英语听书《白鲸记》第319期

 For besides the great length of the whaling voyage, the numerous articles peculiar¹ to the prosecution² of the fishery,  因为除了捕鲸的航程很长之外,还有许多东西是从事渔业所不可缺少的,

and the impossibility of replacing them at the remote harbors usually frequented, it must be remembered, that of all ships,  有许多东西往往是在偏僻的海港无法补给的,还必须记住,在一切船只中,

whaling vessels³ are the most exposed to accidents of all kinds, and especially to the destruction and loss of the very things upon which the success of the voyage most depends.  捕鲸船是最会招致各种意外的船只,尤其是会丧失。毁坏那些决定航程成败的主要东西。

Hence, the spare boats, spare spars, and spare lines and harpoons⁴, and spare everythings, almost, but a spare Captain and duplicate ship. 因此,它需要有备用的小船,备用的圆木,备用的绳索和标枪以及除了一个后备船长和一条副号的船以外的几乎其它各种备用的东西。

At the period of our arrival at the Island, the heaviest storage of the Pequod had been almost completed;  我们抵达这个海岛的时候,"裴廓德号"的最笨重的储备品差不多都已经准备完妥了;

comprising her beef, bread, water, fuel, and iron hoops⁵ and staves.  其中包括牛肉,面包,食水,燃料,铁箍和桶板。

But, as before hinted, for some time there was a continual fetching and carrying on board of divers⁶ odds⁷ and ends of things, both large and small. 但是,如上所述,暂时还得继续不断把各式各样大小零星用品都弄上船来。

Chief among those who did this fetching and carrying was Captain Bildad's sister, a lean old lady of a most determined⁸ and indefatigable⁹ spirit,  负责搬运这些东西的主要人物是比勒达船主的妹妹,她是个瘦小的老太婆,颇有决断,不知疲倦,心肠也很好,

but withal very kindhearted, who seemed resolved that, if she could help it, nothing should be found wanting in the Pequod, after once fairly getting to sea.  她象是抱定了主意,只要她力所能及,决不让"裴廓德号"在顺利地出海后,还会缺少什么需要的东西。

At one time she would come on board with a jar of pickles¹⁰ for the steward's pantry; another time with a bunch of quills¹¹ for the chief mate's desk, where he kept his log;  她一会儿拿着一罐厨房用的酸菜上船来;再一会儿又拿着一扎大副写字台上用的鹅毛笔来(因为大副要记航海日志);

a third time with a roll of flannel¹² for the small of some one's rheumatic back.  第三次又拿来一卷给患风湿症的人护腰用的法兰绒。

Never did any woman better deserve her name, which was Charity-Aunt Charity, as everybody called her.  从来没有一个女人比她更为名副其实,她叫慈善。慈善姑妈,大家都这么叫她。

And like a sister of charity did this charitable Aunt Charity bustle¹³ about hither and thither¹⁴, ready to turn her hand and heart to anything that promised to yield safety,  这个慈善为怀的慈善姑妈,象一个慈善团的女修士一样到处忙着,时刻准备以她的手,她的心使得这只跟她可敬的哥哥有关的船上的一切人等都会平安,

comfort, and consolation¹⁵ to all on board a ship in which her beloved brother Bildad was concerned, and in which she herself owned a score or two of well-saved dollars. 舒适,获得慰藉,这只船她自己也投资了几十个辛苦积攒的银元呢。

1 peculiar   

adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的

参考例句：

• He walks in a peculiar fashion.他走路的样子很奇特。
• He looked at me with a very peculiar expression.他用一种很奇怪的表情看着我。

2 prosecution   

n.起诉，告发，检举，执行，经营

参考例句：

• The Smiths brought a prosecution against the organizers.史密斯家对组织者们提出起诉。
• He attempts to rebut the assertion made by the prosecution witness.他试图反驳原告方证人所作的断言。

3 vessels   

n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人

参考例句：

• The river is navigable by vessels of up to 90 tons. 90 吨以下的船只可以从这条河通过。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• All modern vessels of any size are fitted with radar installations. 所有现代化船只都有雷达装置。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

4 harpoons   

n.鱼镖，鱼叉( harpoon的名词复数 )v.鱼镖，鱼叉( harpoon的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Greenpeace hopes to position its boats between the harpoons and the whales. 绿色和平希望他们的船能开到港口与鲸鱼群之间的地方。 来自互联网
• NIV Can you fill his hide with harpoons or his head with fishing spears? 7[和合]你能用倒钩枪扎满它的皮，能用鱼叉叉满它的头吗？ 来自互联网

5 hoops   

n.箍( hoop的名词复数 )；（篮球）篮圈；（旧时儿童玩的）大环子；（两端埋在地里的）小铁弓

参考例句：

• a barrel bound with iron hoops 用铁箍箍紧的桶
• Hoops in Paris were wider this season and skirts were shorter. 在巴黎，这个季节的裙圈比较宽大，裙裾却短一些。 来自飘（部分）

6 divers   

adj.不同的；种种的

参考例句：

• He chose divers of them,who were asked to accompany him.他选择他们当中的几个人，要他们和他作伴。
• Two divers work together while a standby diver remains on the surface.两名潜水员协同工作，同时有一名候补潜水员留在水面上。

7 odds   

n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别

参考例句：

• The odds are 5 to 1 that she will win.她获胜的机会是五比一。
• Do you know the odds of winning the lottery once?你知道赢得一次彩票的几率多大吗？

8 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

9 indefatigable   

adj.不知疲倦的，不屈不挠的

参考例句：

• His indefatigable spirit helped him to cope with his illness.他不屈不挠的精神帮助他对抗病魔。
• He was indefatigable in his lectures on the aesthetics of love.在讲授关于爱情的美学时，他是不知疲倦的。

10 pickles   

n.腌菜( pickle的名词复数 )；处于困境；遇到麻烦；菜酱

参考例句：

• Most people eat pickles at breakfast. 大多数人早餐吃腌菜。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• I want their pickles and wines, and that.' 我要他们的泡菜、美酒和所有其他东西。” 来自英汉文学 - 金银岛

11 quills   

n.（刺猬或豪猪的）刺( quill的名词复数 )；羽毛管；翮；纡管

参考例句：

• Quills were the chief writing implement from the 6th century AD until the advent of steel pens in the mid 19th century. 从公元6世纪到19世纪中期钢笔出现以前，羽毛笔是主要的书写工具。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Defensive quills dot the backs of these troublesome creatures. 防御性的刺长在这些讨人厌的生物背上。 来自互联网

12 flannel   

n.法兰绒；法兰绒衣服

参考例句：

• She always wears a grey flannel trousers.她总是穿一条灰色法兰绒长裤。
• She was looking luscious in a flannel shirt.她穿着法兰绒裙子，看上去楚楚动人。

13 bustle   

v.喧扰地忙乱，匆忙，奔忙；n.忙碌；喧闹

参考例句：

• The bustle and din gradually faded to silence as night advanced.随着夜越来越深，喧闹声逐渐沉寂。
• There is a lot of hustle and bustle in the railway station.火车站里非常拥挤。

14 thither   

adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的

参考例句：

• He wandered hither and thither looking for a playmate.他逛来逛去找玩伴。
• He tramped hither and thither.他到处流浪。

15 consolation   

n.安慰，慰问

参考例句：

• The children were a great consolation to me at that time.那时孩子们成了我的莫大安慰。
• This news was of little consolation to us.这个消息对我们来说没有什么安慰。