英语听书《白鲸记》第953期

 and the course — for the present, East-south-east — which he was to steer¹, if practicable, was once more given to the helmsman. 那个舵手现在又要掌握的（如果行的话）航向，暂时是东南东了。

For during the violence of the gale², he had only steered³ according to its vicissitudes⁴. 因为，在狂风肆虐的时候，他只能根据风势随机应变地掌舵。

But as he was now bringing the ship as near her course as possible, watching the compass meanwhile, lo! a good sign! 不过，等到他现在能够尽力把船驶得比较接近它的航向，同时瞧着那罗盘的时候，哎哟！好兆头来了！

the wind seemed coming round astern; aye, the foul⁵ breeze became fair! 风似乎是打船梢兜过来了；啊，逆风变成顺风了！

Instantly the yards were squared, to the lively song of "Ho! the fair wind! oh-ye-ho cheerly, men!" the crew singing for joy, 于是水手们都快活得一面唱起那《嗬，顺风啦！大伙啊，用劲啊，嗬嗨嗬》的活泼的歌子，一面立刻调正了桅桁，

that so promising⁶ an event should so soon have falsified the evil portents⁷ preceding it. 如此大有指望的事情，竟一下子造成这么一个假象，好象前途毫无凶兆了。

In compliance⁸ with the standing⁹ order of his commander, 为了遵从船长那个既定的命令，

to report immediately, and at any one of the twenty-four hours, any decided¹⁰ change in the affairs of the deck, 如遇甲板上有决定性的变化情况，必须随时立刻报告，

Starbuck had no sooner trimmed the yards to the breeze — however reluctantly and gloomily, 斯达巴克一把桅桁调向顺风后——尽管他很勉强又很没有神气，

than he mechanically went below to apprise¹¹ Captain Ahab of the circumstance. 他就机械地走下舱里，把情况报告给亚哈。

Ere knocking at his state-room, he involuntarily paused before it a moment. 在敲船长室的舱门之先，他不自觉地在门前停了一会。

The cabin lamp — taking long swings this way and that — was burning fitfully, 舱室里那盏灯——晃来晃去，晃得很厉害——一闪一烁地亮着，

and casting fitful shadows upon the old man's bolted door, — a thin one, with fixed¹² blinds inserted, in place of upper panels. 在那老头的上了闩的门上，投下一抹忽明忽暗的影子，——那扇薄薄的门，上边没有嵌板，装的是帘幔。

 

1 steer   

vt.驾驶，为…操舵；引导；vi.驾驶

参考例句：

• If you push the car, I'll steer it.如果你来推车，我就来驾车。
• It's no use trying to steer the boy into a course of action that suits you.想说服这孩子按你的方式行事是徒劳的。

2 gale   

n.大风，强风，一阵闹声（尤指笑声等）

参考例句：

• We got our roof blown off in the gale last night.昨夜的大风把我们的房顶给掀掉了。
• According to the weather forecast,there will be a gale tomorrow.据气象台预报，明天有大风。

3 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》

4 vicissitudes   

n.变迁，世事变化；变迁兴衰( vicissitude的名词复数 )；盛衰兴废

参考例句：

• He experienced several great social vicissitudes in his life. 他一生中经历了几次大的社会变迁。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• A man used to vicissitudes is not easily dejected. 饱经沧桑，不易沮丧。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 foul   

adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规

参考例句：

• Take off those foul clothes and let me wash them.脱下那些脏衣服让我洗一洗。
• What a foul day it is!多么恶劣的天气！

6 promising   

adj.有希望的，有前途的

参考例句：

• The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
• We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。

7 portents   

n.预兆( portent的名词复数 )；征兆；怪事；奇物

参考例句：

• But even with this extra support, labour-market portents still look grim. 但是即使采取了额外支持措施，劳动力市场依然阴霾密布。 来自互联网
• So the hiccups are worth noting as portents. 因此这些问题作为不好的征兆而值得关注。 来自互联网

8 compliance   

n.顺从；服从；附和；屈从

参考例句：

• I was surprised by his compliance with these terms.我对他竟然依从了这些条件而感到吃惊。
• She gave up the idea in compliance with his desire.她顺从他的愿望而放弃自己的主意。

9 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

10 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

11 apprise   

vt.通知，告知

参考例句：

• He came to apprise us that the work had been successfully completed.他来通知我们工作已胜利完成。
• We must apprise them of the dangers that may be involved.我们必须告诉他们可能涉及的危险。

12 fixed   

adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的

参考例句：

• Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗？
• Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定，我们就不应该随意改变。