The isolated subterraneousness of the cabin made a certain humming silence to reign there, though it was hooped round by all the roar of the elements. The loaded muskets in the rack were shiningly revealed, as they stood upright against the forward bulkhead. Starbuck was an honest, upright man; but out of Starbuck's heart, at that instant when he saw the muskets, there strangely evolved an evil thought; but so blent with its neutral or good accompaniments that for the instant he hardly knew it for itself.
这个孤寂得象地穴般的舱室，叫人觉得那里面有一种静寂得象是嗡嗡作响的声息，而且这种声息是给各种噪音包围住的。网架上几支装着火药的滑膛枪闪闪发光，这些枪都竖靠在前边的隔舱。斯达巴克虽是个诚实、正直的人；可是，这时，他一看到这些滑膛枪，心底里却奇特地产生一股邪念；不过，这种邪念又让它那可好可坏或者不如说是好的念头同时混在一起，以致一时间教他也闹不清是好是坏了。
He would have shot me once, he murmured, "yes, there's the very musket that he pointed at me; — that one with the studded stock; let me touch it — lift it. Strange, that I, who have handled so many deadly lances, strange, that I should shake so now. Loaded? I must see. Aye, aye; and powder in the pan; — that's not good. Best spill it? — wait. I'll cure myself of this. I'll hold the musket boldly while I think. — I come to report a fair wind to him. But how fair? Fair for death and doom, — that's fair for Moby Dick. It's a fair wind that's only fair for that accursed fish.
他上次本来是要用枪打我的，他喃喃道，"是呀，那边就是他曾经瞄准着我的那支滑膛枪；——就是那有螺栓的枪支；让我来摸它一摸，把它提起来。真怪，我这个拿过许许多多致人死命的刀枪的人，这回竟会抖得这么厉害，真怪。装上了火药么？我得看一看。是呀，是呀；药池里有火药；——这就不妙了。还是把它倒掉？——且慢。我要用这支东西来解救我自己。我要一边仔细想一想，一边勇敢地抓住这支枪——我是来向他报告顺风的消息的。可是怎么个顺法呢？是顺向死亡跟毁灭吧，——那是顺向莫比－迪克的。这只是顺向那条该死的鱼的顺风——。