英语听书《白鲸记》第547期

 　　Twice every day for three days this was repeated; 三天里，每天这样重复两次；

　　but on the fourth morning a confused wrangling¹, and then a scuffling was heard, as the customary summons was delivered; 可是，到了第四天早晨，在发出了例常的老命令后，却有一阵乱糟糟的口角声，接着又是一阵脚步声；

　　and suddenly four men burst up from the forecastle, saying they were ready to turn to. 再一会儿，蓦地里四个人从船头楼冲了出来，说是他们要去干活了。

　　The fetid closeness of the air,  大概是那里边密不通风，气味恶浊，

　　and a famishing diet, united perhaps to some fears of ultimate retribution, had constrained² them to surrender at discretion³.  又是饿得发慌，还加上怕会受到最后的责罚，这才迫使他们不得不无条件投降了。

　　Emboldened⁴ by this, the Captain reiterated⁵ his demand to the rest,  船长看到这个情况，勇气大增，于是又对那些还在下面的人重申他的要求，

　　but Steelkilt shouted up to him a terrific hint to stop his babbling⁶ and betake himself where he belonged. 可是，斯蒂尔基尔特却在下面对他高声叫嚷，发出怕人的暗示，要他停止唠唠叨叨，赶紧回到他原来的地方去。

　　On the fifth morning three others of the mutineers bolted up into the air from the desperate arms below that sought to restrain them. 到第五天早晨，又有三个叛乱者不顾死活地挣脱了下面要他们留下来的胳膊，突然跑了出来了。

　　Only three were left. 这样，留在里边只有三个人了。

　　"Better turn to, now? said the Captain with a heartless jeer⁷. “现在，还不如回去工作为好？船长以一种无情的嘲弄说道。

　　"Shut us up again, will ye! cried Steelkilt. “你还是把我们锁起来吧！斯蒂尔基尔特嚷道。

　　"Oh! certainly," said the Captain, and the key clicked. “那当然啦，船长说，钥匙卡搭一响，锁住了。

　　"It was at this point, gentlemen, that enraged by the defection of seven of his former associates, “就在这时，诸位先生，由于先前七个同伙的背叛而极为愤怒，

　　and stung by the mocking voice that had last hailed him, 加上刚才又让船长对他那么冷言冷语所刺痛，

　　and maddened by his long entombment in a place as black as the bowels of despair; 再加上他久给幽闭在那绝望的深渊似的暗窝里，弄得简直发了狂；

　　it was then that Steelkilt proposed to the two Canallers, thus far apparently of one mind with him,  于是，斯蒂尔基尔特对那两个运河船的水手提出（这两个人直到这时显然还是跟他一条心的），

　　to burst out of their hole at the next summoning of the garrison; 明天早晨船长再来叫喊的时候，就冲出洞口去，

1 wrangling   

v.争吵，争论，口角( wrangle的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The two sides have spent most of their time wrangling over procedural problems. 双方大部分时间都在围绕程序问题争论不休。 来自辞典例句
• The children were wrangling (with each other) over the new toy. 孩子为新玩具（互相）争吵。 来自辞典例句

2 constrained   

adj.束缚的,节制的

参考例句：

• The evidence was so compelling that he felt constrained to accept it. 证据是那样的令人折服，他觉得不得不接受。
• I feel constrained to write and ask for your forgiveness. 我不得不写信请你原谅。

3 discretion   

n.谨慎；随意处理

参考例句：

• You must show discretion in choosing your friend.你择友时必须慎重。
• Please use your best discretion to handle the matter.请慎重处理此事。

4 emboldened   

v.鼓励，使有胆量( embolden的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Emboldened by the wine, he went over to introduce himself to her. 他借酒壮胆，走上前去向她作自我介绍。
• His success emboldened him to expand his business. 他有了成就因而激发他进一步扩展业务。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 reiterated   

反复地说，重申( reiterate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• "Well, I want to know about it,'she reiterated. “嗯，我一定要知道你的休假日期，"她重复说。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
• Some twenty-two years later President Polk reiterated and elaborated upon these principles. 大约二十二年之后，波尔克总统重申这些原则并且刻意阐释一番。

6 babbling   

n.胡说，婴儿发出的咿哑声adj.胡说的v.喋喋不休( babble的现在分词 )；作潺潺声（如流水）；含糊不清地说话；泄漏秘密

参考例句：

• I could hear the sound of a babbling brook. 我听得见小溪潺潺的流水声。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Infamy was babbling around her in the public market-place. 在公共市场上，她周围泛滥着对她丑行的种种议论。 来自英汉文学 - 红字

7 jeer   

vi.嘲弄，揶揄；vt.奚落；n.嘲笑，讥评

参考例句：

• Do not jeer at the mistakes or misfortunes of others.不要嘲笑别人的错误或不幸。
• The children liked to jeer at the awkward students.孩子们喜欢嘲笑笨拙的学生。