英语听书《白鲸记》第178期

 Though I cannot tell why it was exactly that those stage managers,  虽然我真说不出,究竟为什么那些舞台经理，

the Fates, put me down for this shabby part of a whaling voyage,  也就是命运诸神要派定我担任这个捕鲸的寒伧角色,

when others were set down for magnificent parts in high tragedies,  却派别些人去演崇高悲剧里的华贵角色,

and short and easy parts in genteel comedies, and jolly parts in farces-though I cannot tell why this was exactly;  演时髦喜剧里的轻松小角色,演讽刺剧里的丑角...虽然我真说不出究竟为什么来;

yet, now that I recall all the circumstances, I think I can see a little into the springs and motives¹ which being cunningly presented to me under various disguises,  然而,现在我回想当时种种情景,那些以各种伪装狡狯地放在我面前的目的和动机...诱使我动手扮演起我所扮演的角色,

induced me to set about performing the part I did, besides cajoling me into the delusion²  并且还哄得我幻想这是我自己的独立意志,

that it was a choice resulting from my own unbiased freewill and discriminating³ judgment⁴. 和缜密考虑的结果...我想我也能捉摸到一些儿了。

Chief among these motives was the overwhelming idea of the great whale himself.  在这些动机中,首先是那条大鲸，叫人一想起就没法按捺得下自己。

Such a portentous⁵ and mysterious monster roused all my curiosity.  这样一个可怕而神秘的怪物激起了我所有的猎奇心。

1 motives   

n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• to impeach sb's motives 怀疑某人的动机
• His motives are unclear. 他的用意不明。

2 delusion   

n.谬见，欺骗，幻觉，迷惑

参考例句：

• He is under the delusion that he is Napoleon.他患了妄想症，认为自己是拿破仑。
• I was under the delusion that he intended to marry me.我误认为他要娶我。

3 discriminating   

a.有辨别能力的

参考例句：

• Due caution should be exercised in discriminating between the two. 在区别这两者时应该相当谨慎。
• Many businesses are accused of discriminating against women. 许多企业被控有歧视妇女的做法。

4 judgment   

n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见

参考例句：

• The chairman flatters himself on his judgment of people.主席自认为他审视人比别人高明。
• He's a man of excellent judgment.他眼力过人。

5 portentous   

adj.不祥的，可怕的，装腔作势的

参考例句：

• The present aspect of society is portentous of great change.现在的社会预示着重大变革的发生。
• There was nothing portentous or solemn about him.He was bubbling with humour.他一点也不装腔作势或故作严肃，浑身散发着幽默。