That for six thousand years--and no one knows how many millions of ages before--the great whales should have been spouting1 all over the sea, and sprinkling and mistifying the gardens of the deep, as with so many sprinkling or mistifying pots; and that for some centuries back, thousands of hunters should have been close by the fountain of the whale, watching these sprinklings and spoutings-- that all this should be, and yet, that down to this blessed minute (fifteen and a quarter minutes past one o'clock P.M. of this sixteenth day of December, A.D. 1851), it should still remain a problem, whether these spoutings are, after all, really water, or nothing but vapor3--this is surely a noteworthy thing.
Let us, then, look at this matter, along with some interesting items contingent4. Every one knows that by the peculiar5 cunning of their gills, the finny tribes in general breathe the air which at all times is combined with the element in which they swim; hence, a herring or a cod7 might live a century, and never once raise its head above the surface. But owing to his marked internal structure which gives him regular lungs, like a human being's, the whale can only live by inhaling8 the disengaged air in the open atmosphere. Wherefore the necessity for his periodical visits to the upper world. But he cannot in any degree breathe through his mouth, for, in his ordinary attitude, the Sperm9 Whale's mouth is buried at least eight feet beneath the surface; and what is still more, his windpipe has no connexion with his mouth. No, he breathes through his spiracle alone; and this is on the top of his head.
If I say, that in any creature breathing is only a function indispensable to vitality10, inasmuch as it withdraws from the air a certain element, which being subsequently brought into contact with the blood imparts to the blood its vivifying principle, I do not think I shall err6; though I may possibly use some superfluous11 scientific words. Assume it, and it follows that if all the blood in a man could be aerated12 with one breath, he might then seal up his nostrils13 and not fetch another for a considerable time. That is to say, he would then live without breathing. Anomalous14 as it may seem, this is precisely15 the case with the whale, who systematically16 lives, by intervals17, his full hour and more (when at the bottom) without drawing a single breath, or so much as in any way inhaling a particle of air; for, remember, he has no gills. How is this? Between his ribs18 and on each side of his spine19 he is supplied with a remarkable20 involved Cretan labyrinth21 of vermicelli-like vessels22, which vessels, when he quits the surface, are completely distended23 with oxygenated blood. So that for an hour or more, a thousand fathoms24 in the sea, he carries a surplus stock of vitality in him, just as the camel crossing the waterless desert carries a surplus supply of drink for future use in its four supplementary25 stomachs. The anatomical fact of this labyrinth is indisputable; and that the supposition founded upon it is reasonable and true, seems the more cogent26 to me, when I consider the otherwise inexplicable27 obstinacy28 of that leviathan in having his spoutings out, as the fishermen phrase it. This is what I mean. If unmolested, upon rising to the surface, the Sperm Whale will continue there for a period of time exactly uniform with all his other unmolested risings. Say he stays eleven minutes, and jets seventy times, that is, respires seventy breaths; then whenever he rises again, he will be sure to have his seventy breaths over again, to a minute. Now, if after he fetches a few breaths you alarm him, so that he sounds, he will be always dodging29 up again to make good his regular allowance of air. And not till those seventy breaths are told, will he finally go down to stay out his full term below. Remark, however, that in different individuals these rates are different; but in any one they are alike. Now, why should the whale thus insist upon having his spoutings out, unless it be to replenish30 his reservoir of air, ere descending31 for good? How obvious it is it, too, that this necessity for the whale's rising exposes him to all the fatal hazards of the chase. For not by hook or by net could this vast leviathan be caught, when sailing a thousand fathoms beneath the sunlight. Not so much thy skill, then, O hunter, as the great necessities that strike the victory to thee!
In man, breathing is incessantly32 going on--one breath only serving for two or three pulsations; so that whatever other business he has to attend to, waking or sleeping, breathe he must, or die he will. But the Sperm Whale only breathes about one seventh or Sunday of his time.
It has been said that the whale only breathes through his spout2-hole; if it could truthfully be added that his spouts33 are mixed with water, then I opine we should be furnished with the reason why his sense of smell seems obliterated34 in him; for the only thing about him that at all answers to his nose is that identical spout-hole; and being so clogged35 with two elements, it could not be expected to have the power of smelling. But owing to the mystery of the spout--whether it be water or whether it be vapor--no absolute certainty can as yet be arrived at on this head. Sure it is, nevertheless, that the Sperm Whale has no proper olfactories36. But what does he want of them? No roses, no violets, no Cologne-water in the sea.
Furthermore, as his windpipe solely37 opens into the tube of his spouting canal, and as that long canal--like the grand Erie Canal-- is furnished with a sort of locks (that open and shut) for the downward retention38 of air or the upward exclusion39 of water, therefore the whale has no voice; unless you insult him by saying, that when he so strangely rumbles40, he talks through his nose. But then again, what has the whale to say? Seldom have I known any profound being that had anything to say to this world, unless forced to stammer41 out something by way of getting a living. Oh! happy that the world is such an excellent listener!
Now, the spouting canal of the Sperm Whale, chiefly intended as it is for the conveyance42 of air, and for several feet laid along, horizontally, just beneath the upper surface of his head, and a little to one side; this curious canal is very much like a gas-pipe laid down in a city on one side of a street. But the question returns whether this gas-pipe is also a water-pipe; in other words, whether the spout of the Sperm Whale is the mere43 vapor of the exhaled44 breath, or whether that exhaled breath is mixed with water taken in at the mouth, and discharged through the spiracle. It is certain that the mouth indirectly45 communicates with the spouting canal; but it cannot be proved that this is for the purpose of discharging water through the spiracle. Because the greatest necessity for so doing would seem to be, when in feeding he accidentally takes in water. But the Sperm Whale's food is far beneath the surface, and there he cannot spout even if he would. Besides, if you regard him very closely, and time him with your watch, you will find that when unmolested, there is an undeviating rhyme between the periods of his jets and the ordinary periods of respiration46.
But why pester47 one with all this reasoning on the subject? Speak out! You have seen him spout; then declare what the spout is; can you not tell water from air? My dear sir, in this world it is not so easy to settle these plain things. I have ever found your plain things the knottiest48 of all. And as for this whale spout, you might almost stand in it, and yet be undecided as to what it is precisely.
The central body of it is hidden in the snowy sparkling mist enveloping49 it; and how can you certainly tell whether any water falls from it, when, always, when you are close enough to a whale to get a close view of his spout, he is in a prodigious50 commotion51, the water cascading52 all around him. And if at such times you should think that you really perceived drops of moisture in the spout, how do you know that they are not merely condensed from its vapor; or how do you know that they are not those identical drops superficially lodged53 in the spout-hole fissure54, which is countersunk into the summit of the whale's head? For even when tranquilly55 swimming through the mid-day sea in a calm, with his elevated hump sun-dried as a dromedary's in the desert; even then, the whale always carries a small basin of water on his head, as under a blazing sun you will sometimes see a cavity in a rock filled up with rain.
Nor is it at all prudent56 for the hunter to be over curious touching57 the precise nature of the whale spout. It will not do for him to be peering into it, and putting his face in it. You cannot go with your pitcher58 to this fountain and fill it, and bring it away. For even when coming into slight contact with the outer, vapory shreds59 of the jet, which will often happen, your skin will feverishly60 smart, from the acridness of the thing so touching it. And I know one, who coming into still closer contact with the spout, whether with some scientific object in view, or otherwise, I cannot say, the skin peeled off from his cheek and arm. Wherefore, among whalemen, the spout is deemed poisonous; they try to evade61 it. Another thing; I have heard it said, and I do not much doubt it, that if the jet is fairly spouted62 into your eyes, it will blind you. The wisest thing the investigator63 can do then, it seems to me, is to let this deadly spout alone.
Still, we can hypothesize, even if we cannot prove and establish. My hypothesis is this: that the spout is nothing but mist. And besides other reasons, to this conclusion I am impelled64, by considerations touching the great inherent dignity and sublimity65 of the Sperm Whale; I account him no common, shallow being, inasmuch as it is an undisputed fact that he is never found on soundings, or near shores; all other whales sometimes are. He is both ponderous66 and profound. And I am convinced that from the heads of all ponderous profound beings, such as Plato, Pyrrho, the Devil, Jupiter, Dante, and so on, there always goes up a certain semi-visible steam, while in the act of thinking deep thoughts. While composing a little treatise67 on Eternity68, I had the curiosity to place a mirror before me; and ere long saw reflected there, a curious involved worming and undulation in the atmosphere over my head. The invariable moisture of my hair, while plunged69 in deep thought, after six cups of hot tea in my thin shingled70 attic71, of an August noon; this seems an additional argument for the above supposition.
And how nobly it raises our conceit72 of the mighty73, misty74 monster, to behold75 him solemnly sailing through a calm tropical sea; his vast, mild head overhung by a canopy76 of vapor, engendered77 by his incommunicable contemplations, and that vapor-- as you will sometimes see it--glorified by a rainbow, as if Heaven itself had put its seal upon his thoughts. For d'ye see, rainbows do not visit the clear air; they only irradiate vapor. And so, through all the thick mists of the dim doubts in my mind, divine intuitions now and then shoot, enkindling my fog with a heavenly ray. And for this I thank God; for all have doubts; many deny; but doubts or denials, few along with them, have intuitions. Doubts of all things earthly, and intuitions of some things heavenly; this combination makes neither believer nor infidel, but makes a man who regards them both with equal eye.
收听单词发音 |
1
spouting
|
|
| n.水落管系统v.（指液体）喷出( spout的现在分词 )；滔滔不绝地讲；喋喋不休地说；喷水 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
spout
|
|
| v.喷出，涌出；滔滔不绝地讲；n.喷管；水柱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
vapor
|
|
| n.蒸汽，雾气 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
contingent
|
|
| adj.视条件而定的；n.一组，代表团，分遣队 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
peculiar
|
|
| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
err
|
|
| vi.犯错误，出差错 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
cod
|
|
| n.鳕鱼；v.愚弄；哄骗 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
inhaling
|
|
| v.吸入( inhale的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
sperm
|
|
| n.精子，精液 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
vitality
|
|
| n.活力，生命力，效力 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
superfluous
|
|
| adj.过多的，过剩的，多余的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
aerated
|
|
| v.使暴露于空气中，使充满气体( aerate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
nostrils
|
|
| 鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
anomalous
|
|
| adj.反常的；不规则的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
precisely
|
|
| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
systematically
|
|
| adv.有系统地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
intervals
|
|
| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
ribs
|
|
| n.肋骨( rib的名词复数 )；（船或屋顶等的）肋拱；肋骨状的东西；（织物的）凸条花纹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
spine
|
|
| n.脊柱，脊椎；(动植物的)刺；书脊 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
remarkable
|
|
| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
labyrinth
|
|
| n.迷宫；难解的事物；迷路 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
vessels
|
|
| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
distended
|
|
| v.（使）膨胀，肿胀( distend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
fathoms
|
|
| 英寻( fathom的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
supplementary
|
|
| adj.补充的，附加的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
cogent
|
|
| adj.强有力的，有说服力的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
inexplicable
|
|
| adj.无法解释的，难理解的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
obstinacy
|
|
| n.顽固；（病痛等）难治 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
dodging
|
|
| n.避开，闪过，音调改变v.闪躲( dodge的现在分词 )；回避 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
replenish
|
|
| vt.补充；(把…)装满；(再)填满 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
descending
|
|
| n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
incessantly
|
|
| ad.不停地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
spouts
|
|
| n.管口( spout的名词复数 )；（喷出的）水柱；（容器的）嘴；在困难中v.（指液体）喷出( spout的第三人称单数 )；滔滔不绝地讲；喋喋不休地说；喷水 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
obliterated
|
|
| v.除去( obliterate的过去式和过去分词 )；涂去；擦掉；彻底破坏或毁灭 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
clogged
|
|
| （使）阻碍( clog的过去式和过去分词 )； 淤滞 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
olfactories
|
|
| n.嗅觉的( olfactory的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
37
solely
|
|
| adv.仅仅，唯一地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
retention
|
|
| n.保留，保持，保持力，记忆力 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
exclusion
|
|
| n.拒绝，排除，排斥，远足，远途旅行 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
rumbles
|
|
| 隆隆声，辘辘声( rumble的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
stammer
|
|
| n.结巴，口吃；v.结结巴巴地说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
conveyance
|
|
| n.(不动产等的)转让，让与；转让证书；传送；运送；表达；（正）运输工具 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
mere
|
|
| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
exhaled
|
|
| v.呼出，发散出( exhale的过去式和过去分词 )；吐出（肺中的空气、烟等），呼气 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
indirectly
|
|
| adv.间接地，不直接了当地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
respiration
|
|
| n.呼吸作用；一次呼吸；植物光合作用 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
pester
|
|
| v.纠缠，强求 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
knottiest
|
|
| adj.（指木材）多结节的( knotty的最高级 )；多节瘤的；困难的；棘手的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
enveloping
|
|
| v.包围，笼罩，包住( envelop的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
prodigious
|
|
| adj.惊人的，奇妙的；异常的；巨大的；庞大的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
commotion
|
|
| n.骚动，动乱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
cascading
|
|
| 流注( cascade的现在分词 )； 大量落下； 大量垂悬； 梯流 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
lodged
|
|
| v.存放( lodge的过去式和过去分词 )；暂住；埋入；（权利、权威等）归属 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
fissure
|
|
| n.裂缝；裂伤 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
tranquilly
|
|
| adv. 宁静地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
prudent
|
|
| adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
touching
|
|
| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
pitcher
|
|
| n.(有嘴和柄的)大水罐；(棒球)投手 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
shreds
|
|
| v.撕碎，切碎( shred的第三人称单数 )；用撕毁机撕毁（文件） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
feverishly
|
|
| adv. 兴奋地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
evade
|
|
| vt.逃避，回避；避开，躲避 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
spouted
|
|
| adj.装有嘴的v.（指液体）喷出( spout的过去式和过去分词 )；滔滔不绝地讲；喋喋不休地说；喷水 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
investigator
|
|
| n.研究者，调查者，审查者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
impelled
|
|
| v.推动、推进或敦促某人做某事( impel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
sublimity
|
|
| 崇高，庄严，气质高尚 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
ponderous
|
|
| adj.沉重的，笨重的，(文章)冗长的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
treatise
|
|
| n.专著；(专题)论文 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
eternity
|
|
| n.不朽，来世；永恒，无穷 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
plunged
|
|
| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
shingled
|
|
| adj.盖木瓦的；贴有墙面板的v.用木瓦盖(shingle的过去式和过去分词形式) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
attic
|
|
| n.顶楼，屋顶室 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
conceit
|
|
| n.自负，自高自大 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
mighty
|
|
| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
misty
|
|
| adj.雾蒙蒙的，有雾的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
75
behold
|
|
| v.看，注视，看到 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
76
canopy
|
|
| n.天篷，遮篷 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
77
engendered
|
|
| v.产生（某形势或状况），造成，引起( engender的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |