They are comparatively delicate, indeed; I dare say, not to exceed half a dozen yards round the waist. Nevertheless, it cannot be denied, that upon the whole they are hereditarily entitled to en bon point.
她們真可說是相當(dāng)細(xì)巧,我敢說,她們的腰圍絕不超過六碼。但也不能否認(rèn),總的說來,她們都是世襲地具有肥胖的資格的。
It is very curious to watch this harem and its lord in their indolent ramblings. Like fashionables, they are for ever on the move in leisurely search of variety. You meet them on the Line in time for the full flower of the Equatorial feeding season, having just returned, perhaps, from spending the summer in the Northern seas, and so cheating summer of all unpleasant weariness and warmth. By the time they have lounged up and down the promenade of the Equator awhile, they start for the Oriental waters in anticipation of the cool season there, and so evade the other excessive temperature of the year.
看到這些妻妾同她們的王爺在懶散地漫步,可真有趣。它們象上流社會的人物那樣,始終是悠然地遷來移去,追求著多樣化的生活。你會在赤道線上碰到它們及時趕來參加赤道飼養(yǎng)季節(jié)的全盛期,說不定它們當(dāng)時剛從北海一帶歇夏歸來,剛剛打發(fā)掉夏季種種不愉快的疲累和悶熱。待到它們在赤道的散步場上蕩來蕩去地逍遙了一陣后,它們就動身到東方的海洋上,想在那里等候秋涼季節(jié)到來,以避掉一年中另一個酷寒的季候。
When serenely advancing on one of these journeys, if any strange suspicious sights are seen, my lord whale keeps a wary eye on his interesting family. Should any unwarrantably pert young Leviathan coming that way, presume to draw confidentially close to one of the ladies, with what prodigious fury the Bashaw assails him, and chases him away! High times, indeed, if uNPRincipled young rakes like him are to be permitted to invade the sanctity of domestic bliss; though do what the Bashaw will, he cannot keep the most notorious Lothario out of his bed; for alas! all fish bed in common.
在這些安靜前進(jìn)的旅次中,如果碰到有什么奇特可疑的景象,這條王爺鯨就虎視眈眈地瞪眼注視著它的有趣的家屬。萬一有任何一只輕浮冒失的少年鯨游來,膽敢偷偷地挨近其中任何一個太太小姐的話,啊,這條王爺鯨就會象個怒不可遏的巴夏(巴夏——土耳其的高級文武官員。),起而對它攻擊,把它趕走。如果象這樣一個毫無節(jié)操的小浪子,當(dāng)真讓它闖進(jìn)這個神圣極樂的家庭的話,那才真有趣呢,雖然這個巴夏可以愛怎樣做就怎樣做,它卻無法把這個聲名狼藉的浪子趕出它的床鋪;因為,唉!一切魚類的床鋪都是公用的。