And thus the first man of the Pequod that mounted the mast to look out for the White Whale, on the White Whale's own peculiar ground; that man was swallowed up in the deep. But few, perhaps, thought of that at the time. Indeed, in some sort, they were not grieved at this event, at least as a portent; for they regarded it, not as a fore-shadowing of evil in the future, but as the fulfilment of an evil already presaged. They declared that now they knew the reason of those wild shrieks they had heard the night before. But again the old Manxman said nay.
這樣,"裴廓德號"第一個攀上桅桿去找白鯨的人,卻在白鯨自己的特有的漁場上教大海給吞噬了。不過,當時想到這一點的人,卻是為數(shù)不多。事實上,這種事情,他們并不感到怎么悲傷,甚至也不把它當成一種兇兆;因為他們并不把它看成為未來的兇兆,而是把它看做應驗了一件早已料到的災難。他們還說,他們這才明白昨天晚上為什么會聽到那種猛烈的尖叫聲的道理??墒牵莻€人島老人又表示異議了。
The lost life-buoy was now to be replaced; Starbuck was directed to see to it; but as no cask of sufficient lightness could be found, and as in the feverish eagerness of what seemed the approaching crisis of the voyage, all hands were impatient of any toil but what was directly connected with its final end, whatever that might prove to be; therefore, they were going to leave the ship's stern unprovided with a buoy, when by certain strange signs and inuendoes Queequeg hinted a hint concerning his coffin.
失掉了救生圈,現(xiàn)在就得再添做一只,斯達巴克受命監(jiān)督造救生圈。不過,因為一時找不到質(zhì)地很輕的桶,又因為大家都熱切盼望那個看來是越來越近的航程的危機,除了對跟航程的最終目的(不管究竟是個什么結(jié)局)直接有關的事情,任何勞作大家都不耐煩去干;因此,他們打算讓船梢空著,不再吊起救生圈,可是,就在這時,魁魁格卻以一種奇特的示意和打趣,對他那口棺材露出一個暗示。
A life-buoy of a coffin! cried Starbuck, starting.
一口棺材做的救生圈!斯達巴克聽了一楞地叫道。
Rather queer, that, I should say, said Stubb.
我應該承認,這未免太古怪了些。斯塔布說。
It will make a good enough one, said Flask, "the carpenter here can arrange it easily."
它倒真可以做個頂刮刮的救生圈,弗拉斯克說道,"船里的木匠一下子就可以把它張羅起來。"