英语听书《白鲸记》第475期

 Chapter 45 The Affidavit¹ 第四十五章 宣誓书

So far as what there may be of a narrative² in this book; 就本书中可以称为故事的章节说来，

and, indeed, as indirectly³ touching⁴ one or two very interesting and curious particulars in the habits of sperm⁵ whales, 就间接地提到抹香鲸一两件十分有趣而奇特的习性说来，

the foregoing chapter, in its earlier part, is as important a one as will be found in this volume; 上一章的开头部分，倒确是这部书的最重要的章节。

but the leading matter of it requires to be still further and more familiarly enlarged upon, in order to be adequately understood, 不过，为了使得人们更能充分领会，还得就它的主要内容更进一步。

and moreover to take away any incredulity which a profound ignorance of the entire subject may induce in some minds, 更通俗地絮述一下，还得排除人们由于对整个题材之极其不理解而可能产生的任何怀疑，

as to the natural verity⁶ of the main points of this affair. 以便对事物的要点获得本来的真面目。

I care not to perform this part of my task methodically; 我不想把这份工作做得怎样有条不紊，

but shall be content to produce the desired impression by separate citations⁷ of items, 只求能借助那些对我这个捕鲸者说来，

practically or reliably known to me as a whaleman; 是切合实际或者可靠的各种引证，

and from these citations, I take it 而产生希望得到的印象就心满意足了。我认为，从这些引证中，

the conclusion aimed at will naturally follow of itself. 就会自然而然地得出所指望的结论来。

First: I have personally known three instances where a whale, after receiving a harpoon⁸, 第一，我亲自经历过三个实例，就是一只鲸被标枪戳过后，

has effected a complete escape; 还能安全无恙地脱逃，

and, after an interval⁹ (in one instance of three years), 而且，经过一段时间(有一次是三年模样)，

has been again struck by the same hand, and slain¹⁰; 又给同一个人戳中，杀死了。

when the two irons, both marked by the same private cypher, have been taken from the body. 当时，在鲸身上拿下来的两支标枪，都刻有同样的暗记。

In the instance where three years intervened between the flinging of the two harpoons¹¹; 在这一前后两支标枪相隔三年的实例中，

and I think it may have been something more than that; 我认为它还有些更为复杂的经过，

the man who darted¹² them happening, in the interval, to go in a trading ship on a voyage to Africa, 在这段期间里，那个投了两次标枪的人，随着一艘商船到非洲去，

went ashore¹³ there, joined a discovery party, 他在那里登岸后，参加了一个探险队，

and penetrated¹⁴ far into the interior, 深入非洲内地，

where he travelled for a period of nearly two years,  在那里奔跑了将近两年的时间，

often endangered by serpents, savages¹⁵, tigers, poisonous miasmas¹⁶, 经常会遇到毒蛇、野人、猛虎、疫疠、瘴气，

with all the other common perils¹⁷ incident to wandering in the heart of unknown regions. 以及在深入蛮荒腹地中随时都可碰到的其它种种危险。

Meanwhile, the whale he had struck must also have been on its travels; 这期间，那条曾经被他击中过的大鲸也一定是在继续它的旅行，

no doubt it had thrice circumnavigated the globe, brushing with its flanks all the coasts of Africa; 而且一定已经环游了世界三圈，身躯擦过了非洲一切沿海的地方，

but to no purpose. 只是毫无所获。

This man and this whale again came together, and the one vanquished¹⁸ the other. 这个人和这条大鲸终于又相遇了，这个人便把大鲸打死了。

I say I, myself, have known three instances similar to this; 我说，我亲自经历过类似的三个实例；

that is in two of them I saw the whales struck; 就是说其中有二次我亲眼看到击中了大鲸；

and, upon the second attack, 而且在第二次的攻击后，

saw the two irons with the respective marks cut in them, afterwards taken from the dead fish. 还看到从死鲸身上取出来的标枪头上都各刻有记号。

In the three-year instance, 在这个三年的实例上，

it so fell out that I was in the boat both times, 碰巧我前后两次都在那只小艇上，

first and last, 最初和最后，

and the last time distinctly recognized a peculiar¹⁹ sort of huge mole²⁰ under the whale's eye, 而且最后一次，我还清清楚楚地看到了大鲸眼睛下面有一颗特别大的黑痣，

which I had observed there three years previous. 跟我三年前所看到的一模一样。

I say three years, but I am pretty sure it was more than that. 我说三年，事实上还要多一些。

Here are three instances, then, which I personally know the truth of; 那么，这里所提出的三个实例，都是我亲自经历过的真实情况；

but I have heard of many other instances from persons whose veracity²¹ in the matter there is no good ground to impeach²². 我还从许多人那里听到其它许多实例，那些实例的真实性也是无可置疑的。

1 affidavit   

n.宣誓书

参考例句：

• I gave an affidavit to the judge about the accident I witnessed.我向法官提交了一份关于我目击的事故的证词。
• The affidavit was formally read to the court.书面证词正式向出席法庭的人宣读了。

2 narrative   

n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的

参考例句：

• He was a writer of great narrative power.他是一位颇有记述能力的作家。
• Neither author was very strong on narrative.两个作者都不是很善于讲故事。

3 indirectly   

adv.间接地，不直接了当地

参考例句：

• I heard the news indirectly.这消息我是间接听来的。
• They were approached indirectly through an intermediary.通过一位中间人，他们进行了间接接触。

4 touching   

adj.动人的，使人感伤的

参考例句：

• It was a touching sight.这是一幅动人的景象。
• His letter was touching.他的信很感人。

5 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。

6 verity   

n.真实性

参考例句：

• Human's mission lies in exploring verity bravely.人的天职在勇于探索真理。
• How to guarantee the verity of the financial information disclosed by listed companies? 如何保证上市公司财务信息披露真实性?

7 citations   

n.引用( citation的名词复数 )；引证；引文；表扬

参考例句：

• The apt citations and poetic gems have adorned his speeches. 贴切的引语和珠玑般的诗句为他的演说词增添文采。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Some dictionary writers use citations to show what words mean. 有些辞典的编纂者用引文作例证以解释词义。 来自辞典例句

8 harpoon   

n.鱼叉；vt.用鱼叉叉，用鱼叉捕获

参考例句：

• The harpoon drove deep into the body of the whale.渔叉深深地扎进鲸鱼体内。
• The fisherman transfixed the shark with a harpoon.渔夫用鱼叉刺住鲨鱼。

9 interval   

n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息

参考例句：

• The interval between the two trees measures 40 feet.这两棵树的间隔是40英尺。
• There was a long interval before he anwsered the telephone.隔了好久他才回了电话。

10 slain   

杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词)

参考例句：

• The soldiers slain in the battle were burried that night. 在那天夜晚埋葬了在战斗中牺牲了的战士。
• His boy was dead, slain by the hand of the false Amulius. 他的儿子被奸诈的阿缪利乌斯杀死了。

11 harpoons   

n.鱼镖，鱼叉( harpoon的名词复数 )v.鱼镖，鱼叉( harpoon的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Greenpeace hopes to position its boats between the harpoons and the whales. 绿色和平希望他们的船能开到港口与鲸鱼群之间的地方。 来自互联网
• NIV Can you fill his hide with harpoons or his head with fishing spears? 7[和合]你能用倒钩枪扎满它的皮，能用鱼叉叉满它的头吗？ 来自互联网

12 darted   

v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔

参考例句：

• The lizard darted out its tongue at the insect. 蜥蜴伸出舌头去吃小昆虫。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The old man was displeased and darted an angry look at me. 老人不高兴了，瞪了我一眼。 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 ashore   

adv.在(向)岸上，上岸

参考例句：

• The children got ashore before the tide came in.涨潮前，孩子们就上岸了。
• He laid hold of the rope and pulled the boat ashore.他抓住绳子拉船靠岸。

14 penetrated   

adj. 击穿的，鞭辟入里的 动词penetrate的过去式和过去分词形式

参考例句：

• The knife had penetrated his chest. 刀子刺入了他的胸膛。
• They penetrated into territory where no man had ever gone before. 他们已进入先前没人去过的地区。

15 savages   

未开化的人，野蛮人( savage的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There're some savages living in the forest. 森林里居住着一些野人。
• That's an island inhabited by savages. 那是一个野蛮人居住的岛屿。

16 miasmas   

n.瘴气( miasma的名词复数 )；烟雾弥漫的空气；不良气氛或影响

参考例句：

17 perils   

极大危险( peril的名词复数 )； 危险的事（或环境）

参考例句：

• The commander bade his men be undaunted in the face of perils. 指挥员命令他的战士要临危不惧。
• With how many more perils and disasters would he load himself? 他还要再冒多少风险和遭受多少灾难？

18 vanquished   

v.征服( vanquish的过去式和过去分词 )；战胜；克服；抑制

参考例句：

• She had fought many battles, vanquished many foes. 她身经百战，挫败过很多对手。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• I vanquished her coldness with my assiduity. 我对她关心照顾从而消除了她的冷淡。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

19 peculiar   

adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的

参考例句：

• He walks in a peculiar fashion.他走路的样子很奇特。
• He looked at me with a very peculiar expression.他用一种很奇怪的表情看着我。

20 mole   

n.胎块；痣；克分子

参考例句：

• She had a tiny mole on her cheek.她的面颊上有一颗小黑痣。
• The young girl felt very self- conscious about the large mole on her chin.那位年轻姑娘对自己下巴上的一颗大痣感到很不自在。

21 veracity   

n.诚实

参考例句：

• I can testify to this man's veracity and good character.我可以作证，此人诚实可靠品德良好。
• There is no reason to doubt the veracity of the evidence.没有理由怀疑证据的真实性。

22 impeach   

v.弹劾；检举

参考例句：

• We must impeach the judge for taking bribes.我们一定要检举法官收受贿赂。
• The committee decided to impeach the President.委员会决定弹劾总统。