The long and narrow peninsula of Malacca, extending south-eastward from the territories of Birmah, forms the most southerly point of all Asia. In a continuous line from that peninsula stretch the long islands of Sumatra, Java, Bally, and Timor; —
横占从缅甸领土向东南延伸的马六甲长而狭窄的半岛，是整个亚洲最南端的地方。 —

which, with many others, form a vast mole, or rampart, lengthwise connecting Asia with Australia, and dividing the long unbroken Indian ocean from the thickly studded oriental archipelagoes. —
和许多其他岛屿一起，马六甲半岛、苏门答腊、爪哇、巴厘和帝汶等长长的岛屿构成了一个巨大的堤岸，纵向连接亚洲和澳大利亚，将长时间未被打破的印度洋与密集的东方群岛分隔开来。 —

This rampart is pierced by several sally-ports for the convenience of ships and whales; —
这道堤岸上设有几个方便船只和鲸鱼通过的开关; —

conspicuous among which are the straits of Sunda and Malacca. —
其中突出的有巽他和马六甲海峡。 —

By the straits of Sunda, chiefly, vessels bound to China from the west, emerge into the China seas.
主要通过巽他海峡，向东行驶到中国的船只，进入中国海域。

Those narrow straits of Sunda divide Sumatra from Java; —
巽他海峡将苏门答腊与爪哇分隔开来; —

and standing midway in that vast rampart of islands, buttressed by that bold green promontory, known to seamen as Java Head; —
而站在那座大陆最中心的岛屿上，被那勇敢的翠绿岬角所支撑，海员们称之为爪哇岬; —

they not a little correspond to the central gateway opening into some vast walled empire: —
这些狭窄的巽他海峡，在那座广阔群岛的堤岸中央，略有类似于通向一座巨大有城墙的帝国的中央大门： —

and considering the inexhaustible wealth of spices, and silks, and jewels, and gold, and ivory, with which the thousand islands of that oriental sea are enriched, it seems a significant provision of nature, that such treasures, by the very formation of the land, should at least bear the appearance, however ineffectual, of being guarded from the all-grasping western world. —
考虑到那东方海域千岛万屿所蕴藏的无穷宝藏，像香料、丝绸、珠宝、黄金和象牙等，自然给人一种印象，尽管可能无济于事，但至少似乎被这片土地的形成所保护，避免了那贪婪的西方世界的攫取。 —

The shores of the Straits of Sunda are unsupplied with those domineering fortresses which guard the entrances to the Mediterranean, the Baltic, and the Propontis. —
巽他海峡的岸边没有那种统治性的堡垒，来守护地中海、波罗的海和美度庇牧海峡的入口。 —

Unlike the Danes, these Orientals do not demand the obsequious homage of lowered top-sails from the endless procession of ships before the wind, which for centuries past, by night and by day, have passed between the islands of Sumatra and Java, freighted with the costliest cargoes of the east. —
不同于丹麦人，这些东方人不要求无穷无尽的船只在风帆的推动下向他们致敬，数百年来，日夜间，无数载着东方最昂贵货物的船只，在苏门答腊和爪哇岛屿之间穿行。 —

But while they freely waive a ceremonial like this, they do by no means renounce their claim to more solid tribute.
尽管他们自由放弃了类似礼仪，但他们绝不放弃对更实质性的贡品的索取。

Time out of mind the piratical proas of the Malays, lurking among the low shaded coves and islets of Sumatra, have sallied out upon the vessels sailing through the straits, fiercely demanding tribute at the point of their spears. —
千百年来，躲藏在苏门答腊低矮的洞穴和小岛中的马来人海盗，曾经向穿过海峡的船只出击，用长矛凶猛地索取贡品。 —

Though by the repeated bloody chastisements they have received at the hands of European cruisers, the audacity of these corsairs has of late been somewhat repressed; —
尽管他们最近一直在欧洲巡逻舰的屡次血腥打击下，这些海盗的傲慢已经得到一定程度的压制; —

yet, even at the present day, we occasionally hear of English and American vessels, which, in those waters, have been remorselessly boarded and pillaged.
然而，即使在当今时代，我们偶尔还会听说，在这片海域，英国和美国船只被冷酷地登船抢劫。

With a fair, fresh wind, the Pequod was now drawing nigh to these straits; —
随着一阵清新的风，佩克德号现在正接近这些海峡; —

Ahab purposing to pass through them into the Java sea, and thence, cruising northwards, over waters known to be frequented here and there by the Sperm Whale, sweep inshore by the Philippine Islands, and gain the far coast of Japan, in time for the great whaling season there. —
艾哈布计划穿过它们进入爪哇海，然后向北巡航，经过已知有抹香鲸出没的水域，沿着菲律宾群岛靠岸，最终到达日本的远海，在那里等待着那里的伟大捕鲸季节。 —

By these means, the circumnavigating Pequod would sweep almost all the known Sperm Whale cruising grounds of the world, previous to descending upon the Line in the Pacific; —
通过这种方式，环航的佩克德号将几乎横扫全世界已知的抹香鲸巡航地，之后下降太平洋界线; —

where Ahab, though everywhere else foiled in his pursuit, firmly counted upon giving battle to Moby Dick, in the sea he was most known to frequent; —
在那里，艾哈布虽然在其他地方都失败了，却坚信会和白鲸摩比狄克交战，在它最经常流连的那片海域; —

and at a season when he might most reasonably be presumed to be haunting it.
而且也是在一个最有可能它流连其中的季节。

But how now? in this zoned quest, does Ahab touch no land? does his crew drink air? —
但现在怎么办呢？在这个带着区域性特征的追求中，艾哈布不会接近陆地吗？他的船员会喝空气吗？ —

Surely, he will stop for water. Nay. For a long time, now, the circus-running sun has raced within his fiery ring, and needs no sustenance but what’s in himself. —
当然，他会为了水而停下。不会。很长一段时间以来，马戏团奔跑的太阳一直在他火圈内疾速前行，除了自身，它不需要任何滋养。 —

So Ahab. Mark this, too, in the whaler. While other hulls are loaded down with alien stuff, to be transferred to foreign wharves; —
因此，艾哈布。还有这一点要注意，在捕鲸船上。当其他船只都装载着外来的货物，要在外国码头卸货; —

the world-wandering whale-ship carries no cargo but herself and crew, their weapons and their wants. She has a whole lake’s contents bottled in her ample hold. —
环游世界的捕鲸船，除了船身和船员、武器以及他们的需求之外，没有其他货物。她的宽敞货舱里灌满了整整一整个湖的水。 —

She is ballasted with utilities; not altogether with unusable pig-lead and kentledge. —
她的补给物品重如铅球；而非完全是无用的铅和压舱物。 —

She carries years’ water in her. Clear old prime Nantucket water; —
她携带了多年的水。清澈的南塔基特上好水； —

which, when three years afloat, the Nantucketer, in the Pacific, prefers to drink before the brackish fluid, but yesterday rafted off in casks, from the Peruvian or Indian streams. —
而三年在海上飘浮后，南塔基特人在太平洋更愿意喝这水，而不是昨天从秘鲁或印度河流装在桶里的咸水。 —

Hence it is, that, while other ships may have gone to China from New York, and back again, touching at a score of ports, the whale-ship, in all that interval, may not have sighted one grain of soil; —
因此，当其他船只可能从纽约去中国一趟，然后再回来，途经二十个港口，捕鲸船在此期间，可能连一粒土地都没有看到过； —

her crew having seen no man but floating seamen like themselves. —
她的船员只看见漂泊的和他们一样的海员。 —

So that did you carry them the news that another flood had come; —
所以如果你告诉他们另一场洪水来临了； —

they would only answer–“Well, boys, here’s the ark!”
他们只会回答：“嗯，伙计们，这就是方舟！”

Now, as many Sperm Whales had been captured off the western coast of Java, in the near vicinity of the Straits of Sunda; —
现在，许多抹香鲸被捕获在爪哇岛西海岸附近，靠近巽他海峡； —

indeed, as most of the ground, roundabout, was generally recognised by the fishermen as an excellent spot for cruising; —
事实上，周围大部分水域通常被渔民认定为巡航的绝佳地点； —

therefore, as the Pequod gained more and more upon Java Head, the look-outs were repeatedly hailed, and admonished to keep wide awake. —
因此，随着佩克德逐渐接近爪哇头地，岗哨们被反复呼叫，并受到提醒要保持清醒。 —

But though the green palmy cliffs of the land soon loomed on the starboard bow, and with delighted nostrils the fresh cinnamon was snuffed in the air, yet not a single jet was descried. —
但尽管陆地翠绿的椰林悬崖很快出现在右侧舷前，新鲜的肉桂味被闻到在空气中，却没有看到一丝喷射。 —

Almost renouncing all thought of falling in with any game hereabouts, the ship had well nigh entered the straits, when the customary cheering cry was heard from aloft, and ere long a spectacle of singular magnificence saluted us.
几乎放弃在此地遇到任何猎物的想法，船几乎已经进入海峡，当习惯性的欢呼声从高处传来，不久后，一场异常壮丽的景象展现在我们眼前。

But here be it premised, that owing to the unwearied activity with which of late they have been hunted over all four oceans, the Sperm Whales, instead of almost invariably sailing in small detached companies, as in former times, are now frequently met with in extensive herds, sometimes embracing so great a multitude, that it would almost seem as if numerous nations of them had sworn solemn league and covenant for mutual assistance and protection. —
但在这里需要预先说明的是，近来他们被全球四大洋穷追不舍，抓捕的活动十分活跃，因此，抹香鲸不再像以前那样几乎总是分散在小群体中出现，如今常常聚集成大群，有时规模如此之巨，几乎会觉得它们众多的国家已经立誓严肃联盟，为了相互援助与保护。 —

To this aggregation of the Sperm Whale into such immense caravans, may be imputed the circumstance that even in the best cruising grounds, you may now sometimes sail for weeks and months together, without being greeted by a single spout; —
把抹香鲸聚集成如此庞大的队伍，可能导致即使在最佳的巡航区，你也有可能连续几周甚至几个月都没有被一个喷射所欢迎； —

and then be suddenly saluted by what sometimes seems thousands on thousands.
然后突然被看到有时似乎数以千计的情况。

Broad on both bows, at the distance of some two or three miles, and forming a great semicircle, embracing one half of the level horizon, a continuous chain of whale-jets were up-playing and sparkling in the noon-day air. —
在两侧宽阔，距离两三英里处，形成一个大半圆，围绕着平坦的地平线，一串持续不断的鲸喷射物在午间空气中上升和闪烁。 —

Unlike the straight perpendicular twin-jets of the Right Whale, which, dividing at top, falls over in two branches, like the cleft drooping boughs of a willow, the single forward-slanting spout of the Sperm Whale presents a thick curled bush of white mist, continually rising and falling away to leeward.
不像右鲸垂直笔直的双喷射物那样，顶端分开，从上面分支下来，像杨柳的双落下的分叉树枝，抹香鲸单一向前倾斜的喷射物呈现出一团浓密、卷曲的白雾，不断地向下飘向后风。

Seen from the Pequod’s deck, then, as she would rise on a high hill of the sea, this host of vapory spouts, individually curling up into the air, and beheld through a blending atmosphere of bluish haze, showed like the thousand cheerful chimneys of some dense metropolis, descried of a balmy autumnal morning, by some horseman on a height.
从佩克德的甲板上看，当船上的高山上升起时，这些蒸汽喷射物的一群，每个都卷曲着上升到空气中，透过一片苍蓝雾气的融合环境看，就像一个浓密都市的一千个愉快的烟囱在秋天的一个温暖的清晨，被一个骑马者在高处看到。

As marching armies approaching an unfriendly defile in the mountains, accelerate their march, all eagerness to place that perilous passage in their rear, and once more expand in comparative security upon the plain; —
正如行进中的军队在山间一个不友好的狭窄通道接近时，加快步伐，渴望将危险的通道留在背后，并再次在平原上扩展，比较安全地展现出来； —

even so did this vast fleet of whales now seem hurrying forward through the straits; —
这群庞大的鲸似乎正急匆匆地穿过海峡； —

gradually contracting the wings of their semicircle, and swimming on, in one solid, but still crescentic centre.
渐渐地收缩其半圆翼，游向一个坚实的，但仍然弯曲的中心。

Crowding all sail the Pequod pressed after them; —
起钢帆的小P号紧随其后追赶他们； —

the harpooneers handling their weapons, and loudly cheering from the heads of their yet suspended boats. —
抛矛手们持着武器，从他们悬挂的小船头上大声欢呼。 —

If the wind only held, little doubt had they, that chased through these Straits of Sunda, the vast host would only deploy into the Oriental seas to witness the capture of not a few of their number. —
如果风只顺着吹，他们毫无疑问地认为，在通过这些巽他海峡时，这支庞大的队伍只会部署到东方海域，目睹他们中不少人被捕获。 —

And who could tell whether, in that congregated caravan, Moby Dick himself might not temporarily be swimming, like the worshipped white-elephant in the coronation procession of the Siamese! —
谁能确定，在那聚在一起的大群中，白鲸白鲨本人是否也暂时在其中游弋，就像泰国加冕游行中备受崇拜的白象一样！ —

So with stun-sail piled on stun-sail, we sailed along, driving these leviathans before us; —
因此，一帆风顺，我们驱赶着这些庞然大物在前进； —

when, of a sudden, the voice of Tashtego was heard, loudly directing attention to something in our wake.
突然间，听到塔斯特格的声音，大声指引我们后方的某物。

Corresponding to the crescent in our van, we beheld another in our rear. —
与我们前方的新月形状相对应，我们看到了后面的另一个月牙形状。 —

It seemed formed of detached white vapors, rising and falling something like the spouts of the whales; —
它似乎是由一团团分离的白雾组成，上升和下降，有点像鲸鱼的喷水孔； —

only they did not so completely come and go; —
只是它们没有那么完全地消失和出现； —

for they constantly hovered, without finally disappearing. —
因为它们始终徘徊不定，从未最终消失。 —

Levelling his glass at this sight, Ahab quickly revolved in his pivot-hole, crying, “Aloft there, and rig whips and buckets to wet the sails; —
将望远镜对准这个景象，艾哈布迅速转动他的枢轴孔，喊道：“上面，给帆布安装鞭子和水桶； —

–Malays, sir, and after us!”
–那些马来人，先生，他们在追我们！”

As if too long lurking behind the headlands, till the Pequod should fairly have entered the straits, these rascally Asiatics were now in hot pursuit, to make up for their over-cautious delay. —
就像太久隐藏在海岬后，等到小P号进入海峡后，这些阴险的亚洲人才急匆匆地追赶上来，弥补他们过于谨慎的延迟。 —

But when the swift Pequod, with a fresh leading wind, was herself in hot chase; —
但当迅猛的小P号自己带着劲风进行追逐时； —

how very kind of these tawny philanthropists to assist in speeding her on to her own chosen pursuit,– mere riding-whips and rowels to her, that they were. —
这些棕色的慈善家们多么善良啊，帮助加速她自己选择的追逐目标——对她来说，他们只是鞭子和刺激。 —

As with glass under arm, Ahab to-and-fro paced the deck; —
Ahab手持玻璃，在甲板上来回走动； —

in his forward turn beholding the monsters he chased, and in the after one the bloodthirsty pirates chasing him; —
回头望着他追逐的怪物，再转身看向那些血腥的海盗在追逐他； —

some such fancy as the above seemed his. —
他心中涌现出一些类似的奇想； —

And when he glanced upon the green walls of the watery defile in which the ship was then sailing, and bethought him that through that gate lay the route to his vengeance, and beheld, how that through that same gate he was now both chasing and being chased to his deadly end; —
当他凝视着船正在航行的绿色水道的岸壁，意识到通过那个门户通向他复仇之路，并看到他正在透过那扇门追逐和被追赶至致命的终点； —

and not only that, but a herd of remorseless wild pirates and inhuman atheistical devils were infernally cheering him on with their curses; —
不仅如此，还有一群冷酷的野蛮海盗和非人的无神论恶魔们恶毒地以他们的咒骂在鼓噪； —

–when all these conceits had passed through his brain, Ahab’s brow was left gaunt and ribbed, like the black sand beach after some stormy tide has been gnawing it, without being able to drag the firm thing from its place.
当所有这些念头经过他的脑海时，Ahab的眉头留下了瘦削和肋骨般的纹路，如同黑沙浜经历狂风暴雨无法将坚实的东西从原位拖走后留下的痕迹；

But thoughts like these troubled very few of the reckless crew; —
然而，这些想法很少困扰到这群鲁莽的船员； —

and when, after steadily dropping and dropping the pirates astern, the Pequod at last shot by the vivid green Cockatoo Point on the Sumatra side, emerging at last upon the broad waters beyond; —
经过持续地拉开距离，将海盗逐渐抛在身后，Pequod最后终于飞驶经过苏门答腊的白鹦鹉角，最终出现在远处广阔的水面上； —

then, the harpooneers seemed more to grieve that the swift whales had been gaining upon the ship, than to rejoice that the ship had so victoriously gained upon the Malays. —
那时，鱼叉手们更像是因为快速的鲸鱼已经赶上船而感到悲伤，而不是因为船已经如此胜利地走在马来人的前面而感到高兴； —

But still driving on in the wake of the whales, at length they seemed abating their speed; —
但依然在鲸鱼的尾迹驱赶着，最终它们似乎减缓了速度； —

gradually the ship neared them; and the wind now dying away, word was passed to spring to the boats. But no sooner did the herd, by some presumed wonderful instinct of the Sperm Whale, become notified of the three keels that were after them,– though as yet a mile in their rear,–than they rallied again, and forming in close ranks and battalions, so that their spouts all looked like flashing lines of stacked bayonets, moved on with redoubled velocity.
渐渐地，船靠近它们；风渐渐消失，命令传开准备划船出发。但是当鲸鱼群，凭借着抹不清的抽脂鲸的奇妙本能，得知了追逐它们的三只船，虽然此时距离他们还有一英里的距离，它们就再次集结起来，形成紧密的阵列和编队，使得它们的吐气看起来像一排排闪亮的刺刀，以加倍的速度前进；

Stripped to our shirts and drawers, we sprang to the white-ash, and after several hours’ pulling were almost disposed to renounce the chase, when a general pausing commotion among the whales gave animating tokens that they were now at last under the influence of that strange perplexity of inert irresolution, which, when the fishermen perceive it in the whale, they say he is gallied*. —
我们剥掉衬衣和裤子，急忙向白色榉木船掉里扑去，经过数小时的划动几乎要放弃追赶，就在那时，鲸鱼们中普遍出现的停顿骚动表明它们终于受到了那种奇怪的迟疑无行动的困惑的影响，当渔民察觉到这种迹象时，它们说鲸鱼被激怒了； —

The compact martial columns in which they had been hitherto rapidly and steadily swimming, were now broken up in one measureless rout; —
他们此前迅速而稳定地游动着的紧凑军列，如今被打散成无尽的溃败； —

and like King Porus’ elephants in the Indian battle with Alexander, they seemed going mad with consternation. —
就像印度与亚历山大战斗中的波罗（King Porus）的大象一样，它们似乎因惊慌而发狂； —

In all directions expanding in vast irregular circles, and aimlessly swimming hither and thither, by their short thick spoutings, they plainly betrayed their distraction of panic. —
在各个方向扩展着巨大的不规则圈子，毫无目标地无序游动，通过它们短而浓密的喷水，它们明显显露出惊慌的困惑。 —

This was still more strangely evinced by those of their number, who, completely paralysed as it were, helplessly floated like water-logged dismantled ships on the sea. —
这更奇怪的表现在于，其中一些人完全像瘫痪了一样，无助地漂浮着，就像船只在海上水浸丢弃一样。 —

Had these Leviathans been but a flock of simple sheep, pursued over the pasture by three fierce wolves, they could not possibly have evinced such excessive dismay. —
假如这些利维坦只是一群简单的羊，被三只凶猛的狼追逐在草场上，他们不可能表现出如此极度的惊慌。 —

But this occasional timidity is characteristic of almost all herding creatures. —
但这种偶尔的胆怯几乎是所有群居动物的特征。 —

Though banding together in tens of thousands, the lion-maned buffaloes of the West have fled before a solitary horseman. —
尽管以几万的规模聚集在一起，西部长着狮鬃的水牛会在面对一个孤独的骑手时逃跑。 —

Witness, too, all human beings, how when herded together in the sheepfold of a theatre’s pit, they will, at the slightest alarm of fire, rush helter-skelter for the outlets, crowding, trampling, jamming, and remorselessly dashing each other to death. —
还有人类，当他们在剧院的坑穴里群集在一起时，只要听到火警的最轻微警报，他们就会胡乱奔逃，争先恐后地冲向出口，拥挤、踩踏、混乱，毫不留情地将彼此撞死。 —

Best, therefore, withhold any amazement at the strangely gallied whales before us, for there is no folly of the beasts of the earth which is not infinitely outdone by the madness of men.
因此，请不要对我们面前这些陷入狂乱状态的鲸鱼感到惊讶，因为地球上的兽类的任何愚蠢之举都无法与人类的疯狂相比。

• To gally, or gallow, is to frighten excessively– to confound with fright. —
  *“Gally”或“gallow”的意思是过度地惊吓–用惊吓使之困惑。 —
  

It is an old Saxon word. It occurs once in Shakespeare:–
这是一个古老的撒克逊词汇。在莎士比亚的作品中出现过一次：

The wrathful skies Gallow the very wanderers of the dark And make them keep their caves.
愤怒的天空使黑暗中的漫游者们过度恐惧，迫使他们躲进洞穴中。

To common language, the word is now completely obsolete. —
在普通语言中，这个词现在已完全过时。 —

When the polite landsman first hears it from the gaunt Nantucketer, he is apt to set it down as one of the whaleman’s self-derived savageries. —
当彬彬有礼的陆地人第一次从那位消瘦的南塔基特人口中听到时，他往往会认为这是捕鲸者自创的野蛮行为之一。 —

Much the same is it with many other sinewy Saxonisms of this sort, which emigrated to New-England rocks with the noble brawn of the old English emigrants in the time of the Commonwealth. —
类似的撒克逊语言在这种情况下也是如此，在清教徒时代，这些语言与英国老移民的高贵血统一起移民到了新英格兰的岩石上。 —

Thus, some of the best and furthest-descended English words–the etymological Howards and Percys–are now democratised, nay, plebeianised–so to speak– in the New World.
因此，一些最好的和血统最久远的英语词汇–像霍华德和珀西这样的词语–现在在新世界变得大众化，甚至可以说是平民化。

Though many of the whales, as has been said, were in violent motion, yet it is to be observed that as a whole the herd neither advanced nor retreated, but collectively remained in one place. —
尽管有许多鲸鱼在剧烈运动，但需要指出的是群体中没有前进也没有后退，而是整体留在一个地方。 —

As is customary in those cases, the boats at once separated, each making for some one lone whale on the outskirts of the shoal. —
按照惯例，船只立即分开，每只船都朝着群集外围的一只孤鲸驶去。 —

In about three minutes’ time, Queequeg’s harpoon was flung; —
大约三分钟后，奎奎格抛出了鱼叉； —

the stricken fish darted blinding spray in our faces, and then running away with us like light, steered straight for the heart of the herd. —
受伤的鲸鱼向我们脸上喷出盲目的水花，然后带着我们像光一样跑开，直奔兽群的心脏； —

Though such a movement on the part of the whale struck under such circumstances, is in no wise unprecedented; —
尽管在这种情况下，被鲸鱼打击并不罕见； —

and indeed is almost always more or less anticipated; —
实际上几乎总是或多或少可以预料到； —

yet does it present one of the more perilous vicissitudes of the fishery. —
但这确实展示了捕鱼业中更危险的变故之一； —

For as the swift monster drags you deeper and deeper into the frantic shoal, you bid adieu to circumspect life and only exist in a delirious throb.
当这只迅猛的怪物将你拖入疯狂的鱼群深处时，你向谨慎的生活告别，只在极度兴奋中存在；

As, blind and deaf, the whale plunged forward, as if by sheer power of speed to rid himself of the iron leech that had fastened to him; —
当鲸鱼盲目而聋，向前冲去，仿佛单单凭借速度之力摆脱抓住它的铁蛭时； —

as we thus tore a white gash in the sea, on all sides menaced as we flew, by the crazed creatures to and fro rushing about us; —
当我们在海面上撕开白色的裂口时，四面受到疯狂的生物的威胁而飞逝； —

our beset boat was like a ship mobbed by ice-isles in a tempest, and striving to steer through their complicated channels and straits, knowing not at what moment it may be locked in and crushed.
被围困的船像一艘在风暴中被冰岛围攻的船，努力驶过复杂的海峡和通道，不知何时会被锁定并粉碎；

But not a bit daunted, Queequeg steered us manfully; —
但奎奎格并不畏惧，勇敢地为我们掌舵； —

now sheering off from this monster directly across our route in advance; —
时而避开正在我们前进路线上直接横切的怪物； —

now edging away from that, whose colossal flukes were suspended overhead, while all the time, Starbuck stood up in the bows, lance in hand, pricking out of our way whatever whales he could reach by short darts, for there was no time to make long ones. —
时而避开那些巨大的鲸鱼，它们的巨大鲸翅悬挂在头顶，而此时斯塔布克一直站在船头，手持长矛，用短矛刺走我们路线上能够触及的任何鲸鱼，因为没有时间刺长矛； —

Nor were the oarsmen quite idle, though their wonted duty was now altogether dispensed with. —
划桨手也并不闲着，尽管他们平时的工作完全被取消了； —

They chiefly attended to the shouting part of the business. “Out of the way, Commodore!” —
他们主要负责大喊大叫的部分：“避让，舰长！” —

cried one, to a great dromedary that of a sudden rose bodily to the surface, and for an instant threatened to swamp us. —
有人对一只突然全身浮出水面的大駝鯪喊道，瞬间威胁要淹没我们。 —

“Hard down with your tail, there!” cried a second to another, which, close to our gunwale, seemed calmly cooling himself with his own fan-like extremity.
“用你的尾巴紧紧地向下！”第二个喊道，另一只鲸鱼似乎正靠着自己像扇子一样的结尾悠闲地降温。

All whale-boats carry certain curious contrivances, originally invented by the Nantucket Indians, called druggs. —
所有鲸船都配备了一些奇特的装置，最初是由南泰克特印第安人发明的，称为海草绳。 —

Two thick squares of wood of equal size are stoutly clenched together, so that they cross each other’s grain at right angles; —
两块相等大小的厚木块被牢固地夹在一起，以便它们的纹理以直角相交; —

a line of considerable length is then attached to the middle of this block, and the other end of the line being looped, it can in a moment be fastened to a harpoon. —
接着在这块木块的中央系上一根相当长的绳子，然后将绳子的另一端套圈，可以立即将其固定在鱼叉上。 —

It is chiefly among gallied whales that this drugg is used. —
这种装置主要是用于被激怒的鲸鱼。 —

For then, more whales are close round you than you can possibly chase at one time. —
因为在那种时候，周围会有比你能一次追逐的更多的鲸鱼。 —

But sperm whales are not every day encountered; while you may, then, you must kill all you can. —
但抹香鲸并不是每天都会遇到；当你遇到时，你必须尽量杀死它们。 —

And if you cannot kill them all at once, you must wing them, so that they can be afterwards killed at your leisure. —
如果你一次无法杀死它们所有，你必须打伤它们，这样以后可以慢慢地将它们杀死。 —

Hence it is, that at times like these the drug, comes into requisition. —
因此，在这种时候就用到了这个装置。 —

Our boat was furnished with three of them. —
我们的船上配备了三个这样的装置。 —

The first and second were successfully darted, and we saw the whales staggeringly running off, fettered by the enormous sidelong resistance of the towing drugg. —
第一个和第二个成功地被投掷了，我们看到鲸鱼在巨大的侧向阻力下摇摇晃晃地逃跑。 —

They were cramped like malefactors with the chain and ball. —
它们像被链和球囚禁一样受到限制。 —

But upon flinging the third, in the act of tossing overboard the clumsy wooden block, it caught under one of the seats of the boat, and in an instant tore it out and carried it away, dropping the oarsman in the boat’s bottom as the seat slid from under him. —
但在投掷第三个时，当要将笨重的木块扔下水时，它卡在船上的一个座位下，一下子把座位拽走，座位从他的身下滑了出去。 —

On both sides the sea came in at the wounded planks, but we stuffed two or three drawers and shirts in, and so stopped the leaks for the time.
海水从受伤的船板两侧涌入，但我们往里塞了两三个抽屉和衬衫，暂时堵住了漏洞。

It had been next to impossible to dart these drugged-harpoons, were it not that as we advanced into the herd, our whale’s way greatly diminished; —
如果不是随着我们深入鲸群，我们鲸鱼的速度大大减少，几乎不可能投掷这些被毒箭所射中的鱼叉。 —

moreover, that as we went still further and further from the circumference of commotion, the direful disorders seemed waning. —
而且，随着我们越来越远离骚动的边缘，可怕的混乱似乎在减弱。 —

So that when at last the jerking harpoon drew out, and the towing whale sideways vanished; —
因此，当最终那颤动的鱼叉被抽出，拖曳的鲸鱼侧身消失时； —

then, with the tapering force of his parting momentum, we glided between two whales into the innermost heart of the shoal, as if from some mountain torrent we had slid into a serene valley lake. —
那时，随着他离开时的逐渐减弱的力量，我们在两只鲸鱼之间滑入了群群鱼的最中心，就好像我们从山间急流中滑入了一个宁静的山谷湖泊。 —

Here the storms in the roaring glens between the outermost whales, were heard but not felt. —
在这个中央区域，我们听见了位于最外围鲸鱼之间咆哮的山谷中的暴风雨声，但却感觉不到。 —

In this central expanse the sea presented that smooth satin-like surface, called a sleek, produced by the subtle moisture thrown off by the whale in his more quiet moods. —
在这个中央区域，海面呈现出那种被鲸鱼在他更加安静的时刻所散发的微妙湿润物质打磨出的平滑像缎子一样的表面。 —

Yes, we were now in that enchanted calm which they say lurks at the heart of every commotion. —
是的，我们现在处于那种被称为潜伏在每一个骚动之中的神奇宁静之中。 —

And still in the distracted distance we beheld the tumults of the outer concentric circles, and saw successive pods of whales, eight or ten in each, swiftly going round and round, like multiplied spans of horses in a ring; —
而且在远处的混乱中，我们看到了外围同心圆的动乱，看到连续的鲸鱼群，每群有八到十只，在迅速地一圈圈地转动，就像圆圈里的多重马队一样。 —

and so closely shoulder to shoulder, that a Titanic circus-rider might easily have over-arched the middle ones, and so have gone round on their backs. —
因此，鲸群密集得几乎肩并肩，以至于一名泰坦尼克的马戏团骑手轻易就能跨越中间的那些鲸，从而在它们的背上绕行。 —

Owing to the density of the crowd of reposing whales, more immediately surrounding the embayed axis of the herd, no possible chance of escape was at present afforded us. —
由于躺着的鲸鱼群密集，更紧密地包围着鲸群的围困中心，我们目前根本没有任何逃脱的可能。 —

We must watch for a breach in the living wall that hemmed us in; —
我们必须等待那将我们困住的活生生的墙壁中出现的裂缝； —

the wall that had only admitted us in order to shut us up. —
那墙壁本来是只让我们进去，却打算把我们困在里面的。 —

Keeping at the centre of the lake, we were occasionally visited by small tame cows and calves; —
我们船在湖的中心，偶尔会被小而温顺的母鲸和幼崽们拜访； —

the women and children of this routed host.
这些被驱散的鲸群的妇女和孩子们。

Now, inclusive of the occasional wide intervals between the revolving outer circles, and inclusive of the spaces between the various pods in any one of those circles, the entire area at this juncture, embraced by the whole multitude, must have contained at least two or three square miles. —
现在，在偶尔的较大间隔和单个圈内各个鲸群之间的空间包含在内，此刻整个群体所包围的区域，至少应该有两三平方英里。 —

At any rate–though indeed such a test at such a time might be deceptive–spoutings might be discovered from our low boat that seemed playing up almost from the rim of the horizon. —
在任何时候–尽管事实上，在这样的时刻进行这样的检验可能会产生误导作用–我们的小船上都能发现从地平线几乎涌现出来的喷水。 —

I mention this circumstance, because, as if the cows and calves had been purposely locked up in this innermost fold; —
我提到这一情况，因为仿佛这些母鲸和幼崽被故意锁在内部环中； —

and as if the wide extent of the herd had hitherto prevented them from learning the precise cause of its stopping; —
仿佛群体的广阔范围此前一直阻止它们了解停止的确切原因； —

or, possibly, being so young, unsophisticated, and every way innocent and inexperienced; —
或者，可能是因为它们还很年轻、纯洁且经验不足； —

however it may have been, these smaller whales– now and then visiting our becalmed boat from the margin of the lake– evinced a wondrous fearlessness and confidence, or else a still becharmed panic which it was impossible not to marvel at. —
不管是什么原因，这些较小的鲸鱼–偶尔从湖边向我们的靠岸小船靠近–展现出令人惊异的无畏和信任，或者是一种被魔咒困住的恐慌，令人不得不惊讶。 —

Like household dogs they came snuffling round us, right up to our gunwales, and touching them; —
它们像家养狗一样围着我们嗅探，直至靠近我们的舷侧，并与之接触； —

till it almost seemed that some spell had suddenly domesticated them. —
几乎似乎这些鲸突然变得温顺如家养动物。 —

Queequeg patted their foreheads; Starbuck scratched their backs with his lance; —
奎克抚摸它们的额头；斯塔布克用长矛抚摸它们的背； —

but fearful of the consequences, for the time refrained from darting it.
但因为害怕后果，我们暂时没有投掷它。

But far beneath this wondrous world upon the surface, another and still stranger world met our eyes as we gazed over the side. —
但是在地表之下的这个奇妙世界之下，我们盯着边上看到了另一个更奇怪的世界。 —

For, suspended in those watery vaults, floated the forms of the nursing mothers of the whales, and those that by their enormous girth seemed shortly to become mothers. —
因为在那些水池中悬浮着鲸鱼的哺乳母体，以及那些因其巨大身躯而看似即将成为母亲的鲸鱼。 —

The lake, as I have hinted, was to a considerable depth exceedingly transparent; —
如我所暗示的，这个湖在相当深的地方透明无比； —

and as human infants while suckling will calmly and fixedly gaze away from the breast, as if leading two different lives at the time; —
就像人类婴儿在吃奶时会平静地盯着远处，仿佛另有一种生活在同时进行； —

and while yet drawing mortal nourishment, be still spiritually feasting upon some unearthly reminiscence; —
而且仍在摄取凡间营养的婴鲸似乎仍然在灵魂上享受着某种超凡脱俗的回忆； —

–even so did the young of these whales seem looking up towards us, but not at us, as if we were but a bit of Gulfweed in their new-born sight. —
– 像是这些鲸的幼崽似乎在向我们看来，但并不是看着我们，就好像我们在他们刚出生的眼中只是一小片海草。 —

Floating on their sides, the mothers also seemed quietly eyeing us. —
他们悄悄地横卧在水面上，看向我们。 —

One of these little infants, that from certain queer tokens seemed hardly a day old, might have measured some fourteen feet in length, and some six feet in girth. —
这些小婴儿中的一个，从某些古怪的迹象来看，可能只有几天大，长度约有十四英尺，腰围约有六英尺。 —

He was a little frisky; though as yet his body seemed scarce yet recovered from that irksome position it had so lately occupied in the maternal reticule; —
他有点活泼；虽然他的身体似乎还没有从最近在母鲸腹囊中所处的不舒服位置中恢复过来； —

where, tail to head, and all ready for the final spring, the unborn whale lies bent like a Tartar’s bow. —
在那里，从尾到头，准备最后一跃，未出生的鲸鱼弯曲着身体，像一个鞑靼人的弓一样。 —

The delicate side-fins, and the palms of his flukes, still freshly retained the plaited crumpled appearance of a baby’s ears newly arrived from foreign parts.
他那精致的侧鳍和尾鳍的掌，仍然保持着像刚从外国来的婴儿的耳朵那样扭曲皱褶的外观。

“Line! line!” cried Queequeg, looking over the gunwale; “him fast! him fast! —
“拉！拉！” 邱吉格叫道，俯视舷边；“抓住了！抓住了！ —

–Who line him! Who struck?–Two whale; one big, one little!”
–谁拉的！谁打中的？–两条鲸鱼；一大一小！”

“What ails ye, man?” cried Starbuck.
“你怎么了，伙计？” 斯塔布克大喊。

“Look-e here,” said Queequeg, pointing down.
“瞧这儿，”邱吉格指着下方。

As when the stricken whale, that from the tub has reeled out hundreds of fathoms of rope; —
像那条被击中后，从桶中绕出数百寻长绳的受伤鲸鱼一样； —

as, after deep sounding, he floats up again, and shows the slackened curling line buoyantly rising and spiralling towards the air; —
就像此后进行深度探测，再次浮上水面，并展示着松弛的卷曲线向上螺旋升向空中一样； —

so now, Starbuck saw long coils of the umbilical cord of Madame Leviathan, by which the young cub seemed still tethered to its dam. —
所以现在，斯塔布克看见大母鲸的脐带长长的盘绕在小幼崽身上，仿佛仍然将其系在母亲身边。 —

Not seldom in the rapid vicissitudes of the chase, this natural line, with the maternal end loose, becomes entangled with the hempen one, so that the cub is thereby trapped. —
在追逐的迅速变化中，这自然的线，母亲那端被放松，经常会与麻绳相缠，使幼崽被困住。 —

Some of the subtlest secrets of the seas seemed divulged to us in this enchanted pond. —
一些海洋中最机密的秘密似乎在这个魔法池塘中向我们揭示。 —

We saw young Leviathan amours in the deep.*
我们看到了深海中幼年的利维坦爱意。

*The sperm whale, as with all other species of the Leviathan, but unlike most other fish, breeds indifferently at all seasons; —
抹鲸，与利维坦的所有其他物种一样，但不同于大多数其他鱼类，可以在所有季节自由繁殖； —

after a gestation which may probably be set down at nine months, producing but one at a time; —
怀孕可能需时九个月，每次只生一胎； —

though in some few known instances giving birth to an Esau and Jacob: —
尽管在极少数已知情况下生下以扫和雅各，这种情况在哺乳过程中通过两个奶头来满足，这些奶头奇妙地位于肛门的两侧； —

–a contingency provided for in suckling by two teats, curiously situated, one on each side of the anus; —
但乳房本身是从下至上延伸的。 —

but the breasts themselves extend upwards from that. —
当猎人的长矛偶然切断哺乳抹鲸的这些宝贵部位时，母亲涌出的乳汁和血液在数码之外竞相染色大海。 —

When by chance these precious parts in a nursing whale are cut by the hunter’s lance, the mother’s pouring milk and blood rivallingly discolor the sea for rods. —
这种乳汁非常甜美和浓郁；人类曾尝过它； —

The milk is very sweet and rich; it has been tasted by man; —
它可能与草莓搭配得宜。当鲸鱼充满相互尊重时，它们互相打招呼。 —

it might do well with strawberries. When overflowing with mutual esteem, the whales salute more hominum.
因此，尽管被环绕着一个又一个的惊恐和惊吓，这些不可思议的生物在中心自由而无畏地从事一切和平事务；

And thus, though surrounded by circle upon circle of consternations and affrights, did these inscrutable creatures at the centre freely and fearlessly indulge in all peaceful concernments; —
是的，它们在缱绻和快乐中泰然自若地肆意狂欢。 —

yea, serenely revelled in dalliance and delight. —
但即便如此，在我心灵的飓风般大西洋中，我自己仍然永远地在安静中畅游； —

But even so, amid the tornadoed Atlantic of my being, do I myself still for ever centrally disport in mute calm; —
而在我周围永恒不变的围绕中，沉重的憎恨的行星围绕着我滚动时，我仍然在深邃内陆的地方在永恒的喜悦和温和中沐浴。 —

and while ponderous planets of unwaning woe revolve round me, deep down and deep inland there I still bathe me in eternal mildness of joy.
与此同时，当我们沉浸其中时，偶尔在远处发生的突然狂烈的场面表明，其他船只仍然忙于在敌方边境上追捕鲸鱼；

Meanwhile, as we thus lay entranced, the occasional sudden frantic spectacles in the distance evinced the activity of the other boats, still engaged in drugging the whales on the frontier of the host; —
或可能在第一个圈内进行战斗，在那里给予了充足的空间和一些便利的撤退处。 —

or possibly carrying on the war within the first circle, where abundance of room and some convenient retreats were afforded them. —
但在见到那些愤怒被麻痹的鲸鱼偶尔在圈内盲目来回冲突时，与我们眼前所见的比起来简直微不足道。 —

But the sight of the enraged drugged whales now and then blindly darting to and fro across the circles, was nothing to what at last met our eyes. —
但最终遇见我们眼睛的景象确实与先前的情形完全不同。 —

It is sometimes the custom when fast to a whale more than commonly powerful and alert, to seek to hamstring him, as it were, by sundering or maiming his gigantic tail-tendon. —
有时候在追逐一头比平常更强大、更敏捷的鲸鱼时，习惯上会试图通过切断或损伤其巨大的尾腱，使其无法快速游动。 —

It is done by darting a short-handled cutting-spade, to which is attached a rope for hauling it back again. —
这是通过投掷一个附有绳索的短柄切割铲来实现的。 —

A whale wounded (as we afterwards learned) in this part, but not effectually, as it seemed, had broken away from the boat, carrying along with him half of the harpoon line; —
一头被伤害过（后来我们得知）但似乎并不是很有效的鲸鱼脱离了小船，带着半根鱼叉线逃走了； —

and in the extraordinary agony of the wound, he was now dashing among the revolving circles like the lone mounted desperado Arnold, at the battle of Saratoga, carrying dismay wherever he went.
在伤口极度痛苦的情况下，他如今在旋转的圈子中猛烈冲撞，就像萨拉托加战役中的独身绝境的阿诺德，无论走到哪里都带来惊慌。

But agonizing as was the wound of this whale, and an appalling spectacle enough, any way; —
尽管这头鲸鱼受伤十分痛苦，无论如何都是一个可怕的观景； —

yet the peculiar horror with which he seemed to inspire the rest of the herd, was owing to a cause which at first the intervening distance obscured from us. —
然而，他似乎激起了其他鲸群特有的恐惧，这是由于一开始我们所看不清的原因。 —

But at length we perceived that by one of the unimaginable accidents of the fishery, this whale had become entangled in the harpoon-line that he towed; —
但最终我们发现，在捕鱼工作中出现了难以置信的意外，这头鲸鱼被鱼叉线缠住了； —

he had also run away with the cutting-spade in him; —
他还带走了钻入他体内的切割铲； —

and while the free end of the rope attached to that weapon, had permanently caught in the coils of the harpoon-line round his tail, the cutting-spade itself had worked loose from his flesh. —
而与围绕在他尾巴周围的鱼叉线永久锁定在一起的绳索的自由端，切割铲本身已从他的肌肤中脱落。 —

So that tormented to madness, he was now churning through the water, violently flailing with his flexible tail, and tossing the keen spade about him, wounding and murdering his own comrades.
于是，他被折磨得疯狂，如今正在激烈搅动水面，用他灵活的尾巴猛烈挥舞，抛掷着锋利的铲子，伤害和谋杀着自己的同伴。

This terrific object seemed to recall the whole herd from their stationary fright. —
这个可怕的景象似乎让整群鲸鱼从他们的恐惧中苏醒。 —

First, the whales forming the margin of our lake began to crowd a little, and tumble against each other, as if lifted by half spent billows from afar; —
首先，形成我们湖泊边缘的鲸鱼开始挤挤推推，互相打滚，仿佛被远处的波涛推涌起来； —

then the lake itself began faintly to heave and swell; —
然后湖泊本身开始微微起伏； —

the submarine bridal-chambers and nurseries vanished; —
海底的新婚之房和孵化室消失了； —

in more and more contracting orbits the whales in the more central circles began to swim in thickening clusters. —
在越来越收缩的轨道内，中心圈中的鲸鱼开始成群游动。 —

Yes, the long calm was departing. A low advancing hum was soon heard; —
是的，长时间的宁静即将结束。很快就能听到一个低沉的前行嗡嗡声； —

and then like to the tumultuous masses of block-ice when the great river Hudson breaks up in Spring, the entire host of whales came tumbling upon their inner centre, as if to pile themselves up in one common mountain. —
就像哈德逊河在春天解冻时，整群鲸鱼像是震惊的大冰块一样涌向内部中心，仿佛要堆积成一个共同的山峰。 —

Instantly Starbuck and Queequeg changed places; —
星巴克和奎克格立即交换位置； —

Starbuck taking the stern.
星巴克掌舵。

“Oars! Oars!” he intensely whispered, seizing the helm–“gripe your oars, and clutch your souls, now! My God, men, stand by! —
“桨！桨！”他紧紧地低声喊着，抓住舵柄–“抓稳桨，抓紧灵魂，现在！天啊，伙计们，准备好！ —

Shove him off, you Queequeg–the whale there!–prick him!–hit him! —
把它推开，奎克格–那里的鲸鱼！–刺它！–打中它！ —

Stand up–stand up, and stay so! Spring men–pull, men; —
站起来–站起来，保持这样！快划–划，伙计们； —

never mind their backs–scrape them!–scrape away!”
别管他们的背–刮他们！–一鼓作气！”

The boat was now all but jammed between two vast black bulks, leaving a narrow Dardanelles between their long lengths. —
小船现在几乎被两个巨大的黑色块体挤在一起，只留下一个狭窄的达达尼尔海峡。 —

But by desperate endeavor we at last shot into a temporary opening; —
但经过拚命努力，我们最终成功射入了一个暂时的通道； —

then giving way rapidly, and at the same time earnestly watching for another outlet. —
然后迅速划开，同时紧张地寻找另一个出口。 —

After many similar hair-breadth escapes, we at last swiftly glided into what had just been one of the outer circles, but now crossed by random whales, all violently making for one centre. —
经过许多类似的濒死逃脱，我们终于迅速地滑入刚刚成为外围圈之一的区域，但此刻却被任意游动的鲸鱼混乱地交错穿梭。 —

This lucky salvation was cheaply purchased by the loss of Queequeg’s hat, who, while standing in the bows to prick the fugitive whales, had his hat taken clean from his head by the air-eddy made by the sudden tossing of a pair of broad flukes close by.
这次幸运的逃生是付出代价的，奎克格的帽子丢了，站在船头刺追逐的鲸鱼时，被附近一对宽阔的鲸鱼尾巴突然甩起的气旋吹走了。

Riotous and disordered as the universal commotion now was, it soon resolved itself into what seemed a systematic movement; —
尽管普遍混乱骚动，但很快却化为似乎是有序的行动； —

for having clumped together at last in one dense body, they then renewed their onward flight with augmented fleetness. —
因为他们最终聚集在一起形成一团浓密的身体，然后以更快的速度继续他们的前进。 —

Further pursuit was useless; but the boats still lingered in their wake to pick up what drugged whales might be dropped astern, and likewise to secure one which Flask had killed and waited. —
进一步追逐已经无济于事；但是船只们仍然在后方逗留，以捡起被药物麻痹的鲸鱼，也为了捕捉弗拉斯克击杀并等待的一头鲸。 —

The waif is a pennoned pole, two or three of which are carried by every boat; —
这个无主物是一根带旗的桅杆，每艘船上都会携带两三根； —

and which, when additional game is at hand, are inserted upright into the floating body of a dead whale, both to mark its place on the sea, and also as token of prior possession, should the boats of any other ship draw near.
当附近还有其他猎物时，它们会被竖立插入一头死鲸的浮尸中，既可以标记它在海上的位置，也作为先前占有的标记，以防其他船只靠近。

The result of this lowering was somewhat illustrative of that sagacious saying in the Fishery,–the more whales the less fish. —
这次下水的结果在捕鲸业中有些论调，那就是–多鲸少鱼。 —

Of all the drugged whales only one was captured. —
所有被药物麻痹的鲸只有一头被捕捉。 —

The rest contrived to escape for the time, but only to be taken, as will hereafter be seen, by some other craft than the Pequod.
其余的设法在这次逃脱，但会在后续被其他船只捕获，就如后文所述。