英语听书《白鲸记》第750期

 Time out of mind the piratical proas of the Malays, lurking¹ among the low shaded coves² and islets of Sumatra, 在太古时代，那些马来的海盗快帆船，就隐藏在苏门答腊的矮林低覆的窄湾小岛间，

have sallied out upon the vessels³ sailing through the straits, fiercely demanding tribute at the point of their spears. 遇见船只驶过海峡，就突出袭击，穷凶极恶地以他们的枪尖来要求贡礼。

Though by the repeated bloody⁴ chastisements they have received at the hands of European cruisers, 虽然他们一再遭到欧洲巡洋舰的恶毒的惩罚，

the audacity⁵ of these corsairs has of late been somewhat repressed; 使得这些海盗的胆大妄为近来有所收敛；

yet, even at the present day, we occasionally hear of English and American vessels, 然而，甚至时至今日，我们还偶尔会听到说，

which, in those waters, have been remorselessly boarded and pillaged⁶. 在这一带的水域，有些英美船只遭到了残忍的洗劫。

With a fair, fresh wind, the Pequod was now drawing nigh to these straits; 这时，随着一阵畅快的疾风，"裴廓德号"正逐渐驶近这些海峡。

Ahab purposing to pass through them into the Java sea, 亚哈打算经过这些海峡，进入爪哇海，

and thence, cruising northwards, over waters known to be frequented here and there by the Sperm⁷ Whale, 然后再朝北驶去，横过那些据说是到处都有大抹香鲸出没的海洋，

sweep inshore by the Philippine Islands, and gain the far coast of Japan, in time for the great whaling season there. 掠过菲律宾群岛的沿海，到达遥远的日本海，以便及时赶上那边盛大的捕鲸季节。

By these means, the circumnavigating Pequod would sweep almost all the known Sperm Whale cruising grounds of the world, 这样做法，这只环游世界的"裴廓德号"在驶遍世界一切著名的抹香鲸巡游渔场后，

previous to descending⁸ upon the Line in the Pacific; 就几乎突然冲上太平洋的赤道线了。

where Ahab, though everywhere else foiled in his pursuit, firmly counted upon giving battle to Moby Dick, in the sea he was most known to frequent; 虽然亚哈到处都追踪不到莫比－迪克，但是，他却坚定地指望要在这个人所共知的、是它经常出没的海洋上，跟它一决胜负；

and at a season when he might most reasonably be presumed to be haunting it. 何况正碰上一个估计它最有可能在那里出没的季节。

But how now? in this zoned⁹ quest, does Ahab touch no land? does his crew drink air? 但是，在这样分区的追踪中，现在的情况怎样啦？亚哈是不是完全不靠岸？他那些水手喝空气么？

1 lurking   

潜在

参考例句：

• Why are you lurking around outside my house? 你在我房子外面鬼鬼祟祟的，想干什么？
• There is a suspicious man lurking in the shadows. 有一可疑的人躲在阴暗中。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

2 coves   

n.小海湾( cove的名词复数 )；家伙

参考例句：

• Grenada's unique layout includes many finger-like coves, making the island a popular destination. 格林纳达独特的地形布局包括许多手指状的洞穴，使得这个岛屿成为一个受人欢迎的航海地。 来自互联网

3 vessels   

n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人

参考例句：

• The river is navigable by vessels of up to 90 tons. 90 吨以下的船只可以从这条河通过。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• All modern vessels of any size are fitted with radar installations. 所有现代化船只都有雷达装置。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

4 bloody   

adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染

参考例句：

• He got a bloody nose in the fight.他在打斗中被打得鼻子流血。
• He is a bloody fool.他是一个十足的笨蛋。

5 audacity   

n.大胆，卤莽，无礼

参考例句：

• He had the audacity to ask for an increase in salary.他竟然厚着脸皮要求增加薪水。
• He had the audacity to pick pockets in broad daylight.他竟敢在光天化日之下掏包。

6 pillaged   

v.抢劫，掠夺( pillage的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• They are to be pillaged and terrorised in Hitler's fury and revenge. 在希特勒的狂怒和报复下，他们还遭到掠夺和恐怖统治。 来自辞典例句
• They villages were pillaged and their crops destroyed. 他们的村子被抢，他们的庄稼被毁。 来自辞典例句

7 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。

8 descending   

n. 下行 adj. 下降的

参考例句：

• The results are expressed in descending numerical order . 结果按数字降序列出。
• The climbers stopped to orient themselves before descending the mountain. 登山者先停下来确定所在的位置，然后再下山。

9 zoned   

adj.划成区域的，束带的v.（飞机、汽车等）急速移动( zoom的现在分词 )；（价格、费用等）急升，猛涨

参考例句：

• This small town has been zoned as a shopping area. 这个小镇已划作商业区。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They zoned the house into sleeping, sitting and dining rooms. 他们将房子区分成卧室、客厅和餐厅。 来自《简明英汉词典》