Hands go diligently along the bulwarks, and with buckets of water and rags restore them to their full tidiness. The soot is brushed from the lower rigging. All the numerous implements which have been in use are likewise faithfully cleansed and put away. The great hatch is scrubbed and placed upon the try-works, completely hiding the pots; every cask is out of sight; all tackles are coiled in unseen nooks; and when by the combined and, simultaneous industry of almost the entire ship's company, the whole of this conscientious duty is at last concluded, then the crew themselves proceed to their own ablutions; shift themselves from top to toe; and finally issue to the immaculate deck, fresh and all aglow as bridegrooms new-leaped from out the daintiest Holland.
大家都在舷墙边勤劳地干活，手里拿着水桶、抹布，把舷墙恢复了它们本来的干干净净的面目。下边索具上的烟炱全给刷掉了。许多用过了的工具也都同样给切实地洗刷干净，放在一边。那块大盖板也洗擦干净盖在炼油间上边，把油锅全都藏起；所有的油桶都看不见了；一切大小滑车都藏到找都找不到的角落里去；由于简直是动员了全船人手来同心协力的操作，这种尽忠职守的工作终于完全告了结束，于是，水手们便都各自去料理他们自己，净身沐浴；从头到脚都换得齐齐整整，然后跑上那洁净无疵的甲板，个个精神抖擞，满脸通红，象是刚从最爱清洁的荷兰国里出来的新郎。
Now, with elated step, they pace the planks in twos and threes, and humorously discourse of parlors, sofas, carpets, and fine cambrics; propose to mat the deck; think of having hangings to the top; object not to taking tea by moonlight on the piazza of the forecastle. To hint to such musked mariners of oil, and bone, and blubber, were little short of audacity. They know not the thing you distantly allude to. Away, and bring us napkins!
这时，他们趾高气扬，三三两两地在船板上踱方步，幽默地高谈着客厅、沙发、地毯和精美的亚麻布，还建议给甲板铺上地席；想要高高地挂起屏饰来，也不反对到船头楼的外廊，在月光下喝茶。如果向这些充满鲸油、鲸骨、鲸脂的麝香气的水手提示一下，那未免有点缺乏识见。他们才不理会你隐隐约约的暗示。去，给咱们拿食巾来！
But mark: aloft there, at the three mast heads, stand three men intent on spying out more whales, which, if caught, infallibly will again soil the old oaken furniture, and drop at least one small grease-spot somewhere.
可是，请注意：在上边，在那三支桅顶上，还站有三个水手在全神贯注地侦察更多的大鲸来呢，如果万一又捉到了大鲸的话，必然又会把这种橡木的老家具弄脏，至少会在什么地方洒下一小滴油渍。
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