英语听书《白鲸记》第387期

The Bottle-Nose Whale; the Junk Whale; the Pudding-Headed Whale; the Cape Whale; the Leading Whale; the Cannon Whale; the Scragg Whale; the Coppered Whale; the Elephant Whale; the Iceberg Whale; the Quog Whale; the Blue Whale; &c. From Icelandic, Dutch, and old English authorities, there might be quoted other lists of uncertain whales, blessed with all manner of uncouth names.

槌鲸;缆鲸;蠢鲸;南非鲸;领头鲸;大炮鲸;瘦鲸;铜皮鲸;象鲸;流水鲸;刮格鲸;蓝鲸等等。从冰岛,荷兰,古代英国的许多权威家那边,一定还可以引出其它许多未定的鲸的名单,具有各式稀奇古怪的名称的。

But I omit them as altogether obsolete; and can hardly help suspecting them for mere sounds, full of Leviathanism, but signifying nothing.

但是,因为那些都是陈腐的名称,我就把它们省略了,而且,实在也不免叫人怀疑到这些名称只是徒拥虚名,空具大海兽的派头,却说明不了什么东西。

Finally: It was stated at the outset, that this system would not be here, and at once, perfected. You cannot but plainly see that I have kept my word.

最后,我一开头就已经声明过,这里所提出的这个分类法,并不是一下子就可臻完备的。

But I now leave my cetological System standing thus unfinished, even as the great Cathedral of Cologne was left, with the cranes still standing upon the top of the uncompleted tower.

读者也一定可以清楚地看出我是信守我的诺言的。不过,我现在就让我的鲸类学分类法这样悬而未竟了,正如伟大的科隆大教堂鸠工未竣,起重机还吊在未完工的塔顶上一样。

For small erections may be finished by their first architects; grand ones, true ones, ever leave the copestone to posterity. God keep me from ever completing anything.

因为细小的创始工作也许已经由他们先前的建筑师完成了,至于宏大的。真正的工作,以及顶冠石总是留给后人去完成。上帝永远不让我一事有成。

This whole book is but a draught-nay, but the draught of a draught. Oh, Time, Strength, Cash, and Patience!

这整篇分类学只不过是一种草稿...不,而且是草稿的草稿。啊,时间呀,力量呀,金钱呀,耐心呀!