英语听书《白鲸记》第592期

 　　First: In order to facilitate the fastening to it of an additional line from a neighboring boat,  第一，万一碰到那条被击中了的鲸深钻到了海底，

　　in case the stricken whale should sound so deep as to threaten to carry off the entire line originally attached to the harpoon¹.  有把原来接在标枪上的全部索子都拖下去的危险时，那么，就可以把这一头接在邻近的小艇的另一条索子上。

　　In these instances, the whale of course is shifted like a mug of ale, as it were, from the one boat to the other; 在这种场合，大鲸自然就象一桶麦酒那样，在两只小艇间晃来晃去；

　　though the first boat always hovers² at hand to assist its consort³.  原来那只小艇则始终在旁边荡来荡去，以便随时帮助它的僚艇。

　　Second: This arrangement is indispensable for common safety's sake; 其次，这也是为照顾大家安全而必不可缺的做法；

　　for were the lower end of the line in any way attached to the boat, 因为如果把索子下边的一端随便缚在艇上，

　　and were the whale then to run the line out to the end almost in a single, smoking minute as he sometimes does, 万一刚好碰上当时那条鲸差不多在一筒烟工夫（这是常常会碰到的）就要把索子都拖光了，

　　he would not stop there, for the doomed⁴ boat would infallibly be dragged down after him into the profundity⁵ of the sea; 它又不会就此打住，那么，那只注定要惨遭大难的小艇就一定会给它一起拖了下去，直拖进了海底；

　　and in that case no town-crier would ever find her again. 这样一来，任你怎样喊破喉咙，也无法再找到那只小艇。

　　Before lowering the boat for the chase, the upper end of the line is taken aft from the tub, and passing round the loggerhead there,  在放下小艇追击之前，得先把捕鲸索的上端打从艇后的小桶里拉出来，兜过艇尾的圆柱，

　　is again carried forward the entire length of the boat, resting crosswise upon the loom⁶ or handle of every man's oar⁷, 再由艇尾直拉到艇头，交叉地绕在每只桨柄或者橹柄上，

　　so that it jogs against his wrist in rowing; 这样，在划桨的时候，捕鲸索就轻擦着桨手的肘腕；

　　and also passing between the men, as they alternately sit at the opposite gunwales, 同时，捕鲸索也就在那些间隔地坐在艇舷两侧的水手间绕来绕去，

　　to the leaded chocks or grooves⁸ in the extreme pointed⁹ prow¹⁰ of the boat,  一直拉到小艇最前头的突出的木楔或者槽沟里，

　　where a wooden pin or skewer¹¹ the size of a common quill¹², prevents it from slipping out.  绕在装有一种跟普通木签子一般大小的木串轴或者扣轴的地方，使它不致滑脱。

1 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。

2 hovers   

鸟( hover的第三人称单数 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫

参考例句：

• A hawk hovers in the sky. 一只老鹰在天空盘旋。
• A hen hovers her chicks. 一只母鸡在孵小鸡。

3 consort   

v.相伴；结交

参考例句：

• They went in consort two or three together.他们三三两两结伴前往。
• The nurses are instructed not to consort with their patients.护士得到指示不得与病人交往。

4 doomed   

命定的

参考例句：

• The court doomed the accused to a long term of imprisonment. 法庭判处被告长期监禁。
• A country ruled by an iron hand is doomed to suffer. 被铁腕人物统治的国家定会遭受不幸的。

5 profundity   

n.渊博；深奥，深刻

参考例句：

• He impressed his audience by the profundity of his knowledge.他知识渊博给听众留下了深刻的印象。
• He pretended profundity by eye-beamings at people.他用神采奕奕的眼光看着人们，故作深沉。

6 loom   

n.织布机，织机；v.隐现，(危险、忧虑等)迫近

参考例句：

• The old woman was weaving on her loom.那位老太太正在织布机上织布。
• The shuttle flies back and forth on the loom.织布机上梭子来回飞动。

7 oar   

n.桨，橹，划手；v.划行

参考例句：

• The sailors oar slowly across the river.水手们慢慢地划过河去。
• The blade of the oar was bitten off by a shark.浆叶被一条鲨鱼咬掉了。

8 grooves   

n.沟( groove的名词复数 )；槽；老一套；（某种）音乐节奏v.沟( groove的第三人称单数 )；槽；老一套；（某种）音乐节奏

参考例句：

• Wheels leave grooves in a dirt road. 车轮在泥路上留下了凹痕。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Sliding doors move in grooves. 滑动门在槽沟中移动。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

9 pointed   

adj.尖的，直截了当的

参考例句：

• He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
• She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。

10 prow   

n.(飞机)机头，船头

参考例句：

• The prow of the motor-boat cut through the water like a knife.汽艇的船头像一把刀子劈开水面向前行驶。
• He stands on the prow looking at the seadj.他站在船首看着大海。

11 skewer   

n.（烤肉用的）串肉杆；v.用杆串好

参考例句：

• I used a skewer to make an extra hole in my belt.我用扦子在腰带上又打了一个眼儿。
• He skewered his victim through the neck.他用扦子刺穿了受害人的脖子。

12 quill   

n.羽毛管；v.给（织物或衣服）作皱褶

参考例句：

• He wrote with a quill.他用羽毛笔写字。
• She dipped a quill in ink,and then began to write.她将羽毛笔在墨水里蘸了一下，随后开始书写。