Ere now it has been related how Ahab was wont to pace his quarter-deck, taking regular turns at either limit, the binnacle and mainmast; 先前已经说过，亚哈怎样喜欢在他的后甲板上，从罗盘盒到主桅的两头，来回地踱方步；

but in the multiplicity of other things requiring narration it has not been added how that sometimes in these walks, 但是，在其它许多必须一说的事情中，还得加上一桩事情，那就是，在他这种散步中，

when most plunged in his mood, he was wont to pause in turn at each spot, and stand there strangely eyeing the particular object before him. 如果碰上他心事重重的时候，他每次总要在一个转身的那头，停将下来，神色奇特地站在那里，望着他面前那一样东西。

When he halted before the binnacle, with his glance fastened on the pointed needle in the compass, 当他停在罗盘盒前时，他的眼色就紧盯在罗盘里那支尖针上，

that glance shot like a javelin with the pointed intensity of his purpose; 那股眼色有如带着他那一发就要中的的一支标枪；

and when resuming his walk he again paused before the mainmast, then, as the same riveted glance fastened upon the riveted gold coin there, 待到他重新举步走到主桅前停下来时，他这一股凝注的眼色又紧盯着那块钉在那里的金币，

he still wore the same aspect of nailed firmness, only dashed with a certain wild longing, if not hopefulness. 他依然现出同样一种钉得牢牢似的神色，不同的是这会儿却猛射出一种如果不是满怀希望。就是充满狂想的神色。

But one morning, turning to pass the doubloon, he seemed to be newly attracted by the strange figures and inscriptions stamped on it, 不过，有一天早晨，当他一转身瞥到那块杜柏仑时，他好象刚刚注意到那块金币上所镌刻的奇特的图案和文字似的，

as though now for the first time beginning to interpret for himself in some monomaniac way whatever significance might lurk in them. 仿佛这会儿才初次开始带点偏狂地体会到些图文可能含有的什么重大的意义。

And some certain significance lurks in all things, else all things are little worth, 万物都多少含有一种意义，否则就没有什么价值，

and the round world itself but an empty cipher, except to sell by the cartload, as they do hills about Boston, to fill up some morass in the Milky Way. 那个滚圆的地球本身不过是个空洞的零号了，除了象人们对待波士顿的山地那样，一车一车地出卖，去填银河的沼地。