英语听书《白鲸记》第714期

 Even now, when the boats pulled upon this whale, and perilously¹ drew over his swaying flukes, 可是，甚至就在这时，在这三只小艇都划到那条大鲸身边，危险地滑过它那晃动着的鲸尾，

and the lances were darted² into him, they were followed by steady jets from the new made wound, which kept continually playing, 枪矛戳进它身上的时候，新伤和旧痕就慢慢喷出血来，继续流个不停，

while the natural spout-hole in his head was only at intervals³, however rapid, sending its affrighted moisture into the air.  而它头上那个天生的喷水孔也间歇地（尽管喷得很急激）向空中射出它那可怖的雾气。

From this last vent⁴ no blood yet came, because no vital part of him had thus far been struck. 这只最后的闸口到现在还没有流出血来，因为直到现在为止，还没有打中它的要害。

His life, as they significantly call it, was untouched. 它的生命，根据人们意味深长的说法，还没有被触动过。

As the boats now more closely surrounded him, the whole upper part of his form, with much of it that is ordinarily submerged, was plainly revealed. 这几只小艇现在把它包围得更紧了，它的整个上半身，和本来就已露在水面上的部分，都教人看得清清楚楚。

His eyes, or rather the places where his eyes had been, were beheld⁵. 它那双眼睛，或者不如说是在那个长有眼睛的地方，也看得到了。

As strange misgrown masses gather in the knot-holes of the noblest oaks when prostrate⁶, 好象是错长在枯朽了的老橡树的大木节里的奇怪的块体似的，

so from the points which the whale's eyes had once occupied, now protruded⁷ blind bulbs, horribly pitiable to see. 所以在那曾经是长着鲸眼的地方，现在暴出两只什么也看不见的大泡泡来，教人看了非常可怜。

But pity there was none. 不过，也没有什么好可怜的。

For all his old age, and his one arm, and his blind eyes, 尽管它年纪很大，只有独臂，又是瞎眼，

he must die the death and be murdered, in order to light the gay bridals and other merry-makings of men, 它却是该死该杀，该去照亮人类的快活的婚礼或者其它各种寻欢作乐的场面，

and also to illuminate⁸ the solemn churches that preach unconditional⁹ inoffensiveness by all to all. 也该去把庄严的教堂照得金碧辉煌，好让它永远向大家传布那绝对无害的福音。

Still rolling in his blood, at last he partially¹⁰ disclosed a strangely discolored bunch or protuberance, the size of a bushel, low down on the flank. 这时，它还在血泊里翻滚着，最后半侧着身子，在侧腹下端露出了一大团或者是一个大疙瘩，色泽奇特，大小约有三十六公升。

1 perilously   

adv.充满危险地，危机四伏地

参考例句：

• They were perilously close to the edge of the precipice. 他们离悬崖边很近，十分危险。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• It'seemed to me that we had come perilously close to failure already. 对我来说，好像失败和我只有一步之遥，岌岌可危。 来自互联网

2 darted   

v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔

参考例句：

• The lizard darted out its tongue at the insect. 蜥蜴伸出舌头去吃小昆虫。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The old man was displeased and darted an angry look at me. 老人不高兴了，瞪了我一眼。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 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。

4 vent   

n.通风口，排放口；开衩；vt.表达，发泄

参考例句：

• He gave vent to his anger by swearing loudly.他高声咒骂以发泄他的愤怒。
• When the vent became plugged,the engine would stop.当通风口被堵塞时，发动机就会停转。

5 beheld   

v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟

参考例句：

• His eyes had never beheld such opulence. 他从未见过这样的财富。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The soul beheld its features in the mirror of the passing moment. 灵魂在逝去的瞬间的镜子中看到了自己的模样。 来自英汉文学 - 红字

6 prostrate   

v.拜倒，平卧，衰竭；adj.拜倒的，平卧的，衰竭的

参考例句：

• She was prostrate on the floor.她俯卧在地板上。
• The Yankees had the South prostrate and they intended to keep It'so.北方佬已经使南方屈服了,他们还打算继续下去。

7 protruded   

v.（使某物）伸出，（使某物）突出( protrude的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The child protruded his tongue. 那小孩伸出舌头。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The creature's face seemed to be protruded, because of its bent carriage. 那人的脑袋似乎向前突出，那是因为身子佝偻的缘故。 来自英汉文学

8 illuminate   

vt.照亮，照明；用灯光装饰；说明，阐释

参考例句：

• Dreams kindle a flame to illuminate our dark roads.梦想点燃火炬照亮我们黑暗的道路。
• They use games and drawings to illuminate their subject.他们用游戏和图画来阐明他们的主题。

9 unconditional   

adj.无条件的，无限制的，绝对的

参考例句：

• The victorious army demanded unconditional surrender.胜方要求敌人无条件投降。
• My love for all my children is unconditional.我对自己所有孩子的爱都是无条件的。

10 partially   

adv.部分地，从某些方面讲

参考例句：

• The door was partially concealed by the drapes.门有一部分被门帘遮住了。
• The police managed to restore calm and the curfew was partially lifted.警方设法恢复了平静，宵禁部分解除。