Slowly wading through the meadows of brit, the Pequod still held on her way north-eastward towards the island of Java; a gentle air impelling her keel,   裴廓德号慢慢地荡过那片小鱼牧场后，仍然继续朝东北方，向着爪哇岛驶去，和风推拍着它的船身，

　　so that in the surrounding serenity her three tall tapering masts mildly waved to that languid breeze, as three mild palms on a plain.  因此，在四周一派宁静中，它那三支又高又细的桅杆，合着那股徐徐的微风轻轻地摆动，宛如平原上三棵柔软的棕榈树。

　　And still, at wide intervals in the silvery night, the lonely, alluring jet would be seen. 但是，在银色的夜空里，每隔好久，还时时可以看到那个孤寂诱人的喷水。

　　But one transparent blue morning, when a stillness almost preternatural spread over the sea, however unattended with any stagnant calm; 有一天早晨，天宇明朗湛蓝，当时，海上弥漫着一片可说是超常的宁静。却又一点也不是死气沉沉的静寂；

　　when the long burnished sun-glade on the waters seemed a golden finger laid across them, enjoining some secrecy; 海面上那一大片辉煌绚烂的阳光，象是有一只在吩咐什么机密事情的金手搁在那上面；

　　when the slippered waves whispered together as they softly ran on; 滑板似的浪潮一面轻轻向前滚去，一面喁喁私语；

　　in this profound hush of the visible sphere a strange spectre was seen by Daggoo from the main-mast-head. 就在这种幽静得显明可见的氛围里，大个儿在主桅顶上看到了一个奇怪的鬼东西。

　　In the distance, a great white mass lazily rose, and rising higher and higher, and disentangling itself from the azure,  远处，有一大团白色的东西，慢吞吞地升起，离开蔚蓝的海面，越升越高，

　　at last gleamed before our prow like a snow-slide, new slid from the hills. 最后在我们的船头闪闪发光，好象刚从山岗上滑下来的雪崩。

　　Thus glistening for a moment, as slowly it subsided, and sank. 它这样闪烁一会儿后，又慢慢地下降，沉下去。

　　Then once more arose, and silently gleamed. 接着又再升起，悄悄地闪烁一会。