otherwise irrevocably lost in the ticklish¹¹ business of securing what you can. 它总要给溢掉、漏掉、滴掉不少，要不然，总要在进行这件难弄的工作时，造成其它无法挽救的损失。

I know not with what fine and costly material the Heidelburgh Tun was coated within, 我不知道包在这只海德堡大桶里边的是什么精良而华贵物质，

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