英语听书《白鲸记》 第178期

Though I cannot tell why it was exactly that thosestage managers,

虽然我真说不出,究竟为什么那些舞台经理，

the Fates, put me down for this shabby part of awhaling voyage,

也就是命运诸神要派定我担任这个捕鲸的寒伧角色,

when others were set down for magnificent parts inhigh tragedies,

却派别些人去演崇高悲剧里的华贵角色,

and short and easy parts in genteel comedies, andjolly parts in farces-though I cannot tell why this wasexactly;

演时髦喜剧里的轻松小角色,演讽刺剧里的丑角...虽然我真说不出究竟为什么来;

yet, now that I recall all the circumstances, I think I can see a little into the springs andmotives which being cunningly presented to me under various disguises,

然而,现在我回想当时种种情景,那些以各种伪装狡狯地放在我面前的目的和动机...诱使我动手扮演起我所扮演的角色,

induced me to set about performing the part I did, besides cajoling me into the delusion

并且还哄得我幻想这是我自己的独立意志,

that it was a choice resulting from my own unbiased freewill and discriminating judgment.

和缜密考虑的结果...我想我也能捉摸到一些儿了。

Chief among these motives was the overwhelming idea of the great whale himself.

在这些动机中,首先是那条大鲸，叫人一想起就没法按捺得下自己。

Such a portentous and mysterious monster roused all my curiosity.

这样一个可怕而神秘的怪物激起了我所有的猎奇心。