Had they been strictly held to their one final and romantic object-- that final and romantic object, too many would have turned from in disgust. I will not strip these men, thought Ahab, of all hopes of cash--aye, cash. They may scorn cash now; but let some months go by, and no perspective promise of it to them, and then this same quiescent cash all at once mutinying in them, this same cash would soon cashier Ahab.
如果硬要他们坚守他们那个最后的罗曼蒂克的目标——那个最后的罗曼蒂克的目标的话，那么，因嫌恶而转身便跑的人可真是数不胜数了。亚哈心里想，我决不能剥夺这些人对于金钱——是呀，就是金钱的一切希望。他们现在也许会瞧不起钱；可是，再过几个月，等到他们认为没有拿到钱的希望时，那么，这种无声无息的钱就会立刻教他们造反，马上把亚哈逼死的就正是这种钱。

Nor was there wanting still another precautionary motive more related to Ahab personally. Having impulsively, it is probable, and perhaps somewhat prematurely revealed the prime but private purpose of the Pequod's voyage, Ahab was now entirely conscious that, in so doing, he had indirectly laid himself open to the unanswerable charge of usurpation; and with perfect impunity, both moral and legal, his crew if so disposed, and to that end competent, could refuse all further obedience to him, and even violently wrest from him the command. From even the barely hinted imputation of usurpation, and the possible consequences of such a suppressed impression gaining ground, Ahab must of course have been most anxious to protect himself. That protection could only consist in his own predominating brain and heart and hand, backed by a heedful, closely calculating attention to every minute atmospheric influence which it was possible for his crew to be subjected to.
就亚哈本人来说，他并不是没有另外一种预防性的动机。亚哈可能是由于一时冲动，也许有点过早地泄露了“裴廓德号”的航程的主要而秘密的目的，他现在已经完全理会到，他这样做，是间接地把他那种不可置辩的假公济私的罪状给公开出来了。他也估计到，万一他的水手们会大起胆子来(不顾道义和法理)，会因此而不再听他的一切命令，甚至更厉害地夺了他的指挥权。因此，即使仅仅从暗示到的假公济私的污名，以及这样一种日见增强的潜在的影响的可能后果说来，亚哈自然也一定急于要保卫他自己了。不过，这种保卫只能放在他自己心里，脑里和手里，再加上随时小心提防，密切注意，估计他的水手们可能受到的各种细微的影响。

For all these reasons then, and others perhaps too analytic to be verbally developed here, Ahab plainly saw that he must still in a good degree continue true to the natural, nominal purpose of the Pequod's voyage; observe all customary usages; and not only that, but force himself to evince all his well known passionate interest in the general pursuit of his profession.
于是，由于所有这些理由，也许还有其它一些在这里不是三言两语所能分析得了的理由，亚哈明晰地看出了，他必须继续相当忠实于“裴廓德号”航程的。名义上的目的；必须遵守一切例常旧规；而且不仅如此，还得尽量显出他在从事于他的职业方面，一般都是具有非常热烈的兴趣。

Be all this as it may, his voice was now often heard hailing the three mastheads and admonishing them to keep a bright look-out, and not omit reporting even a porpoise. This vigilance was not long without reward.
总之，这就时常听到他的声音，在招呼那三个站在桅顶上的人，劝戒他们要小心?望，甚至发现一只海豚也不要忘记报告。这种警惕并非一直是徒劳的。