英语听书《白鲸记》第686期

 but in superlative richness that coating could not possibly have compared with the silken pearl-colored membrane¹, 不过，就最为豪贵方面说来，那层衣包，却不是那种白珠色的网膜，

like the lining² of a fine pelisse, forming the inner surface of the Sperm³ Whale's case. 象那构成抹香鲸的脑窝内层的精美大衣里子所可比拟的。

It will have been seen that the Heidelburgh Tun of the Sperm Whale embraces the entire length of the entire top of the head; 必须看到，抹香鲸这只海德堡大桶，它的长度就等于它的头部的整个顶端；

and since—as has been elsewhere set forth—the head embraces one third of the whole length of the creature, 而且因为——在另外的地方已经提到过——这只头本来就等于鲸的身长的三分之一，

then setting that length down at eighty feet for a good sized whale, 于是，假定一条中等鲸的身长有八十英尺的话，

you have more than twenty-six feet for the depth of the tun, when it is lengthwise hoisted⁴ up and down against a ship's side. 那么，在把它从舷边直吊起来的时候，这只大桶可就有二十六英尺以上的纵深了。

As in decapitating the whale, the operator's instrument is brought close to the spot where an entrance is subsequently forced into the spermaceti magazine; 在砍鲸头的时候，因为那个操作者的工具跟那个紧接着鲸脑的宝库的出入口极相贴近，

he has, therefore, to be uncommonly⁵ heedful, lest a careless, untimely stroke should invade the sanctuary⁶ and wastingly let out its invaluable⁷ contents. 因此，他就得非常谨慎小心，否则，稍一粗心大意，一刀砍得不准，就会侵犯到那内殿，把那里边的无价之宝白白地溢掉。

It is this decapitated end of the head, also, which is at last elevated out of the water, 于是这只砍下来后的头，最后就被拉出了水面，

and retained in that position by the enormous cutting tackles, whose hempen⁸ combinations, on one side, make quite a wilderness⁹ of ropes in that quarter. 由一只巨大的剖割复滑车吊在那里，船舷上便缠七缠八的尽是许多绳索。

Thus much being said, attend now, I pray you, 已经说了这许多，现在，我请你注意一下

to that marvellous and—in this particular instance—almost fatal operation whereby the Sperm Whale's great Heidelburgh Tun is tapped. 那种敲击抹香鲸的海德堡大桶的不可思议的、而又——特别是这一回——简直是性命交关的工作吧。

1 membrane   

n.薄膜，膜皮，羊皮纸

参考例句：

• A vibrating membrane in the ear helps to convey sounds to the brain.耳膜的振动帮助声音传送到大脑。
• A plastic membrane serves as selective diffusion barrier.一层塑料薄膜起着选择性渗透屏障的作用。

2 lining   

n.衬里，衬料

参考例句：

• The lining of my coat is torn.我的外套衬里破了。
• Moss makes an attractive lining to wire baskets.用苔藓垫在铁丝篮里很漂亮。

3 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。

4 hoisted   

把…吊起，升起( hoist的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He hoisted himself onto a high stool. 他抬身坐上了一张高凳子。
• The sailors hoisted the cargo onto the deck. 水手们把货物吊到甲板上。

5 uncommonly   

adv. 稀罕(极，非常)

参考例句：

• an uncommonly gifted child 一个天赋异禀的儿童
• My little Mary was feeling uncommonly empty. 我肚子当时正饿得厉害。

6 sanctuary   

n.圣所，圣堂，寺庙；禁猎区，保护区

参考例句：

• There was a sanctuary of political refugees behind the hospital.医院后面有一个政治难民的避难所。
• Most countries refuse to give sanctuary to people who hijack aeroplanes.大多数国家拒绝对劫机者提供庇护。

7 invaluable   

adj.无价的，非常宝贵的，极为贵重的

参考例句：

• A computer would have been invaluable for this job.一台计算机对这个工作的作用会是无法估计的。
• This information was invaluable to him.这个消息对他来说是非常宝贵的。

8 hempen   

adj. 大麻制的, 大麻的

参考例句：

• The net destined to support the car was made of very solid hempen cord. 承受着吊篮的网子是用非常结实的麻绳编的。
• Plant the crop such as wheaten, corn, potato, horsebean, hempen, cole aptly, a year one ripe. 适宜种植小麦、玉米、马铃薯、蚕豆、大麻、油菜等作物，一年一熟。

9 wilderness   

n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠

参考例句：

• She drove the herd of cattle through the wilderness.她赶着牛群穿过荒野。
• Education in the wilderness is not a matter of monetary means.荒凉地区的教育不是钱财问题。