31 章鱼(7)
Yet, Conseil asked me, "doesn't master believe in gigantic devilfish?""Yikes! Who in Hades ever believed in them?" the Canadian exclaimed.
“那么，”康塞尔问我，“先生也不相信有大型章鱼吗？”“哎！鬼才相信呢！”加拿大人喊道。
Many people, Ned my friend, I said."No fishermen. Scientists maybe!""Pardon me, Ned. Fishermen and scientists!"Why, I to whom you speak," Conseil said with the world's straightest face, "I recall perfectly seeing a large boat dragged under the wa一ves by the arms of a cephalopod.""You saw that?" the Canadian asked.
“有很多人相信呢，尼德朋友。”“渔人就不会相信。学者就可能会相信！”“不好意思，尼德。一些学者和一些渔人都相信。”“但我跟您说，”康塞尔神情无比严肃地说，“我清楚地记得，我曾经见过一艘大船被一只头足类动物的爪子拖到水里去。”“您看过吗？”加拿大人问。
Yes, Ned."With your own two eyes?"With my own two eyes."Where, may I ask?
“是的，尼德。”“您亲眼看到的？”“亲眼看到的。”“那请问，在哪里看到？”
In Saint-Malo, Conseil returned unflappably."In the harbor?" Ned Land said sarcastically."No, in a church," Conseil replied."In a church!" the Canadian exclaimed."Yes, Ned my friend. It had a picture that portrayed the devilfish in question.""Oh good!" Ned Land exclaimed with a burst of laughter. "Mr. Conseil put one over on me!"Actually he's right," I said. "I've heard about that picture. But the subject it portrays is taken from a legend, and you know how to rate legends in matters of natural history! Besides, when it's an issue of monsters,the human imagination always tends to run wild.
“在圣—马洛港，”康塞尔冷静地回答说。 “在一个港口？”尼德·兰嘲讽地说。 “不，在一座教堂里。”康塞尔回答说。“在一座教堂里！”加拿大人喊道。 “是的，尼德朋友。是一幅描绘章鱼的图画。” “好啊！”尼德·兰说着，放声大笑，“康塞尔先生在跟我开玩笑呢！” “事实上，他是对的，”我说，“我听说过这幅图画；虽然它取裁于一个传说，但您知道应该怎样看待与博物史有关的传说！再说，一说到这种怪物，人们就会突发奇想。