英语听书《白鲸记》第146期

 With memories like these in him, and, moreover, given to a certain superstitiousness¹, as has been said; the courage of this Starbuck, which could, nevertheless, still flourish, must indeed have been extreme.  斯达巴克就是这样一个人，既往的经历使他一往无前的勇气显得丧失了锐气，变得老谋深算。 

But it was not in reasonable nature that a man so organized, and with such terrible experiences and remembrances as he had;  这并不是说他丧失了一般意义上的魄力，

it was not in nature that these things should fail in latently engendering² an element in him, which, under suitable circumstances, would break out from its confinement³, and burn all his courage up.  诸如与海、与风、与鲸、与人世间一般的不平作斗争的勇气。但是，面对更大的、精神上的恐怖，他也感到是一种威胁了，因为精力过度集中。 

And brave as he might be, it was that sort of bravery chiefly, visible in some intrepid⁴ men, which, while generally abiding⁵ firm in the conflict with seas, or winds, or whales,  当然，写一个人丧失勇气，是一件于人于己都很难为情的事。

or any of the ordinary irrational⁶ horrors of the world, yet cannot withstand those more terrific, because more spiritual terrors, which sometimes menace you from the concentrating brow of an enraged⁷ and mighty⁸ man. 不过，我们人类虽然确是有些缺点，有恶棍，有凶犯，也有傻瓜，也还有像联合证券公司以及国家那样让人憎恶的面孔，但我们最终还是没有丧失那高贵的理想的。 

1 superstitiousness   

被邪教所支配

参考例句：

2 engendering   

v.产生（某形势或状况），造成，引起( engender的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Certain soluble extracts of B pertussis may prove to be effective without engendering serious side effects. 某些可溶性百日咳杆菌提取物，可证明用之有效，也不产生严重副作用。 来自辞典例句
• The engendering, classification, path and control of environmental pollution transference were discussed. 对环境污染转嫁的产生、分类、途径及其控制与防范进行了分析。 来自互联网

3 confinement   

n.幽禁，拘留，监禁；分娩；限制，局限

参考例句：

• He spent eleven years in solitary confinement.他度过了11年的单独监禁。
• The date for my wife's confinement was approaching closer and closer.妻子分娩的日子越来越近了。

4 intrepid   

adj.无畏的，刚毅的

参考例句：

• He is not really satisfied with his intrepid action.他没有真正满意他的无畏行动。
• John's intrepid personality made him a good choice for team leader.约翰勇敢的个性适合作领导工作。

5 abiding   

adj.永久的，持久的，不变的

参考例句：

• He had an abiding love of the English countryside.他永远热爱英国的乡村。
• He has a genuine and abiding love of the craft.他对这门手艺有着真挚持久的热爱。

6 irrational   

adj.无理性的，失去理性的

参考例句：

• After taking the drug she became completely irrational.她在吸毒后变得完全失去了理性。
• There are also signs of irrational exuberance among some investors.在某些投资者中是存在非理性繁荣的征象的。

7 enraged   

使暴怒( enrage的过去式和过去分词 )； 歜； 激愤

参考例句：

• I was enraged to find they had disobeyed my orders. 发现他们违抗了我的命令，我极为恼火。
• The judge was enraged and stroke the table for several times. 大法官被气得连连拍案。

8 mighty   

adj.强有力的；巨大的

参考例句：

• A mighty force was about to break loose.一股巨大的力量即将迸发而出。
• The mighty iceberg came into view.巨大的冰山出现在眼前。