英语听书《白鲸记》第38期

  But savages 2 are strange beings;at times you do not know exactly how to take them. 

 At first they are overawing;their calm self collectedness of simplicity 3 seems a Socratic wisdom. 
 I had noticed also that Queequeg never consorted 4 at all,or but very little,with the other seamen 5 in the inn. 
 He made no advances whatever;appeared to have no desire to enlarge the circle of his acquaintances. 
 All this struck me as mighty 6 singular;yet,upon second thoughts,there was something almost sublime 7 in it. 
 Here was a man some twenty thousand miles from home,by the way of Cape 8 Horn, 
 that is which was the only way he could get there thrown among people as strange to him as though he were in the planet Jupiter; 
 and yet he seemed entirely 9 at his ease;preserving the utmost serenity;content with his own companionship;always equal to himself. 
 Surely this was a touch of fine philosophy;though no doubt he had never heard there was such a thing as that.But,perhaps,to be true philosophers, 
 we mortals should not be conscious of so living or so striving.So soon as I hear that such or such a man gives himself out for a philosopher, 
 I conclude that,like the dyspeptic old woman,he must have broken his digester. 
 As I sat there in that now lonely room;the fire burning low,in that mild stage when, 
 after its first intensity 10 has warmed the air,it then only glows to be looked at;the evening shades and phantoms 11 gathering 12 round the casements, 
 and peering in upon us silent,solitary twain;the storm booming without in solemn swells;I began to be sensible of strange feelings. 
 I felt a melting in me.No more my splintered heart and maddened hand were turned against the wolfish world.This soothing 13 savage 1 had redeemed 14 it. 
 There he sat,his very indifference 15 speaking a nature in which there lurked 16 no civilized 17 hypocrisies 18 and bland 19 deceits.Wild he was;a very sight of sights to see; 
 yet I began to feel myself mysteriously drawn 20 towards him.And those same things that would have repelled 21 most others,they were the very magnets that thus drew me. 
 I 'll try a pagan friend,thought I,since Christian 22 kindness has proved but hollow courtesy.I drew my bench near him,and made some friendly signs and hints,doing my best to talk with him meanwhile. 
 At first he little noticed these advances;but presently,upon my referring to his last night's hospitalities,he made out to ask me whether we were again to be bedfellows. 
 I told him yes;whereat I thought he looked pleased,perhaps a little complimented. 
 We then turned over the book together,and I endeavored to explain to him the purpose of the printing, 
 and the meaning of the few pictures that were in it.Thus I soon engaged his interest;and from that we went to jabbering 23 the best we could about the various outer sights to be seen in this famous town.