英语听书《白鲸记》第640期

 　　That done, if it belong to a small whale it is hoisted¹ on deck to be deliberately² disposed of. 这样做后，如果是一条小鲸，那就把它的头拖上甲板来，以后再慢慢处理。

　　But, with a full grown leviathan this is impossible; 不过，如果是一只茁壮的大海兽，就不能这样做了，

　　for the sperm³ whale's head embraces nearly one third of his entire bulk, and completely to suspend such a burden as that, 因为抹香鲸的头差不多要占它整个身躯的三分之一，要把这样重的东西给完全吊上来，

　　even by the immense tackles of a whaler, this were as vain a thing as to attempt weighing a Dutch barn in jewellers' scales. 即使用捕鲸船里的巨大的复滑车也办不到，这正如想用珠宝店里的厘秤去称荷兰的牛棚一样的白费。

　　The Pequod's whale being decapitated and the body stripped, the head was hoisted against the ship's side, 且说"裴廓德号"这条鲸，给斩了头，剥了皮后，人们就把那只头挂在船侧，

　　about half way out of the sea, so that it might yet in great part be buoyed⁴ up by its native element. 大约有一半露出在海面上，而还有一大半也许是它自行浮起来的。

　　And there with the strained craft steeply leaning over to it, by reason of the enormous downward drag from the lower mast-head, 由于下桅顶给曳得大大地向下宕，这只吃重的大船很陡峭地斜靠在那只头上，

　　and every yard-arm on that side projecting like a crane over the waves; 于是靠近那一面的每一根桁臂都象鹤脖子一般伸向海面。

　　there, that blood-dripping head hung to the Pequod's waist like the giant Holofernes's from the girdle of Judith. 那只血淋淌滴的吊在"裴廓德号"船腰上的头颅，直象是那个挂在朱狄斯的腰际的、巨人荷洛弗恩的头。

　　When this last task was accomplished⁵ it was noon, and the seamen⁶ went below to their dinner. 等到做完了最后这一工作，时间已近午刻了，水手们都到舱里去吃中饭。

　　Silence reigned⁷ over the before tumultuous but now deserted⁸ deck. 于是，刚才还是闹哄哄的，现在却已空无一人的甲板上便阒无声动了。

　　An intense copper⁹ calm, like a universal yellow lotus, was more and more unfolding its noiseless measureless leaves upon the sea. 一片铿锵有声似的宁静，象一棵黄色的大忘忧树，正在把它那无声无息又不可数计的树叶，越来越多地铺开在海面上。

　　A short space elapsed, and up into this noiselessness came Ahab alone from his cabin. 隔了不多一会儿，亚哈独自从他的舱房里出来，走上这个无声无息的境域。

1 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。

2 deliberately   

adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地

参考例句：

• The girl gave the show away deliberately.女孩故意泄露秘密。
• They deliberately shifted off the argument.他们故意回避这个论点。

3 sperm   

n.精子，精液

参考例句：

• Only one sperm fertilises an egg.只有一个精子使卵子受精。
• In human reproduction,one female egg is usually fertilized by one sperm.在人体生殖过程中，一个精子使一个卵子受精。

4 buoyed   

v.使浮起( buoy的过去式和过去分词 )；支持；为…设浮标；振奋…的精神

参考例句：

• Buoyed by their win yesterday the team feel confident of further success. 在昨天胜利的鼓舞下，该队有信心再次获胜。
• His encouragement buoyed her up during that difficult period. 他的鼓励使她在那段困难时期恢复了乐观的情绪。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 accomplished   

adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的

参考例句：

• Thanks to your help,we accomplished the task ahead of schedule.亏得你们帮忙,我们才提前完成了任务。
• Removal of excess heat is accomplished by means of a radiator.通过散热器完成多余热量的排出。

6 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。

7 reigned   

vi.当政，统治（reign的过去式形式）

参考例句：

• Silence reigned in the hall. 全场肃静。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Night was deep and dead silence reigned everywhere. 夜深人静，一片死寂。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

8 deserted   

adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的

参考例句：

• The deserted village was filled with a deathly silence.这个荒废的村庄死一般的寂静。
• The enemy chieftain was opposed and deserted by his followers.敌人头目众叛亲离。

9 copper   

n.铜；铜币；铜器；adj.铜(制)的；(紫)铜色的

参考例句：

• The students are asked to prove the purity of copper.要求学生们检验铜的纯度。
• Copper is a good medium for the conduction of heat and electricity.铜是热和电的良导体。