英语听书《白鲸记》第905期

 Now, when this strange circumstance was made known aft, the carpenter was at once commanded to do Queequeg's bidding, whatever it might include. 且说这件怪事传到船尾去时，那个木匠就立刻受命按照魁魁格的吩咐行事，把他所需要的东西制办起来。

There was some heathenish, coffin¹-colored old lumber² aboard, 船上恰好有一些异教色彩、棺材色的旧木头，

which, upon a long previous voyage, had been cut from the aboriginal³ groves⁴ of the Lackaday islands, 这些都是好久以前在呜呼哀哉岛的原始丛林里砍下来的，

and from these dark planks⁵ the coffin was recommended to be made. 于是就用这些黑木板来做一口棺材。

No sooner was the carpenter apprised⁶ of the order, 木匠一接到命令，

than taking his rule, he forthwith with all the indifferent promptitude of his character, 就拿起他那把尺，以他那满不在乎而又敏捷的脾气，

proceeded into the forecastle and took Queequeg's measure with great accuracy, regularly chalking Queequeg's person as he shifted the rule. 立刻跑到船头楼里给魁魁格地地道道地量起尺寸来，他一边移动那把尺，一边用粉笔在魁魁格身上一本正经地划来划去。

Ah! poor fellow! he'll have to die now, ejaculated the Long Island sailor. 唉！可怜的人！他现在竟然要死了。那个长岛水手突然叫了出来。

Going to his vice-bench, the carpenter for convenience sake and general reference, 木匠跑到他的虎钳条凳边，为了方便和心中有数起见，

now transferringly measured on it the exact length the coffin was to be, 一会儿把棺材应该做多少长的准确长度在那上面量一下，

and then made the transfer permanent by cutting two notches⁷ at its extremities⁸. 一会儿又在那上面划了两道头尾界线，

This done, he marshalled the planks and his tools, and to work. 这样张罗过后，他就整理木板和工具，动手做起来了。

When the last nail was driven, and the lid duly planed and fitted, 敲进最后一枚钉子，适当地刨平、装好那只盖子后，

he lightly shouldered the coffin and went forward with it, inquiring whether they were ready for it yet in that direction. 木匠轻巧地扛起那只棺材，向前走去，问问甲板上的人是否现在要用了。

Overhearing the indignant but half-humorous cries with which the people on deck began to drive the coffin away, 甲板上的人带着愤怒而又半开玩笑的叫喊，正要叫他把棺材弄走的时候，

Queequeg, to every one's consternation⁹, commanded that the thing should be instantly brought to him, nor was there any denying him; 却给魁魁格听到了，叫大家大吃一惊的是，他竟要把棺材立刻搬给他，谁都阻拦不了他，

seeing that, of all mortals, some dying men are the most tyrannical; 因为在一切人类中，那些行将死亡的人总是最专横而不可理喻的；

and certainly, since they will shortly trouble us so little for evermore, the poor fellows ought to be indulged. 而且因为死人麻烦活人的时刻实在也是为期不长了，大家也就该对那些可怜的家伙宽容些。

1 coffin   

n.棺材，灵柩

参考例句：

• When one's coffin is covered,all discussion about him can be settled.盖棺论定。
• The coffin was placed in the grave.那口棺材已安放到坟墓里去了。

2 lumber   

n.木材，木料；v.以破旧东西堆满；伐木；笨重移动

参考例句：

• The truck was sent to carry lumber.卡车被派出去运木材。
• They slapped together a cabin out of old lumber.他们利用旧木料草草地盖起了一间小屋。

3 aboriginal   

adj.（指动植物）土生的，原产地的，土著的

参考例句：

• They managed to wipe out the entire aboriginal population.他们终于把那些土著人全部消灭了。
• The lndians are the aboriginal Americans.印第安人是美国的土著人。

4 groves   

树丛，小树林( grove的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The early sun shone serenely on embrowned groves and still green fields. 朝阳宁静地照耀着已经发黄的树丛和还是一片绿色的田地。
• The trees grew more and more in groves and dotted with old yews. 那里的树木越来越多地长成了一簇簇的小丛林，还点缀着几棵老紫杉树。

5 planks   

（厚）木板( plank的名词复数 )； 政纲条目，政策要点

参考例句：

• The house was built solidly of rough wooden planks. 这房子是用粗木板牢固地建造的。
• We sawed the log into planks. 我们把木头锯成了木板。

6 apprised   

v.告知，通知( apprise的过去式和过去分词 )；评价

参考例句：

• We were fully apprised of the situation. 我们完全获悉当时的情况。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• I have apprised him of your arrival. 我已经告诉他你要来。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

7 notches   

n.（边缘或表面上的）V型痕迹( notch的名词复数 )；刻痕；水平；等级

参考例句：

• The Indians cut notches on a stick to keep count of numbers. 印第安人在棒上刻V形凹痕用来计数。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• They cut notches in the handle of their pistol for each man they shot. 他们每杀一个人就在枪托上刻下一个V形记号。 来自辞典例句

8 extremities   

n.端点( extremity的名词复数 )；尽头；手和足；极窘迫的境地

参考例句：

• She was most noticeable, I thought, in respect of her extremities. 我觉得她那副穷极可怜的样子实在太惹人注目。 来自辞典例句
• Winters may be quite cool at the northwestern extremities. 西北边区的冬天也可能会相当凉。 来自辞典例句

9 consternation   

n.大为吃惊，惊骇

参考例句：

• He was filled with consternation to hear that his friend was so ill.他听说朋友病得那么厉害，感到非常震惊。
• Sam stared at him in consternation.萨姆惊恐不安地注视着他。