評論
打印
If it be made in the unobstructed air, especially if it descend to its mark, the stroke is then simply irresistible. No ribs of man or boat can withstand it. Your only salvation lies in eluding it; but if it comes sideways through the opposing water, then partly owing to the light buoyancy of the whale-boat, and the elasticity of its materials, a cracked rib or a dashed plank or two, a sort of stitch in the side, is generally the most serious result. These submerged side blows are so often received in the fishery, that they are accounted mere child's play. Some one strips off a frock, and the hole is stopped.
如果容它自由發揮一下，尤其是在它襲擊它的目的物時，那么，那種打擊簡直是叫人吃不消的。不論是人的肋骨還是小艇的肋材都抵擋不住。唯一的自救之道就是趕快回避。不過，如果它從對面斜穿過來，這時一半由于捕鯨小艇輕巧易浮，一半由于艇材富有彈力，于是艇肋就喀啦一響，或者船板給嘩啦啦地沖一兩下，好比針腳朝腰際一戳，一般說來，這就是最嚴重的結局。這種水里的側擊，捕鯨業是經常遭受到的，所以他們都只當它是兒戲。誰個打外衣上撕下一條布片，那只洞孔就給堵住了。
Third: I cannot demonstrate it, but it seems to me, that in the whale the sense of touch is concentrated in the tail; for in this respect there is a delicacy in it only equalled by the daintiness of the elephant's trunk. This delicacy is chiefly evinced in the action of sweeping, when in maidenly gentleness the whale with a certain soft slowness moves his immense flukes from side to side upon the surface of the sea; and if he feel but a sailor's whisker, woe to that sailor, whiskers and all. What tenderness there is in that preliminary touch! Had this tail any prehensile power, I should straightway bethink me of Darmonodes' elephant that so frequented the flower-market, and with low salutations presented nosegays to damsels, and then caressed their zones.
第三，這一點我真說不清楚，不過，據我看來，大鯨的觸感似乎都集中在尾巴上；因為，在這方面，尾巴本身所具有的靈巧，只有雍容華貴的象鼻才能跟它媲美。這種靈巧主要表現在它的搖尾的動作上，當大鯨象少女那么嬌柔，以一種柔順、遲慢的動作，揮動它那巨大的裂片，在海面上擺來擺去的時候；如果它剛好碰上一個水手的腮幫子，那么那個水手可就慘了，絡腮胡子和所有一切都完了蛋。這么輕輕一碰，可多么溫柔！如果這條尾巴具有一些抓握力的話，那我立刻就會想到達蒙諾克斯（這是作者虛構的地名。）的大象，它常常要跑到花市里，向那些閨秀們低語寒暄，獻贈花束，然后又摩弄著她們的帶子。
