英语听书《白鲸记》第380期

 OCTAVOES.These embrace the whales of middling magnitude, among which at present may be numbered: 八开型(原注:本篇所指的鲸为什么不称为四开型是很明白的。包括那些体积中等的鲸,在这里可以列举出来的,有如下几种:

I., the Grampus; II., the Black Fish; III., the Narwhale; IV., the Thrasher; V., the Killer¹. (１)逆戟鲸;(２)黑鲸;(３)独角鲸;(４)海豚鲸;(５)长尾鲸。

Why this book of whales is not denominated the Quarto is very plain.  因为属于这一级的鲸,虽然比第一篇的那一级体积较小些,

Because, while the whales of this order, though smaller than those of the former order, nevertheless retain a proportionate likeness² to them in figure, yet the bookbinder's Quarto volume in its dimensioned form does not preserve the shape of the Folio volume, but the Octavo volume does. 但在身材上,却仍具有跟前者相似的地方,而且装订作里那种缩小了形式的四开本,并没有保存着对开本的原来的样子,反之,八开本却有对开本的样子,因此,我采用八开型。

BOOK II. (Octavo), CHAPTER I. (Grampus). 第二篇(八开型)　第一章(逆戟鲸)...

Though this fish, whose loud sonorous³ breathing, or rather blowing, has furnished a proverb to landsmen, is so well known a denizen⁴ of the deep, yet is he not popularly classed among whales.  这种鲸,它的高大宏亮的呼吸声,或者不如说是吹气声,往往授陆上人以一种话柄,它是海上的有名公民,然而,一般仍不把它算做鲸。

But possessing all the grand distinctive⁵ features of the leviathan, most naturalists⁶ have recognised him for one.  不过,由于它具有大海兽的一切主要特点,因此,大多数的博物学家还是把它当做鲸类。

He is of moderate octavo size, varying from fifteen to twenty-five feet in length, and of corresponding dimensions round the waist.  它有适中的八开的身材,长自十五英尺至二十五英尺不等,腰围随身材长短而大小不一。

He swims in herds⁷; he is never regularly hunted, though his oil is considerable in quantity, and pretty good for light.  它是成群出游的;它从来没有被正式猎捕过,虽然它有数量不少的油,并且很适于点灯之用。

By some fishermen his approach is regarded as premonitory of the advance of the great sperm⁸ whale. 根据一些捕鱼者的经验,认为这种鱼一出现,就是大抹香鲸前来的征兆。

1 killer   

n.杀人者，杀人犯，杀手，屠杀者

参考例句：

• Heart attacks have become Britain's No.1 killer disease.心脏病已成为英国的头号致命疾病。
• The bulk of the evidence points to him as her killer.大量证据证明是他杀死她的。

2 likeness   

n.相像，相似（之处）

参考例句：

• I think the painter has produced a very true likeness.我认为这位画家画得非常逼真。
• She treasured the painted likeness of her son.她珍藏她儿子的画像。

3 sonorous   

adj.响亮的，回响的；adv.圆润低沉地；感人地；n.感人，堂皇

参考例句：

• The sonorous voice of the speaker echoed round the room.那位演讲人洪亮的声音在室内回荡。
• He has a deep sonorous voice.他的声音深沉而洪亮。

4 denizen   

n.居民，外籍居民

参考例句：

• In this country children of denizen go to school free.在这个国家外籍居民的孩子免费上学。
• His greatest danger now lie in the unknown denizen of the water.现在他最大的危险是未知的水中居住者。

5 distinctive   

adj.特别的，有特色的，与众不同的

参考例句：

• She has a very distinctive way of walking.她走路的样子与别人很不相同。
• This bird has several distinctive features.这个鸟具有几种突出的特征。

6 naturalists   

n.博物学家( naturalist的名词复数 )；（文学艺术的）自然主义者

参考例句：

• Naturalists differ much in determining what characters are of generic value. 自然学者对于不同性状决定生物的属的含义上，各有各的见解。 来自辞典例句
• This fact has led naturalists to believe that the Isthmus was formerly open. 使许多自然学者相信这个地蛱在以前原是开通的。 来自辞典例句

7 herds   

兽群( herd的名词复数 )； 牧群； 人群； 群众

参考例句：

• Regularly at daybreak they drive their herds to the pasture. 每天天一亮他们就把牲畜赶到草场上去。
• There we saw herds of cows grazing on the pasture. 我们在那里看到一群群的牛在草地上吃草。

8 sperm   

n.精子，精液

参考例句：

• Only one sperm fertilises an egg.只有一个精子使卵子受精。
• In human reproduction,one female egg is usually fertilized by one sperm.在人体生殖过程中，一个精子使一个卵子受精。