英语听书《白鲸记》第654期

 　　On the occasion in question, Queequeg figured in the Highland¹ costume, a shirt and socks, 在这种场合上，魁魁格穿的是苏格兰高地人的服装——一件衬衫，一双短袜

　　in which to my eyes, at least, he appeared to uncommon² advantage; 他这副装束，至少据我看来，显得非常好看；

　　and no one had a better chance to observe him, as will presently be seen. 谁也不会有象现在这样来看他的好机会。

　　Being the savage's bowsman, that is, the person who pulled the bow-oar in his boat (the second one from forward), 我因为是做了这个野人的前桨手，就是说，是一个扳他小艇的前桨人（坐在前边第二个位子上），

　　it was my cheerful duty to attend upon him while taking that hard-scrabble scramble³ upon the dead whale's back. 因此，我的愉快的责任就是在他摇摇晃晃攀上那死鲸背的时候，照料着他。

　　You have seen Italian organ-boys holding a dancing-ape by a long cord. 你们总看过意大利的风琴手，用一根长绳子牵着一只蹦蹦跳跳的猢狲吧。

　　Just so, from the ship's steep side, did I hold Queequeg down there in the sea, 我就是这么个做法，当他从那险峻的船舷下到海里去的时候，

　　by what is technically⁴ called in the fishery a monkey-rope, attached to a strong strip of canvas belted round his waist. 我就用一条捕鱼业上所谓猴索的绳子牵着魁魁格，索子结在他腰际一条坚牢的帆布带子上。

　　It was a humorously perilous⁵ business for both of us. 这对我们俩说来，可真是一件既滑稽又危险的差使。

　　For, before we proceed further, it must be said that the monkey-rope was fast at both ends; 因为，在我们站着不动的时候，应该说这条猴索的两头都是结得很牢靠的：

　　fast to Queequeg's broad canvas belt, and fast to my narrow leather one. 一头紧缚在魁魁格那条帆布阔腰带上，一头缚在我的狭皮带上。

　　So that for better or for worse, we two, for the time, were wedded⁶; and should poor Queequeg sink to rise no more, 所以我们两个人暂时确是有福共享，有祸同当的了；万一可怜的魁魁格沉将下去，就此再不浮上来，

　　then both usage and honor demanded, that instead of cutting the cord, it should drag me down in his wake. 那么，为了习俗和名誉，我不是把索子割断，而是必须跟他一起让它拖下去。

　　So, then, an elongated⁷ Siamese ligature united us. 这样，一根细长的暹逻绳子就把我们连结在一起。

　　Queequeg was my own inseparable twin brother; nor could I any way get rid of the dangerous liabilities which the hempen⁸ bond entailed⁹. 魁魁格就是我的难分难舍的孪生弟兄，我随便怎样都无法摆脱这条麻绳需要负担的危险责任了。

1 highland   

n.(pl.)高地，山地

参考例句：

• The highland game is part of Scotland's cultural heritage.苏格兰高地游戏是苏格兰文化遗产的一部分。
• The highland forests where few hunters venture have long been the bear's sanctuary.这片只有少数猎人涉险的高山森林，一直都是黑熊的避难所。

2 uncommon   

adj.罕见的，非凡的，不平常的

参考例句：

• Such attitudes were not at all uncommon thirty years ago.这些看法在30年前很常见。
• Phil has uncommon intelligence.菲尔智力超群。

3 scramble   

v.爬行，攀爬，杂乱蔓延，碎片，片段，废料

参考例句：

• He broke his leg in his scramble down the wall.他爬墙摔断了腿。
• It was a long scramble to the top of the hill.到山顶须要爬登一段长路。

4 technically   

adv.专门地，技术上地

参考例句：

• Technically it is the most advanced equipment ever.从技术上说，这是最先进的设备。
• The tomato is technically a fruit,although it is eaten as a vegetable.严格地说，西红柿是一种水果，尽管它是当作蔬菜吃的。

5 perilous   

adj.危险的，冒险的

参考例句：

• The journey through the jungle was perilous.穿过丛林的旅行充满了危险。
• We have been carried in safety through a perilous crisis.历经一连串危机，我们如今已安然无恙。

6 wedded   

adj.正式结婚的；渴望…的，执著于…的v.嫁，娶，（与…）结婚( wed的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She's wedded to her job. 她专心致志于工作。
• I was invited over by the newly wedded couple for a meal. 我被那对新婚夫妇请去吃饭。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 elongated   

v.延长，加长( elongate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Modigliani's women have strangely elongated faces. 莫迪里阿尼画中的妇女都长着奇长无比的脸。
• A piece of rubber can be elongated by streching. 一块橡皮可以拉长。 来自《用法词典》

8 hempen   

adj. 大麻制的, 大麻的

参考例句：

• The net destined to support the car was made of very solid hempen cord. 承受着吊篮的网子是用非常结实的麻绳编的。
• Plant the crop such as wheaten, corn, potato, horsebean, hempen, cole aptly, a year one ripe. 适宜种植小麦、玉米、马铃薯、蚕豆、大麻、油菜等作物，一年一熟。

9 entailed   

使…成为必要( entail的过去式和过去分词 )； 需要； 限定继承； 使必需

参考例句：

• The castle and the land are entailed on the eldest son. 城堡和土地限定由长子继承。
• The house and estate are entailed on the eldest daughter. 这所房子和地产限定由长女继承。