英语听书《白鲸记》第719期

 But there are instances where, after the lapse¹ of many hours or several days, the sunken whale again rises, more buoyant than in life. 但是，也有许多场合，在经过许多钟头或者好几天后，那条沉下去的鲸又会再浮上来，比它活着的时候更有浮力。

But the reason of this is obvious. 不过为什么会这样，道理却很明白，

Gases are generated in him; he swells² to a prodigious³ magnitude; becomes a sort of animal balloon. 因为它满身是气，胀得那么硕大无比，已经成了一只大气球。

A line-of-battle ship could hardly keep him under then. 碰到这种场合，就是一只大战舰也压它不下去。

In the Shore Whaling, on soundings, among the Bays of New Zealand, 在古代的捕鲸业中，每当在新西兰海湾一带搜索的时候，

when a Right Whale gives token of sinking, they fasten buoys⁴ to him, with plenty of rope; 如果碰到一条有下沉迹象的露脊鲸，他们就用许多绳索把它拴在浮筒上，

so that when the body has gone down, they know where to look for it when it shall have ascended⁵ again. 这样，等到那尸身沉下去的时候，他们就可以在它再浮起来的时候，在那个地方找到它了。

It was not long after the sinking of the body that a cry was heard from the Pequod's mast-heads, announcing that the Jungfrau was again lowering her boats; 那尸体沉了不多久，"裴廓德号"的桅顶又叫喊起来，说是"处女号"又在放下小艇了；

though the only spout⁶ in sight was that of a Fin-Back, belonging to the species of uncapturable whales, because of its incredible power of swimming. 不过唯一可见的喷水，是那种叫做脊鳍鲸，那种不能捕捉的鲸的喷水，因为它具有无可置疑的游水能耐。

Nevertheless, the Fin-Back's spout is so similar to the Sperm⁷ Whale's, that by unskilful fishermen it is often mistaken for it. 尽管如此，脊鳍鲸的喷水却跟抹香鲸极为相象，因此，不高明的捕鱼人，往往会把它弄错。

And consequently Derick and all his host were now in valiant⁸ chase of this unnearable brute⁹. 难怪德立克和他的全体水手，这会儿都去骁勇地追击起这种不能接近的野兽了。

The Virgin¹⁰ crowding all sail, made after her four young keels, and thus they all disappeared far to leeward¹¹, still in bold, hopeful chase. "处女号"扯满所有的篷帆，紧跟着它那四只小艇，就此消失在下风处，继续在作勇敢的、满怀希望的追击。

Oh! many are the Fin-Backs, and many are the Dericks, my friend. 我的朋友啊，脊鳍鲸何其多，德立克也何其多哟！

1 lapse   

n.过失，流逝，失效，抛弃信仰，间隔；vi.堕落，停止，失效，流逝；vt.使失效

参考例句：

• The incident was being seen as a serious security lapse.这一事故被看作是一次严重的安全疏忽。
• I had a lapse of memory.我记错了。

2 swells   

增强( swell的第三人称单数 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情）

参考例句：

• The waters were heaving up in great swells. 河水正在急剧上升。
• A barrel swells in the middle. 水桶中部隆起。

3 prodigious   

adj.惊人的，奇妙的；异常的；巨大的；庞大的

参考例句：

• This business generates cash in prodigious amounts.这种业务收益丰厚。
• He impressed all who met him with his prodigious memory.他惊人的记忆力让所有见过他的人都印象深刻。

4 buoys   

n.浮标( buoy的名词复数 )；航标；救生圈；救生衣v.使浮起( buoy的第三人称单数 )；支持；为…设浮标；振奋…的精神

参考例句：

• The channel is marked by buoys. 航道有浮标表示。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Often they mark the path with buoys. 他们常常用浮标作为航道的标志。 来自辞典例句

5 ascended   

v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He has ascended into heaven. 他已经升入了天堂。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The climbers slowly ascended the mountain. 爬山运动员慢慢地登上了这座山。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 spout   

v.喷出，涌出；滔滔不绝地讲；n.喷管；水柱

参考例句：

• Implication in folk wealth creativity and undertaking vigor spout.蕴藏于民间的财富创造力和创业活力喷涌而出。
• This acts as a spout to drain off water during a rainstorm.在暴风雨季，这东西被用作喷管来排水。

7 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。

8 valiant   

adj.勇敢的，英勇的；n.勇士，勇敢的人

参考例句：

• He had the fame of being very valiant.他的勇敢是出名的。
• Despite valiant efforts by the finance minister,inflation rose to 36%.尽管财政部部长采取了一系列果决措施，通货膨胀率还是涨到了36%。

9 brute   

n.野兽，兽性

参考例句：

• The aggressor troops are not many degrees removed from the brute.侵略军简直象一群野兽。
• That dog is a dangerous brute.It bites people.那条狗是危险的畜牲，它咬人。

10 virgin   

n.处女，未婚女子；adj.未经使用的；未经开发的

参考例句：

• Have you ever been to a virgin forest?你去过原始森林吗？
• There are vast expanses of virgin land in the remote regions.在边远地区有大片大片未开垦的土地。

11 leeward   

adj.背风的；下风的

参考例句：

• The trees all listed to leeward.树木统统向下风方向倾。
• We steered a course to leeward.我们向下风航驶。