英語聽書《白鯨記》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.

槌鯨;纜鯨;蠢鯨;南非鯨;領頭鯨;大炮鯨;瘦鯨;銅皮鯨;象鯨;流水鯨;刮格鯨;藍鯨等等。從冰島,荷蘭,古代英國的許多權威家那邊,一定還可以引出其它許多未定的鯨的名單,具有各式稀奇古怪的名稱的。

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

但是,因為那些都是陳腐的名稱,我就把它們省略了,而且,實在也不免叫人懷疑到這些名稱只是徒擁虛名,空具大海獸的派頭,卻說明不了什么東西。

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,我一開頭就已經聲明過,這里所提出的這個分類法,并不是一下子就可臻完備的。

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.

讀者也一定可以清楚地看出我是信守我的諾言的。不過,我現(xiàn)在就讓我的鯨類學分類法這樣懸而未竟了,正如偉大的科隆大教堂鳩工未竣,起重機還吊在未完工的塔頂上一樣。

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.

因為細小的創(chuàng)始工作也許已經由他們先前的建筑師完成了,至于宏大的。真正的工作,以及頂冠石總是留給后人去完成。上帝永遠不讓我一事有成。

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

這整篇分類學只不過是一種草稿...不,而且是草稿的草稿。啊,時間呀,力量呀,金錢呀,耐心呀!