英語聽書《白鯨記》 第130期

As Queequeg and I are now fairly embarked in thisbusiness of whaling;

捕鯨這個行業(yè)似乎并不大為人們所理解，

and as this business of whaling has somehow cometo be regarded among landsmen as a ratherunpoetical and disreputable pursuit;

陸地上的人們天生地就認為這是一個乏味的名聲不太好的職業(yè)。

therefore, I am all anxiety to convince ye, yelandsmen, of the injustice hereby done to us hunters of whales.

陸地上的人們天生地就認為這是一個乏味的名聲不太好的職業(yè)。

In the first place, it may be deemed almost superfluous to establish the fact, that amongpeople at large,

也許有人認為我的解釋純屬多余，

the business of whaling is not accounted on a level with what are called the liberal professions.

用為捕鯨業(yè)根本不可以與陸地上的那些職業(yè)同日而語。

If a stranger were introduced into any miscellaneous metropolitan society,

人們認為我們屬于屠宰業(yè)中的一支，雙手沾滿了鮮血，

it would but slightly advance the general opinion of his merits, were he presented to thecompany as a harpooneer, say;

身上有屠戮者的污穢和腥臭。

and if in emulation of the naval officers he should append the initials S.W.F. to his visitingcard,

想想吧，如果你在一個社交場合鄭重其事地把一位名片兒上印著“SWF”的標槍手介紹給別人，

such a procedure would be deemed pre-eminently presuming and ridiculous.

那別人一定認你的腦子多少有點毛病。