Still, in that famous work of his, Lavater not only treats of the various faces of men, but also attentively studies the faces of horses, birds, serpents, and fish; and dwells in detail upon the modifications of expression discernible therein. Nor have Gall and his disciple Spurzheim failed to throw out some hints touching the phrenological characteristics of other beings than man. Therefore, though I am but ill qualified for a pioneer, in the application of these two semi-sciences to the whale, I will do my endeavor. I try all things; I achieve what I can.
不過,在拉瓦特那本名著中,他不但論述到各式人等的面孔,還仔細(xì)地研究馬匹、鳥類、巨蟒和魚類的面孔,把其中各種可加辨別的容貌變化都詳述無遺。迦耳和他的門徒斯柏深(約翰·卡斯柏·斯柏深(1776—1823)——德國醫(yī)生兼骨相學(xué)家。)對于除了人類以外的其它各種生物的骨相特征也提出了若干看法。因此,雖則在對大鯨使用這兩種半科學(xué)的方法上,我還遠(yuǎn)遠(yuǎn)不夠個(gè)先驅(qū)者的資格,可我還是要勉力一試。我什么事都要試一試,盡力達(dá)到目的。
Physiognomically regarded, the Sperm Whale is an anomalous creature. He has no proper nose. And since the nose is the central and most conspicuous of the features; and since it perhaps most modifies and finally controls their combined expression; hence it would seem that its entire absence, as an external appendage, must very largely affect the countenance of the whale. For as in landscape gardening, a spire, cupola, monument, or tower of some sort, is deemed almost indispensable to the completion of the scene; so no face can be physiognomically in keeping without the elevated open-work belfry of the nose. Dash the nose from Phidias's marble Jove, and what a sorry remainder!
從相術(shù)上說來,抹香鯨是一種異態(tài)的動(dòng)物。它沒有一只真正的鼻子。但是,因?yàn)楸亲邮窍嗝驳淖顬轱@眼的主要器官,因?yàn)楸亲右苍S是最能修飾,具有決定性地操縱整個(gè)相貌外表的器官,因此,作為一種外部的附屬物說來,鼻子竟告絕跡,勢必大大影響到大鯨的尊容了。因?yàn)?,正如布置園景一樣,一亭一閣,一石一碑,或者各類大塔小塔,差不多都被認(rèn)為是構(gòu)成整個(gè)景致之不可或缺的東西,所以,在相術(shù)上說來,面孔而沒有一只高高隆起的、有如透雕細(xì)工的鐘塔的鼻子,那簡直是不可想象的。如果把菲迪亞斯(菲迪亞斯(公元前500—432)——古希臘雕刻家。)那個(gè)大理石的約芙像上的鼻子給敲碎了,那可是多么令人惋惜的一件殘品呀!