英語聽書《白鯨記》第140期

Good again; but then all confess that somehowwhaling is not respectable.

又有人說，捕鯨業(yè)不大體面。

WHALING NOT RESPECTABLE? Whaling is imperial!By old English statutory law, the whale is declareda royal fish.

這大概要看一下捕鯨者所捕的鯨在人們心目中的地位了：在古代的英國，鯨魚是皇族崇尚的欽定魚。

Oh, that's only nominal! The whale himself hasnever figured in any grand imposing way.

哦,這只是名義上的!我記得史實(shí)中有這樣的記載：

THE WHALE NEVER FIGURED IN ANY GRAND IMPOSING WAY?

又有人說了，捕鯨嗎，總歸是不大威風(fēng)吧!

In one of the mighty triumphs given to a Roman general upon his entering the world's capital,the bones of a whale, brought all the way from the Syrian coast,

在為一個(gè)羅馬將軍進(jìn)行的歡迎儀式上，擺著一架特意從敘利亞運(yùn)來的鯨骨，

were the most conspicuous object in the cymballed procession.

以示隆重。

See subsequent chapters for something more on this head.

鯨座是天上的一個(gè)星座，捕鯨者是何等的威風(fēng)也便可想而知了。如果你對沙皇脫帽的話，那么我相信你也會(huì)對魁魁格脫帽的!

Grant it, since you cite it; but, say what you will, there is no real dignity in whaling.

噢，天知道，人們除了捕鯨還有什么可以稱為威風(fēng)的事呢?

NO DIGNITY IN WHALING?

總歸是不大威風(fēng)?