英语听书《白鲸记》第519期

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　　except he could contribute some of that information he so absorbingly sought. 除非是对方能够对他那种寤寐以求的东西提供一点消息。

　　But all this might remain inadequately² estimated, 那么，所有这一切估计还是不挺恰切,

　　were not something said here of the peculiar³ usages of whaling-vessels⁴ when meeting each other in foreign seas, and especially on a common cruising-ground. 如果我不在这里说一说一般捕鲸船的特殊习俗，说一说两艘船彼此在外洋上，尤其在一般巡游场上相遇时的一般情况。

　　If two strangers crossing the Pine Barrens in New York State, or the equally desolate⁵ Salisbury Plain in England; 如果有两个陌生人在经过纽约州的松林砂地(松林砂地——指一些遍生茂密的松林的砂地。)，或者在经过同样荒僻的英国的索尔兹巴立平原(索尔兹巴立平原——在英国尉尔特郡。)的时候，

　　if casually⁶ encountering each other in such inhospitable wilds, these twain, for the life of them, cannot well avoid a mutual⁷ salutation; 如果他们彼此偶然在这么荒凉的原野相遇了，这两个人，无论如何，总免不了要彼此招呼一声，

　　and stopping for a moment to interchange the news; and, perhaps, sitting down for a while and resting in concert:   停下来互通一下消息，也许还不约而同地坐下来休息一阵，

　　then, how much more natural that upon the illimitable Pine Barrens and Salisbury Plains of the sea,  那么，多么合情合理，象在这种无边无涯的松林砂地和索尔兹巴立平原似的海洋上，

　　two whaling vessels descrying⁸ each other at the ends of the earth--off lone⁹ Fanning's Island, or the far away King's Mills; 两艘捕鲸船在天涯地角——在荒凉的法宁之岛(法宁之岛——在太平洋之北的一个英属珊瑚岛，以发现者美国人法宁命名。)上，或者是在老远老远的“国王的磨坊”(“国王的磨坊”——系作者故意开玩笑的一个岛名，即金氏米尔群岛，又称吉尔柏特群岛，它包括有十六个环状瑚瑚岛，在太平洋上为赤道所平分，位于东经一百七十及一百八十度间。)中相见的时候，彼此打个招呼，

　　how much more natural, I say, that under such circumstances these ships should not only interchange hails,  我说，在这样的情况下，两艘船不但要互作招呼，

　　but come into still closer, more friendly and sociable¹⁰ contact. 而且还要驶拢来，更友善和蔼的接触一番，那又是多么合情合理！

　　And especially would this seem to be a matter of course, in the case of vessels owned in one seaport¹¹, 尤其是万一这两艘船都是同乡人，

　　and whose captains, officers, and not a few of the men are personally known to each other; 他们的船长们，船上的头目，和大多数的水手们又都是彼此熟悉的，

　　and consequently, have all sorts of dear domestic things to talk about. 那么，这就更是理所当然的了，这样一来，就有各种可爱的家乡事情可以谈谈了。

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