英语听书《白鲸记》第394期

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that man's royalty² of state transcends³ Belshazzar's, for Belshazzar was not the greatest.  那种人的王相一定超过了伯沙撒,因为伯沙撒也并不是最了不起的。

Who has but once dined his friends, has tasted what it is to be Caesar. It is a witchery of social czarship which there is no withstanding.  谁只要曾经请朋友吃过一次饭,谁就体会到做恺撒大帝的味道。这就是一种无可抗拒的社交的王权的魔法。

Now, if to this consideration you super-add the official supremacy⁴ of a ship-master, then, by inference, you will derive⁵ the cause of that peculiarity⁶ of sea-life just mentioned. 现在,如果再把一个船长的正式的霸权加在这种理由上,那么,一加推断,人们就可以追索出刚才所说的海上生活的特点的道理了。

Over his ivory-inlaid table, Ahab presided like a mute, maned sea-lion on the white coral beach, surrounded by his war-like but still deferential⁷ cubs⁸.  亚哈坐在他那只镶着牙骨的饭桌上首,有如一只坐在雪白的珊瑚坝上的默默的。

In his own proper turn, each officer waited to be served. They were as little children before Ahab; and yet, in Ahab, there seemed not to lurk⁹ the smallest social arrogance¹⁰.  有鬃毛的海狮,被他那些尚武而颇谦让的小狮团团围着。每个头目都等着亚哈分给自己的菜。他们在亚哈面前都象小孩一般;然而,亚哈却好象一点也没有社交上的妄自尊大的气态。

With one mind, their intent eyes all fastened upon the old man's knife, as he carved the chief dish before him.  亚哈在切着他面前那道主菜的时候,他们几双紧张的眼睛都一致凝神不动地盯着那老头的刀子。

I do not suppose that for the world they would have profaned¹¹ that moment with the slightest observation, even upon so neutral a topic as the weather.  我认为,无论如何,他们当时是一点也不敢随意说话,哪怕连天气这样无关紧要的话题都不敢谈。

No! And when reaching out his knife and fork, between which the slice of beef was locked, Ahab thereby¹² motioned Starbuck's plate towards him, the mate received his meat as though receiving alms; and cut it tenderly;  不错!当亚哈伸出他的刀叉,中间夹着一片牛肉,并对斯达巴克示意,要他把盆子递过来的时候,这个大副就象接受施舍物般把那块肉接了过来,轻轻地切着;

and a little started if, perchance, the knife grazed against the plate; and chewed it noiselessly; and swallowed it, not without circumspection¹³.  如果偶然刀子跟盆子稍微一碰,就不免要吓了一跳;无声无息地咀嚼着,小心翼翼地把它咽下去。

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