英语听书《白鲸记》第532期

 　　though of a still, sleepy night, should the officer of the deck happen to forget his duty in that respect, 而且夜间静寂想睡，也许甲板上的头目恰巧在这方面忘记了自己的职守，

　　the probability would be that he and his shipmates would never again remember it, on account of all hands gently subsiding¹ to the bottom. 也可能是他跟那些水手从此再也不会记起这件事了，因为大家都慢慢地沉到海底去了。

　　Nor in the solitary² and savage³ seas far from you to the westward⁴, gentlemen, 就是在隔开你们很远的那些西部的荒僻的海洋上，诸位先生，

　　is it altogether unusual for ships to keep clanging at their pump-handles in full chorus even for a voyage of considerable length!  甚至那些航程相当长的船只，他们的帮浦柄也不完全会经常一起克朗克朗响！

　　that is, if it lie along a tolerably accessible coast, or if any other reasonable retreat is afforded them.  就是说，如果船只是搁在一个相当过得去的海上，或者是有其他适当的避难所的话。

　　It is only when a leaky vessel⁵ is in some very out of the way part of those waters, some really landless latitude⁶, 一艘漏船只有确实是在前不靠山，后不着陆的那种海面上，

　　that her captain begins to feel a little anxious. 它的船长才会开始感到有点焦急。

　　"Much this way had it been with the Town-Ho;  "‘大鲸出来了号’当时就是这般情况。

　　so when her leak was found gaining once more, there was in truth some small concern manifested by several of her company; especially by Radney the mate. 因此，等到它发现那漏洞又大起来了的时候，有几个船员确实有点担心起来了，尤其是那位大副拉德尼。

　　He commanded the upper sails to be well hoisted⁷, sheeted home anew, and every way expanded to the breeze.  他命令好好扯起上帆，重新用帆脚索扣住风帆，使它们尽量吃住风。

　　Now this Radney, I suppose, was as little of a coward,  且说这个拉德尼，我认为就他本人说来，他一点也不是个懦夫，

　　and as little inclined to any sort of nervous apprehensiveness⁸ touching⁹ his own person  一点也不是那种谨小慎微患得患失的人物，

　　as any fearless, unthinking creature on land or on sea that you can conveniently imagine, gentlemen.  正如各位可想而知的那种陆上或者海上的无所畏惧、不动脑筋的人物一样。

　　Therefore when he betrayed this imagine, solicitude¹⁰ about the safety of the ship, 因此，在他对这艘船的安全表现得很关心的时候，

　　some of the seamen¹¹ declared that it was only on account of his being a part owner in her.  有些水手就说，这只是因为他也是这艘船的股东老板之一的缘故。

1 subsiding   

v.（土地）下陷（因在地下采矿）( subside的现在分词 )；减弱；下降至较低或正常水平；一下子坐在椅子等上

参考例句：

• The flooded river was subsiding rapidly. 泛滥的河水正在迅速退落。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Gradually the tension was subsiding, gradually the governor was relenting. 风潮渐渐地平息了。 来自汉英文学 - 家（1-26） - 家（1-26）

2 solitary   

adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士

参考例句：

• I am rather fond of a solitary stroll in the country.我颇喜欢在乡间独自徜徉。
• The castle rises in solitary splendour on the fringe of the desert.这座城堡巍然耸立在沙漠的边际，显得十分壮美。

3 savage   

adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人

参考例句：

• The poor man received a savage beating from the thugs.那可怜的人遭到暴徒的痛打。
• He has a savage temper.他脾气粗暴。

4 westward   

n.西方，西部；adj.西方的，向西的；adv.向西

参考例句：

• We live on the westward slope of the hill.我们住在这座山的西山坡。
• Explore westward or wherever.向西或到什么别的地方去勘探。

5 vessel   

n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管

参考例句：

• The vessel is fully loaded with cargo for Shanghai.这艘船满载货物驶往上海。
• You should put the water into a vessel.你应该把水装入容器中。

6 latitude   

n.纬度，行动或言论的自由(范围)，(pl.)地区

参考例句：

• The latitude of the island is 20 degrees south.该岛的纬度是南纬20度。
• The two cities are at approximately the same latitude.这两个城市差不多位于同一纬度上。

7 hoisted   

把…吊起，升起( hoist的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He hoisted himself onto a high stool. 他抬身坐上了一张高凳子。
• The sailors hoisted the cargo onto the deck. 水手们把货物吊到甲板上。

8 apprehensiveness   

忧虑感，领悟力

参考例句：

• Our passenger gave no signs of nerves or apprehensiveness, as well she might have done. 我们的乘客本来会出现紧张和恐惧感的，但是实际上却没有。 来自互联网
• Results Patients nervousness, apprehensiveness were eliminated and good cooperation to the treatment was obtained. 结果消除了病人的紧张、恐惧心理，更好地配合治疗。 来自互联网

9 touching   

adj.动人的，使人感伤的

参考例句：

• It was a touching sight.这是一幅动人的景象。
• His letter was touching.他的信很感人。

10 solicitude   

n.焦虑

参考例句：

• Your solicitude was a great consolation to me.你对我的关怀给了我莫大的安慰。
• He is full of tender solicitude towards my sister.他对我妹妹满心牵挂。

11 seamen   

n.海员

参考例句：

• Experienced seamen will advise you about sailing in this weather. 有经验的海员会告诉你在这种天气下的航行情况。
• In the storm, many seamen wished they were on shore. 在暴风雨中，许多海员想，要是他们在陆地上就好了。