評論
打印
The chief mate of the Pequod was Starbuck, a native of Nantucket, and a Quaker by descent.
"裴廓德號"的大副叫斯達巴克,他是個南塔開特土著,也是個桂克的后代。
He was a long, earnest man, and though born on an icy coast, seemed well adapted to endure hot latitudes, his flesh being hard as twice-baked biscuit.
他身體頎長,為人真摯,雖然生在冰天雪地的海濱,卻似乎很經得起熱帶的氣候,他全身肌肉硬得象回爐的面包。
Transported to the Indies, his live blood would not spoil like bottled ale.
他身上的熱血,即使運到東印度群島去,也不會象瓶裝土啤酒那樣容易變質。
He must have been born in some time of general drought and famine, or upon one of those fast days for which his state is famous.
他出生的時候,一定是正逢旱災和饑荒,或者正逢他的國家所盛行的禁食日。
Only some thirty arid summers had he seen; those summers had dried up all his physical superfluousness.
他不過三十來歲;可是歲月卻已吞噬了他那旺盛的體力。
But this, his thinness, so to speak, seemed no more the token of wasting anxieties and cares, than it seemed the indication of any bodily blight.
但是,他的這種瘦弱,仿佛既看不出是消耗精力于憂慮,也不象是有任何體力衰退的跡象。
It was merely the condensation of the man.
這只是成年男子的一種凝縮現象。
He was by no means ill-looking; quite the contrary.
他可決不是其貌不揚的人;恰恰相反。
His pure tight skin was an excellent fit; and closely wrapped up in it, and embalmed with inner health and strength, like a revivified Egyptian,
他那潔白而緊繃繃的皮膚,就象一件非常合身的衣服;把身體裹得緊緊的,充分表露出體內的健康有力,活象個再世的古埃及人。
this Starbuck seemed prepared to endure for long ages to come, and to endure always, as now;
這位斯達巴克似乎還準備要經受未來的冗長歲月,要永遠象現在這樣的堅持下去;
for be it Polar snow or torrid sun, like a patent chronometer, his interior vitality was warranted to do well in all climates.
因為北極的冰雪也罷,酷烈的驕陽也罷,他體內的活力就象一只精巧的航海時計,保險適宜于各種氣候。
Looking into his eyes, you seemed to see there the yet lingering images of those thousand-fold perils he had calmly confronted through life.
你悄悄地細看他那雙眼睛,便似乎看得到他眼睛里還有他生平曾經泰然處之的千百倍危難的一種歷久猶存的影子。
