英语听书《白鲸记》第437期

 But there were still other and more vital practical influences at work.  但是,还有其他更主要而实际的影响在起作用。

Nor even at the present day has the original prestige of the Sperm¹ Whale, as fearfully distinguished² from all other species of the leviathan, died out of the minds of the whalemen as a body.  因为时至今日,在整个捕鲸者的心目中,还是认为抹香鲸的本来的名声,论起恐怖来,是远超于其它一切大海兽的。

There are those this day among them, who, though intelligent and courageous³ enough in offering battle to the Greenland or Right whale, would perhaps-either from professional inexperience, or incompetency⁴, or timidity, decline a contest with the Sperm Whale;  今天在整个捕鲸者中,还有这样的人;他们虽然在智勇上都很能够去跟格陵兰鲸或者露脊鲸决斗,却还是...或因职业上缺乏经验,或因力不胜任,或因畏怯,而不愿意跟抹香鲸一决胜负;

at any rate, there are plenty of whalemen, especially among those whaling nations not sailing under the American flag, who have never hostilely encountered the Sperm Whale, but whose sole knowledge of the leviathan is restricted to the ignoble⁵ monster primitively⁶ pursued in the North;  总之,确有许多捕鲸者,尤其是那些非美国人的捕鲸者,他们从来就没有跟抹香鲸敌对过,他们关于这种大海兽的唯一的见闻还是局限于本来那些出没在北海上的二等巨兽;

seated on their hatches, these men will hearken with a childish fireside interest and awe⁷, to the wild, strange tales of Southern whaling.  这些人坐在他们的舱口上,带着一种小孩子坐在炉边,又怕又要听的心情,来倾听南海捕鲸的狂热。新奇的故事。

Nor is the preeminent⁸ tremendousness of the great Sperm Whale anywhere more feelingly comprehended, than on board of those prows⁹ which stem him. 这些人对于大抹香鲸的极其可怕的事迹,在真切的理解上说来,绝不会超过站在船头跟它对抗过的那些人。

1 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。

2 distinguished   

adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的

参考例句：

• Elephants are distinguished from other animals by their long noses.大象以其长长的鼻子显示出与其他动物的不同。
• A banquet was given in honor of the distinguished guests.宴会是为了向贵宾们致敬而举行的。

3 courageous   

adj.勇敢的，有胆量的

参考例句：

• We all honour courageous people.我们都尊重勇敢的人。
• He was roused to action by courageous words.豪言壮语促使他奋起行动。

4 incompetency   

n.无能力，不适当

参考例句：

• I have suffered a martyrdom from their incompetency and caprice. 他们的无能和任性折磨得我够受了。 来自辞典例句

5 ignoble   

adj.不光彩的，卑鄙的；可耻的

参考例句：

• There's something cowardly and ignoble about such an attitude.这种态度有点怯懦可鄙。
• Some very great men have come from ignoble families.有些伟人出身低微。

6 primitively   

最初地，自学而成地

参考例句：

• Result: The histological structure of anencephalus differentiates primitively and grows very slowly. 结果：无脑儿食管的组织学结构较正常胎儿分化较低，发育迟缓。
• Another primitively for horse's hoof Dutch. 另一个原始属为马蹄荷属。

7 awe   

n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧

参考例句：

• The sight filled us with awe.这景色使我们大为惊叹。
• The approaching tornado struck awe in our hearts.正在逼近的龙卷风使我们惊恐万分。

8 preeminent   

adj.卓越的，杰出的

参考例句：

• Washington was recognized as the preeminent spokesman of American Negroes by 1895. 到1895年,华盛顿被公认为美国黑人的卓越代言人。
• He is preeminent because his articles are well written. 他的文章写得很漂亮,卓尔不群。

9 prows   

n.船首( prow的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The prows of the UNSC ships flared as their magnetic accelerator cannons fired. UNSC战舰的舰首展开，磁力大炮开火了。 来自互联网