英语听书《白鲸记》第292期

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but considering that I was used to the sea, could steer¹ a ship, splice² a rope,  但是,因为我已熟悉海上生活,能掌舵,会捻绳,以及其它等等,

and all that, I made no doubt that from all I had heard I should be offered at least the 275th lay 因此,我毫不怀疑地认为,根据我的见闻,至少该得二百七十五分之一的"拆账"。

that is, the 275th part of the clear net proceeds of the voyage, whatever that might eventually amount to.  就是说,不管最后的红利数目有多少,一次航程我可净得二百七十五分之一的红利。

And though the 275th lay was what they call a rather long lay, yet it was better than nothing;  虽然人们把二百七十五分之一叫做"大拆账"。这是因为只就表面上百分比的分母大小而论的,而实际上,分母越大,商数,然而,这倒也是聊胜于无的;

and if we had a lucky voyage, might pretty nearly pay for the clothing I would wear out on it, not to speak of my three years' beef and board,  如果我们碰上一次好运气的航程,那就差不多很可以补偿我所穿破的衣服,别说我还能白吃三年的牛肉,在船上白住三年,

for which I would not have to pay one stiver. 一个子儿都不用付。

It might be thought that this was a poor way to accumulate a princely fortune-and so it was, a very poor way indeed.  也许有人会认为,这是积攒大财的可怜方法吧。一点不假,这的确是一个十分可怜的方法。

But I am one of those that never take on about princely fortunes, and am quite content if the world is ready to board and lodge³ me,  不过,我是个从来没有打过要发大财的主意的人,正当我要在这个挂着"雷云"的冷酷的招牌的处所投宿时,

while I am putting up at this grim sign of the Thunder Cloud.  如果这世界有我容身之地也就够心满意足了。

Upon the whole, I thought that the 275th lay would be about the fair thing,  总之,我认为二百七十五分之一的拆账应该算是很公平的了,

but would not have been surprised had I been offered the 200th, considering I was of a broad-shouldered make. 不过,考虑到我生来就是一块挑得起重担的材料,如果出我二百分之一的话,我也不会感到惊奇。

But one thing, nevertheless, that made me a little distrustful about receiving a generous share of the profits was this:  话虽如此,但是,对于接受一笔慷慨的分红却有一桩使我稍觉狐疑的事情:

Ashore⁴, I had heard something of both Captain Peleg and his unaccountable old crony Bildad;  我在岸上已听到过法勒船长和他那个神秘莫测的老朋友比勒达两人的一些事情;

how that they being the principal proprietors⁵ of the Pequod, therefore the other and more inconsiderable and scattered⁶ owners,  说是因为他们俩都是"裴廓德号"的主要股东,因此,其他那些为数众多的零星小户的股东老板,

left nearly the whole management of the ship's affairs to these two. 差不多把整个船务都交给他们这两个人照管。

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