英语听书《白鲸记》第533期

 　　So when they were working that evening at the pumps, there was on this head no small gamesomeness slily going on among them, 所以那天晚上大家在抽水的时候，他们就在这方面狡猾地开了不少玩笑，

　　as they stood with their feet continually overflowed¹ by the rippling² clear water; clear as any mountain spring, gentlemen-- 他们的双脚一直站在潺潺发响的清水里，那些水呀，诸位先生，可跟任何一种山泉一样清澈——

　　that bubbling from the pumps ran across the deck, and poured itself out in steady spouts³ at the lee scupper-holes. 水打蜿蜒在甲板上的帮浦里咕噜噜地流出来，又有规律地朝后边的排水口不缓不急地喷出去。

　　"Now, as you well know, it is not seldom the case in this conventional world of ours--watery or otherwise; "那么，正如各位所熟悉的，在我们这个陈陈相因的世界中——海上也好，其它的地方也好，往往有这样的情况，

　　that when a person placed in command over his fellow-men finds one of them to be very significantly his superior in general pride of manhood, 就是说，当一个人处于发号施令的地位，而发现有个下属很影响到他那高人一等的威信的时候，

　　straightway against that man he conceives an unconquerable dislike and bitterness; 他立刻就会对那人怀着一种按捺不住的不满和恨之入骨的心思；

　　and if he had a chance he will pull down and pulverize⁴ that subaltern's tower, and make a little heap of dust of it. 如果他有机会，他就要摧毁和粉碎那个下属的气焰，把他打垮。

　　Be this conceit⁵ of mine as it may, gentlemen, at all events Steelkilt was a tall and noble animal with a head like a Roman, 就算这是我自己的夸大说法吧，诸位先生，总之，斯蒂尔基尔特是个又高又大又神气的人，长着一只象罗马人一般的头颅，

　　and a flowing golden beard like the tasseled⁶ housings of your last viceroy's snorting charger; 那飘拂的金黄色胡须就跟你们从前的总督那匹鼻息喷个不停的战马的马衣缨一样，

　　and a brain, and a heart, and a soul in him, gentlemen, which had made Steelkilt Charlemagne, had he been born son to Charlemagne's father. 加上一个脑袋，一颗心和一个魂灵，诸位先生，这就使他成为斯蒂尔基尔特·查理曼(查理曼大帝(７４２？—８１４)——法兰克王。)，如果他是查理曼的父亲的亲生子的话。

　　But Radney, the mate, was ugly as a mule⁷; yet as hardy⁸, as stubborn, as malicious⁹. 但是，这个叫做拉德尼的大副，却丑得象头骡子，而且又象骡子一般能吃苦耐劳、倔强和有恶意。

　　He did not love Steelkilt, and Steelkilt knew it. 他不喜欢斯蒂尔基尔特，斯蒂尔基尔特也知道他不喜欢自己。

1 overflowed   

溢出的

参考例句：

• Plates overflowed with party food. 聚会上的食物碟满盘盈。
• A great throng packed out the theater and overflowed into the corridors. 一大群人坐满剧院并且还有人涌到了走廊上。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 rippling   

起涟漪的，潺潺流水般声音的

参考例句：

• I could see the dawn breeze rippling the shining water. 我能看见黎明的微风在波光粼粼的水面上吹出道道涟漪。
• The pool rippling was caused by the waving of the reeds. 池塘里的潺潺声是芦苇摇动时引起的。

3 spouts   

n.管口( spout的名词复数 )；（喷出的）水柱；（容器的）嘴；在困难中v.（指液体）喷出( spout的第三人称单数 )；滔滔不绝地讲；喋喋不休地说；喷水

参考例句：

• A volcano spouts flame and lava. 火山喷出火焰和岩浆。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The oil rushes up the tube and spouts up as a gusher. 石油会沿着钢管上涌，如同自喷井那样喷射出来。 来自辞典例句

4 pulverize   

v.研磨成粉；摧毁

参考例句：

• A factory making armaments had been bombed the night before and a residential area not far away had been pulverized.前天晚上，一家兵工厂被炸，不远处的居民区也被夷为平地。
• He is set to pulverise his two opponents in the race for the presidency.他决心在总统竞选中彻底击垮他的两个对手。

5 conceit   

n.自负，自高自大

参考例句：

• As conceit makes one lag behind,so modesty helps one make progress.骄傲使人落后，谦虚使人进步。
• She seems to be eaten up with her own conceit.她仿佛已经被骄傲冲昏了头脑。

6 tasseled   

v.抽穗， （玉米）长穗须( tassel的过去式和过去分词 )；使抽穗， （为了使作物茁壮生长）摘去穗状雄花；用流苏装饰

参考例句：

7 mule   

n.骡子，杂种，执拗的人

参考例句：

• A mule is a cross between a mare and a donkey.骡子是母马和公驴的杂交后代。
• He is an old mule.他是个老顽固。

8 hardy   

adj.勇敢的，果断的，吃苦的；耐寒的

参考例句：

• The kind of plant is a hardy annual.这种植物是耐寒的一年生植物。
• He is a hardy person.他是一个能吃苦耐劳的人。

9 malicious   

adj.有恶意的，心怀恶意的

参考例句：

• You ought to kick back at such malicious slander. 你应当反击这种恶毒的污蔑。
• Their talk was slightly malicious.他们的谈话有点儿心怀不轨。