英语听书《白鲸记》第877期

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that in former years (the latter part of the last century, say) these Leviathans, in small pods, were encountered much oftener than at present, 在早些年间（十八世纪后期），这些大海兽，三五成群的出现，比之现今所碰到的次数还要多，

and, in consequence, the voyages were not so prolonged, and were also much more remunerative³. 而且，到头来航程并不需要这么长，所得的酬劳也比现在多。

Because, as has been elsewhere noticed, those whales, influenced by some views to safety, now swim the seas in immense caravans⁴, 因为，一如在其它场合已经看到了的，这些鲸，也许受到一些安全观点的影响，现在游在海里的都是成群结队，

so that to a large degree the scattered⁵ solitaries⁶, yokes⁷, and pods, and schools of other days are now aggregated⁸ into vast but widely separated, unfrequent armies. 所以，早日那些离群索居的、成对的、小队小群的鲸只，今天都集结成声势浩大的、而且是分布很广的罕见的队伍了。

That is all. 这就足以说明全般情况。

And equally fallacious seems the conceit⁹, that because the so-called whale-bone whales no longer haunt many grounds in former years abounding¹⁰ with them, 不过，因为所谓须鲸已不再出现于早年群集的许多渔场上，

hence that species also is declining. 因而这种鲸也已逐渐消失了的想法，似乎也同样是错误的。

For they are only being driven from promontory¹¹ to cape¹²; and if one coast is no longer enlivened with their jets, 因为，它们不过是被人们从这个岬赶到那一个角，而如果这个地方不再发现到它们的喷水，

then, be sure, some other and remoter strand¹³ has been very recently startled by the unfamiliar¹⁴ spectacle. 那么，在另外一些遥远的海矶岸边，一定还有人因为刚刚看到这种不常有的光景而大吃一惊的。

Furthermore: concerning these last mentioned Leviathans, they have two firm fortresses¹⁵, which, in all human probability, will for ever remain impregnable. 而且，关于上述这些大海兽，它们也有两大坚固堡垒，这两大堡垒，就一切人类的能耐说来，将是永远无法攻击的。

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