英语听书《白鲸记》第265期

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who at such times look downwards¹ to our platters,  我们在这种场合上是俯对着我们的杯盘做的,

they, on the contrary, copying the ducks, glance upwards² to the great Giver of all feasts-Grace,  他们却相反地,摹仿鸭子的样子,仰望着各种筵席的那个伟大的赏赐者...

I say, being said, the High Priest opens the banquet by the immemorial ceremony of the island;  却说饭前祷告做过后,祭司长就按照这个岛国的万古不易的礼节来开席了;

that is, dipping his consecrated³ and consecrating⁴ fingers into the bowl before the blessed beverage⁵ circulates.  就是说,把他那圣化的。而现在正在做圣事的手指浸到那只还未对客人巡酒的喜酒壶里。

Seeing himself placed next the Priest, and noting the ceremony, and thinking himself-being Captain of a ship-as having plain precedence over a mere⁶ island King,  那个船长看到自己就坐在祭司长的邻座,他一边注意着这种礼节,一边暗自忖量...身为一船之长...明明又是坐在一个小小的岛国国王的上首,

especially in the King's own house-the Captain coolly proceeds to wash his hands in the punch bowl;taking it I suppose for a huge finger-glass.  尤其是正坐在国王自己的家里...于是,这个船长就不动声色地在潘趣酒壶里洗起手来;我想他是把它当作一只大指盆的。

Now, said Queequeg, what you tink now?--Didn't our people laugh? 现在,魁魁格说,现在你怎么个想法?我们那些人没有笑话他吗?

At last, passage paid, and luggage safe, we stood on board the schooner⁷.  最后,付过船票,安顿了行李,我们就搭上那只纵帆船。

Hoisting⁸ sail, it glided⁹ down the Acushnet river.  篷帆扯起,船只顺着阿库希奈河徐徐而下。

On one side, New Bedford rose in terraces of streets, their ice-covered trees all glittering in the clear, cold air.  这一边是新贝德福显现在房屋鳞次栉比的街道中,街上那些冰封的树木都在晴冷的空间闪闪发光。

Huge hills and mountains of casks on casks were piled upon her wharves¹⁰, and side by side the world-wandering whale ships lay silent and safely moored¹¹ at last;  桶子象大小丘陵似的堆积在码头上,浪游世界的捕鲸船终于又悄悄而安全地停泊在旁边;

while from others came a sound of carpenters and coopers, with blended noises of fires and forges to melt the pitch, all betokening¹² that new cruises were on the start;  另一边传来木匠桶匠的声音,还混杂着为了融化沥青的火烧铁打的声音,一切都表示着新的巡弋已经开始;

that one most perilous¹³ and long voyage ended, only begins a second;  也表示着一次最危险的长距离航程虽然结束了,却不过是第二次航程的开始;

and a second ended, only begins a third, and so on, for ever and for aye.  而第二次航程的结束,又不过是第三次航程的开始,如此循环不息,永无止境。

Such is the endlessness, yea, the intolerableness of all earthly effort. 这就是整个人间的无休无止而且是难堪的努力。

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