Though I cannot tell why it was exactly that those stage managers,
虽然我真说不出,究竟为什么那些舞台经理，
the Fates, put me down for this shabby part of a whaling voyage,
也就是命运诸神要派定我担任这个捕鲸的寒伧角色,
when others were set down for magnificent parts in high tragedies,
却派别些人去演崇高悲剧里的华贵角色,
and short and easy parts in genteel comedies, and jolly parts in farces-though I cannot tell why this was exactly;
演时髦喜剧里的轻松小角色,演讽刺剧里的丑角...虽然我真说不出究竟为什么来;
yet, now that I recall all the circumstances, I think I can see a little into the springs and motives which being cunningly presented to me under various disguises,
然而,现在我回想当时种种情景,那些以各种伪装狡狯地放在我面前的目的和动机...诱使我动手扮演起我所扮演的角色,
induced me to set about performing the part I did, besides cajoling me into the delusion
并且还哄得我幻想这是我自己的独立意志,
that it was a choice resulting from my own unbiased freewill and discriminating judgment.
和缜密考虑的结果...我想我也能捉摸到一些儿了。
Chief among these motives was the overwhelming idea of the great whale himself.
在这些动机中,首先是那条大鲸，叫人一想起就没法按捺得下自己。
Such a portentous and mysterious monster roused all my curiosity.
这样一个可怕而神秘的怪物激起了我所有的猎奇心。
