英语听书《白鲸记》第291期

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Ye have been studying those Scriptures¹, now, for the last thirty years, to my certain knowledge. How far ye got, Bildad? 就我所知,你已经把这些圣书研究了三十年啦。你研究到哪儿啦,比勒达?

As if long habituated to such profane² talk from his old shipmate, Bildad,  比勒达仿佛已经听惯了他的老船友这种不敬之词了,

without noticing his present irreverence³, quietly looked up, and seeing me, glanced again inquiringly towards Peleg. 他一点也不理会,一言不发地抬起头来,一看到我,就又带着盘问的神情再望一望法勒。

He says he's our man, Bildad, said Peleg, he wants to ship. 他说他要做我们的船员,比勒达,法勒说,他要我们雇他。

Dost thee? said Bildad, in a hollow tone, and turning round to me. 你要吗?比勒达声气空泛,转身对我说。

I dost, said I unconsciously, he was so intense a Quaker. 我要,我不自觉地说,他是个这么认真的桂克。

What do ye think of him, Bildad? said Peleg. 你觉得他怎样,比勒达?法勒说。

He'll do, said Bildad, eyeing me, and then went on spelling away at his book in a mumbling⁴ tone quite audible. 他行。比勒达瞧了我一眼后说,又继续念他的书,喃喃的声音,清晰可闻。

I thought him the queerest old Quaker I ever saw, especially as Peleg, his friend and old shipmate, seemed such a blusterer⁵.  我认为他是我平生所见的一个最古怪的老桂克,尤其是因为他的朋友兼老船友法勒却似乎是一个性格非常暴躁的人。

But I said nothing, only looking round me sharply.  但是,我什么也不说,只是机警地四下望望。

Peleg now threw open a chest, and drawing forth⁶ the ship's articles, placed pen and ink before him, and seated himself at a little table.  法勒这时打开了一只箱子,拿出船上的契约来,把笔和墨水放在面前,傍着一只小桌子坐下来。

I began to think it was high time to settle with myself at what terms I would be willing to engage for the voyage.  我心里开始想,这该是我自己决定的时候了,我该按什么条款才愿意应承这次航行。

I was already aware that in the whaling business they paid no wages;  我早已知道,在捕鲸业中,是不付工资的;

but all hands, including the captain, received certain shares of the profits called lays,  大家都是分取一定的份数。叫做拆账的红利,

and that these lays were proportioned to the degree of importance pertaining⁷ to the respective duties of the ship's company.  我也知道,这种拆账是按船上各人的职责大小来分的。

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