英语听书《白鲸记》第834期

 I see nothing here, but a round thing made of gold, and whoever raises a certain whale, this round thing belongs to him. 我什么也看不见，只看见一只金子做成的圆圆的东西，谁能发现某一条鲸，这个圆东西就归谁。

So, what's all this staring been about? 所以，这有什么多看头呀？

It is worth sixteen dollars, that's true; and at two cents the cigar, that's nine hundred and sixty cigars. 不错，它值十六块钱；二分钱一根雪茄烟，这就可买九百六十根雪茄啦（按二分钱一根雪茄计算，十六块钱应该可买八百支雪茄，这里系作者计算错了。）。

I won't smoke dirty pipes like Stubb, but I like cigars, and here's nine hundred and sixty of them; so here goes Flask¹ aloft to spy 'em out. 我决不象斯塔布那样吸腌臜的烟斗，我可喜欢雪茄，这里有九百六十支雪茄；我弗拉斯克就从这里爬到上边去把大鲸给找出来吧。

Shall I call that Wise or foolish, now; if it be really wise it has a foolish look to it; 那么，这样做法该算聪明还是愚蠢呢；算它真是聪明，却又象是愚蠢；

yet, if it be really foolish, then has it a sort of wiseish look to it. 然而，算它真是愚蠢，却又有点儿聪明。

But, avast; here comes our old Manxman—the old hearse-driver, he must have been, that is, before he took to the sea. 不过，且慢，那个人岛老头来了——这个赶灵车的老家伙，在他下海前，一定是干过这营生的。

He luffs up before the doubloon; halloa, and goes round on the other side of the mast²; 他让风吹到那块金币跟前了；啊，又从桅边那头兜过去了；

why, there's a horse-shoe nailed on that side; and now he's back again; what does that mean? 哼，那边正钉着一块马蹄铁呢；可是，他又回来了；这又是什么道理呢？

Hark! he's muttering— voice like an old worn-out coffee-mill. Prick³ ears, and listen! 听着！他在嘟哝着呢——声音活象一架破旧的研咖啡机。竖起耳朵来听吧！

If the White Whale be raised, it must be in a month and a day, when the sun stands in some one of these signs. 如果会找到那条白鲸的话，还得一个月零一天，就是当太阳走到这些宫宿的一个宫宿里的时候。

I've studied signs, and know their marks; they were taught me two score years ago, by the old witch in Copenhagen. 我专门研究过宫宿，懂得它们的记号，这是四十年前哥本哈根的一个老巫婆教我的。

 

1 flask   

n.瓶，火药筒，砂箱

参考例句：

• There is some deposit in the bottom of the flask.这只烧杯的底部有些沉淀物。
• He took out a metal flask from a canvas bag.他从帆布包里拿出一个金属瓶子。

2 mast   

n.船桅，桅杆，旗杆，天线杆

参考例句：

• Flags are flying at half-mast across China.全中国将半旗。
• The sails were flapping against the mast.帆拍打着桅杆。

3 prick   

v.刺伤，刺痛，刺孔；n.刺伤，刺痛

参考例句：

• He felt a sharp prick when he stepped on an upturned nail.当他踩在一个尖朝上的钉子上时，他感到剧烈的疼痛。
• He burst the balloon with a prick of the pin.他用针一戳，气球就爆了。