就在這時,那個注定要入他們彀中的人從船長室里出來了。這人身材細小,皮膚黝黑,不邊,作為一個船長說來,倒有幾分討人喜歡的相貌,既有短髭,又有胡須,他穿著一件絨布的紅背心,腰間還蕩著一副表墜。那個革恩齊人現(xiàn)在很客氣地把斯塔布介紹給這位仁兄后,立刻就洋洋得意,裝起一副給他們當(dāng)翻譯的神氣。
What shall I say to him first? said he.
我應(yīng)該先對他說些什么呢?他說道。
Why, said Stubb, eyeing the velvet vest and the watch and seals, "you may as well begin by telling him that he looks a sort of babyish to me, though I don't pretend to be a judge."
唔,斯塔布望著那件絨背心。表和表墜后,說道,"你不妨先這樣跟他說,在我看來,他就象是個毛頭娃兒,雖然我并不想裝得象個法官。"
He says, Monsieur, said the Guernsey-man, in French, turning to his captain, "that only yesterday his ship spoke a vessel, whose captain and chief-mate, with six sailors, had all died of a fever caught from a blasted whale they had brought alongside."
他說,Monsieur(法文:先生。),那個革恩齊人用法國話對他的船長說,"他那只船昨天才說起過,有一只小船,由于船旁拖著一條瘟鯨,弄得船長、大副和六個水手都死于熱病。"
Upon this the captain started, and eagerly desired to know more.
船長聽到了這番話,嚇了一跳,急切地想再多知道一點情況。
What now? said the Guernsey-man to Stubb.
現(xiàn)在又該說些什么呢?革恩齊人對斯塔布說。
Why, since he takes it so easy, tell him that now I have eyed him carefully, I'm quite certain that he's no more fit to command a whale-ship than a St. Jago monkey. In fact, tell him from me he's a baboon.
唔,既然他一下子就上鉤,那么,就對他說,我已把他看得一清二楚了,我肯定他再也不配當(dāng)捕鯨船的船長,他不過是只圣·雅哥(圣·雅哥——北大西洋味爾第角群島中一個島名,圣第亞哥的別名。)的猴子而已。事實上,就對他說,我說他是只狒狒。
He vows and declares, Monsieur, that the other whale, the dried one, is far more deadly than the blasted one; in fine, Monsieur, he conjures us, as we value our lives, to cut loose from these fish.
他發(fā)誓說,先生,另外那一條鯨,就是那條干了的鯨,比那條瘟的還更不行;總之,先生,他千勸萬勸我們,如果我們愛惜我們的生命,就得把這兩條鯨都給放掉。