See! that thing rests on two line-tubs, full of tow-lines. A most malicious wag, that fellow. Rat-tat! So man's seconds tick! Oh! how immaterial are all materials! What things real are there, but imponderable thoughts? Here now's the very dreaded symbol of grim death, by a mere hap, made the expressive sign of the help and hope of most endangered life. A life-buoy of a coffin! Does it go further? Can it be that in some spiritual sense the coffin is, after all, but an immortality-preserver! I'll think of that. But no. So far gone am I in the dark side of earth, that its other side, the theoretic bright one, seems but uncertain twilight to me. Will ye never have done, Carpenter, with that accursed sound? I go below; let me not see that thing here when I return again. Now, then, Pip, we'll talk this over; I do suck most wondrous philosophies from thee! Some unknown conduits from the unknown worlds must empty into thee!
你瞧！那只放在两只索桶上的东西缚了多少拖索。那家伙，是个存心挺坏的小丑。嘞——哒——哒！跟人的心脏在跳一样！一切有形的东西可又多么无形呀！除了无法估量的思想以外，有什么真实的东西？这就是狰狞的死神的最可怕的象征，只要一有机会，就对最危险的生命意味深长地表示得救和希望。一只棺材做的救生圈！它可经用么？在精神意义上说，棺材会不会不过是一种使人不朽的保藏器呢！我倒要想一想。可是，不。我已经在人间的阴暗面混得太久了，因此，我觉得人间的另一面，即从理论上说来是光明的一面，只不过是一种阴晴未定的曙光。木匠呀，你可以别再弄出那种该死的声响来吗？我还是到下边去吧，但愿我再上来的时候，不会再看到这东西。哼，那么，比普，咱们俩去把这事情谈一谈吧；我从你那里，的确得到了许多最奇妙的哲理！你浑身一定装满了可以了解许多未知的事物的导管。