英语听书《白鲸记》第524期

 　　he always sits in the stern sheets on a comfortable, sometimes cushioned seat there,  他总是坐在船尾，座位很舒适，有时还装有软垫子，

　　and often steers¹ himself with a pretty little milliner's tiller decorated with gay cords and ribbons. 而且往往是他自己掌舵，舵柄小巧玲珑，饰有花哨的丝带小绳。

　　But the whale-boat has no seat astern, no sofa of that sort whatever, and no tiller at all. 可是捕鲸小艇后面却没有座位，它既没有那样的沙发，也根本没有舵柄。

　　High times indeed, if whaling captains were wheeled about the water on castors like gouty old aldermen in patent chairs. 因此，如果捕鲸船长是象那些害痛风症的老郡长坐在特别装置的椅子一般，坐在有脚轮的椅子里在海上转来转去的话，那才有趣呢。

　　And as for a tiller, the whale-boat never admits of any such effeminacy; 至于那舵柄，捕鲸小艇可从来就没有这种精巧玲珑的东西，

　　and therefore as in gamming a complete boat's crew must leave the ship,  因此，由于在举行联欢会时，总是整个小艇的水手都得去，

　　and hence as the boat steerer or harpooneer is of the number, that subordinate is the steersman upon the occasion, 因为小艇的舵手和标枪手也都包括在内，挨下来的就是适逢其会的掌舵人，

　　and the captain, having no place to sit in, is pulled off to his visit all standing² like a pine tree.  于是那个无处可坐的船长，就得象株松树一样，一径立着被划去拜客。

　　And often you will notice that being conscious of the eyes of the whole visible world resting on him from the sides of the two ships, 这样，你往往就可以看到这位立着的船长，由于觉察到两边的大船上都众目集中在他身上，

　　this standing captain is all alive to the importance of sustaining his dignity by maintaining his legs. 他为了保持尊严，不得不拚命装得很神气，硬挺起双脚。

　　Nor is this any very easy matter; 这可不是容易做的事情；

　　for in his rear is the immense projecting steering³ oar⁴ hitting him now and then in the small of his back,  因为，他后边正是那支非常突出的舵桨，不时地撞击着他的后腰，

　　the after-oar reciprocating⁵ by rapping his knees in front.  前边则是那支后桨，往复地击着他的膝头。

1 steers   

n.阉公牛，肉用公牛( steer的名词复数 )v.驾驶( steer的第三人称单数 )；操纵；控制；引导

参考例句：

• This car steers easily. 这部车子易于驾驶。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Good fodder fleshed the steers up. 优质饲料使菜牛长肉。 来自辞典例句

2 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。

3 steering   

n.操舵装置

参考例句：

• He beat his hands on the steering wheel in frustration. 他沮丧地用手打了几下方向盘。
• Steering according to the wind, he also framed his words more amicably. 他真会看风使舵，口吻也马上变得温和了。

4 oar   

n.桨，橹，划手；v.划行

参考例句：

• The sailors oar slowly across the river.水手们慢慢地划过河去。
• The blade of the oar was bitten off by a shark.浆叶被一条鲨鱼咬掉了。

5 reciprocating   

adj.往复的；来回的；交替的；摆动的v.报答，酬答( reciprocate的现在分词 )；（机器的部件）直线往复运动

参考例句：

• Dynamic loading is produced by seismic forces, non-steady wind, blast, reciprocating machinery. 动荷载是由于地震力、不稳定的风、冲击波，往复式机器所产生。 来自辞典例句
• The prime mover may be a gas reciprocating engine. 原动机可能是燃气往复式发动机。 来自辞典例句