英语听书《白鲸记》第285期

 Good again. Now then, thou not only wantest to go a-whaling, to find out by experience what whaling is,  很好,很好。那么,你不单是要干捕鲸,要体验一下捕鲸是怎么回事,

but ye also want to go in order to see the world? Was not that what ye said? I thought so.  而且还要借此去见见世面吧?你刚才是不是这样说的?我想是这么说的。

Well then, just step forward there, and take a peep over the weather bow, and then back to me and tell me what ye see there. 好吧,那么,我只要你向前走,在船头的上风地方瞧一瞧,然后来告诉我,你在那边看到了些什么。

For a moment I stood a little puzzled by this curious request, not knowing exactly how to take it, whether humorously or in earnest.  这一奇特的要求,使我有点儿迷惑地楞了一会儿,不知道这要求究竟应该怎样理解,是说说玩的还是正经的。

But concentrating all his crow's feet into one scowl¹, Captain Peleg started me on the errand. 但是,一看到他眼角的皱纹都已皱得怒冲冲了,法勒船长可把我吓得连忙去干这差使了。

Going forward and glancing over the weather bow, I perceived that the ship swinging to her anchor with the flood-tide,was now obliquely² pointing towards the open ocean.  我走到前边,在船头的上风地方看了一阵,我看出由于涨潮,曳着船锚摇晃着的船身,现在正斜对着辽阔的海洋。

The prospect³ was unlimited⁴, but exceedingly monotonous⁵ and forbidding;  一望无际的景色,而且极其单调而又可怕;

not the slightest variety that I could see. 我一点也看不出什么变化。

Well, what's the report? said Peleg when I came back; what did ye see? 好吧,报告上来吧。我一回来,法勒就说;你看到些什么?

Not much, I replied--nothing but water; considerable horizon though, and there's a squall coming up, I think. 没有什么,我答道。只不过是一片海洋;辽阔得很,就要发大风了,我想。

Well, what dost thou think then of seeing the world? Do ye wish to go round Cape⁶ Horn to see any more of it, eh?  啊,那么,你对于见见世面有什么看法呢?你可想环游一下合恩角,再多见识一些么?

Can't ye see the world where you stand? 在你站着的地方你不能看到世面吗?

I was a little staggered, but go a-whaling I must, and I would; and the Pequod was as good a ship as any- 我有点儿支吾起来了,不过,捕鲸我是一定要去的,会去的;裴廓德号也是一条很不错的船。

I thought the best-and all this I now repeated to Peleg.  我认为是最好的。于是,我把这些话对法勒再说一遍。

Seeing me so determined⁷, he expressed his willingness to ship me. 他看到我如此坚决,就表示愿意雇用我。

And thou mayest as well sign the papers right off, he added-come along with ye.  那么,你不如就马上签约吧,接着他又说。跟我来。

And so saying, he led the way below deck into the cabin. 说着,他领我下了甲板,到舱里去。

1 scowl   

vi.(at)生气地皱眉，沉下脸，怒视；n.怒容

参考例句：

• I wonder why he is wearing an angry scowl.我不知道他为何面带怒容。
• The boss manifested his disgust with a scowl.老板面带怒色，清楚表示出他的厌恶之感。

2 obliquely   

adv.斜； 倾斜； 间接； 不光明正大

参考例句：

• From the gateway two paths led obliquely across the court. 从门口那儿，有两条小路斜越过院子。 来自辞典例句
• He was receding obliquely with a curious hurrying gait. 他歪着身子，古怪而急促地迈着步子，往后退去。 来自辞典例句

3 prospect   

n.前景，前途；景色，视野

参考例句：

• This state of things holds out a cheerful prospect.事态呈现出可喜的前景。
• The prospect became more evident.前景变得更加明朗了。

4 unlimited   

adj.无限的，不受控制的，无条件的

参考例句：

• They flew over the unlimited reaches of the Arctic.他们飞过了茫茫无边的北极上空。
• There is no safety in unlimited technological hubris.在技术方面自以为是会很危险。

5 monotonous   

adj.单调的，一成不变的，使人厌倦的

参考例句：

• She thought life in the small town was monotonous.她觉得小镇上的生活单调而乏味。
• His articles are fixed in form and monotonous in content.他的文章千篇一律，一个调调儿。

6 cape   

n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风

参考例句：

• I long for a trip to the Cape of Good Hope.我渴望到好望角去旅行。
• She was wearing a cape over her dress.她在外套上披着一件披肩。

7 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。