英语听书《白鲸记》第607期

 　　Thereby¹ the weapon is instantly at hand to its hurler,  因此，这种武器，使用人随时都拿得到，

　　who snatches it up as readily from its rest as a backwoodsman swings his rifle from the wall.  他顺手从架子上抓起那把标枪，如同一个森林人随时从墙上摘下他那支来福枪。

　　It is customary to have two harpoons² reposing³ in the crotch, respectively called the first and second irons. 按照习惯，一只叉柱总是架有两支标枪，分别叫做头枪和二枪。

　　But these two harpoons, each by its own cord, are both connected with the line; 但是，这两支各缚有一找绳子的标枪，都是连着一根捕鲸索的；

　　the object being this: to dart⁴ them both, if possible, one instantly after the other into the same whale;  其目的是：如果两支都有投出去的可能，就可以一支紧接一支地向那条鲸投去；

　　so that if, in the coming drag, one should draw out, the other may still retain a hold.  所以，碰到要拖曳的时候，如果必须拉出一支来，另一支还是可以插在鲸身上。

　　It is a doubling of the chances.  这就是双重的机会。

　　But it very often happens that owing to the instantaneous, violent, convulsive running of the whale upon receiving the first iron,  不过往往会出现这种情况：由于大鲸一受到第一枪，便立刻狂游乱窜，

　　it becomes impossible for the harpooneer, however lightning-like in his movements, to pitch the second iron into him.  弄得那个标枪手，尽管动作迅速如闪电，也无法再对它补上第二枪。

　　Nevertheless, as the second iron is already connected with the line, and the line is running,  然而，因为二枪本来已是跟那根捕鲸索连在一起，而且那根捕鲸索又正在奔着，

　　hence that weapon must, at all events, be anticipatingly tossed out of the boat, somehow and somewhere;  因此，无论如何，必须把那支标枪先从小艇抛出去，

　　else the most terrible jeopardy⁵ would involve all hands. 否则，大家就会遭到最可怖的危险。

　　Tumbled into the water, it accordingly is in such cases;  一旦碰到这种情况，标枪往往就滚进海里；

　　the spare coils of box line (mentioned in a preceding chapter) making this feat⁶, in most instances, prudently⁷ practicable.  那只索桶（前一章已经提到了）里多余的索圈也慢慢地滚出去。

1 thereby   

adv.因此，从而

参考例句：

• I have never been to that city,,ereby I don't know much about it.我从未去过那座城市，因此对它不怎么熟悉。
• He became a British citizen,thereby gaining the right to vote.他成了英国公民，因而得到了投票权。

2 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

3 reposing   

v.将（手臂等）靠在某人（某物）上( repose的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• His parents were now reposing in the local churchyard. 他的双亲现在长眠于本地教堂墓地。 来自辞典例句
• The picture shows a nude reposing on a couch. 这幅画表现的是一个人赤身体躺在长沙发上。 来自辞典例句

4 dart   

v.猛冲，投掷；n.飞镖，猛冲

参考例句：

• The child made a sudden dart across the road.那小孩突然冲过马路。
• Markov died after being struck by a poison dart.马尔科夫身中毒镖而亡。

5 jeopardy   

n.危险；危难

参考例句：

• His foolish behaviour may put his whole future in jeopardy.他愚蠢的行为可能毁了他一生的前程。
• It is precisely at this juncture that the boss finds himself in double jeopardy.恰恰在这个关键时刻，上司发现自己处于进退两难的境地。

6 feat   

n.功绩；武艺，技艺；adj.灵巧的，漂亮的，合适的

参考例句：

• Man's first landing on the moon was a feat of great daring.人类首次登月是一个勇敢的壮举。
• He received a medal for his heroic feat.他因其英雄业绩而获得一枚勋章。

7 prudently   

adv. 谨慎地，慎重地

参考例句：

• He prudently pursued his plan. 他谨慎地实行他那计划。
• They had prudently withdrawn as soon as the van had got fairly under way. 他们在蓬车安全上路后立即谨慎地离去了。