英语听书《白鲸记》第80期

 Oh! he ain't Captain Bildad; no, and he ain't Captain Peleg; HE'S AHAB, boy; and Ahab of old, thou knowest, was a crowned king!  他不是比勒达，他也不是法勒，他是亚哈，古代的以色列王亚哈，居高临下的君王！ 

And a very vile¹ one. When that wicked king was slain², the dogs, did they not lick his blood?  他还是十恶不赦的人，他被杀以后，狗都去舔他的血了！ 我顺嘴说了这么一句。 

Come hither to me—hither, hither, said Peleg, with a significance in his eye that almost startled me.  法勒又说：噢，小伙子，来来来，

Look ye, lad; never say that on board the Pequod. Never say it anywhere. Captain Ahab did not name himself.  我告诉你，在‘裴廓德号’上你千万别这么说！亚哈这个名字可不是船长自己取的，

Twas a foolish, ignorant whim³ of his crazy, widowed mother, who died when he was only a twelvemonth old.  这是他那痴呆的寡母给他起的名字！ 

And yet the old squaw Tistig, at Gayhead, said that the name would somehow prove prophetic.  他母亲在他一岁时就死了，可她临死时讲过，她为儿子取的这个外号将来会应验的！ 

And, perhaps, other fools like her may tell thee the same. I wish to warn thee. It's a lie.  所以我现在郑重地警告你，说话要小心。

I know Captain Ahab well; I've sailed with him as mate years ago;  我跟他出过海，我给他当大副。

I know what he is—a good man—not a pious⁴, good man, like Bildad, but a swearing good man—something like me—only there's a good deal more of him.  他是个好人，是个爱骂人的好人，而不是比勒达那种虔诚的好人！ 

1 vile   

adj.卑鄙的，可耻的，邪恶的；坏透的

参考例句：

• Who could have carried out such a vile attack?会是谁发起这么卑鄙的攻击呢？
• Her talk was full of vile curses.她的话里充满着恶毒的咒骂。

2 slain   

杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词)

参考例句：

• The soldiers slain in the battle were burried that night. 在那天夜晚埋葬了在战斗中牺牲了的战士。
• His boy was dead, slain by the hand of the false Amulius. 他的儿子被奸诈的阿缪利乌斯杀死了。

3 whim   

n.一时的兴致，突然的念头；奇想，幻想

参考例句：

• I bought the encyclopedia on a whim.我凭一时的兴致买了这本百科全书。
• He had a sudden whim to go sailing today.今天他突然想要去航海。

4 pious   

adj.虔诚的；道貌岸然的

参考例句：

• Alexander is a pious follower of the faith.亚历山大是个虔诚的信徒。
• Her mother was a pious Christian.她母亲是一个虔诚的基督教徒。