Launched at length upon these almost final waters, and gliding towards the Japanese cruising-ground, the old man's purpose intensified itself. His firm lips met like the lips of a vice; the Delta of his forehead's veins swelled like overladen brooks; in his very sleep, his ringing cry ran through the vaulted hull, "Stern all! the White Whale spouts thick blood!"
現(xiàn)在終于駛到這些簡(jiǎn)直可說(shuō)是最后的洋面上,而且正向著日本的巡游漁場(chǎng)慢慢前進(jìn),這個(gè)老人的決心越來(lái)越堅(jiān)強(qiáng)了。他那兩片堅(jiān)定的嘴唇象是老虎鉗的兩爿鉗子那樣緊合著;他額頭上那三叉形的脈管象是漲水的溪流似的鼓起著,他那響如洪鐘的聲音,在睡夢(mèng)里也響徹拱形的船殼,"倒劃!白鯨在噴濃血啦!"
Chapter 112 The Blacksmith
第一百十二章 鐵匠
Availing himself of the mild, summer-cool weather that now reigned in these latitudes, and in preparation for the peculiarly active pursuits shortly to be anticipated, Perth, the begrimed, blistered old blacksmith, had not removed his portable forge to the hold again, after concluding his contributory work for Ahab's leg, but still retained it on deck, fast lashed to ringbolts by the foremast; being now almost incessantly invoked by the headsmen, and harpooneers, and bowsmen to do some little job for them; altering, or repairing, or new shaping their various weapons and boat furniture. Often he would be surrounded by an eager circle, all waiting to be served; holding boat-spades, pikeheads, harpoons, and lances, and jealously watching his every sooty movement, as he toiled. Nevertheless, this old man's was a patient hammer wielded by a patient arm. No murmur, no impatience, no petulance did come from him.
柏斯,這個(gè)腌里腌臜、雙手起皰的老鐵匠,為了趁現(xiàn)在這一帶的溫和、涼夏的天氣,準(zhǔn)備應(yīng)付眼看就要到來(lái)的特別繁忙的獵擊,在完成了他為亞哈那條腿的幫忙活兒后,并沒(méi)有把他的小熔爐搬回船艙里去,還是讓它放在甲板上,用環(huán)螺釘緊扣在前桅那邊;現(xiàn)在那些砍鯨頭工、標(biāo)槍手和前槳手都幾乎不斷地來(lái)央他為他們做些小活兒:掉換、修理或者新造各式各樣刀槍和小艇用具。他經(jīng)常給一群急切的人包圍著,大家都在等著他幫忙;各人手里都拿著小艇鏟刀、矛頭、標(biāo)槍和捕鯨槍頭,妒忌地瞅著他在干活時(shí)激起陣陣煙炱的每一個(gè)動(dòng)作。然而,這個(gè)老頭子以耐心耐性的手,使著一支耐心耐性的錘子。他從來(lái)既不嘟嘟噥噥,也不表示不耐煩,更不鬧脾氣。