英语听书《白鲸记》第177期

 He thinks he breathes it first; but not so.  然而,他却自以为先呼吸到;可是并不如此。

In much the same way do the commonalty lead their leaders in many other things, at the same time that the leaders little suspect it.  老百姓在其他许多别的事情上也差不多是这样领导他们的领袖,而那些领袖却对此莫知莫觉。

But wherefore it was that after having repeatedly smelt¹ the sea as a merchant sailor, I should now take it into my head to go on a whaling voyage;  可是,我以前一再喝海水都是当商船水手,怎么这回竟会异想天开,要去作一次捕鲸航行呢;

this the invisible police officer of the Fates, who has the constant surveillance of me,  关于这一点,司命运诸神那个无形的警官...他一径监视着我,

and secretly dogs me, and influences me in some unaccountable way-- he can better answer than any one else.  冥冥中守护着我,又莫名其妙地左右着我...要比别的任何人更能解答得好。

And, doubtless, my going on this whaling voyage, formed part of the grand programme of Providence² that was drawn³ up a long time ago.  而且,毫无疑义,我这次捕鲸之行,是老天爷好久以前就已拟好的伟大节目单的一部分。

It came in as a sort of brief interlude and solo between more extensive performances.  它是两场规模宏大的演出中间的一个短短插曲或者独唱。

I take it that this part of the bill must have run something like this: 我认为,节目单上的这个部分大致上准是这样写法:

"Grand Contested Election for the Presidency⁴ of the United States.  美国总统大竞选

"WHALING VOYAGE BY ONE ISHMAEL." "BLOODY⁵ BATTLE IN AFFGHANISTAN." 以实玛利出海捕鲸，阿富汗斯坦血战记。

1 smelt   

v.熔解，熔炼；n.银白鱼，胡瓜鱼

参考例句：

• Tin is a comparatively easy metal to smelt.锡是比较容易熔化的金属。
• Darby was looking for a way to improve iron when he hit upon the idea of smelting it with coke instead of charcoal.达比一直在寻找改善铁质的方法，他猛然想到可以不用木炭熔炼，而改用焦炭。

2 providence   

n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝

参考例句：

• It is tempting Providence to go in that old boat.乘那艘旧船前往是冒大险。
• To act as you have done is to fly in the face of Providence.照你的所作所为那样去行事，是违背上帝的意志的。

3 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

4 presidency   

n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期)

参考例句：

• Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
• Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。

5 bloody   

adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染

参考例句：

• He got a bloody nose in the fight.他在打斗中被打得鼻子流血。
• He is a bloody fool.他是一个十足的笨蛋。