Father Mapple enjoyed such a wide reputation for sincerity and sanctity, that I could not suspect him of courting notoriety by any mere tricks of the stage.  梅普尔神甫已因真诚和圣洁而拥有如此名震遐迩的声誉,我怎能怀疑他不过是靠任何狡诈手法才博得赫赫名声呢。

No, thought I, there must be some sober reason for this thing; furthermore, it must symbolize something unseen.  不,我心里想,在这方面,一定还有更微妙的道理;而且,它一定标志着某些眼不能见的东西。

Can it be, then, that by that act of physical isolation, he signifies his spiritual withdrawal for the time, from all outward worldly ties and connexions?  那么,难道他会靠这种肉体上暂时跟人们隔离的举动来表示他在精神上也暂时跟外界一切千丝万缕的联系都割绝了吗?

Yes, for replenished with the meat and wine of the word, to the faithful man of God, this pulpit, I see, is a self-containing stronghold--a lofty Ehrenbreitstein, with a perennial well of water within the walls. 会的,因为就充满极乐之泉源说来,我认为,这个讲坛就是这个上帝的信徒的独立要塞...一个巍峨的艾伦勃莱茨坦,城垣里还有一口万年不竭的水井。

But the side ladder was not the only strange feature of the place, borrowed from the chaplain's former sea-farings.  但是,这张根据这个牧师以前的海上生活而设的靠梯还不是这地方的唯一奇特的特点。

Between the marble cenotaphs on either hand of the pulpit, the wall which formed its back was adorned with a large painting representing a gallant ship beating against a terrible storm off a lee coast of black rocks and snowy breakers.  在讲坛两侧的石碑中间,在它后面的墙壁上还饰有一幅大油画,画着一只宏壮的船正在冒着狂风暴雨奋勇前进,想摆脱后边那许多凶险的岩石和滔天白浪。

But high above the flying scud and dark-rolling clouds, there floated a little isle of sunlight, from which beamed forth an angel's face;  但是,在泡沫飞溅和滚滚乌云的上面,却泛着一片小岛似的阳光,照射出一个天使的脸来;

and this bright face shed a distant spot of radiance upon the ship's tossed deck, something like that silver plate now inserted into the Victory's plank where Nelson fell.  这张光辉的脸还远远地对着那只动荡的船甲板投射出了一束光芒,有点象是那块现在嵌在胜利号。

Ah, noble ship, the angel seemed to say, beat on, beat on, thou noble ship, and bear a hardy helm; for lo!  纪念纳尔逊阵亡的银牌.好壮丽的船呵,那天使似乎在这样说,冲呀,冲呀,你这壮丽的船,辛苦地把起舵吧;看哪!

The sun is breaking through; the clouds are rolling off-serenest azure is at hand. 太阳正在突围而出;云朵也在散开了...眼看就是最晴朗的苍穹啦。