英语听书《白鲸记》第159期

 For several days after leaving Nantucket, nothing above hatches was seen of Captain Ahab.  出海好几天了，神秘的亚哈船长依然没有露面。

The mates regularly relieved each other at the watches, and for aught that could be seen to the contrary, they seemed to be the only commanders of the ship;  大副、二副和三副轮流值班，有条不紊地安排着船上的日常事务，仿佛船上的最高指挥者就是他们几个人。 

only they sometimes issued from the cabin with orders so sudden and peremptory¹, that after all it was plain they but commanded vicariously.  然而，你如果看到他们匆匆忙忙地从亚哈的船舱里奔出来，你就会明白，独裁者真正的所在。

Yes, their supreme² lord and dictator was there, though hitherto unseen by any eyes not permitted to penetrate³ into the now sacred retreat of the cabin.  出海以来，几乎每时每刻我都怀有一种与亚哈船长不期而遇的不安。

Every time I ascended⁴ to the deck from my watches below, I instantly gazed aft to mark if any strange face were visible;  在甲板上，我会突然回过头来，疑心后面有一张陌生的面孔正盯着我。 

for my first vague disquietude touching⁵ the unknown captain, now in the seclusion⁶ of the sea, became almost a perturbation.  以利亚那神神叨叨的鬼话无疑是形成我这种焦虑不安的心情的一个重要因素。

This was strangely heightened at times by the ragged⁷ Elijah's diabolical⁸ incoherences uninvitedly recurring⁹ to me, with a subtle energy I could not have before conceived of.  当然，这里面我个人的原因似乎也不容忽视，因为在平常，我对那样一个衣衫破烂的人的话会一笑置之的。 

1 peremptory   

adj.紧急的，专横的，断然的

参考例句：

• The officer issued peremptory commands.军官发出了不容许辩驳的命令。
• There was a peremptory note in his voice.他说话的声音里有一种不容置辩的口气。

2 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

3 penetrate   

v.透(渗)入；刺入，刺穿；洞察，了解

参考例句：

• Western ideas penetrate slowly through the East.西方观念逐渐传入东方。
• The sunshine could not penetrate where the trees were thickest.阳光不能透入树木最浓密的地方。

4 ascended   

v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He has ascended into heaven. 他已经升入了天堂。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The climbers slowly ascended the mountain. 爬山运动员慢慢地登上了这座山。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 touching   

adj.动人的，使人感伤的

参考例句：

• It was a touching sight.这是一幅动人的景象。
• His letter was touching.他的信很感人。

6 seclusion   

n.隐遁，隔离

参考例句：

• She liked to sunbathe in the seclusion of her own garden.她喜欢在自己僻静的花园里晒日光浴。
• I live very much in seclusion these days.这些天我过着几乎与世隔绝的生活。

7 ragged   

adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的

参考例句：

• A ragged shout went up from the small crowd.这一小群人发出了刺耳的喊叫。
• Ragged clothing infers poverty.破衣烂衫意味着贫穷。

8 diabolical   

adj.恶魔似的，凶暴的

参考例句：

• This maneuver of his is a diabolical conspiracy.他这一手是一个居心叵测的大阴谋。
• One speaker today called the plan diabolical and sinister.今天一名发言人称该计划阴险恶毒。

9 recurring   

adj.往复的，再次发生的

参考例句：

• This kind of problem is recurring often. 这类问题经常发生。
• For our own country, it has been a time for recurring trial. 就我们国家而言，它经过了一个反复考验的时期。