英語聽書《白鯨記》第589期

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The manner in which the Bishop desCRIbes it, as alternately rising and sinking, with some other particulars he narrates, in all this the two correspond. But much abatement is necessary with respect to the incredible bulk he assigns it.

按照這個主教對它所描摹的情況，比如是，一忽兒浮，一忽兒沉，以及他所說的其它一些情況看來，這兩種東西在這些方面都是完全一致的，不過，對于他所提出的，它有一個大得叫人不敢相信的體軀這一點（據(jù)逢托波丹主教說克拉更的身圍有一英里半。），卻必須大打折扣。

By some naturalists who have vaguely heard rumors of the mysterious creature, here spoken of, it is included among the class of cuttle-fish, to which, indeed, in certain external respects it would seem to belong, but only as the Anak of the tribe.

這兒所提到的這種神秘的生物，據(jù)一些道聽途說的博物學家的意見，應該把它歸于墨魚類，這就它某些外表看來，倒確實是應該屬于此類，不過，就其種族說來，卻還得算作亞衲族（亞衲族——《圣經(jīng)》上住居于巴勒斯坦的一個被猶太人和約書亞所征服的民族，見《舊約·約書亞記》第十一章二十一節(jié)；又《舊約·民數(shù)記》第十三章三十三節(jié)上說亞衲族人就是指偉人，是偉人的后裔，這里作者用來諷喻這種克拉更應屬于比墨魚類更大的東西。）。

Chapter 60 The Line

第六十章 捕鯨索

With reference to the whaling scene shortly to be desCRIbed, as well as for the better understanding of all similar scenes elsewhere presented, I have here to speak of the magical, sometimes horrible whale-line.

因為不久就要描寫捕鯨場面，同時，為了更好地了解在另些地方提到的一切類似的場面，我必須在這里談一談那根不可思議的、有時可說是使人恐怖的捕鯨索。

The line originally used in the fishery was of the best hemp, slightly vapored with tar, not impregnated with it, as in the case of ordinary ropes; for while tar, as ordinarily used, makes the hemp more pliable to the rope-maker, and also renders the rope itself more convenient to the sailor for common ship use; yet, not only would the ordinary quantity too much stiffen the whale-line for the close coiling to which it must be subjected; but as most seamen are beginning to learn, tar in general by no means adds to the rope's durability or strength, however much it may give it compactness and gloss.

捕鯨業(yè)原來所用的捕鯨索，都是用最好的大麻做成后，薄薄噴上一層柏油，而且象一般繩索那樣，不是噴得很透；因為通常用了柏油，就會使得大麻柔軟，便利制索人編制，同時，制出來的索子也更便于一般船只的水手使用；不過，通常的用油量，不但會使捕鯨索太硬，不能把它按照需要卷得很緊；而且大部分水手也都開始知道，盡管柏油會使繩索結實、有光澤，可是，一般說來，柏油卻絕對不會增加繩索的牢度和強度。