There are some enterprises in which a careful disorderliness is the true method. 有若干冒险事业，它的真正的规律就是小心翼翼而又杂乱无章。

The more I dive into this matter of whaling, and push my researches up to the very spring-head of it, 我越是钻研捕鲸这事业，更进一步地探索它的源流，

so much the more am I impressed with its great honorableness and antiquity; 就越为它那伟大的光荣和悠久的历史所深深感动；

and especially when I find so many great demi-gods and heroes, prophets of all sorts, who one way or other have shed distinction upon it, 尤其是在我发现有那么许多伟大的神明、英雄以及各式各样的先知时，更是如此，因为他们都多少在这方面有过丰功伟绩，

I am transported with the reflection that I myself belong, though but subordinately, to so emblazoned a fraternity. 而一想到我自己，不过是个不入流人物，居然也忝属如此显赫的集团，可真教我心荡神移。

The gallant Perseus, a son of Jupiter, was the first whaleman; 丘必特之子，那个英勇的柏修斯就是捕鲸人的鼻祖；

and to the eternal honor of our calling be it said, that the first whale attacked by our brotherhood was not killed with any sordid intent. 而且实际上，就我们这个具有永恒令誉的行业说来，我们的道友所攻打的第一条鲸，并不是怀着任何卑鄙的意图而把它打死的。

Those were the knightly days of our profession, when we only bore arms to succor the distressed, and not to fill men's lamp-feeders. 那还是我们这一行业替天行道的时代，我们只是为了援救落难者，而不是为了要为人类添加油壶，才拿起武器的。

Every one knows the fine story of Perseus and Andromeda; 人人都知道柏修斯和安特洛美达这个绮丽的故事；

how the lovely Andromeda, the daughter of a king, was tied to a rock on the sea-coast, and as Leviathan was in the very act of carrying her off, 这个可爱的安特洛美达，这个国王的女儿，被缚在海边一块大石头上，当大海兽正要把她攫走时，

Perseus, the prince of whalemen, intrepidly advancing, harpooned the monster, and delivered and married the maid.  那个捕鲸者的王子柏修斯，就勇猛地冲上前去，用标枪把那巨兽戳死，救了这位姑娘，同她成亲。