Now, he thought, I must think about the drag.

现在，他想，我该考虑考虑那在水里拖着的障碍物了。

It has its perils and its merits.

这玩意儿有它的危险，也有它的好处。

I may lose so much line that I will lose him, if he makes his effort and the drag made by the oars is in place and the boat loses all her lightness.

如果鱼使劲地拉，造成阻力的那两把桨在原处不动，船不像从前那样轻的话，我可能会被鱼拖走好长的钓索，结果会让它跑了。

Her lightness prolongs both our suffering but it is my safety since he has great speed that he has never yet employed.

保持船身轻，会延长我们双方的痛苦，但这是我的安全所在，因为这鱼能游得很快，这本领至今尚未使出过。

No matter what passes I must gut the dolphin so he does not spoil and eat some of him to be strong.

不管出什么事，我必须把这鲯鳅开膛剖肚，免得坏掉，并且吃一点长长力气。

Now I will rest an hour more and feel that he is solid and steady before I move back to the stern to do the work and make the decision.

现在我要再歇一个钟点，等我感到鱼稳定了下来，才回到船梢去干这事，并决定对策。

In the meantime I can see how he acts and if he shows any changes.

在这段时间里，我可以看它怎样行动，是否有什么变化。

The oars are a good trick; but it has reached the time to play for safety.

把那两把桨放在那儿是个好计策;不过已经到了该安全行事的时候。

He is much fish still and I saw that the hook was in the corner of his mouth and he has kept his mouth tight shut.

这鱼依旧很厉害。我看见过钓钩挂在它的嘴角，它把嘴闭得紧紧的。

The punishment of the hook is nothing.

钓钩的折磨算不上什么。

The punishment of hunger, and that he is against something that he does not comprehend, is everything.

饥饿的折磨，加上还得对付它不了解的对手，才是天大的麻烦。

Rest now, old man, and let him work until your next duty comes.

歇歇吧，老家伙，让它去干它的事，等轮到该你干的时候再说。

He rested for what he believed to be two hours.

他认为自己已经歇了两个钟点。

The moon did not rise now until late and he had no way of judging the time.

月亮要等到很晚才爬上来，他没法判断时间。

Nor was he really resting except comparatively.

实在他并没有好好休息，只能说是多少歇了一会儿。

He was still bearing the pull of the fish across his shoulders but he placed his left hand on the gunwale of the bow and confided more and more of the resistance to the fish to the skiff itself.

他肩上依旧承受着鱼的拉力，不过他把左手按在船头的舷上，把对抗鱼的拉力的任务越来越让小船本身来承担了。

How simple it would be if I could make the line fast, he thought.

要是能把钓索栓住，那事情会变得多简单啊，他想。

But with one small lurch he could break it.

可是只消鱼稍微歪一歪，就能把钓索绷断。

I must cushion the pull of the line with my body and at all times be ready to give line with both hands.

我必须用自己的身子来缓冲这钓索的拉力，随时准备用双手放出钓索。

"But you have not slept yet, old man," he said aloud.

“不过你还没睡觉呢，老头儿，"他说出声来。

"It is half a day and a night and now another day and you have not slept. You must devise a way so that you sleep a little if he is quiet and steady. If you do not sleep you might become unclear in the head."

"已经熬过了半个白天和一夜，现在又是一个白天，可你一直没睡觉。你必须想个办法，趁鱼安静稳定的时候睡上一会儿。如果你不睡觉，你会搞得脑筋糊涂起来。”

I'm clear enough in the head, he thought.

我脑筋够清醒的，他想。

Too clear.

太清醒啦。

I am as clear as the stars that are my brothers.

我跟星星一样清醒，它们是我的兄弟。

Still I must sleep.

不过我还是必须睡觉。

They sleep and the moon and the sun sleep and even the ocean sleeps sometimes on certain days when there is no current and a flat calm.

它们睡觉，月亮和太阳都睡觉，连海洋有时候也睡觉，那是在某些没有激浪，平静无波的日子里。

But remember to sleep, he thought.

可别忘了睡觉，他想。

Make yourself do it and devise some simple and sure way about the lines.

强迫你自己睡觉，想出些简单而稳妥的办法来安排那根钓索。

Now go back and prepare the dolphin.

现在回到船梢去处理那条海豚吧。

It is too dangerous to rig the oars as a drag if you must sleep.

如果你一定要睡觉的话，把桨绑起来拖在水里可就太危险啦。

I could go without sleeping, he told himself.

我不睡觉也能行，他对自己说。

But it would be too dangerous.

不过这太危险啦。