尾巴

Other poets have warbled the praises of the soft eye of the antelope... less celestial, I celebrate a tail. ...it comprises upon its upper surface alone, an area of at least fifty square feet. ...In no living thing are the lines of beauty more exquisitely defined than in the crescentic borders of these flukes. ...the tail will considerably exceed twenty feet across.

別的詩人婉囀地（warbled）謳歌羚羊柔和的眼、那永不落地之鳥可愛的羽翼（plumage）；我以較不那麼天界（celestial）的姿態，謳歌一條尾巴。以最大的抹香鯨尾論——從軀幹漸細到約一個人腰粗那點算起——光是它的上表面，就佔至少五十平方呎。它尾根那緊實圓潤的本體，展開成兩片寬闊、堅實、扁平的掌、或說尾鰭（flukes），漸漸變薄到不足一吋；在交接處，這兩片尾鰭微微相疊、再如雙翅般向兩側分開、中間留出一道寬闊的空。沒有任何活物的「美之線條」，比這兩片尾鰭那新月形（crescentic）的邊緣界定得更精妙。在成年鯨身上完全展開時，這尾橫過來會大大超過二十呎。

...cut into it, and you find that three distinct strata compose it... This triune structure, as much as anything else, imparts power to the tail. ...so that in the tail the confluent measureless force of the whole whale seems concentrated to a point. Could annihilation occur to matter, this were the thing to do it.

……切開它，你會發現它由三個分明的層（strata）構成——上、中、下。上下兩層的纖維長而橫；中層的則極短、橫向交織於外兩層之間。這「三位一體（triune）」的結構，比任何別的東西都更賦予這尾以力量（對研究古羅馬牆的人，這中層恰像那些古蹟裡總與石交替的薄瓦層，無疑為砌體貢獻了極大的強度）。而彷彿這尾本身的巨力還不夠，整頭巨獸的軀體都被肌纖維與細絲（filaments）的「經緯（warp and woof）」織滿——它們順著腰的兩側下行、流入尾鰭、不知不覺地與之融合，極大地增添了尾鰭的威力；於是，在尾上，全鯨那匯流的（confluent）、無可衡量之力，彷彿凝聚成了一個點。倘若物質會遭遇消滅（annihilation），這就是能做到那件事的東西。

Nor does this—its amazing strength, at all tend to cripple the graceful flexion of its motions; where infantileness of ease undulates through a Titanism of power. ...Real strength never impairs beauty or harmony, but it often bestows it... Take away the tied tendons that all over seem bursting from the marble in the carved Hercules, and its charm would be gone. ...these pictures, so destitute as they are of all brawniness, hint nothing of any power, but the mere negative, feminine one of submission and endurance...

而這——它驚人的力量——絲毫不致削弱它動作那優雅的屈伸（flexion）；在那兒，嬰兒般的輕鬆，在泰坦般（Titanism）的力量中起伏。相反，它那些動作最駭人之美，正是從這力量中得來的。真正的力量從不損害美或和諧，反而常賦予它；在一切凜然動人之美中，力量都與那魔力大有關係。把雕像海克力斯身上那遍布全身、彷彿要從大理石迸出的緊繃肌腱抽掉，它的魅力便消失了。當忠誠的埃克曼掀開歌德裸屍上的麻布，他被那人如「羅馬凱旋門」般雄渾的胸膛所震懾。當米開朗基羅連聖父都畫成人形時，看那裡頭有何等的強健。而那些柔軟、捲曲、雌雄同體（hermaphroditical）的義大利聖子畫像——他的觀念在其中得到了最成功的體現——這些畫像如此地全無雄健（destitute of all brawniness），絲毫不暗示任何力量，只暗示出那消極、陰性的、順服與忍耐的力量；而眾所公認，這正構成了他教義特殊的實踐德行。

Such is the subtle elasticity of the organ I treat of... its flexions are invariably marked by exceeding grace. ...Five great motions are peculiar to it. First, when used as a fin for progression; Second, when used as a mace in battle; Third, in sweeping; Fourth, in lobtailing; Fifth, in peaking flukes.

我所論的這器官，其微妙的彈性是如此之大——無論用於嬉戲、認真、還是憤怒、無論在什麼心境裡，它的屈伸總標誌著極致的優雅。在這點上，沒有任何仙女的手臂能勝過它。它有五種特有的大動作：第一，作鰭用於推進；第二，作戰鬥之鎚（mace）；第三，橫掃（sweeping）；第四，拍尾（lobtailing）；第五，豎尾（peaking flukes）。

First: Being horizontal in its position, the Leviathan’s tail acts in a different manner from the tails of all other sea creatures. It never wriggles. In man or fish, wriggling is a sign of inferiority. To the whale, his tail is the sole means of propulsion. ...His side-fins only serve to steer by.

第一：由於位置是水平的，巨獸的尾運作起來不同於一切別的海生物的尾。它從不「扭擺（wriggles）」。在人或魚身上，扭擺是低劣的標誌。對鯨而言，尾是牠唯一的推進（propulsion）手段。在體下捲成卷軸狀向前、再迅疾向後彈出——正是這個，給了這怪物狂游時那獨特的飛射、跳躍之姿。牠的側鰭只用來掌舵。

Second: ...in his conflicts with man, he chiefly and contemptuously uses his tail. ...If it be made in the unobstructed air, especially if it descend to its mark, the stroke is then simply irresistible. No ribs of man or boat can withstand it. Your only salvation lies in eluding it...

第二：頗意味深長的是——抹香鯨彼此只用頭和顎搏鬥，可在與人的衝突中，牠卻主要地、輕蔑地用尾。擊向一艘艇時，牠迅速把尾鰭彎離艇、那一擊只靠「回甩（recoil）」施出。若這一擊在無阻礙的空中、尤其若是落向它的目標，那一擊便根本無可抵擋。人或艇的肋骨都擋不住它。你唯一的活路在於閃避它；但若它從對抗的水中側擊過來，那麼，部分由於捕鯨艇輕的浮力、與它材料的彈性，頂多裂一條肋、或撞破一兩塊板——像肋下扎了一針——通常是最嚴重的結果了。漁業中這種水下側擊太常挨到，以致被當成純粹的「小兒科」。有人脫件外套、那洞就堵上了。

Third: ...in the whale the sense of touch is concentrated in the tail... in maidenly gentleness the whale with a certain soft slowness moves his immense flukes... and if he feel but a sailor’s whisker, woe to that sailor, whiskers and all. What tenderness there is in that preliminary touch! Had this tail any prehensile power, I should straightway bethink me of Darmonodes’ elephant... and then caressed their zones.

第三：我無法證明，但我覺得，在鯨身上，觸覺集中在尾上；在這點上，它的精細只有象鼻的細膩可比。這精細在「橫掃」的動作中最顯：鯨以少女般的溫柔、某種軟緩，把牠巨大的尾鰭在海面上左右移動；可牠只要感覺到一個水手的一根鬍鬚，那水手就連鬍子帶人都遭殃。那預備性的觸碰裡，有何等的溫柔！這尾若有任何抓握之能（prehensile power），我會立刻想起達蒙諾德斯那頭象——牠常逛花市、彬彬有禮地向少女們獻上花束、然後撫摸她們的腰帶（zones）。不止一個理由讓人惋惜：鯨的尾不具備這抓握之德；因為我還聽說過另一頭象，戰鬥中受傷時，用鼻捲住、把那標槍拔了出來。

Fourth: Stealing unawares upon the whale in the fancied security of the middle of solitary seas, you find him unbent from the vast corpulence of his dignity, and kitten-like, he plays on the ocean as if it were a hearth. ...the thunderous concussion resounds for miles. You would almost think a great gun had been discharged...

第四：在孤寂海洋的中央、那種想當然的安全裡，悄悄出其不意地靠近鯨，你會發現牠卸下了牠尊嚴那龐大的拘謹、像小貓一般，在大洋上嬉戲、彷彿那是一座壁爐。但你仍從牠的嬉戲中見其力：牠寬闊的尾鰭高高甩向空中；然後拍擊水面，那雷鳴般的撞擊（concussion）數哩之外都聽得見。你幾乎會以為一門大砲開了火；而你若注意到牠另一端噴孔那縷輕霧，你會以為那是火門（touch-hole）冒出的硝煙。

Fifth: ...when he is about to plunge into the deeps, his entire flukes with at least thirty feet of his body are tossed erect in the air... this peaking of the whale’s flukes is perhaps the grandest sight to be seen in all animated nature. ...So in dreams, have I seen majestic Satan thrusting forth his tormented colossal claw from the flame Baltic of Hell. ...I once saw a large herd of whales in the east, all heading towards the sun, and for a moment vibrating in concert with peaked flukes. ...pronouncing him the most devout of all beings.

第五：在巨獸平常漂浮的姿勢下，尾鰭遠在牠背的水平之下、完全沒於水面；但當牠將要潛入深淵時，牠整片尾鰭、連同至少三十呎的身體，被豎舉到空中、就這麼顫動片刻，再向下射出視野之外。除了那壯麗的「躍身（breach）」（別處再述），這鯨尾的「豎舉（peaking）」，或許是活的自然中所能見到的最壯偉的景象。從那無底的深淵裡，這巨大的尾彷彿痙攣地、朝著至高的天攫取。我曾在夢中，見莊嚴的撒旦，從地獄那火焰的波羅的海（the flame Baltic of Hell）裡，伸出他飽受折磨的、巨大的爪。但凝視這樣的景象，全看你處於什麼心境：若是但丁式的，你會想到魔鬼；若是以賽亞式的，你會想到天使長。一次日出染紅了天與海，我在我船的桅頂上，看見東方一大群鯨，全都朝著太陽，一齊豎著尾鰭、顫動了片刻。在當時的我看來，如此壯偉的、對眾神之崇拜的化身，即使在拜火者的故鄉波斯，也從未被見過。如托勒密·斐羅帕特曾為非洲象的虔誠作證，我也為鯨作證、宣稱牠是「一切存在中最虔誠者」（因為據朱巴王說，古代的戰象常在最深的靜默中、把鼻高舉、迎接清晨）。

...For as the mightiest elephant is but a terrier to Leviathan, so, compared with Leviathan’s tail, his trunk is but the stalk of a lily. The most direful blow from the elephant’s trunk were as the playful tap of a fan, compared with the measureless crush and crash of the sperm whale’s ponderous flukes, which in repeated instances have one after the other hurled entire boats with all their oars and crews into the air, very much as an Indian juggler tosses his balls.

……因為，正如最強壯的象之於巨獸不過如一隻㹴犬（terrier），同樣，與巨獸的尾相比，象鼻不過是百合的莖。象鼻最可怕的一擊，與抹香鯨那沉重尾鰭無可衡量的碾撞相比，不過如一把扇子調皮的一拍——那尾在一再發生的實例中，曾一頭接一頭地、把整艘連同所有槳與船員的艇拋向空中，活像一個印度雜耍人拋他的球。（註：鯨與象在整體體型上的任何比較固然荒謬——在這點上，象之於鯨，大致如狗之於象；不過，也不乏一些奇異的相似之處，其中之一便是「噴水」：眾所周知，象常用鼻吸起水或塵土，再高舉著噴出一股。）

The more I consider this mighty tail, the more do I deplore my inability to express it. ...Dissect him how I may, then, I but go skin deep; I know him not, and never will. But if I know not even the tail of this whale, how understand his head? much more, how comprehend his face, when face he has none? Thou shalt see my back parts, my tail, he seems to say, but my face shall not be seen. But I cannot completely make out his back parts; and hint what he will about his face, I say again he has no face.

我越是思量這偉大的尾，就越為我自己無力表達它而哀嘆（deplore）。它有時有些姿態，雖配得上人的手、卻仍全然無從解釋。在一大群鯨中，這些神秘的姿態有時奇特到——我聽過一些獵人宣稱它們近似共濟會（Free-Mason）的暗號與符記、說鯨確實以這些方法、有智慧地與世界交談。牠全身別的動作也充滿怪異、連牠最有經驗的攻擊者都無從解釋。那麼，無論我怎麼解剖牠，我都只觸及皮層；我不認識牠、也永遠不會認識。可我若連這鯨的尾巴都不認識，又怎能理解牠的頭？更別說，怎能領會牠的臉——當牠根本沒有臉？牠彷彿在說：「你將看見我的背、我的尾，但我的臉卻不得見。」可我連牠的背都無法看全；而無論牠就牠的臉暗示什麼，我再說一遍——牠沒有臉。