4 尼德兰(1)

COMMANDER FARRAGUT was a good seaman, worthy of the frigate he commanded. 法拉古舰长是一位优秀海员,完全配得上他指挥的这只战舰。

His ship and he were one. He was its very soul.

他的船跟他融为一体,他是船的灵魂。

On the cetacean question no doubts arose in his mind, and he didn't allow the animal's existence to be disputed aboard his vessel.

关于那条鲸鱼类动物的问题,他心中并不存在什么疑问,他不许在船上讨论有无这只动物的问题。

He believed in it as certain pious women believe in the leviathan from the Book of Job-out of faith, not reason.

他相信这动物的存在就像许多老实妇女相信有海怪一样,完全是出于信仰,而不是由于理智。

The monster existed, and he had vowed to rid the seas of it.

这怪物是有的,他发誓要把它从海上清除出去。

The man was a sort of Knight of Rhodes, a latter-day Sir DieudonnE of Gozo, on his way to fight an encounter with the dragon devastating the island.

他像罗得岛的骑士,像杜端尼。德·哥森去迎击扰他海岛的大蛇。

Either Commander Farragut would slay the narwhale, or the narwhale would slay Commander Farragut.

不是法拉古舰长杀死独角鲸,就是独角鲸弄死法拉古舰长,

No middle of the road for these two.

没有什么中间路线。

The ship's officers shared the views of their leader. They could be heard chatting, discussing, arguing, calculating the different chances of an encounter, and observing the vast expanse of the ocean.

船上的海员们都赞同他们长官的意见。他们总是在谈论着,争辩着和估计着碰见怪物的各种机会,他们总是在侦察着辽阔的海面。