英语听书《白鲸记》第782期

 

　　Now when these poor sun-burnt mariners¹, bare-footed, and with their trowsers rolled high up on their eely² legs, had wearily hauled their fat fish high and dry, promising³ themselves a good 150 pounds from the precious oil and bone; and in fantasy sipping⁴ rare tea with their wives, and good ale with their cronies, upon the strength of their respective shares; up steps a very learned and most Christian⁵ and charitable gentleman, with a copy of Blackstone under his arm; and laying it upon the whale's head, he says—"Hands off! this fish, my masters, is a Fast-Fish. I seize it as the Lord Warden⁶'s." Upon this the poor mariners in their respectful consternation—so truly English— knowing not what to say, fall to vigorously scratching their heads all round; meanwhile ruefully glancing from the whale to the stranger. But that did in nowise mend the matter, or at all soften⁷ the hard heart of the learned gentleman with the copy of Blackstone. At length one of them, after long scratching about for his ideas, made bold to speak,

　　且说当这些晒得黧黑的可怜水手，赤着脚，裤脚管高卷到他们那黄鳝也似的腿上，吃力地拖着那条肥鲸出水，一边正在思量着，可以从那贵重的油和骨中获得一百五十镑；一边又在想象着可以回家去跟老婆喝杯好茶，去跟他们那些一起花了力气的老朋友喝盅老白酒的这个时候，有个很有学问、最虔诚的基督教徒和慈善为怀的先生，腋下夹有布莱克斯通（威廉·布莱克斯通（1723—1780）——英国法学家，著有《英国法律诠释》等书。）的一本书，走上前来。他把那本书放在大鲸的头上后，说道——"不许动！老板们，这是条有主鲸。我要把它没收为港口监督的鲸。"可怜这些水手听到这些话，都给吓得诚惶诚恐——英国人确实是这样——不知该怎样说好，大家拼命搔起头皮来，眼色悲哀地望望大鲸，又望望这个陌生人。可是，这种态度既无济于事，也根本不能使这个腋下夹着布莱克斯通的书的有学问先生的硬心肠软下来。最后，其中有一个水手，在一边搔头皮，一边琢磨了好久之后，大着胆子说道：

　　Please, sir, who is the Lord Warden?

　　请问，阁下，港口监督是谁？

　　The Duke.

　　公爵。

　　But the duke had nothing to do with taking this fish?

　　可是公爵跟这条鲸一点也没有什么关系呀？

　　It is his.

　　鲸是他的。

　　We have been at great trouble, and peril⁸, and some expense, and is all that to go to the Duke's benefit; we getting nothing at all for our pains but our blisters⁹?

　　我们已经冒了千艰万险，也花了一些钱，难道这个好处都得全归公爵，我们所花的力气只能得到一泡气么？

　　It is his.

　　鲸是他的。 

1 mariners   

海员，水手（mariner的复数形式）

参考例句：

• Mariners were also able to fix their latitude by using an instrument called astrolabe. 海员们还可使用星盘这种仪器确定纬度。
• The ancient mariners traversed the sea. 古代的海员漂洋过海。

2 eely   

似鳗的，滑头滑脑的，易滑脱的

参考例句：

3 promising   

adj.有希望的，有前途的

参考例句：

• The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
• We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。

4 sipping   

v.小口喝，呷，抿( sip的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• She sat in the sun, idly sipping a cool drink. 她坐在阳光下懒洋洋地抿着冷饮。
• She sat there, sipping at her tea. 她坐在那儿抿着茶。

5 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

6 warden   

n.监察员，监狱长，看守人，监护人

参考例句：

• He is the warden of an old people's home.他是一家养老院的管理员。
• The warden of the prison signed the release.监狱长签发释放令。

7 soften   

v.(使)变柔软；(使)变柔和

参考例句：

• Plastics will soften when exposed to heat.塑料适当加热就可以软化。
• This special cream will help to soften up our skin.这种特殊的护肤霜有助于使皮肤变得柔软。

8 peril   

n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物

参考例句：

• The refugees were in peril of death from hunger.难民有饿死的危险。
• The embankment is in great peril.河堤岌岌可危。

9 blisters   

n.水疱( blister的名词复数 )；水肿；气泡

参考例句：

• My new shoes have made blisters on my heels. 我的新鞋把我的脚跟磨起泡了。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• His new shoes raised blisters on his feet. 他的新鞋把他的脚磨起了水疱。 来自《简明英汉词典》