英语听书《白鲸记》第1016期

What soulless thing is this that laughs before a wreck¹? Man, man! did I not know thee brave as fearless fire (and as mechanical) I could swear thou wert a poltroon². Groan³ nor laugh should be heard before a wreck.

喂，喂！这是多没良心的家伙，居然嘲笑一只破艇？如果我不知道你是勇敢得象百无所畏的火神（又象木瓜）一样，我真要断定你是个胆小鬼。在破艇面前就不该唉声叹气，也不该哈哈大笑。

Aye, sir, said Starbuck drawing near, "'tis a solemn sight; an omen⁴, and an ill one."

是，是，先生，斯达巴克挨近着说道，"这真是个了不起的光景；是种预兆，也是种不吉利的预兆。"

Omen? omen? — the dictionary! If the gods think to speak outright⁵ to man, they will honorably speak outright; not shake their heads, and give an old wives' darkling hint. — Begone! Ye two are the opposite poles of one thing; Starbuck is Stubb reversed, and Stubb is Starbuck; and ye two are all mankind; and Ahab stands alone among the millions of the peopled earth, nor gods nor men his neighbors! Cold, cold — I shiver! — How now? Aloft there! D'ye see him? Sing out for every spout⁶, though he spout ten times a second!

预兆？预兆？——拿字典来！如果神明想对人类坦白说话，他们就会堂而皇之地坦白说出来；既不摇头，也不说些婆婆妈妈的阴阳怪气的暗语——。滚开，你们两个，正是一样东西的两极；斯达巴克是斯塔布的反极，斯塔布又是斯达巴克的反极；你们俩都是人；亚哈却孤零零地置身在熙熙攘攘的人间，神明也好，人类也好，都不是他的邻居！冷呀，冷呀——我打颤啦！——现在怎么啦？上边的人呀！你们可看到它？尽管它一秒钟喷十次水，你们看到一次，也要叫一次！

The day was nearly done; only the hem⁷ of his golden robe was rustling⁸. Soon it was almost dark, but the look-out men still remained unset.

白天快要消逝了，不过，它那领金碧辉煌的麻袍还在沙沙作响。不一会，天色几乎就漆黑了，可是，那几个瞭望者仍然留在那里，没有下来。

Can't see the spout now, sir; — too dark — cried a voice from the air.

先生，这会儿喷水也看不到啦；——天太黑啦。——空中传下一声喊叫。

How heading when last seen?

最后看到它是朝哪里去的？

As before, sir, — straight to leeward⁹.

跟以前一样，先生，——直往下风游去。

Good! he will travel slower now 'tis night.

好！天黑啦，它会游得慢些了。

1 wreck   

n.失事，遇难；沉船；vt.(船等)失事，遇难

参考例句：

• Weather may have been a factor in the wreck.天气可能是造成这次失事的原因之一。
• No one can wreck the friendship between us.没有人能够破坏我们之间的友谊。

2 poltroon   

n.胆怯者；懦夫

参考例句：

• You are a poltroon to abuse your strength.你是一个滥用武力的懦夫。
• He is more poltroon than cautious.与其说他谨慎，不如说他是怯懦。

3 groan   

vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音

参考例句：

• The wounded man uttered a groan.那个受伤的人发出呻吟。
• The people groan under the burden of taxes.人民在重税下痛苦呻吟。

4 omen   

n.征兆，预兆；vt.预示

参考例句：

• The superstitious regard it as a bad omen.迷信的人认为那是一种恶兆。
• Could this at last be a good omen for peace?这是否终于可以视作和平的吉兆了？

5 outright   

adv.坦率地；彻底地；立即；adj.无疑的；彻底的

参考例句：

• If you have a complaint you should tell me outright.如果你有不满意的事，你应该直率地对我说。
• You should persuade her to marry you outright.你应该彻底劝服她嫁给你。

6 spout   

v.喷出，涌出；滔滔不绝地讲；n.喷管；水柱

参考例句：

• Implication in folk wealth creativity and undertaking vigor spout.蕴藏于民间的财富创造力和创业活力喷涌而出。
• This acts as a spout to drain off water during a rainstorm.在暴风雨季，这东西被用作喷管来排水。

7 hem   

n.贴边，镶边；vt.缝贴边；(in)包围，限制

参考例句：

• The hem on her skirt needs sewing.她裙子上的褶边需要缝一缝。
• The hem of your dress needs to be let down an inch.你衣服的折边有必要放长1英寸。

8 rustling   

n. 瑟瑟声，沙沙声 adj. 发沙沙声的

参考例句：

• the sound of the trees rustling in the breeze 树木在微风中发出的沙沙声
• the soft rustling of leaves 树叶柔和的沙沙声

9 leeward   

adj.背风的；下风的

参考例句：

• The trees all listed to leeward.树木统统向下风方向倾。
• We steered a course to leeward.我们向下风航驶。