Just before(Immediately preceding [ʤɪst ˌbiˈfɔr]) it was dark(the time when daylight ends and night begins [ɪt wɑz dɑrk]), as(used to indicate that something happens during the time that something else is taking place [ɛz]) they passed(they moved beyond or went by something [ðeɪ pæst]) a great island(a large mass or area of something, in this case, Sargasso weed [ə greɪt ˈaɪlənd]) of Sargasso weed(a type of brown seaweed that floats in large masses in the Sargasso Sea [əv sɑrˈgæsoʊ wid]) that heaved and swung(moved up and down and back and forth with considerable force [ðət hivd ənd swəŋ]) in the light sea(in the gently moving ocean [ɪn ðə laɪt si]) as though(as if; suggesting a comparison or likeness [ɛz ðoʊ]) the ocean were making love(a poetic way of describing the gentle, rhythmic movement of the ocean, suggesting a tender interaction [ðə ˈoʊʃən wər ˈmeɪkɪŋ ləv]) with something(an unspecified object or entity [wɪθ ˈsəmθɪŋ]) under a yellow blanket(referring to the Sargasso weed, which appears as a yellow covering on the water's surface [ˈəndər ə ˈjɛloʊ ˈblæŋkɪt]), his small line(his fishing line, which is not very strong [hɪz smɔl laɪn]) was taken(was caught or seized [wɑz ˈteɪkən]) by a dolphin(by a marine mammal, a type of cetacean [baɪ ə ˈdɑlfən]). He saw it first(He noticed the dolphin for the first time [hi sɔ ɪt fərst]) when it jumped(at the moment it leaped out of the water [wɪn ɪt ʤəmpt]) in the air(above the surface of the water [ɪn ðə ɛr]), true gold(genuinely golden in color [tru goʊld]) in the last of the sun(during the final moments of sunlight [ɪn ðə læst əv ðə sən]) and bending and flapping(moving its body and fins in a contorted and agitated manner [ənd ˈbɛndɪŋ ənd ˈflæpɪŋ]) wildly(in an uncontrolled or frantic way [ˈwaɪldli]) in the air(above the surface of the water [ɪn ðə ɛr]). It jumped again and again(It leaped repeatedly [ɪt ʤəmpt əˈgɛn ənd əˈgɛn]) in the acrobatics(displaying agile and spectacular movements [ɪn ðə ˌækrəˈbætɪks]) of its fear(motivated by its terror [əv ɪts fɪr]) and he worked his way back(he moved carefully and deliberately towards the rear of the boat [ənd hi wərkt hɪz weɪ bæk]) to the stern(the rear part of a boat [tɪ ðə stərn]) and crouching(bending low with knees close to the ground [ənd ˈkraʊʧɪŋ]) and holding(gripping firmly [ənd ˈhoʊldɪŋ]) the big line(the main fishing line, presumably stronger than the small line [ðə bɪg laɪn]) with his right hand and arm(using his right hand and arm for strength and control [wɪθ hɪz raɪt hænd ənd ɑrm]), he pulled the dolphin in(he reeled the dolphin closer to the boat [hi pʊld ðə ˈdɑlfən ɪn]) with his left hand(using his left hand to assist in pulling the line [wɪθ hɪz lɛft hænd]), stepping on(placing his foot on [ˈstɛpɪŋ ɔn]) the gained line(the portion of the line that had been reeled in [ðə geɪnd laɪn]) each time(every instance [iʧ taɪm]) with his bare left foot(with his left foot uncovered [wɪθ hɪz bɛr lɛft fʊt]). When the fish was at the stem(When the dolphin was close to the front of the boat [wɪn ðə fɪʃ wɑz æt ðə stɛm]), plunging and cutting(moving violently and erratically [ˈplənʤɪŋ ənd ˈkətɪŋ]) from side to side(in alternating directions [frəm saɪd tɪ saɪd]) in desperation(showing a loss of hope and acting rashly [ɪn ˌdɛspərˈeɪʃɪn]), the old man leaned over(the old man bent his body forward [ðə oʊld mæn lind ˈoʊvər]) the stern(the rear part of the boat [ðə stərn]) and lifted(raised upwards [ənd ˈlɪftɪd]) the burnished gold fish(the dolphin, appearing golden and shiny [ðə ˈbərnɪʃt goʊld fɪʃ]) with its purple spots(having markings of a purple color [wɪθ ɪts ˈpərpəl spɑts]) over the stem(across the front of the boat [ˈoʊvər ðə stɛm]). Its jaws were working(Its mouth was moving [ɪts ʤɔz wər ˈwərkɪŋ]) convulsively(in an uncontrolled, spasmodic manner [convulsively]) in quick bites(making rapid, snapping motions with its mouth [ɪn kwɪk baɪts]) against the hook(trying to dislodge the hook from its mouth [əˈgɛnst ðə hʊk]) and it pounded(it struck repeatedly with force [ənd ɪt ˈpaʊndɪd]) the bottom of the skiff(the floor of the small boat [ðə ˈbɑtəm əv ðə skɪf]) with its long flat body(using its elongated, flattened form [wɪθ ɪts lɔŋ flæt ˈbɑdi]), its tail and its head(using both its tail and head to strike [ɪts teɪl ənd ɪts hɛd]) until he clubbed it(until he struck it with a heavy object [ənˈtɪl hi kləbd ɪt]) across the shining golden head(on its head, which appeared golden and bright [əˈkrɔs ðə ˈʃaɪnɪŋ ˈgoʊldən hɛd]) until it shivered(until it trembled or shook [ənˈtɪl ɪt ˈʃɪvərd]) and was still(and stopped moving [ənd wɑz stɪl]).
The(Definite article, referring to a specific old man [ðə]) old(Advanced in years; having lived for a long time [oʊld]) man(An adult male human [mæn]) unhooked(Released from a hook [unhooked]) the fish(A specific fish that was caught [ðə fɪʃ]), re-baited(Put bait on (a hook) again [re-baited]) the line(The fishing line [ðə laɪn]) with(Using [wɪθ]) another(One more; an additional [əˈnəðər]) sardine(A small, oily fish [sɑrˈdin]) and(Conjunction connecting two actions [ənd]) tossed(Threw lightly [tɔst]) it(Referring to the baited line [ɪt]) over(Into the water [ˈoʊvər]). Then(Next in order of time [ðɛn]) he(Referring to the old man [hi]) worked(Moved gradually [wərkt]) his(Belonging to him [hɪz]) way(Path or direction [weɪ]) slowly(At a slow pace [sˈloʊli]) back(Towards the rear [bæk]) to(In the direction of [tɪ]) the bow(The front part of the boat [ðə boʊ]). He(Referring to the old man [hi]) washed(Cleaned with water [wɑʃt]) his(Belonging to him [hɪz]) left(On the left side [lɛft]) hand(The part of the body at the end of the arm [hænd]) and(Conjunction connecting two actions [ənd]) wiped(Dried or cleaned by rubbing [waɪpt]) it(Referring to his left hand [ɪt]) on(Onto the surface of [ɔn]) his(Belonging to him [hɪz]) trousers(An article of clothing covering the legs [ˈtraʊzərz]). Then(Next in order of time [ðɛn]) he(Referring to the old man [hi]) shifted(Moved or transferred [ˈʃɪftɪd]) the heavy line(The fishing line, which is heavy [ðə ˈhɛvi laɪn]) from(Indicating the starting point [frəm]) his(Belonging to him [hɪz]) right(On the right side [raɪt]) hand(The part of the body at the end of the arm [hænd]) to(Indicating the ending point [tɪ]) his(Belonging to him [hɪz]) left(On the left side [lɛft]) and(Conjunction connecting two actions [ənd]) washed(Cleaned with water [wɑʃt]) his(Belonging to him [hɪz]) right(On the right side [raɪt]) hand(The part of the body at the end of the arm [hænd]) in(Inside [ɪn]) the sea(The ocean [ðə si]) while(During the time that [waɪl]) he(Referring to the old man [hi]) watched(Observed [wɔʧt]) the sun(The star that provides light and heat to Earth [ðə sən]) go(Move or proceed [goʊ]) into(Towards the inside of [ˈɪntu]) the ocean(The sea [ðə ˈoʊʃən]) and(Conjunction connecting two things [ənd]) the slant(A sloping position [ðə slænt]) of(Indicating belonging or association [əv]) the big cord(The thick rope or line [ðə bɪg kɔrd]).
''He(Referring to someone or something previously mentioned [hi]) hasn't(Has not; contraction of 'has not' [ˈhæzənt]) changed(Become different [ʧeɪnʤd]) at all(In any way; to any extent [æt ɔl]),'' he(Referring to the old man [hi]) said(Spoke [sɛd]). But(However [bət]) watching(Observing [ˈwɑʧɪŋ]) the movement(The act of moving [ðə ˈmuvmənt]) of(Indicating belonging or association [əv]) the water(The liquid that forms the seas, lakes, rivers, and rain [ðə ˈwɔtər]) against(In opposition to; touching [əˈgɛnst]) his(Belonging to him [hɪz]) hand(The part of the body at the end of the arm [hænd]) he(Referring to the old man [hi]) noted(Observed; paid attention to [ˈnoʊtɪd]) that(Introducing a subordinate clause [ðət]) it(Referring to the movement of the water [ɪt]) was(Past tense of 'is' [wɑz]) perceptibly(Noticeably; in a way that can be perceived [perceptibly]) slower(Moving at a reduced speed [sloʊər]).
''I'll(Contraction of 'I will', indicating a future action by the speaker [aɪl]) lash(To tie or fasten securely with a rope or cord [læʃ]) the two oars(Referring to two specific oars, likely used for rowing the boat [ðə tu ɔrz]) together(Joined or combined [təˈgɛðər]) across the stern(Positioned from one side to the other at the back of the boat [əˈkrɔs ðə stərn]) and that will slow him in the night(This action will reduce the speed of the fish during the night [ənd ðət wɪl sloʊ ɪm ɪn ðə naɪt]),'' he said(Indicates who is speaking [hi sɛd]). ''He's(Contraction of 'He is', referring to the fish [hiz]) good for the night(Strong or active during the night [gʊd fər ðə naɪt]) and so am I(And the speaker is also strong or active during the night [ənd soʊ æm aɪ]).''
It would be better(It would be a more advantageous or preferable course of action [ɪt wʊd bi ˈbɛtər]) to gut the dolphin(To remove the internal organs of the dolphin [tɪ gət ðə ˈdɑlfən]) a little later(At a slightly later time [ə ˈlɪtəl ˈleɪtər]) to save the blood in the meat(To preserve the blood within the dolphin's flesh [tɪ seɪv ðə bləd ɪn ðə mit]), he thought(Indicates the character's internal thought process [hi θɔt]). I can do that(The speaker is capable of performing the action [aɪ kən du ðət]) a little later(At a slightly later time [ə ˈlɪtəl ˈleɪtər]) and lash the oars(To tie the oars securely [ənd læʃ ðə ɔrz]) to make a drag(To create resistance in the water, slowing the boat [tɪ meɪk ə dræg]) at the same time(Simultaneously [æt ðə seɪm taɪm]). I had better(It would be wise or advisable for me to [aɪ hæd ˈbɛtər]) keep the fish quiet now(Avoid disturbing the fish at the present moment [kip ðə fɪʃ kwaɪət naʊ]) and not disturb him(Avoid agitating the fish [ənd nɑt dɪˈstərb ɪm]) too much(Excessively [tu məʧ]) at sunset(During the time when the sun is setting [æt ˈsənˌsɛt]). The setting of the sun(The act of the sun descending below the horizon [ðə ˈsɛtɪŋ əv ðə sən]) is a difficult time(Is a challenging or problematic period [ɪz ə ˈdɪfəkəlt taɪm]) for all fish(Affecting all types of fish [fər ɔl fɪʃ]). He let his hand dry(He allowed his hand to become dry [hi lɛt hɪz hænd draɪ]) in the air(Exposed to the open air [ɪn ðə ɛr]) then grasped the line(Then firmly held the fishing line [ðɛn græspt ðə laɪn]) with it(Using his hand [wɪθ ɪt]) and eased himself(And gently adjusted his position [ənd izd hɪmˈsɛlf]) as much as he could(To the greatest extent possible [ɛz məʧ ɛz hi kʊd]) and allowed himself(And permitted himself [ənd əˈlaʊd hɪmˈsɛlf]) to be pulled forward(To be drawn in a forward direction [tɪ bi pʊld ˈfɔrwərd]) against the wood(In contact with the wooden part of the boat [əˈgɛnst ðə wʊd]) so that the boat took the strain(So that the boat absorbed the tension or pressure [soʊ ðət ðə boʊt tʊk ðə streɪn]) as much, or more, than he did(To an equal or greater extent than the speaker did [ɛz məʧ ər mɔr ðən hi dɪd]).