我不知道是否有其他作家提及此事,不過據(jù)我推斷,鱘魚也一定是按大鯨的辦法來對分的,國王拿鱘魚所特有的那個非常細(xì)密而又富有彈性的頭,這種頭,就象征意義說來,可能還很幽默,是以一種假設(shè)的相似性為根據(jù)的。這樣說來,似乎什么東西都有一種道理,哪怕法律也不例外。
Chapter 91 The Pequod Meets The Rose-Bud
第九十一章"裴廓德號"遇到"玫瑰蕊號"(玫瑰蕊——另一義為初出茅廬者,初次出馬者。作者在本章中以其雙關(guān)意義加以諷喻。)
In vain it was to rake for Ambergriese in the paunch of this Leviathan, insufferable fetor denying not inquiry. SIR T. BROWNE, V. E.
要想在這種大海獸的腹內(nèi)找到龍涎香(龍誕香——病鯨的消化器官排泄出來的東西,色澤大多呈灰色。黃色以至黑色,斑駁如大理石,是香料中的佳品。)是徒勞的,盡管有難堪的惡臭,人們還是要去尋根問底。托馬斯·布朗子爵閣下(托馬斯·布朗(1605—1682)——英國醫(yī)生,作家。)
It was a week or two after the last whaling scene recounted, and when we were slowly sailing over a sleepy, vapory, mid-day sea, that the many noses on the Pequod's deck proved more vigilant discoverers than the three pairs of eyes aloft. A peculiar and not very pleasant smell was smelt in the sea.
大約是在細(xì)說上一個捕鯨場景的兩三個星期后,當(dāng)時,我們正緩慢地航駛在令人昏昏欲睡、煙靄繚繞的正午的海面上,"裴廓德號"甲板上的許多鼻子竟比呆在桅頂上那三對眼睛更機(jī)靈,聞到了海里有一股特殊而又不很好聞的氣味。
I will bet something now, said Stubb, "that somewhere hereabouts are some of those drugged whales we tickled the other day. I thought they would keel up before long."
哼,我現(xiàn)在敢打一點賭,斯塔布說,"在這附近什么地方,一定有我們前些天用'得拉格,扣住了的一些鯨。我想它們不久就會翻上來。"
Presently, the vapors in advance slid aside; and there in the distance lay a ship, whose furled sails betokened that some sort of whale must be alongside.
不一會,前邊的煙靄不知不覺地飄開了,而且遠(yuǎn)處還停有一艘船,從它那些卷起的風(fēng)帆看來,說明它的船邊一定拖有一條鯨。