Chapter 76 The Battering-Ram
第七十六章 破城槌
Ere quitting, for the nonce, the Sperm Whale's head, I would have you, as a sensible physiologist, simply—particularly remark its front aspect, in all its compacted collectedness. I would have you investigate it now with the sole view of forming to yourself some unexaggerated, intelligent estimate of whatever battering-ram power may be lodged there. Here is a vital point; for you must either satisfactorily settle this matter with yourself, or for ever remain an infidel as to one of the most appalling, but not the less true events, perhaps anywhere to be found in all recorded history.
在離開這只抹香鯨頭以前,我要請你暫時(shí)做個(gè)明達(dá)的生理學(xué)家,簡單點(diǎn)說,請你特別注意一下它那非常穩(wěn)靜的臉相。我現(xiàn)在請你按照你自己單獨(dú)構(gòu)思出來的不夸張、有理智的觀點(diǎn)來審查它一下,估計(jì)這顆頭顱里邊究竟會有多大的破城槌的力量。這是個(gè)要點(diǎn);因?yàn)槟惚仨毣蛘哂H自稱心如意地辦妥這事情,或者對這一件最為可怕,但卻完全是真實(shí)的,也許可以在各種典籍中獲得證明的事情始終存有懷疑。
You observe that in the ordinary swimming position of the Sperm Whale, the front of his head presents an almost wholly vertical plane to the water; you observe that the lower part of that front slopes considerably backwards, so as to furnish more of a retreat for the long socket which receives the boom-like lower jaw; you observe that the mouth is entirely under the head, much in the same way, indeed, as though your own mouth were entirely under your chin. Moreover you observe that the whale has no external nose; and that what nose he has—his spout hole— is on the top of his head; you observe that his eyes and ears are at the sides of his head; nearly one third of his entire length from the front.
在抹香鯨的一般游態(tài)中,你可以看到它那只頭的正面和水面幾乎完全垂直;你可以看到那正面的下端后傾得很厲害,因而那銜接著第二桅檣似的下巴的長長的承口,更縮了進(jìn)去;你可以看到那只嘴巴全然長在頭頂下,非常象你自己的嘴巴完全長在下巴上面一樣。而且,你還可以看到鯨的外部并沒有鼻子;也看到它僅有的鼻子——那噴水孔——就長在頭頂心上;你可以看到它的耳朵、眼睛都是長在它頭部的兩邊;遠(yuǎn)離正面幾達(dá)它身長的三分之一。