Then holding the lance full before his waistband's middle, he levels it at the whale; when, covering him with it, he steadily depresses the butt-end in his hand, thereby elevating the point till the weapon stands fairly balanced upon his palm, fifteen feet in the air. He minds you somewhat of a juggler, balancing a long staff on his chin. Next moment with a rapid, nameless impulse, in a superb lofty arch the bright steel spans the foaming distance, and quivers in the life spot of the whale. Instead of sparkling water, he now spouts red blood.
于是,他把那支長長的捕鯨槍拎在他的腰際,瞄向大鯨,等到完全把它瞄準了,他便從容地壓著他手里的長柄,使那槍頭翹起,翹得那支武器簡直是豎托在他掌心上有十五英尺高。他叫人想起一個變戲法的人,把一根長棒托在下巴上。不一會,快得無法形容地一推,那支燦亮的鐵器就高高地弓成拱形,射到那泡沫四起的遠方,剎地擊中了大鯨的要害。它現(xiàn)在噴出來的已經(jīng)不是閃亮起泡的水,而是鮮紅的血了。
That drove the spigot out of him! CRIed Stubb. "'Tis July's immortal Fourth; all fountains must run wine today! Would now, it were old Orleans whiskey, or old Ohio, or unspeakable old Monongahela! Then, Tashtego, lad, I'd have ye hold a canakin to the jet, and we'd drink round it! Yea, verily, hearts alive, we'd brew choice punch in the spread of his spout-hole there, and from that live punch-bowl quaff the living stuff."
把它身子的塞子拔開啦!斯塔布叫道。"這是不朽的七月四日;今天所有的噴泉一定都流出酒來了!現(xiàn)在如果這就是奧爾良(奧爾良——法國北部的城市。)的陳年威士忌,或者是陳年的俄亥俄酒,或者是好得不得了的陳年的摩嫩加希拉河(摩嫩加希拉河——在巴拿馬的匹茨堡。)酒!那么,塔斯蒂哥,老弟,我可要你捧一只小罐湊到噴水孔那邊去,讓咱們在它旁邊喝個痛快啦!是呀,真是乖乖不得了,我們就可以在它的噴水孔那邊釀起上等的五味酒來,打那個自來水似的五味酒缽里,咕嚕咕嚕喝個不完呢。"
Again and again to such gamesome talk, the dexterous dart is repeated, the spear returning to its master like a greyhound held in skilful leash. The agonized whale goes into his flurry; the tow-line is slackened, and the pitchpoler dropping astern, folds his hands, and mutely watches the monster die.
一面不斷地大開這種玩笑,一面就這么反復(fù)而熟練地戳著,槍頭象是一只被縛在巧妙的皮帶里的狼狗一樣,一下子就可拉回來,那條嚇昏了的鯨越來越慌張了,纖繩一松,投桿人就跳到艇梢,叉起雙手,不聲不響地瞅著那只巨獸完蛋。