英语听书《白鲸记》第657期

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　　wherewith they slaughtered¹ as many sharks as they could reach. 在他们够得到的地方大肆屠杀鲨鱼。

　　This procedure of theirs, to be sure, was very disinterested² and benevolent³ of them. 他们这种做法，自然是毫无私心而且慈善为怀的。

　　They meant Queequeg's best happiness, I admit; 我虽然认为，他们是存心为了魁魁格的安全；

　　but in their hasty zeal⁴ to befriend him, and from the circumstance that both he and the sharks were at times half hidden by the blood-muddled water, 不过，在他们急想庇护他的热情中，再从魁魁格和鲨鱼群时常是半隐在血腥糊涂的海水里的情形说来，

　　those indiscreet spades of theirs would come nearer amputating a leg than a tall. 他们这两支不很慎重的铲子，就差不多更有砍到一条腿而不是砍到鱼的可能了。

　　But poor Queequeg, I suppose, straining and gasping⁶ there with that great iron hook, 可是我想，可怜的魁魁格在那里煞费气力气喘吁吁地摆弄那只大铁钩，

　　poor Queequeg, I suppose, only prayed to his Yojo, and gave up his life into the hands of his gods. 我想可怜的魁魁格只有恳求他的约约，把他的生命交给他的天神了。

　　Well, well, my dear comrade and twin-brother, thought I, as I drew in and then slacked off the rope to every swell⁷ of the sea—what matters it, after all? 当我合着海浪的起伏，把那根索子一会儿拉紧，一会儿放松的时候，我心里想，好吧，好吧，我亲爱的伙伴和孪生弟兄，说到底，这算得了什么呢？

　　Are you not the precious image of each and all of us men in this whaling world? 你可不就是我们这个捕鲸界里大家的宝贝么？

　　That unsounded ocean you gasp⁵ in, is Life; those sharks, your foes⁸; those spades, your friends; 你所渴望的那个深不可测的海洋就是生命；那些鲨鱼就是你的仇敌；那些铲子就是你的朋友；

　　and what between sharks and spades you are in a sad pickle⁹ and peril¹⁰, poor lad. 在你这样左右为难的险境中，鲨鱼跟铲子又有什么区别呢，可怜的伙伴呀。

　　But courage! there is good cheer in store for you, Queequeg. 可是，拿出勇气来呀！欢欣鼓舞正在等着你呢，魁魁格。

　　For now, as with blue lips and blood-shot eyes the exhausted¹¹ savage¹² at last climbs up the chains and stands all dripping and involuntarily trembling over the side; 现在这个精疲力竭、嘴唇发青、眼睛充血的野人，终于攀上了锚链，不由自主地抖抖索索翻过船舷，全身湿淋淌滴地站在那里了；

　　the steward¹³ advances, and with a benevolent, consolatory¹⁴ glance hands him—what? Some hot Cognac? No! 那个茶房带着一种仁慈、安慰的眼色走上前去，拿给他——什么呀？热的白兰地么？不！

　　hands him, ye gods! hands him a cup of tepid¹⁵ ginger¹⁶ and water! 给他，天呀！给他一杯不冷不热的姜汤！

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