英语听书《白鲸记》第53期

 The horns of the cross-trees were sawed off on the other side, so that this old top-mast looked not a little like a gallows¹.  另一边树上的角看起来被锯断,所以这个看上去有点像绞刑架。

Perhaps I was over sensitive to such impressions at the time, but I could not help staring at this gallows with a vague misgiving².  也许我当时对于这样的景象有所敏感,但是我忍不住带着疑虑盯着这个绞刑架。

A sort of crick was in my neck as I gazed up to the two remaining horns; yes, TWO of them, one for Queequeg, and one for me. It's ominous³, thinks I.  我的脖子感到发凉,我抬头盯着剩下的两个角,是的两个角,一个为奎各准备,一个给我。这可不是什么吉兆。

A Coffin⁴ my Inn keeper upon landing in my first whaling port; tombstones staring at me in the whalemen's chapel⁵;  噢，我在那边住鲸鱼客店，碰见一个叫棺材的老板；

and here a gallows! and a pair of prodigious⁶ black pots too! Are these last throwing out oblique⁷ hints touching⁸ Tophet?  我在这儿住炼锅客店，又碰到了绞刑架！ 

I was called from these reflections by the sight of a freckled⁹ woman with yellow hair and a yellow gown,  直到我眼前出现了一个穿黄袍子的女人，我才从这阵心虚之中缓过神儿来。

standing¹⁰ in the porch of the inn, under a dull red lamp swinging there, that looked much like an injured eye,  这个一脸雀斑的女人所以吸引了我，

and carrying on a brisk scolding with a man in a purple woollen shirt.  是因为她正破口大骂，骂一个穿紫衣服的男人。 

Get along with ye, said she to the man, or I'll be combing ye!  滚，否则我就不客气了！ 

Come on, Queequeg, said I, all right. There's Mrs. Hussey.  走吧，魁魁格，这肯定是胡赛太太。 

And so it turned out; Mr. Hosea Hussey being from home,  我的猜测完全正确，这一位正是在胡赛先生不在家期间全权处理客店事务的胡赛太太。 

but leaving Mrs.Hussey entirely¹¹ competent to attend to all his affairs.  门檐上一盏昏暗的小灯，像一只受了伤的眼睛，瞪着这快嘴快舌的女人。说完刚才这句话，她的咒骂似乎告了一个段落。 

Upon making known our desires for a supper and a bed, Mrs. Hussey, postponing¹² further scolding for the present, ushered¹³ us into a little room,  她听说我们要住店，就暂时停止了叫骂，把我们领进了一个小房间，

and seating us at a table spread with the relics¹⁴ of a recently concluded repast, turned round to us and said—Clam or Cod¹⁵? 让我们坐在一张杯盘狼藉的桌子边儿。然后猛地扭回头来，问鳘鱼还是蛤蜊？ 

1 gallows   

n.绞刑架，绞台

参考例句：

• The murderer was sent to the gallows for his crimes.谋杀犯由于罪大恶极被处以绞刑。
• Now I was to expiate all my offences at the gallows.现在我将在绞刑架上赎我一切的罪过。

2 misgiving   

n.疑虑，担忧，害怕

参考例句：

• She had some misgivings about what she was about to do.她对自己即将要做的事情存有一些顾虑。
• The first words of the text filled us with misgiving.正文开头的文字让我们颇为担心。

3 ominous   

adj.不祥的，不吉的，预兆的，预示的

参考例句：

• Those black clouds look ominous for our picnic.那些乌云对我们的野餐来说是个不祥之兆。
• There was an ominous silence at the other end of the phone.电话那头出现了不祥的沉默。

4 coffin   

n.棺材，灵柩

参考例句：

• When one's coffin is covered,all discussion about him can be settled.盖棺论定。
• The coffin was placed in the grave.那口棺材已安放到坟墓里去了。

5 chapel   

n.小教堂，殡仪馆

参考例句：

• The nimble hero,skipped into a chapel that stood near.敏捷的英雄跳进近旁的一座小教堂里。
• She was on the peak that Sunday afternoon when she played in chapel.那个星期天的下午，她在小教堂的演出，可以说是登峰造极。

6 prodigious   

adj.惊人的，奇妙的；异常的；巨大的；庞大的

参考例句：

• This business generates cash in prodigious amounts.这种业务收益丰厚。
• He impressed all who met him with his prodigious memory.他惊人的记忆力让所有见过他的人都印象深刻。

7 oblique   

adj.斜的，倾斜的，无诚意的，不坦率的

参考例句：

• He made oblique references to her lack of experience.他拐弯抹角地说她缺乏经验。
• She gave an oblique look to one side.她向旁边斜看了一眼。

8 touching   

adj.动人的，使人感伤的

参考例句：

• It was a touching sight.这是一幅动人的景象。
• His letter was touching.他的信很感人。

9 freckled   

adj.雀斑；斑点；晒斑；（使）生雀斑v.雀斑，斑点( freckle的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Her face was freckled all over. 她的脸长满雀斑。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• Her freckled skin glowed with health again. 她长有雀斑的皮肤又泛出了健康的红光。 来自辞典例句

10 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

11 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

12 postponing   

v.延期，推迟( postpone的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• He tried to gain time by postponing his decision. 他想以迟迟不作决定的手段来争取时间。 来自辞典例句
• I don't hold with the idea of postponing further discussion of the matter. 我不赞成推迟进一步讨论这件事的想法。 来自辞典例句

13 ushered   

v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The secretary ushered me into his office. 秘书把我领进他的办公室。
• A round of parties ushered in the New Year. 一系列的晚会迎来了新年。 来自《简明英汉词典》

14 relics   

[pl.］n.遗物，遗迹，遗产；遗体，尸骸

参考例句：

• The area is a treasure house of archaeological relics. 这个地区是古文物遗迹的宝库。
• Xi'an is an ancient city full of treasures and saintly relics. 西安是一个有很多宝藏和神圣的遗物的古老城市。

15 cod   

n.鳕鱼；v.愚弄；哄骗

参考例句：

• They salt down cod for winter use.他们腌鳕鱼留着冬天吃。
• Cod are found in the North Atlantic and the North Sea.北大西洋和北海有鳕鱼。