英语听书《白鲸记》第552期

 　　On the contrary, it seemed, that mainly at Steelkilt's instigation, they had resolved to maintain the strictest peacefulness, 反之，看来主要是在斯蒂尔基尔特的教唆下，他们决定要保持绝对的安静，

　　obey all orders to the last, and, when the ship reached port, desert her in a body. 把各种命令遵守到底，等到船靠岸的时候，就集体开小差。

　　But in order to insure the speediest end to the voyage, they all agreed to another thing, namely, not to sing out for whales, in case any should be discovered. 可是，为了保证最迅速地结束航程，他们都一致同意另一件事就是，万一发现了什么大鲸，都不叫喊出来。

　　For, spite of her leak, and spite of all her other perils¹, the Town-Ho still maintained her mast-heads, 因为，尽管船已漏了，尽管它已发生了其它各种不幸，这艘“大鲸出来了号”，可还是继续派着桅顶瞭望者，

　　and her captain was just as willing to lower for a fish that moment, as on the day his craft first struck the cruising ground; 而且，当时，它的船长仍同船只刚到巡游场的第一天那样，还很想放下小艇去弄条大鲸，

　　and Radney the mate was quite as ready to change his berth² for a boat, and with his bandaged mouth seek to gag in death the vital jaw³ of the whale. 那个大副拉德尼也真随时准备把他的吊铺换成一只小艇，想把他那包着绷带的嘴巴去填大鲸的鬼门关似的大嘴巴呢。

　　"But though the Lakeman had induced the seamen⁴ to adopt this sort of passiveness in their conduct,  “不过虽则湖上人已经唆使了水手们采取这种消极的行动，

　　he kept his own counsel (at least till all was over) concerning his own proper and private revenge upon the man who had stung him in the ventricles of his heart.  他自己对那个伤透了他的心的人，却另怀有自己的一套独特的、秘密的复仇计划（至少要把一切都弄停妥）。

　　He was in Radney the chief mate's watch; 他值的是那个大副拉德尼领的班，

　　and as if the infatuated man sought to run more than half way to meet his doom⁵, after the scene at the rigging, he insisted,  仿佛这个糊涂蛋经过了索具地方那幕活剧后，还想更快地自寻死路似的，

　　against the express counsel of the captain, upon resuming the head of his watch at night. 他不顾船长的明白的劝告，硬要开始带领夜班。

　　Upon this, and one or two other circumstances, Steelkilt systematically⁶ built the plan of his revenge. 就在这几种情况下，使斯蒂尔基尔特得以有系统地做出他那复仇的计划。

1 perils   

极大危险( peril的名词复数 )； 危险的事（或环境）

参考例句：

• The commander bade his men be undaunted in the face of perils. 指挥员命令他的战士要临危不惧。
• With how many more perils and disasters would he load himself? 他还要再冒多少风险和遭受多少灾难？

2 berth   

n.卧铺，停泊地，锚位；v.使停泊

参考例句：

• She booked a berth on the train from London to Aberdeen.她订了一张由伦敦开往阿伯丁的火车卧铺票。
• They took up a berth near the harbor.他们在港口附近找了个位置下锚。

3 jaw   

n.颚，颌，说教，流言蜚语；v.喋喋不休，教训

参考例句：

• He delivered a right hook to his opponent's jaw.他给了对方下巴一记右钩拳。
• A strong square jaw is a sign of firm character.强健的方下巴是刚毅性格的标志。

4 seamen   

n.海员

参考例句：

• Experienced seamen will advise you about sailing in this weather. 有经验的海员会告诉你在这种天气下的航行情况。
• In the storm, many seamen wished they were on shore. 在暴风雨中，许多海员想，要是他们在陆地上就好了。

5 doom   

n.厄运，劫数；v.注定，命定

参考例句：

• The report on our economic situation is full of doom and gloom.这份关于我们经济状况的报告充满了令人绝望和沮丧的调子。
• The dictator met his doom after ten years of rule.独裁者统治了十年终于完蛋了。

6 systematically   

adv.有系统地

参考例句：

• This government has systematically run down public services since it took office.这一屆政府自上台以来系统地削减了公共服务。
• The rainforest is being systematically destroyed.雨林正被系统地毀灭。