英語聽書《白鯨記》 第291期

Bildad, cried Captain Peleg, at it again, Bildad, eh?Ye have been studying those Scriptures, now, for thelast thirty years, to my certain knowledge. How farye got, Bildad?

比勒達,法勒船長嚷道,又在念啦,比勒達,是嗎?就我所知,你已經把這些圣書研究了三十年啦。你研究到哪兒啦,比勒達?

As if long habituated to such profane talk from hisold shipmate, Bildad, without noticing his presentirreverence, quietly looked up, and seeing me,glanced again inquiringly towards Peleg.

比勒達仿佛已經聽慣了他的老船友這種不敬之詞了,他一點也不理會,一言不發(fā)地抬起頭來,一看到我,就又帶著盤問的神情再望一望法勒。

He says he's our man, Bildad, said Peleg, he wants to ship.

他說他要做我們的船員,比勒達,法勒說,他要我們雇他。

Dost thee? said Bildad, in a hollow tone, and turning round to me.

你要嗎?比勒達聲氣空泛,轉身對我說。

I dost, said I unconsciously, he was so intense a Quaker.

我要,我不自覺地說,他是個這么認真的桂克。

What do ye think of him, Bildad? said Peleg.

你覺得他怎樣,比勒達?法勒說。

He'll do, said Bildad, eyeing me, and then went on spelling away at his book in a mumblingtone quite audible.

他行。比勒達瞧了我一眼后說,又繼續(xù)念他的書,喃喃的聲音,清晰可聞。

I thought him the queerest old Quaker I ever saw, especially as Peleg, his friend and oldshipmate, seemed such a blusterer.

我認為他是我平生所見的一個最古怪的老桂克,尤其是因為他的朋友兼老船友法勒卻似乎是一個性格非常暴躁的人。

But I said nothing, only looking round me sharply. Peleg now threw open a chest, and drawingforth the ship's articles, placed pen and ink before him, and seated himself at a little table.

但是,我什么也不說,只是機警地四下望望。法勒這時打開了一只箱子,拿出船上的契約來,把筆和墨水放在面前,傍著一只小桌子坐下來。

I began to think it was high time to settle with myself at what terms I would be willing toengage for the voyage.

我心里開始想,這該是我自己決定的時候了,我該按什么條款才愿意應承這次航行。

I was already aware that in the whaling business they paid no wages; but all hands, includingthe captain, received certain shares of the profits called lays, and that these lays wereproportioned to the degree of importance pertaining to the respective duties of the ship'scompany.

我早已知道,在捕鯨業(yè)中,是不付工資的;大家都是分取一定的份數。叫做拆賬的紅利,我也知道,這種拆賬是按船上各人的職責大小來分的。