英语听书《白鲸记》第644期

 　　It turned out that the Jeroboam had a malignant¹ epidemic² on board,  结果才弄清楚，"耶罗波安号"上闹过一种恶性流行症，

　　and that Mayhew, her captain, was fearful of infecting the Pequod's company. 船长梅休怕会传给"裴廓德号"的船员。

　　For, though himself and the boat's crew remained untainted, 因为，虽则他跟他那只小艇的水手都还没有染上这种流行症，

　　and though his ship was half a rifle-shot off, and an incorruptible sea and air rolling and flowing between; 虽则他那艘船还远隔半个步枪射程之遥，而且中间还横着一重滚滚的清水和一层不断在吹刮着的清风；

　　yet conscientiously⁴ adhering to the timid quarantine of the land, he peremptorily⁵ refused to come into direct contact with the Pequod. 然而，他还是慎重地严格遵守陆上那种胆怯的检疫法，硬是不肯跟"裴廓德号"直接接触。

　　But this did by no means prevent all communications. 但是，这也决不是说不能进行一切联系。

　　Preserving an interval⁶ of some few yards between itself and the ship, 他们虽然保持着几码的距离，

　　the Jeroboam's boat by the occasional use of its oars⁷ contrived⁸ to keep parallel to the Pequod,  可是，"耶罗波安号"的小艇却时时用它那些桨子，设法跟"裴廓德号"保持平行，

　　as she heavily forged through the sea (for by this time it blew very fresh), with her main-topsail aback; 因为"裴廓德号"猛烈地向前驶去（这时风已吹得很急），主桅的中桅帆朝后鼓起着；

　　though, indeed, at times by the sudden onset⁹ of a large rolling wave, the boat would be pushed some way ahead; 虽说时时确有一阵滚滚的巨浪突然冲击过来，把那只小艇往前冲了一阵；

　　but would be soon skilfully¹⁰ brought to her proper bearings again. 不过，他们立刻又很熟练地使它恢复正常。

　　Subject to this, and other the like interruptions now and then, a conversation was sustained between the two parties; 由于这种情况，再加上不时发生的其它类似的障碍，双方的对话就不免断断续续；

　　but at intervals¹¹ not without still another interruption of a very different sort. 而且，也时时不免发生另一种性质十分不同的障碍。

　　Pulling an oar³ in the Jeroboam's boat, was a man of a singular appearance, 在"耶罗波安号"的小艇上操桨的，有一个相貌颇为特别的水手，

　　even in that wild whaling life where individual notabilities make up all totalities.  哪怕在那种各种人等应有尽有的野蛮的捕鲸业里，他也是个罕见的人。

1 malignant   

adj.恶性的，致命的；恶意的，恶毒的

参考例句：

• Alexander got a malignant slander.亚历山大受到恶意的诽谤。
• He started to his feet with a malignant glance at Winston.他爬了起来，不高兴地看了温斯顿一眼。

2 epidemic   

n.流行病；盛行；adj.流行性的，流传极广的

参考例句：

• That kind of epidemic disease has long been stamped out.那种传染病早已绝迹。
• The authorities tried to localise the epidemic.当局试图把流行病限制在局部范围。

3 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。

4 conscientiously   

adv.凭良心地；认真地，负责尽职地；老老实实

参考例句：

• He kept silent,eating just as conscientiously but as though everything tasted alike. 他一声不吭，闷头吃着，仿佛桌上的饭菜都一个味儿。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• She discharged all the responsibilities of a minister conscientiously. 她自觉地履行部长的一切职责。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 peremptorily   

adv.紧急地，不容分说地，专横地

参考例句：

• She peremptorily rejected the request. 她断然拒绝了请求。
• Their propaganda was peremptorily switched to an anti-Western line. 他们的宣传断然地转而持反对西方的路线。 来自辞典例句

6 interval   

n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息

参考例句：

• The interval between the two trees measures 40 feet.这两棵树的间隔是40英尺。
• There was a long interval before he anwsered the telephone.隔了好久他才回了电话。

7 oars   

n.桨，橹( oar的名词复数 )；划手v.划（行）( oar的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• He pulled as hard as he could on the oars. 他拼命地划桨。
• The sailors are bending to the oars. 水手们在拼命地划桨。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 contrived   

adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的

参考例句：

• There was nothing contrived or calculated about what he said.他说的话里没有任何蓄意捏造的成分。
• The plot seems contrived.情节看起来不真实。

9 onset   

n.进攻，袭击，开始，突然开始

参考例句：

• The drug must be taken from the onset of the infection.这种药必须在感染的最初期就开始服用。
• Our troops withstood the onset of the enemy.我们的部队抵挡住了敌人的进攻。

10 skilfully   

adv. (美skillfully)熟练地

参考例句：

• Hall skilfully weaves the historical research into a gripping narrative. 霍尔巧妙地把历史研究揉进了扣人心弦的故事叙述。
• Enthusiasm alone won't do. You've got to work skilfully. 不能光靠傻劲儿，得找窍门。

11 intervals   

n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息

参考例句：

• The forecast said there would be sunny intervals and showers. 预报间晴，有阵雨。
• Meetings take place at fortnightly intervals. 每两周开一次会。