英语听书《白鲸记》第254期

 He seemed to take to me quite as naturally and unbiddenly as I to him;  他对待我,似乎正如我对待他一样,十分自然,毫无拘束。

and when our smoke was over, he pressed his forehead against mine, clasped me round the waist, and said that henceforth we were married;  我们吸过烟后,他把他的额头贴着我的额头,拦腰把我抱住,还说如今我们已经成亲了;

meaning, in his country's phrase, that we were bosom¹ friends; he would gladly die for me, if need should be.  那意思,按照他家乡的说法,就是我们如今成为知心朋友了;如果必要的话,他乐意为我而死。

In a countryman, this sudden flame of friendship would have seemed far too premature², a thing to be much distrusted; but in this simple savage³ those old rules would not apply. 在一个乡下人看来,这种一见如故的友情之火,似乎是太不成熟,是一桩极不可靠的事;但是,在这个质朴的野人的眼中,那些陈年老套已是用不上了。

After supper, and another social chat and smoke, we went to our room together.  吃过晚饭,我们又亲密地谈一阵心,抽一会烟,便一起回到我们的房里去。

He made me a present of his embalmed⁴ head; took out his enormous tobacco wallet, and groping under the tobacco, drew out some thirty dollars in silver;  他把他那只香料制的人头送给了我;又掏出那只大烟袋,在烟叶下面摸了一会,摸出三十来个银币;

then spreading them on the table, and mechanically dividing them into two equal portions, pushed one of them towards me, and said it was mine.  他把银币摊在桌上,笨拙地把它们分成相等的两份,推一份到我面前,说这是我的。

I was going to remonstrate⁵; but he silenced me by pouring them into my trowsers' pockets. I let them stay.  我正想推却,他已经把它们都倒在我的裤袋里,教我无法开口了。我让它们放在袋里。

He then went about his evening prayers, took out his idol⁶, and removed the paper firebrand.  接着他就去做他的晚祷,他拿出他那只偶像,移开那块纸糊的隔火板。

By certain signs and symptoms, I thought he seemed anxious for me to join him;  从他那些手势与迹象看来,我认为他似乎很想要我跟他一起去做晚祷;

but well knowing what was to follow, I deliberated a moment whether, in case he invited me, I would comply or otherwise. 但是,去凑合他会有什么结果,我是很明白的,我考虑了一会,心想万一他邀我去凑合他时,究竟是答应呢还是不答应。

I was a good Christian⁷; born and bred in the bosom of the infallible Presbyterian Church.  我是个在正正派派的长老教派中生长起来的正正当当的基督徒。

How then could I unite with this wild idolator in worshipping his piece of wood? But what is worship? thought I. 我怎能跟这个野蛮的偶像崇拜者去一起膜拜他那块木头呢?但是,崇拜是什么?我心里想。

1 bosom   

n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的

参考例句：

• She drew a little book from her bosom.她从怀里取出一本小册子。
• A dark jealousy stirred in his bosom.他内心生出一阵恶毒的嫉妒。

2 premature   

adj.比预期时间早的；不成熟的，仓促的

参考例句：

• It is yet premature to predict the possible outcome of the dialogue.预言这次对话可能有什么结果为时尚早。
• The premature baby is doing well.那个早产的婴儿很健康。

3 savage   

adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人

参考例句：

• The poor man received a savage beating from the thugs.那可怜的人遭到暴徒的痛打。
• He has a savage temper.他脾气粗暴。

4 embalmed   

adj.用防腐药物保存（尸体）的v.保存（尸体）不腐( embalm的过去式和过去分词 )；使不被遗忘；使充满香气

参考例句：

• Many fine sentiments are embalmed in poetry. 许多微妙的情感保存于诗歌中。 来自辞典例句
• In books, are embalmed the greatest thoughts of all ages. 伟大思想古今有，载入书中成不朽。 来自互联网

5 remonstrate   

v.抗议，规劝

参考例句：

• He remonstrated with the referee.他向裁判抗议。
• I jumped in the car and went to remonstrate.我跳进汽车去提出抗议。

6 idol   

n.偶像，红人，宠儿

参考例句：

• As an only child he was the idol of his parents.作为独子，他是父母的宠儿。
• Blind worship of this idol must be ended.对这个偶像的盲目崇拜应该结束了。

7 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。