But it was not thus in the present case with the Pequod's sharks; though, to be sure, any man unaccustomed to such sights, to have looked over her side that night, would have almost thought the whole round sea was one huge cheese, and those sharks the maggots in it.
这回"裴廓德号"所碰到的鲨鱼就不是这样,不过,老实说,在任何一个没有见惯这种场面的人说来,他如果那天晚上往船边一望的话,那他简直会以为整个圆圆的大海就是一块大乳酪,那些鲨鱼就是盘在乳酪上的蛆虫了。
Nevertheless, upon Stubb setting the anchor-watch after his supper was concluded; and when, accordingly Queequeg and a forecastle seaman came on deck, no small excitement was created among the sharks; for immediately suspending the cutting stages over the side, and lowering three lanterns, so that they cast long gleams of light over the turbid sea, these two mariners, darting their long whaling-spades,* kept up an incessant murdering of the sharks, by striking the keen steel deep into their skulls, seemingly their only vital part.
话虽如此,在斯塔布吃完他的晚餐,到船尾值夜时,凑巧碰上魁魁格和一个船头楼的水手来到了甲板上,鲨鱼群中顿时引起了不小的惊动,因为他们立刻在船舷上挂起几只切油的小梯子,放下三只灯笼,灯笼在那混浊的海面上投射出阵阵曳长的亮光,于是,这两个水手,便晃起他们那长长的捕鲸铲,不停地对那些鲨鱼(原注:割油用的捕鲸铲是用顶好的钢料制成的,大小跟人的巴掌差不多;形状一般跟花匠所用的那种同名的工具相仿佛,不过它两边是完全扁平的,下阔上狭。这种武器始终磨得很锐利;用的时候也偶然擦一擦,就象使用一柄剃刀那样。承口装有一根硬棍柄,约有二三十英尺。)进行大屠杀,锐利的武器对着它们那似乎是唯一的要害——脑壳直戳进去。不过,在它们的七冲八撞。不断挣扎得泡沫弥漫的大混乱中,这两个射击手可不是枪枪都中的的;这就把这些非常凶狠的敌人的新秘密也泄露出来了。它们都恶毒地啮咬起来,不但彼此咬得肚破肠流,而且象柔弓一般,曲起身体来自己咬自己;直弄得那些内脏似乎都被它们自己的嘴巴一再地吞了下去,又倒从豁裂的伤口排泄出来。可是,事情并不到此为止,让这些死尸和死鬼混在一起是不妥当的。因为在它们失掉了那种可以称之为单独的生命后,在它们的筋骨里似乎还隐藏有一般的或者万有神教似的活力。
Footnote: The whaling-spade used for cutting-in is made of the very best steel; is about the bigness of a man's spread hand; and in general shape, corresponds to the garden implement after which it is named; only its sides are perfectly flat, and its upper end considerably narrower than the lower. This weapon is always kept as sharp as possible; and when being used is occasionally honed, just like a razor. In its socket, a stiff pole, from twenty to thirty feet long, is inserted for a handle. end of footnote.
(原注:割油用的捕鲸铲是用顶好的钢料制成的,大小跟人的巴掌差不多;形状一般跟花匠所用的那种同名的工具相仿佛,不过它两边是完全扁平的,下阔上狭。这种武器始终磨得很锐利;用的时候也偶然擦一擦,就象使用一柄剃刀那样。承口装有一根硬棍柄,约有二三十英尺。)