英语听书《白鲸记》第525期

 　　He is thus completely wedged before and behind, and can only expand himself sideways by settling down on his stretched legs; 他就这样完全处于被前后夹攻的地位，只能支着挺直的双腿往斜里发展。

　　but a sudden, violent pitch of the boat will often go far to topple him, because length of foundation is nothing without corresponding breadth. 可是，碰上小艇突然来个猛烈的颠簸，就往往会震得他摇摇欲坠，因为他站着的地方横直实在极不相称。

　　Merely make a spread angle of two poles, and you cannot stand them up. 只是由两根圆柱杈出来的一个斜角，又无法把这两根圆柱竖起来。

　　Then, again, it would never do in plain sight of the world's riveted¹ eyes, it would never do, I say,  那么，我再说一声，在众目睽睽的情况下，这样做是不行的——

　　for this straddling captain to be seen steadying himself the slightest particle by catching² hold of anything with his hands; 叫这个叉开双脚站着的船长让人家看到他原来手里是抓着什么东西这才勉强地撑住了。

　　indeed, as token of his entire, buoyant self-command, he generally carries his hands in his trowsers' pockets; 真的，为了做出他是完全具有自制的弹力的架势，他通常是把双手插在裤袋里，

　　but perhaps being generally very large, heavy hands, he carries them there for ballast.  不过，也许那双手一般都是很大很粗，那他那双插在里边的手可就象是沉甸甸的压舱物了。

　　Nevertheless there have occurred instances, well authenticated³ ones too, 话虽如此，有时也会发生这样的情况，而且确实有过这样的情况，

　　where the captain has been known for an uncommonly⁴ critical moment or two, 就是说，船长会有一两次非常紧急的措手不及的情况——

　　in a sudden squall say--to seize hold of the nearest oarsman's hair, and hold on there like grim death. 比如说，突然碰上一阵顶头风——那他就只好一把抓住最近旁的一个桨手的头发，而且死也不放。

　　End of Chapters 51-53 第51-53章完

1 riveted   

铆接( rivet的过去式和过去分词 )； 把…固定住； 吸引； 引起某人的注意

参考例句：

• I was absolutely riveted by her story. 我完全被她的故事吸引住了。
• My attention was riveted by a slight movement in the bushes. 我的注意力被灌木丛中的轻微晃动吸引住了。

2 catching   

adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住

参考例句：

• There are those who think eczema is catching.有人就是认为湿疹会传染。
• Enthusiasm is very catching.热情非常富有感染力。

3 authenticated   

v.证明是真实的、可靠的或有效的( authenticate的过去式和过去分词 )；鉴定，使生效

参考例句：

• The letter has been authenticated by handwriting experts. 这封信已由笔迹专家证明是真的。
• The date of manufacture of the jewellery has not been authenticated. 这些珠宝的制造日期尚未经证实。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 uncommonly   

adv. 稀罕(极，非常)

参考例句：

• an uncommonly gifted child 一个天赋异禀的儿童
• My little Mary was feeling uncommonly empty. 我肚子当时正饿得厉害。