英语听书《白鲸记》第540期

 　　For by some curious fatality¹, as it is often noted² of your metropolitan³ freebooters that they ever encamp around the halls of justice, 因为好象是一种奇特的天数似的，它往往受到你们那些驻扎在正义之殿四周的都市气派的强盗的注意，

　　so sinners, gentlemen, most abound⁴ in holiest vicinities. 所以呀，诸位先生，犯罪的人们在最神圣的邻近尤更人丁兴旺。

　　"Is that a friar passing? said Don Pedro, looking downwards⁵ into the crowded plazza, with humorous concern. “刚才走过去的是个修士吗？佩德罗说道，眼睛带着幽默的关注神色望着下边那熙熙攘攘的大广场。

　　"Well for our northern friend, Dame⁶ Isabella's Inquisition wanes⁷ in Lima, laughed Don Sebastian. Proceed, Senor. “我们的北方朋友还算运气，伊萨贝拉娘娘的宗教裁判所(伊萨贝拉(1451—1504)——西班牙女王。这里系指她做女王时代的宗教裁判所。宗教裁判所原为十三世纪罗马时代教会专为审判杀害异端。戕害进步的和与天主教不相容的思想，十五世纪时在西班牙更成为杀害异端的可怖工具，据说一八0八年为拿破仑所废止，但此后废废复复数次，直至一八三四年始正式废止。)在利马已经是衰微了，塞瓦斯蒂安笑着说。说下去吧，先生。

　　"A moment! Pardon! cried another of the company. “慢一点！对不起！其中又有一个人喊道。

　　In the name of all us Limeese, I but desire to express to you, sir sailor,  我代表我们全体利马人，我只想对你说，水手先生，

　　that we have by no means overlooked your delicacy⁸ in not substituting present Lima for distant Venice in your corrupt⁹ comparison. 在你所作的腐化的比较中，你很周到细心，你没有拿目前的利马来代替老远的威尼斯，这我们是决不会失察的。

　　Oh! do not bow and look surprised: you know the proverb all along this coast — "Corrupt as Lima."  请别低头，也别神色慌张啊！你可知道，这里沿海一带都有这句谚语——“腐化得象利马”。

　　It but bears out your saying, too; churches more plentiful¹⁰ than billiard-tables, and for ever open-and "Corrupt as Lima."  这刚好也证明了你所说的；礼拜堂比弹子台多，而且一年到头都是开着的——然而，“腐化得象利马”。

　　So, too, Venice; I have been there; the holy city of the blessed evangelist, St. Mark! —St. Dominic, purge¹¹ it! 威尼斯也是这般模样；我曾经到过那地方；那个神圣的传福音者圣马克(圣马克是威尼斯的守护神。)的圣城！——天呀！

　　Your cup! Thanks: here I refill; now, you pour out again. 干杯！谢谢：我再来斟；那么，请你再说下去吧。

　　"Freely depicted¹² in his own vocation¹³, gentlemen, the Canaller would make a fine dramatic hero, so abundantly and picturesquely¹⁴ wicke is he. “诸位先生，运河船的水手真放荡得又厉害又雅致，按照他的职业随便说来，他准可以当个优秀的戏角儿的。

1 fatality   

n.不幸，灾祸，天命

参考例句：

• She struggle against fatality in vain.她徒然奋斗反抗宿命。
• He began to have a growing sense of fatality.他开始有一种越来越强烈的宿命感。

2 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

3 metropolitan   

adj.大城市的，大都会的

参考例句：

• Metropolitan buildings become taller than ever.大城市的建筑变得比以前更高。
• Metropolitan residents are used to fast rhythm.大都市的居民习惯于快节奏。

4 abound   

vi.大量存在；(in，with)充满，富于

参考例句：

• Oranges abound here all the year round.这里一年到头都有很多橙子。
• But problems abound in the management of State-owned companies.但是在国有企业的管理中仍然存在不少问题。

5 downwards   

adj./adv.向下的（地），下行的（地）

参考例句：

• He lay face downwards on his bed.他脸向下伏在床上。
• As the river flows downwards,it widens.这条河愈到下游愈宽。

6 dame   

n.女士

参考例句：

• The dame tell of her experience as a wife and mother.这位年长妇女讲了她作妻子和母亲的经验。
• If you stick around,you'll have to marry that dame.如果再逗留多一会，你就要跟那个夫人结婚。

7 wanes   

v.衰落( wane的第三人称单数 )；（月）亏；变小；变暗淡

参考例句：

• The moon waxes till it becomes full, and then wanes. 月亮渐盈，直到正圆，然后消亏。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The moon waxes and wanes every month. 月亮每个月都有圆缺。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 delicacy   

n.精致，细微，微妙，精良；美味，佳肴

参考例句：

• We admired the delicacy of the craftsmanship.我们佩服工艺师精巧的手艺。
• He sensed the delicacy of the situation.他感觉到了形势的微妙。

9 corrupt   

v.贿赂，收买；adj.腐败的，贪污的

参考例句：

• The newspaper alleged the mayor's corrupt practices.那家报纸断言市长有舞弊行为。
• This judge is corrupt.这个法官贪污。

10 plentiful   

adj.富裕的，丰富的

参考例句：

• Their family has a plentiful harvest this year.他们家今年又丰收了。
• Rainfall is plentiful in the area.这个地区雨量充足。

11 purge   

n.整肃，清除，泻药，净化；vt.净化，清除，摆脱；vi.清除，通便，腹泻，变得清洁

参考例句：

• The new president carried out a purge of disloyal army officers.新总统对不忠诚的军官进行了清洗。
• The mayoral candidate has promised to purge the police department.市长候选人答应清洗警察部门。

12 depicted   

描绘，描画( depict的过去式和过去分词 )； 描述

参考例句：

• Other animals were depicted on the periphery of the group. 其他动物在群像的外围加以修饰。
• They depicted the thrilling situation to us in great detail. 他们向我们详细地描述了那激动人心的场面。

13 vocation   

n.职业，行业

参考例句：

• She struggled for years to find her true vocation.她多年来苦苦寻找真正适合自己的职业。
• She felt it was her vocation to minister to the sick.她觉得照料病人是她的天职。

14 picturesquely   

参考例句：

• In the building trade such a trader is picturesquely described as a "brass plate" merchant. 在建筑行业里，这样一个生意人可以被生动地描述为著名商人。