英语听书《白鲸记》第365期

 But this insult is whittled¹ down to a point only.' But now comes the greatest joke of the dream, Flask².  而这种侮辱不过是一点点而已。不过,弗拉斯克,现在这个梦的最大的玩笑来到了。

While I was battering³ away at the pyramid, a sort of badger-haired old merman, with a hump on his back, takes me by the shoulders, and slews⁴ me round.  正当我在乱踢那金字塔的时候,来了一种长满獾毛的老人鱼,背上长着个驼峰,抓起我的肩膀,把我团团转地拖了一通。

What are you bout⁵?says he. Slid! man, but I was frightened. Such a phiz! But, somehow, next moment I was over the fright. 你在干什么?他说。我滑倒了!老朋友,我可吓坏了。这么一副相貌!不过,不知怎么一来,过了一会,我又不害怕了。

What am I about?says I at last.And what business is that of yours, I should like to know, Mr. Humpback? Do you want a kick? 我在干什么?我终于说道。那么,你是干什么的,我倒想知道,驼背先生?你可要挨一脚?

By the lord, Flask, I had no sooner said that, than he turned round his stern to me, bent⁶ over, and dragging up a lot of seaweed he had for a clout-what do you think, I saw? 的的确确,弗拉斯克,我的话还没有说完,他已经屁股一转,弯下腰去,拉起他当破布片用的一团海藻...你想我看到什么...

why thunder alive, man, his stern was stuck full of marlinspikes, with the points out. Says I on second thought,I guess I won't kick you, old fellow. 哎哟,老朋友,他的屁股尽是一些穿索针,尖端都戳了出来。我再一想,就说,我想我还是不踢你吧,老头儿。

Wise Stubb,' said he, 'wise Stubb;' and kept muttering it all the time, a sort of eating of his own gums like a chimney hag.  他说,聪明的斯塔布,聪明的斯塔布;他就这么不住地嘟哝下去,直象是一只烟囱似的八目鳗在嚼着它自己的齿龈。

Seeing he wasn't going to stop saying over his 'wise Stubb, wise Stubb,I thought I might as well fall to kicking the pyramid again.  我看到他并不打算停止他那'聪明的斯塔布,聪明的斯塔布,,我心想,还是再踢那个金字塔吧。

But I had only just lifted my foot for it, when he roared out,Stop that kicking!Halloa,says I,what's the matter now, old fellow? 但是,我刚把脚一举,要踢出去的时候,他就吼了起来,别踢!喂,我说,现在又怎么啦,老头儿?

Look ye here,says he; 'let's argue the insult. Captain Ahab kicked ye, didn't he?' 'Yes, he did,' says I--'right here it was. 你听着,他说,'什么叫侮辱,我们来辩一辩理吧。亚哈船长踢了你,可不是吗?是呀,他踢了我,我说...就正踢在这地方。

Very good,says he-he used his ivory leg, didn't he?Yes, he did,says I.  很好,他说...他使的是那只牙腿吧,可不是吗?不错,是这样,我说。

Well then,says he,wise Stubb, what have you to complain of? Didn't he kick with right good will?  那么,他说,聪明的斯塔布,你有什么可埋怨的呢?他可不是好心好意的踢吗?

1 whittled   

v.切，削（木头），使逐渐变小( whittle的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He whittled a simple toy from the piece of wood. 他把那块木头削成了一个简易的玩具。
• The government's majority has been whittled down to eight. 政府多数票减少到了八票。

2 flask   

n.瓶，火药筒，砂箱

参考例句：

• There is some deposit in the bottom of the flask.这只烧杯的底部有些沉淀物。
• He took out a metal flask from a canvas bag.他从帆布包里拿出一个金属瓶子。

3 battering   

n.用坏，损坏v.连续猛击( batter的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The film took a battering from critics in the US. 该影片在美国遭遇到批评家的猛烈抨击。
• He kept battering away at the door. 他接连不断地砸门。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 slews   

n.许多，大量( slew的名词复数 )v.螫伤，刺伤( sting的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

5 bout   

n.侵袭，发作；一次(阵，回)；拳击等比赛

参考例句：

• I was suffering with a bout of nerves.我感到一阵紧张。
• That bout of pneumonia enfeebled her.那次肺炎的发作使她虚弱了。

6 bent   

n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的

参考例句：

• He was fully bent upon the project.他一心扑在这项计划上。
• We bent over backward to help them.我们尽了最大努力帮助他们。