英语听书《白鲸记》第396期

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For hereby Flask's dinner was badly jammed in point of time. Starbuck and Stubb both had the start of him; and yet they also have the privilege of lounging in the rear.  这样,弗拉斯克的吃饭,在时间上说来,真是卡得多紧呀。斯达巴克和斯塔布两个都比他先就坐;然而,他们也有懒洋洋地拉在他后面离开饭桌的特权。

If Stubb even, who is but a peg² higher than Flask, happens to have but a small appetite, and soon shows symptoms of concluding his repast, then Flask must bestir himself, he will not get more than three mouthfuls that day;  如果碰上斯塔布那天胃口不佳(可他不过比弗拉斯克高一级而已),马上就要吃好饭的模样,那么,弗拉斯克就得拚命吃得快,那天他就吃不上三大口饭了,

for it is against holy usage for Stubb to precede Flask to the deck.  因为要斯塔布比弗拉斯克先走上甲板,那是有违神圣不可侵犯的常规的。

Therefore it was that Flask once admitted in private, that ever since he had arisen to the dignity of an officer, from that moment he had never known what it was to be otherwise than hungry, more or less.  因此,有一回,弗拉斯克不得不私下承认,说是自从他升上了头目的尊职后,他除了多少觉得有点饿外,从来不知道那尊职有什么意思。

For what he ate did not so much relieve his hunger, as keep it immortal³ in him.  因为他所吃的东西并不很能解决他的饥饿,好象要让饥饿在他肚皮里永垂不朽似的。

Peace and satisfaction, thought Flask, have for ever departed from my stomach.  弗拉斯克心里想,安宁跟满足已经就此跟我的肚皮永别了。

I am an officer; but, how I wish I could fist a bit of old-fashioned beef in the fore-castle, as I used to when I was before the mast.  我是个头目;但是,我可多希望能够在船头楼里,手里捏着一块老牛肉,象我当普通水手时所惯做的那样。

There's the fruits of promotion⁴ now; there's the vanity of glory: there's the insanity⁵ of life!  这就是高升的结果;原来就是一场虚荣;原来就是生的疯狂!

Besides, if it were so that any mere⁶ sailor of the Pequod had a grudge⁷ against Flask in Flask's official capacity, all that sailor had to do,  再说,如果因此而有任何一个"裴廓德号"的水手因弗拉斯克升了官而对他怀恨,

in order to obtain ample vengeance⁸, was to go aft at dinnertime, and get a peep at Flask through the cabin sky-light, sitting silly and dumfoundered before awful Ahab. 要想获得适当的报复的话,那么,那个水手只须在吃饭时候,跑到船尾,朝船长室的天窗偷偷地瞧一下弗拉斯克,看他在令人肃然起敬的亚哈面前,木楞楞地坐在那里的那副神气也就够了。

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