英语听书《白鲸记》第382期

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But it is only found on the sinister⁵ side, which has an ill effect, giving its owner something analogous⁶ to the aspect of a clumsy left-handed man.  但是,它只是生在左边,因此,它就有了一种不佳的后果,使得它的主人的相貌有点象是一个笨拙地使用左手的人。

What precise purpose this ivory horn or lance answers, it would be hard to say.  这种牙角或者枪矛究竟有什么真正的用场,那倒很难置答。

It does not seem to be used like the blade of the sword-fish and bill-fish; though some sailors tell me that the Narwhale employs it for a rake in turning over the bottom of the sea for food.  它似乎不象剑鱼和镰鱼的峰背那样派得来用场;不过,有些水手对我说,独角鲸在翻耙海底找寻食物的时候,是把它当做耙子用的。

Charley Coffin⁷ said it was used for an ice-piercer; for the Narwhale, rising to the surface of the Polar Sea, and finding it sheeted with ice, thrusts his horn up, and so breaks through.  查利科芬却说那是被当做冰锥子用的;因为当独角鲸冲出北极洋面,发现上面罩着冰块的时候,就把它那只角往上一冲,把冰块给戳穿了。

But you cannot prove either of these surmises⁸ to be correct.  但是,这些揣测究竟是哪一种对,却无法证实。

My own opinion is, that however this one-sided horn may really be used by the Narwhale-however that may be-it would certainly be very convenient to him for a folder⁹ in reading pamphlets.  我的意见是,不管独角鲸究竟把这只独角派什么用场...不管是怎么样...有一点可以肯定的是,它在看书的时候,一定可以十分方便地把它做裁纸刀用。

The Narwhale I have heard called the Tusked¹⁰ whale, the Horned whale, and the Unicorn¹¹ whale.  我听说有人把独角鲸叫做牙鲸。角鲸和一角鲸。

He is certainly a curious example of the Unicornism to be found in almost every kingdom of animated¹² nature.  它简直应该算是一切生物界中所能找到的一角派的有趣的范例。

From certain cloistered¹³ old authors I have gathered that this same sea-unicorn's horn was in ancient days regarded as the great antidote¹⁴ against poison, and as such, preparations of it brought immense prices.  我从一些隐居的老作家那边搜集到一些材料,据说这种海上的独角生物的角,在古代是被当做抗毒的灵剂的,因此,它的制剂售价很高。

It was also distilled¹⁵ to a volatile¹⁶ salts for fainting ladies the same way that the horns of the male deer are manufactured into hartshorn.  它也被蒸馏成一种挥发盐,供昏厥的贵妇当嗅盐用,一如雄鹿角被制成鹿角精。

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