So strongly did he work upon his disciples among the crew, that at last in a body they went to the captain and told him if Gabriel was sent from the ship, not a man of them would remain. He was therefore forced to relinquish his plan. Nor would they permit Gabriel to be any way maltreated, say or do what he would; so that it came to pass that Gabriel had the complete freedom of the ship. The consequence of all this was, that the archangel cared little or nothing for the captain and mates; and since the epidemic had broken out, he carried a higher hand than ever; declaring that the plague, as he called it, was at his sole command; nor should it be stayed but according to his good pleasure. The sailors, mostly poor devils, CRInged, and some of them fawned before him; in obedience to his instructions, sometimes rendering him personal homage, as to a god. Such things may seem incredible; but, however wondrous, they are true. Nor is the history of fanatics half so striking in respect to the measureless self-deception of the fanatic himself, as his measureless power of deceiving and bedevilling so many others. But it is time to return to the Pequod.
因為他在水手中對他的門徒們具有如此的魔力,所以,最后,大家都一起跑到船長那里,對船長說,如果他把迦百列辭掉了,他們就一個人也不留下來。因此,船長不得不打消了自己的計劃。同時,他們還對船長說,不許他對迦百列有任何虐待行為,不管是用言語還是行動。這樣一來,這個迦百列在船上就暢所欲為了。結(jié)果是,這個天使長把船長和大二三副都不大放在眼里,也可說是根本就不放在眼里;打從流行癥發(fā)生后,他比先前尤更耀武揚威;揚言這場瘟疫(他這樣稱法)完全操在他手里;幾時才得終止,可得看他高興。那些個水手,大多是一些可憐的家伙,都嚇得畏畏縮縮,其中有一些竟對他奉承獻(xiàn)媚起來;為了遵從他的指示,還時常象對神靈一般,對他頂禮膜拜。這些事情也許看來頗值懷疑,但是,不管它多么奇特,這都是千真萬確的。說到這個狂人自己那種無限的自我欺騙力量,卻是連一部狂人史也抵不上他這么富有無限的欺騙與迷惑眾人的魔力的一半。但是,還是言歸正傳,談"裴廓德號"吧。
I fear not thy epidemic, man, said Ahab from the bulwarks, to Captain Mayhew, who stood in the boat's stern; "come on board."
我不怕你們的流行癥,朋友。亞哈在舷墻邊對那個正站在艇梢上的梅休船長說,"上船來呀。"
But now Gabriel started to his feet.
但是,這時,迦百列蹦地跳了起來。
Think, think of the fevers, yellow and bilious! Beware of the horrible plague!
喂,你想,想一想這種寒熱癥,皮色發(fā)黃,肝火旺!小心提防這種可怖的瘟疫呀!