英语听书《白鲸记》第847期

And he knows it too. So that what you take for the White Whale's malice is only his awkwardness. For he never means to swallow a single limb; he only thinks to terrify by feints. But sometimes he is like the old juggling fellow, formerly a patient of mine in Ceylon, that making believe swallow jack-knives, once upon a time let one drop into him in good earnest, and there it stayed for a twelvemonth or more; when I gave him an emetic, and he heaved it up in small tacks, d'ye see? No possible way for him to digest that jack-knife, and fully incorporate it into his general bodily system. Yes, Captain Boomer, if you are quick enough about it, and have a mind to pawn one arm for the sake of the privilege of giving decent burial to the other, why, in that case the arm is yours; only let the whale have another chance at you shortly, that's all."

而且，大鲸也有自知之明。因此，你们所谓白鲸的恶毒，只不过是它的笨拙而已。因为，它从来就不想一口吞下一只手臂；它只想虚张声势，吓唬吓唬人。不过，它倒往往有点象我从前在锡兰的时候碰到的那个魔术家病人，他老是假装吞下了小刀子，有一次，他竟当真把一把小刀吞了下去，小刀居然在他肚子里藏了一年多；等到我给他吃催吐药后，他才把它一小块一小块地吐出来，你们想想看。他实在无法把那把小刀消化掉，而且也不是他整个身体组织完全消纳得了的。唔，布默船长，如果你对它是很了解的，而且想要争取另一只手获得寿终正寝的光荣，不惜再花一只手臂的话，那就不妨一试，好在手臂是你自己的；充其量也不过是立刻让大鲸再赐你一缘而已。"

No, thank you, Bunger, said the English Captain, "he's welcome to the arm he has, since I can't help it, and didn't know him then; but not to another one. No more White Whales for me; I've lowered for him once, and that has satisfied me. There would be great glory in killing him, I know that; and there is a ship-load of precious sperm in him, but, hark ye, he's best let alone; don't you think so, Captain?"—glancing at the ivory leg.

不，多谢，彭格，那个英国船长说，"因为我当时毫无办法，而且也不认识它，所以那只手臂只好随它的便给拿了去；再来一只可不干啦。我再也不敢领教白鲸了；我已经放下小艇追击过它一回，够教我心满意足了。我知道，杀倒它有莫大的光荣；况且它身上还有满满的名贵抹香鲸脑呢，不过，听着，还是别去碰它为妙；你觉得对吗，船长？"——他眼睛瞟着那只牙腿。

He is. But he will still be hunted, for all that.

嗯。不过，无论如何，还得去追击它。

查看有声读物更多精彩内容