評論
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But there were still other and more vital practical influences at work.
但是,還有其他更主要而實際的影響在起作用。
Nor even at the present day has the original prestige of the Sperm Whale, as fearfully distinguished from all other species of the leviathan, died out of the minds of the whalemen as a body.
因為時至今日,在整個捕鯨者的心目中,還是認為抹香鯨的本來的名聲,論起恐怖來,是遠超于其它一切大海獸的。
There are those this day among them, who, though intelligent and courageous enough in offering battle to the Greenland or Right whale, would perhaps-either from professional inexperience, or incompetency, or timidity, decline a contest with the Sperm Whale;
今天在整個捕鯨者中,還有這樣的人;他們雖然在智勇上都很能夠去跟格陵蘭鯨或者露脊鯨決斗,卻還是...或因職業上缺乏經驗,或因力不勝任,或因畏怯,而不愿意跟抹香鯨一決勝負;
at any rate, there are plenty of whalemen, especially among those whaling nations not sailing under the American flag, who have never hostilely encountered the Sperm Whale, but whose sole knowledge of the leviathan is restricted to the ignoble monster primitively pursued in the North;
總之,確有許多捕鯨者,尤其是那些非美國人的捕鯨者,他們從來就沒有跟抹香鯨敵對過,他們關于這種大海獸的唯一的見聞還是局限于本來那些出沒在北海上的二等巨獸;
seated on their hatches, these men will hearken with a childish fireside interest and awe, to the wild, strange tales of Southern whaling.
這些人坐在他們的艙口上,帶著一種小孩子坐在爐邊,又怕又要聽的心情,來傾聽南海捕鯨的狂熱。新奇的故事。
Nor is the preeminent tremendousness of the great Sperm Whale anywhere more feelingly comprehended, than on board of those prows which stem him.
這些人對于大抹香鯨的極其可怕的事跡,在真切的理解上說來,絕不會超過站在船頭跟它對抗過的那些人。
