我什么也看不見,只看見一只金子做成的圓圓的東西,誰能發(fā)現(xiàn)某一條鯨,這個圓東西就歸誰。所以,這有什么多看頭呀?不錯,它值十六塊錢;二分錢一根雪茄煙,這就可買九百六十根雪茄啦(按二分錢一根雪茄計算,十六塊錢應(yīng)該可買八百支雪茄,這里系作者計算錯了。)。我決不象斯塔布那樣吸腌臜的煙斗,我可喜歡雪茄,這里有九百六十支雪茄;我弗拉斯克就從這里爬到上邊去把大鯨給找出來吧。
Shall I call that Wise or foolish, now; if it be really wise it has a foolish look to it; yet, if it be really foolish, then has it a sort of wiseish look to it. But, avast; here comes our old Manxman—the old hearse-driver, he must have been, that is, before he took to the sea. He luffs up before the doubloon; halloa, and goes round on the other side of the mast; why, there's a horse-shoe nailed on that side; and now he's back again; what does that mean? Hark! he's muttering— voice like an old worn-out coffee-mill. Prick ears, and listen!
那么,這樣做法該算聰明還是愚蠢呢;算它真是聰明,卻又象是愚蠢;然而,算它真是愚蠢,卻又有點兒聰明。不過,且慢,那個人島老頭來了——這個趕靈車的老家伙,在他下海前,一定是干過這營生的。他讓風(fēng)吹到那塊金幣跟前了;啊,又從桅邊那頭兜過去了;哼,那邊正釘著一塊馬蹄鐵呢;可是,他又回來了;這又是什么道理呢?聽著!他在嘟噥著呢——聲音活象一架破舊的研咖啡機(jī)。豎起耳朵來聽吧!
If the White Whale be raised, it must be in a month and a day, when the sun stands in some one of these signs. I've studied signs, and know their marks; they were taught me two score years ago, by the old witch in Copenhagen.
如果會找到那條白鯨的話,還得一個月零一天,就是當(dāng)太陽走到這些宮宿的一個宮宿里的時候。我專門研究過宮宿,懂得它們的記號,這是四十年前哥本哈根(哥本哈根——丹麥?zhǔn)锥?。)的一個老巫婆教我的。