英语听书《白鲸记》第181期

 Where else but from Nantucket did those aboriginal¹ whalemen, the Red-Men, first sally out in canoes to give chase to the Leviathan?  那些土著的捕鲸者,那些红种人,最初坐独木舟去追击大鲸,不就是从南塔开特出发的吗?

And where but from Nantucket, too, did that first adventurous² little sloop³ put forth⁴, partly laden⁵ with imported cobblestones 还有别的什么地方有过这样的事呢?而且,那第一批冒险驶出的单桅帆船...据说其中有一部分载着外国运来的鹅卵石子,

so goes the story-to throw at the whales, in order to discover when they were nigh enough to risk a harpoon⁶ from the bowsprit? 预备去掷击大鲸,以便发现他们什么时候可以接近鲸鱼,在船头使用标枪除了从南塔开特出发,还有什么地方呢?

Now having a night, a day, and still another night following before me in New Bedford, ere I could embark⁷ for my destined⁸ port,  现在,我得在新贝德福,等上一天两夜,才能搭船到我要去的港口去,

it became a matter of concernment where I was to eat and sleep meanwhile.  因此,这时候,我该到哪里去吃去睡,就成为一件重大的事情了。

It was a very dubious-looking, nay⁹, a very dark and dismal¹⁰ night, bitingly cold and cheerless.  这是一个非常朦胧的.简直是非常黯黑而阴沉的夜晚,天气冷彻肌肤,了无生趣。

I knew no one in the place.  我在这个地方谁都不认识。

With anxious grapnels I had sounded my pocket, and only brought up a few pieces of silver, 我用焦急的爪子搜索了我的口袋,只抓出了几个银币,

So, wherever you go, Ishmael, said I to myself, as I stood in the middle of a dreary¹¹ street shouldering my bag,  当时,我肩上挂着旅行袋,站在一条荒凉的街心,

and comparing the gloom towards the north with the darkness towards the south-wherever in your wisdom you may conclude to lodge¹² for the night,  向北看看是一片阴沉,向南看看是一片黑暗,我不禁对我自己说,那么,以实玛利,不论你到哪里去...到你的智慧替你决定可以过夜的不论什么地方去,

my dear Ishmael, be sure to inquire the price, and don't be too particular. 亲爱的以实玛利啊,你可一定要问问价钱,别太挑剔啊.

1 aboriginal   

adj.（指动植物）土生的，原产地的，土著的

参考例句：

• They managed to wipe out the entire aboriginal population.他们终于把那些土著人全部消灭了。
• The lndians are the aboriginal Americans.印第安人是美国的土著人。

2 adventurous   

adj.爱冒险的；惊心动魄的，惊险的，刺激的　

参考例句：

• I was filled with envy at their adventurous lifestyle.我很羨慕他们敢于冒险的生活方式。
• He was predestined to lead an adventurous life.他注定要过冒险的生活。

3 sloop   

n.单桅帆船

参考例句：

• They heeled the sloop well over,skimming it along to windward.他们使单桅小船倾斜适当，让它顶着风向前滑去。
• While a sloop always has two sails,a cat-rigged boat generally has only one.一艘单桅帆船总是有两面帆，但一艘单桅艇通常只有一面帆。

4 forth   

adv.向前；向外，往外

参考例句：

• The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
• He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。

5 laden   

adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的

参考例句：

• He is laden with heavy responsibility.他肩负重任。
• Dragging the fully laden boat across the sand dunes was no mean feat.将满载货物的船拖过沙丘是一件了不起的事。

6 harpoon   

n.鱼叉；vt.用鱼叉叉，用鱼叉捕获

参考例句：

• The harpoon drove deep into the body of the whale.渔叉深深地扎进鲸鱼体内。
• The fisherman transfixed the shark with a harpoon.渔夫用鱼叉刺住鲨鱼。

7 embark   

vi.乘船，着手，从事，上飞机

参考例句：

• He is about to embark on a new business venture.他就要开始新的商业冒险活动。
• Many people embark for Europe at New York harbor.许多人在纽约港乘船去欧洲。

8 destined   

adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的

参考例句：

• It was destined that they would marry.他们结婚是缘分。
• The shipment is destined for America.这批货物将运往美国。

9 nay   

adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者

参考例句：

• He was grateful for and proud of his son's remarkable,nay,unique performance.他为儿子出色的，不，应该是独一无二的表演心怀感激和骄傲。
• Long essays,nay,whole books have been written on this.许多长篇大论的文章，不，应该说是整部整部的书都是关于这件事的。

10 dismal   

adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的

参考例句：

• That is a rather dismal melody.那是一支相当忧郁的歌曲。
• My prospects of returning to a suitable job are dismal.我重新找到一个合适的工作岗位的希望很渺茫。

11 dreary   

adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的

参考例句：

• They live such dreary lives.他们的生活如此乏味。
• She was tired of hearing the same dreary tale of drunkenness and violence.她听够了那些关于酗酒和暴力的乏味故事。

12 lodge   

v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆

参考例句：

• Is there anywhere that I can lodge in the village tonight?村里有我今晚过夜的地方吗？
• I shall lodge at the inn for two nights.我要在这家小店住两个晚上。