英語聽書《白鯨記》 第292期

I was also aware that being a green hand at whaling,my own lay would not be very large; but consideringthat I was used to the sea, could steer a ship, splicea rope, and all that, I made no doubt that from all Ihad heard I should be offered at least the 275th lay--that is, the 275th part of the clear net proceeds ofthe voyage, whatever that might eventually amountto. And though the 275th lay was what they call arather long lay, yet it was better than nothing; and ifwe had a lucky voyage, might pretty nearly pay forthe clothing I would wear out on it, not to speak ofmy three years' beef and board, for which I would not have to pay one stiver.

我也知道,我在捕鯨業(yè)是個新手,我的"拆賬"不會很多;但是,因為我已熟悉海上生活,能掌舵,會捻繩,以及其它等等,因此,我毫不懷疑地認為,根據(jù)我的見聞,至少該得二百七十五分之一的"拆賬"。就是說,不管最后的紅利數(shù)目有多少,一次航程我可凈得二百七十五分之一的紅利。雖然人們把二百七十五分之一叫做"大拆賬"。這是因為只就表面上百分比的分母大小而論的,而實際上,分母越大,商數(shù),然而,這倒也是聊勝于無的;如果我們碰上一次好運氣的航程,那就差不多很可以補償我所穿破的衣服,別說我還能白吃三年的牛肉,在船上白住三年,一個子兒都不用付。

It might be thought that this was a poor way to accumulate a princely fortune--and so it was,a very poor way indeed. But I am one of those that never take on about princely fortunes, andam quite content if the world is ready to board and lodge me, while I am putting up at thisgrim sign of the Thunder Cloud. Upon the whole, I thought that the 275th lay would be aboutthe fair thing, but would not have been surprised had I been offered the 200th, considering Iwas of a broad-shouldered make.

也許有人會認為,這是積攢大財?shù)目蓱z方法吧。一點不假,這的確是一個十分可憐的方法。不過,我是個從來沒有打過要發(fā)大財?shù)闹饕獾娜?正當我要在這個掛著"雷云"的冷酷的招牌的處所投宿時,如果這世界有我容身之地也就夠心滿意足了?？傊?我認為二百七十五分之一的拆賬應該算是很公平的了,不過,考慮到我生來就是一塊挑得起重擔的材料,如果出我二百分之一的話,我也不會感到驚奇。

But one thing, nevertheless, that made me a little distrustful about receiving a generousshare of the profits was this: Ashore, I had heard something of both Captain Peleg and hisunaccountable old crony Bildad; how that they being the principal proprietors of the Pequod,therefore the other and more inconsiderable and scattered owners, left nearly the wholemanagement of the ship's affairs to these two.

話雖如此,但是,對于接受一筆慷慨的分紅卻有一樁使我稍覺狐疑的事情:我在岸上已聽到過法勒船長和他那個神秘莫測的老朋友比勒達兩人的一些事情;說是因為他們倆都是"裴廓德號"的主要股東,因此,其他那些為數(shù)眾多的零星小戶的股東老板,差不多把整個船務都交給他們這兩個人照管。