英语听书《白鲸记》第558期

 　　and so extreme was the hard work they underwent, that upon the vessel¹ being ready again for sea, 加上他们的活儿又是极其辛苦，所以等到船只修好，准备再出海时，

　　they were in such a weakened condition that the captain durst not put off with them in so heavy a vessel. 他们已是精疲力竭，船长不敢一下子把这么一艘困难重重的船启航离岸。

　　After taking counsel with his officers, he anchored the ship as far off shore as possible; loaded and ran out his two cannon² from the bows; 船长跟他的头目们商量后，决定暂时把船尽可能地泊得远远的，并在船头架起两门大炮，

　　stacked his muskets³ on the poop; and warning the Islanders not to approach the ship at their peril⁴, 把他那些滑膛枪都架在舵楼上，好教那些岛民不敢随便冒险靠近船边。

　　took one man with him, and setting the sail of his best whale-boat,  这样，他就带了一个人，扯起他那只最好的捕鲸小艇的帆，

　　steered⁵ straight before the wind for Tahiti, five hundred miles distant, to procure⁶ a reinforcement to his crew. 径自顺风驶往五百英里外的塔希提，去设法补充水手。

　　"On the fourth day of the sail, a large canoe was descried⁷, which seemed to have touched at a low isle⁸ of corals. “小艇航驶到第四天上，突然发现了一只大独木舟，这只独木舟好象要停靠在一个小珊瑚岛上。

　　He steered away from it; but the savage⁹ craft bore down on him; and soon the voice of Steelkilt hailed him to heave to, or he would run him under water. 他把小艇撑开，不跟那只独木舟接近，可是那只野船却朝他直冲上来，立即竟听到斯蒂尔基尔特的声音，招呼他停下来，否则，就要把他弄进海里。

　　The captain presented a pistol. 船长掏出了枪。

　　With one foot on each prow¹⁰ of the yoked¹¹ war-canoes, the Lakeman laughed him to scorn;  那个湖上人双脚跨在那只双连作战独木舟的前头，嘲笑着他；

　　assuring him that if the pistol so much as clicked in the lock, he would bury him in bubbles and foam¹². 对他肯定地说，如果那支枪真的卡塔一扳上，就把他葬身在浪沫翻腾的海里。

　　What do you want of me? cried the captain." 你向我要什么呀？船长大声叫道。”

　　"Where are you bound? and for what are you bound? demanded Steelkilt; no lies. “你要到哪里去？你要去干什么？别说谎。斯蒂尔基尔特问道。

　　I am bound to Tahiti for more men." 我要到塔希提去再雇些人。”

　　Very good. Let me board you a moment--I come in peace. 很好，让我到你船上去一下——我是和和平平来的。

1 vessel   

n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管

参考例句：

• The vessel is fully loaded with cargo for Shanghai.这艘船满载货物驶往上海。
• You should put the water into a vessel.你应该把水装入容器中。

2 cannon   

n.大炮，火炮；飞机上的机关炮

参考例句：

• The soldiers fired the cannon.士兵们开炮。
• The cannon thundered in the hills.大炮在山间轰鸣。

3 muskets   

n.火枪，（尤指）滑膛枪( musket的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The watch below, all hands to load muskets. 另一组人都来帮着给枪装火药。 来自英汉文学 - 金银岛
• Deep ditch, single drawbridge, massive stone walls, eight at towers, cannon, muskets, fire and smoke. 深深的壕堑，单吊桥，厚重的石壁，八座巨大的塔楼。大炮、毛瑟枪、火焰与烟雾。 来自英汉文学 - 双城记

4 peril   

n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物

参考例句：

• The refugees were in peril of death from hunger.难民有饿死的危险。
• The embankment is in great peril.河堤岌岌可危。

5 steered   

v.驾驶( steer的过去式和过去分词 )；操纵；控制；引导

参考例句：

• He steered the boat into the harbour. 他把船开进港。
• The freighter steered out of Santiago Bay that evening. 那天晚上货轮驶出了圣地亚哥湾。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 procure   

vt.获得，取得，促成；vi.拉皮条

参考例句：

• Can you procure some specimens for me?你能替我弄到一些标本吗？
• I'll try my best to procure you that original French novel.我将尽全力给你搞到那本原版法国小说。

7 descried   

adj.被注意到的，被发现的，被看到的

参考例句：

• He descried an island far away on the horizon. 他看到遥远的地平线上有个岛屿。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• At length we descried a light and a roof. 终于，我们远远看见了一点灯光，一所孤舍。 来自辞典例句

8 isle   

n.小岛，岛

参考例句：

• He is from the Isle of Man in the Irish Sea.他来自爱尔兰海的马恩岛。
• The boat left for the paradise isle of Bali.小船驶向天堂一般的巴厘岛。

9 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。

10 prow   

n.(飞机)机头，船头

参考例句：

• The prow of the motor-boat cut through the water like a knife.汽艇的船头像一把刀子劈开水面向前行驶。
• He stands on the prow looking at the seadj.他站在船首看着大海。

11 yoked   

结合（yoke的过去式形式）

参考例句：

• The farmer yoked the oxen. 那个农夫给牛加上轭。
• He was yoked to an disinclined partner. 他不得不与一位不情愿的伙伴合作。

12 foam   

v./n.泡沫，起泡沫

参考例句：

• The glass of beer was mostly foam.这杯啤酒大部分是泡沫。
• The surface of the water is full of foam.水面都是泡沫。