英语听书《白鲸记》第977期

 See! that thing rests on two line-tubs, full of tow-lines. 你瞧！那只放在两只索桶上的东西缚了多少拖索。

A most malicious¹ wag, that fellow. 那家伙，是个存心挺坏的小丑。

Rat-tat! So man's seconds tick! Oh! how immaterial are all materials! 嘞——哒——哒！跟人的心脏在跳一样！一切有形的东西可又多么无形呀！

What things real are there, but imponderable thoughts? 除了无法估量的思想以外，有什么真实的东西？

Here now's the very dreaded² symbol of grim death, by a mere³ hap⁴, made the expressive⁵ sign of the help and hope of most endangered life. 这就是狰狞的死神的最可怕的象征，只要一有机会，就对最危险的生命意味深长地表示得救和希望。

A life-buoy of a coffin⁶! Does it go further? 一只棺材做的救生圈！它可经用么？

Can it be that in some spiritual sense the coffin is, after all, but an immortality-preserver! I'll think of that. But no. 在精神意义上说，棺材会不会不过是一种使人不朽的保藏器呢！我倒要想一想。可是，不。

So far gone am I in the dark side of earth, that its other side, the theoretic bright one, seems but uncertain twilight⁷ to me. 我已经在人间的阴暗面混得太久了，因此，我觉得人间的另一面，即从理论上说来是光明的一面，只不过是一种阴晴未定的曙光。

Will ye never have done, Carpenter, with that accursed sound? 木匠呀，你可以别再弄出那种该死的声响来吗？

I go below; let me not see that thing here when I return again. 我还是到下边去吧，但愿我再上来的时候，不会再看到这东西。

Now, then, Pip, we'll talk this over; I do suck most wondrous⁸ philosophies from thee! 哼，那么，比普，咱们俩去把这事情谈一谈吧；我从你那里，的确得到了许多最奇妙的哲理！

Some unknown conduits from the unknown worlds must empty into thee! 你浑身一定装满了可以了解许多未知的事物的导管。

 

1 malicious   

adj.有恶意的，心怀恶意的

参考例句：

• You ought to kick back at such malicious slander. 你应当反击这种恶毒的污蔑。
• Their talk was slightly malicious.他们的谈话有点儿心怀不轨。

2 dreaded   

adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词)

参考例句：

• The dreaded moment had finally arrived. 可怕的时刻终于来到了。
• He dreaded having to spend Christmas in hospital. 他害怕非得在医院过圣诞节不可。 来自《用法词典》

3 mere   

adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过

参考例句：

• That is a mere repetition of what you said before.那不过是重复了你以前讲的话。
• It's a mere waste of time waiting any longer.再等下去纯粹是浪费时间。

4 hap   

n.运气；v.偶然发生

参考例句：

• Some have the hap,some stick in the gap.有的人走运, 有的人倒霉。
• May your son be blessed by hap and happiness.愿你儿子走运幸福。

5 expressive   

adj.表现的，表达…的，富于表情的

参考例句：

• Black English can be more expressive than standard English.黑人所使用的英语可能比正式英语更有表现力。
• He had a mobile,expressive,animated face.他有一张多变的，富于表情的，生动活泼的脸。

6 coffin   

n.棺材，灵柩

参考例句：

• When one's coffin is covered,all discussion about him can be settled.盖棺论定。
• The coffin was placed in the grave.那口棺材已安放到坟墓里去了。

7 twilight   

n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期

参考例句：

• Twilight merged into darkness.夕阳的光辉融于黑暗中。
• Twilight was sweet with the smell of lilac and freshly turned earth.薄暮充满紫丁香和新翻耕的泥土的香味。

8 wondrous   

adj.令人惊奇的，奇妙的；adv.惊人地；异乎寻常地；令人惊叹地

参考例句：

• The internal structure of the Department is wondrous to behold.看一下国务院的内部结构是很有意思的。
• We were driven across this wondrous vast land of lakes and forests.我们乘车穿越这片有着湖泊及森林的广袤而神奇的土地。