It was on the third turn that he saw the fish first.

鱼兜到第三圈，他才第一次看见它。

He saw him first as a dark shadow that took so long to pass under the boat that he could not believe its length.

他起先看见的是一个黑乎乎的影子，它需要那么长的时间从船底下经过，他简直不相信它有这么长。

"No," he said. "He can't be that big."

“不能，"他说。"它哪能这么大啊。”

But he was that big and at the end of this circle he came to the surface only thirty yards away and the man saw his tail out of water.

但是它当真有这么大，这一圈兜到末了，它冒出水来，只有三十码远，老人看见它的尾巴露出在水面上。

It was higher than a big scythe blade and a very pale lavender above the dark blue water.

这尾巴比一把大镰刀的刀刃更高，是极淡的浅紫色，竖在深蓝色的海面上。

It raked back and as the fish swam just below the surface the old man could see his huge bulk and the purple stripes that banded him.

它朝后倾斜着，鱼在水面下游的时候，老人看得见它庞大的身躯和周身的紫色条纹。

His dorsal fin was down and his huge pectorals were spread wide.

它的脊鳍朝下耷拉着，巨大的胸鳍大张着。

On this circle the old man could see the fish's eye and the two gray sucking fish that swain around him.

这回鱼兜圈子回来时，老人看见它的眼睛和绕着它游的两条灰色的乳鱼。

Sometimes they attached themselves to him.

它们有时候依附在它身上。

Sometimes they darted off.

有时候倏地游开去。

Sometimes they would swim easily in his shadow.

有时候会在它的阴影里自在地游着。

They were each over three feet long and when they swam fast they lashed their whole bodies like eels.

它们每条都有三英尺多长，游得快时全身猛烈地甩动着，像鳗鱼一般。

The old man was sweating now but from something else besides the sun.

老人这时在冒汗，但不光是因为晒了太阳，还有别的原因。

On each calm placid turn the fish made he was gaining line and he was sure that in two turns more he would have a chance to get the harpoon in.

鱼每回沉着、平静地拐回来时，他总收回一点钓索，所以他确信再兜上两个圈子，就能有机会把鱼叉扎进去了。

But I must get him close, close, close, he thought.

可是我必须把它拉得极近，极近，极近，他想。

I mustn't try for the head.

我千万不能扎它的脑袋。

I must get the heart.

我该扎进它的心脏。

"Be calm and strong, old man," he said.

“要沉着，要有力，老头儿，"他说。

On the next circle the fish's back was out but he was a little too far from the boat.

又兜了一圈，鱼的背脊露出来了，不过它离小船还是太远了一点。

On the next circle he was still too far away but he was higher out of water and the old man was sure that by gaining some more line he could have him alongside.

再兜了一圈，还是太远，但是它露出在水面上比较高些了，老人深信，再收回一些钓索，就可以把它拉到船边来。

He had rigged his harpoon long before and its coil of light rope was in a round basket and the end was made fast to the bitt in the bow.

他早就把鱼叉准备停当，叉上的那卷细绳子给搁在一只圆筐内，一端紧系在船头的系缆柱上。

The fish was coming in on his circle now calm and beautiful looking and only his great tail moving.

这时鱼正兜了一个圈子回来，既沉着又美丽，只有它的大尾巴在动。

The old man pulled on him all that he could to bring him closer.

老人竭尽全力把它拉得近些。有那么一会儿，鱼的身子倾斜了一点儿。

For just a moment the fish turned a little on his side. Then he straightened himself and began another circle.

然后它竖直了身子，又兜起圈子来。

"I moved him," the old man said. "I moved him then."

“我把它拉动了，”老人说。“我刚才把它拉动了。”

He felt faint again now but he held on the great fish all the strain that he could.

他又感到头晕，可是他竭尽全力拽住了那条大鱼。

I moved him, he thought.

我把它拉动了，他想。

Maybe this time I can get him over.

也许这一回我能把它拉过来。

Pull, hands, he thought.

拉呀，手啊，他想。

Hold up, legs.

站稳了，腿儿。

Last for me, head.

头。为了我熬下去吧。

Last for me.

你从没晕倒过。

You never went This time I'll pull him over.

这一回我要把它拉过来。

But when he put all of his effort on, starting it well out before the fish came alongside and pulling with all his strength, the fish pulled part way over and then righted himself and swam away.

但是，等他把浑身的力气都使出来，趁鱼还没来到船边，还很远时就动手，使出全力拉着，那鱼却侧过一半身子，然后竖直了身子游开去。

"Fish," the old man said.

“鱼啊，”老人说。

"Fish, you are going to have to die anyway. Do you have to kill me too?"

“鱼，你反正是死定了。难道你非得把我也害死吗?”