英语听书《白鲸记》第488期

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"Quick, steward¹!" cried Ahab. "Time! time!" “快，茶房！”亚哈嚷道。“看时间！看时间！”

Dough-Boy hurried below, glanced at the watch, and reported the exact minute to Ahab. 汤团连忙奔到下边，望一望表，把时间分秒不差的报告亚哈。

The ship was now kept away from the wind, and she went gently rolling before it. 这时，船已离风下驶，缓缓地起伏向前。

Tashtego reporting that the whales had gone down heading to leeward³, 塔斯蒂哥报告着，鲸群已经朝下风游去了，

we confidently looked to see them again directly in advance of our bows. 我们都自信地指望能再在我们的船头看到它们。

For that singular craft at times evinced by the Sperm⁴ Whale when, sounding with his head in one direction, 因为这艘非凡的船还时时可以看到一条抹香鲸，看到它虽然用头向水里一潜，

he nevertheless, while concealed⁵ beneath the surface, mills around,and swiftly swims off in the opposite quarter-- 但在它微隐在水里后，又兜了一个转身，迅疾地游到船尾去了——

this deceitfulness of his could not now be in action; 它这种欺诈行为现在可行不通了，

for there was no reason to suppose that the fish seen by Tashtego had been in any way alarmed, or indeed knew at all of our vicinity. 因为随便怎样，我们都不相信塔斯蒂哥所看到的这条鲸会有丝毫的警惕，或者完全知道我们就在它附近。

One of the men selected for shipkeepers-- 这时，挑出一个人来做看船人——

that is, those not appointed to the boats, by this time relieved the Indian at the main-mast head. 就是说，挑出一个没有被派上艇子的人，来暂时接替那个印第安人去站到桅顶上。

The sailors at the fore² and mizzen had come down; 前帆。后帆的水手都下来了；

the line tubs were fixed⁶ in their places; the cranes were thrust out; 索桶都放在固定的地方；大吊钩已经推出来了；

the mainyard was backed, and the three boats swung over the sea like three samphire baskets over high cliffs. 主桅下桁也被卸掉了，三条小艇象三只装着金花草的篮子，荡过悬崖似的一晃就晃到海里(参阅莎士比亚《李尔王》第四幕第六场埃特加的话：“山腰中间悬着一个采金花草的人，可怕的工作。”)。

Outside of the bulwarks⁷ their eager crews with one hand clung to the rail, 那些在舷墙外边的热切的水手，一只手抓住栏杆，

while one foot was expectantly poised⁸ on the gunwale. 一只脚准备踏在艇舷上。

So look the long line of man-of-war's men about to throw themselves on board an enemy's ship. 看来就象一长排兵舰上的水兵，准备冲上敌船。

But at this critical instant a sudden exclamation⁹ was heard that took every eye from the whale. 但是，就在这个紧要关头，蓦地传来一声叫喊，教大家的眼睛都连忙掉了过来，不望那条鲸了。

With a start all glared at dark Ahab, who was surrounded by five dusky phantoms¹⁰ that seemed fresh formed out of air. 大家吓了一跳，瞪眼望着黑黝黝的亚哈，看到还有五个灰黑的。象刚从空中闪出来的幽灵簇拥着他。

End of Chapters 45-47 45至47章完

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