英語聽書《白鯨記》第319期

For besides the great length of the whaling voyage, the numerous articles peculiar to the prosecution of the fishery, and the impossibility of replacing them at the remote harbors usually frequented, it must be remembered, that of all ships, whaling vessels are the most exposed to accidents of all kinds, and especially to the destruction and loss of the very things upon which the success of the voyage most depends. Hence, the spare boats, spare spars, and spare lines and harpoons, and spare everythings, almost, but a spare Captain and duplicate ship.

因為除了捕鯨的航程很長之外,還有許多東西是從事漁業(yè)所不可缺少的,有許多東西往往是在偏僻的海港無法補給的,還必須記住,在一切船只中,捕鯨船是最會招致各種意外的船只,尤其是會喪失。毀壞那些決定航程成敗的主要東西。因此,它需要有備用的小船,備用的圓木,備用的繩索和標槍以及除了一個后備船長和一條副號的船以外的幾乎其它各種備用的東西。

At the period of our arrival at the Island, the heaviest storage of the Pequod had been almost completed; comprising her beef, bread, water, fuel, and iron hoops and staves. But, as before hinted, for some time there was a continual fetching and carrying on board of divers odds and ends of things, both large and small.

我們抵達這個海島的時候,"裴廓德號"的最笨重的儲備品差不多都已經(jīng)準備完妥了;其中包括牛肉,面包,食水,燃料,鐵箍和桶板。但是,如上所述,暫時還得繼續(xù)不斷把各式各樣大小零星用品都弄上船來。

Chief among those who did this fetching and carrying was Captain Bildad's sister, a lean old lady of a most determined and indefatigable spirit, but withal very kindhearted, who seemed resolved that, if she could help it, nothing should be found wanting in the Pequod, after once fairly getting to sea. At one time she would come on board with a jar of pickles for the steward's pantry; another time with a bunch of quills for the chief mate's desk, where he kept his log; a third time with a roll of flannel for the small of some one's rheumatic back. Never did any woman better deserve her name, which was Charity-Aunt Charity, as everybody called her.

負責搬運這些東西的主要人物是比勒達船主的妹妹,她是個瘦小的老太婆,頗有決斷,不知疲倦,心腸也很好,她象是抱定了主意,只要她力所能及,決不讓"裴廓德號"在順利地出海后,還會缺少什么需要的東西。她一會兒拿著一罐廚房用的酸菜上船來;再一會兒又拿著一扎大副寫字臺上用的鵝毛筆來(因為大副要記航海日志);第三次又拿來一卷給患風濕癥的人護腰用的法蘭絨。從來沒有一個女人比她更為名副其實,她叫慈善。慈善姑媽,大家都這么叫她。

And like a sister of charity did this charitable Aunt Charity bustle about hither and thither, ready to turn her hand and heart to anything that promised to yield safety, comfort, and consolation to all on board a ship in which her beloved brother Bildad was concerned, and in which she herself owned a score or two of well-saved dollars.

這個慈善為懷的慈善姑媽,象一個慈善團的女修士一樣到處忙著,時刻準備以她的手,她的心使得這只跟她可敬的哥哥有關的船上的一切人等都會平安,舒適,獲得慰藉,這只船她自己也投資了幾十個辛苦積攢的銀元呢。