英语听书《白鲸记》第982期

 Nor does it unfrequently occur, that Nantucket captains will send a son of such tender age away from them, 这种情形在南塔开特并不是什么希罕的事情，一般船长们总要打发这样幼小的儿子离开家门，

for a protracted¹ three or four years' voyage in some other ship than their own; 送到别人的船上，而不是自己的船上，去连续过个三四年的海上生活；

so that their first knowledge of a whaleman's career shall be unenervated by any chance display of a father's natural but untimely partiality, or undue² apprehensiveness³ and concern. 这样，由于做父亲的那种自然的，然而是不合时宜的偏爱，或者是不适当的理解与关怀，一个捕鲸者的生涯就首先认识到任何场合都不应显得软弱无能。

Meantime, now the stranger was still beseeching⁴ his poor boon⁵ of Ahab; 这时，这个陌生船长还在对亚哈哀求苦告；

and Ahab still stood like an anvil⁶, receiving every shock, but without the least quivering of his own. 亚哈也还是象一块砧板似地安在那里，承受着人家一记记的敲击，他自己却毫无所动。

I will not go, said the stranger, "till you say aye to me. 除非你对我说好，否则我就不走。陌生船长说。"

Do to me as you would have me do to you in the like case. 请你象在这样情况下要我帮助你一样，帮助我一下吧。

For you too have a boy, Captain Ahab — though but a child, and nestling safely at home now — a child of your old age too — Yes, yes, you relent; 因为，亚哈船长，你也有个儿子——虽然不过还是个小孩，现在在家里过得平平安安——可也是你的老来子呀——不错，不错，你发慈悲了；

I see it — run, run, men, now, and stand by to square in the yards." 我看出来了——赶快，赶快，伙伴们，那么，准备把帆桁调一调吧。"

Avast, cried Ahab — "touch not a rope-yarn"; then in a voice that prolongingly moulded every word — "Captain Gardiner, I will not do it. 别动，亚哈叫道，"一根绳索都不许碰；"接着就字锤句炼地慢慢地说——"加迪纳船长，这事情我不干。

Even now I lose time, Good-bye, good-bye. God bless ye, man, and may I forgive myself, but I must go. 就这会工夫，已经叫我浪费了时间，再会，再会。愿上帝保佑你，愿我自己原谅自己，我无论如何得启航了。

 

1 protracted   

adj.拖延的；延长的v.拖延“protract”的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• The war was protracted for four years. 战争拖延了四年。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• We won victory through protracted struggle. 经过长期的斗争，我们取得了胜利。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 undue   

adj.过分的；不适当的；未到期的

参考例句：

• Don't treat the matter with undue haste.不要过急地处理此事。
• It would be wise not to give undue importance to his criticisms.最好不要过分看重他的批评。

3 apprehensiveness   

忧虑感，领悟力

参考例句：

• Our passenger gave no signs of nerves or apprehensiveness, as well she might have done. 我们的乘客本来会出现紧张和恐惧感的，但是实际上却没有。 来自互联网
• Results Patients nervousness, apprehensiveness were eliminated and good cooperation to the treatment was obtained. 结果消除了病人的紧张、恐惧心理，更好地配合治疗。 来自互联网

4 beseeching   

adj.恳求似的v.恳求，乞求（某事物）( beseech的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• She clung to her father, beseeching him for consent. 她紧紧挨着父亲，恳求他答应。 来自辞典例句
• He casts a beseeching glance at his son. 他用恳求的眼光望着儿子。 来自辞典例句

5 boon   

n.恩赐，恩物，恩惠

参考例句：

• A car is a real boon when you live in the country.在郊外居住，有辆汽车确实极为方便。
• These machines have proved a real boon to disabled people.事实证明这些机器让残疾人受益匪浅。

6 anvil   

n.铁钻

参考例句：

• The blacksmith shaped a horseshoe on his anvil.铁匠在他的铁砧上打出一个马蹄形。
• The anvil onto which the staples are pressed was not assemble correctly.订书机上的铁砧安装错位。