英语听书《白鲸记》第747期

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The most direful blow from the elephant's trunk were as the playful tap of a fan, 象鼻的最可怕的打击也不过是一把扇子那么开玩笑的一拍而已，

compared with the measureless crush and crash of the sperm² whale's ponderous³ flukes, 跟抹香鲸的笨重的裂片那种噼里啪啦的无限的冲击力比起来，

which in repeated instances have one after the other hurled⁴ entire boats with all their oars⁵ and crews into the air, 抹香鲸的裂片已经一再出现这种情况，接二连三地把全部小艇连人带桨都给扔到空中去，

very much as an Indian juggler⁶ tosses his balls. 活象一个变戏法的印第安人在抛掷他的小球。

Footnote: though all comparison in the way of general bulk between the whale and the elephant is preposterous⁷, 原注：这样就鲸和象两者间的一般躯干上来做种种比较，

inasmuch as in that particular the elephant stands in much the same respect to the whale that a dog does to the elephant; 未免颇为荒谬，因为就这方面说来，象之与鲸犹如狗之与象；

nevertheless, there are not wanting some points of curious similitude; among these is the spout⁸. 不过，话虽如此，两者之间可仍不乏若干奇特的类似之点的；其中，喷水就是一种。

It is well known that the elephant will often draw up water or dust in his trunk, and then elevating it, jet it forth⁹ in a stream. End of footnote. 据说象也时常用大鼻子吸起水或者垃圾来，然后把它高高举起，把这些东西象一条小溪那样向前喷去。注释完。

The more I consider this mighty¹⁰ tail, the more do I deplore¹¹ my inability to express it. 我越想到这种巨尾，越痛恨我的能力薄弱，无法把它完全表达出来。

At times there are gestures in it, which, though they would well grace the hand of man, remain wholly inexplicable¹². 那尾巴好象时时在做手势，虽说这给人类的手大增光辉，却也完全令人费解。

In an extensive herd¹³, so remarkable¹⁴, occasionally, are these mystic gestures, 我曾经听到猎手们说，偶然看到一大群鲸这种神秘的手势真是非常希奇，

that I have heard hunters who have declared them akin¹⁵ to Free-Mason signs and symbols; 他们说，那种手势有如互济会（欧洲一种以互济友爱为目的的秘密结社。）的各种标志。

that the whale, indeed, by these methods intelligently conversed¹⁶ with the world.  因为实际上，大鲸就借这种聪明的方法跟人间打交道。

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