英语听书《白鲸记》第241期

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https://online2.tingclass.net/lesson/shi0529/0009/9734/241.mp3

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上下文一串起来,这就含义深刻了。

Now Jonah's Captain, shipmates, was one whosediscernment detects crime in any, but whosecupidity exposes it only in the penniless. In thisworld, shipmates, sin that pays its way can travelfreely and without a passport; whereas Virtue, if apauper, is stopped at all frontiers. So Jonah'sCaptain prepares to test the length of Jonah's purse,ere he judge him openly. He charges him thrice theusual sum; and it's assented to. Then the Captain knows that Jonah is a fugitive; but at thesame time resolves to help a flight that paves its rear with gold. Yet when Jonah fairly takesout his purse, prudent suspicions still molest the Captain. He rings every coin to find acounterfeit. Not a forger, any way, he mutters; and Jonah is put down for his passage. 'Pointout my state-room, Sir,' says Jonah now, 'I'm travel-weary; I need sleep. Thou look'st like it,'says the Captain, 'there's thy room.' Jonah enters, and would lock the door, but the lockcontains no key. Hearing him foolishly fumbling there, the Captain laughs lowly to himself, andmutters something about the doors of convicts' cells being never allowed to be locked within. Alldressed and dusty as he is, Jonah throws himself into his berth, and finds the little state-roomceiling almost resting on his forehead. The air is close, and Jonah gasps. Then, in thatcontracted hole, sunk, too, beneath the ship's water-line, Jonah feels the heraldingpresentiment of that stifling hour, when the whale shall hold him in the smallest of his bowels'wards.

你们看,船友们,约拿的船长本来还多少有察觉罪犯的眼力,可是,他的利欲熏心却只暴露出那种眼力是分文不值的。船友们,在这个世界上,付得出钱的罪犯,是不需要护照就可以通行无阻的;反之,正直的人,如果是个乞丐的话,就到处行不通。因此,约拿的船长准备先掂掂约拿的荷包的分量后,好摸他的底。他讨了三倍于普通的船价;约拿竟也同意了。于是,那船长就摸准约拿是个逃亡者;可同时又决定要帮助一个有金钱做后盾的人逃跑。然而,当约拿堂而皇之掏出他的荷包的时候,这个船长还是满怀疑虑。他把每一块银币都拿来敲过,看看有没有伪币。还好,一个也不假,他嘴里嘟哝着;于是,约拿便给收做乘客了。请领我到我的睡舱去,先生,约拿这时开口了,我走得很累;我需要睡觉。你样子倒象是很累,船长说,喏,这就是你的房间。约拿走了进去,想锁房门,虽然有锁,却没有钥匙。船长听到他在里面木头木脑地瞎摸着,不禁暗自好笑,嘴里嘟哝着牢门是绝对不许在里面上锁的。约拿衣服也不脱,就浑身灰尘扑在铺位上,他发现那个小睡舱的顶棚差不多就安在他的脑门上。空气不流通,约拿气喘呼呼。接着,在那个也沉到船只吃水线下面的狭小的洞穴里,约拿在那个快要闷死的时刻,心血来潮地预感到大鲸将把他关在它腹内的最小的号房里了。