英语听书《白鲸记》第130期

 As Queequeg and I are now fairly embarked¹ in this business of whaling;  捕鲸这个行业似乎并不大为人们所理解，

and as this business of whaling has somehow come to be regarded among landsmen as a rather unpoetical and disreputable pursuit;  陆地上的人们天生地就认为这是一个乏味的名声不太好的职业。 

therefore, I am all anxiety to convince ye, ye landsmen, of the injustice² hereby done to us hunters of whales.  陆地上的人们天生地就认为这是一个乏味的名声不太好的职业。 

In the first place, it may be deemed almost superfluous³ to establish the fact, that among people at large,  也许有人认为我的解释纯属多余，

the business of whaling is not accounted on a level with what are called the liberal professions.  用为捕鲸业根本不可以与陆地上的那些职业同日而语。

If a stranger were introduced into any miscellaneous metropolitan⁴ society,  人们认为我们属于屠宰业中的一支，双手沾满了鲜血， 

it would but slightly advance the general opinion of his merits, were he presented to the company as a harpooneer, say;  身上有屠戮者的污秽和腥臭。

and if in emulation⁵ of the naval⁶ officers he should append the initials S.W.F. to his visiting card,  想想吧，如果你在一个社交场合郑重其事地把一位名片儿上印着SWF的标枪手介绍给别人，

such a procedure would be deemed pre-eminently presuming and ridiculous.  那别人一定认你的脑子多少有点毛病。 

1 embarked   

乘船( embark的过去式和过去分词 )； 装载； 从事

参考例句：

• We stood on the pier and watched as they embarked. 我们站在突码头上目送他们登船。
• She embarked on a discourse about the town's origins. 她开始讲本市的起源。

2 injustice   

n.非正义，不公正，不公平，侵犯（别人的）权利

参考例句：

• They complained of injustice in the way they had been treated.他们抱怨受到不公平的对待。
• All his life he has been struggling against injustice.他一生都在与不公正现象作斗争。

3 superfluous   

adj.过多的，过剩的，多余的

参考例句：

• She fined away superfluous matter in the design. 她删去了这图案中多余的东西。
• That request seemed superfluous when I wrote it.我这样写的时候觉得这个请求似乎是多此一举。

4 metropolitan   

adj.大城市的，大都会的

参考例句：

• Metropolitan buildings become taller than ever.大城市的建筑变得比以前更高。
• Metropolitan residents are used to fast rhythm.大都市的居民习惯于快节奏。

5 emulation   

n.竞争；仿效

参考例句：

• The young man worked hard in emulation of his famous father.这位年轻人努力工作，要迎头赶上他出名的父亲。
• His spirit of assiduous study is worthy of emulation.他刻苦钻研的精神，值得效法。

6 naval   

adj.海军的，军舰的，船的

参考例句：

• He took part in a great naval battle.他参加了一次大海战。
• The harbour is an important naval base.该港是一个重要的海军基地。