To make them run easily and swiftly, the axles of carriages are anointed; —
为了让它们运行起来更容易迅速，马车的轮轴会被抹上油； —

and for much the same purpose, some whalers perform an analogous operation upon their boat; —
同样的目的，有些捕鲸船员也会在他们的小船上进行类似的操作； —

they grease the bottom. Nor is it to be doubted that as such a procedure can do no harm, it may possibly be of no contemptible advantage; —
他们给船底抹上油脂。不容置疑，这种操作既无害处，也可能是件相当有利的事； —

considering that oil and water are hostile; —
考虑到油和水是对立的； —

that oil is a sliding thing, and that the object in view is to make the boat slide bravely. —
油是一种滑动的东西，目的在于让船勇敢地滑行； —

Queequeg believed strongly in anointing his boat, and one morning not long after the German ship Jungfrau disappeared, took more than customary pains in that occupation; —
齐格格坚信给他的船涂油是有益的，不久之后一艘德国船Jungfrau号消失之后的一个早晨，他在这个工作上花了比平时更多的心思； —

crawling under its bottom, where it hung over the side, and rubbing in the unctuousness as though diligently seeking to insure a crop of hair from the craft’s bald keel. —
他爬到船底下，用力擦拭，好像在努力确保船底光秃秃的龙骨上长出一片草地一样； —

He seemed to be working in obedience to some particular presentiment. Nor did it remain unwarranted by the event.
他似乎在顺应某种特别的预感。而这种预感并没有白费；

Towards noon whales were raised; but so soon as the ship sailed down to them, they turned and fled with swift precipitancy; —
中午时分鲸鱼被发现了；但船只一靠近它们，它们立刻转身飞速逃走； —

a disordered flight, as of Cleopatra’s barges from Actium.
一种无序的逃逸，就像克利奥帕特拉的船只逃离阿克提姆一样；

Nevertheless, the boats pursued, and Stubb’s was foremost. —
尽管如此，小船还是追赶着，而斯塔布的小船一路领先； —

By great exertion, Tashtego at last succeeded in planting one iron; —
塔斯特戈经过艰苦的努力，最终成功地刺中一根鱼叉； —

but the stricken whale, without at all sounding, still continued his horizontal flight, with added fleetness. —
但被刺中的鲸鱼并未下潜，仍然以更快的速度水平飞行； —

Such unintermitted strainings upon the planted iron must sooner or later inevitably extract it. —
对刺入的鱼叉施加如此持续的压力，迟早都会导致它被拔出； —

It became imperative to lance the flying whale, or be content to lose him. —
对飞行中的鲸鱼进行刺杀已成为必要，否则就得甘心放弃它。 —

But to haul the boat up to his flank was impossible, he swam so fast and furious. —
但是把船拖到他的侧面是不可能的，因为他游得如此迅猛。 —

What then remained?
那么剩下什么呢？

Of all the wondrous devices and dexterities, the sleights of hand and countless subtleties, to which the veteran whaleman is so often forced, none exceed that fine manoeuvre with the lance called pitchpoling. —
在所有神奇的装置和熟练的技巧中，经验丰富的捕鲸人常常被迫使用的各种花样繁多的手法中，没有任何一种比被称为投枪的长矛的细致操作更出色。 —

Small sword, or broad sword, in all its exercises boasts nothing like it. —
无论是细剑还是宽剑，在所有的练习中都没有类似的。 —

It is only indispensable with an inveterate running whale; —
只有在顽固的奔跑的鲸鱼身上是不可或缺的； —

its grand fact and feature is the wonderful distance to which the long lance is accurately darted from a violently rocking, jerking boat, under extreme headway. —
它的主要特点是长矛从正在剧烈摇晃、抽打的船只在极其高速下精确投射出的惊人距离。 —

Steel and wood included, the entire spear is some ten or twelve feet in length; —
包括钢和木材在内，整根矛约有十到十二英尺长； —

the staff is much slighter than that of the harpoon, and also of a lighter material–pine. —
矛的杆比鱼叉的杆要细很多，也是用轻量的材料——松木做的。 —

It is furnished with a small rope called a warp, of considerable length, by which it can be hauled back to the hand after darting.
它装有一根被称为跃索的细长绳，长度相当可观，投掷后可以被拉回到手中。

But before going further, it is important to mention here, that though the harpoon may be pitchpoled in the same way with the lance, yet it is seldom done; —
但在更进一步之前，重要的是在这里提到，虽然鱼叉可以像长矛一样被投掷，但很少会这样做； —

and when done, is still less frequently successful, on account of the greater weight and inferior length of the harpoon as compared with the lance, which in effect become serious drawbacks. —
即使这样做，在成功的情况下也更加罕见，这是因为与长矛相比，鱼叉的重量更大，长度较小，这实际上成为了严重的缺点。 —

As a general thing, therefore, you must first get fast to a whale, before any pitchpoling comes into play.
因此，通常情况下，您必须首先将一只鲸鱼捕获，然后才会使用投枪。

Look now at Stubb; a man who from his humorous, deliberate coolness and equanimity in the direst emergencies, was specially qualified to excel in pitchpoling. —
现在看看斯塔布；一个在最严重的紧急情况下因其幽默、沉着和镇定而特别适合在投枪中出色表现的人。 —

Look at him; he stands upright in the tossed bow of the flying boat; —
看他，他直立站在飞船摇荡的船头； —

wrapt in fleecy foam, the towing whale is forty feet ahead. —
被一阵阵水花包裹着，被拖曳的鲸鱼在前方四十英尺远。 —

Handling the long lance lightly, glancing twice or thrice along its length to see if it be exactly straight, Stubb whistlingly gathers up the coil of the warp in one hand, so as to secure its free end in his grasp, leaving the rest unobstructed. —
轻轻握住长矛，顺着其长度两三次看一看，确保完全笔直。斯塔布吹着口哨，用一只手将绳索卷起，以确保自由端受控，其他部分不受阻碍。 —

Then holding the lance full before his waistband’s middle, he levels it at the whale; —
接着将长矛完全对准腰带中间，瞄准鲸鱼； —

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. —
然后用矛尖对准鲸鱼，稳定地压低手中的矛柄，从而将矛平衡地竖立在手掌上，离地面十五英尺高。 —

He minds you somewhat of a juggler, balancing a long staff on his chin. —
他让你想起一个杂耍艺人，让长杆在下巴上保持平衡。 —

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. —
下一刻，在一种快速的、无法名状的冲动下，明亮的钢铁跨越波涛汹涌的距离，颤动在鲸鱼的致命部位。 —

Instead of sparkling water, he now spouts red blood.
他现在喷出的不是闪亮的水，而是鲜红的鲜血。

“That drove the spigot out of him!” cried Stubb. “‘Tis July’s immortal Fourth; —
“这把他的水龙头揪了出来！” 斯塔布喊道。“这是七月永恒的第四； —

all fountains must run wine today! Would now, it were old Orleans whiskey, or old Ohio, or unspeakable old Monongahela! —
今天所有喷泉都得喷出葡萄酒！但愿是旧奥尔良威士忌，或者俄亥俄老酒，或者无以言表的太平洋地区老酒！ —

Then, Tashtego, lad, I’d have ye hold a canakin to the jet, and we’d drink round it! —
接下来，塔什特戈，伙计，我要你拿着一个小壶到水柱前，我们一起喝个痛快！ —

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.”
是的，活生生的，我们将在他的喷孔之间酿造上等的朗姆酒，从那个活泼的酒盅里喝上活生生的酿造品。”

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. —
再次重复这样玩闹的谈话，熟练地投掷矛，矛象灵巧的长绳一样返回到他的手上。 —

The agonized whale goes into his flurry; —
在痛苦中挣扎的鲸鱼进入狂乱状态； —

the tow-line is slackened, and the pitchpoler dropping astern, folds his hands, and mutely watches the monster die.
拖绳放松了，而绳索竿下垂，静静地看着这只怪物慢慢死去。