英语听书《白鲸记》第485期

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that final and romantic object, too many would have turned from in disgust.  那个最后的罗曼蒂克的目标的话，那么，因嫌恶而转身便跑的人可真是数不胜数了。

I will not strip these men, thought Ahab, of all hopes of cash--aye, cash. 亚哈心里想，我决不能剥夺这些人对于金钱——是呀，就是金钱的一切希望。

They may scorn cash now; 他们现在也许会瞧不起钱；

but let some months go by, and no perspective promise of it to them,  可是，再过几个月，等到他们认为没有拿到钱的希望时，

and then this same quiescent² cash all at once mutinying in them, this same cash would soon cashier Ahab. 那么，这种无声无息的钱就会立刻教他们造反，马上把亚哈逼死的就正是这种钱。

Nor was there wanting still another precautionary motive³ more related to Ahab personally. 就亚哈本人来说，他并不是没有另外一种预防性的动机。

Having impulsively⁴, it is probable, and perhaps somewhat prematurely⁵ revealed the prime but private purpose of the Pequod's voyage, 亚哈可能是由于一时冲动，也许有点过早地泄露了“裴廓德号”的航程的主要而秘密的目的，

Ahab was now entirely⁶ conscious that, in so doing, he had indirectly⁷ laid himself open to the unanswerable charge of usurpation⁸; 他现在已经完全理会到，他这样做，是间接地把他那种不可置辩的假公济私的罪状给公开出来了。

and with perfect impunity⁹, both moral and legal, his crew if so disposed, and to that end competent, 他也估计到，万一他的水手们会大起胆子来(不顾道义和法理)，

could refuse all further obedience¹⁰ to him, and even violently wrest¹¹ from him the command. 会因此而不再听他的一切命令，甚至更厉害地夺了他的指挥权。

From even the barely hinted imputation¹² of usurpation,  因此，即使仅仅从暗示到的假公济私的污名，

and the possible consequences of such a suppressed impression gaining ground, 以及这样一种日见增强的潜在的影响的可能后果说来，

Ahab must of course have been most anxious to protect himself. 亚哈自然也一定急于要保卫他自己了。

That protection could only consist in his own predominating brain and heart and hand,   不过，这种保卫只能放在他自己心里，脑里和手里，

backed by a heedful, closely calculating attention to every minute atmospheric¹³ influence which it was possible for his crew to be subjected to. 再加上随时小心提防，密切注意，估计他的水手们可能受到的各种细微的影响。

For all these reasons then, and others perhaps too analytic¹⁴ to be verbally developed here, 于是，由于所有这些理由，也许还有其它一些在这里不是三言两语所能分析得了的理由，

Ahab plainly saw that he must still in a good degree continue true to the natural, nominal¹⁵ purpose of the Pequod's voyage; 亚哈明晰地看出了，他必须继续相当忠实于“裴廓德号”航程的。名义上的目的；

observe all customary usages;  必须遵守一切例常旧规；

and not only that, but force himself to evince all his well known passionate¹⁶ interest in the general pursuit of his profession. 而且不仅如此，还得尽量显出他在从事于他的职业方面，一般都是具有非常热烈的兴趣。

Be all this as it may, his voice was now often heard hailing the three mastheads 总之，这就时常听到他的声音，在招呼那三个站在桅顶上的人，

and admonishing¹⁷ them to keep a bright look-out, and not omit reporting even a porpoise¹⁸. 劝戒他们要小心瞭望，甚至发现一只海豚也不要忘记报告。

This vigilance was not long without reward. 这种警惕并非一直是徒劳的。

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