英语听书《白鲸记》第827期

 Chapter 99 The Doubloon 第九十九章 杜柏仑（西班牙从前的金币名称）

Ere now it has been related how Ahab was wont¹ to pace his quarter-deck, taking regular turns at either limit, the binnacle and mainmast; 先前已经说过，亚哈怎样喜欢在他的后甲板上，从罗盘盒到主桅的两头，来回地踱方步；

but in the multiplicity of other things requiring narration² it has not been added how that sometimes in these walks, 但是，在其它许多必须一说的事情中，还得加上一桩事情，那就是，在他这种散步中，

when most plunged³ in his mood, he was wont to pause in turn at each spot, and stand there strangely eyeing the particular object before him. 如果碰上他心事重重的时候，他每次总要在一个转身的那头，停将下来，神色奇特地站在那里，望着他面前那一样东西。

When he halted before the binnacle, with his glance fastened on the pointed⁴ needle in the compass, 当他停在罗盘盒前时，他的眼色就紧盯在罗盘里那支尖针上，

that glance shot like a javelin⁵ with the pointed intensity⁶ of his purpose; 那股眼色有如带着他那一发就要中的的一支标枪；

and when resuming his walk he again paused before the mainmast, then, as the same riveted⁷ glance fastened upon the riveted gold coin there, 待到他重新举步走到主桅前停下来时，他这一股凝注的眼色又紧盯着那块钉在那里的金币，

he still wore the same aspect of nailed firmness, only dashed with a certain wild longing⁸, if not hopefulness. 他依然现出同样一种钉得牢牢似的神色，不同的是这会儿却猛射出一种如果不是满怀希望。就是充满狂想的神色。

But one morning, turning to pass the doubloon, he seemed to be newly attracted by the strange figures and inscriptions⁹ stamped on it, 不过，有一天早晨，当他一转身瞥到那块杜柏仑时，他好象刚刚注意到那块金币上所镌刻的奇特的图案和文字似的，

as though now for the first time beginning to interpret for himself in some monomaniac way whatever significance might lurk¹⁰ in them. 仿佛这会儿才初次开始带点偏狂地体会到些图文可能含有的什么重大的意义。

And some certain significance lurks¹¹ in all things, else all things are little worth, 万物都多少含有一种意义，否则就没有什么价值，

and the round world itself but an empty cipher¹², except to sell by the cartload, as they do hills about Boston, to fill up some morass¹³ in the Milky¹⁴ Way. 那个滚圆的地球本身不过是个空洞的零号了，除了象人们对待波士顿的山地那样，一车一车地出卖，去填银河的沼地。

1 wont   

adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯

参考例句：

• He was wont to say that children are lazy.他常常说小孩子们懒惰。
• It is his wont to get up early.早起是他的习惯。

2 narration   

n.讲述，叙述；故事；记叙体

参考例句：

• The richness of his novel comes from his narration of it.他小说的丰富多采得益于他的叙述。
• Narration should become a basic approach to preschool education.叙事应是幼儿教育的基本途径。

3 plunged   

v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降

参考例句：

• The train derailed and plunged into the river. 火车脱轨栽进了河里。
• She lost her balance and plunged 100 feet to her death. 她没有站稳，从100英尺的高处跌下摔死了。

4 pointed   

adj.尖的，直截了当的

参考例句：

• He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
• She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。

5 javelin   

n.标枪，投枪

参考例句：

• She achieved a throw of sixty metres in the javelin event.在掷标枪项目中，她掷了60米远。
• The coach taught us how to launch a javelin.教练教我们投标枪。

6 intensity   

n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度

参考例句：

• I didn't realize the intensity of people's feelings on this issue.我没有意识到这一问题能引起群情激奋。
• The strike is growing in intensity.罢工日益加剧。

7 riveted   

铆接( rivet的过去式和过去分词 )； 把…固定住； 吸引； 引起某人的注意

参考例句：

• I was absolutely riveted by her story. 我完全被她的故事吸引住了。
• My attention was riveted by a slight movement in the bushes. 我的注意力被灌木丛中的轻微晃动吸引住了。

8 longing   

n.（for）渴望

参考例句：

• Hearing the tune again sent waves of longing through her.再次听到那首曲子使她胸中充满了渴望。
• His heart burned with longing for revenge.他心中燃烧着急欲复仇的怒火。

9 inscriptions   

（作者）题词( inscription的名词复数 )； 献词； 碑文； 证劵持有人的登记

参考例句：

• Centuries of wind and rain had worn away the inscriptions on the gravestones. 几个世纪的风雨已磨损了墓碑上的碑文。
• The inscriptions on the stone tablet have become blurred with the passage of time. 年代久了，石碑上的字迹已经模糊了。

10 lurk   

n.潜伏，潜行；v.潜藏，潜伏，埋伏

参考例句：

• Dangers lurk in the path of wilderness.在这条荒野的小路上隐伏着危险。
• He thought he saw someone lurking above the chamber during the address.他觉得自己看见有人在演讲时潜藏在会议厅顶上。

11 lurks   

n.潜在，潜伏；（lurk的复数形式）vi.潜伏，埋伏（lurk的第三人称单数形式）

参考例句：

• Behind his cool exterior lurks a reckless and frustrated person. 在冷酷的外表背后，他是一个鲁莽又不得志的人。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Good fortune lies within Bad, Bad fortune lurks within good. 福兮祸所倚，祸兮福所伏。 来自互联网

12 cipher   

n.零；无影响力的人；密码

参考例句：

• All important plans were sent to the police in cipher.所有重要计划均以密码送往警方。
• He's a mere cipher in the company.他在公司里是个无足轻重的小人物。

13 morass   

n.沼泽，困境

参考例句：

• I tried to drag myself out of the morass of despair.我试图从绝望的困境中走出来。
• Mathematical knowledge was certain and offered a secure foothold in a morass.数学知识是确定无疑的,它给人们在沼泽地上提供了一个稳妥的立足点。

14 milky   

adj.牛奶的，多奶的；乳白色的

参考例句：

• Alexander always has milky coffee at lunchtime.亚历山大总是在午餐时喝掺奶的咖啡。
• I like a hot milky drink at bedtime.我喜欢睡前喝杯热奶饮料。