英文名篇鉴赏金库

（散 文 卷）

辜正坤 主编

天 津 人 民 出 版 社
主要撰稿人

辜正坤：北京大学英语系教授、博士生导师
赵洪定：四川大学英文系教授
蒋显璟：对外经贸大学英语系教授兼系主任
龚登墉：四川师大外语学院英语教授兼外语学院院长
阮江平：新华社《参考消息》编辑部英文编辑
黎 丹：北京大学英语专业硕士
刘 昊：北京大学英语专业博士生
牛云平：北京大学英语专业博士生
彭发胜：北京大学英语专业博士生
孙继成：北京大学英语专业博士生
彭 萍：北京大学英语专业博士生
徐 阳：北京大学英语专业博士生
邵雪萍：北京大学英语专业博士生
编前小引

辜正坤

要真正欣赏英美的散文，须对中国的传统散文有相应
的认识。
中国散文在春秋战国乃至两汉时代，就已经非常发达。
儒、墨、道、法、农、阴阳、名、纵横、杂、小说等诸多流派，即所
谓诸子百家，曾创造了中国学术史上的辉煌成就。他们使
用的文体，基本上是散文。到东汉时期，散文可谓众体皆
备。之 后 的 唐、宋、元、明、清 各 个 朝 代，散 文 都 有 极 大 的
创获。
但散文有文学性散文与非文学性散文的区别。先秦时
代的散文以非文学散文为主，然而，作为文学特点特别浓郁
的美文式散文，即使在先秦时代也已经斐然可观。例如庄
子、荀子、韩非等大学者的散文，其文采就已经汪洋恣肆，足
可以名垂千古。然而具有美文散文家自觉性的风气，则出
现得稍后一些。这里我想特别提到南朝梁昭明太子萧统
（501 ～ 531）。他的《文选》在中国散文史上，影响颇大。他
所标举的散文主要是美文性散文，要“事出于沉思，而义归
于翰藻”。从“翰藻”二字，足可见出他的审美要求是侧重文
章的艺术性。《文选》中的大部分篇章基本上都以这个标准
筛选。按照这个标准，先秦诸子的散文“盖以立意为宗，不
以能文为本”，说理性太强，学术性太强，文采还不够理想。
所以在《文选》中还难以入选。其实，先秦散文，例如战国之
文， “深于比兴，即深于取象者也。 ”
（章学诚《文史通义・易教
下》）其文学性、文采性，就是以今天的标准看，也是颇突出
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的。至于唐、宋、明、清的美文性散文大家，则层见叠出，蔚
为大观，非一言可尽述。清人吴楚材、吴调侯所编《古文观
止》上起周代，下迄明末，洋洋乎 222 篇文章，可由之窥见中
华散文雄奇伟丽之一斑。
但是在英美，同类的美文性散文至少要迟 1500 年才能
出现。16 世纪的莫尔、班扬、锡德尼、阿斯坎姆、李黎等学
者的散文已初见气象，但整体看毕竟汗漫芜杂，难与传统中
国的美文比肩。在简洁、严谨、哲理深厚方面，培根的散文
独具一格，几乎后无来者。但是培根的散文略嫌句式单调，
变化不够，还不是理想的美文。后来的洛克与道登在改造
英语散文、使之清晰明白、活泼生动方面，可谓另辟蹊径的
一代枭雄，功不可没。但是其整体风格还是“以立意为宗”
的倾向为主，专事“翰藻” “比兴”的美文文字，依然少见。
17、18 世纪的英国，国运大盛，其在散文上的表现则是
充满自信，具有典型的古典主义和理性主义色彩，此期散文
尤重法度、长于推理。艾狄生、斯梯尔借当时报刊的勃兴，
迎合大众需要，减少板滞味，有温文尔雅的趋势。普柏、约
翰逊、柏克等作家与学者，在打造更为圆熟的英国散文方
面，立下了汗马功劳。斯威夫特的散文在说理方面，有长江
大河万马奔腾的气象，且兼有嬉笑怒骂的辛辣笔触。
19 世纪，浪漫派兴起，英语散文迎来了它最辉煌的时
代。此时，在英国有兰姆、德・昆西、莱・亨特、哈兹里特浪漫
派散文四大家。兰姆文风略偏古雅，笔下虽多日常琐事类
描写，而一经点染，便成佳作。对后世散文（甚至对中国某
些现代散文家如梁玉春辈）影响颇大。哈兹里特是浪漫派
权威批评家，散文风格亦庄亦谐，文白两夹，处处流露出独
立不羁的精神。莱・亨特的散文则趣味横生，极富消遣性，
虽不比哈兹里特的宏伟壮丽，却多奇想妙构，别是一代文
宗。卡莱尔、安诺德、罗斯金等散文大家，则不仅以文采胜，
其思想亦博大沉雄，在同时代学人中，亦属佼佼者。在美国
则有爱默生、梭罗、霍桑、马克・吐温等文坛巨擘及政坛演讲
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大家如林肯。大西洋两岸，此时文星踵出，此呼彼应，交相
辉照。
19 世纪末 20 世纪初，英美散文受现实主义思潮的影
响，题材趋于严肃的居多。美文类性质的散文反不如 19 世
纪兴旺发达。但是可观者亦不少。例如英国的普里斯特
利、吉辛、史蒂文生、罗素、奥威尔、萧・伯纳及美国的坎比、
摩莱等众多散文家，都是值得一读的英文良师。此不一一
缕述。
但是，在把中国散文和英美散文进行比较之后，我们发
现在整体上，中国散文有更强的抒情风味，字面上更追求典
雅、平衡，作家有强烈的美文自觉性，能够在情志、性灵的抒
写方面达到高度的和谐，并且这种和谐常常与自然景物描
写的和谐融为一体。英美散文则有更强的说理性，更多叙
事性，更重用字的准确性。
溯其原因，在于英语散文在传统方面无法摆脱其思辨
性占上风的文化逻辑，其语言本身的严密的语法体制具有
极强的暗示性，促发了条分缕析的行文程式。其文风渊源
上承古希腊、罗马之滥觞，下袭法语、意大利语之文脉，重在
叙事、说理，稳健然而板滞，哲理性多因而学究味也强。而
中国散文一则沾溉于其汉字象形图画意味、灵活可变的对
仗句式，文法上的因位组合释义等特殊背景，二则受惠于其
直观综合、物我交融的民族思维模式。故其散文理事无碍，
自在圆通，情味与志趣相互绾合，直可谓美文美焕，人天一
境，妙合自然。
本文限于篇幅，不拟多所议论。但是读者若能把握住
中英散文（尤其是美文性散文）的基本特征，则在如何正确
地鉴赏英美散文名篇方面，必有更多的心得。
本书编选、注释、赏析等工作始于 1991 年，但是由于出
国、审校、时间安排等诸多因素，未能及时交稿，没想到断断
续续经历了 14 年，现在才完成全稿，深望读者和本书撰稿
者谅解。本书原系天津人民出版社编辑胡建中先生约稿。
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责任编辑解鸿茹女士在本书的编撰体例及催稿校稿方面，
提出过诸多宝贵意见，做出过很大的努力，编者均于此特致
谢忱。

2005 年 7 月于北京大学畅春园

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英
文
名
篇
鉴 Roger Ascham 罗杰・阿斯坎姆 ………… （1）
赏
金
库
目 From“The Scholemaster”选自《教师》
……………………………………… （2）
Francis Bacon 弗兰西斯・培根 ………… （8）
Of Study 论读书 ……………………… （9）

录 Of Great Place 论高位 ……………… （14）

Philip Sidney 菲利普・锡德尼 ………… （23）
From“Apology for Poetry”
《诗辩》选段
…………………………………… （24）
John Bunyan 约翰・班扬 ……………… （31）
From“The Pilgrim’s Progress”
选自《天路历程》 ………………… （32）
Joseph Addison 约瑟夫・艾狄生 ……… （50）
From“The Spectator”选自《观察者》
……………………………………… （51）
Jonathan Swift 乔纳森・斯威夫特 ……… （57）
A Modest Proposal 一个温和的建议
……………………………………… （58）
Samuel Johnson 塞缪尔・约翰逊 ……… （77）
Letter to Lord Chesterfield
致切斯菲尔德伯爵书 …………… （78）
Edmund Burke 埃德蒙・柏克 ………… （86）
From“Reflections on the Revolution
in France”选自《法国革命沉思录》
…………………………………… （87）
Charles Lamb 查尔斯・兰姆 …………… （95）
Old China 古瓷 ……………………… （96）
Dream Children 梦中的孩子 ……… （106）

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 A Bachelor’s Complaint of the Behaviour
of Married People
鳏夫对已婚者行为的怨诉 ……… （114）
Poor Relations 穷亲戚 ……………… （128）
Samuel Tayor Coleridge
塞缪尔・泰勒・柯勒律治 ………… （143）
From“Biographia Literaria”
选自《文学传记》………………… （144）
William Hazlitt 威廉・哈兹里特 ……… （155）
On Going a Journey 论旅游 ………… （156）
James Henry Leigh Hunt J・H・莱・享特
……………………………………… （170）
Getting Up on Cold Mornings
寒晨早起 ………………………… （171）
Shaking Hands 握手 ………………… （180）
Watchmen 守门人 …………………… （184）
Thomas De Quincey 托马斯・德・昆西
……………………………………… （196）
From“Confessions of an English Opium Eater”
选自《一位英国鸦片吸食者的告白》
…………………………………… （197）
Henry David Thoreau 享利・大卫・梭罗
…………………………………… （205）
Solitude 幽居 ……………………… （206）
From“Journals”《札记》选段 ……… （212）
Ralph Waldo Emerson
拉尔夫・渥尔多・爱默生…………… （222）
From“Journals‘Myself’”
《〈谈自己〉札记》选段 …………… （223） 目
William Cobbett 威廉・科贝特 ………… （234）
录
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英 From“Rural Rides”选自《骑马乡行记》
文
名 …………………………………… （235）
篇 Abraham Lincoln 亚伯拉罕・林肯 …… （245）
鉴 The Gettysburg Address
赏
金 葛底斯堡演说辞 ………………… （246）
库 John Ruskin 约翰・罗斯金 …………… （249）
From“Modern Painters”Sir Walter Scott
选自《现代画家》华尔特・司各特爵士
…………………………………… （250）
Mark Twain 马克・吐温 ……………… （259）
From“The Adventures of Tom Sawyer”
《汤姆・索耶历险记》选段 ……… （260）
Edward Verral Lucas 爱德华・V・卢卡斯
………………………………………… （267）
The Windmill 风车 ………………… （268）
Bertrand Russell 伯特兰・罗素 ……… （272）
How to Grow Old 安度晚年之道
………………………………… （273）
V. Sackville-West V・萨克维尔-威斯特
………………………………………… （278）
No Signposts in the Sea 大海无航标
………………………………… （278）
Pri John Boynton Priestley
P・约翰・B・普里斯特利 …………… （285）
At the Tailors 在成衣店 …………… （286）
First Snow 初雪 …………………… （293）
George Bernard Shaw 乔治・伯纳・萧 … （299）
Valedictory 告别辞 ………………… （300）
George Orwell 乔治・奥威尔 ………… （305）
Politics and the English Language
政治与英语 ……………………… （306）

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 敬 告

应广大读者要求，我们编写了这本《英文名篇鉴赏金
库・散文卷》。由于所选都是外国作品，因条件所限，不能联
系到原作者，如有有关人员询问，请与我杜联系。

天津人民出版社
2005 . 12 . 15
Roger Ascham
罗杰・阿斯坎姆
（1515？～ 1568）

罗杰・阿斯坎姆生于英格兰约克郡附近的柯比
威斯克（Kirby Wiske）村，14 岁入剑桥大学圣约翰学
院学习，因古典文学成绩骄人，1540 年任学院的希
腊语讲师。以对话体写的《射箭爱好者》 （Toxophilus）
发表于 1545 年，是第一部英语写的箭术书，为后世
的对话体著作提供了范本。序言中表现出人文主义
者不断增长的爱国热诚，声称是在“用英语为英国人
写英国事”。此书一出版便大受欢迎，并为阿斯坎姆
赢得了每年 10 镑的皇室津贴。他曾任伊丽莎白公
主的希腊语和拉丁语教师（1548 ～ 1550），后任英国
大使莫里逊（Richard Morison）的秘书（1550 ～ 1553），
周游欧洲大陆，回国后著《记德意志》 （Report of Ger-
）。
many 1554 年起出任玛丽女王的拉丁文秘书， 还曾
任爱德华 6 世的拉丁文秘书并为伊丽莎白女王起草
致外国统治者的信件。1570 年由其遗孀出版的《教
师》
（The Scholemaster）为其最著名的作品，用简单清
晰的英语散文写成。作者在书中反对当时蔚为风气
的体罚学生的做法，并提倡采用拉丁语、英语互译法
帮助学生掌握拉丁语。阿斯坎姆在此书中还表明了 罗
杰
自己对意大利的态度，在承认意大利文化、语言的重 ・
阿
要性的同时，指出它是个易于使人腐化的国家。《教
斯
师》一书直接影响了菲利普・锡德尼的《诗辩》
（De- 坎
fence of Poetry），又被视为教育理论发展史上的一个 姆
1
英 里程碑。
文
名
篇
鉴 From“The Scholemaster”
赏
金
选自《教师》
库

【作品赏析】
《教师》一书是从作者 1563 年 10 月与几位政要（主要是多塞特伯
爵的祖父理查德・萨克维尔）就当时学校体罚学生和如何教导子女的
问题进行的谈话扩充而来的。此书分两部分，第一部分提供教导子
女的总体纲领，第二部分传授学习拉丁文的便捷方式。由于写书的
目的在于提供指导性的原则和方法，因此所用的多是日常语言，文风
总体看来也显得朴素无华，但这并不是说毫无修饰。阿斯坎姆运有
了鲜明的视觉意象使文章形象生动，例如，选文中就有“精选肉食之
于好身体的必要性恰如贴切的措辞之于好内容”这样的句子。应该
指出，阿斯坎姆使用意象不是为了炫耀文采，而是为了帮助读者加深
印象，所以他选择的意象均来自日常生活，读来平易近人。此外，由
于深受雅典雄辩家、修辞学家伊索克拉底（Isocrates）的影响，阿斯坎姆
也追求文章的乐感，有意使用了较多的对比（“… whosoever be found
fond in judgment of matter，be commonly found as rude in uttering the mind
…”， “…人们发现任何乐于判断的人总不免表达粗野…”）和并列（如
“… apt by nature and willing by desire …”，
“… 天 性 使 然 也 心 甘 情 愿
…”），以及表现“巧智”的公式化精巧描述，如： “For as ye use to hear，so
ye learn to speak：if ye hear no other，ye speak not yourself：and whom ye only
hear，of them ye only learn.” “你听人家是怎样说话，你就照样学着说：
如果没听过别人说话，你自己也说不了：你只听过谁说话，就只能学
谁说。 （Gorgianic figure），追求
”有时过度使用了“高尔吉亚（修辞）体”
句子对应部分音节的相等或几乎相等、对应部分中句法完全平衡，用
头韵和尾韵使句子成分中对应的词读音相近，句子表达就显得单调
乏味了。读者在参看选文中可以细加体会。阿斯坎姆对散文发展的
贡献在于演示了众多使句子更谐和、更整饬的方法。他想使英语写
作铿锵有力、富于雄辩的心愿由于过分使用修辞体没有完全实现，但
他确实证明了用英语优雅地表达思想是完全可能、可行的。虽然作
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者在《教师》中并未提出什么自出机抒的教育理论，但此书“奠定了一
种既简洁又不失古雅的行文模式”，所以一问世就广为流传和被引
用，
成了都铎时代最有影响力的教育学论著之一，连作者在书中阐明
的对古典文学和本国文学的态度也为世人竞相采纳。
（邵雪萍）

【作品欣赏】
Imitation is a faculty to express lively and perfectly that ex-
ample which ye1 go about2 to follow. And of itself it is large and
wide：for all the works of nature in a manner be examples for art to
follow.
But to our purpose3 ：all languages，both learned and mother
tongues，be gotten，and gotten only by Imitation . For as ye use4 to
hear，so ye learn to speak：if ye hear no other，ye speak not you-
self：and whom ye only hear，of them ye only learn .
Yet，nevertheless，the rudeness of common and mother
tongues is no bar5 to wise speaking. For in the rudest country，and
most barbarous mother language，many be found that can speak
very wisely：but in the Greek and Latin tongue，the two only
learned tongues，which be kept not in common talk but in private
books，we find always wisdom and eloquence，good matter and
good utterance，never or seldom asunder6 . For all such authors as
be fullest of good matter and right judgment in doctrine be likewise
most proper in words，most apt in sentence，most plain and pure in
uttering the same .
And，contrariwise，in those two tongues，all writers，either in
Religion or any sect of Philosophy，whosoever be found fond in
judgment of matter，be commonly found as rude in uttering their 罗
mind . . . . They be not wise therefore that say，“What care I for a 杰
・
man s words and utterance if his matter and reasons be good .”
’ ， 阿
斯
Such men say so，not so much of ignorance，as7 either of some sin- 坎
gular pride in themselves or some special malice or other，or for 姆
3
英 some private and partial matter，either in religion or other kind of
文
learning. For good and choice meats be no more8 requisite for
名
篇 healthy bodies than proper and apt words be for good matters，and
鉴 also plain and sensible utterance for the best and deepest reasons：
赏
金 in which two points standeth perfect eloquence，one of the fairest
库 and rarest gifts that God doth give to man .
Ye， know not what hurt ye do to learning，that care not for
words but for matter，and so make a divorce9 between tongue and
heart. For mark all ages：look upon the whole course of both the
Greek and Latin tongue，and ye shall surely find that，when apt
and good words began to be neglected，and properties of those two
tongues to be confounded then also began ill deeds to spring，
strange manners to oppress good orders，new and fond opinions to
strive with old and true doctrine，first in Philosophy and after in
Religion，right judgment of all things to be perverted，and so virtue
with learning is condemned，and study left off10 ：of ill thoughts
cometh perverse judgment，of ill deeds springeth lewd talk . Which
four misorders，as they mar11 man’s life，so destroy （they） good
learning withal .
But behold the goodness of God’s prudence for learning：all
old authors and sects of Philosophy，which were fondest in opinion
and rudest in utterance，as Stoics and Epicures，first condemned of
wise men and after forgotten of all men，be so consumed12 by time，
as they be now not only out of use but also out of memory of man：
which thing，I surely think，will shortly chance to the whole doc-
trine and all the books of phantastical Anabaptists13 and Friars14 ，
and of the beastly Libertines15 and Monks .
Again，behold on the other side how God’s wisdom hath
wrought，that of Academici and Peripatetici16 ，those that were wis-
est in judgment of matters and purest in uttering their minds，the
first and chiefest that wrote most and best in either tongue，as Pla-
4
to and Aristotle in Greek，and Tullie in Latin，be so either wholly
or sufficiently left unto us，as I never knew yet scholar that gave
himself to17 like，and love，and follow chiefly those three authors，
but be proved both learned，wise，and also an honest man，if he
joined with all true doctrine of God’s Holy Bible，without the
which the other three be but fine-edged tools in a fool or madman’
s hand .
And here for my pleasure I purpose a little by the way to play
and sport with18 my master Tullie；from whom commonly I am nev-
er wont to dissent19 . He himself，from this point of learning，in his
verses doth halt20 a little，by his leave21 . He could not deny it，if
he were alive，nor those defend him now that love him best . This
fault I lay to his charge22 ：because once it pleased him，though
somewhat merrily，yet over uncourteously，to rail upon23 poor Eng-
land，objecting both extreme beggary and mere barbariousness unto
it，writing thus unto his friend Atticus：There is not one scruple24 of
silver in that whole Isle，or any one that knoweth either learning or
letter .
But now，master Cicero25 ，blessed be God and his son Jesus
Christ，whom you never knew，except it were as it pleased him to
lighten you by some shadow，as courtly in one place ye confess
saying，Veritatis tantum umbram consectamur 26 ，as your master
Plato did before you：blessed be God，I say，that sixteen hundred
years after you were dead and gone it may truly be said，that for
silver there is more comely27 plate in one city of England than is in
four of the proudest cities in all Italy，and take Rome for one of
them. And for learning，beside the knowledge of all learned 罗
tongues and liberal sciences，even your own books，Cicero，be as 杰
・
well read，and your excellent eloquence is as well liked and loved， 阿
斯
and as truly followed，in England at this day，as it is now，or ever 坎
was，since your own time in any place of Italy，either at Arpinum， 姆
5
英 where ye were born，or else at Rome，where ye were brought up28 .
文
名 And a little to brag with you，Cicero，where you yourself，by your
篇 leave，halted in some point of learning in your own tongue，many in
鉴 England at this day go straight up，both in true skill and right do-
赏
金 ing therein . 29
库 This I write，not to reprehend30 Tullie，whom above all other I
like and love best，but to excuse Terence31 ，because in his time，
and a good while after，poetry was never perfected in Latin，until
by true Imitation of the Greeians it was at length32 brought to per-
fection：And also thereby33 to exhort34 the goodly wits of England，
which，apt by nature and willing by desire，give themselves to po-
etry，that they，rightly understanding the barbarous bringing of
rimes35 ，would labor as Vergil36 and Horace37 did in Latin，to make
perfect also this point in our English tongue .

1. ye：你。
2. go about：将要。
3. to our purpose：回到我的话题上来。
4. as ye use：正如你曾……。
5. bar：障碍。
6. asunder：分离。
7. not so much … as …：与其说……不如说……。
8. no more（than）：只是。
9. divorce：脱离。
10. leave off：停止。
11. mar：破坏。
12. consume：消耗，耗费。
13. Anabaptist：再洗礼派教徒，为 16 世纪极端的新教教派，认为对
婴儿所施的洗礼无效。
14. friar：
（天主教）行乞修道士。
15. Libertine：自由思想家，不可知论者，怀疑论者。
16. Academici and Peripatetici：亚里士多德和柏拉图的追随者。
17. give oneself to：沉湎于。
6
 18. sport with…：和……开玩笑。
19. dissent：不同意。
20. halt：欠完整。
21. by his leave：请他勿怪，未征得许可而做某事时的道歉话。
22. lay to one’s charge：交由……负责。
23. rail upon：抱怨。
24. scruple：微量。
25. Cicero：西塞罗（前 106 ～ 前 43 年），古罗马政治家、雄辩家、修
辞学家。
26. Veritatis tantum umbram consectamur：我们不断追随的只是真理
的影子。
27. comely：美观的。
28. bring up：教育，培养。
29. therein：在那一点上。
30. reprehend：责备。
31. Terence：泰伦斯（前 190？ ～ 前 159？
），生于希腊的古罗马剧作
家。其喜剧如《福尔弥昂》和《阿德尔菲》以其巧妙的幽默和精彩的对
话为特征。
32. at length：最终。
33. thereby：在那方面。
34. exhort：倡导。
35. rime：此处相当于 rhyme，韵，格式。
36. Vergil：维吉尔（前 70 ～ 前 19 年），罗马诗人，作有《牧歌》、
《埃
涅伊德》等。
37. Horace：贺拉斯（前 65 ～ 前 8 年），罗马诗人，讽刺家。

罗
杰
・
阿
斯
坎
姆
7
英
文
名
Francis Bacon
篇
鉴
赏
弗兰西斯・培根
金
库 （1561 ～ 1626）

全名弗兰西斯・培根，韦汝兰男爵，圣阿尔班子
爵（Francis Bacon，Baron Verulan，Viscount St. Albams），
17 世纪英国著名的政治家、哲学家和散文作家。他
生于伦敦，父亲为掌玺大臣，母亲也出身于权门贵
族。他曾在剑桥大学三一学院读书，后转学法律，历
任下议院议员、女王顾问、首席检察官、掌玺大臣、大
法官兼上议院议长等要职。1621 年被指控受贿，他
供认不讳，但不承认因此枉法，经议会判处罚款四万
英镑，免除公职。培根从此隐退，专事著述，后因在
野外试验雪的防腐作用而受寒致死。蒲柏评论其为
人“最博学，最显赫，也最卑劣”。
培根提倡“知识就是力量”，是英国经验论哲学
的奠基人，马克思曾称他为“英国唯物主义和整个现
代实验科学的真正始祖”。培根治学，博大宏深。31
岁时，他在写给叔叔的信中声称立志“研究世上一切
学问”，重建全部科学技术和人类一切知识。其著述
主要包括哲学、文学和法学三方面。哲学方面主要
有用英语写的《学术的进步》
（又译《科学知识的进
步》）
（The Advancement of Learning ，1605）和用拉丁文
写的《新工具》 （Novum Organum， 1620），均属培根旨在
全面改革人类知识、但并未完成的《伟大的复兴》这
一宏伟巨著。文学方面以《论说文集》
（又译《随笔》）
（Essays，1597）最为著名，该书初版时仅收 10 篇文
8
章，经 1612、
1625 年两次再版增订，共载文 58 篇，以及《享利第七王朝
史》 （The History of the Reign of King Henry Ⅶ，1625）、《古今格言》 （Apoph-
thagmes New and Old ， 1625）和幻想游记《新大西岛》 （New Atlantis，1625）
等。此外，培根还写有《法律原理》 （Maxisms of Law）和《常用法规释
义》
（The Learned Reading upon the Statute of Uses，
1642）等法律著作。
培根的重要著述多使用拉丁文，意在垂之久远。他用英文写的
随笔，词简义奥，议论精微，卓然为一代文宗，开创了英国文学中的随
笔体裁。
下面所选两篇短文均选自培根的《论说文集》。

Of Study
论 读 书

【作品赏析】
培根的《论读书》一文长不过六百来字，然而纵横捭阖，涵盖甚
广，
从读书的意义、读书的方法直讲到读书的具体功能，论点、论据、
论证均十分简洁、惊警，无一不掷地有声，是培根散文作品中的名篇，
为各家选本所必选。 studies 不单指看书，也指广义的研究学问。
文章的句式多取排比或对偶，短促有力，用词尤为老到。如第一
句“Studies serve for delight，for ornament，and for ability.”
（读书可用于娱
乐、装饰和增长才干。 ）开门见山，下语镇纸，无一个多余字，介词 for
三现，省掉三个 serve，使节奏加快，让人感到为文者似对所论题目极
有见解，立论不容反驳，咄咄逼人之态溢乎言表。接下来又是三个排
比句，仍由介词 for 领起，分论第一句中关于读书的三个作用，衔接得
天衣无缝，其为文的周密严谨，为英国散文家中所罕见。
文中又多格言式句子，如“Reading maketh a full men；conference a
ready man；and writing an exact man.”
（读书使人充实；讨论使人机敏；写
作使人精确。 ）又例如“Histories make men wise；poets witty；the mathemat- 弗
兰
ics subtile；natural philosophy deep；moral grave；logic and rhetoric able to 西
contend.” （史籍使人明智；诗歌使人巧慧；数学使人精密；博物学使人 斯
・
深沉；伦理学使人庄重；逻辑和修辞学使人善辩。
）一句一个结论，不 培
尚藻饰，而重事理。间或引一句拉丁语“Arbeunt studia in mores”
（学问 根
9
英 塑造气质），如点睛之笔，使作者的论点得到强有力的支持，同时也使
文 文章显得典雅稳健，古色古香。
名 培根是英国“唯物主义的真正始祖”
（马克思语），在他的眼中，读
篇
鉴 书为学可说是天地间第一要事，有了真学问，则无往不利，所以结束
赏 一句说得如此斩钉截铁： “So every defect of the mind may have a special
金 receipt.”
（故精神上的任何缺陷，莫不有补救之方。 ）可见培根不仅看
库
重读书，更看重如何用书。“尽信书，不如无书”。所以书有可浅尝
者，
可吞食者，可咀嚼者，可大体涉猎者。在具体的读书态度上具有
批判精神，这些观点直到今天也还是有借鉴意义的。
（辜正坤）

【作品欣赏】
Studies serve for delight1 ，for ornament，and for ability. Their
chief use for delight，is in privateness2 and retiring3 ；for ornament
is in discourse4 ；and for ability，is in the judgement and disposition
of business5 . For expert men6 can execute，and perhaps judge of
particulars，one by one；but the general counsels，and the plots8
and marshalling of affairs9 ，come best from those that are
learned10 . To spend too much time in studies，is sloth11 ；to use
them too much for ornament，is affectation12 ；to make judgement
only by their rules，is the humour of a scholar13 . They perfect na-
ture，and are perfected by experience： 14
for natural abilities are
like natural plants，that need pruning15 by study；and studies them-
selves do give forth directions too much at large16 ，except they be17
bounded in by experience18 . Crafty men19 contemn studies，simple
men20 admire them，and wise men use them；for they teach not
their own use； 21
but that is a wisdom without them，and above
them ，won by observation . Read not to contradict and confute；nor
22

to believe and take for granted23 ；nor to find talk and discourse24 ；
but to weigh and consider25 . Some books are to be tasted，others to
be swallowed，and some few to be chewed and digested；that is，
some books are to be read only in parts；others to be read，but not
curiously26；and some few to be read wholly，and with diligence
10
and attention . Some books also may be read by deputy27 ，and ex-
tracts made of them by others28 ；but that would be29 only in the
less important arguments30 ，and the meaner sort of books31 ；else32
distilled books are like common distilled waters，flashy things33 .
Reading maketh a full man； 34
conference a ready man； 35
and writ-
ing an exact man . And therefore，if a man write little ，he had
36 37

need have a great memory38 ；if he confer little39 ，he had need
have40 a present wit41 ；and if he read little，he had need have much
cunning，to seem to know that42 he doth not . Histories make men
wise；poets，witty43 ；the mathematics，subtile44 ；natural philoso-
phy45 ，deep；moral46 ，grave；logic and rhetoric，able to contend47 ：
Abeunt studia in mores . 48 Nay，there is no stond49 nor impediment
in the wit50 ，but may be wrought out51 by fit studies：like as52 dis-
eases of the body may have appropriate exercises . Bowling53 is good
for the stone and reins54 ；shooting55 for the lungs and breast；gentle
walking for the stomach；riding for the head；and the like . So if a
man’s wit be wandering56 ，let him study the mathematics；for in
demonstrations57 ，if his wit be called away never so58 little，he must
begin again . If his wit be not apt to distinguish or find differences，
let him study the schoolmen59 ；for they are cymini sectores60 . If he
be not apt to beat over matters61 ，and to call up one thing to prove
and illustrate another，let him study the lawyers’cases62 . So every
defect of the mind may have a special receipt63 .

1. studies serve for delight：读书为学可用于娱乐。

2. privateness：孤单状态；独处。
3. retiring：= retirement，幽居，闲居。
4. discourse：议论；辞令。 弗
兰
5. the judgement and dispositon of business：对事务的判断和处理。 西
6. expert men：富于经验者；练达之人。 斯
・
7. judge of particulars：对具体细节加以判断。 培
8. the general counsels，and the plots：大 体 的（全 局 性 的）筹 划 与 根
11
英 布置。
文 9. marshalling of affairs：处理事务。
名
10. learned：博学的。
篇
鉴 11. sloth：懒散；懒惰。
赏 12. affectation：做作；娇柔造作。
金 13. the humour of a scholar：学者（书生）的怪癖。 humour 古义为“脾
库
气，气质”。
14. They perfect nature，and are perfected by experience：它们（学问）
改进人的天性，同时又受经验的磨砺。 nature 指人的天性。
15. pruning：= proyning，修剪（枝叶）。
16. too much at large：过于笼统；不着边际。
17. except they be：= except they should be。
18. bounded in by experience：受经验的制约。
19. crafty men：有一技之长者。
20. simple men：愚鲁者。
21. they teach not their own use：它们（指学问）本身并不教人如何使
用它们。
22. a wisdom without them，and above them：它们（学问）之外或它们
（学问）以上的智慧。 without：= outside。
23. to take for granted：视为当然地接受；盲从。
24. nor to find talk and discourse：也不是为了寻找谈资。
25. but to weigh and consider：而是要权衡和审视。
26. curiously：
（古义）仔细地。
27. by deputy：请人代理。
28. extracts made of them by others：由别人（为我）作出摘要来。
29. that would be：= that ought to be。
30. arguments：观点；内容；题材。
31. the meaner sort of books：次要的书籍；二流书籍。
32. else：不然的话；否则。相当于 or else，otherwise。
33. flashy things：索然无味的东西。
34. Reading maketh a full man：阅读使人充实。maketh = makes。
35. conference a ready man：= conference makes a ready man，会谈使
人机智敏捷。 conference：谈话；讨论。 a ready man：反应迅速的人；有
急智者。
36. writing an exact man：写作和笔记使人能精确地掌握知识。
12
 37. if a man write little：注意此处的 write 是原型，表虚拟语气。在
早期现代英语中，用 if，though 等引起的从句中，谓语动词多用虚拟语
态。下同。
38. a great memory：记忆很好。
39. if he confer little：如果他与人讨论得少。confer：讨论；谈话。此
词用虚拟式，理由见注 37。
40. he had need have：= he ought to have，他就应该有。
41. a present wit：随机应变的机智。
42. that：相当于 what 的语法功能。
43. poets，witty：诗歌使人巧慧（灵秀）。 witty 的古义与今义不同。
44. subtile：subtle 的古拼法，意为“细致深入”；今义作“微妙”解。
45. natural philosophy：科学；博物学。
46. moral：伦理学。
47. contend：辩论。
48. Abeunt studia in Mores：= Studies pass into the character. 学问塑造
气质。拉丁语，出自古罗马诗人奥维德（Publius Ovidius Naso 公元前 43
～ 18）的《女杰书简》 （Heroides）第 15 函，
83 行。
49. stond：= stand，
（古义）阻碍。
50. impediment in the wit：= drawbacks in the mind，精神上的缺陷。
wit 是英国文艺复兴时期文学批评家喜欢使用的一个字眼，义为“心
智，理解，智慧，判断力，想象，创造，才学”等。
51. wrought out：补救；除掉。
52. like as：= as，后可接从句。
53. bowling：滚球；玩滚木球戏；投球。
54. the stone and reins：睾丸与肾脏。 stone 的复数形式作“睾丸”解
（睾丸为二个）。 the stone 亦可解作“膀胱结石”。
55. shooting：射箭。
56. wandering：
（心神）涣散。
57. in demonstrations：在演算过程中。
58. never so：= ever so，no matter how。
59. the schoolmen：经院学派学者；主要指欧洲中世纪哲学家。
弗
兰
60. cymini sectores：切小茴香子的人。意为“条分缕析的人，善于 西
细节区分的人”。 斯
・
61. to beat over matters：考察事物。 培
62. lawyers’cases：律师们的案子；此处指经律师们处理过的案例 根
13
英 记载。
文 63. receipt：药方。
名
篇
鉴
赏 Of Great Place1
金
库 论 高 位

【作品赏析】
培根一生趋走于公卿贵胄之门，深谙宦海浮沉之苦，此文可谓写
尽居高位的炎凉，非官场中人，绝难作此笔墨，确属难得的妙文。
与前《论读书》一文一样，作者极善先声夺人之法： “Men in great
place are thrice servants：servants of the sovereign or state；servants of fame；
and servants of business.”（居高位者是三重的奴仆：君主或国家的奴
仆； 名誉的奴仆；事业的奴仆。 ）居高位却又是奴仆，这是典型的 para-
（
doxical 似非而是的）措词。因为按照常情，居高位者为主，居卑位者
才为奴，而此处却将主奴颠倒，主不仅是奴，且是三倍的（thrice）奴。
此语一出，惊世骇俗，不容人不细看下文。原来这奴仆却非一般的奴
仆，而是另一种意义层次上的奴仆，即国君、名誉和事业三者的奴仆。
这样一来，居高位、低位者均为奴，普天下之人，几乎无不为奴。说得
人栗栗危惧。然而培根文笔并不就此打住，却进一层，历数居高位者
为奴仆的苦处： “So as they have no freedom；neither in their persons nor in
their actions，nor in their times.”
（所以他们没有自由，既无个人的自由，
也无行动的自由，更无时间的自由。
）无一个词说得不实在。既如此
无自由，不仅仅是奴仆而已，与囚犯有何区别？行文至此，似乎意已
写尽，居高位者为奴仆，此言已证实确属至理。然作者尚不满足，复
振笔锋： “It is a strange desire，to seek power and to lose liberty：or to seek
power over others and to lose power over a man’s self.”（欲谋取权位而丧
失自由，或欲凌驾他人之上却管不住自我，这种欲望确有点奇特。
）这
是一唱三叹的笔调。三个句子，三重波澜，一步紧跟一步，将居高位
者实为仆役之论发挥得淋漓尽致，真可谓字字珠玑。然而培根揪住
此点，还不肯放松，又写居高位之艰辛：
“历尽艰难始登高位，含辛茹
苦，
惟得更大辛苦。
”再写居高位之卑污：
“有时须行事卑劣，以肮脏之
行得尊荣之位。
”更写居高位之险：
“高位难安，偶或失足，即有倒台之
14
虞。
”还写居高位之可悲、可怜、可笑，将居高位者之不愿隐退喻为倚
店独坐的老迈商人“徒令人笑其老不死而已”。真是奇绝妙绝之文，
非有亲身经历，绝难做出此等文字。长不过百余言，居高位之酸甜苦
辣，竟是笔笔点到，如老吏断狱之精审、刻薄，增减一字不得，非培根
不能做此。中国散文家中，类似的文字如韩愈的《送李愿归盘谷序》
中的若干段落，可与之媲美，宜参看。
《论高位》一文不仅仅谈做官的可畏、可怜、可悲、可笑，亦论及如
何惩恶扬善，力戒拖拉（delays）、贪婪（corruption）、粗暴（roughness）、循
情（facility）四弊，言颇切。
然而此文虽措词精妙，格言警句联珠而出，在道德品位上亦有可
疵议处。如过分看重权术，说什么“如朝有朋党之争，则须结党以助
自身之腾达；而一旦登位，又须四平八稳”。（and if there be factions，it
is good to side a man’s self whilst he is in the rising，and to balance himself
when he is placed.）无非教人看风使舵，趋炎附势。再如“宁暗操实权，
忌明争权益”。（rather assume thy right in silence and de facto，than voice it
with claims and challenges.）阴险、狡诈之面目毕现，后生小子须做光明
磊落之人，不宜实践此类钻荣之术，此为戒。
（辜正坤）

【作品欣赏】
Men in great place are thrice servants2 ：servants of the
sovereign3 or state；servants of fame；and servants of business4 . So
as they have no freedom；neither in their persons nor in their ac-
tions，nor in their times . 5 It is a strange desire，to seek power and
to lose liberty：or to seek power over others and to lose power over
a man’s self6 . The rising unto place7 is laborious；and by pains
men come to greater pains8 ；and it is sometimes base9 ；and by in-
dignities men come to dignities10 . The standing11 is slippery，and
the regress12 is either a downfall，or at least an eclipse，which is a 弗
melancholy thing. Cum non sis qui fueris，non esse cur velis vi- 兰
西
vere. 13 Nay14 ，retire men cannot when they would15 ，neither will 斯
they when it were reason16 ；but are impatient of privateness17 ， ・
培
even in age18 and sickness，which require the shadow19 ；like old 根
15
英 townsmen，that will be still20 sitting at their street door，though
文
thereby they offer age to scorn21 . Certainly great persons had need
名
篇 to borrow other men’s opinions，to think themselves happy22 ；for if
鉴 they judge by their own feeling，they cannot find it：but if they
赏
金 think with themselves what other men think of them and that other
库 men would fain be as they are23 ，then they are happy as it were by
report24 ；when perhaps they find the contrary within25 . For they are
the first that find their own griefs，though they be26 the last that
find their own faults . Certainly men in great fortunes27 are strangers
to themselves，and while they are in the puzzle of business28 they
have no time to tend29 their health either of body or mind . Illi mors
gravis incubat ，qui notus nimis omnibus，ignotus moritur sibi . 30
In place there is license31 to do good and evil；whereof the
latter is a curse：for in evil the best condition is not to will32 ；the
second not to can33 . But power to do good is the true and lawful
end of aspiring. For good thoughts （though God accept them）yet
towards men are little better than good dreams，except they be put
in act；and that cannot be without power and place，as the vantage
and commanding ground34 .
Merit and good works35 is the end of man’s motion；and con-
science of the same36 is the accomplishment of man’s rest . For if a
man can be partaker of God’s theatre37 ，he shall likewise be par-
taker of God’s rest . Et conversus Deus，ut aspiceret opera quæ fe-
cerunt manus suæ，vidit quod omnia essent bona nimis38 ，and then
the Sabbath39 .
In the discharge of thy place40 set before thee the best exam-
ples；for imitation is a globe of precepts41 . And after a time set be-
fore thee thine own example；and examine thyself strictly whether
thou didst not best at first . Neglect not also the examples of those
that have carried themselves ill in the same place42 ；not to set off
thyself by taxing their memory，but to direct thyself what to
16
avoid43 . Reform therefore，without bravery44 or scandal of former
times and persons；but yet set it down to thyself as well to create
good precedents as to follow them. Reduce things to the first insti-
tution45，and observe wherein and how they have degenerate；but
yet ask counsel of both times46 ；of the ancient time，what is best；
and of the latter time，what is fittest .
Seek to make thy course47 regular，that men may know before-
hand what they may expect；but be not too positive and perempto-
ry；and express thyself well when thou digressest from thy rule .
Preserve the right of thy place；but stir not questions of jurisdic-
tion48：and rather assume thy right in silence and de facto49 ，than
voice it with claims and challenges . Preserve likewise the rights of
inferior place50 ，and think it more honour to direct in chief than to
be busy in all . Embrace and invite helps and advices touching the
execution of thy place；and do not drive away such as bring thee
information，as meddlers；but accept of them in good part51 .
The vices of authority are chiefly four；delays，corruption，
roughness，and facility52 .
For delays；give easy access；keep times appointed；go
through with that which is in hand，and interlace not business but
of necessity53 .
For corruption；do not only bind thine own hands or thy ser-
vants hands from taking，but bind the hands of suitors54 also from
’
offering. For integrity55 used doth the one；but integrity professed，
and with a manifest detestation of bribery，doth the other . And
avoid not only the fault，but the suspicion . Whosoever is found
variable，and changeth manifestly without manifest cause，giveth 弗
suspicion of corruption . Therefore always when thou changest thine 兰
西
opinion or course，profess it plainly，and declare it，together with 斯
the reasons that move thee to change；and do not think to steal ・
培
it56 . A servant or a favourite，if he be inward，and no other appar- 根
17
英 ent cause of esteem57 ，is commonly thought but a by-way to close
文 corruption .
名
篇 For roughness；it is a needless cause of discontent58 ：severity
鉴 breedeth fear59 ，but roughness breedeth hate . Even reproofs from
赏
金 authority ought to be grave60 ，and not taunting61 .
库 As for facility；it is worse than bribery. For bribes come but
now and then；but if importunity or idle respects lead a man62 ，he
shall never be without . As Salomon63 saith，To respect persons64 is
not good ；for such a man will transgress for a piece of bread .
It is most true that was anciently spoken，A place showeth the
man . And it showeth some to the better，and some to the worse，
65

Omnium consensu capax imperii ，nisi imperasset ， 66

saith Tacitus67
of Galba68 ；but of Vespasian69 he saith，Solus imperantium，Ves-
pasianus mutatus in melius70 ：though the one was meant of suffi-
ciency71 ，the other of manners and affection72 . It is an assured sign
of a worthy and generous spirit，whom honour amends73 . For hon-
our is，or should be，the place of virtue；and as in nature things
move violently to their place and calmly in their place，so virtue in
ambition is violent，in authority settled and calm74 . All rising to
great place is by a winding stair；and if there be factions，it is good
to side a man’s self whilst he is in the rising75 ，and to balance
himself when he is placed76 . Use the memory of thy predecessor
fairly and tenderly；for if thou dost not，it is a debt will sure be
paid when thou art gone . If thou have colleagues，respect them，and
rather call them when they look not for it，than exclude them when
they have reason to look to be called . Be not too sensible or too re-
membering of thy place77 in conversation and private answers to
suitors；but let it rather be said，When he sits in place he is another
man . 78

1. Of Great Place：论高位；论显达。 place：地位；官位。

2. thrice servants：三重的仆役。
18
 3. the sovereign：君主。
4. business：事业。
5. So as they have no freedom；neither in their persons nor in their ac-
tions，nor in their times：所以他们没有自由可言，既无个人的自由，行动
的自由，也无时间上的自由。
6. to seek power over others and to lose power over a man’s self：谋求凌
驾他人之上的权力而丧失驾驭自我的权力。
7. the rising unto place：荣升；爬到高位上。
8. by pains men come to greater pains：人们历尽艰辛却换来更大的
艰辛。 pains：艰苦；艰辛。
9. base：下贱的；卑污的。指钻营高官之事须借卑污手段。
10. and by indignities men come to dignities：通 过 卑 鄙 手 段 而 获
尊荣。
11. standing：立足点；所居之高位。
12. regress：退步；退行；此处指“退位；退隐”。
13. Cum non sis qui fueris，non esse cur velis vivere：
（拉丁语）今日之
我既已非当年之盛，又何必苟且偷生？语出西塞罗（Cicero，公元前
106～ 前 43）《致 友 人 书 信 集》
（Epistolae ad Familiares s . ad Diversos，
vii . 3）。
14. nay：真的。
15. retire men cannot when they would：= men cannot retire when they
want to，人们想退休时却退不了。
16. neither will they when it were reason：当他们理该退休时却不肯
退。 it were reason：= it would reasonable。
17. impatient of privateness：难耐独处的生活； （政界人士多）不甘寂
寞之苦。
18. in age：上了年纪。
19. require the shadow：需隐退。 shadow：阴暗处，指使人不抛头露
面的地方。
20. still：总是；长时间地。 that：= who。
21. they offer age to scorn：他们不过使自己的老迈受到嘲弄；难免
弗
兰
倚老卖老之讥。 西
22. to borrow other men’s opinions，to think themselves happy：凭藉别 斯
・
人的看法来认为自己幸福。 培
23. other men would fain be as they are：别人颇欲与他们易位而处； 根
19
英 别人很愿意像他们一样居高位。 fain be = be glad to be。
文 24. happy as it were by report：可以说是因为靠别人的话来断定自
名 己是幸福的。 as it were：可谓是；可以说是。 by report = by what other
篇
鉴 people say：借别人的话。
赏 25. within：= within their hearts，他们内心中。
金 26. be：当代英语为 are。
库
27. men in great fortunes：高官显贵。
28. the puzzle of business：事务的牵缠。
29. tend：照看；照顾。
30. Illi mors gravis incubat，qui notus nimis omnibus，ignotus moritur
sibi：= It is a sad fate for a man to die too well known to everybody else，and
still unknown to himself，如果一个人死于众人皆知之却不自知的境地，
也确是一种可悲的命运。
31. license：
（做事的）自由；机动权。
32. not to will：不愿意。
33. not to can：不能够；无能力。
34. the vantage and commanding ground：居高临下之地。
35. merit and good works：功与德；功劳与善行。
36. conscience of the same：感觉、意识到同样的东西。
37. partaker of God’s theatre：参与上帝的剧场；像上帝一样行动。
38. Et conversus Deus，ut aspiceret opera quæ fecerunt manus suæ，vidit
quod omnia essent bona nimis：于是上帝转身观望他亲手所做的一切，他
觉一切都很好。语出《圣经・创世纪》第 1 章第 31 节。
39. and then the Sabbath：然后就是安息日。典出《创世纪》第 2 章：
“天地万物都造齐了。到第七日，神造物的工作已经完毕，就在第七
日歇了他一切的工作，安息了。神赐福给第七日，定为圣日，因为在
这日神歇了他一切创造的工作，就安息了。
”
40. In the discharge of thy place：在履行你的职责时。
41. imitation is a globe of precepts：模仿就是一整套箴言。意指模仿
善行就相当于实践了一系列箴言。
42. those that have carried themselves ill in the same place：那些在同
一职位上不称职的人。
43. not to set off thyself by taxing their memory，but to direct thyself what
to avoid：不是要你旧事重提以自炫自耀，而是引导你留意前车之鉴。
44. bravery：夸耀；显示。
20
 45. Reduce things to the first institution：对诸事皆追本溯源。
46. ask counsel of both times：求教于古今两代。
47. thy course：你的行事之道。
48. stir not questions of jurisdiction：不要引起法律争端。
49. de facto：（拉丁文）事实上；实际地。
50. inferior place：下级。
51. in good part：善意地；乐意地。
52. facility：轻信；徇情（而枉法）。
53. interlace not business but of necessity：若非必要勿使事务混染。
54. suitors：求情者。
55. integrity：节操，廉洁。
56. steal it：暗中进行。
57. inward，and no other apparent cause of esteem：只是亲信，而无明
显的可推重处。
58. cause of discontent：令人生怨之因。
59. severity breedeth fear：严厉使人畏惧。
60. grave：庄重；严肃。
61. taunting：嘲弄的；恶语伤人的。
62. if importunity or idle respects lead a man：如果一个人可以被纠缠
性要求或吹拍出的虚荣所左右。
63. Salomon：= Solomon，所罗门；前 10 世纪以色列王。
64. to respect persons：讲情面。典出《圣经・旧约》《箴言》第 28 章
第 21 节： “看人的情面，乃为不好；人因为一块饼枉法，也为不好。 ”
65. A place showeth the man：地位使人露出本相。（比较汉诗： “子
系中山狼，得志便猖狂。 ”）语出亚里斯多德（Aristotle，Ethics，N. v. 1 .
16）。
66. Omnium consensu capax imperii，nisi imperasset：所有的人都同意
这种看法：即使他不是皇帝，他也有做皇帝的资格。见塔西陀《历史》
（Tacitus，The Histories，i. 49）。
67. Tacitus：塔西陀（Publius Cornelius Tacitus，约 55 ～ 约 120）；古罗
马历史学家、政治家、文学家。 弗
兰
68. Galba：伽尔巴（公元前 3 年 ～ 公元 69），罗马皇帝。塔西陀说 西
他：
“才能中常，缺点不多，但也没有什么德行可言。他注意自己的声 斯
・
誉，
但是不吹嘘自己。他并不贪求别人的财产；他生平自奉甚俭，对 培
国家的钱却颇吝啬。他在发现他的朋友和被释奴隶为人诚实时，就 根
21
英 对他们仁慈而又宽厚；如果他们不诚实，他就任性甚至不顾一切。
”
文 （塔西陀《历史》第一卷第 49 节）。伽尔巴后来被叛军杀死。
名
69. Vespasian：维斯帕西亚努斯（Vespasianus）；罗马皇帝，在位 10
篇
鉴 年（69 ～ 79）。
赏 70. Solus imperantium，Vespasianus mutatus in melius：维斯帕西亚努
金 斯是惟一的一个登基后变得更好的皇帝。见塔西陀《历史》第 50 章。
库
71. sufficiency：能力；才能。
72. manners and affection：仪容和情操。
73. honour amends：荣耀（使他）变得更好。
74. virtue in ambition is violent，in authority settled and calm：锐意进取
之德暴烈，大权在握之德平和；壮志未酬之德狂，功成名就之德静。
75. to side a man’s self whilst he is in the rising：在上升时趋附某派。
76. to balance himself when he is placed：一 朝 腾 达，则 取 不 偏 不
倚态。
77. Be not too sensible or too remembering of thy place：不要对自己的
地位太敏感，时刻记在心上。
78. when he sits in place he is another man：他一旦升堂议事则判若
两人。

22
 Philip Sidney
菲利普・锡德尼
（1554 ～ 1586）

英国文艺复兴时期的诗人、文学评论家。锡德
尼英年早逝，却有相当高的文学成就。他生于英国
肯特郡彭斯赫斯特，父母为贵族。锡德尼 7 岁开始
学意大利语、拉丁语、法语，青少年时期曾就读于牛
津大学基督堂学院，在剑桥受过短期教育，18 岁后
又到欧陆游学三年。1575 年他返回英国，接替父职
成为伊丽莎白女王的斟酒官。在经历了一段仕途失
意期后，他于 1581 年成为国会议员，于 1583 年被封
为爵士并成婚。伊丽莎白女王担任其长女的教母。
1585 年锡德尼出任军需副大臣，11 月被任命为荷兰
弗拉辛城总督，支持荷兰反对西班牙统治的战争。
1586 年，在一次截击西班牙供应车的战斗中，锡德
尼英勇牺牲，年仅 32 岁。次年他的葬礼在圣保罗大
教堂举行，学者们出版纪念文集，诗人们写诗凭吊，
举国哀悼一个月。
锡德尼既是学者、绅士，又是政治家、军事家。
他年轻时即以博学闻名，很受伊丽莎白女王赏识。
他生前并未以文名行于世，因为其作品以自娱为主，
多写于仕途失意的时期。锡德尼有很高的语言技 菲
利
巧，
其作品词汇丰富、结构精巧、表述灵活。他也是 普
伊丽莎白时期英国最重要的文艺理论家。他留下了 ・
锡
一百多首十四行诗和其他诗作。其《爱星者与星星》 德
是英国最早的十四行诗组诗，后来曾为斯宾塞和莎 尼
23
英 士比亚所模仿。《阿卡迪亚》是锡德尼写于 1580 年的传奇小说，这部
文 作品对莎士比亚的《李尔王》、理查逊的《帕美勒》和狄更斯的《远大前
名 程》都有不同程度的影响。锡德尼的文艺理论作品《诗辩》写于 1580
篇
鉴 年前后，于 1595 年首次出版。
赏
金
库
From“Apology for Poetry”
《诗辩》选段

【作品赏析】
锡德尼的《诗辩》是为应答旁人对诗的指控而作的。1575 年英国
清教徒作家斯蒂芬・高森在小册子《骗人学校》中，指责诗人为国家的
蛀虫，称诗歌已经丧失昔日的作用，对社会风气产生了不良影响。高
森把这本小册子献给了锡德尼。锡德尼便写《诗辩》驳斥高森之说。
《诗辩》是欧洲文学批评史上的重要作品。锡德尼在文中反对“诗歌
是谎言”的论点，认为诗的功用是寓教于乐。
锡德尼所说的“诗”泛指文学。他认为真正的诗人是虚构出怡情
悦性并有教益的美德与罪恶的形象的人。锡德尼反复强调诗的创造
性和宣德劝善的功能。他认为天文、数学、哲学、历史等都是依循自
然的学问，唯独诗人不受束缚而能创造出优于自然的事物；但诗人创
造的目的总是指向德行。锡德尼认为，学问 的 最 终 归 宿 便 是 导 致
善行。
在本选段中，锡德尼先论述了德行是一切学问的无上目标，继而
以哲学和历史学反衬诗的妙用。他说道，哲学玄奥枯涩，由于缺乏实
例而难以理解。历史学寻章摘句，囿于琐细的求证而缺少贯通的理
论。两门学问各执一偏，只有诗歌用形象化的描述达到了理论和实
例的两全。
尽管文学作品的娱乐功能和教化功能历来为理论家们所争论，
锡德尼的观点不一定被后人接受，但锡德尼的论说鞭辟入里，层次清
晰，
很有说服力。他的文字精巧、生动，把一个抽象的道理说得鲜明
有趣。
（刘昊）

24
【作品欣赏】
This purifying of wit，this enriching of memory，enabling of
judgment，and enlarging of conceit1 ， which commonly we call
learning，under what name soever it come forth2 ，or to what imme-
diate end soever it be directed3 ，the final end is to lead and draw
us to as high a perfection as our degenerate souls4 ，made worse by
their clayey lodgings5 ，are capable of. This，according to the incli-
nation of the man，bred many formed impressions6 ；for some，that
thought this felicity7 principally to be gotten by knowledge，and no
knowledge to be as high and heavenly as acquaintance with the
stars，gave themselves to Astronomy8 ；others，persuading themselves
to be demigods if they knew the causes of things9 ，became natural
and supernatural Philosophers；some an admirable delight drew to
Music10 ，and some the certainty of demonstration to the Mathemat-
ics11 ：— but all，one and other，having this scope to know，and by
knowledge to lift up the mind from the dungeon of the body12 to
the enjoying of its own divine essence . But when by the balance of
experience13 it was found that the Astronomer，looking to the stars，
might fall into a ditch；that the Philosopher might be blind in him-
self14 ，that the Mathematician might draw forth a straight line with
a crooked heart15 ；then lo！Did proof，the overruler of opinions16 ，
make manifest that all these are but serving Sciences17 ，which，as
they have each a private end in themselves，so yet are they all di-
rected to the highest end of the mistress Knowledge18 . . . . So that，
the ending end of all earthly learning being virtuous action， 19
those
skills that most serve to bring forth that have a most just title to be
Princes over the rest20 . . . . As principal challengers step forth the 菲
moral Philosophers，whom methinketh21 I see coming towards me 利
普
with sullen gravity22 ，as though they could not abide vice by day- ・
锡
light23 ，— rudely clothed for to witness outwardly their contempt of 德
outward things24 ，with books in their hands against glory whereto 尼
25
英 they set their names25 ，— and angry with any man in whom they
文
see the foul fault of anger26 . These men，casting largesse as they
名
篇 go of Definitions，Divisions，and Distinctions， 27
do soberly ask
鉴 whether it be possible to find any path so ready to lead a man to
赏
金 virtue as that which teacheth what virtue is，and teacheth it not on-
库 ly by delivering forth his very being28 ，his causes and effects，but
also by making known his enemy，Vice，which must be destroyed，
and his cumbersome servant Passion which must be mastered . . . .
The historian scarcely giveth leisure to the Moralist to say so
much，but that he，laden with old mouse-eaten records29 ，authoriz-
ing himself （for the most part） upon other histories whose great
authorities are built upon the notable foundation of Hearsay， 30
—
having much ado to accord differing writers and to pick truth out of
partiality，31
— better acquainted with a thousand years ago than
with the present age32 ，and yet better knowing how this world
goeth than how his own wit runneth33 ，— curious for antiquities
and inquisitive of novelties34 ，— a wonder to young folks and a
tyrant in table talk35 ，— denieth in a great chafe36 that any man for
teaching of virtue and virtuous actions is comparable to him. . . .
The Philosopher（saith he）teacheth a disputative virtue，but I do
an active37 ：his virtue is excellent in the dangerless Academy of
Plato，but mine showeth forth her honorable face in the battle of
Marathon，Pharsalia，Poitiers，and Agincourt38 . He teacheth virtue
by certain abstract considerations，but I only bid you follow the
footing of men that have gone before you . . . . Then would he allege
you innumerable examples，conferring story by story，how much the
wisest Senators and Princes have been directed by the credit of
history，as Brutus，Alphonsus of Aragon39 ，and who not if need
be40 ？At length the long line of their disputation maketh a point in
this，that the one giveth the precept，and the other the example .
But both，not having both，do both halt41 . For the Philoso-
26
pher，setting down with thorny42 argument the bare rule，is so hard
of utterance and so misty conceived， 43
that one that hath no other
guide but him shall wade in him till he be old before he shall find
sufficient cause to be honest44 ：for his knowledge standeth so upon
the abstract and general that happy is the man who may under-
stand him and more happy that can supply what he doth under-
stand . 45 On the other side，the historian，wanting46 the precept，is
so tied，not to what should be but to what is，to the particular truth
of things and not to the general reason of things，that his example
draweth no necessary consequence，and therefore a less fruitful
doctrine .
Now doth the peerless Poet perform both： 47
for whatsoever
the Philosopher saith should be done he giveth a perfect picture of
it in some one by whom he presupposeth it was done . . . . A perfect
picture，I say，for he yieldeth48 to the powers of the mind an image
of that whereof the Philosophers bestoweth but a wordish descrip-
tion49 which doth neither strike，pierce，nor possess the sight of the
soul so much as that other doth . 50
For as in outward things，to a man that had never seen an
elephant or a rhinoceros， 51
he who should tell him most exquisitely
all their shapes，color，bigness，and particular marks，— of a gor-
geous palace the architecture with declaring full beauties，— might
well make the hearer able to repeat，as it were by rote， 52
all he
had heard，yet should never satisfy his inward conceits with being
witness to itself of a true lively knowledge：but the same man，as
soon as he might see those beasts well painted，or the house well
in model，should straightway grow，without need of any descrip- 菲
tion ，to a judicial comprehending of them53 ；so no doubt the 利
普
Philosopher with his learned definition，be it of virtues，vices，mat- ・
锡
ters of public policy or private government，replenish the memory 德
with many infallible grounds of wisdom54 ；which notwithstanding 尼
27
英 lie dark before the imaginative or judging power if they be not illu-
文 minated or figured forth by the speaking of Poesy.
名
篇
鉴 1. conceit：见识。
赏 2. under what name soever it come forth：不论它以什么名义出现。
金
3. to what immediate end soever it be directed：无论它用于什么直接
库
的目的。
4. degenerate souls：堕落的灵魂。
5. clayey：粘土的。 lodging：寄居处。 clayed lodgings 指身体。 made
worse by their clayey lodgings 这个短语是 souls 的修饰成份。
6. bred many formed impressions：产生了各种不同的倾向。
7. felicity：幸福。
8. astronomy：天文学。
9. others，persuading themselves to be demigods if they knew the causes
of things：另有些人觉得自己如果通晓事物的因由，就半通神明了。
demigods：半人半神。
10. some an admirable delight drew to music：有些人被喜人的愉悦引
向了音乐。
11. and some the certainty of demonstration to the mathematics：有些人
被论证的确切引向了数学。
12. the dungeon of the body：是把身体比喻为监牢。
13. by the balance of experience：通过经验的对照。
14. be blind in himself：对自己无所知。
15. draw forth a straight line with a crooked heart：指数学家画出的线
虽直，其心术也许不正。
16. did proof，the overruler of opinions：此处指实证（proof）决定着一
切主张。
17. … but serving Sciences：此句指以上所说诸学科不过是手段，而
非学问的最终目标。
18. mistress Knowledge：作 者 的 时 代 常 用 拟 人 的 说 法 形 容 抽 象
事物。
19. 作者认为一切学问的目的是德行。 the ending end of all earthly
learning：世上一切学问的目的之目的。
20. that 指 代 前 文 的 virtuous action。 have a most just title to be
Princes over the rest：最有权作其他技能的首领。
28
 21. methinketh：我认为。
22. sullen：愠怒的。 gravity：严肃。
23. as though they could not abide vice by daylight：仿佛他们不能容
忍光天化日之下有恶行存在。
24. … their contempt of outward things：此短语意为他们不修边幅，
为了用外表显示出自己对外表事物的藐视。
25. with books in their hands … set their names：此短语意为他们手
里拿着反对荣耀的书，却把自己的名字写在荣耀上面。
26. the foul fault of anger：基督教认为，anger 和 pride，covetousness，
lust，gluttony，envy，sloth 同为七大罪。此短语意为他们看到别人犯了
令人生气的恶行，就会对此人生起气来。这样说是一种不动声色的
嘲讽。
27. casting largesse：施舍。 as they go：到处。此句指的是哲学家满
口都是定义、分类、区别。
28. delivering forth：阐明。 his very being：美德本身。 virtue 被拟人
化，所以称 his。
29. laden with old mouse-eaten recordsa：形容历史学家负载着古旧
的文献。mouse-eaten 极言其旧。
30. … the notable foundation of Hearsay：此句意为这历史学家把自
己的权威建立在别人记载的历史上，而那些历史的重大权威又是建
立在无稽之谈的卓越基础上。
31. having much ado to. . . ：忙于。 accord：使……一致。
32. better acquainted. . . the present age：指历史学家熟悉过去甚于
现在。
33. better knowing. . . wit runneth：指历史学家知道世事如何运行却
缺乏自知。
34. curious for antiquities：对古董好奇。 inquisitive of novelties：对新
鲜事物感兴趣。
35. a tyrant in table talk：在座谈中很专横。
36. chafe：恼怒。
37. disputative virtue：尚在争论中。 an active：见于行动的（德行）。
菲
利
38. . . . the battle of Marathon，Pharsalia，Poitiers，and Agincourt：此句提 普
到几个 重 要 战 场。在 Marathon（希 腊）希 腊 人 击 退 波 斯 的 侵 略；在 ・
锡
Pharsalia（希腊）凯撒战胜庞培；在 Poitiers（法）英军击败法军；在 Agin- 德
court（法）英军战胜法军。 尼
29
英 39. Brutus：古罗马将军。Alphonsus of Aragon：阿拉贡国王。
文 40. Who not if need be：他能根据需要举出随便哪个。
名
41. not having both：不是两者（训箴和实例）俱备。 do both halt：都
篇
鉴 止步不前。
赏 42. thorny：艰涩难懂。
金 43. so hard of utterance：表达起来是如此困难。 so misty conceived：
库
理解起来是那样含糊。
44. wade：跋涉。 wade in him till he be old：形容要理解哲学家的理
论非常困难。 before he shall find sufficient cause to be honest：形容学者
皓首穷经，却还没有认识到老实做人这样的基本道理。
45. standeth so upon the abstract and general：建立在抽象、概括的基
础上。此句意为哲学家的理论是如此难懂，以至于能理解的人都是
快乐的了，能在理解后加以应用就更加快乐了。
46. wanting：缺少。
47. doth the peerless Poet perform both：此处指诗人既有训箴又有
实例。
48. yieldeth：提供。
49. . . . but a wordish description：此处指诗人提供事物的形象，而哲
学家对此只用文字描述。
50. the sight of the soul：心之目。 that other：指代诗人。
51. rhinoceros：犀牛。
52. by rote：背会。
53. without need of any description 是 插 入 成 份。 grow to a judicial
comprehending of them：获得对他们的正确理解。
54. replenish：装满。 infallible grounds of wisdom：智慧的可靠原则。

30
John Bunyan
约翰・班扬
（1628 ～ 1688）

约翰・班扬出生于裴德福郡附近的一个小村庄，
父亲是贫穷的补锅匠。他受到的唯一正规教育是在
本村的小学校，他一生中读得最多的书是《圣经》为
了补贴家用，他很早就继承了父业。
英国内战时期，他于 1644 至 1646 年参加了克
伦威尔的军队，并接触到了清教徒运动和社会各阶
层人物，这些都对他以后的宗教信仰和文学创作产
生了影响。1653 年他加入了非国教的浸礼会，并成
为传教士。他的传教活动触怒了国教的传教士，他
们说他“企图如同补壶补锅一样修补人们的灵魂”。
班扬经常召集公众聚会，名为宣讲福音，实则常常演
变为对政府和国教教会的激烈责骂，因此，1660 年
班扬被捕，遭监禁 12 年，1672 年获释后开始创作。
1675 年他因“非法传教”再次入狱，6 个月后出狱，担
任了浸礼会牧师。他一边传教一边写作，并继续以
补锅为业。1688 年，班扬冒雨去一位父亲那里劝说
他和被逐出家门的儿子和好，父子终于恢复了关系，
他却因淋雨得了重感冒，不久病逝。
班扬生活在文艺复兴时代后期，被公认为是英
国通俗文学的鼻祖。他为英语文学的大众化、通俗 约
化、
口语化以及英语语言的发展做出了巨大贡献。 翰
・
班扬的作品包括布道文、传单和书籍，大约共计 60 班
种，其代表作是 1678 年问世的寓言体小说《天路历
扬

31
英 程》，这也是用英语语言创作的最伟大的寓言小说。它已成为世界文
文 学史上的经典名著，是阅读人数仅次于《圣经》的基督教著作，被誉为
名 “最有永恒意义的百科全书”。
篇
鉴
赏
金 From“The Pilgrim’s Progress”
库
选自《天路历程》

【作品赏析】
班扬的《天路历程》与但丁的《神曲》、奥古斯丁的《忏悔录》一起
并称为西方最伟大的三部宗教题材文学名著。小说叙述主人公基督
徒如何离开家乡毁灭之城，一路历尽艰难险阻，最终到达了天国。三
百多年来，
《天路历程》突破了民族、种族、宗教和文化的界限，风靡全
球，
是《圣经》之外流传最广、翻译最多的书籍，被奉为“人生追寻的指
南”，
“心路历程的向导”。本片段节选自原书的第一部分“得异象奔
走天路”和第十五部分“疑惑城死里逃生”。
故事借助于古老的梦境形式展开，但展现的却是现实主义的画
面：烦恼的基督徒、凶恶的绝望巨人、阴险的疑心、意志顽强的盼望等
等，
既代表抽象的概念，又是栩栩如生的人物。作者从日常细节入
手，
生动地描写了他们的言行举止和心理状态，鲜明地展示了不同人
物的不同性格。节选中提到的主人公与魔王亚波伦的搏斗以及小说
中的其他类似情节令人联想到亚瑟王的圆桌骑士等古代的传奇故
事。小说想象奇特，但人物、情节非常生活化，对人性弱点的观照极
为深透，在这个意义上，可以说《天路历程》向上承继了中世纪骑士传
奇文学的传统，向下开辟了英国现实主义小说的先河。
作为一部宗教文学作品，它的创作目的和通俗的布道讲稿相似，
都是为了说服和警示大众，它还吸收了英语《圣经》的许多优点，因
此，小说语言通俗易懂、行文简洁流畅，但又寓意丰富，塑造了一个个
丰满的人物形象和引人入胜的故事场景。小说中虽然充满了大量古
英语的词汇和句式，但读起来轻松自如、通顺无碍，而又惊心动魄、发
人深省。这是因为作者巧妙地结合了人生觉悟、历险、困难和追求完
善的世俗故事与传播语言、弘扬拯救与信心的宗教信念，使读者从艺
术和宗教的角度汲取营养和教训，从而获得巨大的心灵启迪。 19 世
32
纪英国著名小说家萨克雷就从《天路历程》中获得了灵感，创作了其
传世巨著《名利场》。从这个角度看，小说不但深刻地揭示了人性的
弱点和人类对精神幸福的追求，富有深刻的宗教启示意义，而且超越
了宗教的局限，长远地激发了后世作家的才思，有着不朽的文学和艺
术价值。
（牛云平）

【作品欣赏】
As I walked through the wilderness of the world1 ，I lighted
on2 a certain place where was a Den3 ，and I laid me down4 in that
place to sleep：and，as I slept，I dreamed a dream. I dreamed，and
behold5 I saw a man clothed with rags6 ，standing in a certain
place，with his face from his own house，a book in his hand，and a
great burden upon his back （Isaiah lxix. 6；Luke xiv. 33；Ps .
xxxviii . 4；Habakkuk ii . 2；Acts xvi . 3I）7 . I looked，and saw him
open the book and read therein8 ；and，as he read，he wept，and
trembled；and not being able longer to contain9 ，he brake out10 with
a lamentable11 cry，saying， “What shall I do？ ”（Acts ii . 37）.
In this plight ，therefore，he went home and refrained him-
12

self as long as he could，that his wife and children should not

13

perceive his distress14 ；but he could not be silent long，because

that his trouble increased . Wherefore15 at length16 he brake his
mind to his wife and children17 ；and thus he began to talk to
them. O my dear wife，said he，and you the children of my bow-
els18 ，I，your dear friend，am in myself undone by reason of a bur-
den that lieth hard upon me19 ；moreover，I am for certain20 in-
formed that this our city will be burned with fire from heaven，in
which fearful overthrow both myself，with thee21 ，my wife，and you
my sweet babes，shall miserable come to ruin，except （the which 约
yet I see not22）some way of escape can be found，whereby we may 翰
・
be delivered23 . At that his relations were sore amazed， 24
not for 班
that they believed that what he had said to them was true but be- 扬

33
英 cause they thought that some frenzy distemper25 had got into his
文
head；therefore，it drawing towards night26 ，and they hoping that
名
篇 sleep might settle his brains，with all haste27 they got him to bed .
鉴 But the night was as troublesome to him as the day；wherefore，in-
赏
金 stead of sleeping，he spent it in sighs and tears28 . So，when the
库 morning was come，they would know how he did29 . He told them，
Worse and worse：he also set to talking to them again：but they be-
gan to be hardened30 . They also thought to drive away his distem-
per by harsh and surly carriages to him31 ；sometimes they would
deride32， sometimes they would chide33 ， and sometimes they
would quite neglect him. Wherefore he began to retire himself to
his chamber34 ，to pray for and pity them，and also to condole35 his
own misery：he would also walk solitary in the fields36 ，sometimes
reading，and sometimes praying：and thus for some days he spent
his time .
Now，I saw，upon a time，when he was walking in the fields，
that he was，as he was wont37 ，reading in his book，and greatly
distressed in his mind：and as he read，he burst out，as he had
done before，crying38 ，“What shall I do to be saved？ ”
I saw also that he looked this way and that way，as if he
would run：yet he stood still，because，as I perceived39 ，he could
not tell which way to go. I looked then，and saw a man named E-
vangelist40 coming to him，who asked，Wherefore dost thou cry？ 41

（Job xxxiii . 23）.

He answered，Sir，I perceive by the book in my hand that I
am condemned to die42 ，and after that to come to judgment43（He-
brews ix. 27），and I find I am not willing to do the first44（Job xvi .
21），nor able to do the second45（Ezekial xxii . 14）.
Then said Evangelist，Why not willing to die，since this life is
attended46 with so many evils？The man answered，Because I fear
that this burden that is upon my back will sink me lower than the
34
grave，and I shall fall into Tophet47（Isaiah xxx. 33）. And，sir，if I
be not fit to go to prison，I am not fit to go to judgment，and from
thence to execution；and the thoughts of these things make me
cry. 48
Then said Evangelist，If this be thy49 condition，why standest
thou still50 ？He answered，Because I know not whither to go51 .
Then he gave him a parchment roll52 ，and there was written with-
in， “Flee from the wrath to come”53（Matthew iii . 7）.
The man therefore read it，and looking upon Evangelist very
carefully，said，Whither must I fly54 ？ Then said Evangelist，point-
ing with his finger over a wide field，Do you see yonder wicket
gate？ 55
（Matthew vii . 13，14）. The man said，No. Then said the
other Do you see yonder shining light？（Psalm cxix. 105；2 Peter
，
i . 19）. He said I think I do. Then said Evangelist，Keep that light
in your eye，and go directly thereto56 ；so shalt thou see the gate；at
which when thou knockest it shall be told thee what thou shalt
do57 . So I saw in my dream that the man began to run . Now he had
not run far from his door，but his wife and children perceiving it58 ，
began to cry after him to return；but the man put his fingers in his
ears，and ran on，crying，Life！ life！ eternal life59 ！（Luke xiv.
26）. So he looked not behind him，but fled towards the middle of
the plain60（Genesis xix. 17）.
Now there was，not far from the place where they lay，a cas-
tle61 called Doubting Castle62 ，the owner whereof63 was Giant De-
spair64 ；and it was in his grounds they were now sleeping65 ，where-
fore he，getting up in the morning early，and walking up and down
in his fields，caught Christian and Hopeful asleep in his
grounds66 . Then，with a grim67 and surly68 voice，he bid them 约
awake69 ；and asked them whence they were70 ，and what they did 翰
・
in his grounds . They told him they were pilgrims，and that they had 班
lost their way. Then said the Giant，You have this night trespassed 扬

35
英 on me，by trampling in and lying on my grounds，and therefore you
文
must go along with me71 . So they were forced to go，because he was
名
篇 stronger than they. They also had but little to say72 ，for they knew
鉴 themselves in a fault73 . The giant，therefore，drove them before
赏
金 him，and put them into his castle，into a very dark dungeon74 ，
库 nasty and stinking to the spirits of these two men75（Psalm lxxxviii .
18）. Here，then，they lay from Wednesday morning till Saturday
night，without one bit of bread，or drop of drink，or light，or any76
to ask how they did；they were，therefore，here in evil case77 ，and
were far from friends and acquaintance78 . Now in this place Chris-
tian had double sorrow，because it was through his unadvised
counsel79 that they were brought into this distress80 .
The pilgrims now，to gratify81 the flesh，
Will seek its ease；but oh！how they afresh82
Do thereby83 plunge themselves new griefs84 into！
Who seek to please the flesh，themselves undo. 85
Now，Giant Despair had a wife，and her name was Diffi-
dence86 . So when he was gone to bed，he told his wife what he had
done；to wit87 that he had taken a couple of prisoners and cast
them into his dungeon，for trespassing on his grounds . Then he
asked her also what he had best do further with them88 . So she
asked what they were，whence they came，and whither they were
bound89；and he told her . Then she counseled90 him that when he
arose in the morning he should beat them without any mercy. So，
when he arose，he getteth him a grievous crab-tree cudgel91 ，and
goes down into the dungeon to them，and there first falls to rating
of them92 as if they were dogs，although they never gave him a
word of distaste93 . Then he falls upon94 them，and beats them fear-
fully，in such sort，that they were not able to help themselves，or to
turn them upon the floor95 . This done，he withdraws96 and leaves
them，there to condole their misery，and to mourn97 under their dis-
36
tress. So all that day they spent the time in nothing but sighs and
bitter lamentations98 . The next night，she，talking with her husband
about them further，and understanding they were yet alive，did ad-
vise him to counsel them to make away with themselves99 . So when
morning was come，he goes to them in a surly manner as before，
and perceiving them to be very sore with the stripes that he had
given them the day before100 ，he told them，that since they were
never like to come out of that place，their only way would be forth-
with101 to make an end of themselves，either with a knife，halter102 ，
or poison，for why，said he，should you choose life，seeing it is at-
tended with so much bitterness103 ？But they desired him to let
them go104 . With that he looked ugly upon them105 ，and，rushing to
them，had doubtless made an end of them himself，but that he fell
into one of his fits（for he sometimes，in sunshiny weather，fell into
fits），and lost for a time the use of his hand106 ；wherefore he with-
drew，and left them as before，to consider what to do. Then did the
prisoners consult between themselves，whether it was best to take
his counsel or no107 ；and thus they began to discourse：
CHR. Brother，said Christian，what shall we do？The life that
we now live is miserable . For my part108 I know not whether it is
best，to live thus，or to die out of hand109 .“My soul chooseth
strangling rather than life，
”and the grave is more easy for me than
this dungeon （Job vii . 15）. Shall we be ruled by the Giant？
110

HOPE. Indeed，our present condition is dreadful111 ，and

death would be far more welcome to me than thus forever to
abide112 ，but yet，let us consider，the Lord of the country to which
we are going hath said，Thou shalt do no murder：no，not to another
man’s person：much more，then，are we forbidden to take his 约
counsel to kill ourselves113 . Besides，he that kills another can but 翰
・
commit murder upon his body；but for one to kill himself is to kill 班
body and soul at once114 . And，moreover，my brother，thou talkest 扬

37
英 of ease in the grave；but hast thou forgotten the hell，whither for
文
名 certain the murderers will go？ For “no murderer hath eternal
篇 life，
”etc115 . And let us consider，again，that all the law is not in
鉴 the hand of Giant Despair116 . Others，as far as I can understand，
赏
金 have been taken by him，as well as we；and yet have escaped out
库 of his hand . Who knows，but that God that made the world may
cause that Giant Despair may die？ 117
or that，at some time or oth-
， ？
er he may forget to lock us in or that he may in a short time have
another of his fits before us，and may lose the use of his limbs118 ？
and if ever that should come to pass119 again，for my part I am re-
solved to pluck up the heart of a man，and try my utmost to get
from under his hand120 . I was a fool that I did not try it before；
but，however，my brother，let us be patient，and endure a while121 .
The time may come that may give us a happy release； 122
but let us
not be our own murderers . With these words，Hopeful at present
did moderate123 the mind of his brother；so they continued together
（in the dark）that day，in their sad and doleful124 condition .
Well towards evening125 ，the Giant goes down into the dun-
geon again，to see if his prisoners had taken his counsel；but when
he came there he found them alive；and truly，alive was all126 ；for
now， （what）for want of bread and water127 ，and by reason of the
wounds they received when he beat them，they could do little but
breathe128 . But，I say，he found them alive；at which he fell into a
grievous rage129 ，and told them that，seeing they had disobeyed his
counsel，it should be worse for them than if they had never been
born130 .
At this they trembled131 greatly，and I think that Christian fell
into a swoon132 ；but，coming a little to himself133 again，they re-
newed134 their discourse about the Giant’s counsel；and whether
they had best to take it or no. Now Christian again seemed to be
for doing it135 ，but Hopeful made his second reply as followeth：
38
 HOPE. My brother，said he，rememberest thou not how
valiant thou hast been heretofore136 ？Appolyon could not crush
thee137，nor could all that thou didst hear，or see，or feel，in the
Valley of the Shadow of Death138 . What hardship，terror，and a-
mazement139 hast thou already gone through！And art thou now
nothing but fear！ 140
Thou seest that I am in the dungeon with
thee，a far weaker man by nature than thou art；also，this Giant has
wounded me as well as thee，and hath also cut off the bread and
water from my mouth；and with thee I mourn without the light141 .
But let us exercise142 a little more patience；remember how thou
playedst the man at Vanity Fair，and wast neither afraid of the
chain，nor cage，nor yet the bloody death143 . Wherefore let us （at
least to avoid the shame，that becomes not a Christian to be found
in144）bear up145 with patience as well as we can .
Now，night being come again，and the Giant and his wife be-
ing in bed，she asked him concerning the prisoners，and if they had
taken his counsel . To which he replied，They are sturdy rogues146 ，
they choose rather to bear all hardship，than to make away them-
selves . Then said she，Take them into the castle yard tomorrow，
and show them the bones and skulls147 of those that thou hast al-
ready dispatched148 ，and make them believe，ere149 a week comes to
an end，thou also wilt tear them to pieces，as thou hast done their
fellows before them150 .
So when the morning was come，the Giant goes to them a-
gain，and takes them into the castle yard，and shows them，as his
wife had bidden151 him. These，said he，were pilgrims，as you are，
once，and they trespassed in my grounds，as you have done；and
when I thought fit152 ，I tore them in pieces，and so，within ten 约
days，I will do you . Go，get you down to your den again；and with 翰
・
that he beat them all the way thither153 . They lay，therefore，all day 班
on Saturday in a lamentable case154 ，as before . Now，when night 扬

39
英 was come，and when Mrs . Diffidence and her husband，the Giant，
文
名 were got to bed，they began to renew their discourse of their pris-
篇 oners；and withal155 the old Giant wondered，that he could neither
鉴 by his blows nor his counsel bring them to an end . And with that
赏
金 his wife replied：I fear，said she，that they live in hope that some156
库 will come to relieve157 them，or that they have picklocks158 about
them，by the means of which they hope to escape . And sayest thou
so，my dear？ 159
said the Giant；I will，therefore，search them in the
morning.
Well，on Saturday，about midnight，they began to pray，and
continued in prayer till almost break of day.
Now，a little before it was day160 ，good Christian，as one half
amazed161，brake out in this passionate162 speech：What a fool，
quoth163 he，am I，thus to lie in a stinking dungeon，when I may as
well walk at liberty！ 164
I have a key in my bosom165 ，called
Promise，that will，I am persuaded166 ，open any lock in Doubting
Castle. Then said Hopeful，That is good news，good brother；
pluck167 it out of thy bosom，and try.
Then Christian pulled it out of his bosom，and began to try at
the dungeon door，whose bolt168（as he turned the key） gave
back169，and the door flew open with ease，and Christian and
Hopeful both came out . Then he went to the outward door that
leads into170 the castle yard，and，with his key，opened the door al-
so. After，he went to the iron gate，for that must be opened too；but
that lock went damnable hard171 ，yet the key did open it . Then
they thrust open the gate to make their escape with speed172 ，but
that gate as it opened，made such a creaking173 ，that it waked Gi-
ant Despair，who，hastily rising to pursue his prisoners174 ，felt his
limbs to fail，for his fits took him again，so that he could by no
means go after175 them. Then they went on，and came to the King’
s highway176 ，and so were safe，because they were out of his juris-
40
diction177 .
Now，when they were gone over the stile，they began to con-
trive with themselves what they should do at that stile，to prevent
those that should come after，from falling into the hands of Giant
Despair178 . So they consented to erect there a pillar and to engrave
upon the side thereof this sentence179 —“Over this stile is the way
to Doubting Castle，which is kept by Giant Despair，who despiseth
the King of the Celestial Country，and seeks to destroy his holy
pilgrims180 .” Many，therefore，that followed after read what was
written，and escaped the danger .

1. wilderness of the world：世界的旷野。

2. light on：偶然遇到。
3. Den：洞穴。这里喻指关押作者的监牢。
4. laid me down：躺下。
5. behold：瞧！
6. clothed with rags：衣衫褴褛。
7. 括号里的参考内容都是圣经中的章节。
8. therein：在那里。
9. contain：自我控制。
10. brake out：古英语，即 broke out，爆发。
11. lamentable：悲哀的。
12. plight：困境。
13. refrain oneself：克制自我。
14. distress：悲痛。
15. wherefore：因此。
16. at length：最终。
17. he brake his mind to his wife and children：他对妻子和孩子敞开
了心扉。
18. you the children of my bowels：我亲生的孩子们。
19. I. . . that lieth hard upon me：我快要被自己身上那沉重的包袱 约
给压垮了。 lieth：古英语，
-eth 附在动词后，构成陈述语气第三人称单 翰
・
数现在式。 班
扬
20. for certain：确定无疑地。
41
英 21. thee：古英语 thou 的宾格，你。
文 22. the which yet I see not：古英语表方式，相当于 which I have not
名
found yet。
篇
鉴 23. deliver：解救。
赏 24. At that his relations were sore amazed：他的亲人们听了这番话，
金 都惊愕不已。
库
25. frenzy distemper：狂异。
26. it drawing towards night：天色将晚的时候。
27. with all haste：急匆匆地。
28. he spent it in sighs and tears：他一整夜都在长吁短叹，泪流满
面。
29. when the morning was come，they would know how he did：古英语表
达法，相当于 when morning came，they came to see how he was，天亮以后，
他的妻儿们来看他怎以样了。
30. he also set to talking to them again：but they began to be hardened：
他还想和他们谈谈，但是他们的心肠开始硬起来。
31. by harsh and surly carriages to him：对他使用粗暴乖戾的方法。
32. deride：潮弄。
33. chide：斥骂。
34. retire himself to his chamber：把自己关进房间里。
35. condole：抚慰。
36. walk solitary in the fields：在田野里独自漫步。
37. wont：习惯的，常常做的。
38. burst out. . . crying：突然哭起来。
39. perceive：察觉。
40. Evangelist：福音传道者。像很多寓言故事一样，
《天路历程》往
往将一些表示价值判断的词直接用作人名或地名，来指示相应的事
物或特征，例如，好人的名字可以叫做“美德”，坏人则径直叫做“坏蛋
先生”。下文中的盼望、疑惑城堡、绝望巨人也都如此。
41. Wherefore dost thou cry？古英语句式，相当于 Why do you cry？
dost：古英语， -st 是-est 的变体，附在动词后构成陈述语气第二人称单
数形式。
42.（be）condemned to die：被定了死罪。
43. and after that to come to judgment：定罪后还要受到审判。
44. the first：指被定了死罪这件事。
42
 45. the second：指受到审判这件事。
46. attend：
（作为结果）伴随。
47. I fear that this burden that. . . and I shall fall into Tophet：我担心背
上的包袱会使我沉沦到坟墓以下的地方，甚至还会坠落到灼热的地
狱中去。Tophet：地狱。
48. And，sir，if I be not fit to go to prison，. . . make me cry：而且，先生
您想，就算我清白无辜，还是会被送进监狱，去受审判，还要被处死；
对这些事情的忧虑使我痛苦不已。
49. thy：古英语 thou 的所有格，你的。
50. why standest thou still？：古英语表达方 式，相 当 于 Why do you
stand still？你为什么还呆在这里不动？ standest：古英语， -est 附在动词
后面，用以构成的该动词的第二人称单数形式。
51. Because I know not whither to go：古英语表达方式，相当于 Be-
cause I don’t know where to go. whither：到哪里。
52. parchment roll：羊皮纸卷。
53. Flee from the wrath to come：逃离那将要到来的惩罚。
54. fly：逃脱。
55. Do you see yonder wicket gate？：你看到那边有个小门吗？yon-
der：在那边；wicket：小门。
56. thereto：往那里，到哪。
57. so shalt thou see the gate；. . . what thou shalt do：古英语表达方
式，相当于 then you will see the gate，and when you knock at which，someone
will tell you what to do next. 你就会看见那扇门。你敲门的时候，有人
就会告诉你应该怎么办。 shalt：古英语，= shall，只用于现在式第二人
称单数。
58. it：指他离家出走的举动。
59. eternal life：永生。
60. fled towards the middle of the plain：朝原野深处跑去。
61. castle：城堡。
62. Doubting Castle：疑惑城堡。参见注释第 40 条的解释。
63. where of：相当于 of which。
64. Giant Despair：绝望巨人。 约
65. it was in his grounds they were now sleeping：他们躺卧的地方正 翰
・
是他的领地。 班
扬
66. caught Christian and Hopeful asleep in his grounds：发现基督徒和
43
英 盼望在他的领地上睡觉。
文 67. grim：严厉的。
名
68. surly：阴沉的。
篇
鉴 69. bid them awake：把他们叫醒。
赏 70. whence they were：相当于 where they were from。 whence：从哪里。
金 71. You have this night trespassed on me，. . . you must go along with
库
me：昨夜你们非法侵入我的领地，踩坏了我的田园，还敢躺在这里，真
是岂有此理！为此，你们得跟我走！ trespass：侵入；trampling：践踏。
72. have but little to say：无话可说。
73. fault：过错。
74. dungeon：地牢。
75. nasty and stinking to the spirits of these two men：地牢里面又脏又
臭，令他们难以忍受。
76. any：= anyone，任何人。
77. in evil case：处境不幸。
78. acquaintance：熟人。
79. unadvised counsel：轻率的决定。
80. distress：危难。
81. gratify：使满足。
82. afresh：再度。
83. thereby：因此。
84. grief：不幸。
85. 全四行：为了让肉体满意，
朝圣者任其追逐欢愉。
但是天哪！他们却因此再遭难辛！
追求感官享受的人最终都要沉沦。
86. Diffidence：疑心。
87. to wit：即，就是。
88. what he had best do further with them：接下来如何处置他们是
好。
89. whither they were bound：他们要到哪里去。
90. counsel：劝告。
91. he getteth him a grievous crab-tree cudgel：他找了一根粗重的果
木棒。 grievous：粗重的；crab-tree：沙果树；cudgel：棍棒。
92. falls to rating of them：开始责骂他们。 fall to：开始；rate：怒斥。
44
 93. a word of distaste：一句冒犯的话。
94. fall upon：攻击。
95. and beats them fearfully，. . . or to turn them upon the floor：打得他
们体无完肤，无法招架，躺在地上动弹不得。
96. withdraw：走开。
97. mourn：哀伤。
98. all that day they spent the time in nothing but sighs and bitter lamen-
tations：他们只能整天长吁短叹，痛哭不已。
99. make away with oneself：自杀。
100. perceiving them to be very sore. . . the day before：看到他们因为
前一天 挨 了 他 的 毒 打 疼 痛 难 忍。 stripe：条 纹，这 里 指 棒 打 造 成 的
伤痕。
101. forthwith：立刻。
102. halter：绳子。
103. why. . . should you choose life，seeing it is attended with so much
bitterness？既然活着这么受罪，你们为什么还不去死？
104. they desired him to let them go：他们请求巨人放他们走。
105. he looked ugly upon them：他向他们面露狰狞。
106. had doubtless made an end of them himself，. . . the use of his hand：
要不是他突然婚厥（在阳光明媚的日子里他容易昏倒），双手痉挛，一
时动弹不得，他毫无疑问会把他们置于死地。
107. Then did the prisoners consult . . . to take his counsel or no：于是，
两个囚犯开始商量要不要采纳绝望巨人的建议。
108. for one’s part：就个人来说。
109. out of hand：马上。
110. My soul chooseth. . . than this dungeon：我宁肯死去，不愿活着，
与其 在 这 里 说 折 磨 而 死，还 不 如 干 脆 被 埋 进 坟 墓 算 了。 strangle：
勒死。
111. dreadful：可怕的。
112. death would be far more welcome to me than thus forever to abide：
我宁愿马上死去，也不愿意永远这样活受罪。 abide：忍受。
113. the Lord of the country. . . to kill ourselves：我们要去的大国的主 约
人（指上帝）曾经说过： “不可杀人”。是啊，我们不能杀别人，更不能 翰
・
听从绝望巨人的话去自杀。 hath：古英语，have 的现在式第三人称单 班
数形式。
扬

45
英 114. he that kills another can. . . to kill body and soul at once：杀别人
文 的人只消灭他的肉体，而自杀的人却把自己的身体和灵魂全 都 毁
名 灭了。
篇
鉴 115. thou talkest of ease in the grave；. . . For“no murderer hath eternal
赏 life，
”ect. ：你说还是被埋进坟墓干脆，但你难道忘记了吗？凡是杀人
金 者都要下地狱，因为“杀人者没有永生”。 hast：古英语，have 的第二人
库
称单数现在式，与 thou 连用。
116. all the law is not in the hand of Giant Despair：绝望巨人并不是
法力无边。
117. Who knows，but that God that made the world may cause that Giant
Despair may die？：谁知道那创造世界万物的上帝会不会让绝望巨人突
然死去？
118. limbs：四肢。
119. come to pass：相当于 happen。
120. I am resolved to pluck up the heart of a man，and try my utmost to
get from under his hand：我就会像个男子汉那样下定决心，鼓足勇气，
尽最大努力逃出他的魔掌。 be resolved to do sth. ：下定决心做某事；try
one’s utmost：相当于 try one’s best，尽力。
121. endure a while：忍耐一段时间。
122. The time may come that may give us a happy release：良机一到，
我们就可能虎口脱险。
123. moderate：缓和。
124. doleful：寂寞的。
125. Well towards evening：黄昏时分。
126. alive was all：仅仅活着而已。
127. what for want of bread and water：古英语表达方式，相当于 for
want of bread and water，由于没有吃喝。
128. they could do little but breathe：他 们 奄 奄 一 息，只 剩 一 口 活
气了。
129. he fell into a grievous rage：他不禁大发雷霆。 rage：暴怒。
130. it should be worse for them than if they had never been bom：会叫
他们痛不欲生，不如早点儿去死。
131. tremble：颤抖。
132. swoon：昏晕。
133. come to oneself：苏醒过来。
46
 134. renew：重新开始。
135. Clwistian again seemed to be for doing it：基督徒似乎又有了自
杀的念头。 be for sth：赞成某事物。
136. rememberest thou not how valiant thou hast been heretofore：你难道
忘了此前你是多么勇敢吗？valiant：勇敢的；heretofore：迄今为止。
137. Appolyon could not crush thee：魔王亚波伦没有把你打垮。
亚波伦足主宰基督徒的故乡毁灭之城的魔王，他是个可怕的怪
物，
像游鱼一样穿着自鸣得意的鳞甲似的衣服，像条飞龙一样扑扇着
双冀；双脚似熊掌，大嘴像狮口，喷出火焰，冒着浓烟。基督徒在屈辱
谷遇到了亚波伦，亚波伦威逼利诱他回到毁灭之城去，但基督徒坚决
不肯，于是两人展开一场恶斗，最终基督徒在主的神威的帮助下打败
了魔王，走出了屈辱谷。
138. nor could all that thou didst hear，or see，or feel，in the Valley of the
Shadow of Death：你在死荫谷听到、看到、感觉到的一切也没有把你
吓倒。
死荫谷是基督徒途经的一个峡谷，那个峡谷像沥青一样昏暗，峡
谷的右边是一条深不见底的山涧，峡谷的左边则是一片非常危险的
沼泽，峡谷的中部是喷射着烈焰的地狱之门。谷中的深坑里有许多
妖魔鬼怪和恶兽毒龙，谷中传来持续不断的号叫和呼喊产，还有令人
压抑的乱云在峡谷的上空飞旋。死神也不时张开翅膀从峡谷上方飞
过。总而言之，那里一切都混乱不堪，令人毛骨悚然。基督徒凭着对
主的虔信和勇敢，战胜了自己的怯弱，吓退了群魔，安然无恙地经过
了地狱之门，顺利通过了死荫谷这道喻关。
139. amazement：离奇的境地。
140. And art thou now nothing but fear！：而你现在却只有畏缩恐惧！
an：古英语，be 的现在式单数第二人称。
141. with thee l mourn without the light：我和你一起伴着黑暗而忧
伤痛苦。
142. exercise：运用。
143. remember how thou playedst the man. . . nor yet the bloody death：
回想起在名利场的时候，你是个多么英勇无畏的男子汉，既不怕铁链
捆绑，也不怕铁笼囚禁，更不怕流血牺牲。 约
名利场是基督徒途经的一个商业区，坐落在一个叫做名利镇的 翰
・
市镇里。名利场是人们要到天国去的必经之地。那里人声鼎沸，终 班
年不散。那儿买卖交易的东西，没有一件是货真价实的：房屋、田产、
扬

47
英 行业、职位、荣誉、升迁、头衔、国土、王国、欲望、乐趣以及所有与享乐
文 有关的东西，诸如娼妓、鸨母、妇人、丈夫、儿女，主人、奴仆、生命、鲜
名 血、肉体、灵魂、金银、珍珠、宝石等等，难以计数。市场上随时都可以
篇
鉴 看见变戏法的、尔虞我诈的、讨价还价的人，以及赌徒、白痴、优伶、流
赏 氓、
无赖和各种打架斗殴、游手好闲之辈。在那儿，偷窃、谋杀、通奸、
金 发伪誓、作伪证等丑恶现象也是司空见惯，令人发指。基督徒和一个
库
名叫守信的旅伴走到这里后，对市场上的货物毫无兴趣，有人挑战地
问他们：你们到底想买什么？他们回答说：我们要买真理。这件事在
名利场激起一片骚动，秩序大乱。他们被抓来受审，遭到愚弄、虐待，
还被关在笼子里游街示众。在法庭上，有法官恨善先生、陪审员盲目
先生、无赖先生、恶意先生、纵欲先生、放荡先生、鲁莽先生、傲慢先
生、
敌意先生、谎言先生、残忍先生、厌光先生和暴躁先生，还有三个
证人：嫉妒、痴迷和马屁精。名利镇的这个法庭给两个旅客定了死
罪，
守信被悲惨地处死了，死后就升了天堂。基督徒被缓刑处理，最
终在上帝的帮助下逃离囹圄，继续旅行。
144. at least to avoid the shame，that becomes not a Christian to be found
in：至少不要玷污了一个基督徒的名声。
145. bear up：忍耐。
146. They are sturdy rogues：那是两个死脑筋的无赖。 sturdy：坚定
的；rogue：流氓无赖。
147. skull：头骨。
148. dispatch：
（利索地）杀死。
149. ere：古英语，在……之前。
150. thou also wilt tear them to pieces，as thou hast done their fellows be-
fore them：你也会把他们碎尸万段，就像你处置从前抓获的那些家伙
一样。 wilt：古英语，= will，只与 thou 连用。
151. bid：吩咐。
152. when I thought fit：在我觉得合适的时候。
153. with that he beat them all the way thither：他一边说着，一边把他
们打到地牢里去。 thither：到哪里。
154. case：情形。
155. withal：而且。
156. some：即 someone，有人。
157. relieve：解救。
158. picklock：撬锁工具。
48
 159. And sayest thou so，my dear：你说的有道理，我亲爱的。
160. a little before it was day：天快亮的时候。
161. as one half amazed：好像一个有了惊人发现的人。
162. passionate：充满热情的。
163. quoth：古英语，说。用于第一人称和第 三 人 称 陈 述 语 气 过
去式。
164. What a fool. . . as well walk at liberty！：我真是太傻了！我早就
应该自由行动了，可我却躺在这个臭气熏天的地牢里！
165. bosom：胸怀。
166. I am persuaded：我确信。
167. pluck：拉。
168. bolt：门闩。
169. give back：后退，这里指门闩打开。
170. lead into：通向。
171. that lock went damnable hard：那把铁锁异常坚固。
172. they thrust open the gate to make their escape with speed：他们用
力推开铁门，飞速跑开。 thrust：用力推。
173. creaking：吱吱嘎嘎的响声。
174. hastily rising to pursue his prisoners：赶紧爬起来去追赶那两个
囚犯。 hastily：慌忙地。 pursue：追赶。
175. go after：追赶。
176. the King’s highway：通往天国的正路。
177. they were out of his jurisdiction：他们逃离了巨人的势力范围。
jurisdiction：权限。
178. when they were gone over the stile，. . . the hands of Giant Despair：
在穿过篱笆、走完台阶之后，他们想到，应该做些什么事情，使后来的
天路旅客不会落入绝望巨人的魔掌。 stile：篱笆（或者墙）两侧的阶
梯，contrive：谋划；prevent sb. from sth. ：阻止某人，使之不做某事。
179. they consented to erect there a pillar，and to engrave upon the side
thereof this sentence：他们一致决定在那儿竖立一根柱子，并在背对草
地和篱笆的那一面刻上这样一句话。
180. who despiseth the King of the Celestial Coutry，and seeks to destroy 约
his holy pilgrims：他蔑视天国的君主，寻机谋害神圣的天路行客。 翰
・
班
扬

49
英
文
名
Joseph Addison
篇
鉴
赏
约瑟夫・艾狄生
金
库 （1672 ～ 1719）

英国散文家、诗人、剧作家和政治家。生于英格
兰威尔特郡米尔斯顿。14 岁入伦敦查特豪斯公学，
在该校与斯梯尔建立了友谊。后在牛津大学学习、
教书。1695 年 写 了《献 给 陛 下（威 廉 三 世）的 一 首
诗》，附带一篇献辞献给有影响的辉格党政治家 K・
萨默斯勋爵，引起后来的哈利法克斯勋爵的注意。
他为 J・德莱顿 1697 年翻译的维吉尔《农事诗》所写
的序言使他初具名声。1699 ～ 1704 年，他游历欧洲
大陆，撰写了《意大利观感》（1705）和致哈利法克斯
（1704）。回
伯爵的诗体书信《一封来自意大利的信》
到伦敦 后，加 入 辉 格 党 领 袖 和 文 人 的 行 列，并 于
1704 年 12 月发表歌颂马尔巴勒公爵战胜法国的诗
歌《战役》，立即获得了成功，年底之前就连印三版全
部售磬。1705 年 5 月，辉格党在大选中获胜，艾狄生
被任命为南部事务副国务大臣。在文学创作上他协
助斯梯尔完成了剧本《温柔的丈夫》
（1705），并为剧
本作序。他还根据传奇故事《美丽的罗莎蒙德》写了
一部英语歌剧，于 1707 年首次公演。1710 年辉格党
政府下台，艾狄生不再担任公职，全力为斯梯尔创办
的《闲谈者》杂志撰稿。1711 年 3 月起和斯梯尔合办
《旁观者》，深受欢迎，每天销售 3000 多份。他的悲
剧《卡托》1713 年在伦敦公演，颇为成功，在 18 世纪
一直不时上演，并被很多人阅读和引用。 1714 年乔
50
治一世继位后，艾狄生在政界重新得势，出任国务大臣。从 1715 年
12 月到 1716 年 6 月，发表了一系列政论。1716 年 3 月，他的喜剧《鼓
手》正式上演。1719 年去世，葬于威斯敏斯特教堂。

From“The Spectator”
选自《观察者》

【作品赏析】
选文出自艾狄生从 1711 年 3 月 1 日和斯梯尔合办的《旁观者》，
该报假托“旁观者俱乐部”成员的讨论或笔谈，涉及时事、道德风尚、
文学评论乃至时装式样，内容广泛，文笔淡雅，每周 6 期，一直出到
1712 年 12 月 6 日；
1714 年又续办一个时期，内容中不乏个人观感式
的随笔小品。艾狄生一直是《旁观者》的主要撰稿人，在确定报刊文
学的作用、格调和写法上起了特殊作用。他在写法上下功夫，竭力做
到“使教育有趣，消遣有用”，
“用才智活跃道德，用道德陶冶才智”，也
确实使“哲学离开了密室和书房，离开了学校和学会，在俱乐部和人
们集会的地方留连，在茶桌边和咖啡馆中现身”。艾狄生是位伟大的
英语散文大师，他的风格既反映了社会交谈，又促使这种交谈变得更
加高尚文雅，将期刊散文的艺术发展到完美的境地。时至今日，他所
创导的报刊编法和文风仍在英语国家的某些老资格的刊物中依稀
可见。
选文中描写的罗杰・德・柯弗利爵士实际上是《旁观者》杂志所刊
文章中塑造的虚构人物，但作者通过生动的细节，巧妙地将之描写为
日常生活中待人接物谦和有礼、博识多闻又不失风趣、心思缜密又体
贴他人、深受众人信任、尊敬和喜爱的人物，树立了 18 世纪理想化乡
绅的典范。这一方面展现了娴熟的人物塑造技巧，另一方面也预示
着人物小说的兴起。作者一手悠闲的絮谈笔法，从容不迫，娓娓道
来，文字自然亲切又不失典雅。他笔下的柯弗利爵士血肉丰满，栩栩 约
瑟
如生，读者简直可以透过纸面想见他的音容笑貌。约翰逊博士称艾 夫
狄生的风格“亲切而不俚俗，典雅而不炫耀，值得讲究英文风格之士 ・
艾
日夜读之”。诚哉斯言！ 狄
（邵雪萍） 生
51
英
文 【作品欣赏】
名
篇 Having often received an invitation from my friend Sir Roger
鉴 de Coverley to pass away1 a month with him in the country，I last
赏 week accompanied him thither2 ，and am settled with him for some
金
库 time at his country house，where I intend to form several of my en-
suing3 speculations . Sir Roger，who is very well acquainted with4
my humor，lets me rise and go to bed when I please，dine at his
own table or in my chamber as I think fit，sit still and say nothing
without bidding5 me be merry. When the gentlemen of the country
come to see him，he only shows me at a distance6 . As I have been
walking in his fields，I have observed them stealing a sight of7 me
over a hedge，and have heard the knight desiring，them not to let
me see them，for that I hated to be stared at .
I am the more at ease8 in Sir Roger’s family，because it con-
sists of sober and staid9 persons；for as the knight is the best mas-
ter in the world，he seldom changes his servants；and as he is
beloved by all about him，his servants never care for10 leaving
him； by this means his domestics are all in years，and grown old
with their master . You would take his valet de chambre11 for his
brother，his butler is gray-headed，his groom is one of the gravest
men that I have ever seen，and his coachman has the looks of a
privy councilor12 . You see the goodness of the master even in the
old house dog，andin a gray pad13 that is kept in the stable with
great care and tenderness out of regard to14 his past services，
though he has been useless for several years .
I could not but observe with a great deal of pleasure the joy
that appeared in the countenances of these ancient domestics upon
my friend’s arrival at his country seat15 . Some of them could not
refrain from tears at the sight of their old master；every one of them
pressed forward16 to do something for him，and seemed discouraged
if they were not employed . At the same time，the good old knight，
52
with a mixture of the father and master of the family tempered the
inquiries after his own affairs with17 several kind questions relating
to themselves . This humanity and good nature engages everybody to
him，so that when he is pleasant upon18 any of them，all his family
are in good humor，and none so much as the person whom he di-
verts himself with19 ；on the contrary，if he coughs，or betrays any
infirmity of old age，it is easy for a stander-by to observe a secret
concern in the looks of all his servants .
My worthy friend has put me under the particular care of his
butler20 ，who is a very prudent man，and，as well as the rest of his
fellow servants，wonderfully desirous of pleasing me，because they
have often heard their master talk of me as of his particular friend .
My chief companion，when Sir Roger is diverting himself in
the woods or fields，is a very venerable21 man，who is ever with Sir
Roger，and has lived at his house in the nature22 of a chaplain23
above thirty years . This gentleman is a person of good sense and
some learning，of a very regular life and obliging24 conversation：he
heartily loves Sir Roger，and knows that he is very much in the old
knight’s esteem，so that he lives in the family rather as a relation
than a dependent .
I have observed in several of my papers，that my friend Sir
Roger，amidst25 all his good qualities，is something of a humorist；
and that his virtues，as well as his imperfections，are as it were
tinged by a certain extravagance，which makes them particularly
his，and distinguishes them from those of other men . This cast26 of
mind，as it is generally very innocent in itself，so it renders his
conversation highly agreeable，and more delightful than the same 约
degree of sense and virtue would appear in their common and ordi- 瑟
夫
nary colors27 . As I was walking with him last night，he asked me ・
艾
how I liked the good man whom I have just now mentioned？ and 狄
without staying for28 my answer，told me that he was afraid of being 生
53
英 insulted with Latin and Greek at his own table；for which reason he
文
名 desired a particular friend of his at the university to find him out a
篇 clergyman rather of plain sense than much learning，of a good as-
鉴 pect，a clear voice，a sociable temper，and，if possible，a man that
赏
金 understood a little of backgammon29 . My friend，says Sir Roger，
库 found me out this gentleman，who，besides the endowments re-
quired of him，is，they tell me，a good scholar，though he does not
show it . I have given him the parsonage of the parish；and because
I know his value，have settled upon30 him a good annuity for life . If
he outlives31 me，he shall find that he was higher in my esteem
than perhaps he thinks he is . He has now been with me thirty
years；and though he does not know I have taken notice of it，has
never in all that time asked anything of me for himself，though he
has every day solicited me for something in behalf of32 one or other
of my tenants his parishioners . There has not been a lawsuit in the
parish since he has lived among them：if any dispute arises，they
apply themselves to33 him for the decision；if they do not acqui-
esce34 in his judgment，which I think never happened above once
or twice at most，they appeal to35 me . At his first settling with me，
I made him a present of all the good sermons which have been
printed in English，and only begged of36 him，that every Sunday he
would pronounce37 one of them in the pulpit . Accordingly，he has
digested38 them into such a series，that they follow one another nat-
urally，and make a continued system.
As Sir Roger was going on in his story，the gentleman we
were talking of came up39 to us；and upon the knight’s asking him
who preached to-morrow（for it was Saturday night）told us，the
Bishop of St . Asaph in the morning，and Dr . South in the after-
noon . He then showed us his list of preachers for the whole year，
where I saw with a great deal of pleasure Archbishop Tillotson，
Bishop Saunderson，Dr . Barrow，Dr . Calamy，with several living au-
54
thors，who have published discourses of practical divinity. I no
sooner saw this venerable man in the pulpit，but40 I very much ap-
proved of my friend’s insisting upon the qualifications of a good
aspect and a clear voice；for I was so charmed with the graceful-
ness of his figure and delivery41 . as well as with the discourses he
pronounced，that I think I never passed any time more to my satis-
faction . A sermon repeated after this manner，is like the composi-
tion of a poet in the mouth of a graceful actor .

1. pass away：度过。
2. thither：那儿，此处相当于 there。
3. ensuing：随后的。
4.（be）acquainted with：熟悉。
5. bid：命令，吩咐。
6. at a distance：在远处。
7. steal a sight of：悄悄瞥一眼。
8. at ease：轻松自在。
9. staid：稳重的。
10. care for：愿意。
11. valet de chambre：（旧时专管主人衣着的）贴身男仆。
12. privy councilor：枢密院官员。
13. pad：拉车之马。
14. out of regard to：鉴于。
15. seat：住所，住宅。
16. press forward：急切地。
17. temper sth. with. . . ：用……缓和……。
18.（be）pleasant upon：与……开玩笑。
19. divert oneself with：用……消遣。
20. butler：仆役长，男管家。
21. venerable：值得尊敬的。
约
瑟
22. in the nature：具有……性质。 夫
23. chaplain：
（贵族、私人教堂的）牧师。 ・
艾
24. obliging：谦和有礼的。 狄
25. amidst：在……中。 生
55
英 26. cast：品质特征。
文 27. color：样子，外表。
名
28. stay for：等待。
篇
鉴 29. backgammon：十五子游戏（双方各持十五子，掷骰行棋）。
赏 30. settle upon（sb.）：决定给予某人。
金 31. outlive：比……长命。
库
32. in behalf of：为……之利益，代表。
33. apply onself to：亲自向……询问。
34. acquiesce：默许。
35. appeal to：诉诸。
36. beg of sb. ：向某人求助。
37. pronounce：宣讲。
38. digest：融会贯通，整理。
39. come up：走近。
40. no sooner. . . ，but：一……就。
41. delivery：讲演的姿势、风度。

56
 Jonathan Swift
乔纳森・斯威夫特
（1667 ～ 1745）

18 世纪英国作家，被公认为英国和世界上最伟
大的讽刺文学作家之一。他是遗腹子，出生于爱尔
兰的都伯林，父母皆是英格兰人。斯威夫特 6 岁上
学，
1686 年在都伯林大学三一学院获学士学位，两
年后前往英格兰，1692 年获牛津大学硕士学位，1694
年回到爱尔兰，加入英国国教会，后任牧师，1701 年
获都伯林大学神学博士学位。1699 ～ 1710 年间斯威
夫特曾 先 后 4 次 前 往 伦 敦，广 泛 结 交 知 名 人 士。
1707 年以后曾为辉格党人士的刊物《闲谈者》 （The
Tatler）撰写文稿，1710 年因不满辉格党的政策而与
之决裂，并赴伦敦就任托利党刊物《考察者》 （Exam-
iner）主编，撰文抨击辉格党，同时与托利党作家蒲柏
（A. PoPpe，
1688 ～ 1744）和约翰・盖依（J. Gay，1685 ～
1732）等 人 结 成 著 名 文 学 社 团“涂 鸦 社”（The
Scriblerus Club）。1714 年托利党政府倒台，他回到都
伯林，继续著书立说，支持爱尔兰人民反抗英国殖民
者。晚年精神失常，境遇凄凉。
斯威夫特早年曾一度写诗，后转而从事散文写 乔
纳
作。1696 至 1697 年写了两篇讽刺散文《一只澡盆的
森
故事》（A Tale of a Tub）和《书 战》
（The Battle of the ・
斯
Books），后被收入《一只澡盆的故事》
（ATale of a Tub，
威
1704）一书，该书使其蜚声文坛。在定居伦敦期间， 夫
他与在爱尔兰的女友艾斯特・约翰逊（即斯特拉）通 特
57
英 信频繁，这些信文笔亲切自然，被视为英国书信文学中的珍品，后人
文 将它们辑为《给斯特拉的信》（Journal to Stella）。1714 年后所写文章，
名 文笔犀利有力，如《爱尔兰状况浅析》 （A Short View of the Present State of
篇
鉴 Ireland，
1728）、
《一个温和的建议》
（A Modest Proposal ，1729）等。当然，
赏 斯威夫特最著名的代表作还是寓言小说《格列佛游记》 （Travel into
金 Several Remote Nations of the World ，by Captain Lemnel Guilliver ，
1726），该书
库
在伦敦出版，立即获得成功，现已成为世界文学经典著作之一，对英
国小说和讽刺文学的发展有重要影响。

A Modest Proposal
一个温和的建议

【作品赏析】
此文作于 1729 年，是斯威夫特最著名的一篇散文，初版于柏林，
重版于伦敦，三年之内共印了七次，影响深远。斯威夫特在这篇文章
中极尽冷嘲热讽之能事，把一桩残暴无比的吃人罪行美称为一个小
小的、温和的建议，其嘻笑怒骂的文风确足以惊世骇俗，事属荒诞，而
情理却切中要害，字字句句合于逻辑，而又无处不违背天理伦常。虽
云 modest（小小的，温和的），实际却剑拔弩张，杀机尽在其中。不惟是
英国文学史上的千古奇文，也是世界文学史上的绝代佳篇。
文章的背景极简单，18 世纪上半叶的爱尔兰在内政外交上均处
于极端的困境：外交上处处受制于英国，内政方面由于天灾人患，连
续三年歉收，饿殍遍野，朝政腐败。一帮表面上忧国忧民的谋臣策士
竞献妙计，以解决爱尔兰的危机。
工于讽刺艺术的斯威夫特在慨叹统治者腐败无能之余，借题发
挥，
也加入了这场献计献策的大合唱。斯威夫特的治国良方的关键
措施是：吃人。他建议让所有的贫民将其婴儿杀死以解决若干问题，
如（1）满足有钱人的食物需要；
（2）满足贫民自己的食物需要；
（3）解
决人口过剩问题。他满面笑容，一本正经地详述如何剥皮剜肉、如何
蒸煮烤烧，说得让人毛骨悚然、宛如目睹嗜血成性的魔王。而读者当
然清楚，斯威夫特不过是模仿统治阶级的口吻，使之自我暴露出吃人
生番的丑恶嘴脸而已！其对英国商人、爱尔兰地主和统治者的控拆
58
与鞭笞可谓入木三分。
斯威夫特的文笔极奇巧婉曲，如最后一句 I have no children by
which I can propose to get a single penny；the youngest being nine years old，
and my wife past childbearing.（我自己并没有幼童可以用来谋取分文；
因为我最小的孩子已经 9 岁，而我的妻子也已过了生育之龄。
）这样
一来，只有他有可能去吃别人的幼童，而别人却永远也别想吃他的，
因为他老婆再也生不了孩子了，而他最小的孩子也有 9 岁（作者主张
吃 1 岁左右的婴儿）。真是绝妙的结句，这个冠冕堂皇的建议者不仅
仅残暴得令人发指，也自私得天衣无缝！斯威夫特的文字刻划工夫
就有如此威力。
（辜正坤）

【作品欣赏】
For Preventing the Children of poor People in Ireland from
being a Burden to their Parents or Country；and for making them
beneficial to the Public .

It is a melancholy object1 to those who walk through this great

town2，or travel in the country，when they see the streets，the
roads，and cabin doors，crowded with beggars of the female sex，
followed by three，four，or six children，all in rags，and importun-
ing3 every passenger for an alms4 . These mothers，instead of being
able to work for their honest livelihood，are forced to employ all
their time in strolling，to beg sustenance5 for their helpless infants，
who，as they grow up，either turn thieves for want of work6 ，or
leave their dear native country to fight for the Pretender in Spain7 ，
or sell themselves to the Barbados8 .
I think it is agreed by all parties9 ，that this prodigious10 num- 乔
ber of children in the arms，or on the backs，or at the heels of their 纳
mothers，and frequently of their fathers，is in the present de- 森
・
plorable state of the Kingdom11 ， a very great additional 斯
威
grievance12 ；and therefore，whoever could find out a fair13 ，cheap， 夫
and easy method of making these children sound and useful mem- 特
59
英 bers of the commonwealth14 ，would deserve so well of the public15 ，
文
as to have his statue set up for a preserver of the nation16 .
名
篇 But my intention is very far from being confined17 to provide
鉴 only for18 the children of professed beggars19 ：it is of a much
赏
金 greater extent，and shall take in the whole number of infants at a
库 certain age，who are born of parents in effect20 as little able to sup-
port them，as those who demand our charity in the streets .
As to my own part， 21
having turned my thoughts for many
years upon this important subject，and maturely weighed22 the sev-
eral23 schemes of other projectors24 ，I have always found them
grossly mistaken25 in their computation26 . It is true a child，just
dropped from its dam27 ，may be supported by her milk for a solar
year28 with little other nourishment，at most not above29 the value of
two shillings，which the mother may certainly get，or the value in
scraps30，by her lawful occupation of begging，and it is exactly at
one year old that I propose to provide for them，in such a manner，
as，instead of being a charge31 upon their parents，or the parish32 ，
or wanting food and raiment33 for the rest of their lives，they shall，
on the contrary，contribute to34 the feeding，and partly to the cloth-
ing，of many thousands35 .
There is likewise another great advantage in my scheme，that
it will prevent those voluntary abortions36 ，and that horrid practice
of women murdering their bastard children37 ，alas！ too frequent a-
mong us，sacrificing the poor innocent babes38 ，I doubt39 ，more to
avoid the expense，than the shame，which would move tears and
pity in the most savage and inhuman breast .
The number of souls40 in Ireland being usually reckoned41 one
million and a half，of these I calculate there may be about two
hundred thousand couple42 whose wives are breeders43 ，from which
number I subtract thirty thousand couples，who are able to main-
tain their own children，although I apprehend44 there cannot be so
60
many under the present distresses45 of the Kingdom；but this being
granted46，there will remain an hundred and seventy thousand
breeders . I again subtract fifty thousand for those women who mis-
carry47，or whose children die by accident or disease within the
year . There only remain an hundred and twenty thousand children
of poor parents annually born48 ；the question therefore is，how this
number shall be reared49 and provided for，which，as I have already
said，under the present situation of affairs，is utterly impossible by
all the methods hitherto proposed ；for we can neither employ them
in handicraft or agriculture：we neither build houses （I mean in
the country）nor cultivate land50 ，they can very seldom pick up a
livelihood51 by stealing till they arrive at six years old，except
where they are of towardly parts52 ；although I confess they learn
the rudiments much earlier53 ，during which time they can however
be properly looked upon only as probationers54 ，as I have been in-
formed by a principal gentleman in the county of Cavan55 ，who
protested56 to me，that he never knew above one or two instances
under the age of six，even in a part of the Kingdom so renowned
for the quickest proficiency in that art57 .
I am assured by our merchants that a boy or a girl，before
twelve years old，is no saleable commodity58 ，and even when they
come to this age，they will not yield59 above three pounds，or three
pounds and half a crown at most，on the Exchange60 ，which cannot
turn to account either to the parents or the Kingdom61 ，the charge
of nutriment and rags having been at least four times that value .
I shall now therefore humbly propose my own thoughts62 ，
乔
which I hope will not be liable to the least objection63 . 纳
I have been assured by a very knowing American64 of my ac- 森
・
quaintance in London，that a young healthy child well nursed is at 斯
威
a year old a most delicious，nourishing，and wholesome food， 夫
whether stewed，roasted，baked，or boiled；and I make no doubt65 特
61
英 that it will equally serve66 in a fricassee67 or a ragout68 .
文
名 I do therefore humbly offer it to public consideration，that，of
篇 the hundred and twenty thousand children already computed，twen-
鉴 ty thousand may be reserved for breed，whereof only one fourth
赏
金 part to be males，which is more than we allow to sheep，black cat-
库 tle，or swine69 ；and my reason is that these children are seldom the
fruits of marriage70 ，a circumstance not much regarded71 by our
savages；therefore one male will be sufficient to serve four females .
That the remaining hundred thousand may at a year old be offered
in sale to the persons of quality and fortune72 through the King-
dom，always advising the mother to let them suck plentifully73 in
the last month，so as to render them plump and fat74 for a good
table75 . A child will make two dishes at an entertainment for
friends76，and when the family dines alone，the fore or hind quar-
ter77 will make a reasonable dish，and seasoned with78 a little pep-
per or salt will be very good boiled on the fourth day，especially in
winter .
I have reckoned，upon a medium79 ，that a child just born will
weigh twelve pounds，and in a solar year if tolerably nursed80 in-
creaseth to twenty-eight pounds .
I grant this food will be somewhat dear，and therefore very
proper for landlords，who，as they have already devoured most of
the parents，seem to have the best title to the children81 .
Infants’flesh will be in season throughout the year82 ，but
more plentiful in March，and a little before and after；for we are
told by a grave author83 ，an eminent French physician，that，fish
being a prolific diet84 ，there are more children born in Roman
Catholic countries about nine months after Lent85 ，than at any other
season；therefore reckoning a year after Lent，the markets will be
more glutted86 than usual，because the number of Popish87 infants
is at least three to one88 in this Kingdom，and therefore it will have
62
one other collateral89 advantage by lessening the number of Pa-
pists90 among us .
I have already computed the charge of nursing a beggar’s
child（in which list I reckon all cottagers91 ，labourers，and four-
fifths of the farmers）to be about two shillings per annum92 ，rags
included；and I believe no gentleman would repine93 to give ten
shillings for the carcass94 of a good fat child，which，as I have
said，will make four dishes of excellent nutritive meat，when he
hath only some particular friend，or his own family to dine with
him. Thus the squire95 will learn to be a good landlord，and grow
popular among his tenants96 ，the mother will have eight shillings
net profit97 ，and be fit for work till she produces another child .
Those who are more thrifty（as I must confess the times re-
quire）may flay98 the carcass；the skin of which，artificially
dressed99 ，will make admirable gloves for ladies，and summer boots
for fine gentlemen .
As to our city of Dublin，shambles100 may be appointed for
this purpose，in the most convenient parts of it，and butchers we
may be assured will not be wanting，although I rather recommend
buying the children alive，and dressing them hot from the knife101 ，
as we do roasting pigs .
A very worthy person，a true lover of his country，and whose
virtues I highly esteem，was lately pleased in discoursing on this
matter to offer a refinement upon my scheme102 . He said that many
gentlemen of this Kingdom having of late destroyed their deer，he
conceived that the want of venison might be well supplied by the
乔
bodies of young lads and maidens，not exceeding fourteen years of 纳
age，nor under twelve，so great a number of both sexes in every 森
・
county being now ready to starve for want of work and service；and 斯
威
these to be disposed of103 by their parents if alive，or otherwise by 夫
their nearest relations . But with due deference to104 so excellent a 特
63
英 friend，and so deserving a patriot105 ，I cannot be altogether in his
文
sentiments106；for as to the males，my American acquaintance as-
名
篇 sured me from frequent experience，that their flesh was generally
鉴 tough and lean，like that of our schoolboys，by continual exercise，
赏
金 and their taste disagreeable，and to fatten them would not answer
库 the charge107 . Then as to the females，it would，I think with humble
submission108 ，be a loss to the public，because they soon would be-
come breeders themselves . And besides，it is not improbable that
some scrupulous people might be apt to censure such a practice
（although indeed very unjustly）as a little bordering upon cruel-
ty109 ，which，I confess，hath always been with me the strongest ob-
jection against any project，however so well intended .
But in order to justify my friend，he confessed that this expe-
dient was put into his head by the famous Psalmanazar111 ，a native
of the island Formosa112 ，who came from thence to London，above
twenty years ago，and in conversation told my friend that in his
country，when any young person happened to be put to death，the
executioner sold the carcass to persons of quality，as a prime dain-
ty113 ，and that，in his time，the body of a plump girl of fifteen，who
was crucified for an attempt to poison the emperor，was sold to his
Imperial Majesty’s prime minister of state，and other great man-
darins114 of the court，in joints from the gibbet115 ，at four hundred
crowns116 . Neither indeed can I deny，that if the same use were
made of several plump young girls in this town，who，without one
single groat to their fortunes117 ，cannot stir abroad118 without a
chair119，and appear at the play-house and assemblies120 in foreign
fineries121，which they never will pay for，the Kingdom would not
be the worse .
Some persons of a desponding spirit122 are in great concern
about that vast number of poor people，who are aged，diseased，or
maimed；and I have been desired to employ my thoughts what
64
course may be taken123 ，to ease the nation of so grievous an en-
cumbrance124 . But I am not in the least pain upon that matter125 ，
because it is very well known that they are every day dying，and
rotting，by cold，and famine，and filth，and vermin126 ，as fast as can
be reasonably expected . And as to the younger labourers，they are
now in almost as hopeful a condition127 . They cannot get work，and
consequently pine away128 for want of nourishment，to a degree
that，if at any time they are accidentally hired to common labour，
they have not strength to perform it；and thus the country and
themselves are happily delivered from129 the evils to come .
I have too long digressed130 ，and therefore shall return to my
subject . I think the advantages by the proposal which I have made
are obvious and many，as well as of the highest importance .
For first，as I have already observed，it would greatly lessen
the number of Papists，with whom we are yearly overrun131 ，being
the principal breeders of the nation，as well as our most dangerous
enemies，and who stay at home on purpose with a design to deliver
the Kingdom to the Pretender132 ，hoping to take their advantage by
the absence of so many good Protestants133 ，who have chosen rather
to leave their country，than stay at home and pay tithes134 against
their conscience to an episcopal curate135 .
Secondly，the poorer tenants will have something valuable of
their own，which by law may be made liable to distress136 ，and help
to pay their landlord’s rent，their corn and cattle being already
seized，and money a thing unknown .
Thirdly，whereas the maintenance of an hundred thousand
乔
children，from two years old，and upwards，cannot be computed at 纳
less than ten shillings apiece137 per annum，the nation’s stock138 森
・
will be thereby increased fifty thousand pounds per annum，besides 斯
威
the profit of a new dish，introduced to the tables of all gentlemen 夫
of fortune in the Kingdom，who have any refinement in taste；and 特
65
英 the money will circulate among ourselves，the goods being entirely
文
名 of our own growth and manufacture .
篇 Fourthly，the constant breeders，besides the gain of eight
鉴 shillings sterling per annum，by the sale of their children，will be
赏
金 rid of the charge of139 maintaining them after the first year .
库 Fifthly，this food would likewise bring great custom140 to tav-
erns，where the vintners141 will certainly be so prudent as to pro-
cure the best receipts142 for dressing it to perfection，and conse-
quently have their houses frequented by all the fine gentlemen143 ，
who justly value themselves upon their knowledge in good eating；
and a skillful cook，who understands how to oblige his guests144 ，
will contrive to make it as expensive as they please .
Sixthly，this would be a great inducement to marriage145 ，
which all wise nations have either encouraged by rewards，or en-
forced by laws and penalties . It would increase the care and ten-
derness of mothers toward their children，when they were sure of a
settlement for life146 to the poor babes，provided in some sort by the
public to their annual profit instead of expense . We should soon
see an honest emulation147 among the married women，which of
them could bring the fattest child to the market . Men would be-
come as fond of their wives，during the time of their pregnancy，as
they are now of their mares in foal148 ，their cows in calf149 ，or sows
when they are ready to farrow150 ，nor offer to beat or kick them（as
it is too frequent a practice）for fear of a miscarriage .
Many other advantages might be enumerated：for instance，the
addition of some thousand carcasses in our exportation of barrelled
beef151；the propagation of swine’s flesh152 ，and improvement in
the art of making good bacon，so much wanted among us by the
great destruction of pigs，too frequent at our tables153 ，which are no
way comparable in taste or magnificence154 to a well-grown，fat
yearling child，which roasted whole will make a considerable fig-
66
ure155 at a lord mayor’s feast or any other public entertainment .
But this and many others I omit，being studious of brevity156 .
Supposing that one thousand families in this city would be
constant customers for infants’flesh，besides others who might have
it at merry meetings，particularly weddings and christenings157 ，I
compute that Dublin would take off158 annually about twenty thou-
sand carcasses，and the rest of the Kingdom（where probably they
will be sold somewhat cheaper）the remaining eighty thousand .
I can think of no one objection，that will possibly be raised a-
gainst this proposal，unless it should be urged that the number of
people will be thereby much lessened in the Kingdom. This I freely
own159 ，and it was indeed one principal design160 in offering it to
the world . I desire the reader will observe，that I calculate my rem-
edy for161 this one individual Kingdom of Ireland，and for no other
that ever was，is，or，I think，ever can be upon earth162 . Therefore
let no man talk to me of other expedients：of taxing our absentees
at five shillings a pound163 ；of using neither clothes，nor household
furniture，except what is of our own growth and manufacture；of ut-
terly rejecting the materials and instruments that promote foreign
luxury164；of curing the expensiveness of pride，vanity，idleness，
and gaming165 in our women；of introducing a vein of parsimony，
prudence，and temperance166 ；of learning to love our country，
wherein we differ even from Laplanders167 ，and the inhabitants of
Topinamboo168；of quitting169 our animosities and factions170 ，nor
act any longer like the Jews，who were murdering one another at
the very moment their city was taken171 ；of being a little cautious
乔
not to sell our country and consciences for nothing172 ；of teaching 纳
landlords to have at least one degree of mercy toward their ten- 森
・
ants . Lastly，of putting a spirit of honesty，industry，and skill into 斯
威
our shopkeepers，who，if a resolution could now be taken to buy 夫
only our native goods，would immediately unite to cheat and exact 特
67
英 upon us173 in the price，the measure，and the goodness174 ，nor
文
名 could ever yet be brought to make one fair proposal of just deal-
篇 ing，though often and earnestly invited to it .
鉴 Therefore，I repeat，let no man talk to me of these and the
赏
金 like expedients，till he hath at least some glimpse of hope that
库 there will ever be some hearty and sincere attempt to put them in
practice .
But as to myself，having been wearied out for many years with
offering vain，idle，visionary thoughts175 ，and at length utterly de-
spairing of success176 ，I fortunately fell upon this proposal177 ；
which，as it is wholly new，so it hath something solid and real，of
no expense and little trouble，full in our own power178 ，and where-
by we can incur no danger in disobliging England179 . For this kind
of commodity will not bear exportation，the flesh being of too ten-
der a consistence to admit a long continuance in salt180 ，although
perhaps I could name a country which would be glad to eat up our
whole nation without it181 .
After all，I am not so violently bent upon my own opinion182 ，
as to reject any offer proposed by wise men，which shall be found
equally innocent183 ，cheap，easy，and effectual . But before some-
thing of that kind shall be advanced in contradiction to my
scheme，and offering a better，I desire the author or authors will be
pleased maturely to consider two points . First，as things now
stand184，how they will be able to find food and raiment for an
hundred thousand useless mouths and backs185 . And secondly，
there being a round million186 of creatures in human figure187 ，
throughout this Kingdom，whose whole subsistence put into a com-
mon stock188 ，would leave them in debt two millions of pounds
sterling，adding those，who are beggars by profession，to the bulk
of189 farmers，cottagers，and labourers，with their wives and chil-
dren，who are beggars in effect；I desire those politicians，who dis-
68
like my overture190 ，and may perhaps be so bold to attempt an an-
swer，that they will first ask the parents of these mortals191 ，whether
they would not at this day think it a great happiness to have been
sold for food at a year old，in the manner I prescribe，and thereby
have avoided such a perpetual scene of misfortunes，as they have
since gone through by the oppression of landlords，the impossibility
of paying rent without money or trade，the want of common suste-
nance192 ，with neither house nor clothes to cover them from the in-
clemencies of weather193 ，and the most inevitable prospect of en-
tailing the like or greater miseries upon their breed for ever194 .
I profess195 in the sincerity of my heart that I have not the
least personal interest in endeavoring to promote this necessary
work，having no other motive than the public good of my country，
by advancing our trade，providing for infants，relieving the poor，
and giving some pleasure to the rich . I have no children by which I
can propose196 to get a single penny；the youngest being nine years
old，and my wife past childbearing197 .

1. a melancholy object：一幅令人痛心的景象。 object，场面，情景。

2. this great town：这 座 伟 大 的 城 市。 指 爱 尔 兰 首 都 都 柏 林
（Dublin）。
3. importuning：恳求；拼命要求。
4. alms：布施；施舍。通常用复数形式。
5. to beg sustenance：乞求食物（粮食）。
6. turn thieves for want of work：因无工作而沦为盗贼。 want：缺乏。
7. the Pretender in Spain：在西班牙的僭君。指詹姆斯・斯图亚特
（James Stuart，1688 ～ 1766），他 1715 年觊觎英国王位，于 1715 年举兵进
犯苏格兰，未果。Pretender：觊觎王位者；僭君；冒牌货。 乔
纳
8. the Barbados［b ：
' beidouz］：巴巴多斯；西印度群岛中的一个岛，
森
时属英国殖民地。 ・
斯
9. all parties：各界人士。不译：所有的党派。 威
10. prodigious：庞大的。 夫
11. the Kingdom：王国。此处指爱尔兰。 特
69
英 12. a very great additional grievance：又 一 个 导 致 民 怨 沸 腾 的 重 大
文 因素。
名
13. fair：体面的。
篇
鉴 14. commonwealth：国家；此处指爱尔兰。
赏 15. deserve so well of the public：如此值得公众的推戴。
金 16. a preserver of the nation：民族的保全者；民族的大救星。
库
17. being confined：局限于。
18. provide. . . for：为……提供生计。
19. professed beggars：职业乞丐；以讨饭为生者。
20. in effect：实际上。
21. As to my own part：就我而言；至于我。
22. maturely weighed：仔细地权衡过。
23. several：各个。
24. projectors：献计献策者。当时有不少人提出各种挽救爱尔兰
日益恶化的经济状况的建议，斯威夫特对他们的建议持鄙薄的态度，
行文之中，夹带冷嘲热讽的语气。
25. grossly mistaken：大错特错。
26. computation：估算；计划。
27. dam：
（古、蔑）母兽；母亲。此处斯威夫特假装站在那些献计
献策者立场上，将俗民百姓视为野兽，说“child，just dropped from its
dam”，相当于说“一头母兽刚下了一个崽子”。
28. a solar year：一个公历年；相当于 365 天又 5 小时 48 分 46 秒。
作者故意用一些学究气的字眼，如 solar，以示假庄重。
29. above：= over，超过。
30. value in scraps：残羹剩饭的价值。
31. charge：负担；累赘。
32. the parish：教区。
33. raiment：衣服。此词故意用得十分雅。
34. contribute to：为……做出贡献。
35. many thousands：成千上万的人。
36. voluntary abortions：自愿或有意的堕胎行为。
37. bastard children：私生子。
38. innocent babes：天真无邪的婴儿。 babe =（古拼法）baby。
39. I doubt：我担心。
40. the number of souls：人口总数。
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 41. being usually reckoned：通常的统计数字是。
42. couple：配偶；一般单数指兽类，复数指人类。
43. breeders：有哺育能力者。
44. apprehend：明白
45. distresses：穷困状态。
46. but this being granted：但如果这点得到认可。即承认有三万对
夫妇能够供养自己的子女这种估计。
47. miscarry：流产。
48. annually born：每年出生的。
49. reared：被养育。
50. cultivate land：耕种土地。
51. pick up a livelihood：维持生计。
52. towardly parts：早熟的才华。指从小就会偷。
53. learn the rudiments much earlier：更早的时候就学到（盗窃的）基
本技巧了。
54. probationers：实习生。
55. county of Cavan［' kævn］：长凡郡，位于爱尔兰北部。
56. protested：郑重地说。
57. the quickest proficiency in that art：神速掌握这门技艺。
58. saleable commodity：可出售的商品。
59. yield：产生或赚取（利润）。
60. on the Exchange：交易所。
61. cannot turn to account either to the parents or the Kingdom：无论儿
童的父母和国家都无利可图。
62. humbly propose my own thoughts：不揣谫陋，谨陈管见。
63. be liable to the least objection：遭到最少的反对。
64. a very knowing American：一位通晓内幕的美国人。
65. I make no doubt：我毫不怀疑。
66. equally serve：同样地尽人意；合意。
67. fricassee：
（法语）油焖（油煎）原汁肉块。 乔
纳
68. ragout［' ræu：
］：浓味蔬菜炖肉。
森
69. swine：猪。 ・
斯
70. seldom the fruits of marriage：很少是婚姻的果实。此语暗示这 威
些儿童是私生子。 夫
71. regarded：受尊重的。 特
71
英 72. the persons of quality and fortune：德财兼具的人。
文 73. let them suck plentifully：让他们尽量多吃奶。
名
74. to render them plump and fat：使他们变得肥肥胖胖。
篇
鉴 75. for a good table：好作佳肴。
赏 76. an entertainment for friends：招待一次朋友。
金 77. the fore or hind［haind］quarter：前肢或是后腿。
库
78. seasoned with：用……调好味。
79. upon a medium：大体说来；平均而论。
80. if tolerably nursed：如果哺育得还不赖的话。
81. have the best title to the children：最有资格吃这些儿童。
82. be in season throughout the year：四季均可食用。 in season：适宜
食用。
83. a grave author：一位很正经的作家。此处指法国文艺复兴时期
的大作家拉伯雷（Fransois Rabelais， 1494？ ～ 1553），他曾当过医生。
84. a prolific diet：有助于生育的食品。
85. Lent：四旬斋。一般是 1 月底到 3 月 21 日，此时的天主教徒只
吃鱼，不吃肉。
86. glutted：
（市场）饱和的。
87. Popish：天主教的。
88. three to one：三比一。指天主教家庭所生的儿童为新教家庭
所生儿童的三倍。
89. collateral：附带的；附属的；追加的。
90. Papists：罗马教皇的徒子徒孙。
91. cottagers：小农舍主人；爱尔兰的贫农，多租住在一小农舍里。
92. per annum：（拉丁文）每年。
93. repine：发牢骚。
94. the carcass：死尸。
95. squire：乡绅。
96. tenants：佃户们。
97. net profit：纯利。
98. flay：剥……的皮。
99. artificially dressed：经过加工处理。
100. shambles：屠宰场（复数形式，单数意义）。
101. dressing them hot from the knife：杀完后立刻趁热加工处理。
102. a refinement upon my scheme：比我的计划有更独到的改进。
72
 103. to be disposed of：加以处置，安排。
104. with due deference to：对……怀应有的敬意。
105. so deserving a patriot：这样名符其实的爱国者。
106. cannot be altogether in his sentiments：鄙意，不敢完全苟同。
107. answer the charge：支付费用。
108. with humble submission：如有不当处，乞望斧正。
109. a little bordering upon cruelty：迹近残忍。
110. expedient：权宜之策。
111. the famous Psalmanazar：那位赫赫有名的沙尔玛纳查（George
Psalmanazar， 1679？ ～ 1763）。此人假冒台湾人身份写过一本书《福摩
萨历史地理述略》 （A Historical and Geographical Description of Formosa ，
1704），书内事情多属子虚乌有。
112. Formosa：福摩萨；即台湾。
113. a prime dainty：一种上等美味。
114. mandarins： （中国清朝的）官吏。
115. in joints from the gibbet：从 绞 刑 架 上 的 尸 体 身 上 割 下 的 人
肉块。
116. at four hundred crowns：价值 400 克朗。
117. without one single groat to their fortunes：一文不名的；腰无分文
的。 groat：英国古银币，值四便士。
118. stir abroad：外出；出门。
119. a chair：轿子。
120. assemblies：集会处；社交场所。
121. foreign fineries：外国高级衣料。
122. some persons of a desponding spirit：某些意气消沉的人士。
123. I have been desired to employ my thoughts what course may be tak-
en：有人希望我能费点心机，考虑一下该采取什么措施。
124. to ease the nation of so grievous an encumbrance：使这个国家摆
脱如此沉重的负担。
125. not in the least pain upon that matter：对那事儿毫不在乎。 乔
纳
126. vermin：害兽；坏蛋；寄生虫。
森
127. in almost as hopeful a condition：情况几乎同样地令人感到欣 ・
斯
慰。即这些 young labourers 也会同样地自行消灭，不劳统治阶级过分
威
担心。 夫
128. pine away：憔悴；瘦弱。 特
73
英 129. delivered from：免于。
文 130. digressed：离题。
名
131. overrun：泛滥。
篇
鉴 132. to deliver the Kingdom to the Pretender：将国家拱手交给觊觎皇
赏 权者。
金 133. to take their advantage by the absence of so many good Protestants：
库
趁这么多善良的新教徒不在国内之机夺得先手之利。
134. pay tithes：交纳什一税。 tithes［' taiz］：什 一 税（常 用 复 数 形
式）；教徒按田租或产品的十分之一缴纳的教区税，所得税款供教会
使用。一部分教徒因逃避什一税而长期侨居国外，斯威夫特对此颇
表不满。
135. episcopal curate：主教委派的教士。
136. by law may be made liable to distress：依法可扣押财物。
137. apiece：每人（每个儿童）。
138. stock：储备金。
139. be rid of the charge of：免去……的费用。
140. custom：生意，转义为顾客。
141. vintners：酒店老板。 taverns：小酒店。
142. to procure the best receipts［ri' si：ts］：搞出最佳菜谱。
143. have their houses frequented by all the fine gentlemen：使他们的
酒店常为所有的上流绅士所光顾。
144. to oblige his guests：满足他的客人。
145. a great inducement to marriage：对婚姻的一个巨大的促进因素
（以便生儿育女用作食物）。
146. settlement for life：生活安置费。
147. emulation：竞争。
148. mares in foal：母马怀驹时。
149. cows in calf：母牛怀牛犊时。
150. sows when they are ready to farrow：母猪快生小猪时。
151. barrelled beef：桶装牛肉。
152. the propagation of swine’s flesh：增殖生猪。
153. too frequent at our tables：我们桌上的常菜。
154. magnificence：丰盛。
155. make a considerable figure：引人注目。
156. being studious of brevity：因为我很讲究言词简洁。
74
 157. christenings：
（基督教的）施洗、命名仪式之类。
158. take off：消受掉；吃掉；取去。
159. freely own：无条件认可；承认。
160. principal design：主要用意；意图。
161. I calculate my remedy for：我开出的治国良方只适合于。
162. for no other that. . . upon earth：至于对地球上的任何过去、现
在、将来的别的国家，窃以为未便沿用此法（指食婴法）。
163. taxing our absentees at five shillings a pound：对于寓居外邦不归
者，则按其收入每英镑课以 5 先令税金。
164. foreign luxury：高档进口货；奢侈品。
165. gaming：赌博。
166. a vein of parsimony，prudence，and temperance：一种俭朴、谨慎、
节制的倾向。 parsimony 特指过度的节俭。 temperance 特指戒酒。
167. Laplanders［' læplændz］：拉普（兰）人。拉普兰（Lapland），北欧
地名，包括挪威、瑞典、芬兰北部及原苏联西北部科拉（kola）半岛的一
个地区，居民多各自为政。
168. Topinamboo：托平 纳 姆 布，巴 西 之 一 区，当 时 以 其 居 民 野 蛮
著名。
169. quitting：戒除；免除。
170. factions：拉帮结派；党争。
171. nor act any longer like the Jews，. . . their city was taken：绝不要像
那些犹太人一样，在墙摧城破之际还在互相谋害。指公元 70 年罗马
大军进攻耶路撒冷城时，城内犹太人还在互相攻讦、谋害。
172. for nothing：无缘无故地；毫无代价地。
173. exact upon us：勒索我们的钱财。
174. in the price，the measure，and the goodness：在价格分量和质量
方面。
175. visionary thoughts：空想；幻想。
176. at length utterly despairing of success：最后对于成功完全感到
绝望。 乔
纳
177. fell upon this proposal：忽然想到这么一个建议。
森
178. full in our own power：我们力所能及的范围。 ・
斯
179. incur no danger in disobliging England：绝无开罪英格兰的危险。 威
180. the flesh being of too tender a consistence to admit a long continu- 夫
ance in salt：这种（人）肉质地太嫩，在盐里不能腌得过久。 consistence： 特
75
英 坚实度；结实。
文 181. it：
盐。此句意谓有那么一个国家（指英国），很可能连盐都
名 不放，也很乐意于把我们这个民族整个儿吞下。斯威夫特的笔锋可
篇
鉴 谓锐利之极。
赏 182. bent upon my own opinion：固执己见。
金 183. innocent：善意的；无害的。
库
184. as things now stand：就现在的情形而言。
185. an hundred thousand useless mouths and backs：一万个要吃要穿
的无用之辈。注意 mouths and backs，以人体的一部分代替整体———
人，此谓之替喻法。例如：Hands wanted：招聘人手。
186. a round million：整整 100 万。
187. creatures in human figure：具有人形的动物。
188. put into a common stock：汇总起来。
189. the bulk of：全部；全体。
190. overture：建议。古用法，指 proposal。
191. mortals：人。
192. the want of common sustenance：缺乏普通的给养、食物。
193. the inclemencies of weather：严寒酷暑。
194. entailing the like or greater miseries upon their breed for ever：同样
的或更大的苦难将落到他们的子孙后代身上。 entailing… upon：使蒙
受……；遗留给……。 their breed：他们这一族类。
195. profess：郑重声明；声言。
196. propose：计划。
197. my wife past childbearing：我妻子已过了生育年龄。（所以无法
生出 婴 儿 供 人 食 用。要 吃 就 吃 别 人 的 吧。好 一 幅 献 计 献 策 者 的
嘴脸！
）

76
Samuel Johnson
塞缪尔・约翰逊
（1709 ～ 1784）

塞缪尔・约翰逊是英国著名的学者、语言学家和
文学家，英国古典主义代表人物之一，在散文写作方
面堪称一代大家。文学方面的代表作有《英国诗人
（The Lives of the English Poets，1779 ～ 1781）。这部
传》
著作将文艺理论和文学传记结合起来进行叙述。他
关于莎士比亚作品的注释和评论在莎学研究方面影
响也很大，处处见出一个大学者的学术修养。但是
给他带来盛誉的著作是《英语词典》
（The Dictionary of
the English Language，1755）。在他之前，英语词汇本
身的词义和拼法很不统一。约翰逊的词典在界定英
语词汇的来源、词义和具体拼写方面成了划时代的
著作。从那以后，英语本身的发展愈益规范，文人学
士也有了遵循的标准。这里选出的《致切斯菲尔德
（Letter to Lord Chesterfield ，1755）就与该词典
伯爵书》
的编撰相关，是英国文学史上的千古名篇。

塞
缪
尔
・
约
翰
逊
77
英
文
名 Letter to Lord Chesterfield
篇
鉴 致切斯菲尔德伯爵书
赏
金
库
【作品赏析】
约翰逊在 1747 年开始酝酿编撰《英语词典》，因为自己境况十分
窘迫，便将他的编撰计划呈送给当时英国最显赫的达官贵人切斯菲
尔德伯爵（The Earl of Chesterfield，1694 ～ 1773），希图获得他的支持与
赞助。可是切斯菲尔德不识英才，对约翰逊的选题不置可否，使约翰
逊吃了闭门羹。约翰逊不得已，只好自力更生，苦干了整整 7 年，终
于编成词典。然而，切斯菲尔德闻讯突然抢先在当时的一家流行的
报纸《世界报》上连续发表了两篇推崇约翰逊词典的文章。切斯菲尔
德之所以这样做，或许是由于最初冷落了约翰逊，而今想以歌功颂德
之辞弥补前嫌；但也可能是由于看到约翰逊词典的份量，因而想沾一
点光，通过撰写颂扬文字的作法，暗示他似乎是约翰逊词典的幕后赞
助人。约翰逊因为受了 7 年苦楚，旧怨难消，遂给切斯菲尔德写了这
封信，断然否认切斯菲尔德或其他任何人是他的赞助人。
此信措辞柔中有刚，虽语气谦卑，而内藏讥嘲。把切斯菲尔德巧
妙地比作附庸风雅实际上并没有文化修养的、心肠冷酷的所谓“草野
之夫”。在具体章法上，作者行文前恭而后倨，对切斯菲尔德则先褒
而后贬。例如作者自述最初对切斯菲尔德伯爵的看法：
“忆当年，在
下小蒙鼓励，竟斗胆初谒公门。大人之言谈丰采，语惊四座，令人绝
倒，使在下不禁谬生宏愿：他日或能自诩当世：
‘吾乃天下征服者之征
服者也。
’———举世学人欲夺之殊荣，或竟鹿死我手！
”虽略带夸张意
味，却未必不是约翰逊原来的态度。此是前恭而褒切斯菲尔德伯爵。
但是，词典编成后，这位缺乏慧眼识英才的切斯菲尔德伯爵转而为文
赞扬的做法明显是想略美，对此，约翰逊毫不留情，一语揭破：
“设有
人于溺水者奋命中流之际，漠然相对，视若无睹，伺其安全抵岸，方忽
急伸援手，反增累赘，所谓赞助人也者，莫非即此辈耶？
”切斯菲尔德
伯爵沽名钓誉的投机面目，昭然若揭。而约翰逊自己则昂首挺胸、踌
躇满志：
“我已名播天下，再不需阁下扬誉之辞！在下当初既不曾蒙
恩，今朝亦无须感德；天帝既助我独成大业，今何敢欺世惑众，默认身
78
后有所谓莫须有之赞助者？
”此是后倨而贬切斯菲尔德。书信很短，
而作者装进了大量内容。既叙述了编撰词典初期不受“丝毫宠幸”的
辛酸，又描摹了词典编成之后作者惬意之情溢于言表的情状。既讽
刺了那些自命风雅实则庸碌的达官显贵，又张扬了文人学士不再为
五斗米折腰的崇高气节！约翰逊的语言技巧极为高妙，遣词用典，涉
笔成趣，前后照应，天衣无缝。读此文时，若参照李太白《与韩荆州
书》
（“生不用封万户侯，但愿一识韩荆州”），当发见二文行文意趣颇
多璧合处，可谓交相辉映。
此文作为散文名篇，在欧洲文学史上，历来被看作作家的“独立
宣言”。从此以后，欧洲文人被迫“摧眉折腰事权贵”的历史，开始了
一个崭新的转折。为了加深读者的理解，笔者将此文译成文言体和
白话体附于文后，可资参考。
（辜正坤）

【作品欣赏】
My Lord1 ，
I have been lately informed，by the proprietor of The World 2 ，
that two Papers，in which my Dictionary is recommended to the
Public3 ，were written by your Lordship . To be so distinguished，is
an honour4 ，which，being very little accustomed to5 favours from the
Great6，I know not well how to receive，or in what terms to ac-
knowledge7 . When，upon some slight encouragement8 ，I first visited
your Lordship，I was overpowered，like the rest of Mankind9 ，by the
enchantment of your address；and could not forbear10 to wish that I
might boast myself Levainqueur du vainqueur de la terre11 - that I
might obtain that regard for which I saw the world12 contending；
but I found my attendance13 so little encouraged，that neither pride
nor modesty would suffer14 me to continue it . 15
When I had once addressed your Lordship in public，I had 塞
exhausted all the art of pleasing which a retired and uncourtly 缪
尔
scholar16 can possess . I had done all that I could；and no Man is ・
约
well pleased to have his all17 neglected，be it ever so little . 翰
Seven years，My Lord，have now past，since I waited in your 逊
79
英 outward Rooms，or was repulsed from your Door18 ；during which
文
time I have been pushing on my work through difficulties，of which
名
篇 it is useless to complain19 ，and have brought it，at last，to the verge
鉴 of Publication，without one Act of assistance，one word of encour-
赏
金 agement，or one smile of favour20 . Such treatment I did not expect，
库 for I never had a Patron before .
The Shepherd in Virgil grew at last acquainted with Love，
and found him a Native of the Rocks21 . Is not a Patron，My Lord，
one who looks with unconcern on a Man struggling for Life in the
water，and，when he has reached ground，encumbers him with
help？ 22
The notice which you have been pleased to take of my
Labours23，had it been early24 ，had been kind；but it has been
delayed till I am indifferent，and cannot enjoy it；till I am soli-
tary25 ，and cannot impart it；till I am known，and do not want
it26 ？I hope it is no very cynical asperity27 not to confess obliga-
tions28 where no benefit has been received，or to be unwilling that
the Public should consider me as owing that to a Patron，which
Providence has enabled me to do for myself. 29
Having carried on my work thus far with so little obligation to
any Favourer of Learning30 ，I shall not be disappointed though I
should conclude it31 ，if less be possible，with less；or I have been
long wakened from that Dream of hope，in which I once boasted
myself with so much exultation32 ？My Lord，Your Lordship’s Most
Humble，Most Obedient Servant .
Sam：Johnson
February 7， 175533

1. My Lord：大人阁下；伯爵大人；爵爷。
2. The World ：
《世界》或《世界报》。该报 1753 ～ 1756 年在伦敦发
行，颇有影响。由爱德华・莫尔（Edward Moore）主编。
3. is recommended to the Public：已向公众推荐。注意：文中一些字
母故意大写（例如 Papers，Public），以示作者对某种含义的强调，这是
80
当时的写作文风。
4. To be so distinguished，is an honour：推重如此，可谓荣耀有加；受
到如此的赏识，深感荣幸。
5. very little accustomed：很不习惯。其 真 意 是：很 少 得 到 过 此 类
荣耀。
6. favours from the Great：王公大人的青睐（惠顾）。
7. 此句中的 which 是动词 to receive 和 to acknowledge 的宾语，在
文言中可省；在白话中则宜加以重复，例如译作“这份荣耀”，使得有
较完整的动宾结构。
8. When 及 upon 短语搭配极妙。When 后逗号，使人产生停顿感，
与回忆的情状相类。故可译作“忆当年”。同时，upon 短语的插入，给
人一种小心翼翼的不安感。描摹了当年约翰逊想要得到王公大人青
睐的微妙心理。那个 some 一词也用得很令人回味。此句的白话译
文采用意译法“也不知哪来的勇气”，正是为了表达此种心理。
9. Mankind：此词系夸张语。实指那些奔走于公卿门下希图获得
杯羹的文坛寒士，即“语惊四座”中的“四座”。也只有这些人才会听
到伯爵的只言片语便故作惊惶叹服之色，以博得伯爵大人的宠爱。
10. could not forbear：不禁，禁不住。
11. Levainqueur du vainqueur de la terre：法语，意为“conqueror of the
conqueror of the earth”。此句来自法国古典派文艺理论家布瓦洛的作
品 L’ Art Poetique（《诗艺》）。引用外文虽是那时候英国文人的嗜好，
但此处采用引用法实可窥见约翰逊踌躇满志又欲盖弥彰的心态。故
翻译时宜以洋味或古味出之。此句在白话文中仍用文言译法“吾乃
征服天下者之征服者也”，其意在此。
12. the world：提喻，意为“世人”，或更准确点，指那些试图收名定
价于切斯菲尔德大人的文人学者。
13. attendance：暗指“侍立、逢迎”。
14. suffer：容许。
15. 此句在翻译时语序可有所更动。 continue 据上下文活译为
“周旋”。
16. a retired and uncourtly scholar：不尚交际、逢迎的书生。
塞
缪
17. all：意为 all that he did。 尔
18. was repulsed from your Door：见拒门外。 ・
约
19. of which it is useless to complain：抱怨曾遭受的这些困难是没有 翰
什么用了。此句插在这里，在英文中像是随手着一笔，没有什么牵强 逊
81
英 处。但译成汉语，则会觉得突兀、牵强，文气蹇涩。处理的办法是将
文 它挪到全句后面，起补充文意的作用。
名
20. without one Act of assistance，one word of encouragement，or one
篇
鉴 smile of favour：这三个短语的排比用法甚有威力。译文可通过重复
赏 “无……相”这种句法，造成一种回环往复的效果，以传达原作的气
金 势。三个短语相连，前二个短语尾字皆用仄声，最后一个短语尾字宜
库
用平声压住。
21. a Native of the Rocks：岩穴土人，草野之夫。典出古罗马诗人
维吉 尔（Virgil，70 BC - 19 BC）的《牧 歌》 （Eclogue，第 VIII 章，第 43
行）：
“我现在终于知道爱神这男孩是什么样的人，h 知道他出生在特
迈罗斯或罗多彼山脉的岩穴蛮荒之地，h 或大地的边沿地带加拉曼
特斯——— h 他和我们非故非亲，血统上毫无联系。
”约翰逊显然将切
斯菲尔德比作是出生在岩穴蛮荒之地的爱神，认为他徒具虚名，实际
上既无文明血统，也像岩石一样冰冷无情。他根本无法赏识约翰逊
的才学。
22. encumbers：妨碍；以……增加累赘。此句较长，是反义疑问句。
翻译时，采用分句法，将全句意思解透，从定语从句 who looks. . . 开始
译（“设有人……”），意思表达清楚之后，再回过头翻译最前边的疑问
部分。这样做，在语序上做了很大的改变，但符合汉语措辞习惯。意
思也就显豁了。如直译，必定佶屈聱牙。
23. Labours：劳动成果、作品。
24. had it been early：假如再早一点的话。虚拟句子。此句可正
译，
亦可反译，视译文上下文而定。译文采用反译法的好处在于译
“早”
（early）为“迟”，以便与后文中连用三次的“迟到”
（delay）相呼应，
造成文气上的贯通。
25. till l am solitary：直到我孑然一身。约翰逊的妻子逝世于 1752
年。词典编成后，约翰逊已经丧偶三年。此句感人至深，读之令人动
容。文言译文沿用“头白鸳鸯失伴飞”的旧体诗词意象，比原句意味
稍更浓郁。
26. do not want it：不再需要这种延誉之词了。翻译 it 时，蒙前而
增词，使文意更清楚。注意句子中的两个 cannot 表示了某种客观性，
而 do not 则传达了较强的主观情绪。约翰逊一不做，二不休，宣布和
权贵们彻底决裂了。
27. cynical asperity：刻薄、严厉、不信人间有真情善意。
28. to confess obligations：领情。
82
 29. 此句又是长句。除采用分句法之外，也采用了前面用过的翻
译反意疑问句的技巧，即将最前边的主句移到最后，贯通全句文气。
此类句子最容易显示出操印欧语系语盲者的逻辑思维模式，同时也
可以看出中西民族思维习惯的典型区别。
30. Favourer of Learning：学术赞助人、庇护人。
31. conclude it：完成全稿；杀青。
32. in which I once boasted myself with so much exultation：我曾在梦中
得意非凡地自诩是……。“曾几何时”是以 once 为依据、同时根据全
文的表意趋势做了增强语势的处理后译出的。文言译法更加了“堪
笑”一词，实由体味全文所漾溢着的一种大功告成后、睥睨王侯的气
概而增。注意此种增词译法不可滥用，只有在最紧要处不损文意的
前提下才可以偶尔使用。
33. 注意约翰逊这里把信尾的客套话和签名等和信的内容从语
法上连缀成一个完整的句子。在突出两个“最”的同时，让人感到一
种嬉笑调侃的反讽效果。又，根据中国人的书信格式，日期多半署在
后边。这里也移到后边。但是，如果为了强调西洋书信的洋味道，亦
可仍将日期书写在信纸的右上方。

译文一：文言体译文
大人阁下：
顷得《世界报》馆主告知，该报近日揭载二文，对拙编词典，颇有
扬善褒荐之词，闻皆出阁下手笔。厚爱如此，理当引为大幸。奈何在
下不惯贵人垂青，茫然不知何以领受、何辞逊谢。忆当年，在下小蒙
鼓励，竟斗胆初谒公门。大人之言谈丰采，语惊四座，令人绝倒，使在
下不禁谬生宏愿：他日或能自诩当世：
“吾乃天下征服者之 征 服 者
也。
”———举世学人欲夺之殊荣，或竟鹿死我手！孰料余之趋走逢迎，
未蒙丝毫宠幸。尔后余自度不复干谒此途，自尊与自卑，皆勿与论
也。余本一介书生，不善谄辞，不尚交际，而曾一度当众致语阁下，可
谓罄尽取悦文饰之辞。仆思已尽犬马之劳，虽功效绵薄，又何甘辛劳
遭逢白眼之遇也。
回想当初侍立君堂，甚或见逐门首，忽焉七载飞去。斯年以来， 塞
缪
吾力排艰辛，独撑大业，无援手相助，无片言相许，无一笑相期。幸得 尔
终竟全功，付梓在即。当此时，发怨尤之词，恐无益也。然余实从未 ・
约
曾知遇提携之人，自不曾指望过蒙受惠顾。 翰
维吉尔笔下牧童终与爱神相识，方知爱神原只是草野之夫。 逊
83
英 设有人于溺水者奋命中流之际，漠然相对，视若无睹，伺其安全
文 抵岸，方忽急伸援手，反增累赘，所谓赞助人也者，莫非即此辈耶？大
名 人而今忽有雅兴垂顾拙编，倘恩泽当初，犹可称善；奈何此惠顾珊珊
篇
鉴 来迟，我已心灰意冷，受之谅无深趣；我已鸳鸯失伴，有乐无人与共；
赏 我已名播天下，再不需阁下扬誉之辞！在下当初既不曾蒙恩，今朝亦
金 无须感德；天帝既助我独成大业，今何敢欺世惑众，默认身后有所谓
库
莫须有之赞助者？在下言辞或有苛刻不敬，还望海涵。余自承担此
编撰业以来，从未获所谓赞助者分毫，亦使大业行将告竣，纵或杀青
之际倍感艰难无助，余亦绝无失望之心。奢望赞助之美梦，梦破多
年；堪笑曾几何时余亦曾梦中顾盼自雄、自诩为大人您门下最卑微
最驯顺之奴仆
塞缪尔・约翰逊
一千七百五十五年二月初七日
译文二：白话体译文
伯爵大人：
近日从《世界报》馆主得知，该报刊载了两篇文章，对拙编词典颇
多举荐滥美之词，这些文章据悉均出自阁下您的手笔。承蒙您如此
的推崇，本应是一种荣耀，只可惜在下自来无缘得到王公大人的青
睐，
所以真不知道该如何来领受这份荣耀，也不知道该用些什么言辞
来聊表谢意。
回想当年，也不知哪来的勇气，我竟第一次拜访了大人阁下。我
像所有的人一样，深为大人的言谈丰采所倾倒，不禁玄想他年能口出
大言“吾乃天下征服者之征服者也。
”———虽知此殊荣是举世学人所
欲得，仍希望有朝一日能侥幸获取。然而我很快发现自己的趋走逢
迎根本没有得到鼓励。不管是出于自尊也好，自矜也好，我反正无法
再周旋下去。我本是一个与世无争、不善逢迎的书生，但那时我也曾
用尽平生所学的阿谀奉承的言辞，当众赞美过阁下。能做的一切我
都做了。如果一个人在这方面付出的一切努力（不管是多么微不足
道）受到完全的忽视，他是绝不会感到舒服的。
大人阁下，从我第一次候立于贵府门下，或者说被您拒于门外时
算起，已经 7 年过去。7 年多来，我一直苦苦地撑持着我的编撰工作。
这些苦楚，现在再来倾诉，已经没有用处。所幸我的劳作而今终于快
要出版，在这之前我没有获得过一个赞助的行为，一句鼓励的话语，
一抹称许的微笑。我固然不曾指望这样的礼遇，因为我从未有过一
位赞助人。
84
 维吉尔笔下的牧童最后终于和爱神相识，这才发现所谓爱神只
不过是岩穴土人而已。
大人阁下，有的人眼见落水者在水中拼命挣扎而无动于衷，等他
安全抵岸之后，却才多余地伸出所谓援手，莫非这就叫赞助人吗？大
人而今忽有雅兴来关照在下的劳作，这原本是一桩美意，只可惜太迟
了一点。迟到我已经意懒心灰，再无法快乐地消受；迟到我已经是孤
身一人，无从与家人分享；迟到我已经名闻海内，再不需阁下附丽张
扬。我既然本来就没有得到过实惠，自然毋需怀感恩之心；既然是上
帝助我独立完成这桩大业，我自然不愿让公众产生错觉，似乎我曾受
惠于某一赞助人。但愿上面这番话不致被认为太苛刻、太不近人情。
我已经在根本没有所谓学术赞助人赞助的情况下使自己的工作
完成到目前这个地步，那么，尽管我将要在更艰难无助的情况下———
假如还有可能更艰难无助的话———完成全稿，我也绝不会感到沮丧。
因为我已经早就从那个赞助的美梦里幡然猛醒；曾几何时，我还在那
梦中得意非凡地自诩是大人您门下最卑微最驯顺的仆人。

塞缪尔・约翰逊
1755 年 2 月 7 日

（辜正坤 译）

塞
缪
尔
・
约
翰
逊
85
英
文
名
Edmund Burke
篇
鉴
赏
埃德蒙・柏克
金
库 （1729 ～ 1797）

英国政治理论家柏克生于爱尔兰首府都柏林的
一个中产阶级家庭，他的父亲是英国国教徒，母亲是
天主教徒；他本人也是英国国教徒，但自幼受的是贵
格会的教育。1750 年赴伦敦发展，以哲学家及作家
的身份知名。1765 年他当选下议院 （House of Com-
mons）议员，成为罗金汉侯爵（Marquis of Rockingham）
所领导的辉格党（Whig）的首席智囊。从政治立场
来看，他早期倾向自由主义，后来又竭力攻击 1789
年的法国大革命，加上他思想活跃，急于发表政见，
未能像洛克或休谟那样完整而集中地阐述自己主要
的政治原则，因此，人们对他的评价历来都是众说纷
纭、或褒或贬的。他得到了一些互相矛盾的头衔，如
“保守派的台柱”和“19 世纪自
“温和的辉格党人”，
由主义者的先驱”等。马克思在《资本论》中则称他
是“大名鼎鼎的诡辩家和谄媚者”。
柏克的几篇重要政论，如《论当前之不满情绪的
根源》，
《论与弑君者和谈书》，
《致一个尊贵的贵族的
信》等被有识之士奉作政治文献中不可多得的智慧
宝典。《法国革命沉思录》
（Reflections on the Revolution
in France）是他最享盛名的一部作品。这本书写成
于法国大革命爆发次年，它和大革命前两年英国作
家扬（Arthur Young）所写的《法国旅行记》同为研究法
国大革命时期英国两部最重要的第一手历史文献。
86
柏克的美学著作《关于壮美和秀美观念的哲学探源》
（A Philosophical
Enquiry into the Origin of Our Ideas of the Sublime and Beautiful）不但奠定
了他的学术地位，而且在美学史上也已成为一部经典性的著作。它
标志着 18 世纪早期古典形式主义的审 美 力 量 向 浪 漫 主 义 思 潮 的
过渡。
近几十年来学术界对柏克的兴趣正方兴未艾。 1959 年，有些美
（Burke Newsletter）；
国学者为了对他展开学术讨论，创办了《柏克通讯》
50 ～ 60 年代，有四种研究柏克思想的著作问世；
1970 年，九卷本《柏克
书信集》出版；随着近年来对他政治思想的研究的关注，柏克热又在
西方再度形成。

From“Reflections on the
Revolution in France”
选自《法国革命沉思录》

【作品赏析】
本书柏克部分共选了两篇文章，第一篇选自《法国革命沉思录》，文中
的玛丽就是出生于维也纳的奥地利公主玛丽・安托瓦内特，她 15 岁
嫁给了波旁王朝的统治者路易十六，此后享尽荣华富贵。 1789 年法
国大革命爆发后，路易十六和玛丽都相继遭到逮捕，4 年后，革命党以
奢侈罪名将她推上断头台。柏克在书中以充满了激情而又酣畅淋漓
的文笔，猛烈地攻击了法国大革命的原则。他甚至于把法国大革命
看成是人类罪恶的渊薮，是骄傲、野心、贪婪和阴谋诡计之集大成的
表现。这种态度和他的友人们的以及他的辉格党的态度都大有不
同，甚至于使得他和他们中间的许多人决裂。但也正是由于这部书，
使得他成为了西方思想界反对法国革命的保守派首席代表人物。
在所选片段中，柏克站在抨击法国大革命的立场上，缅怀皇后玛
丽生前的法国社会，尤其是以骑士精神为代表的广泛的社会传统以
及生活方式。令人费解的是，他竟淡化旧制度的劣迹，如今天某些人 埃
淡化沙皇政权的丑行那样。柏克过于留恋大革命之前的法国社会传 德
统，
致使法国大革命的支持者潘恩（Thomas Paine）说他 ”怜惜鸟儿漂 蒙
・
亮的羽毛，却不顾它奄奄一息的生命（Pitying the plumage and forgetting 柏
the dying bird）”。潘恩口中的“羽毛”是指法国的贵族阶层，“奄奄一 克
87
英 息的鸟儿”则是法国的普通民众。
文 柏克同时支持英国传统的等级社会和资本主义的市场经济，他
名 进一步在《论与弑君者和谈书》中阐述了他的思想。例如，从第二篇
篇
鉴 选文中可以知道，柏克认为政府不应该试图干预市场，干涉得越少越
赏 好。另外，柏克对于靠工资生活的人的境况，是采取乐观的看法的。
金 他不能容忍当时流行的关于“辛劳的穷人”的说法，也不能容忍救济
库
强壮的穷人的计划。在他看来，身强力壮的穷人必须工作，这是人类
的宿命，是上帝的意旨。他相信基督教的自然法则可以维护社会秩
序的和谐运行。
柏克是一位出色的演说家，读其文犹如听其言，他的散文以妙笔
生花、滔滔雄辩著称，在相当程度上还原了柏克的演说风格，排比、比
喻、谐语等修辞手法俯拾皆是。比如在第一篇选文中，大量排比句的
运用造成了磅礴的气势，语言流畅明快并且富于节奏感，增强了文章
的感染力。柏克的散文华丽壮阔，职是之故，他的散文常遭人诟病。
与他同时代的批评家詹姆斯・麦金托什（James Machintosh 1765 ～ 1832）
尖刻地写道：
“……他能摆脱通俗方法的规则，罗列一大批富丽堂皇
的、令人震慑的事物，在我们的心灵上打开一道缺口，使他那紊乱不
堪的论点成功地由此而入。
”如何理解这些话，读者见仁见智，但至少
麦金托什承认在风格运用上，柏克确实不同凡响。
（徐阳）

【作品欣赏】
It is now sixteen or seventeen years since I saw the queen of
France1， then the dauphiness， at Versailles； and surely never
lighted2 on this orb3 ，which she hardly seemed to touch，a more
delightful vision . I saw her just above the horizon，decorating and
cheering the elevated sphere4 she just began to move in，- glitter-
ing like the morning star，full of life5 and splendor and joy. Oh！
What a revolution！ 6
And what a heart must I have7 ，to contemplate
without emotion that elevation and that fall！Little did I dream8 ，
when she added titles of veneration to those of enthusiastic，dis-
tant，respectful love，that she should 9ever be obliged to10 carry the
sharp antidote11 against disgrace concealed in that bosom！Little
did I dream that I should have lived to see such disasters fallen
88
upon her in a nation of gallant men，in a nation of men of honor，
and of cavaliers12 ！I thought ten thousand swords must have leaped
from their scabbards13 to avenge even a look that threatened her
with insult . But the age of chivalry is gone . That of sophisters，e-
conomists，and calculators14 has succeeded；and the glory of Eu-
rope is extinguished forever . Never，never more，shall we behold
that generous loyalty to rank and sex15 ，that proud submission，
that dignified obedience16 ，that subordination of heart，which kept
alive，even in servitude itself，the spirit of an exalted freedom！
The unbought17 grace of life，the cheap18 defense of nations，the
nurse of manly sentiment and heroic enterprise， is gone！ It is
gone， that sensibility of principle19 ， that chastity of honor20 ，
which felt a stain like a wound21 ，which inspired courage whilst22
it mitigated23 ferocity，which ennobled whatever it touched，and
under which vice itself lost half its evil by losing all its gross-
ness24 ！
The mixed system of opinion and sentiment had its origin in
the ancient chivalry；and the principle，though varied in its ap-
pearance by the varying state of human affairs，subsisted and in-
fluenced through a long succession of generations，even to the time
we live in . If it should ever be totally extinguished25 ，the loss，I
fear，will be great . It is this which has given its character26 to
modern Europe . It is this which has distinguished it under all its
forms of government，and distinguished it to its advantage，27from
the states of Asia，and possibly from those states which flourished
in the most brilliant periods of the antique world . It was this，
which，without confounding ranks28 ，had produced a noble equal-
ity，and handed it down through all the gradations of social life . It 埃
德
was this opinion which mitigated kings into companions， and 蒙
・
raised private men to be fellows with kings . Without force or op- 柏
position，it subdued the fierceness of pride and power；it obliged 克
89
英 sovereigns to submit to the soft collar 29of social esteem，compelled
文
名 stern authority to submit to elegance，and gave a domination，van-
篇 quisher of laws，to be subdued by manners .
鉴 But now all is to be changed . All the pleasing allusions
赏
金 which made power gentle and obedience liberal，which harmonized
库 the different shades30 of life，and which by a bland assimilation31
incorporated into politics the sentiments which beautify and soften
private society，are to be dissolved by this new conquering empire
of light and reason . All the decent drapery32 of life is to be rudely
torn off. All the superadded33 ideas，furnished34 from the wardrobe
of a moral imagination，which the heart owns and the understand-
ing ratifies35 ，as necessary to cover the defects of our naked，shiv-
ering nature，and to raise it to dignity in our own estimation，are
to be exploded 36as a ridiculous，absurd，and antiquated fashion .

From “Letters On A Regicide Peace”

An untimely shower，or an unseasonable drought；a frost too
long continued，or too suddenly broken up，with rain and tem-
pest；the blight37 of the spring，or the smut 38of the harvest；will
do more to cause the distress of the belly39 ，than all the con-
trivances40 of all the statesmen can do to relieve it . Let government
protest and encourage industry，secure property，repress violence，
and discountenance fraud，it is all they have to do. In other re-
spects，the less they meddle in these affairs the better；the rest is
in the hands of our master and theirs . We are in a constitution of
things wherein“ Modo sol nimius，nimus modo corripit imber .”41
But I will push the matter no further . As I have said a good deal
upon it at various times during my public service，and have lately
written something on it，which may see light，I shall content my-
self now with observing that the vigorous and laborious class of life
has lately got from the bon ton 42 of the humanity of this day，the
90
name the“Laboring Poor43 .”This puling44 jargon is not as inno-
cent as it is foolish . In meddling with great affairs，weakness is
never innoxious . Hitherto45 the name of poor（in the sense in
which it used to excite compassion） has not been used for those
who can，but for those who cannot labor - for the sick and infirm；
for orphan infancy；for languishing and decrepit age； 46
but when
we affect to pity as poor，those who must labor or the world canno-
texist，we are trifling47 with the condition of mankind . It is the
common doom48 of man that he must eat his bread by the sweat of
his brow，that is，by the sweat of his body，or the sweat of his
mind49 . If his toil was inflicted as a curse，it is，as might be ex-
pected from the curses of the Father of all Blessings50 - it is tem-
pered with51 many alleviations52 ，many comforts . Every attempt to
fly from it，and to refuse the very terms of our existence，becomes
much more truly a course，and heavier pains and penalties fall up-
on those who would elude the tasks which are put upon them by
the great Master Workman of the World，who in his dealings with
his creatures sympathizes with their weakness，and speaking of a
creation wrought by mere will out of nothing，speak of six days of
labor and one of rest 53 . I do not call a healthy young man，cheer-
ful in his mind，and vigorous in his arms - I cannot call such a
man ，poor ；I cannot pity my kind as a kind，merely because
they are men . This affected54 pity only tends to dissatisfy them
with their condition，and to teach them to seek resources where no
resources55 are to be found - in something else than their own in-
dustry，and frugality56 ，and sobriety57 . Whatever may be the in-
tention58（ which，because I do not know，I cannot dispute） of
those who would discontent mankind by this strange pity，they act
埃
towards us，in the consequence，as if they were our worst ene- 德
mies . 蒙
・
柏
1. the queen of France：指路易十六的王后玛丽・安托瓦内特（Marie 克
91
英 Antoinette，1755 ～ 1793），作者曾于 1774 年见过这位王后。
文 2. light：to brighten or to animate；使亮起来，照亮。宾语为“a more
名
delightful vision”，“ then the dauphiness，at Versailles”为插入语。
篇
鉴 3. orb：球形物，指星球，世界，也指象征王权的宝球，球顶上有一
赏 个十字架，因此，orb 在这里有双层含义。
金 4. elevated sphere ：高贵的王族，指法国皇室。 sphere 意思为 ”so-
库
cial rank or position”。
5. life：（不可数）生气，活力。
6. 感叹句：what + a + （形容词） + 名词格式。
7. What a heart must I have：联系上下文，译为“我是多么的痛心
啊”。 heart 一词的意义及用法可以参考成语 have a heart of stone / gold
（铁石心肠 / 心地善良）。
8. little did I dream. . . ：正常语序为“I little dreamed. . .”，这是否
定成分位于句首引起主谓语倒装的语序。
9. should：竟然，居然。作者由于出乎意料而感到惊奇。
10. be obliged to：被迫。
11. antidote：解毒剂；比喻为抵消不愉快的任何事物。考虑上下
文，这句话可以译为“她不得不痛苦地消弭藏匿于心中的耻辱感”。
12. cavalier：骑士派，或骑士阶层。西欧中世纪时期整个封建主
阶级可统称为骑士阶层，这是一个享有特权的贵族等级。骑士最初
指骑马作战的战士，农民被排斥在骑士之外，因而骑士也成为贵族阶
级的称号。
13. scabbard：（刀、剑的）鞘。
14. sophisters，economists，and calculators：指好鼓动唇舌、贪图功
利、精于算计的一类人。
15. rank and sex：名分和女性。
16. proud submission，that dignified obedience. . . ：骄傲的顺从、高贵
的忠诚。这是一种矛盾修饰法（oxymoron），指话语中修饰的成分与被
修饰的成分词汇意义彼此矛盾的一种修辞格，表面上违背逻辑，却往
往含义深邃。
17. unbought：千金难买的。
18. cheap：容易的，代价低廉的。但是“cheap”这样解释在文中意
思不通顺，联系语境，
“cheap defense of nations”应译为“不计代价的保
卫祖国”。
19. sensibility of principle：对原则的敏感。
92
 20. chastity of honor：对荣誉的坚贞。
21. felt a stain like a wound：视污点如伤痕。
22. whilst：while。
23. mitigate：减轻，缓解。
24. grossness：粗鄙。
25. If it should ever be. . . ：should 在这里不是表示虚拟语气。 if 从
句是个真实条件句。如果 if 从句在虚拟条件（非真实条件）句子之
后，主句应当使用 would 等助动词。
26. character：特性，
（好的）品质。
27. to one’s advantage：对……有利。
28. without confounding ranks：插入语，译为“不混淆名分”。
29. soft collar：“collar”一词本意为“领子，颈圈”，如果这样去理解
“soft collar”未免莫名其妙。英文中有成语“to slip the collar”，意思是
“to escape from restraint”，因此， “collar”在本句中可以理解为“restraint”，
“soft collar”即“温和的管束”。
30. shade：色调。
31. assimilation：吸收。
32. decent drapery：像样的遮饰。
33. superadded：附加的。
34. furnish：提供，供应。
35. ratify：认可。
36. explode：戳穿，驳倒（错误的理论等）。
37. blight：（植物由霉菌等或害虫引起的）枯萎病。
38. smut：黑穗病（一种真菌引起的谷物疾病）。
39. cause the distress of the belly：直译是“造成人们腹部的不适、痛
楚”，这是柏克对“饥荒”一词的委婉表达法（euphemism）。
40. contrivance：设计，方案。
41. Modo sol nimius，nimus modo corripit imber：译成英文为“at times
the sun is too much，at times too much dull weather hides him.”
42. bon ton：时髦社会，上流社会。
43. labouring poor：辛劳的穷人。 埃
44. pule：（文学用语）低泣，呜咽。 德
45. hitherto：迄今。 蒙
・
46. 柏克在这里罗列了一些没有劳动能力的人———老、弱、病、残 柏
及孤儿，除 此 之 外 身 强 力 壮 的 人 柏 克 认 为 是 不 可 以 被 称 作 “穷 克
93
英 人”的。
文 47. trifle：嘲弄，小看。
名
48. common doom：柏克认为人类靠劳动吃饭是天经地义的事，是
篇
鉴 “common doom”，其基本依据是万事神定的宇宙观。
赏 49. eat one’s bread by the sweat of one’s brow：靠劳动吃饭。柏克
金 进一步又把劳动分为两种：the sweat of one’s body and the sweat of one’s
库
mind，类似于我们所说的“脑力劳动”和“体力劳动”。
50. Father of all Blessings：同下句“Master Workman of the World”都
是指“God”。
51. temper：调和。
52. alleviation：减轻痛苦。
53. speak of six days of labor and one of rest：这一部分讲的是上帝用
了六天创造世界，然后再第七天休息的事。
54. affected：假装的。
55. resource：手段，方法。
56. frugality：节俭。
57. sobriety：冷静。
58. intention：意图，目的。

94
Charles Lamb
查尔斯・兰姆
（1775 ～ 1834）

查尔斯・兰姆出生于伦敦，父亲是一位律师的助
手和家仆。兰姆 7 岁时入慈善机构的基督慈幼学
校，在 7 年的学习期间，他和柯勒律治（Coleridge）结
成终生友谊。14 岁他就离开学校去当小职员，任职
达 33 年之久。1796 年，他们家发生了一件悲剧：他
聪颖过人的姐姐玛丽突然发疯了，用一把餐刀刺死
了自己的母亲。从此，兰姆就承担起照顾年老父亲
和疯了的姐姐的责任，一生未曾婚娶。玛丽经常发
病，给家庭生活笼罩上一层阴影，而且后来病情有增
无减。兰姆一直悉心照料姐姐，姐弟感情深厚，但兰
姆的健康也因忧虑而受到损害。1834 年，他走路时
摔了一跤，把脸碰伤，后来因医治无效而去世。
文学是兰姆的副业，每日在公司辛勤的劳作使
他很少有时间从事文学创作。早期诗作均不甚成
功。给他带来巨大声誉的是他和玛丽合写的《莎士
比亚故事集》
（Tales from Shakespeare），此书在英国文
学史上占有独特的地位。它以精湛的叙事体散文为
读者，特别是少年读者，打开了眼界，把他们带入人
类艺术的宝库———莎士比亚的戏剧中。该书至今仍 查
风靡世界，被译成几十种文字。1957 年中国青年出 尔
版社翻译并出版了该书（由肖乾翻译，译笔忠实流 斯
・
畅），也是一版再版。然而，兰姗对英国文学宝库的 兰
最大贡献，则是《伊利亚随笔集》及《伊利亚随笔后 姆
95
英 集》
（Essays of Elia 和 Last Essays of Elia）。这两本书是兰姆最重要的代
文 表作，也是英国文学史上浪漫主义的最早范例。 Elia 本是兰姆在南海
名 公司任职时的一个意大利藉老职员。兰姆 1820 年开始为《伦敦杂
篇
鉴 志》
（London Magazine）写稿时借用了这个名字。两本书共收集了 50
赏 多篇散文。
金 兰姆散文的最显著特点是他的幽默感。他被公认是英国独一无
库
二的幽默大师，一位惯用双关语和讲笑话的大师。他常用一种庄重
的语调讲述一件滑稽可笑的事情。在他的散文里，笑声常与泪水相
伴，幽默与哀愁共存。
兰姆的风格带有拟古主义的特点，他经常引用他喜欢的作家的
话，但总是忠实于自己的个性。他是一个浪漫主义者，在作品中寻求
自己个性的自由表达，把浪漫的情感溶进城市的日常生活之中，因而
他的作品具有极高的艺术性而又难于模仿。
在本世纪初兰姆即被介绍到中国，他的散文对五四以后的现代
中国文学的散文创作产生过很大的影响。被某些评论家称为中国的
伊利亚的梁玉春就翻译过兰姆的作品，用汉语写过一些兰姆式的散
文。

Old China1
古 瓷

【作品赏析】
兰姆的散文风格独特，着重记个人观感，发自家议论。题目不
大，
刻划甚深。好用轶闻古句，妙语格言，联珠而出。文章庄谐并生，
玲珑剔透。《古瓷器》即是一例：通过对一只瓷茶杯的欣赏，作者使自
己的思想自由驰骋，从瓷器上的肖像，联想到鲜花盛开的草地，奇妙
溪流对岸的马群、树木、宝塔、乡间舞蹈……以及美好澄清空气里的
诸多景物。从另一只瓷茶器上，作者把自己个人的思想感情引伸到
遥远的过去，追忆家境穷困时的那种尴尬以及当时的心态：当时堂姐
为了买一件价格并不很高的物品，事前两三天就进行辩论，然后再三
考虑能否下决心去买，还要精打细算从哪里把这笔钱省出来，而一旦
买到手后，视为珍宝；为了买一本旧书，几个星期前就下了决心，然后
96
利用周末，披着露出了窟窿的外套，跑到相距甚远的卖书老头儿那
里，
从盖满灰尘的书堆中选出自己想要的书，还用浆糊沾补了几张散
落的书页，其兴喜之态真是溢于言表；用较为便宜的价格买到一幅仿
达・芬奇的画时，心里又十二分的忐忑不安。作者在描写这些心态
时，
层层剥析，鞭辟入理，把家境穷困者的尴尬描写得淋漓尽至……
然而当人们变得富有以后，早已将当年的窘境置诸脑后，其中也包括
那些执著、朴素、温馨的情感。现在兴趣也变了，事事得讲究个派头。
作者用一种强烈对比的手法对这一切进行了嘲讽：以前把瓷茶杯视
作特有的癖好，像见到老朋友一样情深意挚，而现在不屑于用它，甚
至厌恶它；以前获得一本旧书会欣喜若狂，而现在有钱买书了，却再
也不曾把有趣的书买回家；当年去看戏，是买一先令的廉价座，而且
看得津津有味，如今除了正厅后座，其他座位都不行了，因为看不清
楚……作者讽喻地说：我们的视力和别的一切，都和我们贫困的日子
一样一去不复返了。
以上所述虽系个人思想感情的抒发，私情旧绪的缅怀，但在作者
的笔下娓娓道来，看似平流缓进，实则寓意深刻，感人至深。
（赵洪定）

【作品欣赏】
I have an almost feminine partiality2 for old china . When I go
to see any great house，I inquire for the china-closet，and next for
the picture-gallery. I cannot defend the order of preference，but by
saying that we have all some taste or other，of too ancient a date3 to
admit of our remembering distinctly that it was an acquired one . I
can call to mind the first play，and the first exhibition，that I was
taken to；but I am not conscious of a time when china jars and
saucers were introduced into my imagination .
I had no repugnance then — why should I now have？— to
those little，lawless，azure-tinctured grotesques，that，under the no-
tion of men and women，float about4 ，uncircumscribed by any ele- 查
尔
ment，in that world before perspective — a china tea-cup . 斯
・
I like to see my old friends — whom distance cannot dimin- 兰
ish — figuring up in the air（so they appear to our optics），yet on 姆
97
英 terra firma 5 still — for so we must in courtesy interpret that speck
文
名 of deeper blue，which the decorous artist，to prevent absurdity，had
篇 made to spring up beneath their sandals .
鉴 I love the men with women’s faces，and the women，if possi-
赏
金 ble，with still more womanish expressions .
库 Here is a young and courtly Mandarin6 ，handing tea to a lady
from a salver — two miles off. See how distance seems to set off
respect！ And here the same lady，or another — for likeness is
identity on tea-cups — is stepping into a little fairy boat，moored
on the hither side of7 this calm garden river，with a dainty mincing
foot，which in a right angle of incidence8（as angles go in our
world）must infallibly land her in the midst of a flowery mead — a
furlong off on the other side of the same strange stream！
Farther on — if far or near can be predicated of their
world— see horses，trees，pagodas，dancing the hays .
Here — a cow and rabbit couchant，and coextensive— so ob-
jects show，seen through the lucid atmosphere of fine Cathay.
I was pointing out to my cousin last evening，over our Hyson9
（which we are old-fashioned enough to drink unmixed still of an
afternoon），some of these speciosa miracula 10 upon a set of extraor-
dinary old blue china（a recent purchase）which we were now for
the first time using；and could not help remarking11 ，how
favourable circumstances had been to us of late years12 ，that we
could afford to please the eye sometimes with trifles of this sort—
when a passing sentiment seemed to overshade the brows of my
companion. I am quick at detecting these summer clouds in
Bridget .
‘I wish the good old times would come again， ’she said，
‘when we were not quite so rich . I do not mean that I want to be
poor；but there was a middle state’— so she was pleased to ramble
on，—‘in which I am sure we were a great deal happier . A pur-
98
chase is but13 a purchase，now that14 you have money enough and
to spare . Formerly it used to be a triumph . When we coveted a
cheap luxury（and，O！ how much ado I had to get you to consent
in those times！ ）— we were used to have a debate two or three
days before，and to weigh the forandagainst 15 ，and think what we
might spare it out of，and what saving we could hit upon，that
should be an equivalent . A thing was worth buying then，when we
felt the money that we paid for it .
‘Do you remember the brown suit，which you made to hang
upon you，till all your friends cried shame upon you，it grew so
threadbare16— and all because of that folio Beaumont and Fletch-
er，which you dragged home late at night from Barker’s17 in Covent
Garden18？Do you remember how we eyed it for weeks before we
could make up our minds to the purchase，and had not come to a
determination till it was near ten o’clock of the Saturday night，
when you set off from Islington19 ，fearing you should be too late—
and when the old bookseller with some grumbling opened his
shop，and by the twinkling taper （for he was setting bedwards）
lighted out the relic from his dusty treasures— and when you
lugged it home，wishing it were twice as cumbersome— and when
you presented it to me— and when we were exploring the perfect-
ness of it（collating ，you called it）— and while I was repairing
some of the loose leaves with paste，which your impatience would
not suffer to be left till day-break— was there no pleasure in being
a poor man？Or can those neat black clothes which you wear now，
and are so careful to keep brushed，since we have become rich and
finical— give you half the honest vanity with which you flaunted it
about in that overworn suit— your old corbeau20 — for four or five 查
尔
weeks longer than you should have done，to pacify your conscience 斯
・
for the mighty sum of fifteen— or sixteen shillings was it？— a 兰
great affair we thought it then— which you had lavished on the old 姆
99
英 folio. Now you can afford to buy any book that pleases you，but I
文
名 do not see that you ever bring me home any nice old purchases
篇 now.
鉴 ‘When you came home with twenty apologies for laying out a
赏
金 less number of shillings upon that print after Lionardo21 ，which we
库 christened the‘Lady Blanch’22 ；when you looked at the purchase，
and thought of the money— and thought of the money，and looked
again at the picture— was there no pleasure in being a poor man？
Now，you have nothing to do but to walk into Colnaghi’s23 ，and
buy a wilderness of Lionardos . Yet do you？
‘Then，do you remember our pleasant walks to Enfield24 ，and
Potter’s Bar25 ，and Waltham26 ，when we had a holyday27 — holy-
days and all other fun are gone now we are rich— and the little
hand-basket in which I used to deposit our day’s fare of savoury
cold lamb and salad— and how you would pry about at noontide for
some decent house，where we might go in and produce our
store28 — only paying for the ale that you must call for— and specu-
late upon the looks of the landlady，and whether she was likely to
allow us a tablecloth— and wish for such another honest hostess as
Izaak Walton29 has described many a one on the pleasant banks of
the Lea30 ，when he went a-fishing31 — and sometimes they would
prove obliging enough，and sometimes they would look grudgingly
upon us— but we had cheerful looks still for one another，and
would eat our plain food savourily，scarcely grudging Piscator32 his
Trout Hall？ Now— when we go out a day’s pleasuring，which is
seldom，moreover，we ride part of the way，and go into a fine inn，
and order the best of dinners，never debating the expense— which，
after all，never has half the relish of those chance country snaps，
when we were at the mercy of33 uncertain usage，and a precarious
welcome .
‘You are too proud to see a play anywhere now but in the
100
pit34 . Do you remember where it was we used to sit，when we saw
the Battle of Hexham，and the Surrender of Calais，and Bannister
and Mrs . Bland in the Children in the Wood — when we squeezed
out our shillings apiece35 to sit three or four times in a season in
the one-shilling gallery— where you felt all the time that you ought
not to have brought me— and more strongly I felt obligation to you
for having brought me— and the pleasure was the better for a little
shame— and when the curtain drew up，what cared we for our
place in the house，or what mattered it where we were sitting，when
our thoughts were with Rosalind in Arden，or with Viola at the
Court or Illyria？ You used to say that the Gallery was the best
place of all for enjoying a play socially— that the relish of such ex-
hibitions must be in proportion to the infrequency of going36 — that
the company we met there，not being in general readers of plays，
were obliged to attend the more，and did attend，to what was going
on，on the stage— because a word lost would have been a chasm，
which it was impossible for them to fill up . With such reflections
we consoled our pride then— and I appeal to you whether，as a
woman，I met generally with less attention and accommodation than
I have done since in more expensive situations in the house？ The
getting in，indeed，and the crowding37 up those inconvenient stair-
cases，was bad enough— but there was still a law of civility to
woman recognised to quite as great an extent as we ever found in
the other passages38 — and how a little difficulty overcome height-
ened the snug seat and the play，afterwards！Now we can only pay
our money and walk in . You cannot see，you say，in the galleries
now，I am sure we saw，and heard too，well enough then— but
sight，and all，I think，is gone with our poverty. 查
尔
‘There was pleasure in eating strawberries，before they be- 斯
・
came quite common— in the first dish of peas，while they were yet 兰
dear— to have them for a nice supper，a treat39 . What treat can we 姆
101
英 have now？ If we were to treat ourselves now— that is，to have
文
名 dainties a little above our means，it would be selfish and wicked . It
篇 is the very little more that we allow ourselves beyond what the ac-
鉴 tual poor can get at，that makes what I call a treat— when two peo-
赏
金 ple，living together as we have done，now and then indulge them-
库 selves in a cheap luxury，which both like；while each apologises，
and is willing to take both halves of the blame to his single share .
I see no harm in people making much of themselves，in that sense
of the word . It may give them a hint how to make much of others .
But now— what I mean by the word— we never do make much of40
ourselves. None but41 the poor can do it . I do not mean the veri-
est42 poor of all，but persons as we were，just above poverty.
‘I know what you were going to say，that it is mighty pleasnt
at the end of the year to make all meet43 ，— and much ado we used
to have44 every Thirty-first Night of December to account for our
exceedings45—many a46 long face did you make over your puzzled
accounts，and in contriving to make it out how we had spent so
much— or that we had not spent so much— or that it was impossi-
ble we should spend so much next year— and still we found our
slender capital decreasing47 — but then，— betwixt ways，and pro-
jects，and compromises of one sort or another，and talk of curtailing
this charge，and doing without that for the future— and the hope
that youth brings，and laughing spirits（in which you were never
poor till now），we pocketed up our loss，and in conclusion，with
“lusty brimmers” （as you used to quote it out of hearty cheerful
Mr . Cotton ，as you called him），we used to welcome in the“com-
ing guest .”Now we have no reckoning at all at the end of the old
year— no flattering promises about the now year doing better for
us .’
Bridget is so sparing of her speech on most occasions，that
when she gets into a rhetorical vein，I am careful how I interrupt
102
it . I could not help，however，smiling at the phantom of wealth
which her dear imagination had conjured up out of a clear income
of poor— hundred pounds a year .‘It is true we were happier when
we were poorer，but we were also younger，my cousin . I am afraid
we must put up with48 the excess，for if we were to shake the su-
perflux into the sea，we should not much mend ourselves . That we
had much to struggle with，as we grew up together，we have reason
to be most thankful . It strengthened and knit our compact closer .
We could never have been what we have been to each other，if we
had always had the sufficiency which you now complain of. The re-
sisting power— those natural dilations of the youthful spirit，which
circumstances cannot straiten— with us are long since passed
away. Competence to age is supplementary youth，a sorry supple-
ment indeed，but I fear the best that is to be had . We must ride
where we formerly walked：live better and lie softer— and shall be
wise to do so— than we had means to do in those good old days
you speak of. Yet could those days return— could you and I once
more walk our thirty miles a day— could Bannister and Mrs . Bland
again be young，and you and I be young to see them— could the
good old one-shilling gallery days return49 — they are dreams，my
cousin，now— but could you and I at this moment，instead of this
quiet argument，by our well-carpeted fireside，sitting on this luxu-
rious sofa— be once more struggling up those inconvenient stair-
cases，pushed about and squeezed，and elbowed by the poorest rab-
ble of poor gallery scramblers— could I once more hear those anx-
ious shrieks of yours— and the delicious Thank God ，we are safe，
which always followed when the topmost stair，conquered，let in the
first light of the whole cheerful theatre down beneath us— I know 查
尔
not the fathom line that over touched a descent so deep as I would 斯
・
be willing to bury more wealth in than CrS sus50 had，or the great 兰
Jew R—51 is supposed to have，to purchase it . And now do just 姆
103
英 look at that merry little Chinese waiter holding an umbrella，big e-
文 nough for a bed-tester，over the head of that pretty insipid half
名
篇 Madonna-ish chit of a lady in that very blue summer-house .
鉴
赏 1. China：= porcelain，瓷器，这里大写是因在标题之中。
金
库 2. partiality：爱好、癖好。
3. of too ancient a date：这个介词短语与前面的 of preference 并列，
共同 修 饰 order，短 语 中 的 too ancient 和 后 面 的 to admit 构 成 too. . .
to. . . 的句型。
4. float about：无目的地徘徊。
5. terra firma：拉丁语，= firm land，坚实的土地。
6. Mandarin：官吏，这里指瓷器上画的官吏形象。
7. on the hither side of：hither：在这边的，更近的。整个短语 = on
the right of。
8. angle of incidence：入射角，光线从一种媒质入射到与另一种媒
质的交界面时，与界面法线的夹角（小于 90 度）。
9. Hyson：熙春茶，中国的一种绿茶。
10. speciosa miracula：拉丁语，奇妙的特点。
11. could not help remarking：不禁谈起。
12. of late years：近年来。
13. but：仅仅。
14. now that：既然。
15. for and against：这两个介词在这里已经名词化了，所以前面可
以加定冠词 the，相当于 agreement and objection。
16. threadbare：衣衫褴褛的。
17. Barker’s：= Barker’s tailor 或 Barker’s Clothing Shop。
18. Covent Garden：柯文特加登，英国伯明翰和考文垂之间的一个
小镇。
19. Islington：伊斯林顿，兰姆的姐姐 Mary Lamb 住在这儿，离柯文
特加登不远。
20. corbeau：黑色的旧外套。
21. Lionardo：全名 Leonardo da Vinci（1452 ～ 1519），列奥纳多・达・芬
奇。意大利文艺复兴时期著名的画家、雕塑家、建筑家和工程师。他
完成了多少世纪以来最完美的肖像《蒙娜・丽莎》 （Mona Lisa），制作了
有史以来最美的壁画《最后的晚餐》
（Last Supper），塑造了当时被誉为
104
“世界第八奇迹”的骑士雕塑《斯弗查》
（Ludovico Sforza）。
22. Lady Blanch：blanch 一般作动词用，意为“变白”，
“漂白”。兰姆
这里将它用作名词，戏称他们命名的那幅画为《白夫人》。
23. Colnaghi’s：一家专门卖画的商店。
24. Enfield：恩菲尔德，兰姆当时的住处。
25. Potter’s Bar：波特斯巴，伦敦以北 31 英里处的一个地名。
26. Waltham：沃尔瑟姆，地名。
27. holyday：圣日，宗教的祭日。
28. produce our store：拿出我们准备的食物。
29. Izaak Walton：艾扎克・沃尔顿（1593 ～ 1683），英国散文家、传记
作家。他最著名的散文是《老练的钓鱼人》，作品以钓鱼人在伦敦近
郊河边钓鱼时与一个路遇的猎人对话的形式，描述了钓鱼的诀窍以
及鱼的烹调技术。谈论间穿插着美妙的诗歌和景物的描写，充满了
英国乡村生活的乐趣。
30. Lea：一个小湖的名字。
31. went a-fishing：去钓鱼，a-前缀，这里表示“to”的意思。
32. Piscator：上述那篇散文中的那位钓鱼人的名字。
33. at the mercy of：任凭…的摆布。
34. pit：剧场里正厅的后座。
35. apiece：每人，每个。
36. the relish of such. . . to the infrequency of going：对这种表演的兴
趣一定和难得去看演出成比例。
37. The getting. . . the crowding：这 两 个-ing 的 词 是 名 词 化 的 动 名
词，它比动名词具有更多的名词性。前面可以加限定词，可以有复数
形式。另一方面，它也失去了动名词所具有的某些动词特征，如没有
时间意义和语态范畴，不能用状语修饰，及物动词变来的名词化动名
词不能带直接宾语，其逻辑宾语通常是带 of 的介词短语。
38. there was still a law of. . . found in the other passages：正如我们在
另外一些通道里发现有一条对妇女要有礼貌的规则，那里的人们在
很大程度上也尊重这条规则。
39. a treat：难得的乐事。 查
40. make much of：悉心照顾；特别重视。 尔
41. none but：只有。 斯
・
42. veriest：very 作形容词用时的最高级，意思是“极端的，完全的， 兰
绝对的”。 姆
105
英 43. to make all meet：收支相等，量入为出（更多的时候是以 to make
文 both ends meet 或 to make ends meet 出现）。
名
44. have much ado：费尽力气。
篇
鉴 45. exceedings：超支。
赏 46. many a：many 和 a，an 或 another 的后面跟单数名词，表示“许
金 多的”，
“多的”， “一个又一个的”。注意这个句子的词序。
库
47. still we found our slender capital decreasing：我们还是发现我们那
并不丰厚的资源在日益短缺，decreasing 在这里作宾语补充语用。
48. put up with：= endure without protest，容忍。
49. could the good old one-shilling gallery days return：这个句子中的
主语是 the good old one-shilling gallery days，谓语是 could return，意思是：
那种坐一先令的廉价座看戏的日子能再回来吗？
50. CrS sus：
克里萨斯，公元前 6 世纪的 Lydia 王，极为富有，在位
期间 560 ～ 546B. C. 。
51. the Great Jew R—：著 名 的 犹 太 人 R—指 Rothschild（1777 ～
1836），系一家欧洲大银号伦敦分号的创办人。

Dream Children
梦中的孩子

【作品赏析】
兰姆一生未曾婚娶，哪来的儿女？文中的一双儿女只是他的一
场梦幻。兰姆的哥哥约翰，长得一表人才，气度轩昂，可是不幸突然
夭折。这就触发了兰姆对外祖母、对哥哥、对自己青梅竹马时的恋人
的怀念之情。外祖母的温和善良，对宗教的极度虔诚；哥哥约翰的堂
堂仪表，风度翩翩；年轻恋人的含情脉脉，娇羞缅腆全都活灵活现地
跃然纸上。梦中见到的艾丽斯姐弟更是神态逼真，亲切感人，活灵活
现。而这一切有的是作者本人的经历，有的是作者的幻想；有的是生
活中的真实，有的是头脑中的虚构。它们美妙地交织在一起，构成了
这篇至情至理、精妙绝伦的文章。
另一方面从这篇文章中，我们可以窥视到作者的良苦用心。从
字里行间中，我们可以听到兰姆希望重见亲人，希望获得真正的爱
106
情，希望享受人间的天伦之乐，希望过上幸福生活的心灵的呼喊。
情真意挚、文笔细腻、人物栩栩如生的兰姆散文风格，在这篇文
章里得到充分的展示。
（赵洪定）

【作品欣赏】
Children love to listen to stories about their elders，when they
were children；to stretch their imagination to the conception of a
traditionary great-uncle or grandame1 ，whom they never saw. It was
in this spirit that my little ones2 crept about me the other evening
to hear about their great-grandmother Field3 ，who lived in a great
house in Norfolk4（a hundred times bigger than that in which they
and papa5 lived）which had been the scene— so at least it was gen-
erally believed in that part of the country— of the tragic incidents
which they had lately become familiar with from the ballad of the
Children in the Wood 6 . Certain it is that the whole story of the
children and their cruel uncle was to be seen fairly carved out in
wood upon the chimney-piece of the great hall，the whole story
down to the Robin Redbreasts7 ；till a foolish rich person pulled it
down to set up a marble one of modern invention in its stead，with
no story upon it . Here Alice put out one of her dear mother’s
looks8 ，too tender to be called upbraiding. Then I went on to say，
how religious and how good their great-grandmother Field was，how
beloved and respected by everybody，though she was not indeed
the mistress of this great house，but had only the charge of it（and
yet in some respects she might be said to be the mistress of it too）
committed to her by the owner，who preferred living in a newer and
more fashionable mansion which he had purchased somewhere in
the adjoining county9 ，but still she lived in it in a manner as if it 查
尔
had been her own，and kept up the dignity of the great house in a 斯
・
sort10 while she lived，which afterwards came to decay，and was 兰
nearly pulled down11 ，and all its old ornaments stripped and car- 姆
107
英 ried away to the owner’s other house12 ，where they were set up，
文
and looked as awkward13 as if some one were to carry away the old
名
篇 tombs they had seen lately at the Abbey14 ，and stick them up in
鉴 Lady C.’s tawdry gilt drawingroom. Here John15 smiled，as much
赏
金 as to say，“that would be foolish indeed .”And then I told how，
库 when she came to die，her funeral was attended by a concourse of
all the poor，and some of the gentry too，of the neighbourhood for
many miles round，to show their respect for her memory，because
she had been such a good and religious woman；so good indeed
that she knew all the Psaltery16 by heart，ay，and a great part of the
Testament17 besides . Here little Alice spread her hands18 . Then I
told what a tall，upright，graceful person their great-grandmother
Field once was；and how in her youth she was esteemed the best
dancer— here Alice’s little right foot played an involuntary move-
ment，till，upon my looking grave，it desisted19 — the best dancer，I
was saying，in the county，till a cruel disease，called a cancer，
came，and bowed her down with pain；but it could never bend her
good spirits，or make them stoop20 ，but they were still upright，be-
cause she was so good and religious . Then I told how she was used
to sleep by herself in a lone chamber of the great lone house；and
how she believed that an apparition of two infants21 was to be seen
at midnight gliding up and down the great staircase near where she
slept，but she said“those innocents22 would do her no harm； ”and
how frightened I used to be，though in those days I had my maid
to sleep with me，because I was never half so good or religious as
she—and yet I never saw the infants . Here John expanded all his
eyebrows and tried to look courageous . 23 Then I told how good she
was to all her grandchildren，having us to the great house in the
holy-days，where I in particular used to spend many hours by my-
self，in gazing upon the old busts of the twelve Caesars24 ，that had
been Emperors of Rome，till the old marble heads would seem to
108
live again，or I to be turned into marble with them25 ；how I never
could be tired with roaming about that huge mansion，with its vast
empty rooms，with their worn-out hangings，fluttering tapestry，and
carved oaken panels，with the gilding almost rubbed out— some-
times in the spacious old-fashioned gardens，which I had almost to
myself，unless26 when now and then a solitary gardening man would
cross me— and how the nectarines and peaches hung upon the
walls，without my ever offering to pluck them，because they were
forbidden fruit27 ，unless now and then，— and because I had more
pleasure in strolling about among the old melancholy-looking yew-
trees，or the firs，and picking up the red berries，and the fir-ap-
ples ，which were good for nothing but to look at28 — or in lying
about upon the fresh grass，with all the fine garden smells around
me—or basking in the orangery，till I could almost fancy myself
ripening too along with the oranges and the limes in that grateful
warmth— or in watching the dace that darted to and fro in the fish-
pond，at the bottom of the garden，with here and there a great
sulky pike hanging midway down the water in silent state，as if it
mocked at their impertinent friskings，— I had more pleasure in
these busy-idle diversions29 than in all the sweet flavours of peach-
es，nectarines，oranges，and suchlike common baits of children .
Here John slyly deposited back upon the plate a bunch of grapes，
which，not unobserved by Alice，he had meditated dividing with
her，and both seemed willing to relinquish them for the present as
irrelevant. Then，in somewhat a more heightened tone，I told how，
though their great-grandmother Field loved all her grand-children，
yet in an especial manner she might be said to love their uncle，
John L—30 ，because he was so handsome and spirited a youth，and 查
尔
a king to the rest of us；and，instead of moping about in solitary 斯
・
corners，like some of us，he would mount the most mettlesome 兰
horse he could get，when but an imp no bigger than themselves， 姆
109
英 and make it carry him half over the county in a morning，and join
文
名 the hunters when there were any out— and yet he loved the old
篇 great house and gardens too，but had too much spirit to be always
鉴 pent up within their boundaries— and how their uncle grew up to
赏
金 man’s estate31 as brave as he was handsome，to the admiration of
库 everybody，but of their great-grandmother Field most especially；
and how he used to carry me upon his back when I was a lame-
footed boy— for he was a good bit older than me—many a mile
when I could not walk for pain；— and how in after life32 he be-
came lame-footed too，and I did not always （I fear） make al-
lowances enough for him when he was impatient and in pain，nor
remember suffciently how considerate he had been to me when I
was lame-footed；and how when he died，though he had not been
dead an hour，it seemed as if he had died a great while ago，such a
distance there is betwixt life and death；and how I bore his death
as I thought pretty well at first，but afterwards it haunted and
haunted me；and though I did not cry or take it to heart as some
do，and as I think he would have done if I had died，yet I missed
him all day long，and knew not till then how much I had loved
him. I missed his kindness，and I missed his crossness，and wished
him to be alive again，to be quarrelling with him（for we quarrelled
sometimes），rather than not have him again33 ，and was as uneasy
without him，as he，their poor uncle，must have been when the
doctor took off his limb34 . —Here the children fell a-crying，and
asked if their little mourning which they had on was not for uncle
John，and they looked up，and prayed me not to go on about their
uncle，but to tell them some stories about their pretty dead mother .
Then I told how for seven long years，in hope sometimes，some-
times in despair，yet persisting ever，I courted the fair Alice W—
n35 ，and，as much as children could understand，I explained to
them what coyness，and difficulty，and denial，meant in maid-
110
ens36 —when suddenly turning to Alice，the soul of the first Alice
looked out at her eyes with such a reality of representment37 ，that I
became in doubt which of them stood there before me，or whose
that bright hair was；and while I stood gazing，both the children
gradually grew fainter to my view，receding，and still receding，till
nothing at last but two mournful features were seen in the utternost
distance，which，without speech，strangely impressed upon me the
effects of speech： “We are not of Alice38 ，nor of thee，nor are we
children at all . The children of Alice call Bartrum39 father . We are
nothing；less than nothing，and dreams . We are only what might
have been，and must wait upon the tedious shores of Lethe40 mil-
lions of ages before we have existence，and a name”— and imme-
diately awaking，I found myself quietly seated in my bachelor arm-
chair，where I had fallen asleep，with the faithful Bridget41 un-
changed by my side— but Jonn L.（or James Elia42）was gone for
ever .

1. to stretch their. . . great-uncle or grandame：发挥他们的想像力，想

像出一位传统的叔公或老祖母来，grandame 也可拼成 grandam（古语），
老妇人，老祖母。
2. my little ones：兰姆一生未曾婚娶，这里指他幻想中的儿女。
3. their great-grandmother Field：兰姆的外祖母玛丽・菲尔德在英国
哈特福郡（Hertfordshire），为一家姓普鲁默（Plumer）的地主当了 50 年管
家，照管布莱克斯威尔楼（Blackesware）。
4. a great house in Norfolk：诺福克郡。在英格兰东部，而兰姆的外
祖母照管的这憧房子在哈特福郡。兰姆故意更改了地名。
5. papa：指兰姆本人。
6. the Children in the Wood：
《林中小儿》
（The Babies in the Wood）。
这是一首英国古代流传极广的民谣，叙述诺福克的一个绅士死后，财 查
产由他一双小儿女继承。他们的叔父为夺取财产，派两个打手杀害 尔
这两个孩子。其中一个打手不忍，杀死同伙。两个小孩留在森林中， 斯
・
终因又冷又怕而死去。 兰
7. the Robin Redbreasts：在这个歌谣中，两个小孩死后，红胸知更 姆
111
英 雀衔来树叶，覆盖在他俩尸体上。
文 8. Here Alice put out one of her dear mother’s looks：这时 Ailce 做出
名 一副酷 似 她 亲 爱 的 母 亲 那 样 的 表 情。 Alice 是 兰 姆 幻 想 中 女 儿 的
篇
鉴 名字。
赏 9. who preferred living. . . in the adjoining county：地主普鲁默在离布
金 莱克斯威尔约 4 英里的吉尔斯顿有一所新宅院，全家住在那里。老
库
宅交给兰姆的外祖母照管。
10. in a sort：= to a certain extent，多多少少。
11. which afterwards. . . nearly pulled down：指布莱克斯威尔楼后来
逐渐损坏，在 1882 年被拆毁一事。
12. the owner’s other house：指普鲁默家的主要房产吉尔斯顿楼
（Gilston），也在哈特福郡，与布莱克斯威尔楼相隔数英里。
13. looked as awkward：显得很别扭。
14. the Abbey：指西敏寺（Westminster Abbey），英国王室及很多著名
政治家和文学家都埋葬在这儿。
15. John：兰姆幻想中儿子的名字。
16. the Psaltery：即《圣经・诗篇》
（the Book of Psalms）。
17. the Testament：即《圣经・新约》 （the New Testament）。
18. Alice spread her hands：艾丽丝伸开她的双手。她做这个动作
是为了表示对曾祖母的钦敬之情。
19. Alice’s little right. . . looking grave，it desisted：艾丽丝那只小小的
右脚不由自主地做个轻快的动作，我把面孔一板，她才停止。这表示
艾丽丝听得出了神，也想跳舞。
20. make them stoop：使她的精神萎糜不振。
21. an apparition of two infants：两个孩子的幽灵出现。据普鲁默家
庭传说，在 17 世纪时他们家有两个孩子失踪了。这里指的就是这
回事。
22. those innocents：那两个天真的小东西。指两个孩子的幽灵。
23. John expanded all his eyebrows and tried to look courageous：约翰舒
展开自己全部的眉毛，尽力做出一副勇敢的样子。指约翰听到幽灵
出现也很害怕的心情。
24. the old busts of the twelve Caesars：
12 座古罗马皇帝的半身塑像，
Caesar 在这里指罗马皇帝的称号。这种塑像是过去有钱人家房间里
的装饰品。普鲁默家也有这 12 位皇帝的大理石胸像，后来这些像从
布莱克斯威尔楼搬到吉尔斯顿楼去了。
112
 25. or I to be turned into marble with them：我也仿佛跟他们一起变
成了大理石胸像。指这些塑像雕塑得栩栩如生，兰姆看出了神，仿佛
觉得它们是活的。
26. unless：= except，系古老用法。
27. forbidden fruit：禁果。这里用以比喻被禁止反而更想弄到手的
东西。据《圣经・创世纪》载，上帝将人类始祖亚当、夏娃安置在“伊甸
园”中，规定可自由采食园内任何树的果子，只有知善恶树例外。亚
当、夏娃受蛇（魔鬼）引诱，吃了禁果，被逐出伊甸园。
28. were good for nothing but to look at：只中看不中吃的。 good for
nothing：无用的。
29. busy-idle diversions：无事忙的消遣。
30. John L—：约翰・兰姆，是查尔斯・兰姆的哥哥，比查尔斯大 12
岁，死于 1821 年。
31. grew up to man’s estate：长大成人，man’s estate = man’s condi-
tion。
32. in after life：后半生。
33. rather than not have him again：不愿意再也见不着他。
34. and was as uneasy without him，as he，their. . . the doctor took off his
limb：由于失去他而心神不安，就像他们可怜的伯伯，被大夫截肢后感
到伤心一样。兰姆并未截过肢，这么写是一种艺术的夸张。
35. Alice W— n：兰姆少年时代的恋人安・西蒙斯（Ann Simmons），
后来嫁给伦敦的一个当铺老板威廉・巴特姆（William Bartrum），兰姆为
此一度精神失常。艾丽斯・温特顿是兰姆在文章中为自己的恋人所
起的假名。
36. I explained to them what coyness，and difficulty，and denial meant in
maidens：我向他们解释少女的羞羞答答、左右为难、不露情思都是什
么意思，denial 这里指自我克制，不轻易表露感情。
37. the soul of the first Alice. . . reality of representment：第一位艾丽丝
的眼神从小艾丽丝的眼睛中活灵活现地显露出来。 the first Alice 指
艾丽丝・温斯顿，兰姆幻想中的妻子，Alice 的母亲。
38. We are not of Alice：我们不是艾丽丝・温斯顿的孩子。 查
39. Bartrum：即威廉・巴特姆（William Bartrum），注 35 中伦敦当铺 尔
老板。 斯
・
40. Lethe：忘川，又名阴府之河（the River of Hades），犹如中国迷信 兰
里说的“阴阳河”。据希腊神话，人死后走到忘川，饮其水，即忘却生 姆
113
英 前的事。
文 41. Bridget：布里奇特，是兰姆在文章里为她姐姐玛丽・兰姆（Mary
名
Lamb）所起的假名。
篇
鉴 42. James Elia：詹姆斯・伊利亚，是兰姆为他哥哥约翰・兰姆（John
赏 Lamb）所起的假名。
金
库
A Bachelor’s Complaint of the
Behaviour of Married People1
鳏夫对已婚者行为的怨诉

【作品赏析】
在这篇文章中，兰姆站在一个单身汉的角度，对已婚夫妇的世俗
心态、习惯和行为进行了细微的分析和激烈的抨击，同时把单身汉的
尴尬和怨愤也表现得相当充分。兰姆对一些社会问题，诸如婚姻的
“垄断”性质，妇女生育的有关问题，以及孩子的地位、本性及评价等，
都提出了自己精辟而深刻的见解。但毋庸讳言，在评论、嘲讽市侩习
气的同时，文中也多少流露出兰姆因终身未娶而带来的偏狭与敏感。
在写法上，起笔突兀，开门见山，指出“那些已婚男女的毛病”，正
是“他们所说的由于我坚持独身而失去的至高无上的快乐”。接着承
上启下，出语惊人。所言“毛病”并非“夫妻反目、吵吵闹闹”，而是出
人意外地发现了“另一种相反的过错———就是说他们夫妻间感情太
好了”。接着开始直言“抱怨”，首先是那种不加掩饰的炫耀卖弄，接
着是对那些“没完没了的提醒”而感到自尊心受辱。然后，笔锋兀起，
文意陡转，强调“夸耀结婚的幸福，……从头到尾纯粹是无报偿、无条
件的侮辱”。这种论述和感情的变化相适应，层层深入，步步递进，由
无意而写到有意。起初感情还较为平和、稳定，愈到后面愈慷慨激
昂；
起初在语气上还只带有嘲讽、挖苦之味，后来则完全是直接的指
控与警告。在这篇文章中，嘲讽、揶揄与声色俱厉的指控有机地统一
起来了。
在结构上，本文特别注意论述的环环相连，丝丝入扣，注意辅垫
和启承转合，使情感富有层次性。比如关于孩子的议论，先是对已婚
者有孩子的神气不满，接着是对女人们因有了孩子而“居功自傲”不
满，然后是对一大家人“全都是那么可爱，而且非要别人接受”的理论
114
表示不满。最后提出自己对孩子的观点，认为他们不同于一些可以
“容许人的想像赋予它以任何色彩”的小玩意儿，
“小孩都有真正的性
格，
都有自己的本性”，他们“不能被当成仅仅依存于他人的附属品”。
在兰姆看来，小孩固然是世间最可爱的，
“但是，某一事物的整个品种
愈是可爱，人们也就要求它自身具有特别可爱之处。
”兰姆见解的深
刻正表现于此。
兰姆的散文，善以日常见闻小事入手，加以点染，时而抒发个性，
率真直言，时而抨击流弊，入木三分。叙述和议论相结合，既有浓墨
重彩的铺叙，又有画龙点睛的概括与点评，使之详略相间，疏密得体。
加上兰姆在行文中，常使用一些贴切的比喻，从而使文章在深刻说理
的同时，又见出生动和变化之致。
（赵洪定）

【作品欣赏】
As a single man，I have spent a good deal of my time in not-
ing down the infirmities2 of married people，to console myself for
those superior pleasures，which they tell me I have lost by remain-
ing as I am3 .
I cannot say that the quarrels of men and their wives ever
made any great impression upon me，or had much tendency to
strengthen me in those anti-social resolutions，which I took up long
ago upon more substantial considerations . What oftenest4 offends
me at the houses of married persons where I visit，is an error of
quite a different description5 ；— it is that they are too loving.
Not too loving neither6 ：that does not explain my meaning.
Besides，why should that offend me？ The very act of separating
themselves from the rest of the world，to have the fuller enjoyment
of each other’s society7 ，implies that they prefer one another to all
the world .
查
But what I complain of is，that they carry this preference so 尔
undisguisedly，they perk it up in the faces of us single people so 斯
・
shamelessly，you cannot be in their company a moment without be- 兰
ing made to feel，by some indirect hint or open avowal，that you 姆
115
英 are not the object of this preference . Now there are some things
文
which give no offence，while implied or taken for granted8 merely；
名
篇 but expressed，there is much offence in them. If a man were to ac-
鉴 cost the first homely-featured or plain-dressed9 young woman of his
赏
金 acquaintance，and tell her bluntly，that she was not handsome or
库 rich enough for him，and he could not marry her，he would deserve
to be kicked for his ill manners；yet no less is implied in the fact，
that having access10 and opportunity of putting the question to her，
he has never yet thought fit to do it . The young woman understands
this as clearly as if it were put into words；but no reasonable young
woman would think of making this the ground of a quarrel11 . Just
as little right have a married couple to tell me by speeches，and
looks12 that are scarce less plain13 than speeches，that I am not the
happy man，— the lady’s choice . It is enough that I know I am
not：I do not want this perpetual reminding.
The display of superior knowledge or riches may be made
sufficiently mortifying；but these admit of a palliative14 . The knowl-
edge which is brought out to insult me，may accidentally improve
me；and in the rich man’s houses and pictures，— his parks and
gardens，I have a temporary usufruct15 at least . But the display of
married happiness has none of these palliatives：it is throughout
pure，unrecompensed，unqualified16 insult .
Marriage by its best title is a monopoly17 ，and not of the
least invidious sort . It is the cunning of most possessors of any ex-
clusive privilege to keep their advantage as much out of sight as
possible，that their less favoured neighbours，seeing little of the
benefit，may the less be disposed to question the right . But these
married monopolists18 thrust the most obnoxious part of their patent
into our faces19 .
Nothing is to me more distasteful than that entire complacen-
cy and satisfaction which beam in the countenances of a new-mar-
116
ried couple，— in that of the lady particularly：it tells you，that her
lot is disposed of20 in this world：that you can have no hopes of
her . It is true，I have none；nor wishes either，perhaps：but this is
one of those truths which ought，as I said before，to be taken for
granted，not expressed .
The excessive airs which those people give themselves，
founded on the ignorance of us unmarried people，would be more
offensive if they were less irrational21 . We will allow them to un-
derstand the mysteries22 belonging to their own craft23 better than
we who have not had the happiness to be made free of the compa-
ny24 . But their arrogance is not content within these limits . If a sin-
gle person presume to offer his opinion in their presence，though
upon the most indifferent subject，he is immediately silenced as an
incompetent person . Nay25 ，a young married lady of my acquain-
tance，who，the best of the jest was，had not changed her condition
above a fortnight before26 ，in a question on which I had the misfor-
tune to differ from her，respecting the properest mode of breeding
oysters for the London market，had the assurance to ask with a
sneer，how such an old bachelor as I could pretend to know any
thing about such matters27 .
But what I have spoken of hitherto is nothing28 to the airs29
which these creatures give themselves when they come，as they
generally do，to have children . When I consider how little of a rari-
ty children are30 ，— that every street and blind alley swarms with
them，— that the poorest people commonly have them in most
abundance31 ，— that there are few marriages that are not blest with
at least one of these bargains32 ，— how often they turn out ill，and
defeat the fond hopes of their parents，taking to vicious courses， 查
尔
which end in poverty，disgrace，the gallows33 ，&c . — I cannot for 斯
・
my life tell34 what cause for pride there can possibly be in having 兰
them. If they were young phoenixes35 ，indeed，that were born but 姆
117
英 one in a year，there might be a pretext . But when they are so com-
文
名 mon—
篇 I do not advert to the insolent merit which they assume with
鉴 their husbands on these occasions . Let them look to that36 . But why
赏
金 we， who are not their natural-born subjects37 ，should be expected
库 to bring out spices，myrrh，and incense38 ，— our tribute and
homage of admiration，— I do not see .
‘Like as the arrows in the hand of the giant，even so are the
young children： ’39 so says the excellent office40 in our Prayer-book
appointed for the churching of women41 .‘Happy is the man that
hath his quiver full of them： ’42 So say I；but then don’t let him
discharge his quiver upon us that are weaponless43 ；— let them be
arrows，but not to gall and stick us . I have generally observed that
these arrows are double-headed：they have two forks，to be sure to
hit with one or the other . As for instance，when you come into a
house which is full of children，if you happen to take no notice of
them（you are thinking of something else，perhaps，and turn a deaf
ear to their innocent caresses44 ），you are set down as45 un-
tractable，morose，a hater of children46 . On the other hand，if you
find them more than usually engaging，— if you are taken with
their pretty manners，and set about in earnest to romp and play
with them，some pretext or other is sure to be found for sending
them out of the room：they are too noisy or boisterous，or Mr . —
does not like children . With one or other of these forks the arrow is
sure to hit you .
I could forgive their jealousy，and dispense with toying with
their brats47 ，if it gives them any pain；but I think it unreasonable
to be called upon to love them，where I see no occasion48 ，— to
love a whole family，perhaps，eight，nine，or ten，indiscriminate-
ly49 ，— to love all the pretty dears because children are go engag-
ing.
118
 I know there is a proverb， ‘Love me，love my dog： 50
’that is
not always so very practicable，particularly if the dog be set upon
you to tease you or snap at you in sport51 . But a dog，or a lesser
thing，— any inanimate substance，as a keep-sake52 ，a watch or a
ring，a tree，or the place where we last parted when my friend went
away upon a long absence，I can make shift to53 love，because I
love him，and any thing that reminds me of him；provided it be in
its nature indifferent54 ，and apt to receive whatever hue fancy can
give it55 . But children have a real character and an essential being
of themselves56 ：they are amiable or unamiable per se57 ，I must
love or hate them as I see cause for either58 in their qualities . A
child’s nature is too serious a thing to admit of its being regarded
as a mere appendage to another being59 ，and to be loved or hated
accordingly：they stand with me upon their own stock60 ，as much as
men and women do. O！ but you will say，sure it is an attractive
age，— there is something in the tender years of infancy that of it-
self charms us . That is the very reason why I am more nice about
them. I know that a sweet child is the sweetest thing in nature，not
even excepting the delicate creatures which bear them61 ；but the
prettier the kind of a thing is，the more desirable it is that it
should be pretty of its kind62 . One daisy differs not much from an-
other in glory； 63
but a violet should look and smell the daintiest . —
I was always rather squeamish in my women and children64 .
But this is not the worst：one must be admitted into their fa-
miliarity at least，before they can complain of inattention . It im-
plies visits，and some kind of intercourse . But if the husband be a
man with whom you have lived on a friendly footing before mar-
riage；— if you did not come in on the wife’s side65 ，— if you did 查
尔
not sneak into the house in her train66 ，but were an old friend in 斯
・
first habits of intimacy before their courtship was so much as 兰
thought on67 ，— look about you— your tenure is precarious68 — be- 姆
119
英 fore a twelvemonth shall roll over your head69 ，you shall find your
文
名 old friend gradually grow cool and altered towards you，and at last
篇 seek opportunities of breaking with you . I have scarce a married
鉴 friend of my acquaintance，upon whose firm faith I can rely，whose
赏
金 friendship did not commence after the period of his marriage . With
库 some limitations they can endure that70 ：but that the good man71
should have dared to enter into a solemn league of friendship in
which they were not consulted，though it happened bofore they
knew him，— before they that are now man and wife ever met，—
this is intolerable to them. Every long friendship，every old authen-
tic intimacy，must be brought into their office to be new stamped
with their currency72 ，as a sovereign Prince73 calls in the good old
money that was coined in some reign before he was born or thought
of，to be new marked and minted with the stamp of his authority，
before he will let it pass current in the world74 . You may guess
what luck generally befalls such a rusty piece of metal as I am in
these new mintings75 .
Innumerable are the ways which they take to insult and worm
you out of their husband’s confidence . Laughing at all you say
with a kind of wonder，as if you were a queer kind of fellow that
said good things，but an oddity76 ，is one of the ways；— they have
a particular kind of stare for the purpose；— till at last the hus-
band ，who used to defer to your judgment，and would pass over
some excrescences of understanding and manner for the sake of a
general vein of observation （not quite vulgar）which he perceived
in you77 ，begins to suspect whether you are not altogether a hu-
morist78 ，— a fellow well enough to have consorted with in his
bachelor days79 ，but not quite so proper to be introduced to ladies .
This may be called the staring way80 ；and is that which has often-
est been put in practice against me .
Then there is the exaggerating way，or the way of irony：that
120
is，where they find you an object of especial regard81 with their
husband，who is not so easily to be shaken from the lasting attach-
ment founded on esteem82 which he has conceived towards you；by
never-qualified exaggeration to cry up all that you say or do83 ，till
the good man，who understands well enough that it is all done in
compliment to him，grows weary of the debt of gratitude84 which is
due to so much candour，and by relaxing a little on his part，and
taking down a peg or two in his enthusiasm85 ，sinks at length to
that kindly level of moderate esteem86 ，— that‘decent affection and
complacent kindness’87 towards you；where she herself can join in
sympathy with him88 without much stretch and violence to her sin-
cerity89 .
Another way（for the ways they have to accomplish so desir-
able a purpose are infinite）is，with a kind of innocent simplicity，
continually to mistake what it was which first made their husband
fond of you . If an esteem for something excellent in your moral
character was that which riveted the chain which she is to break90 ，
upon any imaginary discovery of a want of poignancy91 in your con-
versation，she will cry， ‘I thought，my dear，you described your
friend，Mr . —，as a great wit .’If，on the other hand it was for
some supposed charm in your conversation that he first grew to like
you，and was content for this to overlook some trifling irregularities
in your moral deportment92 ，upon the first notice of any of these
she as readily exclaims，‘This，my dear，is your good Mr . — .’One
good lady whom I took the liberty of expostulating with for not
showing me quite so much respect as I thought due to her hus-
band’s old friend93 ，had the candour to confess to me that she had
often heard Mr . — speak of me before marriage，and that she had 查
尔
conceived a great desire to be acquainted with me，but that the 斯
・
sight of me had very much disappointed her expectations；for from 兰
her husband’s representations of me94 ，she had formed a notion 姆
121
英 that she was to see a fine，tall，officer-like looking man（I use her
文
名 very words）；the very reverse of which proved to be the truth . This
篇 was candid；and I had the civility not to ask her in return，how she
鉴 came to pitch upon95 a standard of personal accomplishments for
赏
金 her husband’s friends which differed so much from his own；for
库 my friend’s dimensions96 as near as possible approximate to mine；
he standing five feet five in his shoes，in which I have the advan-
tage of him by about half an inch97 ；and he no more than myself
exhibiting any indications of a martial character98 in his air or
countenance .
These are some of the mortifications which I have encoun-
tered in the absurd attempt to visit at their houses . To enumerate
them all would be a vain endeavour：I shall therefore just glance at
the very common impropriety of which married ladies are guilty，—
of treating us as if we were their husbands，and vice versa 99 . I
mean，when they use us with familiarity，and their husbands with
ceremony. Testacea 100 ，for instance，kept me the other night two or
three hours beyond my usual time of supping，while she was fret-
ting because Mr . — did not come home，till the oysters were all
spoiled，rather than she would be guilty of the impoliteness of
touching one in his absence . This was reversing the point of good
manners101：for ceremony is an invention to take off the uneasy
feeling which we derive from knowing ourselves to be less the ob-
ject of love and esteem with a fellow-creature than some other per-
son is102 . It endeavours to make up，by superior attentions in little
points，for that invidious preference which it is forced to deny in
the greater . 103 Had Testacea Kept the oysters back for me，and
withstood her husband’s importunities to go to supper104 ，she
would have acted according to the strict rules of propriety. I know
no ceremony that ladies are bound to observe to their husbands，
beyond the point of105 a modest behaviour and decorum106 ：there-
122
fore I must protest against the vicarious gluttony107 of Cerasia 108 ，
who at her own table sent away a dish of Morellas109 ，which I was
applying to with great good will110 ，to her husband at the other end
of the table，and recommended a plate of less extraordinary goose-
berries to my unwedded palate111 in their stead . Neither can I ex-
cuse the wanton affront of — .
But I am weary of stringing up all my married acquaintance
by Roman denominations112 . Let them amend and change their
manners，or I promise to record the full-length English of their
names，to the terror of all such desperate offenders in future .

1. 这篇文章选自《伊利亚文集》 （The Essays of Elia），最初发表在

伦敦刊物《反光镜》 （Reflector）1811 年第 4 期上，后来又发表于《伦敦杂
志》
（The London Magazine）1822 年 9 月号上。
2. infirmities：缺点；毛病。
3. those superior pleasures，. . . by remaining as I am：他们所说的我由
于坚持独身而失去的至高无上的快乐。
4. oftenest：often 的比较级或最高级可以是 oftener，oftenest；也可以
是 more often，most often。
5. a different description：另一种。
6. Not too loving neither：这里的 neither = either。
7. each other’s society：彼此在一起，society 在这里等于 company。
8. take. . . for granted：认以为真。
9. homely-featured or plain-dressed：容貌不美，衣着朴素，这里 home-
ly 相当于 plain 或 rather ugly。
10. having access：有办法，这里 access 和后面的 opportunity 相近。
11. the ground of a quarrel：吵架的理由，这里 ground 相当于 reason。
12. looks：容貌，表情。
13. that are scarce less plain：差 不 多 一 样 清 楚。在 旧 的 用 法 中
scarce = scarcely。 查
14. admit of a palliative：缓和的余地。 尔
15. usufruct：
（对别人财物的）使用权。这里指可以看看别人的宅 斯
・
院、画、园圃、花园等。 兰
16. unqualified：绝对的，无条件的。 姆
123
英 17. Marriage by its best title is a monopoly：婚姻归根到底乃是一种
文 专制。
名
18. the married monopolists：垄 断 了 结 婚 权 利 的 人，即 指 结 了 婚
篇
鉴 的人。
赏 19. thrust the most obnoxious part of their patent into our faces：把他们
金 那特权之中最最惹人反感之处偏偏摆到我们面前。 obnoxious：可憎
库
的，令人反感的。
20. her lot is disposed of：她的终身已定。
21. would be more offensive if they were less irrational：越显得有道理
就越叫人生气。
22. to understand the mysteries：掌握结婚之奥秘。
23. their own craft：他们自己那一伙。
24. to be made free of the company：摆脱他们，不和他们来往。
25. Nay：相当于 well，why（旧用法）。
26. had not changed her condition above a fortnight before：刚改变她的
生活（结婚）不到半个月。
27. how such an old bachelor. . . about such matters：像我这样一个老
光棍，怎有资格在诸如此类的问题上冒充内行？
28. what I have spoken of hitherto is nothing：刚才说的那些还不算
什么。
29. airs：神气。
30. how little of a rarity children are：小孩子又有什么稀罕。
31. the poorest people commonly have them in most abundance：人越是
穷，孩子也就越多。
32. these bargains：这些不值钱的便宜货（指孩子）。
33. which end in poverty，disgrace，the gallows：最终遭穷、受辱，甚至
上绞架。
34. I cannot for my life tell：我无论如何也说不出。
35. phoenixes：凤凰。传说中的动物，也叫长生鸟，活数百年后自
焚而死，然后从灰烬中诞生出另一只，从而开始另一个循环。
36. Let them look to that：她们爱怎么着就怎么着吧！
37. their natural-born subjects：她们天生的臣民。
38. spices，myrrh，and incense：香料、没药、瓣香（这些都是敬神所用
之物）。
39. Like as the arrows. . . the young children：引自《圣经》中《诗篇》第
124
127 篇，全诗大意是：
“孩子是上帝所赐，有孩子的人是幸福的。
”妇女
分娩时，母子平安后的祈祷。兰姆引用时略有改动。
40. the excellent office：那极好的祷告词。
41. the churching of women：妇女平安生产后到教堂感谢上帝。
42. Happy is the man. . . full of them：引自注 39 中同一首诗。
43. don’t let him discharge his quiver upon us that are weaponless：别让
他把利箭对着我们这些手无寸铁的人发射。意思是有孩子的人不要
用孩子来对付没有孩子的人。
44. their innocent caresses：他们天真烂漫的话语。 caresses 指声音、
话语。
45. you are set down as：你就被认 为 是 ……，set down as. . . = de-
scribe. . . as。
46. untractable，morose，a hater of children：脾气古怪，难以对付，讨
厌孩子的人。
47. dispense with toying with their brats：不和他们那些小家伙一起
玩。 brat 一词有贬义，常用来指乳臭未干的孩子。
48. where I see no occasion：我没有理由要爱他们。
49. indiscriminately：不加区别地。
50. Love me，love my dog：爱我，就得爱我的狗。（又译：
“爱屋及
乌”。
）
51. in sport：= as a joke or for fun，闹着玩。
52. keep-sake：纪念品。
53. make shift to：想法去。
54. provided it be in its nature indifferent：只要这种东西本身是微不
足道的、没有个性的。
55. apt to receive whatever hue fancy can give it：容许人的想像加给
它的任何色彩。意思是：你怎么看待它都可以。
56. have a real character and an essential being of themselves：有真正
的性格，有自己的个性。
57. per se：拉丁文，相当于 in themselves。
58. see cause for either：有两者（爱和恨）的理由。 查
59. to admit of its being regarded as a mere appendage to another being： 尔
不能把他看作仅仅依存于他人的附属品。 斯
・
60. they stand with me upon their own stock：对我来说，他们是靠本身 兰
资质的人，这里 stock 有“基础”的意思。 姆
125
英 61. the delicate creatures which bear them：那些能生儿育女的俏丽佳
文 人。即指他们的母亲。
名
62. pretty of its kind：本身有它特别可爱之处。
篇
鉴 63. One daisy differs not much from another in glory：一朵雏菊跟另一
赏 朵雏菊相比起来就是如此，即有其特别可爱之处。
金 64. squeamish in my women and children：对于（与我有来往的）妇女
库
儿童，我总是特别苛求。
65. if you did not come in on the wife’s side：如果你不是作为女主人
的亲眷而和他们成了朋友。
66. if you did not sneak into the house in her train：如果你不是跟在她
的后面溜进他们的家。
67. were an old friend in. . . so much as thought on：在他还没有考虑
向她求婚之前，你们已经是极为亲密的好朋友。
68. your tenure is precarious：你作为一个朋友的资格就随时可能被
取消。
69. before a twelvemonth shall roll over your head：不等一年 12 个月过
完。
70. they can endure that：她们（指妻子们）可以有限度地容忍。
71. the good man：指丈夫。
72. to be new stamped with their currency：和她们的钱币一起重新铸
造，指需要得到她们的认可。
73. a sovereign Prince：新获得王位的国王。
74. let it pass current in the world：准许在世面上流通。
75. new mintings：重新铸造，指得到那些妻子们的认可。
76. an oddity：一个怪物。
77. would pass over some excrescences of understanding. . . which he
perceived in you：对你的某些不正常的想法和举止，他从不计较，因为
他从你的谈吐中看出你并非平庸之辈。
78. a humorist：爱开玩笑，不太严肃的人。
79. well enough to have consorted with in his bachelor days：打光棍那
阵子很可以交为朋友。
80. the staring way：瞪眼法。
81. an object of especial regard：特别受到尊重的人。
82. the lasting attachment founded on esteem：由于敬重而建立起来的
持久友情。
126
 83. to cry up all that you say or do：对你的所言所行，均大加夸奖。
84. grows weary of the debt of gratitude：对欠下的人情债感到厌倦。
85. taking down a peg or two in his enthusiasm：降低热忱。
86. sinks at length to that kindly level or moderate esteem：最后降低到
不冷不热的客气水平。
87. that“decent affection and complacent kindness”：
“分 寸 适 当 的 好
感，彼此安心的交情。 ”引自苏格兰作家约翰・霍姆（John Home，1722 ～
1808）所著悲剧《道格拉斯》 （Douglas）。
88. join in sympathy with him：和他（丈夫）一致。
89. without much stretch and violence to her sincerity：对她的诚意来
说，用不着歪曲或损害。
90. riveted the chain which she is to break：拧紧她想要打断的你们友
好的链条。
91. a want of poignancy：不生动；尖锐。
92. overlook some trifling irregularities in your moral deportment：对你品
位方面的细小毛病，不去斤斤计较。
93. not showing me quite so much respect as I thought due to her hus-
band’s old friend：像我这样的她丈夫 的 老 朋 友，她 并 未 给 予 应 有 的
尊敬。
94. from her husband’s representation of me：根 据 她 丈 夫 对 我 的
形容。
95. pitch upon：选择，衡量。
96. dimensions：身材（高矮、胖瘦等）。
97. I have the advantage of him by about half an inch：我比他还高出半
英寸呢。
98. a martial character：军人气概。
99. and vice versa：反之亦然，即用对待客人的方法来对待自己的
丈夫，或用对待丈夫的办法来对待客人。
100. Testacea：苔丝达西亚，兰姆为朋友之妻取的拉丁文假名，即
Mrs. Shell-fish，由拉丁字“贝壳类动物”变来，指她把牡蛎留给丈夫吃，
不管客人饿不饿。 查
101. reversing the point of good manners：颠倒了礼貌的要点。 尔
102. ceremony is an invention. . . to be less. . . than some other person 斯
・
is：礼貌是一项发明，用来转移当我们感到自己不像另一个人那样受 兰
到某人的喜爱和尊重时，所产生的那种不自在的感觉。 姆
127
英 103. It endeavours to make up. . . to deny in the greater：这不过是在小
文 节上极为殷勤注意，以弥补在大事上它不可能给予的那种令人生气
名 的偏爱。
篇
鉴 104. withstood her husband’s importunities to go to supper：顶住她丈夫
赏 要吃晚饭的迫切要求。
金 105. beyond the point of：除……之外。
库
106. a modest behaviour and decorum：举止端庄，礼仪适度。
107. the vicarious gluttony：助长别人表现出贪馋，指她把一碟黑樱
桃端到她丈夫面前。
108. Cerasia：色拉西亚，兰姆为他朋友的妻子所起的拉丁文假名。
109. Morellas：= morello 黑樱桃。
110. which I was applying to with great good will：我 正 津 津 有 味 吃
着的。
111. my unwedded palate：我这个可怜光棍汉的嘴。
112. Roman denominations：罗马式的名字，即前面作者使用的拉丁
文代号。

Poor Relations
穷 亲 戚

【作品赏析】
这是一篇用幽默和哀婉的情调写成的散文。文章一开始作者用
了一长串带比喻性的描述词给给穷亲戚的定义下个注解：一种你度
日中的糜费，一种对你尊严无法忍受的压力，一种你发迹之时的障
碍，
一种你血缘里的污染，一种你荣耀中的瑕疵，你长袍上的一道裂
痕，
你在欢宴时突然出现的骷髅……总之是一个损害生活乐趣的讨
厌的人或物。作者在这里借助“你”这个代词使自己和读者之间建立
起了一种亲密的联系。
另一方面作为反衬，有钱人的富裕则反映在钱色、尊严、成功、宴
会这样一些形象和概念上，从而使这一系列表述中的每一个部分均
有两个对应的概念构成，它们之间存在着一种逻辑的关系，一种植根
于现实生活的关系。通过强调这两者之间性质完全相反的手法，有
128
助于读者完全懂得这段开场白的描述的全面含义，即“穷亲戚是一种
浑不似的人物（注意 relation 和 irrelevant 的双关语含义）。
”
在“成功之中的缺憾”里有着反衬，在“不受欢迎的提醒”中，暗示
着那个钻进钱眼的人的光辉的现在与严酷的过去的对应。在“当你
事业兴旺如日方中时，偏偏向你袭来一片莫名其妙的暗影”中，以及
在“一磅蜜糖之内却加进一两酸醋”中，作者使用了生动的描述和隐
喻的手法，来表现深刻的含义。而在“一种叫人心烦的交往”、
“一种
不断重现的羞辱”中，作者则用换喻的手法来描写其丰富的内涵。到
第一段末，隐喻更加复杂化，兰姆用一些炫耀知识的短语来提及《圣
经》中的人物；用一些通俗的说法来尽情嘲讽，真是喜笑怒骂皆成文
章，各种技巧运用自如。
第二段一开始，主人就从敲门声上知道是这位穷亲戚来了，既交
待了来者身份又交待了主题。 Your heart telleth you（不是指读者，而是
泛指那个社会中不欢迎穷亲戚上门的那种人） “That is Mr—”这句话
既写敲门人的心态，也刻画了世态的炎凉，落墨无多，意味不浅。以
下的描写相当细腻，虽只是语言动作，而思想感情却依然可见：进门
时面带笑容，却又局促不安；伸出手来，却又逡巡缩回；说是偶然进
来，却又偏不凑巧碰上宴请宾客；说是要走，却稍加挽留也就留下；说
是不喜吃名贵的鱼，却经人一劝又来上一块；说是只喝较贱的红葡萄
酒，却经人一让，也就把瓶中的名酒喝了下去。（明知自己未必讨人
喜欢，却又想讨人喜欢；明知主人是虚留，却又慨然留下。
）这一连串
的渲染勾勒，把主客双方的心境清楚点出。既看出这位客人的讨厌
之处，也看出主人的虚伪的应酬；既看出穷亲戚的可怜，也看出主人
的势利。在描写这一切时，兰姆的同情基本上是在被人瞧不起的穷
亲戚一方面。
全文风格十分调和，从首至尾从容自若地维持了一种温和的对
世态炎凉的针贬，对这类确有不知趣、惹人厌、招人笑的对象的嘲讽。
带有一种淡淡的出于对可怜人同情的忧郁气氛。兰姆在描写这类人
物时，显示了自己卓越的才华，遣词用句，恰到好处，不瘟不火，如山
中白云，舒卷自如，绝少刀凿斧砍痕迹。如第二段一开始，大多数句
子均用 he 字开始，只用了几个简单的联系词，如 and，but，yet 等，但并 查
没使文章单调，相反在整齐的句式中，轻重对比突出，音调节奏既有 尔
反复而又饶有变化，文章风采依然。 斯
・
（赵洪定） 兰
姆
129
英
文 【作品欣赏】
名
篇 A poor relation— is the most irrelevant thing in nature，— a
鉴 piece of impertinent correspondency，— an odious approxima-
赏 tion1 ，—a haunting conscience，— a preposterous shadow，length-
金
库 ening in the noon-tide of our prosperity，— an unwelcome remem-
brancer，— a perpetually recurring mortification，— a drain on your
purse，— a more intolerable dun upon your pride，— a drawback
upon success，— a rebuke to your rising，— a stain in your
blood，— a blot on your ’scutcheon2 ，— a rent in your garment，—
a death’s head at your banquet，—Agathocles’s pot3 ，— a Morde-
cai4 in your gate，— a Lazarus5 at your door，— a lion in your
path，— a frog in your chamber，— a fly in your ointment，— a mote
in your eye，— a triumph to your enemy，— an apology to your
friends，— the one thing not needful，— the hail in harvest，— the
ounce of sour in a pound of sweet .
He is known by his knock6 . Your heart telleth7 you“That is
Mr . — .”A rap，between familiarity and respect；that demands，and
at the same time seems to despair of，entertainment8 . He entereth
smiling and— embarrassed . He holdeth out his hand to you to
shake，and— draweth it back again . He casually looketh in9 about
dinner-time— when the table is full . He offereth to go away，seeing
you have company— but is induced to stay. He filleth a chair，and
your visitor’s two children are accommodated at a side-table . He
never cometh upon open days10 ，when your wife says，with some
complacency11 ， “My dear，perhaps Mr . — will drop in to-day.”He
remembereth birthdays— and professeth he is fortunate to have
stumbled upon one . He declareth against fish，the turbot being
small— yet suffereth himself to be importuned into a slice12 ，a-
gainst his first resolution . He sticketh by the port13 — yet will be
prevailed upon to empty the remainder glass of claret14 ，if a
stranger press it upon him15 . He is a puzzle to the servants，who
130
are fearful of being too obsequious，or not civil enough，to him. The
guests think“they have seen him before .”Every one speculateth
upon his condition；and the most part16 take him to be a— tide-
waiter17 . He calleth you by your Christian name，to imply that his
other is the same with your own . 18 He is too familiar by half19 ，yet
you wish he had less diffidence . With half the familiarity，he might
pass for a casual dependent；with more boldness，he would be in
no danger of being taken for what he is20 . He is too humble for a
friend；yet taketh on him more state than befits a client21 . He is a
worse guest than a country tenant，inasmuch as he bringeth up no
rent— yet ’tis odds22 ，from his garb and demeanour23 ，that your
guests take him for one . He is asked to make one at the whist24
table；refuseth on the score of poverty，and— resents being left
out25 . When the company26 break up，he proffereth to go for a
coach— and lets the servant go. He recollects your grandfather；and
will thrust in some mean and quite unimportant anecdote27 — of the
family. He knew it when it was not quite so flourishing as“he is
blest in seeing it now.”He reviveth past situations，to institute
what he calleth— favourable comparisons . 28 With a reflecting sort
of congratulation，he will inquire the price of your furniture：and
insults you with a special commendation of your window-curtains .
He is of opinion that the urn29 is the more elegant shape；but，after
all，there was something more comfortable about the old tea-ket-
tle —which you must remember . He dare say30 you must find a
great convenience in having a carriage of your own，and appealeth
to your lady if it is not so. Inquireth if you have had your arms31
done on vellum32 yet；and did not know，till lately，that such-and-
such had been the crest33 of the family. 34 His memory is unseason- 查
尔
able；his compliments perverse；his talk a trouble；his stay pertina- 斯
・
cious；and when he goeth away，you dismiss his chair into a corner 兰
as precipitately as possible，and feel fairly rid of two nuisances35 . 姆
131
英 There is a worse evil under the sun，and that is— a female
文
名 Poor Relation . You may do something with the other；you may pass
篇 him off tolerably well；but your indigent she-relative is hopeless36 .
鉴 ‘He is an old humorist， ’you may say， ‘and affects to go thread-
赏 37
金 bare . His circumstances are better than folks would take them to
库 be . You are fond of having a Character at your table， 38
and truly
he is one .’But in the indications of female poverty there can be
no disguise . No woman dresses below herself from caprice . The
truth must out without shuffling. 39‘She is plainly related to the
L—’s40 ；or what does she at their house？ ’She is，in all probabili-
ty，your wife’s cousin . Nine times out of ten， 41
at least，this is the
case . —Her garb is something between a gentlewoman and a beg-
gar，yet the former evidently predominates . She is most provokingly
humble，and ostentatiously sensilble to her inferiority. 42 He may
require to be repressed sometimes— aliquando sufflaminandus er-
at 43 — but there is no raising her . You send her soup at dinner，and
she begs to he helped— after the gentlemen . Mr . —44 requests the
honour of taking wine with her；she hesitates between Port and
Madeira45 ，and chooses the former— because he does . She calls the
servant Sir ；and insists on not troubling him to hold her plate . The
housekeeper patronises her . The children’s governess takes upon
her to correct her， 46
when she has mistaken the piano for a harpsi-
chord .
Richard Amlet，Esq . 47 ，in the play，is a notable instance of
the disadvantages to which this chimerical notion of affinity consti-
tuting a claim to acquaintance48 ，may subject the spirit of a gen-
tleman. A little foolish blood is all that is betwixt him and a lady
with a great estate . 49 His stars are perpetually crossed by the ma-
lignant maternity of an old woman，who persists in calling him‘her
son Dick50’. But she has where withal in the end to recompense
his indignities，and float him again upon the brilliant surface，un-
132
der which it had been her seeming husiness and pleasure all along
to sink him. All men，besides，are not of Dick’s temperament . I
knew an Amlet in real life，who，wanting Dick’s buoyancy，sank
indeed. Poor W—51 was of my own standing at Christ’s52 a fine
classic，and a youth of promise . If he had a blemish，it was too
much pride；but its quality was inoffensive；it was not of that sort
which hardens the heart，and serves to keep inferiors at a dis-
tance；it only sought to ward off derogation from itself. It was the
principle of self-respest carried as far as it could go，without in-
fringing upon that respect，which he would have every one else e-
qually maintain for himself. He would have you to think alike with
him on this topic . 53 Many a54 quarrel have I had with him，when
we were rather older boys55 ，and our tallness made us more obnox-
ious to observation in the blue clothes，because I would not thread
the alleys and blind ways of the town with him to elude notice，
when we have been out together on a holiday in the streets of this
sneering and prying metropolis . W— went，sore with these notions，
to Oxford，where the dignity and sweetness of a scholar’s life，
meeting with the alloy of a humble introduction，wrought in him a
passionate devotion to the place，with a profound aversion from the
society. The servitor’s gown56（worse than his school array）clung
to him with Nessian venom57 . He thought himself ridiculous in a
garb，under which Latimer58 must have walked erect，and in which
Hooker59 ，in his young days，possibly flaunted in a vein of no disc-
ommendable vanity. In the depth of college shades，or in his lonely
chamber，the poor student shrunk from observation . He found shel-
ter among books，which insult not；and studies，that ask no ques-
tions of a youth’s finances . He was lord of his library，and seldom 查
尔
cared for looking out beyond his domains . The healing influence of 斯
・
studious pursuits was upon him to soothe and to abstract . He was 兰
almost a healthy man，when the waywardness60 of his fate broke out 姆
133
英 against him with a second and worse malignity. The father of W—
文
名 had hitherto exercised the humble profession of house-painter，at
篇 N—， near Oxford . A supposed interest with some of the heads of
鉴 colleges had now induced him to take up his abode in that city，
赏
金 with the hope of being employed upon some public works which
库 were talked of. From that moment I read in the countenance of the
young man the determination which at length tore him from aca-
demical pursuits for ever . To a person unacquainted with our uni-
versities，the distance between the gownsmen and the townsmen61 ，
as they are called— the trading part of the latter especially— is
carried to an excess that would appear harsh and incredible . The
temperament of W—’s father was diametrically the reverse of his
own . Old W— was a little，busy，cringing tradesman，who，with his
son upon his arm，would stand bowing and scraping，cap in hand，
to anything that wore the semblance of a gown— insensible to the
winks and opener remonstrances of the young man，to whose cham-
ber-fellow，or equal in standing，perhaps，he was thus obsequiously
and gratuitously ducking62 . Such a state of things could not last .
W—must change the air of Oxford，or be suffocated . He chose the
former；and let the sturdy moralist，who strains the point of the fil-
ial duties as high as they can bear63 ，censure the dereliction；he
cannot estimate the struggle . I stood with W—，the last afternoon I
ever saw him，under the eaves of his paternal dwelling. It was in
the fine lane leading from the High Street64 to the back of 
 college，where W— kept his rooms . He seemed thoughtful and
more reconciled . I ventured to rally him— finding him in a better
mood— upon a representation of the Artist Evangelist65 ，which the
old man，whose affairs were beginning to flourish66 ，had caused to
be set up in a splendid sort of frame over his really handsome
shop，either as a token of prosperity or badge of gratitude to his
saint. W— looked up at the Luke67 ，and，like Satan68 ，knew his
134
mounted sign— and fled .’A letter on his father’s table，the next
morning，announced that he had accepted a commission in a regi-
ment about to embark for Portugal . He was among the first who
perished before the walls of St . Sebastian69 .
I do not know how，upon a subject with I began with treating
half seriously，I should have fallen upon a recital so eminently
painful；but this theme of poor relationship is replete with so much
matter for tragic as well as comic associations，that it is difficult to
keep the account distinct without blending70 . The earliest impres-
sions which I received on this matter are certainly not attended
with anything painful，or very humiliating，in the recalling. At my
father’s table（no very splendid one）was to be found，every Satur-
day，the mysterious figure71 of an aged gentleman，clothed in neat
black，of a sad yet comely appearance . His deportment was of the
essence of gravity；his words few or none；and I was not to make a
noise in his presence . I had little inclination to have done so —
for my cue was to admire in silence . A particular elbow-chair was
appropriated to him，which was in no case to be violated . A pecu-
liar sort of sweet pudding，which appeared on no other occasion，
distinguished the days of his coming. I used to think him a prodi-
giously rich72 man . All I could make out of him was，that he and
my father had been schoolfellows，a world ago73 ，at Lincoln74 ，and
that he came from the Mint75 . The Mint I knew to be a place
where all the money was coined— and I thought he was the owner
of all that money. Awful ideas of the Tower twined themselves
about his presence . 76 He seemed above human infirmities and pas-
sions. 77 A sort of melancholy grandeur invested him. From some
inexplicable doom I fancied him obliged to go about in an eternal 查
尔
suit of mourning；a captive— a stately being78 let out of the Tower 斯
・
on Saturdays . Often have I wondered at the temerity of my fa- 兰
ther， 79
who，in spite of an habitual general respect which we all in 姆
135
英 common manifested towards him，would venture now and then to
文
名 stand up against him in some argument touching their youthful
篇 days. The houses of the ancient city of Lincoln are divided （as
鉴 most of my readers know）between the dwellers on the hill and in
赏
金 the valley. This marked distinction formed an obvious division be-
库 tween the boys who lived above （however brought together in a
common school）and the boys whose paternal residence was on the
plain；a sufficient cause of hostility in the code of these young
Grotiuses80 . My father had been a leading Mountaineer81 ；and
would still maintain the general superiority in skill and hardihood
of the Above Boys （his own faction）82 over the Below Boys （so
were they called）83 ，of which party his contemporary had been a
chieftain. Many and hot were the skirmishes on this topic— the
only one upon which the old gentleman was ever brought out— and
bad blood bred； 84
even sometimes almost to the recommencement
（so I expected）of actual hostilities . But my father，who scorned to
insist upon advantages，generally contrived to turn the conversation
upon some adroit by-commendation of the old Minster85 ；in the
general preference of which，before all other cathedrals in the is-
land，the dweller on the hill，and the plain-born，could meet on a
conciliating level，and lay down their less important differences .
Once only I saw the old gentleman really ruffled，and I remember
with anguish the thought that came over me： ‘Perhaps he will nev-
’
er come here again . He had been pressed to take another plate of
the viand，which I have already mentioned as the indispensable
concomitant of his visits . He had refused with a resistance amount-
ing to rigour，when my aunt，an old Lincolnian86 ，but who had
something of this，in common with my cousin Bridget87 ，that she
would sometimes press civility out of season88 — uttered the follow-
ing memorable application—‘Do take another slice，Mr . Billet，for
you do not get pudding every day.’The old gentleman said noth-
136
ing at the time— hut he took occasion in the course of the
evening，when some argument had intervened between them，to ut-
ter with an emphasis which chilled the company，and which chills
me now as I write it89 —‘Woman，you are superannuated！ ’90 John
Billet did not survive long，after the digesting of this affront；but he
survived long enough to assure me that peace was actually re-
stored！and if I remember aright，another pudding was discreetly
substituted in the place of that which had occasioned the offence .
He died at the Mint（anno 1781）91 where he had long held，what he
accounted，a comfortable independence；and with five pounds，
fourteen shillings，and a penny，which were found in his escritoire
after his decease，left the world，blessing God that he had enough
to bury him，and that he had never been obliged to any man for a
sixpence . This was— a Poor Relation .

1. an odious approximation：一种令人反感的亲近。
2. a blot on your ’scutcheon：家族名誉上的污点。’scutcheon = es-
cutcheon，饰有家族纹章的盾。
3. Agathocle’s pot：阿加索克里斯陶罐，Agathocles 是公元前 3 世纪
时西西里岛的暴君，本是一个陶匠的儿子，对于这种“微贱出身”他不
願回顾，自然避讳陶罐之类的东西。
4. Mordecai：末底改，
《圣经》中的人物，王后以斯帖的养父。当犹
太人受到迫害时，末底改身披麻布，蒙上灰尘，坐在朝门口表示抗议。
5. Lazarus：拉撒路，是福音书中在财主门口要饭的乞丐，浑身长
疮。这里可意译为“癞子”。
6. known by his knock：以敲门声来识别。
7. telleth：= tells，
-eth［古］加于动词之后，构成第三人称单数现在
式， 等于现在的-s，本文中 holdeth，entereth，offereth，filleth，remembereth，
professeth，suffereth 等也是如此。在 19 世纪时-s 和-eth 两种词尾经常 查
并用，但其作用不尽完全相同。 尔
8. entertainment：受人款待。 斯
・
9. He casually looketh in：他随便进来看看。 兰
10. open days：没有客人来的日子。 姆
137
英 11. with some complacency：很有几分安心地。
文 12. yet suffereth himself to be importuned into a slice：然而，经不起再
名 三敦促，他只好勉为其难地吃下去一块。
篇
鉴 13. He sticketh by the port：stick by 原义是“忠实于”，这里是“坚决
赏 只喝……”的意思，port 是一种英国人喜欢喝的葡萄牙甜红酒。全句
金 意为：他除了葡萄牙红酒外，本来是滴酒不沾的。
库
14. the remainder glass of claret：剩下的一杯法国红酒，claret 通常比
port 更贵。
15. if a stranger press it upon him：如果别人硬要劝他尝尝的话。
16. the most part：大多数人。
17. tide-waiter：
这是一个双关语词，一方面其词义为“海关水上稽查
员”，
即指他的职务平凡，
被人瞧不起；另一方面这个词也可指“骑墙主
义者”，
这里暗示大多数人把这位穷亲戚看成是“见风使舵的人”。
18. He calleth you by your. . . is the same with your own：他对你总是
直呼教名，以此暗示他跟你姓的是一个姓，即是说跟主人是本家亲
戚，这里 his other = his other name。
19. He is too familiar by half：他对人过分亲近。
20. he would be in no danger of being taken for what he is：别人也就根
本看不出他到底是何许人。
21. yet taketh on him more state than befits a client：state：派头；client：
帮闲的人。全句意为：他派头太大，不同于一般帮闲之辈。
22.’tis odds：多半，可能。
23. from his garb and demeanour：从他的穿着和神情来看。
24. whist：惠斯特，两对选手对玩 的 一 种 纸 牌 游 戏，是 现 代 桥 牌
（bridge）的前身。
25. resents being left out：不理采他，他又怨天尤人。
26. company：客人们。
27. and will thrust in some. . . unimportant anecdote：还要插进一两件
当年寒微时，不足道的什么故家琐闻。
28. He reviveth past situations. . . favourable comparisons：他爱回忆往
日的光景，进行一番他所谓的———大有好处的对比。
29. urn：咖啡壶或茶具。
30. He dare say：他断言，这里“dare”后没有加-s，是为了表示这里
保留着第一人称的语气。
31. arms：= coat of arms，标徽。
138
 32. vellum：= a fine parchment，小羊皮纸。
33. crest：家族饰徽上的一种图案。
34. 这里一连串的旁敲侧击，暗示这家主人是一个暴发户，而暴
发户也最怕知情人揭他的老底。所以当这位亲戚刚刚一走，主人就
有如释重负之感。
35. nuisances：讨厌的人或物。
36. your indigent she-relative is hopeless：对于贫穷的女亲戚简直就
无法可想了。 indigent = poor，she — relative 中的 she — 是个字首 = fe-
male。
37. affects to go threadbare：装作穿得破破烂烂的样子。 affect = pre-
tend to have；threadbare = shabby。
38. You are fond of having a character at your table：你们都喜欢在餐
桌上有一位怪人来做陪客。 character 这里指在某些方面不平常的人。
39. The truth must out without shuffling：真相总要泄露，含糊不得。
out 在这里是个动词 = to be revealed。 shuffling 闪烁其词。
40. the L—’s：= the Lambs 兰姆一家。
41. Nine times out of ten：十之八九。
42. She is most provokingly. . . sensible to her inferiority：她那低声下气
叫人恶心，她那自惭形秽过分刺眼。 provokingly 恼人地。 ostentatiously
招摇地；炫耀地。
43. aliquando sufflaminandus erat：拉丁文，意思是：曾经给主妇带来
劳累。
44. Mr—：某某先生。
45. Madeira：大西洋中的马德拉岛所产的葡萄酒。 She hesitates be-
tween Port and Madeira，她犹豫了好一阵，还拿不定主意究竟喝红葡萄
酒还是喝白葡萄酒。
46. The children’s governess takes upon her to correct her：孩子们的家
庭教师断然出来纠正她的错误。
47. Richard Amlet，Esq. ：Esq. = Esquire 先生，用于男子姓氏后的尊
称，以代替用于姓氏前的 Mr. 。理查德・阿姆莱特是 18 世纪英国戏剧
家凡布卢所作喜作《同谋》中的一个人物。他的母亲是一个卖脂粉和 查
妇女零星用品的小贩。但他为了追求一个富商的女儿，冒充为上校， 尔
而他母亲和这家富商来往密切，结果闹出种种笑话。最后他和富商 斯
・
的女儿终成眷属，他母亲还资助了他一大笔钱。 兰
48. affinity constituting a claim to acquaintance：远亲即是好友。含有 姆
139
英 远香近臭的意思。
文 49. A little foolish blood. . . with a great estate：他和那位有巨大家产
名 的小姐之间横隔着一层荒唐可笑的门第障碍。 betwixt［古］= between。
篇
鉴 50. Dick：Richard Amlet 的小名。
赏 51. Poor W—：这个可怜的 W-，是指兰姆在基督慈幼学校的同学
金 约瑟夫・法弗尔，他从慈幼学校毕业后，以工读生资格入剑桥大学读
库
书，因不堪岐视，愤而参军阵亡。
52. Christ’s = Christ charity school。
53. He would have you to think alike with him on this topic：他真希望
在这个题目上，人人都和他看法一致。
54. many a：= many，后面跟单数可数名词。
55. when we were rather older boys：我们长成了半大小伙子。
56. The servitor’s gown：工读生的长袍。 servitor 原意是男仆、侍从。
这里指半工半读的贫家子弟，学习之外，要做一部分校役工作，就连
穿衣服也和一般学生不同。
57. Nessian venom：尼萨斯的毒液。希腊神话中的尼萨斯，是一头
半人半马的怪物。临死前，他把浸染着自己毒血的衬衫交给赫库力
士的妻子，后来赫库力士穿上这件衬衫终于被毒死。
58.Latimer：休・拉蒂默（1490 ～ 1545），
英国主教，
曾就读于剑桥大学。
59. Hooker：理查・胡克（1554 ～ 1600），英国著名神学家。
60. waywardness：反复无常，难以捉摸。
61. between the gownsmen and the townsmen：穿长袍的学士和市井小
民之间。 gown 作集合名词时，常用来指牛津、剑桥这样的大学师生，
他们常身着长袍，头戴方帽。所以 town and gown 常用来指（牛津或剑
桥的）城镇居民和大学里的人。上面的 a gown 就指身穿大学袍服
的人。
62. he was thus obsequiously and gratuitously ducking：他也做出一副
奉承的、无缘无故点头哈腰的样子。
63. the sturdy moralist，who. . . high as they can bear：古板的道学家把
孝道抬高到了一个不得了的程度。
64. High Street：牛津大学附近的一条主要大街。
65. Artist Evangelist：福音传道艺师，根据基督教传统，路加，即第
三福音书的作者是画匠和艺师的保护者，因此被油漆匠们奉为祖师。
66. whose affairs were beginning to flourish：他的生意（油漆业）渐渐
开始兴旺起来。
140
 67. Luke：路加，即第三福音书的作者。
68. Satan：魔鬼。
69. St. Sebastian：圣塞巴斯提安， St. = Saint
70. this theme of poor relationship. . . the account distinct without blend-
ing：穷亲戚这个话题，本来内容广泛，一说起来，既能联想到喜剧事
件，也能联想到悲剧事件，要分得一清二楚，不相混淆，颇为不易。
71. mysterious figure：神秘人物。
72. prodigiously rich：很富有。
73. a world ago：很久以前。
74. Lincoln：林肯市，英格兰的林肯郡（Lincolnshire）的首府。另外
伦敦有一所林肯学院。作者在这里把两者混在一起，又当地名又当
学校。这是兰姆散文中常见的写法。
75. the Mint：造币厂。
76. Awful ideas of the Tower twined themselves about his presence：他的
出现还跟关于伦敦塔的可怕念头交织在一起，the Tower = The Tower of
London，伦敦塔实际上是一座古堡，古时是拘禁重要囚犯的监狱。现
作文物保存处。
77. He seemed above human infirmities and passions：他好像从来是无
疾无病，无情无欲。 above 在这里相当于 beyond。
78. stately being：高贵的人物。
79. Often have I wondered at the temerity of my father：我常常对父亲
的鲁莽觉得很奇怪。因为副词 often 放在句首，所以 have 也就提前放
在主语 I 之前，构成部分倒装。
80. Grotiuses：Grotius 格 劳 秀 斯（1583 ～ 1645），荷 兰 著 名 法 学 家。
1625 年发表法学著作《战争与和平》 （De iure belli ac pacis），这本著作
确立了国际法的标准。这里的 young Grotiuses 就是指一群年轻的法
学家。
81. a leading Mountaineer：山上派的首领。
82. the Above Boys（his own faction）：那些山上的少年们（即他自己
那一派）。
83. the Below Boys（so were they called）：那些山下的少年们（当时如 查
此称呼的）。 尔
84. Many and hot were the. . . and bad blood bred：于是，围绕这一题 斯
・
目，
多次发生激烈的争执———这时那位老先生才显露了本色———旧 兰
怨重新撩起。 姆
141
英 85. the old Minster：= Westminster Abbey，古老的西敏寺，即伦敦著
文 名的威斯敏斯特大教堂。
名
86. an old Lincolnian：一位老林肯人，指他那长期居住在林肯市的
篇
鉴 姑妈。
赏 87. in common with my cousin Bridget：和我表姐勃莉吉特脾气一样。
金 in common 共同的，共有的。
库
88. press civility out of season：在不该殷勤的时候偏偏十分殷勤。
civility 客套，礼仪； out of season 不合时宜的。
89. which chilled the company，and which chills me now as I write it：
（这话）使得举座失色，就是此时，我把它写下来时，还觉得心悸寒心。
90. Woman，you are superannuated：你这个娘儿们，真是老废物。 su-
perannuated = out-of-date； disqualified 过时的，废弃的。
91. anno 1781：公元 1781，anno = Anno Domini 略作 A. D. 。

142
Samuel Tayor Coleridge
塞缪尔・泰勒・柯勒律治
（1772 ～ 1834）

英国诗人、评论家。1772 年 10 月 21 日生于英
格兰德文郡，父亲是一位教区牧师。他 10 岁被送进
伦敦基督教慈幼学校， 19 岁入剑桥大学攻读古典文
学。1794 年，柯勒律治与骚塞合写了剧本《罗伯斯
庇尔的失败》。1796 年自办《警卫者》报，不久停刊。
后移居英国西部湖区，与华兹华斯过从甚密。 1798
年，柯勒律治与华兹华斯合作出版了著名诗集《抒情
歌谣集》。这部诗集以及 1800 年诗集再版时华兹华
斯所写的序言揭开了英国文学史崭新的一页，开创
了浪漫主义文学的新时代。1809 年，柯勒律治创办
《朋友》杂志。由于与华兹华斯在一些基本观点上存
在分歧，柯勒律治自 1810 年开始与华兹华斯进行公
开的争 论。 1817 年，他 发 表 了 最 完 整 的 散 文 著 作
《文学传记》。 1824 年，当选为英国皇家学会会员。
1834 年 7 月 25 日，柯勒律治在伦敦海格特区病逝。
他不仅是一位著名的诗人，创作了《古舟子咏》、 《忽 塞
必烈汗》等著名诗篇，而且还是一位颇有见地的文学 缪
尔
评论家，他的《文学传记》是英国著名的文学批评著 ・
作，
其见解与华兹华斯有所不同，享有很高的声誉。
泰
勒
柯勒律治的其他著作还包括《莎士比亚评论集》、
《思 ・
柯
维之助》等。
勒
律
治
143
英
文
名
篇
From“Biographia Literaria”
鉴 选自《文学传记》
赏
金
库
【作品赏析】
柯勒律治因为与华兹华斯合作了英国浪漫主义的奠基之作《抒
情歌谣集》而闻名于世，这使柯勒律治的诗名远扬。而实际上，柯勒
律治不但是一位出色的诗人，还是一位颇有见地的文学评论家，他的
诗论受到康德哲学的影响，在浪漫主义反对古典主义的斗争中占有
重要的地位。
《文学传记》即《我的文学生涯和思想札记》 （Sketches of My Literary
Life and Opinions），出版于 1817 年。撰写这本书的目的本来是要对柯
勒律治自己的一生进行简单的回顾，但实际上，该书的内容却与这个
主题相去甚远。书的前半部分论述的是一些哲学问题，而后半部分
一方面对华兹华斯的作品大加赞赏，另一方面又对华兹华斯的作品
进行了批评，对浪漫主义理论进行了深入的阐述，并就诗的本质、浪
漫主义诗歌的创作等问题发表了颇具新意的独到见解。
《文学传记》洋溢着浓厚的浪漫色彩，得到了现代文学批评界的
高度赞扬。其中提出的有关批评理论与哲学基础等基本问题，被理
查兹称为新批评派的思想源泉。美国的文学理论家威勒克在《近代
批评史》一书中甚至把柯勒律治与亚里士多德相提并论。
这篇散文选自《文学传记》，集中表达了柯勒律治对诗歌本质的
一些看法。柯勒律治首先回顾并分析了他与华兹华斯在浪漫主义理
论方面的异同，继而提出了自己对诗和诗人的看法。他认为，诗是一
种创作类型，它与科学作品不同，它的直接目标不是真实，而是快感。
与其他一切以快感为目的的创作不同，诗的特点在于提供一种来自
整体的快感，同时与其组成部分所给予的个别快感又能协调一致。
诗是诗的天才的特产，是由诗的天才对诗人心中的形象、思想、感情，
一面加以支持、一面加以改变而成的。
从这篇文章中，我们既可以看到作为一名浪漫主义诗人的柯勒
律治所表现出的激情，又能看到作为一名素有哲学修养的文学评论
家所表现出的冷静和理性以及渊博的知识。这篇散文逻辑清晰，论
144
述透彻，冷静的行文中不时洋溢出浪漫主义诗人的激情，令读者随着
这位 19 世纪初的浪漫主义诗人一同沉浸在对诗歌的深深思索之中。
（彭萍）

【作品欣赏】
CHAPTER XIV
During the first year that Mr . Wordsworth1 and I were neigh-
bors， our conversations turned frequently on the two cardinal2
points of poetry，the power of exciting the sympathy of the reader
by a faithful adherence to the truth of nature，and the power of
giving the interest of novelty by the modifying colors of imagina-
tion . The sudden charm， which accidents of light and shade，
which moonlight or sunset，diffused3 over a known and familiar
landscape，appeared to represent the practicability of combining
both . These are the poetry of nature . The thought suggested itself
（to which of us I do not recollect）that a series of poems might be
composed of two sorts . In the one，the incidents and agents were
to be，in part at least，supernatural；and the excellence aimed at
was to consist in the interesting of the affections by the dramatic
truth of such emotions as would naturally accompany such situa-
tions，supposing them real . And real in this sense they have been
to every human being who，from whatever source of delusion4 ，has
at any time believed himself under supernatural agency. For the
second class，subjects were to be chosen from ordinary life；the
characters and incidents were to be such as will be found in every
塞
village and its vicinity5 ，where there is a meditative6 and feeling 缪
mind to seek after them，or to notice them，when they present 尔
・
themselves . 泰
In this idea originated the plan of the Lyrical Ballads7 ；in 勒
・
which it was agreed that my endeavors should be directed to per- 柯
勒
sons and characters supernatural，or at least romantic；yet so as to 律
transfer from our inward nature a human interest and a semblance8 治
145
英 of truth sufficient to procure for these shadows of imagination that
文
willing suspension9 of disbelief for the moment，which constitutes
名
篇 poetic faith . Mr . Wordsworth，on the other hand，was to propose
鉴 to himself as his object，to give the charm of novelty to things of
赏
金 every day，and to excite a feeling analogous10 to the supernatural，
库 by awakening the mind’s attention from the lethargy11 of custom，
and directing it to the loveliness and the wonders of the world be-
fore us；an inexhaustible treasure，but for which，in consequence
of the film of familiarity and selfish solicitude12 ，we have eyes，
yet see not，ears that hear not，and hearts that neither feel nor
understand .
With this view I wrote The Ancient Mariner 13 ， and was
preparing among other poems， The Dark Ladie14 ， and the
Christabel 15 ，in which I should have more nearly realized my ideal
than I had done in my first attempt . But Mr . Wordsworth’s in-
dustry had proved so much more successful，and the number of his
poems so much greater，that my compositions，instead of forming
a balance appeared rather an interpolation16 of heterogeneous17
matter. Mr . Wordsworth added two or three poems written in his
own character，in the impassioned，lofty18 ，and sustained diction
which is characteristic of his genius . In this form the Lyrical Bal-
lads were published；and were presented by him，as an experi-
ment，whether subjects，which from their nature rejected the usual
ornaments and extra - colloquial19 style of poems in general，might
not be so managed in the language of ordinary life as to produce
the pleasurable interest which it is the peculiar business of poetry
to impart20 . To the second edition he added a preface of consider-
able length；in which，notwithstanding some passages of apparent-
ly a contrary import，he was understood to contend for the exten-
sion of this style to poetry of all kinds，and to reject as vicious21
and indefensible all phrases and forms of speech that were not in-
146
cluded in what he（unfortunately，I think，adopting an equivocal22
expression） called the language of real life . From this preface，
prefixed to poems in which it wasimpossible to deny the presence
of original genius， however mistaken its direction might be
deemed，arose the whole long-continued controversy23 . For from
the conjunction of perceived power with supposed heresy24 I ex-
plain the inveteracy25 ，and in some instances，I grieve to say，the
acrimonious26 passions，with which the controversy has been con-
ducted by the assailants27 .
Had Mr . Wordsworth’s poems been the silly，the childish
things which they were for a long time described as being；had
they been really distinguished from the compositions of other poets
merely by meanness of language and inanity28 of thought；had they
indeed contained nothing more than what is found in the parodies
and pretended imitations of them；they must have sunk at once，a
dead weight，into the slough of oblivion29 ，and have dragged the
preface along with them. But year after year increased the number
of Mr . Wordsworth’s admirers . They were found，too，not in the
lower classes of the reading public，but chiefly among young men
of strong sensibility and meditative minds；and their admiration
（inflamed perhaps in some degree by opposition） was distin-
guished by its intensity，I might almost say，by its religious fer-
vor. These facts，and the intellectual energy of the author，which
was more or less consciously felt，where it was outwardly and even
boisterously30 denied，meeting with sentiments of aversion31 to his 塞
缪
opinions，and of alarm at their consequences，produced an eddy32 尔
・
of criticism，which would of itself have borne up the poems by the 泰
violence with which it whirled them round and round . With many 勒
・
parts of this preface，in the sense attributed to them，and which 柯
勒
the words undoubtedly seem to authorize，I never concurred33 ； 律
but，on the contrary，objected to them as erroneous in principle 治
147
英 and as contradictory（in appearance at least）both to other parts of
文
名 the same preface and to the author’s own practice in the greater
篇 number of the poems themselves . Mr . Wordsworth，in his recent
鉴 collection，has，I find，degraded this prefatory disquisition34 to
赏
金 the end of his second volume，to be read or not at the reader’s
库 choice . But he has not，as far as I can discover，announced any
change in his poetic creed . At all events，considering it as the
source of a controversy，in which I have been honored more than I
deserve by the frequent conjunction of my name with his，I think
it expedient35 to declare，once for all，in what points I coincide
with the opinions supported in that preface，and in what points I
altogether differ . But in order to render myself intelligible，I must
previously，in as few words as possible，explain my ideas，first，
of a poem； and secondly， of poetry itself， in kind， and in
essencem.
The office of philosophical disquisition consists in just dis-
tinction；while it is the privilege of the philosopher to preserve
himself constantly aware that distinction is not division . In order
to obtain adequate notions of any truth， we must intellectually
separate its distinguishable parts；and this is the technical process
of philosophy. But having so done，we must then restore them in
our conceptions to the unity in which they actually coexist；and
this is the result of philosophy. A poem contains the same ele-
ments as a prose composition；the difference，therefore，must con-
sist in a different combination of them，in consequence of a differ-
ent object proposed . According to the difference of the object will
be the difference of the combination . It is possible that the object
may be merely to facilitate the recollection of any given facts or
observations by artificial arrangement；and the compsoition will be
a poem，merely because it is distinguished from prose by meter，
or by rime36 ，or by both conjointly. In this，the lowest sense，a
148
man might attribute the name of a poem to the well - known enu-
meration37 of the days in the several months；
“Thirty days hath September，
April，June，and November，”etc .
and others of the same class and purpose . And as a particu-
lar pleasure is found in anticipating the recurrence38 of sounds and
quantities， all compositions that have this charm superadded，
whatever be their contents，may be entitled poems .
So much for the superficial form. A difference of object and
contents supplies an additional ground of distinction . The immedi-
ate purpose may be the communication of truths：either of truth
absolute and demonstrable，as in works of science；or of facts ex-
perienced and recorded，as in history. Pleasure，and that of the
highest and most permanent kind，may result from the attainment
of the end；but it is not itself the immediate end . In other works
the communication of pleasure may be the immediate purpose；and
though truth，either moral or intellectual，ought to be the ultimate
end，yet this will distinguish the character of the author，not the
class to which the work belongs . Blest indeed is that state of soci-
ety，in which the immediate purpose would be baffled39 by the
perversion40 of the proper ultimate end；in which no charm of dic-
tion or imagery could exempt the Bathyllus41 even of an Anacreon，
or the Alexis42 of Vergil43 ，from disgust and aversion！
But the communication of pleasure may be the immediate ob-
ject of a work not metrically composed；and that object may have 塞
缪
been in a high degree attained，as in novels and romances . Would 尔
・
then the mere superaddition of meter，with or without rime，entitle 泰
these to the name of poems？The answer is，that nothing can per- 勒
・
manently please，which does not contain in itself the reason why it 柯
勒
is so，and not otherwise . If meter be superadded，all other parts 律
must be made consonant44 with it . They must be such as to justify 治
149
英 the perpetual45 and distinct attention to each part，which an exact
文
名 correspondent recurrence of accent and sound are calculated to ex-
篇 cite . The final definition then，so deduced，may be thus worded .
鉴 A poem is that species of composition，which is opposed to works
赏
金 of science，by proposing for its immediate object pleasure，not
库 truth；and from all other species （having this object in common
with it）it is discriminated by proposing to itself such delight from
the whole，as is compatible with a distinct gratification from each
component part .
Controversy is not seldom excited in consequence of the dis-
putants attaching each a different meaning to the same word；and
in few instances has this been more striking than in disputes con-
cerning the present subject . If a man chooses to call every compo-
sition a poem，which is rime，or measure，or both，I must leave
his opinion uncontroverted . The distinction is at least competent to
characterizethe writer’s intention . If it were subjoined46 that the
whole is likewise entertaining or affecting，as a tale，or as a series
of interesting reflections，I of course admit this as another fit in-
gredient of a poem，and an additional merit . But if the definition
sought for be that of a legitimate47 poem，I answer，it must be one
the parts of which mutually support and explain each other；all in
their proportion harmonizing with，and supporting the purpose and
known influences of metrical48 arrangement . The philosophic crit-
ics of all ages coincide with the ultimate judgement of all coun-
tries，in equally denying the praises of a just poem，on the one
hand，to a series of striking lines or distiches49 ，each of which，
absorbing the whole attention of the reader to itself，becomes dis-
joined from its context，and forms a separate whole，instead of a
harmonizing part；and on the other hand，to an unsustained com-
position，from which the reader collects rapidly the general result
unattracted by the component parts . The reader should be carried
150
forward，not merely or chiefly by the mechanical impulse of cu-
riosity，or by a restless desire to arrive at the final solution；but
by the pleasurable activity of mind excited by the attractions of the
journey itself. Like the motion of aserpent，which the Egyptians
made the emblem of intellectual power；or like the path of sound
through the air；— at every step he pauses and half recedes，and
from the retrogressive50 movement collects the force which again
carries him onward . PrS cipitandus est liber spiritus，51
says Petron-
ius most happily. The epithet ，liber ，here balances the pre-
52 53 54

ceding verb；and it is not easy to conceive55 more meaning con-

densed in fewer words .
But if this should be admitted as a satisfactory character of a
，
poem we have still to seek for a definition of poetry. The writings
of Plato， and Jeremy Taylor56 ， and Burnet’s57 Theory of the
Earth 58 ，furnish undeniable proofs that poetry of the highest kind
may exist without meter， and even without the contradistin-
guishing59 objects of a poem. The first chapter of Isaiah60（indeed，
a very large proportion of the whole book） is poetry in the most
emphatic sense；yet it would be not less irrational than strange to
assert，that pleasure，and not truth，was the immediate object of
the prophet61 . In short，whatever specific import we attach to the
word“poetry”，there will be found involved in it，as a necessary
consequence，that a poem of any length neither can be，nor ought
to be，all poetry. Yet if a harmonious whole is to be produced，
the remaining parts must be preserved in keeping with poetry；and 塞
缪
this can be no otherwise effected than by such a studied selection 尔
・
and artificial arrangement as will partake62 of one，though not a 泰
peculiar，property of poetry. And this again can be no other than 勒
・
the property of exciting a more continuous and equal attention than 柯
勒
the language of prose aims at，whether colloquial or written . My 律
own conclusions on the nature of poetry，in the strictest use of the 治
151
英 word，have been in part anticipated in some of the remarks in the
文
early part of this work on the fancy and imagination . What is po-
名
篇 etry？is so nearly the same question with，what is a poet？that the
鉴 answer to the one is involved in the solution of the other . For it is
赏
金 a distinction resulting from the poetic genius itself，which sustains
库 and modifies the images，thoughts，and emotions of the poet’s
own mind . The poet，described in ideal perfection，brings the
whole soul of man into activity，with the subordination of its facul-
ties to each other，according to their relative worth and dignity.
He diffuses a tone and spirit of unity，that blends，and （as it
were）fuses，each into each，by that synthetic and magical pow-
er，to which I would exclusively appropriate the name of imagina-
tion . This power，first put in action by the will and understand-
ing，and retained under their irremissive，though gentle and unno-
ticed，control （laxis effertur habenis）63 reveals itself in the bal-
ance or reconcilement64 of opposite or discordant qualities： of
sameness with difference；of the general with the concrete；the
idea with the image；the individual with the representative；the
sense of novelty and freshness with old and familiar objects；a
more than usual state of emotion with more than usual order；
judgement ever awake and steady self-possession65 with enthusiasm
and feeling profound or vehement66 ；and while it blends and har-
monizes the natural and the artificial，still subordinates art to na-
ture；the manner to the matter；and our admiration of the poet to
our sympathy with the poetry.

1 .Wordsworth：华兹华斯，英国著名诗人，英国浪漫主义文学的
先驱。
2 . cardinal：最重要的，主要的。
3 . diffused：弥漫的，四散的，漫射的。
4 . delusion：错觉，幻觉，妄想。
5 . vicinity：附近，周边地区。
152
 6 . meditative：沉思的，冥想的。
7 . Lyrical Ballads：《抒情歌谣集》，华兹华斯和柯勒律治合 作 的
诗集。
8 . semblance：外表，伪装。
9 . suspension：暂停，中止。
10 . analogous：相似的，类似的。
11 . lethargy：无精打采，无生气，倦怠，呆滞。
12 . solicitude：关怀，关心，牵挂。
13 . The Ancient Mariner ：《古舟子咏》，柯勒律治的诗作。
14 . The Dark Ladie：《黑女郎》，柯勒律治的诗作。
15 . Christabel ：《克丽斯特贝尔》，柯勒律治的诗作。
16 . interpolation：添写，插补，篡改。
17 . heterogeneous：异类的，异种的，异质的，具有不同性质和意
义的。
18 . lofty：高尚的，崇高的，高傲的。
19 . colloquial：通俗的，口语的。
20 . impart：传授，给予，告知。
21 . vicious：邪恶的，不道德的，有错误的。
22 . equivocal：模棱两可的，含糊的，不明确的。
23 . controversy：论争，论战，辩论。
24 . heresy：异端，异教。
25 . inveteracy：根深蒂固，积习。
26 . acrimonious：尖刻的，恶毒的。
27 . assailant：攻击者。
28 . inanity：空洞，愚妄，无知。
29 . slough of oblivion：遗忘的沼泽。
30 . boisterously：猛烈地，狂暴地。
31 . aversion：反感，厌恶。 塞
32 . eddy：旋涡，逆流。 缪
尔
33 . concur：同意，赞成。 ・
34 . disquisition：专题论文，专题讨论。
泰
勒
35 . expedient：适宜的，有用的，有利的。 ・
柯
36 . rime：= rhyme，韵，韵脚，押韵。
勒
37 . enumeration：列举，枚举。 律
38 . recurrence：重现，再现。 治
153
英 39 . baffle：阻碍，困惑。
文 40 . perversion：歪曲，曲解。
名
41 . Bathyllus：古希腊诗人阿那克里翁的朋友。
篇
鉴 42 . Alexis：古希腊诗人阿那克里翁的朋友。
赏 43 . Vergil：维吉尔，古罗马诗人。
金 44 . consonant：一致的，和谐的。
库
45 . perpetual：永恒的，不断的。
46 . subjoin：补添，附加。
47 . legitimate：合法的，合理的，正统的。
48 . metrical：韵律的。
49 . distich：（诗中押韵的）对联，对句。
50 . retrogressive：倒退的，退步的，退化的。
51 . PrS cipitandus est liber spiritus：必须不顾一切地发扬自由精神。
52 . Petronius：佩特罗尼乌，古罗马皇帝尼禄的朋友， 《萨地利孔》
（Satyricon）的作者。
53 . epithet：称号，绰号。
54 . liber：自由。
55 . conceive：想象，设想，构想。
56 . Jeremy Taylor：哲罗米・泰勒，英国基督教圣公会教士，以所著
《圣洁生活的规则和习尚》、
《圣洁死亡的规则和习尚》而闻名。
57 . Burnet：伯内特，英国神父，著有《神圣的地球理论》 （Theoria
Sacra）。
58 . Theory of the Earth ：即《神圣的地球理论》。
59 . contradictinguishing：对比的，对照的。
60 . Isaiah：《圣经》中的《以赛亚书》。
61 . prophet：先知，圣徒。
62 . partake：分担，参与，分享。
63 . laxis effertur habenis：他生来无拘无束。
64 . reconcilement：一致，服从，和解。
65 . self-possession：自持，自控。
66 . vehement：激烈的，强烈的，猛烈的。

154
William Hazlitt
威廉・哈兹里特
（1778 ～ 1830）

19 世纪英国浪漫主义批评家和散文作家。生
于肯特郡。1799 至 1804 年主要创作肖像画，1804 年
起转入写作，日后并以此为生。哈兹里特先后与兰
姆（C. Lamb，1775 ～ 1834）、华兹华斯（W. Wordsworth，
1770 ～ 1850）和柯勒律治（S. T. Coleridge，1772 ～ 1834）
结为文友；在政治上属自由派，观点比较激进。他曾
为不少 报 纸 和 杂 志 撰 稿，但 主 要 与 享 特（L. Hunt，
1784 ～ 1859）主 编 的《检 查 者》
（The Examiner）联 系
甚密。
哈兹里特著述面较广，涉及历史、哲学和政论等
领域。其 主 要 著 作《时 代 的 精 神》
（The Spirit of the
Age，
1825）研究了当时知识界的头面人物———如边
沁（J. Bentham，1748 ～ 1832）和华兹华斯。做为浪漫
派文艺批评家，哈兹里特还写过不少评论文章，尤其
是关于莎士比亚，他有很多独特的见解。他的评论
文章主要是印象式的，用活泼的文笔渲染欣赏式的
意见与感触。
除了文艺批评以外，哈兹里特的主要成就还有
散文，他的文风生动鲜明，简洁有力，所以在当时他 威
廉
的散文拥有大量读者。其最著名的散文集有《席间 ・
闲谈》
（Table Talk，
哈
1821 ～ 1822）和《直言者》
（The Plain
兹
Speaker ，
1826）。 里
特
155
英
文
名 On Going a Journey
篇
鉴 论 旅 游
赏
金
库
【作品赏析】
《论旅游》是哈兹里特脍炙人口的一篇杂文，记载了他对旅游的
一些独特见解。这里谈到的旅游不像现代人乘坐飞机、火车等的远
途旅行，而是 19 世纪颇为流行的野外远足。
作者开宗明义地表示了他对独自旅游的偏爱。他认为旅游的
“精髓就是自由”，即自由地思考、感觉与行动，要忘却故我与旧人。
旅游是在郊外阅读大自然这本书，如果有人作伴则妨碍你沉思幂想，
迫使你不时地找话说。对途中所见景物，仁者见仁，智者见智，只能
靠个人直觉去体会，其中感触是无法言传的。
单身旅行的另一点好处就是可以抛却世俗的羁绊，隐瞒自己的
身份，做一个纯粹自由的人。正如作者所说，
“一家小旅店使我们返
朴归真，与人世了结一切尘缘。
”
作者在文中还探讨了一个有趣的心理现象：想象的幅度是有限
的，只能一次想象一个场景，而其余的部分则是空白。心灵的眼睛只
能一幕一幕地“过”自然风景。眼前的景物像真物般大小，而远处的
景物则缩小到理解所及的尺度。想象的这一局限性是通过旅游认识
到的。
哈兹里特偏好独身旅游，但也并不绝对排斥结伴远足。在凭吊
古迹时，可以和旅伴谈今论古，因为这些景物是可以理解并谈论的。
另一个例外就是在国外旅行也可以有人陪伴，因为一个英国人对外
国的人情风俗有不自觉的厌恶，需要有同胞表示同情，以宣泄这种厌
恶感。
尽管哈兹里特在政治上是个激进派，但他这篇散文却毫无“火
气”，行文舒缓，娓娓而谈，真率坦白，如老友促膝谈心。《论旅游》像
同时期的浪漫主义作品一样，显示了作者对自然的崇拜、对世俗礼节
的厌恶，以及对回归纯朴人性的向往。把《论旅游》和卢梭的一些游
记一同读读，则不难发现其中许多共同之处。
（蒋显璟）
156
【作品欣赏】
One of the pleasantest things in the world is going a journey；
but I like to go by myself. I can enjoy society in a room；but out-
of-doors，Nature is company enough for me . 1 I am then never less
alone than when alone . 2

The fields his study，Nature was his book .

I cannot see the wit of walking and talking at the same time .
When I am in the country，I wish to vegetate3 like the country. I
am not for criticizing hedgerows and black cattle . I go out of town
in order to forget the town and all that is in it . There are those who
for this purpose go to watering-places，and carry the metropolis
with them4 . I like more elbow-room，and fewer incumbrances . I
like solitude，when I give myself up to it，for the sake of solitude；
nor do I ask for

a friend in my retreat，
Whom I may whisper，solitude is sweet .

The soul of a journey is liberty，perfect liberty，to think，feel，

do just as one pleases . We go a journey chiefly to be free of all
impediments and of ail inconveniences；to leave ourselves behind5 ，
much more to get rid of others . It is because I want a little breath-
ing-space to muse on indifferent matters，where Contemplation

May plume6 her feathers and let grow her wings， 威

That in the various bustle of resort 廉
・
Were all too ruffled，and sometimes impaired， 哈
兹
里
that I absent myself from the town for a while，without feeling 特
157
英 at a loss the moment I am left by myself. Instead of a friend in a
文
post-chaise7 or in a Tilbury8 ，to exchange good things with and
名
篇 vary the same stale topics over again，for once let me have a truce
鉴 with impertinence9 . Give me the clear blue sky over my head，and
赏
金 the green turf beneath my feet，a winding road before me，and a
库 three hours’march to dinner— and then to thinking！ It is hard if
I cannot start some game10 on these lone heaths . I laugh，I run，I
leap，I sing for joy. From the point of yonder rolling cloud I plunge
into my past being，and revel there，as the sunburnt Indian plunges
headlong into the wave that wafts him to his native shore . Then
long-forgotten things，like “sunken wrack and sumless trea-
suries11 ，”burst upon my eager sight，and I begin to feel，think，and
be myself again . Instead of an awkward silence，broken by attempts
at wit or dull commonplaces12 ，mine is that undisturbed silence of
the heart which alone is perfect eloquence . No one likes puns，al-
literations，antitheses，argument，and analysis better than I do；but
I sometimes had rather be without them.“Leave，oh，leave me to
my repose！ ”I have just now other business in hand，which would
seem idle to you，but is with me“very stuff o’the conscience .”Is
not this wild rose sweet without a comment？ Does not this daisy
leap to my heart set in its coat of emerald？ Yet if I were to ex-
plain to you the circumstance that has so endeared it to me，you
would only smile . Had I not better then keep it to myself，and let it
serve me to brood over，from here to yonder craggy point，and from
thence onward to the far-distant horizon？ I should be bad compa-
ny all that way，and therefore prefer being alone . I have heard it
said that you may，when the moody fit comes on，walk or ride on
by yourself，and indulge your reveries . But this looks like a breach
of manners，as neglect of others，and you are thinking all the time
that you ought to rejoin your party.“Out upon such half-faced fel-
lowship， ”13 say I . I like to be either entirely to myself，or entirely
158
at the disposal of others； 14
to talk or be silent，to walk or sit still，
to be sociable or solitary. I was pleased with an observation of Mr .
Cobbett’s that he thought it a bad French custom to drink our
wine with our meals，and that an Englishman ought to do only one
thing at a time . So I cannot talk and think，or indulge in melan-
choly musing and lively conversation，by fits and starts“Let me
have a companion of my way， ”says Sterne， “were it but to remark
how the shadows lengthen as the sun declines .”It is beautifully
said；but in my opinion this continual comparing of notes15 inter-
feres with the involuntary impression of things upon the mind，and
hurts the sentiment . If you only hint what you feel in a kind of
dumb show，it is insipid；if you have to explain it，it is making a
toil of a pleasure . You cannot read the book of Nature without be-
ing perpetually put to the trouble of translating it for the benefit of
others. I am for the synthetical method on a journey in preference
to the analytical . I am content to lay in a stock of ideas then，and
to examine and anatomize them afterwards . I want to see my vague
notions float like the down of the thistle before the breeze，and not
to have them entangled in the briars and thorns of controversy. 16
For once，I like to have it all my own way；and this is impossible
unless you are alone，or in such company as I do not covet . I have
no objection to argue a point with anyone for twenty miles of mea-
sured road，but not for pleasure . If you remark the scent of a bean-
field crossing the road，perhaps your fellowtraveler has no smell . If
you point to a distant object，perhaps he is short-sighted，and has
to take out his glass to look at it . There is a feeling in the air，a
tone in the color of a cloud which hits your fancy，but the effect of 威
which you are unable to account for . There is then no sympathy， 廉
・
but an uneasy craving after it，and a dissatisfaction which pursues 哈
兹
you on the way，and in the end probably produces ill-humor . Now I 里
never quarrel with myself，and take all my own conclusions for 特
159
英 granted till I find it necessary to defend them against objections . It
文
名 is not merely that you may not be of accord on the objects and cir-
篇 cumstances that present themselves before you— these may recall a
鉴 number of objects，and lead to associations too delicate and refined
赏
金 to be possibly communicated to others . Yet these I love to cherish，
库 and sometimes still fondly clutch them，when I can escape from the
throng to do so. To give way to our feelings before company seems
extravagance or affectation； 17
and on the other hand，to have to
unravel this mystery of our being at every turn，and to make others
take an equal interest in it— otherwise the end is not answered— is
a task to which few are competent . We must“give it an under-
standing，but no tongue .”My old friend C—，however，could do
both . He could go on in the most delightful explanatory way over
hill and dale，a summer’s day，and convert a landscape into a di-
dactic poem or a Pindaric ode18 .“He talked far above singing. 19”
If I could so clothe my ideas in sounding and flowing words20 ，I
might perhaps wish to have someone with me to admire the
swelling theme；or I could be more content，were it possible for me
still to hear his echoing voice in the woods of All-Foxden . They
had“that fine madness in them which our first poets had”；and if
they could have been caught by some rare instrument，would have
breathed such strains as the following：

Here be woods as green

As any，air likewise as fresh and sweet
As when smooth Zephyrus plays on the fleet
Face of the curled stream，with flowers as many
As the young spring gives，and as choice as any；
Here be all new delights，cool streams，and wells，
Arbors o’ergrown with woodbine，caves and dells；
Choose where thou wilt，while I sit by and sing，
160
 Or gather rushes to make many a ring
For thy long fingers；tell thee tales of love—
How the pale PhS be，hunting in a grove，
First saw the boy Endymion，from whose eyes
She took eternal fire that never dies；
How she conveyed him softly in a sleep，
His temples bound with poppy，to the steep
Head of old Latmos，where she stoops each night，
Gilding the mountain with her brother’s light，
To kiss her sweetest .
— Faithful Shepherdess .

Had I words and images at command like these，I would at-

tempt to wake the thoughts that lie slumbering on golden ridges in
the evening clouds；but at the sight of Nature my fancy，poor as it
is，droops and closes up its leaves，like flowers at sunset . I can
make nothing out on the spot— I must have time to collect my-
self. 21
In general，a good thing spoils out-of-door prospects；it should
be reserved for table-talk . L—22 is for this reason，I take it，the
worst company in the world out-of-doors；because he is the best
within. I grant there is one subject on which it is pleasant to talk
on a journey；and that is，what one shall have for supper when we
get to our inn at night . The open air improves this sort of conversa-
tion or friendly altercation，by setting a keener edge on appetite .
Every mile of the road heightens the flavor of the viands we expect
at the end of it . How fine it is to enter some old town，walled and 威
turreted，just at the approach of nightfall，or to come to some strag- 廉
・
gling village，with the lights streaming through the surrounding 哈
兹
gloom；and then，after inquiring for the best entertainment that the 里
place affords，to“take one’s ease at one’s inn”！ These eventful 特
161
英 moments in our lives’history are too precious，too full of solid，
文
名 heartfelt happiness to be frittered and dribbled away in imperfect
篇 sympathy. I would have them all to myself，and drain them to the
鉴 last drop；they will do to talk of or to write about afterwards . What
赏
金 a delicate speculation it is，after drinking whole goblets of tea—
库
The cups that cheer，but not inebriate，

and letting the fumes ascend into the brain，to sit considering
what we shall have for supper— eggs and a rasher，a rabbit smoth-
ered in onions，or an excellent veal cutlet！ Sancho in such a situ-
ation once fixed upon cow-heel；and his choice，though he could
not help it，is not to be disparaged . Then，in the intervals of pic-
tured scenery and Shandean contemplation23 ，to catch the prepara-
tion and the stir in the kitchen— Procul ，O procul este profani ！
These hours are sacred to silence and to musing，to be treasured
up in the memory，and to feed the source of smiling thoughts here-
after . I would not waste them in idle talk；or if I must have the in-
tegrity of fancy broken in upon，I would rather it were by a stranger
than a friend . A stranger takes his hue and character from the time
and place； 24
he is a part of the furniture and costume of an inn . If
he is a Quaker25 or from the West Riding of Yorkshire，so much
the better . I do not even try to sympathize with him，and he breaks
no squares . I associate nothing with my traveling companion but
present objects and passing events . 26 In his ignorance of me and
my affairs I in a manner forget myself. But a friend reminds one of
other things，rips up old grievances，and destroys the abstraction of
the scene . He comes in ungraciously between us and our imaginary
character. Something is dropped in the course of conversation that
gives a hint of your profession and pursuits；or from having some-
one with you that knows the less sublime portions of your history，
162
it seems that other people do. You are no longer a citizen of the
world；but your“unhoused，free condition is put into circumscrip-
tion and confine .”The incognito of an inn is one of its striking
privileges—“lord of oneself，uncumbered with a name . 27”Oh！ it
is great to shake off the trammels of the world and of public opin-
ion— to lose our importunate，tormenting，everlasting personal i-
dentity in the elements of Nature，and become the creature of the
moment，clear of all ties28 — to hold to the universe only by a dish
of sweetbreads，and to owe nothing but the score of the evening—
and no longer seeking for applause and meeting with contempt，to
be known by no other title than the gentleman in the parlor ！One
may take one’s choice of all characters in this romantic state of
uncertainty as to one’s real pretensions，and become indefinitely
respectable and negatively right-worshipful . We baffle prejudice
and disappoint conjecture；and from being so to others，begin to be
objects of curiosity and wonder even to ourselves . We are no more
those hackneyed commonplaces that we appear in the world；an inn
restores us to the level of nature，and quits scores with society29 ！
There is hardly anything that shows the shortsightedness or
capricicusness of the imagination more than traveling does . With
change of place we change our ideas；nay，our opinions and feel-
ings. We can by an effort indeed transport ourselves to old and
long-forgotten scenes，and then the picture of the mind revives a-
gain；but we forget those that we have just left . It seems that we
can think but of one place at a time . The canvas of the fancy is but
of a certain extent，and if we paint one set of objects upon it，they
immediately efface every other . We cannot enlarge our concep- 威
tions，we only shift our point of view. The landscape bares its bo- 廉
・
som to the enraptured eye，we take our fill of it30 ，and seem as if 哈
兹
we could form no other image of beauty or grandeur . We pass on， 里
and think no more of it；the horizon that shuts it from our sight al- 特
163
英 so blots it from our memory like a dream. In traveling through a
文
名 wild，barren country I can form no idea of a woody and cultivated
篇 one . It appears to me that all the world must be barren，like what I
鉴 see of it . In the country we forget the town，and in town we despise
赏
金 the country.“Beyond Hyde Park31 ， ”says Sir Fopling Flutter，“all
库 is a desert .”All that part of the map that we do not see before us
is a blank . The world in our conceit of it is not much bigger than a
nutshell. It is not one prospect expanded into another，county
joined to county，kingdom to kingdom，lands to seas，making an
image voluminous and vast；the mind can form no larger idea of
space than the eye can take in at a single glance . The rest is a
name written on a map，a calculation of arithmetic . For instance，
what is the true signification of that immense mass of territory and
population known by the name of China to us？An inch of paste-
board on a wooden globe，of no more account than a China orange！
Things near us are seen of the size of life；things at a distance are
diminished to the size of the understanding. We measure the uni-
verse by ourselves，and even comprehend the texture of our own
being only piecemeal . In this way，however，we remember an infin-
ity of things and places . The mind is like a mechanical instrument
that plays a great variety of tunes，but it must play them in succes-
sion . One idea recalls another，but it at the same time excludes all
others. In trying to renew old recollections we cannot，as it were，
unfold the whole web of our existence；we must pick out the single
threads . So，in coming to a place where we have formerly lived and
with which we have intimate associations，everyone must have
found that the feeling grows more vivid the nearer we approach the
spot，from the mere anticipation of the actual impression：we re-
member circumstances，feelings，persons，faces，names，that we had
not thought of for years；but for the time all the rest of the world is
forgotten！
164
 To return to the question I have quitted above . — I have no
objection to go to see ruins，aqueducts，pictures，in company with a
friend or a party，but rather the contrary，for the former reason re-
versed. They are intelligible matters，and will bear talking about .
The sentiment here is not tacit，but communicable and overt . Salis-
bury Plain32 is barren of criticism，but Stonehenge33 will bear a dis-
cussion antiquarian，picturesque，and philosophical . In setting out
on a party of pleasure the first consideration always is where we
shall go to；in taking a solitary ramble the question is what we
shall meet with by the way.“The mind is its own place”；nor are
we anxious to arrive at the end of our journey. I can myself do the
honors indifferently well to works of art and curiostiy. I once took a
party to Oxford with no mean éclat 34 — showed them that seat of
the Muses35 at a distance，

With glistering spires and pinnacles adorned，

descanted on the learned air36 that breathes from the grassy

quadrangles and stone walls of halls and cottages— was at home in
the Bodleian37 ；and at Blenheim38 quite superseded the powdered
cicerone that attended us，and that pointed in vain with his wand
to commonplace beauties in matchless pictures . As another excep-
tion to the above reasoning，I should not feel confident in venturing
on a journey in a foreign country without a companion . I should
want at intervals to hear the sound of my own language . There is
an involuntary antipathy in the mind of an Englishman to foreign
manners and notions that requires the assistance of social sympathy 威
to carry it off. As the distance from home increases，this relief， 廉
・
which was at first a luxury，becomes a passion and an appetite . A 哈
兹
person would almost feel stifled to find himself in the deserts of 里
Arabia without friends and countrymen，there must be allowed to 特
165
英 be something in the view of Athens or old Rome that claims the
文
名 utterance of speech；and I own that the Pyramids are too mighty for
篇 any single contemplation . In such situations，so opposite to all
鉴 one’s ordinary train of ideas，one seems a species by onself，a limb
赏
金 torn off from society，unless one can meet with instant fellowship
库 and support . Yet I did not feel this want or craving very pressing
once，when I first set my foot on the laughing shores of France .
Calais was peopled with novelty and delight . The confused busy
murmur of the place was like oil and wine39 poured into my ears；
nor did the mariners’hymn，which was sung from the top of an old
crazy vessel in the harbor，as the sun，went down，send an alien
sound into my soul40 . I only breathed the air of general humanity.
I walked over“the vine-covered hills and gay regions of France， ”
erect and satisfied；for the image of man was not cast down and
chained to the foot of arbitrary thrones . I was at no loss for lan-
guage，for that41 of all the great schools of painting was open to
me . The whole is vanished like a shade . Pictures，heroes，glory，
freedom，all are fled；nothing remains but the Bourbons42 and the
French people！— There is undoubtedly a sensation in traveling
into foreign parts that is to be had nowhere else；but it is more
pleasing at the time than lasting43 . It is too remote from our habitu-
al associations to be a common topic of discourse or reference，
and，like a dream or another state of existence，does not piece into
our daily modes of life44 . It is an animated but a momentary hallu-
cination. It demands an effort to exchange our actual for our ideal
identity；and to feel the pulse of our old transports revive very
keenly，we must“jump”all our present comforts and connections .
Our romantic and itinerant character is not to be domesticated . 45
Dr . Johnson remarked how little foreign travel added to the facili-
ties of conversation46 in those who had been abroad . In fact，the
time we have spent there is both delightful，and，in one sense，in-
166
structive；but it appears to be cut out of our substantial，downright
existence，and never to join kindly on to it . We are not the same，
but another，and perhaps more enviable，individual，all the time we
are out of our own country. We are lost to ourselves as well as our
friends . So the poet somewhat quaintly sings，

Out of my country and myself I go.

Those who wish to forget painful thoughts do well to absent

themselves for a while from the ties and objects that recall them； 47

but we can be said only to fulfill our destiny in the place that gave
us birth . I should on this account like well enough to spend the
whole of my life in traveling abroad，if I could anywhere borrow
another life to spend afterwards at home！

1. nature is company enough for me：我有自然作伴就足够了。

2. I am then never less alone than when alone：只有在孤身一人时我
才感 到 最 不 孤 独。下 面 一 行 诗 引 自 布 卢 姆 菲 尔 德（R. Bloomfield，
1766 ～ 1823）的《春天》。
3. to vegetate：像植物一样无思无虑。
4. . . . carry the metropolis with them：仍然带着大城市的习俗（即虽
然身处野外，却摆脱不了大城市的习俗与习惯）。下面两行诗引自柯
珀（W. Cowper，
1731 ～ 1800）的《退隐》。
5. to leave ourselves behind：摆脱世俗的故我。
6. plume： （鸟）梳理羽毛。 ruffled：弄乱羽毛。这节诗出处不祥。
7. post-chaise：旧时的驿递马车。
8. Tilbury：轻便双轮马车。
9. let me have a truce with impertinence：这句可解为，
“让我暂时忘
却俗礼，放浪形骸。 ” 威
廉
10. start some game：惊起一些猎物。 ・
哈
11. sunken wrack and sumless treasuries：沉船的残骸和无穷的珍宝。
兹
12. attempts at wit or dull commonplaces：企图说些机智的话语或乏 里
味的陈言。 特
167
英 13. Out upon such half-faced fellowship：抛弃这种半心半意的伙伴
文 关系。
名
14. I like to be either. . . disposal of others：我喜欢要么独自一人旅
篇
鉴 行，要么完全跟别人打成一片。
赏 15. comparing of notes：交流意见或心得。
金 16. I want to see my vague notions. . . of controversy：我想看到我那模
库
糊的思想像大蓟的绒花一样随风飘荡，不愿让它们纠缠在争论的荆
棘丛中（即让思想自由驰骋）。
17. To give way to our feelings. . . or affectation：在人前放纵自己的感
情似乎是一种奢侈或装腔作势。
18. didactic poem or a Pindaric ode：教 喻 诗 或 平 达 颂 诗。这 里 的
C—可能是英国诗人柯勒律治（S. T. Coleridge，1772 ～ 1834），他以善谈
而著称。
19. He talked far above singing：他说得娓娓动人，比唱歌还打动人。
20. sounding and flowing words：流畅而动听的语言。
21. I can make nothing out. . . to collect myself：我不能当场说出什么
感慨，必须有时间理清自己的思绪。
22. L—：可能指英国浪漫主义时期散文家兰姆（C. Lamb，1775 ～
1834）。
23. Shandean contempation：商狄式的沉思。源于英国 17 世纪作家
斯特恩（L. Sterne， 1713 ～ 1768）的小说《商狄传》
（The Life and Opinions of
Tristram Shandy，
1760 ～ 1767）。
24. A stranger takes his hue. . . and place：一个陌生人的外形与特征
都与当时当地有关。
25. Quaker：贵格教徙。贵格派是基督教的一派，主张沉默寡言；
贵格会也称教友会。
26. I associate nothing. . . and passing events：这陌生的旅伴只不过使
我想起眼前的景物与转瞬即逝的事件。
27.“lord of oneself，uncumbered with a name”：
“是自己的主人，没有
姓名之累。 ”
28. Oh！it is great. . . clear of all ties：哦！摆脱世俗与舆论的约束，
在自然中失去我们那纠缠不休、令人痛苦、摆脱不了的个人身份，暂
时变成另一个人，无牵无挂；这该有多好呀！
29. quits scores with society：跟社会了结宿账（即不再跟社会有什
么牵连）；了结一切尘缘。
168
 30. take one’s fill of something：尽情享用。此处意为“我们尽情观
赏郊野风光”。
31. Hyde Park：
（伦敦）海德公园，以经常在那里举行的政治集会
和演说著称。
32. Salisbury Plain：索尔兹伯里高原，英国南部索尔兹伯里市北边
一片光秃秃的白垩高原，有许多史前遗迹。
33. Stonehenge：巨石林，地处英国索尔兹伯里平原上的一组巨石
林，建于史前期，可能是初民宗教活动的遗址。
34. éclat：（法语）巨大的成功。
35. that seat of the Muses：指牛津大学。下面这行诗引自《失乐园》
（Paradise Lost，1667）第三部。
36. descant on：详谈。 the learned air：学术空气。
37. the Bodleian：牛津大学图书馆。
38. Blenheim：布莱尼姆，德国巴伐利亚州西部一村庄，1704 年英
奥联军在此大败法国———巴伐利亚联军。
39. oil and wine：听来顺耳的声音，悦耳之音。
40. the mariners’hymn. . . into my soul：水手从停泊在海港里的一艘
破旧船顶上唱的赞美诗在我的灵魂深处听来也不像异邦之音。
41. that：指“the language of ”。
42. the Bourbons：
（法 国 的）波 旁 家 族，曾 建 立 集 权 的 封 建 王 朝
（1589 ～ 1792，
1814 ～ 1848）。
43. but it is more pleasing at the time than lasting：但这种感触只是一
时的愉悦，不能持久。
44. does not piece into our daily modes of life：
（这种感触）与我们日
常的生活模式格格不入。
45. Our romantic. . . is not to be domesticated：我们那浪漫的、喜好漫
游的性格是驯服不了的。
46. facilities of conversation：谈话的熟巧；侃侃而谈的能力。
47. Those who wish to forget. . . that recall them：那些想忘却令人痛苦
的思想的人最好暂时离开能叫他们回忆起这些思想的关系与事物。
威
廉
・
哈
兹
里
特
169
英
文
名
James Henry Leigh Hunt
篇
鉴
赏 J・H・莱・亨特
金
库 （1784 ～ 1859）

诗人，评论家，散文家，编辑家，生于米德尔塞克
1791 年入伦敦基督公学就学。21 岁起即投身
斯郡，
文学生涯。一生交际甚广，当时的文坛巨子如拜伦、
哈兹里特、兰姆、雪莱、济慈等均是他家的常客。他
是一个最难得的大编辑家，先后创办或编辑过《检查
者》、
《反映者》、
《指示者》、
《自由者》、
《闲谈者》、
《莱・
亨特伦敦日报》等刊物。一方面他扶持雪莱、拜伦、
济慈等人，另一方面又发现和培养了自济慈至丁尼
生期间的大批文学天才。亨特一生痛快淋漓，无往
而不自得，他的思想比较激进，曾因在《检查者》上刊
登文章讥刺摄政王———即后来的乔治四世———而被
罚款 500 英镑，并判刑两年监禁。他虽身陷囹圄，仍
不改其乐，牢壁缀画，牢外种花，编刊读书，广交朋
友，从而成为激进派的英雄。后来受到保守派《黑檀
杂志》的猛烈攻击，为此写过不少文笔犀利的散文。
虽然其诗歌创作，如《里米尼的故事》
（1816）等给他
带来一定的文学声誉，但其文学地位更多地建立在
颇具特色的散文及文笔隽永、幽默风趣、内涵丰富的
《自传》之上。亨特散文妙趣横生，极富消遣性。所
写内容多是身边琐事，信手拈来，略加点染，杂以幽
默情趣，加之语言清新优美、铿锵有力，使人读之不
忍释卷。亨特的散文充分体现出他的生活信条：从
一切创作物中获取愉悦。他不像在他之前的散文家
170
那样刻意追求道德价值和意义，而是寻找美的感受，传达一种愉悦、
一种乐趣。

Getting Up on Cold Mornings

寒晨早起

【作品赏析】
这是一篇略带闲扯味道的散文，说它具有幽默性固然不错，说它
具有讽刺性也不为过。冬天的早晨，冰天雪地，睁开双眼，首先看到
的是自己的呼气，像室外烟囱里的烟一样滚滚而出，真叫人不寒而
栗。是赖在被窝里还是硬着头皮起床呢？这实在是一个难以决断的
问题。文中的第一人称，即指作者先不忙起来，而是躺在床上花上半
个钟头，不偏不倚地想着，把床里床外一分为二地掂量个够。
从本意来讲，从身体的舒适角度来看，自然是继续呆在热被窝里
为好。天儿这么冷，暖和了一夜，突然要爬出来，身体可受不了，无异
于对罪人的最严厉处罚。当初亚当和夏娃肯定是免受了这份罪的。
于是仆人进来服侍自己起床时，尽量找些事来打岔，问些无聊的问
题，以便在床上多磨蹭些时辰。哪来的那么个邪规矩：起床后还要刮
脸修面！天下那么多伟人，几个不是留着大胡子的？！赖床古已有
之，诗人托马逊不仅起得晚，而且常常要睡到中午（何况还是夏天）！
可是，贪恋热被窝毕竟是为世人所不容的坏习惯，而且最大的坏处是
有损健康。经过一番权衡轻重利弊，作者还开出了把人从温暖的被
窝里弄出来的种种良方。
细读此文，确实感到妙趣横生。本来这种话题实在不便做文章，
也很难做文章。可是亨特挥洒自如，甚至引经据典，写就这篇妙文。
撇开文中可能包含的贵族老爷气息（有仆人侍候左右）不论，亨特议
论的问题在当时的确具有社会批评意义，即使今天，这个问题依然存
在。值得注意的是作者本人的态度。对冬日清晨赖床，作者是一种 J
・
模棱两可的态度，但他毕竟用幽默的手法，为我们绘出了一副英国懒 H
・
绅士的素描画。最令人惊奇的是亨特那细腻、敏感的体验，以及将这 莱
・
种体验诉诸笔端的能力。它充分体现了作者的生活信条：从最不起 亨
眼的小事中把玩出趣味来，从身边琐事中探索人生的哲理。全文的 特
171
英 起承转合运用得潇洒自如。在合题时，更是别出心裁，既加强了文章
文 的幽默感，又给出了一个开放性的结尾，让读者自己去思考，人们从
名 中可以引起多种联想，不由得问道：亨特不仅仅在谈冬日起床吧？
篇
鉴 （郭洋生 赵洪定）
赏
金 【作品欣赏】
库
An Italian author—Giulio Gordara，a Jesuit— has written a
poem upon insects，which he begins by insisting，that1 those trou-
blesome and abominable little animals were created for our annoy-
ance2 ，and that they were certainly not inhabitants of Paradise . We
of the north3 may dispute this piece of theology；but on the other
hand，it is clear as4 the snow on the house-tops，that Adam was not
under the necessity of shaving；and that when Eve walked out of
her delicious bower，she did not step upon ice three inches thick .
Some people say it is a very easy thing to get up of 5a cold
morning. You have only，they tell you，to take the resolution；and
the thing is done . This may be very true；just as a boy at school
has only to take a flogging，and the thing is over . But we have not
at all made up our minds upon it； 6
and we find it a very pleasant
exercise to discuss the matter，candidly，before we get up . This at
least is not idling，though it may be lying. 7 It affords an excellent
answer to those，who ask how lying in bed can be indulged in by a
reasoning being8 ，— a rational creature . How？Why，with the argu-
ment calmly at work in one’s head，and the clothes over one’s
shoulder. Oh— it is a fine way of spending a sensible，impartial
half-hour .
If these people would be more charitable，they would get on
with their argument better . But they are apt to reason so ill9 ，and to
assert so dogmatically，that one could wish to have them stand
round one’s bed of a bitter morning，and lie before their faces .
They ought to hear both sides of the bed，the inside and out10 . If
they cannot entertain themselves with their own thoughts for half
172
an hour or so，it is not the fault of those who can . If their will is
never pulled aside by the enticing arms of imagination，so much
the luckier for the stage-coachman .
Candid inquiries into one’s decumbency，besides the greater
or less privileges to be allowed a man in proportion to his ability of
keeping early hours，the work given his faculties，etc . ，will at least
concede their due merits to such representations as the following.
In the first place，says the injured but calm appealer，I have been
warm all night，and find my system11 in a state perfectly suitable to
a warm-blooded animal . To get out of this state into the cold，be-
sides the inharmonious and uncritical abruptness of the transition，
is so unnatural to such a creature，that the poets，refining upon the
tortures of the damned12 ，make one of their greatest agonies consist
in being suddenly transported from heat to cold，— from fire to
ice . They are‘haled’out of their ‘beds’，says Milton，by‘harpy-
footed furies’， 13
— fellows who come to call them. On my first
movement towards the anticipation of getting up，I find that such
parts of the sheets and bolster，as are exposed to the air of the
room，are stone-cold . On opening my eyes，the first thing that
meets them is my own breath rolling forth，as if in the open air，
like smoke out of a cottage chimney. Think of this symptom. Then
I turn my eyes sideways and see the window all frozen over . Think
of that . Then the servant comes in .‘It is very cold this morning，is
it not？’—‘Very cold，Sir .’—‘Very cold indeed，isn’t it？ ’—
‘Very cold indeed，Sir .’—‘More than usually so，isn’t it，even
for this weather？ ’（Here the servant’s wit and good-nature are put
to a considerable test，and the inquirer lies on thorns for the an- J
swer14 .） ‘Why，Sir . . . I think it is .’
（Good creature！ There is not ・
H
a better or more truth-telling servant going.）
， ‘I must rise，howev- ・
莱
er，— get me some warm water .’—Here comes a fine interval be- ・
亨
tween the departure of the servant and the arrival of the hot water； 特
173
英 during which，of course，it is of‘no use’to get up . The hot water
文
名 comes.‘Is it quite hot？ ’—‘Yes，Sir .’—‘Perhaps too hot for
篇 shaving I must wait a little？
： ’—‘No，Sir；it will just do.’ （There
鉴 is an over-nice propriety sometimes，an officious zeal of virtue，a
赏
金 little troublesome .）‘Oh— the shirt— you must air my clean
库 shirt；— linen gets very damp this weather .’—‘Yes，Sir .’Here
another delicious five minutes . A knock at the door .‘Oh，the
shirt— very well . My stockings— I think the stockings had better
be aired too.’—‘Very well，Sir .’—Here another interval . At
length everything is ready，except myself. I now，continue our in-
cumbent（a happy word，by the bye，for a country vicar）— I now
cannot help thinking a good deal— who can？— upon the unnec-
essary and villainous custom of shaving：it is a thing so unmanly
（here I nestle closer）— so effeminate （here I recoil from an un-
lucky step into the colder part of the bed）. —No wonder that the
Queen of France15 took part with the rebels against the degenerate
King，her husband，who first affronted her smooth visage with a
face like her own16 . The Emperor Julian never showed the luxuri-
ancy of his genius to better advantage than in reviving the flowing
beard. Look at Cardinal Bembo’s picture17 — at Michael Angelo’
s18 —at Titian’s19 — at Shakespeare’s20 — at Fletcher’s21 — at
Spenser’s22 — at Chaucer’s23 — at Alfred’s24 — at Plato’s25 — I
could name a great man for every tick of my watch26 . — Look at
the Turks27 ，a grave and otiose people . — Think of Haroun Al
Raschid and Bedridden Hassan28 . — Think of Wortley Montagu29 ，
the worthy son of his mother，a man above the prejudice of his
time. — Look at the Persian gentlemen，whom one is ashamed of
meeting about the suburbs，their dress and appearance are so much
finer than our own . — Lastly，think of the razor itself— how totally
opposed to every sensation of bed— how cold，how edgy，how
hard！ how utterly different from anything like the warm and cir-
174
cling amplitude，which
Sweetly recommends itself
Unto our gentle senses . 30
Add to this，benumbed fingers，which may help you to cut
yourself，a quivering body，a frozen towel，and a ewer full of ice；
and he that says there is nothing to oppose in all this，only shows，
at any rate，that he has no merit in opposing it .
Thomson the poet，who exclaims in his Seasons—
Falsely luxurious！ Will not man awake？ 31

used to lie in bed till noon，because he said he had no motive

in getting up . He could imagine the good of rising；but then he
could also imagine the good of lying still；and his exclamation，it
must be allowed，was made upon summer-time，not winter . We
must proportion the argument to the individual character . A money-
getter may be drawn out of his bed by three and four pence；but
this will not suffice for a student . A proud man may say， ‘What
shall I think of myself，if I don’t get up？ ’but the more humble
one will be content to waive his prodigious notion of himself，out of
respect to his kindly bed32 . The mechanical man shall get up with-
out any ado at all；and so shall the barometer . An ingenious lier in
bed will find hard matter of discussion even on the score of health
and longevity. He will ask us for our proofs and precedents of the
ill effects of lying later in cold weather；and sophisticate much on
the advantages of an even temperature of body；of the natural
propensity（pretty universal） to have one’s way；and of the ani-
mals that roll themselves up，and sleep all the winter33 . As to
longevity，he will ask whether the longest life is of necessity the J
best；and whether Holborn34 is the handsomest street in London . ・
H
We only know of one confounding，not to say confounded ar- ・
莱
gument，fit to overturn the huge luxury，the ‘enormous bliss’— of ・
亨
the vice in question . A lier in bed may be allowed to profess a dis- 特
175
英 interested indifference for his health or longevity；but while he is
文
名 showing the reasonableness of consulting his own or one person’s
篇 comfort，he must admit the proportionate claim of more than one；
鉴 and the best way to deal with him is this，especially for a lady；for
赏
金 we earnestly recommend the use of that sex on such occasions，if
库 not somewhat over-persuasive；since extremes have an awkward
knack of meeting35 . First then，admit all the ingeniousness of what
he says，telling him that the bar has been deprived of an excellent
lawyer . Then look at him in the most good-natured manner in the
world，with a mixture of assent and appeal in your countenance，
and tell him that you are waiting breakfast for him；that you never
like to breakfast without him；that you really want it too；that the
servants want theirs；that you shall not know how to get the house
into order，unless he rises；and that you are sure he would do
things twenty times worse，even than getting out of his warm bed，
to put them all into good humour and a state of comfort . Then，after
having said this，throw in the comparatively indifferent matter，to
him，about his health；but tell him that it is no indifferent matter
to you；that the sight of his illness makes more people suffer than
one；but that if，nevertheless，he really does feel so very sleepy and
so very much refreshed by—Yet stay；we hardly know whether the
frailty of a—Yes，yes；say that too，especially if you say it with
sincerity；for if the weakness of human nature on the one hand and
the vis inerliae36 on the other，should lead him to take advantage of
it once or twice，good-humour and sincerity from an irresistible
junction at last；and are still better and warmer things than pillows
and blankets .
Other little helps of appeal may be thrown in，as occasion re-
quires. You may tell a lover，for instance，that lying in bed makes
people corpulent；a father，that you wish him to complete the fine
manly example he sets his children；a lady，that she will injure her
176
bloom or her shape，which M. or W. 37 admires so much；and a stu-
dent or artist，that he is always so glad to have done a good day’s
work，in his best manner .
Reader ：And pray，Mr Indicator，how do you behave yourself
in this respect？
Indic：Oh，Madam，perfectly，of course；like all advisers .
Reader：Nay，I allow that your mode of argument does not
look quite so suspicious as the old way of sermonizing and severi-
ty，but I have my doubts，especially from that laugh of yours . If I
should look in tomorrow morning—
Indic：Ah，Madam，the look in of a face like yours does any-
thing with me . It shall fetch me up at nine，if you please— six，I
meant to say. 38

1. that：在现代英语中，引导宾语从句的 that 前不加逗号，这里是

为了保持两个宾语从句结构上的平行，所以加了个逗号。
2. those troublesome and abominable little animals were created for our
annoyance：那些令人生厌、可恶之至的小动物生来就是要讨人嫌的。
3. We of the north：我们北方人。前面提到的乔达拉是意大利作
家，从英国人的角度看，意大利在地理位置上自然偏南。
4. it is clear as：在现代英语中，此句应为 it is as clear as. . . 这里用
比较的方式引出了严寒的话题，转承启合极为自然。
5. of：这里相当于 on。
6. we have not at all made up our minds upon it：此句有双关的意思，
一是说在寒冷的清晨人们往往拿不定主意是早起还是赖在温暖的被
窝里；另一个意思是很难说早起好还是躺在床上好。
7. This at least is not idling，though it may be lying：虽然这就意味着
躺在被窝里，但至少算不上懒惰。
8. a reasoning being：即 a rational creature，知理明事的生灵，当 然 J
・
指人。 H
・
9. reason so ill：不通情理；老爱往坏的方面想。 莱
・
10. both sides of the bed，the inside and out：这个句子看似信手拈来， 亨
但却妙不可译。（“床里床外，两方面”）意思是说凡事都应一分为二， 特
177
英 冬天赖在床上也自有其好的一面。
文 11. my system：我的机体，尤强调生理结构。
名
12. refining upon the tortures of the damned. . . ：从温暖的被窝里出来
篇
鉴 挨寒受冻，实在难以忍受，无异于最残酷的刑罚，连诗人在咏到对犯
赏 人的折磨时，也莫过于选用这种描绘：犯人从炽热中突然被拖入严
金 寒，或从火中突然被抛进冰里，交相变换。
库
13. They are‘haled’out of. . . by‘harpy-footed furies’：引自弥尔顿的
《失乐园》第二卷第 596 行，他们被来传唤的‘有怪鸟巨爪的复仇女
神’从‘床上’ ‘抓’起来。
14. the inquirer lies on thorns for the answer：问者等待回答，如卧针
毡。这个句子写得诙谐幽默。本来像“今早很冷，是吗？ ”这样的问
题，
本无需回答，问的人比被问的人（仆人）还清楚，可是为了名正言
顺地在床上多呆哪怕是一会儿，不惜三番五次地问些不着边际的问
题，而且还装出一副正儿八经的神态，真令人忍俊不禁。
15. Queen of France：法兰西王后，指阿基丹纳的爱琳娜，法王路易
七世之妻，后来成为英王亨利二世之妻。路易七世遵从教会法令剃
掉了胡须。
16. took part with the rebels. . . with a face like her own：与叛军结伙反
对其夫，因为这位变态的国王初次见她时，把脸刮得净光，与她光柔
的脸毫无二致。作者在这一段里列举各种事例来证明冬天懒于刮脸
的正当性。
17. Cardinal Bembo’s picture：班波红衣主教的肖像。班波（1470 ～
1547）：意大利诗人，幽默家，人文主义者，曾任教皇利奥十世的秘书，
著有《威尼斯历史（1487 ～ 1513）》。
18. Michael Angelo：米开朗基罗（1475 ～ 1564），意大利著名画家、雕
塑家，代表作有《大卫》 （David Marble Statue）、
《创造》
（Creation）、
《最后
的审判》 （The Last Judgement）。
19. Titian：提香（1477 ～ 1576），威尼斯画家，蓄长须。留有《圣母升
天》、
《圣家族》等名作。
20. Shakespeare：莎士比亚（1564 ～ 1616），英国文学史上最伟大的
剧作家，诗人。一生写了 37 部戏剧， 154 首十四行诗。
21. Fletcher：弗莱切尔（1579 ～ 1625），英国剧作家，田园剧《忠诚的
牧羊女》是他的优秀代表作。
22. Spenser：斯 宾 塞（1552 ～ 1599），英 国 诗 人。著 名 作 品 有《仙
后》、
《牧人月历》等。
178
 23. Chaucer：乔叟（约 1340 ～ 1400），英国诗人，英国现实主义文学
的奠基者，新的文学语言的始祖。代表作是《坎特伯雷故事集》。
24. Alfred：阿尔弗烈德（849 ～ 899），韦塞克斯王朝国王。
25. Plato：柏拉图（428 ～ 348 . B. C.），古希腊三大哲学家之一。
26. I could name a great man for every tick of my watch：我每秒钟都可
以说出这么一个伟人来。以上所列伟人，均蓄有（大）胡子。
27. Turks：土耳其人。
28. Haroun Al Raschid and Bedridden Hassan：哈里发阿鲁纳・拉施德
和卧病在床的哈桑均为《一千零一夜》中的人物。
29. Wortley Montagu：沃特利・蒙塔古，曾作为大使夫人驻康斯坦丁
堡，并将种牛痘传入英国，著有《土耳其书简》。
30. Sweetly recommends itself unto our gentle senses：轻轻吹拂着我们
的微妙感觉。引自莎士比亚的《麦克白》一剧。
31. Falsely luxurious！Will not man awake？虚妄的亨乐！难道人类
就不会醒来？引自汤姆逊（1700 ～ 1748）的诗《四季・夏》第 67 行。
32. the more humble one will be content to waive his prodigious notion of
himself out of respect to his kindly bed：卑微的人则会满足于顾及温和宜
人的床铺，而撇开这种高谈阔论。
33. sleep all the winter：冬眠。
34. Holborn：霍尔本大街，伦敦的一条街道。
35. the best way to deal with. . . awkward knack of meeting：惟一能说明
早上赖床的坏处，是这种习惯对身体不利。如某人贪恋热被窝，最好
是由女士来劝他起床，因为异性有相遇（相克）的习惯。 to deal with
him 即“对付他”
（劝他起来）；that sex 即指“女性”
（前面提到的 lady）；
extremes 即“两极”，这里指“男女两性”；knack of meeting 即“相遇，相
吸”，更确切地说是“相克”。
36. vis inertiae：拉丁语，惰性（force of inertia）。
37. M. or W. ：显然是人名。在亨特时代，作家们有时故意不把名
字写全。另外，此处也可理解为男人和女人（men or women）。
38. Reader：And pray，Mr Indicator，how do you behave yourself in this
respect？. . . Indic：Ah，Madam，the look. . . if you please-six，I meant to say： J
・
最后这一段 Reader 和 Indicator 的对话，与正文的辩论看似没有必然 H
・
的联系，但恰好进一步说明了亨特本人对早起还是赖床所持的模棱 莱
・
两可的态度，同时这段对话也加强了整篇文章的幽默气氛。 Reader 亨
当然是指本文的读者，而 Indicator 既指作者本人，又似乎是指登载了 特
179
英 此文的刊物。因为当时亨特主编过《Indicator》这份杂志。在亨特时代
文 作家往往有直接与读者对话的习惯。
名
篇
鉴
赏 Shaking Hands
金
库 握 手

【作品赏析】
亨特对生活的观察实在到了一种细致入微的地步，并且常就生
活中的某个细节，提供一个独特的视角。从“握手”这个最普通的社
交礼仪中，亨特就发现了两个毛病：一方面，有些人握手时，显出过分
的热情，无论认识不认识，都一样地兴奋得不能自持，表现出久别重
逢的欢欣。这样做，未免让人感到不自在、不自然，何况对谁都一样，
也就没有真情可言了；另一方面，有些人握手时，一副羞怯或冷漠的
样子，手半伸半缩，令你不知道是握住好还是放开好。同这种人握
手，你得到的是自作多情的尴尬，甚至怀疑自己是不是令人厌恶。两
种毛病都应克服掉。不过相形之下，前一种还算好一些，因为它至少
让你感觉到了人际关系的和善和热情。而后一种则无法接受，是一
种虚伪的谦卑或缺乏教养或不信任他人的表现。当然，这后一种人
也要区别来看，有些人可能天生不喜欢交往，而有些人是表面冷漠，
内心却有始终如一地为他人谋福利的热情。
也许，在今天看来，这个问题不大引得起注意，甚至不值一谈。
但在享特时代，社交礼仪是一个重大的社会问题，而握手得当与否，
能反映一个人的心地和修养。像培根的随笔对很多贵族青年起到行
为规范作用一样，亨特的这篇散文对当时的社会无疑也产生过一定
的影响。英国人能修成后来为世人乐道的“绅士”风度，部分地应得
力于这类关于社交礼仪的议论。这篇文章实为劝谕和教诲之作，但
读来毫无训人之感，倒像是在与你娓娓交谈，提醒你注意那些你曾屡
屡感受到，然而却没有意识到和警觉到的问题。作者文风的平易实
在由此可见。尤为难能可贵的是：虽然亨特批评了两类人的举止，但
礼节毕竟是外在的，更重要的是心灵———文章结尾写道：
“尽管如此，
其信念言行却一以贯之，不稍改变。如此，他尽可以堂堂正正地孤傲
不群而无招人议论之虞。
”
180
 （郭洋生 赵洪定）

【作品欣赏】
Among the first things which we remember noticing in the
manners of people，were two errors in the custom of shaking
hands1 . Some，we observed，grasped everybody’s hand alike，—
with an equal fervour of grip . You would have thought that Jenk-
ins2 was the best friend they had in the world；but on succeeding to
the squeeze，though a slight acquaintance，you found it equally
flattering to yourself；and on the appearance of somebody else
（whose name，it turned out，the operator3 had forgotten）the crush
was no less complimentary：the face was as earnest and beaming，
the“glad to see you”as syllabical and sincere，and the shake as
close，as long，and as rejoicing，as if the semi-unknown4 was a
friend come home from the Deserts5 .
On the other hand，there would be a gentleman，now and
then，as coy of his hand as if he were a prude，or had a whitlow. It
was in vain that your pretensions did not go beyond the “civil
salute”6 of the ordinary shake；or that being introduced to him in a
friendly manner，and expected to shake hands with the rest of the
company，you could not in decency omit his . His fingers，half com-
ing out and half retreating7 ，seemed to think that you were going to
do them a mischief；and when you got hold of them，the whole
shake was on your side8 ；the other hand did but proudly or pen-
sively acquiesce— there was no knowing which；you had to sustain
it，as you might a lady’s in handing her to a seat9 ；and it was an
equal perplexity to know whether to shake or to let it go. The one J
・
seemed a violence done to the patient，the other an awkward re- H
・
sponsibility brought upon yourself. You did not know，all the 莱
evening，whether you were not an object of dislike10 to the person； ・
亨
till，on the party’s breaking up，you saw him behave like an e- 特
181
英 qually ill-used gentleman11 to all who practised the same unthink-
文
名 ing civility.
篇 Both these errors，we think，might as well be avoided；but，of
鉴 the two，we must say we prefer the former . If it does not look so
赏
金 much like particular sincerity，it looks more like general kindness；
库 and if those two virtues are to be separated（which they assuredly
need not be，if considered without spleen），the world can better af-
ford to dispense with an unpleasant truth than a gratuitous humani-
ty12 . Besides，it is more difficult to make sure of the one than to
practice the other，and kindness itself is the best of all truths . As
long as we are sure of that，we are sure of something，and of some-
thing pleasant . It is always the best end13 ，if not in every instance
the most logical means .
This manual shyness is sometimes attributed to modesty， 14

but never，we suspect，with justice，unless it be that sort of mod-

esty whose fear of committing itself is grounded in pride . Want of
address15 is a better reason；but this particular instance of it would
be grounded in the same feeling16 . It always implies a habit either
of pride or mistrust . We have met with two really kind men who
evinced this soreness of hand . 17 Neither of them，perhaps，thought
himself inferior to anybody about him18 ，and both had good reason
to think highly of themselves，but both had been sanguine men
contradicted in their early hopes . There was a plot to meet the
hand of one of them with a fish-slice， 19
in order to show him the
disadvantage to which he put his friends by that flat mode of salu-
tation；but the conspirator20 had not the courage to do it . Whether
he heard of the intention we know not，but shortly afterwards he
took very kindly to a shake . The other was the only man of a warm
set of politicians who remained true to his first hopes of
mankind . 21 He was impatient at the change in his companions，and
at the folly and inattention of the rest；but though his manner be-
182
came cold，his consistency remained warm，and this gave him a
right to be as strange as he pleased22 .

1. two errors in the custom of shaking hands：人们握手时可能出现的

两种失态之处。
2. Jenkins：即泛指的某人，即这类握手者。另外在亨特时代 Jenk-
ins 常作仆人、男管家（butler）的名字。
3. operator：即握手的人。
4. semi-unknown：半陌路人，即握手者并不大清楚其姓名的被握
手者。
5. Deserts：辽远沙漠，这里泛指远在天边的国度。
6. civil salute：纯属礼节性的握手。
7. half coming out and half retreating：半伸半缩。
8. the whole shake was on your side：握手的动力全来自你一方，意即
你握手时好像只是你的一厢情愿。
9. handing her to a seat：搀着她去就座。西俗，男士要轻轻握住女
士的手送她到座位上。
10. object of dislike：讨厌的对象。
11. ill-used gentleman：指曾经在其他场合遭到冷遇或亏待而冷漠
的人。
12. the world can better. . . than a gratuitous humanity：人世间逢场作
戏的人情味胜于令人不快的真情。
13. the best end：最佳结果。
14. This manual shyness. . . to modesty：手 掌 羞 涩 常 被 归 之 于 谦 虚
稳重。
15. Want of address：缺乏热情；缺乏社交风度。want = lack；address
= initiative 或 manner。
16. this particular instance. . . in the same feeling：但这种欠缺亦根源
于自傲。
17. We have met with two. . . this soreness of hand：我们曾有幸会到两
位宽厚为怀的先生。 J
・
18. about him：= around him。 H
・
19. There was a plot. . . with a fish-slice：设下圈套，对其中一位，用 莱
・
鱼肉伏手与其相握。（好让他感觉到他的冷漠给别人带来的尴尬的 亨
难受。
）plot = trick。 特
183
英 20. the conspirator：密谋者，即想出上面圈套的人。
文 21. The other was the only man. . . to his first hopes of mankind：另一位
名 是一群热心的政治家中的惟一不变初衷者。a warm set of politicians 指
篇
鉴 一群热心的政治家； warm = caring； first hopes of mankind 指人类所怀
赏 有的最初的（纯洁、美好的）愿望。
金 22. and this gave him a right to be as strange as he pleased：从这一点
库
（为他人谋福利的执著）看，他有权不注意社交礼仪。 strange 这里指
“不习惯”、
“超然……之外”。

Watchmen1
守 门 人

【作品赏析】
对人世间的一切，亨特都有一种特殊的能力，即能从中感受到美
和乐趣。无论写什么，他都能抓住被描写对象的最独特之处。当他
把眼光放在命运悲惨的更夫身上时，其笔下更是生花。从题目看，他
是在写夜巡的更夫，其实亨特本人就是一位难得的、具有很高审美鉴
赏力的“更夫”。他对黑夜中的人和物，留心地观察，一丁点也不放
过。全文一大半篇幅在写一个穷文人晚上因没有车只好步行回家时
的所见所闻、所思所感。多雨的 2 月，路面泥泞，街灯昏暗，看不清路
面，一块软的泥块被错当成硬的，一脚下去，鞋里灌满污泥浊水，其情
景确乎可悲。然而，只要你保持美好的心境，在那万籁俱寂的夜晚走
路，
也确有诗情画意和无穷的乐趣。你能欣赏到呆在暖融融的家里
所见不到的事物，获得任何哲学都无法理喻的美感。这并非苦中作
乐、无谓的心理安慰，这是一种切实的审美体验：
“每克服一个障碍都
能获得一份快乐；仅仅动作就已经可以得到快乐，想像也添上许多趣
味；血脉的加快流转，同精神的努力活泼互相影响，逐渐地使你气壮，
心里觉得胜利。每回你迈出一步，心头便多一份自尊。雨伞拿在手
中，
就像咆哮的战利品。
”日子一长，这穷文人便与守夜人成了好朋
友。有了切身感受，也就不觉得更夫的命苦，他们迈出的也并非单调
的步子；他们喊出的，也不仅是搅得人睡不安稳的时辰。时间也就掌
握在这些性格各异、声音不同、爱好也有差别的更夫们身上……到这
184
时候，读者对苦与乐、高贵与卑贱等，大约也有了新的理解和认识了。
而这位“更夫”，在经过一夜的凄风苦雨后，怀揣着一路的收获，回到
了自家门口：寂静的树林、甜蜜的旷野、美丽的花径、寒冷的天空，以
及别的更夫和巡查们似乎都在向他道“早安”。
（郭洋生 赵洪定）

【作品欣赏】
The readers of these our fourpenny lucubrations2 need not be
informed that we keep no carriage . The consequence is，that being
visitors of the theatre，and having some inconsiderate friends who
grow pleasanter and pleasanter till one in the morning，we are great
walkers home by night；and this has made us great acquaintances3
of watchmen，moonlight，mud-light4 ，and other accompaniments of
that interesting hour5 . Luckily we are fond of a walk by night . It
does not always do us good；but that is not the fault of the hour，
but our own，who ought to be stouter；and therefore we extract what
good we can out of our necessity，with becoming6 temper . It is a re-
markable thing in nature，and one of the good-naturedest7 things
we know of her8 ，that the mere fact of looking about us，and being
conscious of what is going on9 ，is its own reward，if we do but no-
tice it in good-humour10 . Nature is a great painter（and art and so-
ciety are among her works），to whose minutest touches the mere
fact of becoming alive11 is to enrich the stock of our enjoyment12 .
We confess there are points liable to cavil13 in a walk home
by night in February. Old umbrellas have their weak sides， 14
and
the quantity of mud and rain may surmount the picturesque . Mis-
taking a soft piece of mud for hard，and so filling your shoe with
it，especially at setting out，must be acknowledged to be‘aggravat- J
・
ing15 . But then you ought to have boots . There are sights，indeed， H
in the streets of London，which can be rendered pleasant by no ・
莱
philosophy16 ；things too grave to be talked about in our present pa- ・
亨
per；but we must premise，that our walk leads us out of town，and 特
185
英 through streets and suburbs of by no means17 the worst descrip-
文
名 tion . Even there we may be grieved if we will . The farther the walk
篇 into the country，the more tiresome we may choose to find it；and
鉴 when we take it purely to oblige others，we must allow，as in the
赏
金 case of a friend of ours，that generosity itself on two sick legs18 may
库 find limits to the notion of virtue being its own reward19 ，and rea-
sonably‘curse those comfortable people’who，by the lights in their
windows，are getting into their warm beds，and saying to one an-
other—‘Bad thing to be out of doors to-night .’
Supposing then that we are in a reasonable state of health
and comfort in other respects，we say that a walk home at night has
its merits，if you choose to meet with them20 . The worst part of it is
the setting out，— the closing of the door upon the kind faces that
part with you . But their words and looks on the other hand may set
you well off21 . We have known a word last us all the way home，
and a look make a dream of it . To a lover，for instance，no walk
can be bad . He sees but one face22 in the rain and darkness；the
same that he saw by the light in the warm room. This ever accom-
panies him，looking in his eyes；and if the most pitiable and spoilt
face in the world should come between them，startling him with the
saddest mockery of love，he would treat it kindly for her sake . But
this is a begging of the question23 . A lover does not walk . He is
sensible neither to the pleasures nor pains of walking. He treads on
air；and in the thick24 of all that seems inclement，has an avenue of
light and velvet spread for him，like a sovereign prince .
To resume then，like men of this world25 . The advantage of a
late hour is，that everything is silent，and the people fast in their
beds . This gives the whole world a tranquil appearance . Inanimate
objects are no calmer than passions and cares now seem to be，all
laid asleep . The human being is motionless as the house or the
tree；sorrow is suspended；and you endeavour to think，that love
186
only is awake . Let not readers of true delicacy be alarmed，for we
mean to touch profanely upon nothing that ought to be sacred；and
as we are for thinking the best on these occasions，it is of the best
love we think；love，of no heartless order，legal or illegal26 ；and
such only as ought to be awake with the stars .
As to cares，and curtain-lectures27 ，and such-like abuses of
the tranquillity of night，we call to mind，for their sakes，all the
sayings of the poets and others，about‘balmy sleep， ’and the
soothing of hurt minds，and the weariness of sorrow，which drops
into forgetfulness . The great majority are certainly‘fast as a
church’by the time we speak of；and for the rest，we are among the
workers who have been sleepless for their advantage28 ；so we take
out our licence to forget them for the time being. The only thing
that shall remind us of them，is the red lamp，shining afar over the
apothecary’s door；which，while it does so，reminds us also that
there is help for them to be had . I see him now，the pale blinker，
suppressing the conscious injustice of his anger29 at being roused
by the apprentice，and fumbling himself out of the house，in
hoarseness and great coat，resolved to make the sweetness of the
Christmas bill30 indemnify him for the bitterness of the moment .
But we shall be getting too much into the interior of the
houses . By this time the hackney-coaches have left all the
stands31，a good symptom of their having got their day’s money.
Crickets are heard，here and there，amidst the embers of some
kitchen. A dog follows us . Will nothing make him‘go along’32 ？
We dodge him in vain；we run；we stand and‘hish33’at him；ac-
companying the prohibition with dehortatory gestures，and an imag- J
inary picking up of a stone . We turn again，and there he is，vexing ・
H
our skirts . He even forces us into an angry doubt whether he will ・
莱
not starve，if we do not let him go home with us . Now if we could ・
亨
but lame him without being cruel；or if we were only an over- 特
187
英 seer34 ；or a beadle35 ；or a dealer in dog-skin；or a political e-
文
conomist36，to think dogs unnecessary. Oh，come；he has turned a
名
篇 corner；he is gone；we think we see him trotting off at a distance，
鉴 thin and muddy；and our heart misgives us . But it was not our
赏
金 fault；we were not‘hishing’at the time . His departure was lucky，
库 for he had got our enjoyments into a dilemma；our‘article’37 would
not have known what to do with him. These are the perplexities to
which your sympathizers are liable38 . We resume our way，indepen-
dent and alone；for we have no companion this time，except our
never-to-be-forgotten and ethereal companion，the reader . A real
arm within another’s puts us out of the pale of walking that is to
be made good39 . It is good already. A fellow pedestrian is compa-
ny；is the party you have left；you talk and laugh，and there is no
longer anything to be contended with40 . But alone，and in bad
weather，and with a long way to go，here is something for the tem-
per and spirits to grapple with and turn to account41 ，and accord-
ingly we are booted and buttoned up，an umbrella over our heads，
the rain pelting upon it，and the lamp-light shining in the gutters；
‘mudshine， ’as an artist of our acquaintance used to call it，with a
gusto of reprobation . Now，walk cannot well be worse；and yet it
shall be nothing42 if you meet it heartily. There is a pleasure in
overcoming any obstacle；mere action is something；imagination is
more；and the spinning of the blood，and vivacity of the mental en-
deavour，act well upon one another，and gradually put you in a
state of robust consciousness43 and triumph . Every time you set
down your leg，you have a respect for it . The umbrella is held in
the hand，like a roaring trophy.
We are now reaching the country：the fog and rain are over；
and we meet our old friends the watchmen，staid，heavy，indiffer-
ent，more coat than man，pondering yet not pondering44 ，old but not
reverend，immensely useless . No；useless they are not；for the in-
188
mates of the houses think them otherwise，and in that imagination
they do good . We do not pity the watchmen as we used45 . Old age
often cares little for regular sleep . They could not be sleeping per-
haps，if they were in their beds；and certainly they would not be
earning. What sleep they get，is perhaps sweeter in the watch-
box，—a forbidden sweet46 ；and they have a sense of importance，
and a claim on the persons indoors，which together with the ampli-
tude of their coating and the possession of the box itself，make
them feel themselves，not without reason，to be‘somebody.’47 They
are peculiar and official . Tomkins is a cobbler as well as they；but
then he is no watchman . He cannot speak to‘things of night’48 ；
nor bid‘any man stand in the King’s name’49 . He does not get
fees and gratitude from the old，the infirm；and the drunken；nor
‘let gentlemen go’；nor is he‘a parish-man .’The churchwardens
don’t speak to him. If he put himself ever so much in the way50 of
‘the great plumber，’he would not say‘How do you find yourself，
Tomkins？ ’—‘An ancient and quiet watchman .’51 Such he was in
the time of Shakespeare，and such he is now. Ancient，because he
cannot help it；and quiet，because he will not help it，if possible；
his object being to procure quiet on all sides，his own included52 .
For this reason，he does not make too much noise in crying the
hour，nor is offensively particular53 in his articulation . No man
shall sleep the worse for him，out of a horrid sense of the word
‘three .’The sound shall be three，four，or one，as suits their mu-
tual convenience54 .
Yet characters are to be found even among watchmen . They
are not all mere coat，and lump，and indifference . By the way，what J
do they think of in general？ How do they vary the monotony of ・
H
their ruminations from one to two，and from two to three，and so ・
莱
on？ Are they comparing themselves with the unofficial cobbler； ・
亨
thinking of what they shall have for dinner to-morrow；or what they 特
189
英 were about six years ago；or that their lot is the hardest in the
文
名 world（as insipid old people are apt to think，for the pleasure of
篇 grumbling55）；or that it has some advantages nevertheless，besides
鉴 fees；and that if they are not in bed，their wife is？
赏
金 Of characters，or rather varieties among watchmen，we re-
库 member several . One was a Dandy Watchaman，who used to ply at
the top of Oxford Street，next the park . We called him the dandy，
on account of his utterance56 . He had a mincing way with it，pro-
nouncing the a in the word‘past’as it is in hat ，—making a little
preparatory hem before he spoke，and then bringing out his‘Past
ten’in a style of genteel indifference57 ，as if，upon the whole，he
was of that opinion .
Another was the Metallic Watchman，who paced the same
street towards Hanover Square，and had a clang in his voice like a
trumpet. He was a voice and nothing else58 ，but any difference is
something in a watchman .
A third，who cried the hour in Bedford Square，was remark-
able in his calling for being abrupt and loud . There was a fashion
among his tribe just come up59 at that time，of omitting the words
‘Past’and‘o’clock， ’and crying only the number of the hour . I
know not whether a recollection I have of his performance one
night is entire matter of fact，60
or whether any subsequent fancies
of what might have taken place are mixed up with it；but my im-
pression is，that as I was turning corner into the square with a
friend，and was in the midst of a discussion in which numbers were
concerned，we were suddenly startled，as if in solution of it，by a
brief and tremendous outcry of—ONE61 . This paragraph ought to
have been at the bottom of the page，and the word printed abruptly
around the corner . 62
A fourth watchman was a very singular phenomenon63 ，a
Reading Watchman . He had a book，which he read by the light of
190
his lantern；and instead of a pleasant，gave you a very uncomfort-
able idea of him. It seemed cruel to pitch amidst so many discom-
forts and privations one who had imagination enough to wish to be
relieved from them. Nothing but a sluggish vacuity64 befits a watch-
man .
But the oddest of all was the Sliding Watchman . Think of
walking up a street in the depth of a frosty winter65 ，with long ice
in the gutters，and sleet over head，and then figure to yourself a
sort of bale of a man in white，coming sliding towards you with a
lantern in one hand，and an umbrella over his head . It was the
oddest mixture of luxury and hardship，of juvenility and old age！
But this looked agreeable . Animal spirits66 carry everything before
them；and our invincible friend seemed a watchman for Rabelais67 .
Time was run at and butted by him like a goat . 68 The slide seemed
to bear him half through the night at once；he slipped from out of
his box and his commonplaces at one rush of a merry thought，and
seemed to say， ‘Everything’s in imagination；— here goes69 the
whole weight of my office .’
But we approach our home . How still the trees！How deli-
ciously asleep the country！How beautifully grim and nocturnal
this wooded avenue of ascent，against the cold white sky！ The
watchmen and patrols，which the careful citizens have planted in
abundance within a mile of their doors，salute us with their‘good
mornings’；— not so welcome as we pretend70 ；for we ought not to
be out so late；and it is one of the assumptions71 of these fatherly
old fellows to remind us of it . Some fowls，who have made a
strange roost in a tree，flutter as we pass them；— another pull up72 J
the hill，unyielding；a few strides on a level73 ；and there is the ・
H
light in the window，the eye of the warm soul of the house74 ，— ・
莱
one’s home . How particular，and yet how universal，is that word； 75 ・
亨
and how surely does it deposit every one for himself in his own 特
191
英 nest！
文
名
篇 1. 本文最初载在亨特所办的小报《Companion》上，
《Companion》所
鉴 登的都是轻快有趣的文章。
赏 2. lucubrations：= compositions of a learned or too elaborate and pedantic
金
character，繁征博引的论文，亨特这里用这个词是一种反语的滑稽。
库
第一句话含有某种辛酸：穷文人置办不起马车。
3. great acquaintances：对那人物景色很熟识，就像是位老朋友。
4. mud-light：此词是为了和 moon-light 进行对比，虽然同是“m”开
头的字，且字面相似，但一个在沟里发光、一个普照大地皎洁可爱。
反衬极为鲜明。
5. interesting hour：夜深时分。
6. becoming：= proper；good 合适的。
7. the good-naturedest：前面有 nature，这里又用 good-naturedest 重复
得非常巧妙、有趣。现代英语中就该用 the most good-natured。
8. her：nature 是阴性，我们常说 Mother Nature。
9. what is going on：= what appears before us 本来说到剧场上演时
going on 才这样解释。这里是借用，把世界比喻做一个大舞台。
10. in good-humour：这一句表现了亨特对人生嬉笑自如的人生态
度。这个短语的意思是心情很好。 humour 在这里指“心情”、
“心境”。
11. alive：= sensible 感知的；明智的。
12. the stock of our enjoyment：我们欢娱的材料。写散文的目的不
过是扩大自己的趣味范围，并不一定有什么“立异为高，逆情于誉”。
13. liable to cavil：= open to cavil 容易受人指摘。
14. Old umbrellas have their weak sides：这句话颇有格言味道，字面
的意思是说旧伞有它的坏处，暗指捉襟见肘的穷文人，连伞都不能
挡雨。
15. aggravating：= awful；annoying；irritating。
16. philosophy：= superiority to pain and passions。
17. by no means：= certainly not 当然不。
18. generosity itself on two sick legs：就是“慷慨”自己两脚酸痛还要
陪人走路，恐怕也会不高兴吧。
19. virtue being its own reward：这是一句勉励人们大修德行的话。
意为：善即是它本身的报酬，为善最乐。
20. choose to meet with them：= determine to them in good spirit 愿意从
192
积极的方面看（待夜间步行回家）……。
21. set you well off：= begin your journey happily，愉快地开 始 你 的
旅程。
22. one face：即 his lover’s face。
23. begging of the question：= assuming the thing to be proved，用不确
实的做前提来推论。
24. in the thick：= at the most crowded，在最拥挤的……。
25. men of this world：凡人，普通的人。
26. love，of no heartless order，legal or illegal：不论是经过法律手续或
者没 有 经 过 法 律 手 续，只 要 是 真 心 相 爱，就 是 神 圣 的 婚 姻。 of no
heartless order 指纯粹的、排除肉欲的爱。
27. curtain-lectures：女人在枕边对丈夫的训斥。
28. sleepless for their advantage：亨特晚上出去闲逛，观察夜间景色，
写成文章供读者消遣，他也算是一个夜间工作的人。
29. the conscious injustice of his anger：不合理的生气。医生被徒弟
叫醒，心里很不高兴，但又知道这并非徒弟的错。只好吞下这口气。
30. the Christmas bill：圣诞节收账。西俗，在圣诞节各店铺都开始
收账。
31. stands：= chosen standing ground，常站的地方。
32. go along：= get you gone，让你滚开。
33. hish：嘘！拟声词，用以吓跑遇到的狗。
34. overseer：区里管事的人，可以下令捕杀野狗。
35. beadle：教区助理员，和 overseer 具有同等的权力。
36. political economist：这是讥讽那些经济学家对任何事，只看有用
无用，不考虑其他方面。 Aristotle（亚理斯多德）把经济分为三种类型：
皇家经济、私人经济和国家经济。这里指的是第三种。
37. article：本文，即作者写的这篇文章。
38. to which your sympathizers are liable：你的同情心很容易遇到。
又要怕狗难过，又要顾及自己，富于同情心的人常碰到这种进退维谷
的境地。
39. to be made good：= in need of a good spirit to make it happy，想法 J
・
子才能快活。 H
・
40. to be contended with：= to be struggled against，奋斗。 莱
・
41. turn to account：= make serviceable，使变成有用。 亨
42. it shall be nothing：= it shall not be a burden，不算是一个负担了。 特
193
英 43. robust consciousness：= the consciousness of strength，感觉到力量
文 的存在。
名
44. pondering yet not pondering：好像想什么，实在又没想什么。
篇
鉴 45. used：= used to pity them，像往常那样可怜他们。
赏 46. a forbidden sweet：违 法 的 甜 密，指 在 更 棚 偷 睡。这 是 不 允
金 许的。
库
47.‘somebody’：= a person of importance，要人。
48.‘things of night’：黑夜里的事情。
49. nor bid‘any man stand in the King’s name’：也不能以皇上的名
字叫谁站住。 bid = order，更夫晚上碰上行人，就用这句话叫他站住，
盘问后才放他走。
50. put himself. . . in the way：安排在……位置上。
51.‘An ancient and quiet watchman’：“一个年老安静的更夫。
”莎士
比亚的《亨利六世》剧中，有一个更夫，莎士比亚就是这么称呼他的
（见该剧第三部第四幕）。
52. his own included：他自己的心也包括在内。他的责任既然是保
持安静，自己当然不好啼得很厉害。
53. particular：清楚。
54. mutual convenience：彼此都方便。意即更夫模模糊糊地叫点，
听的人爱把它当几点，就是几点。
55. for the pleasure of grumbling：享受发牢骚的快乐。这里是刻画
老年人 的 心 态。不 是 哪 里 不 舒 服，因 为 爱 发 牢 骚，总 得 找 出 些 理
由来。
56. on account of his utterance：为的他说话的腔调。纨  子弟、时
髦人物说话时总爱故意装出一种特别与众不同的腔调。
57. genteel indifference：文雅而不留心的样子。故意做出无 精 打
彩、什么事也不足以关心的样子，从而显示自己与众不同。
58. nothing else：除声音以外，别的都很平常，毫无出奇之处。
59. come up：= become fashionable，成为时髦。
60. I know not whether a recollection I have of his performance one night
is entire matter of fact：我不知道我对从前一个晚上事情的记忆完全是
事实。matter of fact：真正的事实。
61. One：叫更时说的一点。
62. This paragraph ought to have been at the bottom of the page，and the
word printed abruptly around the corner. 本句系作者的“旁白”，当时的作
194
家喜欢直接同读者讲话。
63. phenomenon：奇人；怪人。
64. sluggish vacuity：懒洋洋毫无思想的样子。头脑空虚的人势必
举止迟缓，这两个字搭配在一起也就顺理成章。
65. the depth of a frosty winter：严冬。
66. Animal spirits：性情活泼。
67. Rabelais：拉伯雷（1494？ ～ 1553？
）法国作家，代表作是《巨人
传》，他最善长描写滑稽而荒诞不经的故事。这个更夫浪漫古怪，所
以配放在他的书里。
68. Time was run at and butted by him like a goat：时间好像一只羊，
给他赶得东奔西跑了。
69. goes：消失。
70. pretend：把他们当做……。
71. assumption：冒味。
72. pull up：伫在。
73. a level：平地。
74. the eye of the warm soul of the house：前面 the window 的同位语。
75. How particular，and yet how universal，is that word：这个字（家庭）
多么特殊，而又多么普遍。各人的家庭不同。每个人对家庭的观念
也不尽相同，但我们从家庭得到的安慰却是极为普遍的，天伦之乐对
谁都是一样的。

J
・
H
・
莱
・
亨
特
195
英
文
名
Thomas De Quincey
篇
鉴
赏
托马斯・德・昆西
金
库 （1785 ～ 1859）

英国散文家，文学批评家，1785 年 8 月 15 日出
生于曼彻斯特一个富商家庭，从小在巴思（Bath）、温
克菲尔德（Winkfield）等几所学校接受教育，15 岁上
曼彻斯特文法学校，18 个月之后逃学，游历威尔士
和伦敦，居无定所，有时甚至忍饥挨饿。这些少年时
期的游历生活后来记载于他的名著《一位英国鸦片
吸食者的告白》 （Confessions of an English Opium Eater ，
1822）一书中。最终，监护人将他送到牛津大学沃塞
斯特学院（Worcester College），在那里他几乎没有同
伴，
形影相吊。在此期间，他开始吸食鸦片，起先是
为了止牙痛，后来成了瘾。他离开牛津时未获一纸
文凭，此后定居于英格兰北部的湖区（the Lake dis-
trict），
与华兹华斯为邻，成为柯勒律治的至交。1817
年，
他与 当 地 一 位 农 夫 的 女 儿 玛 格 丽 特・辛 普 森
（Margaret Simpson）结婚，此前他俩已经有了私生子。
1821 年，德・昆西移居伦敦，在查尔斯・兰姆的
麾下，为《伦敦杂志》（London Magazine）撰稿。同年
出版了《告白》，声誉鹊起。此后近四十年间，他为各
种杂志撰写了大量散文，产出之多往往是为了养家
糊口，文章风格不一：冗长散漫掺杂着病态的猎奇；
黑色幽默时而也流于平淡琐碎。然而，他的学养和
庄重气质赋予散文独特的风格，集中体现于《论〈麦
克白〉中 的 敲 门 声》
（On the Knocking on the Gate in
196
“Macbeth”）一文中。1856 年，德・昆西增编出版了《告白》，添加了许多
自传性的材料。他在晚年编辑了著述合集《亦庄亦谐选本》 （Selections
Grave and Gay ，
1853 ～ 1860）。他的文学影响见诸于波德莱尔和爱伦
坡的著作。

From“Confessions of an
English Opium Eater”
选自《一位英国鸦片吸食者的告白》

【作品赏析】
以 Confessions 为题的作品在西方至少有三部，即奥古斯丁、卢梭
以及本书所选的德・昆西的著作。每部著作中都有占据主要位置或
者具有重要影响的女性角色：奥古斯丁在迦太基的求学生涯中与多
名女性有染，曾过着任性、放荡的生活；卢梭表述了华伦夫人和他之
间摇摆不定的情爱关系；
《告白》中的德・昆西与女人的关系没有那么
复杂，更多的是对于下层女性的感激与怀念。
在本选段中，德・昆西回忆了他在伦敦游荡期间，与一位名叫安
（Ann）的妓女一起度过的时光，其中一件事情给作者留下了不可磨灭
的回忆。在英国，妓女被称作“走街的”
（street - walker），这与当时作
者本人的生活状况有几分相近。可是妓女不但要出卖肉体，时常还
会受到暴徒的袭击和虐夺。物以类聚，人以群分，他们能走到一起就
成了顺理成章的事情。在与安交往的过程当中，用作者本人的话来
说，
他毫无高低贵贱之分，同时也保持着清净无染，颇有以世间作乐
土的大乘精神。他为安所受到的不公正待遇忿忿不平，多次提出要
找当地的官吏，为安澄清冤情，追回损失。不过此弘愿却未实现。一
天晚上，德・昆西由于极度的不适和虚弱，倒在路边的台阶上，几近垂
死。同行的安不顾囊中羞涩、生活拮据，为他买来酒和点心，使德・昆
西迅速恢复了体力。安真心地付出，救人一命，根本没有期望回报， 托
以至于作者多年之后还感叹不已：
“啊！年轻的恩人！
”（Oh！youthful 马
斯
benefactress！
） ・
撇开德・昆西的鸦片瘾不谈，
《告白》的成功与魅力更多来自于作 德
・
品本身的风格。德・昆西风格富丽，文思激昂，使用长句乃其一大特 昆
色，
一个短语累叠一个短语，在语言迷宫中营造出梦幻般的效果，如 西
197
英 选文中第一段的最后一句以及第二段的头一句，分别长 133 和 137 个
文 单词，都有行文绵密的特点，通读下来犹如一段粲然的织锦。这种文
名 体风格对罗斯金（Ruskin）以及别的一些维多利亚时代的作家产生了
篇
鉴 深刻的影响。
赏 （彭发胜）
金
库 【作品欣赏】
Another person there was，at that time，whom I have since
sought to trace with far deeper earnestness1 ，and with far deeper
sorrow at my failure2 . This person was a young woman，and one of
the unhappy class who subsist upon3 the wages ofprostitution4 . I
feel no shame，nor have any reason to feel it，in avowing5 ，that I
was then on familiar and friendly terms with6 many women in that
unfortunate condition . The reader needs neither smile at this
avowal，nor frown . For，not to remind my classical readers of the
old Latin proverb - “Sine Cerere， ”7etc . ，it may well be supposed
that in the existing state of my purse my connection with such
women could not have been an impure one . But the truth is，that
at no time of my life have I been a person to hold myself polluted8
by the touch or approach of any creature that wore a human
shape：on the contrary，from my very earliest youth，it has been
my pride to converse familiarly，more Socratico9 ，with all human
beings，— man，woman，and child — that chance might fling in
my way；a practice which is friendly to the knowledge of human
nature，to good feelings，and to that frankness of address10 which
becomes a man who would be thought a philosopher . For a
philosopher should not see with the eyes of the poor limitary crea-
ture11 calling himself a man of the world，and filled with narrow
and self - regarding prejudices of birth and education，but should
look upon himself as a catholic12 creature，and as standing in an
equal relation to high and low — to educated and uneducated，to
the guilty and the innocent . Being myself，at that time of necessi-
198
ty a peripatetic13 ，or a walker of the streets，I naturally fell in，
more frequently with those female peripatetics who are technically
called street - walkers . Many of these women had occasionally
taken my part against watchmen14 who wished to drive me off the
steps of houses where I was sitting. But one amongst them，— the
one on whose account I have at all introduced this subject，— yet
no！let me not class thee，oh noble - minded Ann —，with that
order15 of women；let me find，if it be possible，some gentler name
to designate16 the condition of her to whose bounty and compas-
sion17 ，ministering to18 my necessities when all the world had for-
saken me，I owe it19 that I am at this time alive . — For many
weeks，I had walked at nights with this poor friendless girl up and
down Oxford Street，or had rested with her on steps and under the
shelter of porticoes20 . She could not be so old as myself：she told
me，indeed，that she had not completed her sixteenth year . By
such questions as my interest about her prompted，I had gradually
drawn forth her simple history. Hers was a case of ordinary occur-
rence（as I have since had reason to think），and one in which，if
London beneficence21 had better adapted its arrangements to meet
it，the power of the law might oftener be interposed22 to protect
and to avenge23 . But the stream of London charity flows in a chan-
nel which，though deep and mighty，is yet noiseless and under-
ground； not obvious or readily accessible to24 poor， houseless
wanderers，and it cannot be denied that the outside air and frame-
work of London society is harsh，cruel，and repulsive25 . In any
case，however，I saw that part of her injuries might easily have
托
been redressed26 ；and I urged her often and earnestly to lay her 马
complaint before a magistrate：friendless as she was27 ，I assured 斯
・
her that she would meet with immediate attention；and that Eng- 德
・
lish justice，which was no respecter of persons28 ，would speedily 昆
and amply avenge her on the brutal ruffian29 who had plundered 西
199
英 her little property. She promised me often that she would；but she
文
名 delayed taking the steps I pointed out from time to time：for she
篇 was timid and dejected to a degree which showed how deeply sor-
鉴 row had taken hold of her young heart：and perhaps she thought
赏
金 justly that the most upright judge，and the most righteous tri-
库 bunals，could do nothing to repair her heaviest wrongs30 . Some-
thing，however，would perhaps have been done：for it had been
settled between us at length，but，unhappily on the very last time
but one that I was ever to see her，that in a day or two we should
go together before a magistrate，and that I should speak on her be-
half. This little service it was destined，however，that I should
never realize . 31 Meantime，that which she rendered to me，and
which was greater than I could ever have repaid her，was this：—
One night，when we were pacing slowly along Oxford Street，and
after a day when I had felt unusually ill and faint，I requested her
to turn off with me into Soho Square32 ：thither we went；and we
sat down on the steps of a house，which，to this hour，I never
pass without a pang of grief，and an inner act of homage33 to the
spirit of that unhappy girl，in memory of the noble action which
she there performed . Suddenly，as we sat，I grew much worse：I
had been leaning my head against her bosom；and all at once I
sank from her arms and fell backwards on the steps . From the
sensations I then had，I felt an inner conviction34 of the liveliest
kind，that without some powerful and reviving stimulus35 ，I should
either have died on the spot — or should at least have sunk to a
point of exhaustion from which all re - ascent under my friendless
circumstances would soon have become hopeless . Then it was，at
this crisis of my fate，that my poor orphan companion36 — who had
herself met with little but injuries in this world — stretched out a
saving hand37 to me . Uttering a cry of terror，but without a mo-
ment’s delay，she ran off into Oxford Street，and in less time than
200
could be imagined，returned to me with a glass of port wine38 and
spices，that acted upon my empty stomach （which at that time
would have rejected all solid food）with an instantaneous power of
restoration39 ：and for this glass the generous girl without a murmur
paid out of her own humble purse40 at a time — be it remem-
bered！— when she had scarcely wherewithal to purchase the bare
necessaries of life41 ，and when she could have no reason to expect
that I should ever be able to reimburse42 her . — Oh！youthful
benefactress！how often，in succeeding years，standing in solitary
places，and thinking of thee with grief of heart and perfect love，
how often have I wished that，as in ancient times the curse of a
father was believed to have a supernatural power，and to pursue
its object with a fatal necessity of self - fulfilment，— even so the
benediction of a heart oppressed with gratitude might have a like
prerogative43 ；might have power given to it from above to chase —
to haunt — to waylay44 — to overtake — to pursue thee into the
central darkness of a London brothel45 ，or if it were possible，into
the darkness of the grave — there to awaken thee with an authen-
tic message46 of peace and forgiveness，and of final reconciliation！
I do not often weep：for not only do my thoughts on subjects
connected with the chief interests of man daily，nay hourly，de-
scend a thousand fathoms47“too deep for tears”48 ；not only does
the sternness of my habits of thought present an antagonism49 to
the feelings which prompt tears — wanting of necessity to those
who，being protected usually by their levity50 from any tendency to
meditative sorrow51 ，would by that same levity be made incapable
托
of resisting it on any casual access of such feelings：— but also， 马
I believe that all minds which have contemplated such objects as 斯
・
deeply as I have done，must，for their own protection from utter 德
・
despondency52，have early encouraged and cherished some tran- 昆
quillizing53 belief as to the future balances and the hieroglyphic 西
201
英 meanings54 of human sufferings . 55 On these accounts I am cheerful
文 to this hour；and，as I have said，I do not often weep . Yet some
名
篇 feelings，though not deeper or more passionate，are more tender
鉴 than others；and often，when I walk at this time in Oxford Street
赏
金 by dreamy lamplight56 ，and hear those airs57 played on a barrel or-
库 gan58 which years ago solaced me and my dear companion，as I
must always call her，I shed tears，and muse with myself at the
mysterious dispensation59 which so suddenly and so critically sepa-
rated us for ever .

1 . earnestness：诚挚，认真。
2 . failure：此处当“未能做到某事”讲。
3 . subsist upon（on）：（靠很少的食物或钱）维持生活，生存下去。
4 . prostitution：卖淫。
5 . in avowing：插入语，意思是“坦率承认”。
6 . on familiar and friendly terms with：和（某人）关系密切友好。
7 . Sine Cerere：拉丁文，完整的原文是 Sine Cerere et Baccho friget
Venus，意思是“没有食物和美酒，爱情就会冷淡”。
8 . hold myself polluted：认为我自己受到了污染。
9 . more Socratico：拉丁文，意思是“以苏格拉底的方式”。苏格拉
底是古希腊著名哲学家，以智慧博大、道德高尚著称。
10 . frankness of address：“谈吐的坦诚”或“坦诚的谈吐”。
11 . poor limitary creature：limitary 意为“受限制的”；整个短语与“哲
人”相对，指“意志受限制的可怜众生”。
12 . catholic：宽容的，开明的。
13 . peripatetic：漫游者，流浪者。
14 . watchman：巡夜人。
15 . order：社会等级，阶层。
16 . designate：把…叫做，称呼。
17 . bounty and compassion：慷慨与同情。
18 . minister to：照顾，给予帮助。
19 . it：回指上文的 bounty and compassion。
20 . portico：门廊，柱廊。
21 . beneficence：慈善，行善，借指慈善机构。
202
 22 . interpose：干预，行使（权力等）。
23 . avenge：替（某某）打抱不平。
24 .accessible to （somebody）：可 被（某 人）接 触 到，为（某 人）所
获得。
25 . harsh，cruel，and repulsive：三词语义层层递进，
“严酷、冷酷、
令人憎恶”。
26 . redress：赔偿，补偿。
27 . friendless as she was：形容词前置，表示强调和转折，意为“尽
管她没有朋友”。
28 . respecter of persons：并不对具体的人表示敬意，言外之意是照
章办事，不徇私情。
29 . ruffian：流氓。
30 . wrong：（所受到的）不公正待遇，委屈。
31 . This little service it was destined，however，that I should never real-
ize：本句的正常语序应为：It was destined，however，that I should never
realize this little service。
32 . Soho Square：位于伦敦市最中心，现为伦敦著名的娱乐休闲
中心。
33 . homage：尊敬，敬意。
34 . inner conviction：内心确信。
35 . reviving stimulus：令人恢复活力的外来刺激。
36 . orphan companion：举目无亲的同伴。
37 . a saving hand：援助之手。
38 . port wine：波尔图葡萄酒。
39 . an instantaneous power of restoration：瞬间就恢复了体力。“in-
stantaneous power”若按照字面理解应是“瞬间的力量，随即又消逝了”，
但是这种理解显然不符合原文的语境；
“instantaneous”强调体力恢复
得迅速。
40 . humble purse：囊中羞涩。
41 . necessaries of life：生活必需品。 托
42 . reimburse：偿还。 马
斯
43 . a like prerogative：一种相似的特权。 ・
44 . waylay：拦住…问讯。 德
・
45 . brothel：青楼，妓院。 昆
46 . authentic message：真心的讯息，心声。
西
203
英 47 . fathom：英寻（测水深的单位，等于 6 英尺或 1 . 8 米）。
文 48 .“too deep for tears”：
（思想）过于深沉，不轻弹眼泪。
名
49 . antagonism：对立，敌对。
篇
鉴 50 . levity：轻浮，轻率。
赏 51 . meditative sorrow：深沉的忧伤。
金 52 . despondency：沮丧，失望。
库
53 . tranquillizing：令人平静的。
54 . hieroglyphic meanings：深奥难懂的含义。
55 .“I do not often weep . . . of human sufferings.”此句是选文中最长
的句子，共 137 个单词。当然就整个选文来看，长句也比比皆是；若
以句号为断句依据，选文的平均句长为 55 . 3 个单词。这个句子是一
个表因果关系的复合句， “I do not often weep”为主句；后面以 for 开头
的为原因从句：“for not only . . . ；not only . . . but also . . .”；中间两个
破折号之间的部分 “wanting of necessity . . . access of feelings”为插入
语，用以解释感情轻浮者的状况，与作者刻板的习惯相对照。
56 . dreamy lamplight：梦幻般的灯光。
57 . airs：（复数）曲调。
58 . barrel organ：手摇风琴。
59 . mysterious dispensation：神秘的天命。

204
Henry David Thoreau
亨利・大卫・梭罗
（1817 ～ 1862）

梭罗是美国 19 世纪超验主义文学流派的重要
成员。他生于马萨诸塞州的康科德镇，毕业于哈佛
大学。梭罗与超验主义领袖爱默生（Emerson）友谊
甚笃，常为其主持的《日晷》杂志撰稿。
梭罗曾在康科德的华尔登湖畔结庐独居了两
年，过着返朴归真的生活。他主张摈弃奢侈与浮华，
回归自然。在政治上他认为“无为而治的政府就是
最好的政府”。
《华尔登》
（Walden）是梭罗的代表作，这本书记
载着他对自然的观察与感触，文风平淡朴素，质朴无
（Civil Disobedience）则是代表他政
华。《论文明抵抗》
治观点的一篇著名政论文。

亨
利
・
大
卫
・
梭
罗
205
英
文
名 Solitude
篇
鉴 幽 居
赏
金
库
【作品赏析】
浪漫主义文人都喜幽居独处。英国 19 世纪文评家黑兹利特曾
云：
“只有孤身一人时我才最不孤独。”他们认为常期幽居独处对达到
思想和性格的深度至关重要。在自然的美景中独自漫步往往会产生
灵感的火花。
大卫・梭罗对隐居有格外的偏好。他在故乡的华尔登湖畔结庐
独居两年，与自然和禽兽为邻。劳作之余他挥笔记下林中隐居的杂
感，集成《华尔登》一书。本篇即选自该书。
第一段是描写湖畔夜景。梭罗独自漫游在大自然中，悠然自在，
似乎是自然的一部分。华尔登湖上和风习习，碧波荡漾。禽兽的鸣
声反衬出林中的宁静。这一段文笔清雅，行文舒缓有致，表达了作者
对自然的崇敬膜拜之情。
在第二段中作者直接表述他对幽居独处的偏爱。他认为在大部
分时间里孤身独处有益健康。而即使跟最好的人作伴也会很快令人
疲倦、耗精费神。大学学子终日埋头书中而不感到孤独无聊。人的
最好伴侣就是孤独。
作者在第三段中用了一系列的比喻，说明他并不孤独：湖上的潜
鸟与华尔登湖都无伴侣而毫无忧郁之感；天上只有一个太阳，除了在
阴沉的天气中有一个太阳的幻影。上帝更是孤身一人———但撒旦却
宾客众多。
在最后一段中作者强调自然的和善与灵性。她与人类有心灵的
感应：如果人有伤心的事，则大自然也黯然神伤。此外，大自然也给
人提供永葆健康与青春的良药———纯净清新的空气。但可惜的是只
有少数人才有闲暇去享受这大自然的恩赐。
这一段散文以诗歌般的语言描绘了一幅自然的宁静夜景，抒发
了作者对独居的挚爱。作者善用类比与典故、拟人等手法，使它具有
十分感人的力量。
（蒋显璟）
206
【作品欣赏】
This is a delicious evening，when the whole body is one
sense ，and imbibes2 delight through every pore3 . I go and come
1

with a strange liberty in Nature，a part of herself 4. As I walk along

the stony shore of the pond in my shirt-sleeves5 ，though it is cool
as well as cloudy and windy，and I see nothing special to attract
me，all the elements6 are unusually congenial7 to me . The bullfrogs
trump to usher in the night， 8
and the note of the whip-poor-will9 is
borne on the rippling10 wind from over the water . Sympathy with
the fluttering alder and poplar leaves almost takes away my
breath； 11
yet，like the lake，my serenity12 is rippled but not ruf-
fled13 . These small waves raised by the evening wind are as remote
from storm as the smooth reflecting surface . Though it is now dark，
the wind still blows and roars in the wood，the waves still dash，
and some creatures lull14 the rest with their notes . The repose is
never complete . The wildest animals do not repose，but seek their
prey now；the fox，and skunk15 ，and rabbit，now roam the fields
and woods without fear . They are Nature’s watchmen，— links
which connect the days of animated life . 16
    
I find it wholesome17 to be alone the greater part of the time .
To be in company18 ，even with the best，is soon wearisome and
dissipating19 . I love to be alone . I never found the companion that
was so companionable as solitude . We are for the most part more
lonely when we go abroad among men than when we stay in our
chambers. A man thinking or working is always alone，let him be
亨
where he will . Solitude is not measured by the miles of space that 利
intervene between a man and his fellows . The really diligent stu- ・
大
dent in one of the crowded hives of Cambridge College is as soli- 卫
・
tary as a dervis20 in the desert . The farmer can work alone in the 梭
field or the woods all day，hoeing or chopping，and not feel lone- 罗
207
英 some，because he is employed；but when he comes home at night
文
he cannot sit down in a room alone，at the mercy of his thoughts21 ，
名
篇 but must be where he can “see the folks， ”and recreate22 ，and as
鉴 he thinks remunerate23 himself for his day’s solitude；and hence
赏
金 he wonders how the student can sit alone in the house all night
库 and most of the day without ennui and“the blues24”；but he does
not realize that the student，though in the house，is still at work in
his fields，and chopping in his woods，as the farmer in his，and in
turn seeks the same recreation and society that the latter does，
though it may be a more condensed form of it .
    
I have a great deal of company in my house；especially in the
morning，when nobody calls . Let me suggest a few comparisons，
that some one may convey an idea of my situation . I am no more
lonely than the loon25 in the pond that laughs so loud，or than
Walden Pond itself. What company has that lonely lake，I pray？
And yet it has not the blue devils26 ，but the blue angels in it，in
the azure tint27 of its waters . The sun is alone，except in thick
weather，when there sometimes appear to be two，but one is a
mock28 sun . God is alone，— but the devil，he is far from being
alone；he sees a great deal of company；he is legion29 . I am no
more lonely than a single mullein or dandelion30 in a pasture，or a
bean leaf，or sorrel31 ，or a horse-fly，or a humblebee32 . I am no
more lonely than the Mill Brook33 ，or a weathercock34 ，or the north
star35 ，or the south wind，or an April shower，or a January thaw36 ，
or the first spider in a new house .
    
The indescribable innocence and beneficence37 of Nature，—
of sun and wind and rain，of summer and winter，— such health，
such cheer，they afford forever38 ！ And such sympathy have they
ever with our race，that all Nature would be affected，and the
208
sun’s brightness fade，and the winds would sigh humanely，and
the clouds rain tears，and the woods shed their leaves and put on
mourning39 in midsummer，if any man should ever for a just cause
grieve. Shall I not have intelligence with the earth？ 40
Am I not
partly leaves and vegetable mould myself？
41

What is the pill which will keep us well，serene，contented42 ？

Not my or thy great-grandfather’s，but our great-grandmother Na-
ture’s universal，vegetable，botanic43 medicines，by which she has
kept herself young always，outlived so many old Parrs44 in her day，
and fed her health with their decaying fatness . For my panacea45 ，
instead of one of those quack vials46 of a mixture dipped from
Acheron and the Dead Sea47 ，which come out of those long shallow
blackschooner48 looking wagons which we sometimes see made to
carry bottles，let me have a draught49 of undiluted50 morning air！
Morning air！If men will not drink of this at the fountain-head51 of
the day，why，then，we must even bottle up52 some and sell it in the
shops，for the benefit of those who have lost their subscription tick-
et53 to morning time in this world . But remember，it will not keep
quite till noonday54 even in the coolest cellar55 ，but drive out the
stopples56 long ere57 that and follow westward the steps of Auro-
ra58 . I am no worshipper of Hygeia59 ，who was the daughter of that
old herb-doctor Aesculapius60 ，and who is represented on monu-
ments holding a serpent61 in one hand，and in the other a cup out
of which the serpent sometimes drinks；but rather of Hebe62 ，cup-
bearer63 to Jupiter，who was the daughter of Juno64 and wild let-
tuce，and who had the power of restoring gods and men to the vigor
of youth65 . She was probably the only thoroughly sound-condi- 亨
tioned66 ，healthy，and robust67 young lady that ever walked the 利
・
globe，and wherever she came it was spring. 大
卫
・
1. when the whole body is one sense；当全身凝聚为一种感觉。 梭
2. imbibe：吸进；吸收（思想、知识等）。
罗
209
英 3. pore：毛孔。
文 4. a part of herself：
（作者）是大自然的一部分。
名
5. in my shirt-sleeves：只穿着衬衫。
篇
鉴 6. elements：自然力。
赏 7. congenial：志趣相投的。be congenial to sb：与某人志趣相合。
金 8. The bullfrogs trump to usher in the night：牛蛙的鸣声宣告夜晚的
库
来临。
9. whip-poor-will：
（美国产的）一种夜鹰。
10. rippling：飘拂的， 激起涟漪的。
11. Sympathy with the fluttering alder and poplar leaves almost takes
away my breath：我与颤动的桤木和白杨树叶产生共鸣，这几乎使我惊
异不已。
12. serenity：宁静，安祥。
13. ruffled：弄皱。此句意为：“我的宁静心灵荡起微波，但未卷起
狂澜。
”
14. lull：使宁静，催眠。
15. skunk：臭鼬。
16.They are Nature’s watchmen，
— links which connect the days of animat-
ed life：它们是大自然的更夫， ———是生机勃勃的白昼之间的联系。
17. wholesome：有益健康的。
18. to be in company（with）：与……为伴。
19. dissipating：消耗精力的。
20. dervis：= dervish 伊斯兰教托钵僧。
21. at the mercy of his thoughts：任凭他的思绪支配。
22. recreate：
（动词）消遣，娱乐。
23. remunerate：
（动词）酬劳，报偿。
24. blues：忧郁，烦闷。
25. loon：潜鸟。
26. the blue devils：沮丧，忧郁。
27. azure tint：天蓝色。
28. mock：虚假的。
29. legion：众多，大批。
30. mullein：毛蕊花。 dandelion：蒲公英。
31. sorrel：酢浆草。
32. humblebee：野蜂。
210
 33. the Mill Brook：流经康科德（马萨诸塞州一城镇）的一条溪流。
34. weathercock：风向标。
35. the north star：北极星。
36. thaw：解冻。
37. beneficence：慈善。
38. they afford forever：它们永远给予。they 指 sun，wind 等。
39. put on mourning：穿上丧服。
40. Shall I not have intelligence with the earth？我难道不应该与大地
互通灵性吗？
41. vegetable mould：植物的特性。
42. contented：心满意足的。
43. botanic：植物的。
44. Parr：帕尔，即英国的 Thomas Parr，据云曾活至 152 岁。
45. panacea：万应灵药。
46. vial：药瓶。quack 即“骗人的，胡吹的”。
47. Acheron：
（希腊神话中的）冥河。 the Dead Sea：死海。（位于约
旦和巴勒斯坦之间的一个大咸湖）。
48. blackschooner：一种纵帆船。
49. draught：一饮，一吸。
50. undiluted：未稀释的，未冲淡的；纯粹的。
51. fountain-head：源泉，根源。
52. bottle up：用瓶装。
53. subscription ticket：预订票。
54. it will not keep quite till noonday：
（空气）保留不到中午。
55. cellar： 地下室。
56. stopple：瓶塞。
57. ere：= before，在……之前。
58. Aurora：
（罗马神话中的）曙光女神。
59. Hygeia：
（希腊神话中的）健康女神。
60. herb-doctor：草药医生。 亨
Aesculapius：（罗马神话中的）医神埃斯科拉庇俄斯。 利
・
61. serpent：蛇。 大
62. Hebe：（希腊神话中的）希比，青春女神，众神的侍女。 卫
・
63. cup-bearer：侍酒者。 梭
64. Juno：朱诺，希腊神话中宙斯之妻。
罗
211
英 65. restore… to the vigor of youth：使……恢复青春活力。
文 66. sound-conditioned：身体健康的。
名
67. robust：健壮的。
篇
鉴
赏
金 From“Journals”
库
《札记》选段

【作品赏析】
日记，往往是人们的心灵独白，因为需要倾诉或倾听自己的内心
世界而作的自由表白；透过它，我们可以走进一个个丰富而真实的思
维空间，去看一看别人天空下的那方风景。或许，他所诉说的正是你
心底从未平息过的悠远的呼唤？或许，他在冥想的也是萦绕你脑海
的一个梦境？
在这忙碌的尘世里，梭罗的日记带来的是一种生命的热情和自
然的声音，不事雕琢却因而显得真切动人。这里所选的第一篇日记
“文学的狂想”开宗明义地表白了作者的浪漫主义思想：文学作品须
有新鲜的视角、充沛的感情，而不是清规戒律或刻意的雕饰。正如梭
罗本人坚持的：我要在日记里写下我的热爱，写下这世界里我所热爱
和爱幻想的一切，而别无选择。他所注重的是生命的体验本身，而不
是它的结局，正如那欲开的花苞，也许要绽放，也许会结果，但此刻它
只是尽情地感受阳光与清风。读到这儿，你是否蓦然惊觉：埋头赶路
之际却错过了一路美景？不为物欲所累，不以得失为意，梭罗抒写的
是一种自然、简朴、达观的生命哲学；他的另一篇日记“米诺特，诗意
的农夫”正表明了这样的态度。米诺特是从容不迫的，耕作于他是一
种艺术、一个爱好，从中他得到莫大的乐趣；就像艺术家进行创作时，
洋溢着发自内心的喜悦。梭罗也不无赞赏地打量米诺特的作品：谷
仓四周一堆堆的庄稼，是那样新鲜、清爽、漂亮的绿色；当这些作品终
于要送去出售，米诺特会由于不忍与之分离而伤心地哭起来。乍一
听来，这似乎有些可笑，然而米诺特这般坦诚直露的赤子之心不是很
可贵吗？像个孩子不愿与爱物分开，未泯的童趣总有几分令人神往。
米诺特还是个乐观开朗的人，生活俭朴而知足常乐，热爱自然且敏于
感受。梭罗以极欣赏的笔调将米诺特的生活向我们娓娓道来，不由
212
让人联想到中国古代托物言志的小品文，或许这诗意的农夫就是梭
罗本人？很多浪漫主义者对社会失望以后，曾转而向自然寻求心灵
的慰籍，譬如卢梭；然而梭罗却是由于对自然的热爱更坚定了对人类
的信心。对于自然中的一草一木，梭罗都投入极大的热情，缓缓说来
如数家珍：这一株是前天开的，那一朵今天开始分泌花粉了。历数了
许多种植物以后，梭罗笔锋一转，以铺陈的手法描述水中洁白的莲
花：
它是纯洁的象征，出淤泥而不染，其态美而高洁，其香清而悠远。
由此，梭罗想到，尽管这世界上还有奴隶制，还有不公平、不正义以及
趋炎附势、不讲原则的小人，但希望不会破灭；正如污水淤泥之中可
以绽放洁白的花朵，邪恶之中仍可辨出人类的美德。
下面所选的三篇日记，语言清新流畅，感情充沛，将一个独立特
行、敏于感受、热爱自然的作者形象勾勒得清晰明了。而他所提倡的
自然、简朴、达观，不为外物牵累的生存态度，尤其令人激赏而心向
往之。
（黎丹）

【作品欣赏】

“Wild Thinking”1 in literature

［November 16， 1850］

In literature it is only the wild that attracts us . Dullness is
only another name for tameness . It is the untamed，uncivilized，
free，and wild thinking in Hamlet ，in the Iliad ，and in all the
scriptures2 and mythologies that delights us . — not learned in the
schools，not refined and polished by art3 . A truly good book is
something as wildly natural and primitive，mysterious and mar-
velous，ambrosial4 and fertile，as a fungus or a lichen . Suppose the
亨
muskrat or beaver were to turn his views to literature， 5
what fresh 利
views of nature would he present！The fault of our books and other ・
大
deeds is that they are too humane，I want something speaking in 卫
・
some measure to the condition of 6muskrats and skunk-cabbage7 as 梭
well as of men . — not merely to a pining8 and complaining coterie9 罗
213
英 of philanthropists .
文
My Journal should be the record of my love . I would write in
名
篇 it only of the things I love，my affection for any aspect of the
鉴 world，what I love to think of I have no more distinctness or point-
赏
金 edness in my yearnings than an expanding bud10 ，which does in-
库 deed point to flower and fruit， to summer and autumn，but is
aware of the warm sun and spring influence only. I feel ripe for
something，yet do nothing，can’t discover what that thing is . I feel
fertile merely. It is seedtime11 with me . I have lain fallow12 long
enough .
Notwithstanding a sense of unworthiness which possesses me，
not without reason13 ，notwithstanding that I regard myself as a good
deal of a scamp14 ，yet for the most part the spirit of the universe is
unaccountably kind to me，and I enjoy perhaps an unusual share of
happiness. Yet I question sometimes if there is not some settle-
ment to come15 .

Minott16 ，the Poetical Farmer

［October 4， 1851］
Minott was telling me to-day that he used to know a man in
Lincoln who had no floor to his barn，but waited till the ground
froze，then swept it clean in his barn and threshed his grain on it .
He also used to see men threshing their buckwheat in the field
where it grew，having just taken off the surface down to a hard-
pan17 .
Minott used the word“gavel18”to describe a parcel of stalks
cast on the ground to dry. His are good old English words，and I
am always sure to find them in the dictionary，though I never heard
thern before in my life .
I was admiring his corn-stalks disposed about19 the barn to
214
dry，over or astride20 the braces21 and the timbers，of such a fresh，
clean，and handsome green，retaining their strength and nutritive
properties so22 ，unlike the gross and careless husbandry23 of spec-
ulating，money-making farmers，who suffer their stalks to remain
out fill they are dry and dingy and black as chips24 .
Minott is，perhaps，the most poetical farmer— who most real-
izes to me the poetry of the farmer’s life— that I know. He does
nothing with haste and drudgery，but as if he loved it . He makes
the most of25 his labor，and takes infinite satisfaction in every part
of it . He is not looking forward to the sale of his crops or any pe-
cuniary profit，but he is paid by the constant satisfaction which his
labor yields26 him. He has not too much land to trouble him，— too
much work to do，— no hired man nor boy，— but simply to amuse
himself and live . He cares not so much to raise a large crop as to
do his work well . He knows every pin and nail in his barn . If an-
other linter27 is to be floored28 ，he lets no hired man rob him of
that amusement，but he goes slowly to the woods and，at his
leisure，selects a pitch pine29 tree，cuts it，and hauls it or gets it
hauled to the mill30 ；and so he knows the history of his barn floor .
Farming is an amusement which has lasted him31 longer than
gunning32 or fishing. He is never in a hurry to get his garden
planted and yet ［it］is always planted soon enough，and none in
the town is kept so beautifully clean .
He always prophesies a failure of the crops，and yet is satis-
fied with what he gets . His barn floor is fastened down with oak
pins，and he prefers them to iron spikes33 ，which he says will rust
亨
and give way34 . He handles and amuses himself with every ear35 of 利
his corn crop as much as a child with its playthings，and so his ・
大
small crop goes a great way36 . He might well cry if it were carried 卫
・
to market . The seed of weeds is no longer in his soil . 37 梭
He loves to walk in a swamp in windy weather and hear the 罗
215
英 wind groan through the pines . He keeps a cat in his barn to catch
文
the mice . He indulges in38 no luxury of food or dress or furniture，
名
篇 yet he is not penurious39 but merely simple . If his sister dies be-
鉴 fore him，he may have to go to the almshouse in his old age；yet he
赏
金 is not poor，for he does not want riches40 . He gets out of each ma-
库 nipulation in the farmers’ operations a fund of41 entertainment
which the speculating drudge42 hardly knows . With never-failing
rheumatism43 and trembling hands，he seems yet to enjoy perennial
health . Though he never reads a book，— since he has finished the
“Naval Monument， ”44 — he speaks the best of English .

Up Railroad45 — Odors of Nature and Men

［June 16， 1854］

5 A. M. —Up railroad .
As the sun went down last night，round and red in a damp
misty atmosphere，so now it rises in the same manner though there
is no dense fog. Poison-dogwood46 yesterday，or say day before47
i . e . . 14th . Rubus hispidus48 ，perhaps yesterday in the earliest
place，over the sand49 . Mullein50 ，perhaps yesterday.
Observed yesterday the erigeron51 with a purple tinge . I can-
not tell whether this，which seems in other respects the same with
the white，is the strigosus or annuus52 . The calla which I plucked
yesterday sheds pollen53 to-day；say to-day，then54 . A Hypericum
perforatum55 seen last night will probably open to-day. I see on
the Scirpus lacustris and pontederia56 leaves black patches for
some days，as if painted，of minute closely placed ova57 ，above wa-
ter. I suspect that what I took for milfoil is a sium58 . Is not that
new mustard-like plant behind Loring’s，and so on down the riv-
er，Nasturtium hispidum；or hairy cress59 ？Probably the first the
19th . Heart-leaf60 . NymphS a odorata61 . Again I scent a white
216
water-lily，and a season I had waited for is arrived . How indis-
pensable all these experiences to make up the summer！It is the
emblem of purity，and its scent suggests it62 . Growing in stagnant
and muddy water，it bursts up so pure and fair to the eye and so
sweet to the sent，as if to show us what purity and sweetness reside
in，and can be extracted from，the slime and muck of earth63 . I
think I have plucked the first one that has opened for a mile at
least. What confirmation of our hopes is in the fragrance of the
water-lily！I shall not soon despair of64 the world for it，notwith-
standing slavery，and the cowardice and want of principle of the
North65 . It suggests that the time may come when man’s deeds
will smell as sweet . Such，then，is the odor our planet emits . Who
can doubt，then，that Nature is young and sound66 ？If Nature can
compound this fragrance still annually，I shall believe her still full
of vigor，and that there is virtue in man，too，who perceives and
loves it67 . It is as if all the pure and sweet and virtuous was ex-
tracted from the slime and decay68 of earth and presented thus in a
flower. The resurrection of virtue！It reminds me that Nature has
been partner to no Missouri compromise69 . I scent no compromise
in the fragrance of the white water-lily. In it，the sweet，and pure，
and innocent are wholly sundered from70 the obscene and baleful .
I do not scent in this the time-serving irresolution of a Mas-
sachusetts Governor，nor of a Boston Mayor71 . All good actions
have contributed to this fragrance . So behave that72 the odor of
your actions may enhance the general sweetness of the atmo-
sphere，that，when I behold or scent a flower . I may not be re-
亨
minded how inconsistent are your actions with it；for all odor is 利
but one form of advertisement of a moral quality. If fair actions ・
大
had not been performed，the lily would not smell sweet . The foul 卫
・
slime stands for73 the sloth and vice of man；the fragrant flower that 梭
springs from it，for the purity and courage which springs from its 罗
217
英 midst . It is these sights and sounds and fragrances put together
文
that convince us of our immortality. No man believes against all
名
篇 evidence. 74 Our external senses consent with75 our internal . This
鉴 fragrance assures me that，though all other men fall，one shall
赏
金 stand fast；though a pestilence sweep over the earth，it shall at
库 least spare one man . The genius of Nature is unimpaired . Her
flowers are as fair and as fragrant as ever .

1.“Wild Thinking”：梭罗所指也就是 wild imagination，奔放无羁的

想像力。
2. Hamlet，英文艺复兴时期伟大的戏剧家莎士比亚（1564 ～ 1616）
的名剧《哈姆雷特》。Iliad： 《伊利亚特》，一部著名的古希腊史诗，记叙
特洛伊战争的经过，相传为荷马所作。scriptures：被认为有权威性的
经典文学、伟大著作。
3. not learned in the schools，not refined and polished by art：过去分词
词组，修饰前面的“the untamed，uncivilized，free and wild thinking”，意为
这种想象并非在学校里学来的，也未经过艺术的修饰。
4. ambrosial：极其美好的（尤指味道或气味）。
5. Suppose the muskrat or beaver were to turn his views to literature：sup-
pose 所接的宾语从句用的是虚拟语气，故系动词用 were。 muskrat：又
称 muskrat beaver，麝鼠，一种水栖啮齿动物，身上能发出麝味。turn his
views to literature：将他的观点转变成文学（以文学形式记录下来）。
6. speaking. . . to the condition of：telling something about the state of，讲
述了有关……的生活状态的一些事情。
7. skunk-cabbage：臭菘，北美东部和亚洲天南星科的一种多年生
草本植物。
8. pining：动词 pine 的现在分词。pine：消瘦，憔悴、衰弱。
9. coterie：志同道合的人组成的小集团，往往排斥他人。
10. I have no more. . . bud：我的渴望并不清晰明确，它只是一朵正
逐渐胀大的花苞。
11. seedtime：播种的季节；喻指发展或准备的时期。
12. lain fallow：lain 为 lie 的过去分词。lie fallow：处于休眠状态；闲
置着积蓄力量。
13. not without reason：不是没有道理的（指前一句中说的自己有一
218
种自惭的感觉）。
14. scamp：无赖，流氓。
15. if there is not some settlement to come：settlement：清账，结账。梭
罗认为自己并无什么价值，却蒙上天错爱，对自己不可思议地优待，
赐给自己一份超乎寻常的幸福，故此他怀疑是否有一天他要为这些
付出代价。
16. Minott：George Minott，乔治・明诺特，康科德的一位农夫，1861
年去世。他住在爱默生住所的对面，和梭罗还有一点姻亲关系：梭罗
的祖母守寡后改嫁了一个明诺特家族的人。
17. having just taken off the surface down to a hard-pan：刚把（麦田的）
表层土刮去，露出底下的硬地。
18. gavel：一捆（束、堆）谷物、干草或秸杆。
19. disposed：put，placed，分词作定语。about：around。
20. astride：在……的两旁。
21. braces：用以支撑建筑物的铁杆或木柱。
22. so：很。
23. husbandry：处理（家务、农务等）。
24. chips：做燃料用的干粪。
25. make the most of：最大限度地利用。
26. yields：给予。
27. linter：此处意同 lean-to，即：只有一斜面屋顶之屋（通常其另一
面之墙壁紧靠于较大的房屋、树或大柱之上）。
28. to be floored：将铺设地板。
29. pitch pine：（植物）脂松。
30. mill：工厂，制造厂。
31. lasted him：gone on for him。
32. gunning：枪猎，打猎。
33. spikes：长钉，大钉。
34. give way：失去作用。
35. ear：穗。 亨
36. goes a great way：持续很长时间。 利
・
37. He might well cry if it were carried to market. The seed of weeds is 大
no longer in his soil：如果谷物收成被运去市场上销售，他大有可能会 卫
・
骂起来，因为他的田地里已经没有谷物种子了。 梭
38. indulges in：沉溺于。
罗
219
英 39. penurious：
（正式用语）小气的，吝啬的。
文 40. riches：财富。
名
41. a fund of：富于……，很多……。
篇
鉴 42. the speculating drudge：那营营算算做着苦工的人。
赏 43. with never-failing rheumatism：尽管风湿症总是如期而至，从不
金 爽约。
库
44.“Naval Monument”：指阿贝尔・鲍恩（Abel Bowen）1816 年出版的
《海军纪念碑：对刚结束的这场战争中英美海军之间所有战役的官方
记述和其他记述，以及对阿尔及尔战争的记述》
（The Naval Monument，
Containing Official and Other Accounts of All the Battles Fought between the
Navies of the United States and Great Britain during the Late War；and an Ac-
count of the War with Algiers）。
45. Up Railroad：沿着铁轨。 up：along。
46. poison-dogwood：
（植物）美国毒肤木，生于山地，有剧毒。
47. yesterday，or say day before：据上下文的意思来看，梭罗是在估
计这种植物是什么时候开的花：是昨天呢，还是且算作前天？ day be-
fore：即 the day before yesterday。
48. Rubus hispidus：拉丁文，植物名，一种密生绒毛的覆盆草。
49. perhaps yesterday in the earliest place，over the sand：也许最早（开
花）的一处，在沙地的那一边。
50. mullein：毛蕊花属的一种草木植物，长有毛茸茸的大叶子。
51. erigeron：飞蓬属植物。
52. is the strigosus or annuus：Erigeron Strigosus 和 Annuns Strigosus 是
两种飞蓬属植物的拉丁名，分别为：粗糙飞蓬和一年蓬。
53. calla：水芋属植物。sheds pollen：分泌花粉。
54. say to-day，then：就算作今天好了。
55. Hypericum perforatum：贯叶金丝桃。
56. Scirpus lacustris：水 葱 藨 草。 pontederia：海 青 属 的 一 种 水 生
植物。
57. ova：ovum 的复数形式：卵细胞，卵形饰物。
58. took for：以为是……，当作……。milfoil：蓍草属的一种草本植
物，叶细裂，有强烈气味。sium：毒人参属的一种草本植物，叶羽状，花
白色。
59. Nasturtium hispidum；or hairy cress：豆 瓣 菜；或 者 说，长 柔 毛 水
芹菜。
220
 60. Heart-leaf：心形叶。
61. NymphS a odorata： （拉丁语）香睡莲。
62. suggests it：
“it”指前面说的“It is the emblem of purity（它是纯洁
的象征）。 ”梭罗说花的清香就暗示了这一点。
63. the slime and muck of earth：地上的黏泥和秽物，作前面 what 从
句的同位语。
64. despair of：对……绝望。
65. the cowardice and want of principle of the North：北方的胆小怯懦
和缺乏原则。指北方在废奴问题上的立场不坚定（参见注释第 69 条
和第 71 条）。want：lack。
66. sound：健康的。
67. it：指前面说的 fragrance。
68. decay：腐烂物质。
69. Nature has been partner to no Missouri compromise：大自然不曾参
与什么密苏里妥协案。Missouri compromise：1818 年密苏里获准设州，
导致北方和南方之间第一次明显的利益冲突。由于居民大部分为南
方人和奴隶，密苏里申请以奴隶州加入联邦。众议院提议此州废除
奴隶制，但遭南方势力占优势的参议院否决。最后，国会通过了 1820
年密苏里妥协案。据此案，密苏里于 1821 年 8 月 10 日以奴隶州加入
联邦，但奴隶制度应禁行于路易斯安那购地 36°30' 以北的其他地区
（即所谓“托马斯但书”）。然而， 1854 年，就在梭罗写这篇日记不久前
通过的“堪萨斯-内布拉斯加州法案”却又废止了托马斯但书的规定，
宣布各州居民可自主决定本州为奴隶州与否。
70. sundered from：separated from，cut off from。
71. the time-serving irresolution of a Massachusetts Governor，nor of a
Boston Mayor：马萨诸塞州曾发生两起影响极大的事件：一是 1851 年
根据《逃奴法》的规定将托马斯・西姆斯遣送回他乔治亚州的主人处；
另一则是 1854 年 6 月，类似地，将一名叫作安东尼・彭斯的逃奴送回
弗吉尼亚州原主处。马萨诸塞州的州长与波士顿市市长对这个决定
都有不可推卸的责任。 time-serving 趋炎附势的，见风使舵的。
72. So behave that. . . ：Therefore，behave yourself nicely，so that. . . 。 亨
73. stands for：represents。 利
・
74. No man believes against all evidence：没有人相信与所有的证据 大
背道而驰的东西。 卫
・
75. consent with：be in harmony or concord with 与……协调、一致（古 梭
用法）。 罗
221
英
文
名
Ralph Waldo Emerson
篇
鉴
赏
拉尔夫・渥尔多・爱默生
金
库 （1803 ～ 1882）

美国 19 世纪杰出散文家、诗人、超验主义的代
表人物。生于波士顿一个牧师家庭。爱默生虽然生
在美国资本主义工业化蒸蒸日上的初期，但是对这
种工业文明并不认同。他十分厌恶情趣低下的物质
文明、拜金主义及种种市侩行为，并试图以提高人们
的道德修养、丰富人们的内心生活来抗衡物欲流行
的社会风俗，挽救世道人心。他的文章鼓励人们看
清真正的人生使命，从而加强自身个性的磨炼，解放
自己的心灵，自强自立，乐观向上。他具有宗教改革
思想，其超验主义主张以直觉的信仰来取代当时宗
教上的形式主义与僧侣干预，他的观点对美国社会
影响十分深远。
爱默生的文风颇有气势，用语老辣刚劲，融演讲
风味与庄严文体于一炉，珍词隽语，层见叠出，非常
受美国人欢迎。他的散文是美国文学史上的不朽遗
产。主要散文代表作有：
《论自立》
（Self-Reliance，又
名 Understanding “Self-Reliance”，1841） ； 《论 自 然》
（Nature； Addresses and Lectures ，1849）；
《典范人物》
（Representative Men ，
1850）；
《英国特性》 （English Traits，
1856）； 《人生准则》 （The Conduct of Life，
1860）等等。
（辛 申）

222
 From“Journals‘Myself’”
《〈谈自己〉札记》选段

“Nil fuit unquam sic dispar sibi .”Hor1

【作品赏析】
面临重大抉择时，每个人都不免斟酌一番，尤其是青
年，
对于未来的路有些迷茫，然而心中却充满希望和理想，
这样的抉择会使人走上不同的道路。因为无法预知将来，
也不能再回到过去，所以是否能清醒地认识自己，这会影响
青年的决定和他一生的道路。爱默生的这则日记就是写在
这种时刻，他决定放弃教员的工作而重入哈佛神学院，以后
作一名教士。虽然爱默生在八年后放弃了牧师的职业从而
开始他的文学生涯，从他的这篇日记中，我们仍可以窥见他
敏感细腻的心灵和对自己的生命负责的精神———一种青年
的进取心；而他又努力清醒、冷静地认识、分析自己，实实在
在地向自己提出目标。
这篇日记的标题是“谈自己”，副标题是“从来不曾有过
一个如此自相矛盾的生灵”，整篇日记就是在这样起伏不定
的思绪中写成：忽而是对未来的憧憬、希望和决心，忽而是
对自己的批判、否定。像许许多多热爱文学的青年一样，爱
默生想像力丰富，喜欢写作，热情而敏感；同时，他也深深地 拉
尔
为自己缺乏沉着、自信的谈吐和优雅得体的风度而苦恼。 夫
・
深知自己不能胜任医生和律师的工作，爱默生期盼着能在 渥
牧师生涯中获得成功：他从父亲那里继承了庄重的态度和 尔
多
言辞，热爱崇高、永恒的事业和西塞罗般的滔滔雄辩。然而 ・
爱
想到自己对于生活里种种享受的沉溺，爱默生不禁有些惴 默
惴不安。继而思绪一转，他又重新振作，决心为了思想和灵 生
223
英 魂的缘故，约束自己的行为习惯。接下来的一个段落，爱默
文 生又转入对自己的解剖———缺乏镇定的态度，有几分软弱，
名
篇 几许谦卑。敢于承认自己不完善，他却没有失去对于未来
鉴 的信念，因为他深信：牧师这一职业的选择可以使他克服态
赏
金 度和习惯上的种种缺陷，并且可能带给他滔滔的口才。然
库 而他又清醒地认识到，人们往往在否定过去的同时夸大了
未来的希望，到了后来却并没有变得更明智一些。
每个人在年轻的时候都会遇到类似的困惑，渴望进步
与完善，又因为自己的种种缺陷而灰心丧气，因此爱默生的
这篇日记不啻是引起我们的共鸣，更加给了我们一丝启示：
正视自己的不足，却不要因此失却信心而裹足不前，只要踏
踏实实地循着理想努力，总有自己的收获。爱默生的这篇
日记多长句和倒装句式，用词古雅，旁征博引而文采斐然，
虽然只是短短一篇日记，却因选词精当，句式整齐而给人庄
严的印象。
（黎丹）

【作品欣赏】
April 18， 1824［Canterbury（Roxbury），Massachusetts］
Sunday，I am beginning my professional studies . In a month I
shall be legally a man2 . And I deliberately dedicate my time，my
talents，& my hopes to the Church . Man is an animal that looks
before & after；and I should be loth3 to reflect at a remote period
that I took so solemn a step in my existence without some careful
examination of my past & present life . Since I cannot alter I would
not repent the resolution I have made & this page must be witness
to the latest year of my life whether I have good grounds to warrant
my determination4 .
I cannot dissemble5 that my abilities are below my ambition6 .
And I find that I judged by a false criterion when I measured my
powers by my ability to understand & to criticise the intellectual
character of another . For men graduate7 their respect not by the
224
secret wealth but by the outward use；not by the power to under-
stand，but by the power to act . I have or had a strong imagination
& consequently a keen relish for the beauties of poetry. The exer-
cise which the practice of composition gives to this faculty8 is the
cause of my immoderate fondness for writing，which has swelled
these pages to a voluminous extent . My reasoning faculty is pro-
portionately weak，nor can I ever hope to write a Butler’s Analogy9
or an Essay of Hume10 . Not is it strange that with this confession I
should choose theology，which is from everlasting to everlasting
‘debateable Ground’11 . For，the highest species of reasoning upon
divine subjects is rather the fruit of a sort of moral imagination，
than of the ‘Reasoning Machines’such as Locke & Clarke12 &
David Hume . Dr Channing’s Dudleian Lecture13 is the model of
what I mean，and the faculty which produced this is akin to14 the
higher flights of the fancy. I may add that the preaching most in
vogue15 at the present day depends chiefly on imagination for its
success，and asks16 those accomplishments which I believe are
most within my grasp . I have set down17 little which can gratify my
vanity，and I must further say that every comparison of myself with
my mates that six or seven，perhaps sixteen or seventeen，years
have made18 has convineed me that there exists a signal19 defect of
character which neutralizes in great part20 the just influence my
talents ought to have . Whether that defect by in the address，in
the fault of good forms，which Queen Isabella said，were like per-
petual letters commendatory，or deeper seated in an absence of 拉
尔
common sympathies，or even in a levity of the understanding，I 夫
・
cannot tell . 21 But its bitter fruits are a sore uneasiness in the com- 渥
pany of most men & women，a frigid fear of offending & jealousy of 尔
多
disrespect，an inability to lead & an unwillingness to follow the ・
爱
current conversation，which contrive to make me second with all 默
those among whom chiefly I wish to be first . 生
225
英 Hence my bearing22 in the world is the direct opposite of that
文
名 good humoured independence & self esteem which should mark the
篇 gentleman. Be it here remembered23 that there is a decent pride
鉴 which is conspicuous in the perfect model of a Christian man . I
赏
金 am unfortunate also，as was Rienzi24 ，in a propensity to laugh or
库 rather snicker . I am ill at ease therefore among men . I criticize
with hardness . I lavishly applaud；I weakly argue：and I wonder
with a foolish face of praise .
Now the profession of law demands a good deal of personal
address25 ，an impregnable confidence in one’s own powers，upon
all occasions expected & unexpected，& a logical mode of thinking
& speaking— which I do not possess，& may not reasonably hope
to obtain . Medicin also makes large demands on the practitioner
for a seducing Mannerism26 . And I have no taste for the pestle &
mortar，for Bell on the bones or Hunter or Celsus27 .
But in Divinity I hope to thrive . I inherit from my sire28 a
formality of manner & speech，but I derive from him or his patriot-
ic parent a passionate love for the strains29 of eloquence . I burn
after the‘aliquid immensum infinitumque’which Cicero30 desired .
What we ardently love we learn to imitate . My understanding ven-
erates & my heart loves that Cause31 which is dear to God &
man—the laws of Morals，the Revelations which sanction，& the
blood of martyrs & triumphant suffering of the saints which seal32
them. In my better hours33 ，I am the believer if not the dupe34 of
brilliant promises，and can respect myself as the possessor of those
powers which command the reason & passions of the multitude35 .
The office36 of a clergyman is twofold；public preaching & private
influence . Entire success in the first is the lot of few37 ，but this I
am encouraged to expect . If however the individual himself lack
that moral worth which is to secure the last38 ，his studies upon the
first are idly spent39 . The most prodigious genius，a seraph’s elo-
226
quence will shamefully defeat its own end40 ，if it has not first won
the heart of the defender to the cause he defends，but the coolest
reason cannot censure my choice when I oblige myself profession-
ally to a life which all wise men freely & advisedly41 adopt . I put
no great restraint on myself & can therefore claim little merit in a
manner of life which chimes with inclination & habit42 . But I
would learn to love virtue for her own sake，I would have my pen
so guided as was Milton’s when a deep & enthusiastic love of
goodness & of God dictated the Comus43 to the bard or that prose
rhapsody in the 3rd Book of Prelaty44 . I would sacrifice inclination
to the interest of mind & soul . I would remember that“Spare Fast
oft with Gods doth diet， ”45 that Justinian46 devoted but one out of
twenty four hours to sleep & this week（for instance）I will remem-
ber to curtail my dinner & supper sensibly47 & rise from table each
day with an appetite；& so see if it be fact that I can understand
more clearly.
I have mentioned a defect of character；perhaps it is not one，
but many. Every wise man aims at an entire conquest of himself.
We applaud as possessed of48 extraordinary good sense，one who
never makes the slightest mistake in speech or action；one in whom
not only every important step of life，but every passage of conver-
sation49， every duty of the day，even every movement of every
muscle— hands，feet，& tongue，are measured & dictated by delib-
erate reason . I am not assuredly that excellent creature . A score
of words & deeds issue from50 me daily，of which I am not the 拉
尔
master . They are begotten of51 weakness & born ofshame . I cannot 夫
・
assume the elevation I ought，— but lose the influence I should ex- 渥
ert among those of meaner or younger understanding52 ，for want of 尔
多
sufficient bottom53 in my nature，for want of that confidence of ・
爱
manner which springs from an erect mind which is without fear & 默
without reproach54 . In my frequent humiliation，even before women 生
227
英 & children I am compelled to remember thepoor boy who cried， “I
文
名 told you，Father，they would find me out .” Even those feelings
篇 which are counted noble & generous， take in me the taint of
鉴 frailty. For my strong propensity to friendship，instead of working
赏
金 out its manly ends55 ，degenerates to a fondness for particular casts
库 of feature56 perchance not unlike the doting of old King James57 .
Stateliness & silence hang very like Mokannah’s suspicious silver
veil58，only concealing what is best not shewn . What is called a
warm heart，I have not .
The stern accuser Conscience cries that the Catalogue of
Confessions is not yet full . I am a lover of indolence，& of the bel-
ly59 . And the good have a right to ask the Neophyte60 who wears
this garment of scarlet sin，why he comes where all are apparelled
in white？Dares he hope that some patches of pure & generous
feeling，some bright fragments of lofty thought，it may be of divine
poesy61 shall charm the eye away from all the particoloured shades
of his Character62 ？ And when he is clothed in the vestments63 of
the priest，& has inscribed on his forehead ‘Holiness to the
Lord’，& wears on his breast the breastplate of the tribes64 ，then
can the Ethiopian65 change his skin & the unclean be pure？Or
how shall I strenuously enforce on men the duties & habits to
which I am a stranger？Physician，heal thyself. 66 I need not go far
for an answer to so natural a question . I am young in my everlast-
ing existence . I already discern the deep dye of elementary errors，
which threaten to colour its infinity of duration . And I judge that
if I devote my nights & days in form，to the service of God & the
War against Sin . — I shall soon be prepared to do the same in sub-
stance .
I cannot accurately estimate my chances of success，in my
profession，& in life . Were it just67 to judge the future from the
past，they would be very low. In my case I think it is not . I have
228
never expected success in my present employment68 . My scholars69
are carefully instructed，my money is faithfully earned，but the in-
structor is little wiser，& the duties were never congenial with my
disposition . Thus far the dupe of hope I have trudged on with my
bundle at my back，and my eye fixed on the distant hill where my
burden would fall . It may be I shall write dupe a long time to
come & the end of life shall intervene betwixt me & the release70 .
My trust is that my profession shall be my regeneration of mind，
manners，inward & outward estate；or rather my starting point for I
have hoped to put on eloquence as a robe，and by goodness and
zeal and the awfulness of virtue71 to press & prevail over the false
judgments，the rebel passions & corrupt habits of men . We blame
the past we magnify & gild the future and are not wiser for the
multitude of days72 . Spin on，Ye of the adamantine spindle73 ，spin
on，my fragile thread .

1.“Nil fuit unquam sic dispar sibi.”Hor：拉丁文，意为：Never was a

creature so inconsistent.（从未有过一个如此自相矛盾的生灵。 ）出自古
罗马诗人贺拉斯（Horace， 65 ～ 8 BC）的《讽刺诗集》：
1 . 3 . 18。
2. legally a man：法定成年人。爱默生生于 1803 年 5 月 25 日，因
此大约一个月后他将满 21 岁。
3. loth：Loath a. 不愿意的，厌恶的。用作表语。
4. have good grounds to warrant my determination：有充分的理由证明
我下此决心是对的。grounds（pl.）：理由，根据。warrant：证明……为正
当的。
5. dissemble： （古）假装不见，故意不理，无视。 拉
6. my abilities are below my ambition：我的能力与我的抱负不相称 尔
夫
（不足以实现我的抱负）。below：too low to be worthy of，beneath。 ・
7. graduate：给……划分等级。这句话的意思是说，人们是根据一
渥
尔
个人的才能的外在的运用而非内在的蕴藏来决定尊敬他的程度的。 多
8. this faculty：指前一句中所说的想像力。 ・
爱
9. Butler：约瑟夫・巴特勒（Joseph Butler，1692 ～ 1752），英国圣公会 默
会督、神学家。代表作为《把自然宗教和启示宗教与大自然的构造和 生
229
英 发展过程进行对比》
（The Analogy of Religion ，Natural and Revealed ，to the
文 Constitution and Course of Nature）18 世纪末、
19 世纪初影响很大。
名
10. Hume：大卫・休谟（David Hume，1711 ～ 1766），英哲学家、经济
篇
鉴 学家、历史学家。著有《论理智》
（Philosophical Essays Concerning the Hu-
赏 man Understanding ，
1748）。
金 11. from everlasting to everlasting‘debateable Ground’：从不知自何而
库
始的过去，到不知至何而终的未来，永永远远都是“值得商 榷 的 领
域”。everlasting：永恒，是一个有很强的宗教含义的词，也是爱默生喜
欢使用的一个词。作者说，我既已自认推理能力欠佳，却择神学这样
一块领域为业，这也并不奇怪。
12. Locke & Clarke：Locke，John（1632 ～ 1704）洛克，英哲学家， 《人类
理解 论》（ An Essay Concerning Human Understanding ，1690）的 作 者。
Clarke，Samuel（1675 ～ 1729），克拉克，英神学家、哲学家。在其著作《上
帝的存在和属性的论证》 （A Demonstration of the Being and Attributes of
God ，
1705）中，试图证明上帝的存在如数学公式般确定无疑。爱默生
认为他们俩以及休谟都是理性主义者，故冠之以“推理机器”之名。
13. Dr. Channing’s Dudleian Lecture：Channing，William Ellery（1780 ～
1842）钱宁，原为美基督教公理会自由派牧师、著作家，后改奉惟一理
论。他 1821 年 3 月 14 日在哈佛作了关于启示宗教的证据的布道。
Dudleian Lecture：达德利式的讲座。
14. akin to：类似于。
15. in vogue：流行的。
16. asks：requires，古用法。
17. set down：note，record or paper。
18. that six or seven，perhaps sixteen or seventeen，years have made：定
语从句，修饰前面的“every comparison”，即 every comparison that I have
made since six or seven，maybe even sixteen or seventeen，years ago。整个名
词词组的意思是：六七年来，也许甚至十六七年来，每一次我自己与
我的同伴们的比较。make comparisons of sb. with sb：拿……与……作
比较。
19. signal：重大的。
20. neutralize：中和，抵消。 in great part：greatly。
21. Whether that defect by in the address，. . . or deeper seeted in. . . ，or
even in. . . ，I cannot tell. 这整句话的意思是：究竟那个缺陷是在我说话
的方式里，在于我缺乏优美的形式，———那，据伊丽莎白女王所说，是
230
好像永远都灵验的推荐信一样，———还是更深地在于我缺乏常人都
具备的“共感力”，或者甚至在于我理解的浅薄，我不得而知。fault：
缺乏。
22. bearing：举止，风度。
23. Be it here remembered. . . ：这 是 一 种 表 示 希 望、愿 意 的 说 法。
完整的句子应是：I wish it（should）be here remembered. . . 。
24. Rienzi：Cola di Rienzi（1313 ～ 1354），意大利爱国者，一度受人爱
戴的罗马领袖，醉心于恢复古罗马的光荣，但最终失败。
25. personal address：私人谈话。
26. a seducing mannerism：令人产生信任感的举止。
27. have no taste for：不喜欢，对……不感兴趣。pestle & mortar：分
别是捣药 时 用 的 杵 和 臼。Bell：Charles Bell（1774 ～ 1842）和 John Bell
（1763 ～ 1820），苏格兰外科医生。Hunter：John Hunter（1728 ～ 1793），苏
格兰内科医生、医学作家。他们三人都曾写过解剖学的教科书。Cel-
sus：Anlus Cornelins Celsus，约 生 活 在 公 元 前 一 世 纪，著 有 一 些 医 学
论文。
28. sire：father。为诗歌语言。
29. strains：曲调，旋律。
30. aliquid immensum infinitumque：
（拉丁语）something great and im-
measurable，某 种 伟 大 的、无 边 无 垠 的 东 西。Cicero：西 塞 罗（公 元 前
106 ～ 前 43），古罗马政治家、雄辩家和哲学家。
31. that Cause：i. e. theology。
32. Revelations：
《圣 经・启 示 录》。 sanction：批 准，认 可。 seal：确
证……为真。（这两个词的宾语都为 them，即伦理法则。 ）
33. In my better hours：在我（身心）处于良好状态的时候。
34. dupe：被愚弄、欺骗的人。
35. command the reason & passions of the multitude：操纵群众的理智
与激情。 拉
36. office：职能。 尔
夫
37. the lot of few：占少数的这类人。意谓只有少数人才可能在第 ・
一个领域（公开布道）里获得极大成功。
渥
尔
38. the last：the last thing，i. e. ，private influence。 多
39. are idly-spent：徒劳无功。 ・
爱
40. defeat its own end：使自己的目的归于失败。defeat：使失败。 默
41. advisedly：经过深思熟虑地，故意地。 生
231
英 42. chimes with inclination & habit：与爱好和习惯和谐一致。
文 43. Comus：英国诗人弥尔顿（1608 ～ 1674）创作的一部假面舞诗
名 剧，
1634 年上演。
篇
鉴 44. that prose rhapsody in the 3rd Book of Prelaty：
1841 ～ 1842 年间，弥
赏 尔顿写了 5 本捍卫宗教自由的小册子，他站在清教徒一边，抨击教会
金 管理的主教制，主张废除这种制度。其中的第三本名叫 Animadver-
库
sions（1641）。 rhapsody：狂想曲。
45.“Spare Fast oft with Gods doth diet”：出自弥尔顿的短诗《幽思的
人》 （IL Penseroso）第 46 行。意为：斋戒者常常与神共餐。Spare：吃得
少的，俭省的。Fast：为敬神而斋戒，这里喻指斋戒的人。
46. Justinian：查士丁尼一世（483 ～ 565，东罗马皇帝，在位期间 527
～ 565）。
47. sensibly：程度相当大地。
48. possessed of：拥有。此处的 possessed 是过去分词，be possessed
of sth 意为“拥有某物”。
49. every passage of conversation：每一次谈话。passage：occurence，in-
terchange。
50. issue from：自我而出，issue：发出，产生，出现。
51. are begotten of：产生于。 beget（begot，begotten）：古用法，引起，
产生。
52. those of meaner or younger understanding：那些理解力更低下更幼
稚的人。
53. bottom：毅力，经受紧张劳累的能力。
54. an erect mind which is without fear & without reproath：一颗既无恐
惧，也无怨言的正直的心。erect：noble，upright。
55. working out its manly ends：尽力实现自己雄伟崇高的目标。
56. particuler casts of feature：特 定 的 某 几 类 的 相 貌。 casts：kinds，
types。
57. old King James：英国国王詹姆斯一世（1566 ～ 1625），曾写过几
本研究鬼魔的书。
58. Mokannah’s suspicious silver veil：Mokannah 是 托 马 斯・莫 尔
Thomas Moore（爱尔兰诗人，1779 ～ 1852）所写的一首极受人欢迎的叙
事诗 Lalla Rookh 中的人物，诗中充满 19 世纪早期流行的浪漫主义东
方色彩。故事里，Mokannah 假称他戴着一层面纱以免他脸上的“圣
光”
（divine light）被人看见。suspicious：可疑的，引人怀疑的。
232
 59. a lover. . . of the belly：贪图口腹之欲者。belly：the stomach，esp.
representing the body’s need for food。
60. Neophyte：新受圣职的教士。
61. it may be of divine poesy：它可能具有某种诗的神性。这句话为
插入语，it 指代前面的 pure & generous feeling，及 lofty thought。
62. all the particoloured shades of his Character：他的性格中所有各色
各样的阴影。 some bright fragments 意味纯洁，那么杂色（particoloured）
则显然意味着不纯洁。
63. vestments：宗教仪式中穿的服装，尤指教士在教堂内穿着的
袍子。
64. the breastplate of the tribes：
“tribes”指圣经中以色列的 12 个支
族，
分别是雅各的 12 个儿子的子孙。breastplate：古时犹太教高僧的法
衣，胸前镶有 12 颗宝石。
65. the Ethiopian：埃塞俄比亚人， ［古］黑人。英语中有这样的说
法：when the Ethiopian changes his skin，喻指永远不会发生的事情。
66. Physician，heal thyself：耶酥对怀疑他的拿撒勒（Nazareth）人说
话时 曾 引 用 过 的 一 句 谚 语： “Ye will surely say unto me this proverb，
Physician，heal thyself：whatsoever we have heard done in capernaum，do also
here in thy country”
（Luke 4 . 23）。
67. just：公平的，正当的，下一句话中“I think it is not”即为“I don’t
think it is just.”
68. my present employment：写这篇日记时，爱默生还是位教员。
69. scholar：
（古）a schoolboy or a schoolgirl。
70. the end of life shall intervene betwixt me & the release：我还未能卸
下背上的重荷，生命的终点就已经插入到我面前。betwixt： （古）be-
tween。
71. the awfulness of virtue：美德的令人肃然起敬的性质。
72. are not wiser for the multitude of days：没有因为这许多日子的逝 拉
去变得聪明一点。 尔
夫
73. Ye of the adamantine spindle：根据希腊神话，执掌人类命运的命 ・
运三女神之一克罗托（Clotho），负责纺织生命之线。此处的 Ye（you）
渥
尔
即说克罗托。 多
・
爱
默
生
233
英
文
名
William Cobbett
篇
鉴
赏
威廉・科贝特
金
库 （1762 ～ 1835）

英国 19 世纪享有盛誉的政论家，曾主编《政治
（Cobbett’s Weekly Political Register）报，对贫苦百
纪闻》
姓深表 关 怀，而 对 豪 门 贵 族 笔 伐 口 诛，颇 得 民 心。
《政治纪闻》报不胫而走。英国当局力阻此报流行，
科贝特本人亦锒铛入狱两年，后出走美国。 1831 年
回国后再因政治活动受到政府起诉。
科贝特对当时崛起的工商业资本家恨之入骨，
这促使他缅怀旧日英国的传统。他被马克思称为
“大不列颠的最保守又最激进的人；他是古老的英国
最纯真 的 化 身，同 时 又 是 年 轻 的 英 国 最 勇 敢 的 预
告者”。
科贝特是一个自学成才者。经过勤学苦练，他
行文神速，可谓下笔万言，倚马可待。因此他的著述
极为丰富，举凡政治、历史、农业、经济、社会、文化，
几无不涉及。他还编写过《英语语法》一书，该书例
句新颖，叙述文字流畅易懂，即使在英国也曾是一本
畅销书。
科贝特的文风畅达、有力，富于感染性。有论者
认为他的文风继承了斯威夫特的传统，这里的选文
（Rural Rides），是一般文学史
出自他的《骑马乡行记》
家颇为称道的代表性作品。
（辛申）

234
 From“Rural Rides”
选自《骑马乡行记》

【作品赏析】
前面所选的几篇日记，大抵是以作者本人为主角，记述他个人的
言行和感受，或随意，或庄重，或炽烈，或古雅，而这一篇的风格则显
然有所不同。在此，作者本人退至幕后，只充当叙述者（narrator）的角
色，
却浓墨重彩地为我们勾勒了一幅生动的英国 19 世纪初乡村生活
的风俗画和那位威廉・欧文先生的讽刺肖像。
第一段里，作者极尽夸张、铺陈之能事，向我们描述狩猎在乡村
生活中的重要地位：若没有这项活动，乡村生活就像个无休无止的蜜
月，
大约半个世纪就能叫人类灭绝。因为狩猎给乡村带来生机和活
力。在狩猎季节，人们关心、谈论、争执的十有八九与之有关，一切的
嫉妒、责骂、快乐、满足亦是来之于此。接着，作者极认真地向我们介
绍围猎和射杀的区别，前者是其乐融融令人愉快的，而射手们往往由
于虚荣作崇夸耀自己的战果，惹人厌烦。下面的一大段即是作者对
这么一个惹人厌烦的射手的精彩速写：这位欧文先生为了使自己的
战果凑齐一百，坚持不肯回去，不顾天色已晚、道路难行，固执地等待
第一百只山鸡，一发不中后不惜自欺欺人，从袋子里取出一只重新丢
在地上，又假装猛然发现了第一百只战利品。更有甚者，欧文先生还
不断地向朋友们重述这一段“百发百中”的经历。于是作者总结道：
与射手结伴狩猎往往不愉快，如果战果累累，他会虚荣心膨胀而夸夸
其谈；万一战绩不佳，他又会嫌这嫌那大发脾气。因为射手只关心他
自己，对于同伴，对于忠心的猎狗则完全漠然置之。最后，作者进一
步挖苦这位欧文先生，认为以他的品格，只适合作个大街上的清洁
工，万万不该任命他为律师的。
这篇日记读来宛若是密友的一封来信，绘声绘色地向我们描述 威
异地的风土人情、趣闻轶事，笔触轻松幽默，妙语连珠。作者称乡村 廉
生活为“无休无止的蜜月”，又把欧文先生的妻子叫作他的 petticoat
・
科
government（像紧身内衣一样严格的管束），这样俏皮的譬喻在文中比 贝
比皆是，令人忍俊不禁。而对欧文先生的精彩描写尤其让人哑然失 特
235
英 笑，一连串的感叹将他的虚荣自负刻画得淋漓尽致：这可太糟糕了！
文 一百次中有一发没打中！成为不朽的机会就此断送了！接下来的一
名 段对话描写亦生动而令人过目难忘。纵观全文，笔势恣意纵横，轻俏
篇
鉴 机敏，相信此刻读者对于超然局外，理智温和却不失犀利的英国式幽
赏 默已经了然于胸了。
金 （黎丹）
库
【作品欣赏】
Tursley，
Wednesday， 26 Oct . 1825 .
The great business of life，in the country，appertains，in some
way or other，to thegame1 ，and especially at this time of the year .
If it were not for the game，a country life would be like an ever-
lasting honeymoon ，which would，in about half a century，put an
end to the human race . In towns，or large villages，people make a
shift to find2 the means of rubbing the rust off from each other3 by
a vast variety of sources of contest . A couple of wives meeting in
the street，and giving each other a wry look，or a look not quite
civil enough，will，if the parties be hard pushed for a ground of
contention4 ，do pretty well . But in the country there is，alas！no
such resource . Here are no walls for people to take of each oth-
er . 5 Here they are so placed as to prevent the possibility of such
lucky local contact . Here is more than room of every sort，elbow，
leg，horse，or carriage6 ，for them all . Even at church （most of the
people being in the meeting-houses）the pews are surprisingly too
large . Here，therefore，where all circumstances seem calculated to
cause never-ceasing concord with its accompanying dullness，there
would be no relief7 at all，were it not for the game . This，happily，
supplies the place of 8all other sources of alternate dispute and rec-
onciliation；it keeps all in life and motion，from the lord down to
the hedger . When I see two men，whether in a marketroom，by the
way-side，in a parlour，in a church-yard，or even in the church it-
236
self，engaged in manifestly deep and most momentous9 discourse，I
will，if it be any time between September and February，bet ten to
one that it is，in some way or other，about the game . The wives
and daughters hear so much of it that they inevitably get engaged
in the disputes；and thus all are kept in a state of vivid animation .
I should like very much to be able to take a spot10 ，a circle of 12
miles in diameter，and take an exact account of11 all the time spent
by each individual，above the age of ten（that is the age they begin
at），in talking，during the game season of one year，about the game
and about sporting exploits12 . I verily13 believe that it would
amount，upon an average，to six times as much as all the other talk
put together；and，as to the anger，the satisfaction，the scolding，the
commendation，the chagrin，the exultation，the envy，the emula-
tion，where are there any of these in the country unconnected with
the game？
There is，however，an important distinction to be made be-
tween hunters（including coursers14）and shooters . The latter are，
as far as relates to their exploits，a disagreeable class compared
with the former；and the reason of this is，their doings are almost
wholly their own；while，in the case of the others，the achievements
are the property of the dogs . Nobody likes to hear another talk
much in praise of his own acts，unless those acts have a manifest
tendency to produce some good to the hearer；and shooters to talk
much of their own exploits，and those exploits rather tend to hu-
miliate the hearer . Then，a greater shooter will，nine times out of
ten，go so far as almost to lie a little；and though people do not tell
him of it，they do not like him the better for it；and he but too fre-
quently discovers that they do not believe him：whereas，hunters 威
廉
are mere followers of the dogs，as mere spectators；their praises，if ・
科
any are called for，are bestowed on the greyhounds15 ，the hounds， 贝
the fox，the hare，or the horses . There is a little rivalship in the 特
237
英 riding，or in the behaviour of the horses；but this has so little to do
文
名 with the personal merit of the sportsmen，that it never produces a
篇 want16 of good fellowship in the evening of the day. A shooter who
鉴 has been missing all day，must have an uncommon share of good
赏
金 sense not to feel mortified while the slaughterers are relating the
库 adventures of that day；and this is what cannot exist in the case of
the hunters . Bring me into a room，with a dozen men in it，who
have been sporting all day；or rather let me be in an adjoining
room，where I can hear the sound of their voices，without being
able to distinguish the words，and I will bet ten to one that I tell
whether they be hunters or shooters .
I was once acquainted with a famous shooter whose name was
William Ewing. He was a barrister of Philadelphia，but became far
more renowned by his gun than by his law cases . We spent scores
of days together a shooting17 ，and were extremely well matched18 ，I
having excellent dogs and caring little about my reputation as a
shot19 ，his dogs being good for nothing20 ，and he caring more about
his reputation as a shot than as a lawyer . The fact which I am go-
ing to relate respecting21 this gentleman ought to be a warning to
young men how they become enamoured of this species of vanity.
We had gone about ten miles from our home，to shoot where par-
tridges were said to be very plentiful . We found them so. In the
course of a November day，he had，just before dark，shot，and sent
to the farm-house，or kept in his bag，ninety-nine partridges . He
made some few double shots22 ，and he might have a miss or two23 ，
for he sometimes shot when out of my sight，on account of the
woods. However，he said that he killed at every shot；and as he
had counted the birds，when he went to dinner at the farm-house
and when he cleaned his gun，he，just before sunset，knew that he
had killed ninety-nine partridges，every one upon the wing24 ，and a
great part of them in woods very thickly set with largish trees25 . It
238
was a grand achievement；but，unfortunately，he wanted to make it
a hundred . The sun was setting，and，in that country，darkness
comes almost at once；it is more like the going out of a candle than
that of a fire；and I wanted to be off，as we had a very bad road to
go， and as he，being under strict petticoat government26 ，to which
he most loyally and dutifully submitted，was compelled to get home
that night，taking me with him，the vehicle（horse and gig27）being
mine . I，therefore，pressed him to come away28 ，and moved on my-
self towards the house（that of old John Brown，in Bucks county，
grandfather of that General Brown，who gave some of our whiskered
heroes such a rough handling last war，which was waged for the
purpose of“deposing James Madison”29），at which house I would
have stayed all night，but from which I was compelled to go by that
watchful government30 ，under which he had the good fortune to
live . Therefore I was in haste to be off. No：he would kill the
hundredth bird！In vain did I talk of the bad road and its many
dangers for want of moon . The poor partridges，which we had scat-
tered about，were calling all around us；and，just at this moment，
up got one under his feet，in a field in which the wheat was three
or four inches high . He shot and missed . “That’s it， ”said he，
running as if to pick up the bird . “What！ ”said I，“you don’t
think you killed ，do you？Why there is the bird now，not only
alive，but calling in that wood； ” which was at about a hundred
’ ，
yards distance . He in that form of words usually employed in
such cases31 ，asserted that he shot the bird and saw it fall；and I，
in much about the same form of words，asserted that he had
missed ，and that I，with my own eyes，saw the bird fly into the
wood . This was too much！To miss once out of a hundred times！ 威
廉
To lose such a chance of immortality！He was a good-humoured ・
科
man；I liked him very much；and I could not help feeling for 贝
him32 ，when he said， “Well，sir，I killed the bird；and if you choose 特
239
英 to go away and take your dog away，so as to prevent me from find-
文
ing it，you must do it；the dog is yours，to be sure.”
“The dog ， ”33
名
篇 said I，in a very mild tone， “why，Ewing，there is the spot；and
鉴 could we not see it，upon this smooth green surface，if it were
赏
金 there？” However，he began to look about ；and I called the dog，
库 and affected34 to join him in the search . Pity for his weakness got
the better of my dread of the bad road35 . After walking backward
and forward many times upon about twenty yards square with our
eyes to the ground，looking for what both of us knew was not
there，I had passed him（he going one way and I the other），and I
happened to be turning round just after I had passed him，when I
saw him，putting his hand behind him，take a partridge out of his
bag and let it fall upon the ground ！I felt no temptation to detect
him36 ，but turned away my head，and kept looking about . Presently
he， having returned to the spot where the bird was，called out to
me，in a most triumphant tone， “Here！Here！Come here！ ”I went
up to him，and he，pointing with his finger down to the bird，and
looking hard in my face37 at the same time，said， “There，Cobbett；
I hope that will be a warning to you never to be obstinate again！ ”
“Well， ”said I， “come along； ”and away we went as merry as
larks . When we got to Brown’s，he told them the story，tri-
38

umphed over me most clamorously；and though he often repeated

the story to my face，I never had the heart to let him know that I
knew of the imposition，which puerile vanity had induced so sensi-
ble and honourable a man to be mean enough to practise39 .
A professed shot 40 is，almost always，a very disagreeable
brother sportsman . He must，in the first place，have a head rather
of the emptiest to pride himself upon so poor a talent . 41 Then he is
always out of temper，if the game fail42 ，or if he miss it . He never
participates in that great delight which all sensible men enjoy at
beholding the beautiful action，the docility，the zeal，the wonderful
240
sagacity of the pointer and the setter43 . He is always thinking
about himself：always anxious to surpass his companions . I re-
member that，once，Ewing and I had lost our dog. We were in a
wood，and the dog had gone out and found a covey in a wheat
stubble joining the wood44 . We had been whistling and calling him
for，perhaps，half an hour or more . When we came out of the wood
we saw him pointing，with one foot up；and soon after，he，keeping
his foot and body unmoved，gently turned round his head towards
the spot where he heard us，as if to bid us come on，and when he
saw that we saw him，turned his head back again . I was so de-
lighted that I stopped to look with admiration . Ewing，astonished
at my want of alacrity，pushed on，shot one of the partridges，and
thought no more about the conduct of the dog than if the sagacious
creature had had nothing at all to do with the matter .
I am quite satisfied that there are as many sorts of men as
there are of dogs . Swift was a man，and so is Walter the base . But
is the sort the same？It cannot be education alone that makes the
amazing difference that we see . Besides，we see men of the very
same rank and riches and education differing as widely as the
pointer does from the pug45 . The name，man ，is common to all the
sorts，and hence arises very great mischief. What confusion must
there be in rural affairs，if there were no names whereby46 to dis-
tinguish hounds，greyhounds，pointers，spaniels，terriers，and sheep
dogs，from each other！And what pretty work if，without regard to
the sorts of dogs，men were to attempt to employ them！Yet this is
done in the case of men ！A man is always a man ；and without the
least regard as to the sort ，they are promiscuously47 placed in all
kinds of situations . Now，if Mr . Brougham，Doctors Birkbeck，Mac- 威
廉
culloch and Black，and that profound personage，Lord John Rus- ・
科
sell，will，in their forthcoming“London University， ”teach us how 贝
to divide men into sorts，instead of teaching us to “augment the 特
241
英 capital of the nation”by making paper-money，the will render us a
文
名 real service . That will be feelosofy worth attending to. What
篇 would be said of the’squire who should take a fox-hound out to
鉴 find partridges for him to shoot at？Yet would this be more absurd
赏
金 than to set a man to law-making who was manifestly formed for the
库 express48 purpose of sweeping the streets or digging out sewers？

1. appertains… to the game：与狩猎有关。game：

（总称）野味，猎物。
2. make a shift to find：想方设法寻找，努力寻找。
3. rubbing the rust off from each other：把 彼 此 身 上 的 锈 给 蹭 下
来——其实是争执、打架的一种幽默的说法。
4. if the parties be hard pushed for a ground of contention：如果双方都
急切地想要找茬生事的话。这个从句中用了虚拟语气，should 被省
略。be hard pushed for sth：迫切要求得到某物。ground：理由，原因。
5. Here are no walls for people to take of each other：在这里人们彼此
之间没有什么上风好争。take the wall：意为抢着在街道干净好走的部
分走路，让别人走不好走的部分。引申为“抢先，占强”。
6. room of every sort，elbow，leg，horse，or carriage：供各种东西，如胳
膊肘、腿、马和马车等存在的空间。
7. relief：调剂，使单调变为有趣的事物。
8. supplies the place of：代替。
9. momentous：important，significant。
10. a spot：一个地方；后面的 a circle of 12 miles in diameter（直径 12
英里的一个圈定范围）要进一步解释怎样的一个地方。
11. take an exact account of：精确地记录下来。
12. sporting exploits：狩猎成绩，成果。
13. verily：
（古）确实地，实实在在地。
14. coursers：使用猎犬的狩猎者。
15. greyhounds：灵（一种躯瘦快速而眼光锐利的猎犬）。
16. want：（名词）缺乏。
17. a shooting：即 shooting。 a 为前置词，是 on 之变体，往往随 go，
set 等动词出现，现已不常用。
18. well matched：配合得很好。
19. a shot：射手。
242
 20. good for nothing：worthless，useless。
21. respecting：
（介词）意为“关于” （ = with regard to）。
22. double shots：一枪打下两只。
23. a miss or two：一两枪没射中。
24. every one upon the wing：每只都射中了翅膀。
25. thickly set with largish trees：密植着些颇大的树。
26. under strict petticoat government：在他妻子严厉的管束之下。
27. gig：轻便双轮马车。
28. pressed：敦促。come away：离开。
29. of that General Brown，who gave some of our whiskered heroes…“de-
posing James Madison”：that General Brown 指美国将军 Jacob Brown（1775
～ 1828）。our whiskered heroes：我 们 蓄 着 小 胡 子 的 英 雄，指 英 军。a
rough handling：一顿痛打。 last war：指 1812 年美英战争。 James Madison
（1751 ～ 1836）：美国第四任总统（1809 ～ 1817）。
30. that watchful government：还是指前面提到过的管他管得很紧的
他的太太。
31. that form of words usually employed in such cases：在这种情况下
通常使用的那类词。form：这里是“种类”之意。
32. feeling for him：同情他，可怜他。
33. The dog：这两个词承接前面“狗是你的”那句话，独立成一句。
其后说话人转而开始表述另一个意思。这在口语中是常见的现象。
34. affected：假装。
35. got the better of my dread of the bad road：压倒了我对那恶劣的
道路的恐惧。get the better of：胜过，超过。
36. I felt no temptation to detect him：我无意戳穿他。
37. looking hard in my face：紧紧地盯着我的脸。
38. as merry as larks：兴高采烈。
39. repeated the story to my face：当着我的面重复这个故事。never
had the heart：不忍心……。imposition：欺骗行为，是后面定语从句的先
行词，同时也是 to practise 的宾语。puerile vanity：如孩子般幼稚可笑的
虚荣心。mean 意为“卑鄙的，低劣的”。 威
40. professed shot：自诩为射手的人。 廉
41. He must，in the first place，have a head rather of the emptiest to pride
・
科
himself upon so poor a talent：首先，他居然会为这样可怜的一种才能而 贝
自傲，那么他所拥有的头脑必是天下最空洞无物的了。 特
243
英 42. if the game fail：如果猎物的数量不多。fail：没有达到预计或希
文 望的数目。
名
43. the pointer and the setter：分别是两种猎狗的名字。 pointer：一种
篇
鉴 短毛大猎犬，嗅到猎物的存在后就紧张静立，尾巴伸得笔直，一只前
赏 爪抬起并向后蜷缩，头和目光都指向猎物。setter：一种长毛猎犬，以
金 前是训练来捕捉野兽的，现在也用来指示猎物所在。
库
44. covey：一群鸟（尤指鹧鸪、鹑等）。wheat stubble joining the wood：
与树林相连的一片收割后的麦田。
45. pug：荷兰人由亚洲引进的一种健壮的小狗。
46. whereby：by which。
47. promiscuously：不加区分地，乱七八糟地。
48. express：明确的，明白无误的。

244
Abraham Lincoln
亚伯拉罕・林肯
（1809 ～ 1865）

在获得美国共和党总统候选人提名前五个月，
“1809 年 2 月
林肯这样概括了自己此前的生活历程：
12 日，我生于肯塔基州哈丁县。父母均出生于弗吉
尼亚，门第低微。我 10 岁那年，母亲就去世了；父亲
携全家从肯塔基移居印第安纳。那是一片蛮荒之
地，森林中尚有许多熊和别的野兽。我在那样的环
境中长大，所知甚少，只勉强学会了阅读、写作和算
术。
”林肯虽然没有受过系统的教育，但是通过自学，
涉猎了法律、文学、修辞学及历史，尤其专攻法律。
18 岁那年，林肯受雇于一名船主，乘船顺俄亥俄河
而下到达奥尔良。旅途中，林肯亲眼看到了黑人奴
隶遭受的非人待遇，发誓说：
“等到我有机会来打击
奴隶制度的时候，我一定要彻底粉碎它！
”
从政后，林肯成为美国北方资产阶级利益的代
表，反对南方的奴隶制度。1860 年 11 月，林肯当选
为美国第 16 任总统，但在奴隶主控制的南部 10 个
州，他没有得到任何支持。林肯就职一个月以后，南
部联邦的军队攻击了政府的一个要塞，南北战争爆
发了。1863 年 7 月 1 日，南北双方军队在宾夕法尼 亚
伯
亚州的葛底斯堡进行了关键性战役。北军获胜，战 拉
局从此向有利北方的方向发展。1864 年 11 月，林肯 罕
・
第二次当选总统。当选后，林肯以极大的努力要求 林
参众两院通过宪法第 13 修正案———宣布蓄奴非法。 肯
245
英 这项历史性的宪法修正案于当年终于获得通过。1865 年 4 月 14 日
文 晚，林肯在华盛顿的福特剧院被维护奴隶制的狂热分子 J・W・布思开
名 枪打伤，翌晨逝世。林肯领导美国人民维护了国家统一，废除了奴隶
篇
鉴 制，
为资本主义的发展扫除了障碍，促进了美国历史的发展，一百多
赏 年来，一直受到美国人民的尊敬。马克思曾经这样评价林肯：
“他是
金 一位达到了伟大境界而仍然保持自己优良品质的罕有的人物。这位
库
出类拔萃和道德高尚的人竟是那样谦虚，以致只有在他成为殉道者
倒下去之后，全世界才发现他是一位英雄。
”

The Gettysburg Address

葛底斯堡演说辞

【作品赏析】
葛底斯堡战役后，美国国会决定为死难烈士举行盛大葬礼。掩
葬委员会发给总统一张普通的请帖，以为他不会到场，可是林肯答应
了。既然总统来，那一定是要讲演的，但他们已经请了著名演说家艾
佛瑞特来做这件事，因此他们又给林肯写了信，说在艾佛瑞特演说完
毕之后，他们希望他“随便讲几句适当的话”。艾佛瑞特的讲演持续
了两个多小时；而林肯的演说只有两分钟，掌声却持续了 10 分钟。
那么，这篇演讲的感染力来自何处呢？归结起来大概有以下三点。
一是文体上排比结构（parallelism）的大量使用。英语句子一般忌
词语重复，但是演说例外，例如在本文中，有这样一些排比句或排比
词组： “so conceived and so dedicated”； “we can not dedicate— we can not
consecrate— we can not hallow”；
“It is for us，the living，rather，to be dedi-
cated here to . . . It is rather for us to be here dedicated to . . . ”；
“of the
people，by the people，and for the people”。排比结构如大潮涌动，前赴
后继，推波助澜，把演讲推向一个又一个高潮。
二是强调与听众的共通感（sense of community）。林肯曾经说过：
“我坚定相信人民。人民只要知道真相，你就可以完全依赖他们，面
对任何国家危机。重要的是让他们看到事实。
”这种与人民息息相通
的共通意识渗透入整个演讲。我们可以看到作者没有一处使用“我”
为代词，相应的都是第一人称复数“我们”。全篇 10 个句子中有 6 个
246
是以“我们”做主语或逻辑主语。当然，在这样悼念死者的场合过多
地强调“我们”难免有喧宾夺主之嫌，但是为了营造演说的感染氛围，
也就顾不得这些了，何况西方人一直以我为主，个人主义（individual-
ism）盛行。
三是把上述的共通感超 验 化、神 圣 化。演 说 一 开 始 以“our fa-
thers 做主语，把听众带向美国建国的理想，即《美国独立宣言》中所说
”
的：
”我们认为这些真理是不言而喻的：人人生而平等，他们都被“造
物主”赋予了某些不可剥夺的权利，其中包括生命权、自由权和追求
幸福的权利。“（We hold these truths to be self-evident，that all men are
created equal，that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable
Rights，that among these are Life，Liberty，and the pursuit of Happiness.）林
肯一开始就为全篇定下了一个具有神圣感的基调；最后他又说： “在
上帝的佑护下，我们的国家将获得自由的新生，我们的政府民有、民
治、
民享，将永远不会在地球上消失。
”前后呼应，宗教神圣感的激荡
产生了几乎令人迷狂的感染力。
（彭发胜）

【作品欣赏】
Fourscore1 and seven years ago our fathers brought forth upon
this continent a new nation，conceived in liberty2 ，and dedicated
to the proposition3 that all men are created4 equal .
Now we are engaged in a great civil war5 ，testing whether
that nation，or any nation so conceived and so dedicated6 ，can
long endure . We are met on a great battle-field of that war . We
have come to dedicate a portion of that field as a final resting-
place7 for those who here gave their lives that that nation might
live . It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this .
But in a larger sense，we can not dedicate— we can not con-
secrate— we can not hallow this ground8 . The brave men，living 亚
and dead，who struggled here，have consecrated it far above our 伯
拉
poor power to add or detract9 . The world will little note，nor long 罕
remember，what we say here，but it can never forget what they ・
林
did here . 10 It is for us，the living，rather，to be dedicated here to 肯
247
英 the unfinished work which they who fought here thus far so nobly
文 advanced . It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task
名
篇 remaining before us-that from these honored dead we take in-
鉴 creased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full
赏
金 measure of devotion11 -that we here highly resolve that these dead
库 shall not have died in vain-that this nation，under God12 ，shall
have a new birth of freedom and that government of the people，by
the people，and for the people13 ，shall not perish from the earth .

1 . fourscore：八十。
2 . conceived in liberty：在自由中孕育的。
3 . proposition：此词原意为逻辑命题，用在这里当“原则”讲，显得
更为客观坚定。
4 . created：该词不可以用 born 置换，但是汉译时我们似乎只能用
“生”来翻译它，却不免忽略了其中“上帝造人”的基督教内涵———既
然所有人都为上帝所造，从有生以来就是平等的。
5 . civil war：内战，指美国的南北战争。
6 . so conceived and so dedicated：措辞照应上文，如两翼对生而出，
感染力大增。同样的用法在全篇中多次出现，为一大文体特色。
7 . final resting-place：最后的长眠之地。
8 . we can not dedicate-we can not consecrate-we can not hallow this
ground：三重排比句式，意蕴层层递升。 hallow：把…视为神圣。
9 . add or detract：增益或诋毁。
10 . 林肯此语当然是指英雄们的功绩将名垂青史，后人的追悼无
足轻重，但是具有讽刺意味的是我们后人只记住了林肯的演说，何曾
记住那些血洒疆场的英雄。
11 . last full measure of devotion：决战到最后，完全的献身。
12 . under God：注 4 中揭示的基督教内涵在这里显露出来。移民
之初，大多数西方人为了躲避宗教迫害，抱着建设新乐园的梦想来到
美洲大陆，可以说美国纯粹是建立在基督教理想上的国家。美国总
统的就职演说总有“God bless America.” （上帝保佑美国）这句话。
13 . government of the people，by the people，and for the people：民有、
民治、民享的政府。

248
John Ruskin
约翰・罗斯金
（1819 ～ 1900）

英国作家、艺术评论家和社会活动家。出生于
伦敦附近的一个富足之家。幼年的罗斯金在家中接
受教育，由母亲指导熟读《圣经》，父亲为他朗读莎士
比亚的剧作。对《圣经》的阅读和莎剧的学习，为罗
斯金奠定了坚实的文学基础。
罗斯金对于艺术评论的文章始见于他的《现代
（1843 年）第一卷。由于作者的文笔优美，此
画家》
书一出版就引起了英国公众的关注。随后欧洲大陆
的三年游历生活使罗斯金对威尼斯的美景深深陶
醉，对威尼斯画派的成就大为惊叹。罗斯金关于威
尼斯教堂和名胜古迹的精美描述构成了其著作中最
为动人的篇章。1849 年，他在《建筑的七盏灯》中表
述了 自 己 关 于 艺 术 和 建 筑 的 观 点。在 1851 年 至
1853 年 期 间，他 出 版 了《威 尼 斯 的 石 头》四 卷 本。
1860 年，他的最后作品《现代画家》五卷本也得以出
版。1860 年之后，罗斯金的兴趣逐渐从文学创作转
到了社会活动中。其中最为有名的著作有《野生橄
（1864 年）和《芝 麻 和 百 合 花》
榄树 的 皇 冠》 （1865
年）。 约
罗斯金的艺术表现风格却随着时间的流逝而弥 翰
见其隽永清新。也正是这一纯美典雅的风格使得
・
罗
《现代画家》、
《威尼斯的石头》和《芝麻和百合花》历 斯
久弥新，让人百看不厌。罗斯金的散文风格娟美纯 金
249
英 净，优美典雅，读后令人耳目一新，掩卷生香。
文
名
篇
鉴 From“Modern Painters”Sir Walter Scott
赏
金
选自《现代画家》华尔特・司各特爵士
库

【作品赏析】
一个人真正伟大的标准是什么？个人与历史之间的关系如何？
也许，这又是些没有标准答案的问题。在这篇文章中，约翰・罗斯金
以华尔特・司各特爵士为例讲述了自己对这两大问题的独特解答。
罗斯金开篇警语：对一个真正伟人的最初考验在于他是否谦让。
谦让不是怀疑自己的力量，也不是决断的犹豫不决；谦让意味着自己
对于一种关系的准确理解，换言之，在自己与周围其他人的能力范围
和言谈所及之间有一个准确的把握。所有的伟人都不但熟知自己的
事业，而且通常还能对此坚定不移；他们的主要见解不但正确，而且
他们自己对此还深信不疑。他们认为自己的伟大不在于自己本身，
而在于伟大是通过他们才得以体现。每个人都有其天生的伟大，他
们自身对此无法回避。在罗斯金看来，苏格兰小说家和诗人华尔特・
司各特爵士和英国画家特纳先生就是其杰出的代表。尽管司各特从
未提及过文学的尊严，特纳先生也未提及绘画的高贵，但是他们都自
发勤奋地写作和绘画，宛如自身对自己的工作无法遏制，只好顺其自
然，成其之美。
在这个世界上，一个人最伟大之处就在于自己能够看清一些事
情，
并用一种直白的方式把自己所看到的事情描述出来。看清看透
一些事情，其本身就是诗，就是预言，就是宗教，就是一切。深陷错误
和人性弱点重围中的司各特，其错误和弱点也体现了所处时代心理
的错误和弱点。越是伟大的人，他身上肩负的负担也就越大。
司各特时代最大的错误就是信仰的缺失。在司各特的心中，没
有什么比信仰的无力承受或已有信仰的破灭更令人伤心难过了。除
了爱、勇气和命运之外，没有什么东西能够影响人们的生活。而没有
了爱、勇气和命运的生活就是一种恍惚的生活。
第二个时代弱点就是惯于运用一种浪漫、激情而又无聊的方式
来回顾过去，同时对过去的岁月又始终不能理解，并且也不打算理解
250
它们。司各特的大半精力都花费在对过去漫无边际的梦想之中，其
文学才华也大半耗费于在其小说舞台上复活历史的辛劳之中。
第三个时代弱点就是对艺术的一无所知。司各特本人理应熟知
艺术，但他对于绘画和雕塑却一无所知，也无力评判。哥特式建筑的
那种黑暗、怪异、古老以及近乎自然的一切，对于司各特而言有着一
种说不清的吸引。
另外，司各特的时代精神还表现在庄重和轻浮、开朗和忧郁等情
绪的奇特纠缠。司各特本人就集随意、粗心、冷漠及悲哀等情绪于一
身。司各特的生活也难免俗套：消磨时光，及时行乐，光祖耀宗；然而
埋藏在司各特内心深处的还是他那割舍不掉的悲哀意识。尽管司各
特身上有这么多的弱点和缺陷，但是他仍然不失为那个时代最杰出
的文学家。时代的精神与司各特的个人情怀就这样奇特地纠缠在一
起。
也许，我们早已习惯了从历史概貌中来寻找自己的踪影，也许，
我们还不太习惯从我们个人的身上来探寻历史的脉络，也许，这就是
约翰・罗斯金在这一美文中带给我们的独特享受。罗斯金的这篇散
文，
纯美典雅，隽永清新。其句子长而有序，标点错落有致，字词韵律
优美自然，读来抑扬顿挫，恰如素体诗歌。文中有些地方意象丰富，
词藻华丽，令人想起德・昆西（De Quincey）的风格。
（孙继成）

【作品欣赏】
I believe the first test of a truly great man is his humility1 . I
do not mean，by humility，doubt of his own power，or hesitation in
speaking his opinions；but a right understanding of the relation be-
tween what he can do and say，and the rest of the world’s sayings
and doings . All great men not only know their business，but usually
know that they know it；and are not only right in their main opin-
ions，but they usually know that they are right in them；only，they
do not think much of themselves on that account . Arnolfo2 knows
约
that he can build a good dome at Florence；Albert DÜrer3 writes 翰
calmly to one who had found fault with his work， “It cannot be ・
罗
” ；
better done Sir Isaac Newton knows that he has worked out a 斯
problem or two that would have puzzled anybody else，— only they 金
251
英 do not expect their follow men therefore to fall down4 and worship
文
them；they have a curious undersense5 of powerlessness，feeling
名
篇 that the greatness is not in them but through them；that they could
鉴 not do or be anything else than God made them. And they see
赏
金 something divine and God-made in every other man they meet，and
库 are endlessly，foolishly，incredibly merciful .
Now，I find among the men of the present age，as far as I
know them，this character in Scott and Turner6 pre minently7 ；I am
not sure if it is not in them alone . I do not find Scott talking about
the dignity of literature，nor Turner about the dignity of painting.
They do their work feeling that they cannot well help it；the story
must be told，and the effect put down8 ；and if people like it，well
and good；and if not，the world will not be much the worse . . . .
Then，as touching the kind of work done by these two men，
the more I think of it I find this conclusion more impressed upon
me，— that the greatest thing a human soul ever does in this world
is to see something，and tell what it saw in a plain way. Hundreds
of people can talk for one who can think，but thousands can think
for one who can see . To see clearly is poetry，prophecy，and reli-
gion，— all in one . . . .
Having cast metaphysical writers out of our way，and senti-
mental writers into the second rank，I do not think Scott’s
supremacy among those who remain will any more be doubtful；nor
would it，perhaps，have been doubtful before，had it not been en-
cumbered9 by innumerable faults and weaknesses . But it is
pre minently in these faults and weaknesses that Scott is represen-
tative of the mind of his age；and because he is the greatest man
born amongst us，and intended for the enduring type of us，all our
principal faults must be laid on his shoulders，and he must bear
down the dark marks to the latest ages；while the smaller men，who
have some special work to do，perhaps not so much belonging to
252
this age as leading out of it to the next，are often kept providential-
ly10 quit of the encumbrances which they had not strength to sus-
tain，and are much smoother and pleasanter to look at，in their
way：only that is a smaller way.
Thus，the most starting fault of the age being its faithless-
ness，it is necessary that its greatest men should be faithless . Noth-
ing is more notable or sorrowful in Scott’s mind than its incapacity
or steady belief in anything. He cannot even resolve hardily to be-
lieve in a ghost，or water spirit；always explains them away in an
apologetic11 manner，not believing，all the while，even in his own
explanation. He never can clearly ascertain whether there is any-
thing behind the arras12 but rats；never draws sword and thrusts at
it for life or death；but goes on looking at it timidly，and saying，“It
must be the wind .”He is educated a Presbyterian，and remains
one，because it is the most sensible thing he can do if he is to live
in Edinburgh；but he thinks Romanism more picturesque，and pro-
faneness13 more gentlemanly；does not see that anything affects hu-
man life but love，courage，and destiny；which are，indeed，not
matters of faith at all，but of sight . Any gods but those are very
misty14 in outline to him；and when the love is laid ghastly15 in
poor Charlotte’s16 coffin；and the courage is no more of use，— the
pen having fallen from between the fingers；and destiny is sealing
the scroll，— the God light is dim in the tears that fall on it .
He is in all this the epitome17 of his epoch .
Again：as another notable weakness of the age is its habit of
looking back，in a romantic and passionate idleness，to the past
ages，not understanding them all the while，nor really desiring to
understand them，so Scott gives up nearly the half of his intellectu- 约
翰
al power to a fond，yet purposeless，dreaming over the past，and ・
罗
spends half his literary labors in endeavors to revive it，not in real- 斯
ity，but on the stage of fiction；endeavors which were the best of 金
253
英 the kind that modernism made，but still successful only so far as
文
名 Scott put，under the old armor，the everlasting human nature which
篇 he knew；and totally unsuccessful，so far as concerned the painting
鉴 of the armor itself，which he knew not . The excellence of Scott’s
赏
金 work is precisely in proportion to the degree in which it is
库 sketched from present nature . His familiar life is inimitable；his
quiet scenes of introductory conversation，as the beginning of Rob
Roy18 and Redgauntlet 19 ，and all his living Scotch characters，mean
or noble，from Andrew Fairservice20 to Jeanie Deans， 21
are simply
right，and can never be bettered . But his romance and antiquarian-
ism，his knighthood and monkery，are all false，and he knows them
to be false；does not care to make them earnest；enjoys them for
their strangeness，but laughs at his own antiquarianism22 ，all
through his own third novel，— with exquisite modesty indeed，but
with total misunderstanding of the function of an antiquary. He
does not see how anything is to be got out of the past but confu-
sion，old iron on drawing-room chairs，and serious inconvenience to
Dr . Heavysterne23 .
Again：more than any age that had preceded it，ours had been
ignorant of the meaning of the word “Art .”It had not a single
fixed principle，and what unfixed principles it worked upon were
all wrong. It was necessary that Scott should know nothing of art .
He neither cared for painting nor sculpture，and was totally inca-
pable of forming a judgment about them. He had some confused
love of Gothic architecture，because it was dark，picturesque，old，
and like nature；but could not tell the worst from the best，and
built for himself perhaps the most incongruous24 and ugly pile that
gentlemanly modernism ever designed；marking，in the most curi-
ous and subtle way，that mingling of reverence with irreverence
which is so striking in the age；he reverences Melrose25 ，yet casts
one of its piscinas26 ，puts a modern steel grate27 into it，and makes
254
it his fireplace . Like all pure moderns，he supposes the Gothic bar-
barous，notwithstanding his love of it；admires，in an equally igno-
rant way，totally opposite styles；is delighted with the new town of
Edinburgh；mistakes its dullness for purity of taste，and actually
compares it，in its dreadful formality28 of street，as contrasted with
the rudeness of the old town，as Britomarte29 taking off her armor .
Again：as in reverence and irreverence，so in levity30 and
melancholy，we saw the spirit of the age was strangely interwoven .
Therefore，also，it is necessary that Scott should be light，careless，
unearnest，and yet eminently sorrowful . Throughout all his work
there is no evidence of any purpose but to while away31 the hour .
His life had no other object than the pleasure of the instant，and
the establishing of a family name . All his thoughts were，in their
outcome and end，less than nothing，and vanity. And yet，of all po-
etry that I know，none is so sorrowful as Scott’s . Other great mas-
ters are pathetic32 in a resolute and predetermined way，when they
choose；but in their own minds，are evidently stern or hopeful，or
serene33 ；never really melancholy. Even Byron is rather sulky34 and
desperate than melancholy；Keats is sad because he is sickly；Shel-
ley because he is impious；but Scott is inherently and consistently
sad . Around all his power，and brightness and enjoyment of eye
and heart，the faraway æolian knell35 is forever sounding；there is
not one of those loving glances of his but it is brighter for the film
of tears36 ；his mind is like one of his own hill rivers，— it is
white，and flashes in the sun fairly，careless，as it seems and hasty
in its going，but
“Far beneath，where slow they creep
From pool to eddy，dark and deep， 约
翰
Where alders37 moist，and willows weep， ・
罗
You hear her streams repine38 .” 斯
Life begins to pass from him very early；and while Homer 金
255
英 sings cheerfully in his blindness，and Dante retains his courage，
文
and rejoices in hope of Paradise，through all his exile，Scott，yet
名
篇 hardly past his youth，lies pensive39 in the sweet sunshine and a-
鉴 mong the harvests of his native hills .
赏
金 “Blackford40 ！on whose uncultured breast，
库 Among the broom41 ，and thorn，and whin42 ，
A truant43 boy，I sought the nest，
Or listed，as I lay at rest，
While rose，on breezes thin，
The murmur of the city crowd，
And，from his steeple44 jangling45 loud，
St . Giles’s46 mingling din47 .
Now，from the summit to the plain，
Waves all the hill with yellow grain；
And o’er the landscape as I look，
Naught48 do I see unchanged remain，
Save the rude cliffs and chiming brook .
To me they make a heavy moan
Of early friendships past and gone .”49
Such，then，were the weaknesses which it was necessary that
Scott should share with his age，in order that he might sufficiently
represent it，and such the grounds for supposing him，in spite of all
these weaknesses，the greatest literary man whom that age pro-
duced .

1. humility：谦让。
2. Arnolfo：建筑师，曾参与 1274 年佛罗伦萨大教堂的建设。
3. Albert DÜrer：
（1471 ～ 1528）德国最著名画家和雕塑家之一。
4. fall down：跪拜。
5. undersense：潜意识。
6. Turner：约瑟夫・马洛德・威廉・特纳（Joseph Mallord William Turn-
er，
1775 ～ 1851），英国画家，其绘画的艺术成就因约翰・鲁斯金的发掘
256
辩护而引人瞩目。
7. preёminently：显著地。
8. put down：抑制。
9. encumber：妨碍。
10. providentially：幸运地，凑巧地。
11. apologetic：歉意的。
12. arras：挂毯。
13. profaneness：亵渎神灵。
14. misty：模糊不清的。
15. ghastly：恐怖地。
16. Charlotte：司各特的妻子。
17. epitome：缩影。
18. Rob Roy：司各特的小说。
19. Redgauntlet：司各特的小说。
20. Andrew Fairservice：
《罗布・罗伊》
（Rob Roy）中的人物。
21. Jeanie Deans：司各特的小说《密得洛西恩监狱》
（The Heart of
Midlothian） 中的人物。
22. antiquarianism：考古癖。
23. Dr. Heavysterne：参见司各特的小说《古董商》
（The Antiquary）
第三章。
24. incongruous：不协调的。
25. Melrose：（苏格兰首府）爱丁堡附近一座古老修道院的遗址。
26. piscinas：
（教堂祭台旁用以排去洗手礼或净体礼用水的）排水
石盆；也指弥撒后使用的神圣器皿。
27. grate：壁炉。
28. formality：古板。
29. Britomarte：参见 Marmion 第五章的介绍。
30. levity：轻浮，多变。
31. while away：消磨。
32. pathetic：悲惨的。
33. serene：平静的。 约
34. sulky：暴躁的。 翰
35. æolian knell：风鸣丧钟。
・
罗
36. the film of tears：泪眼婆娑。 film：薄层，薄雾。 斯
37. alder：
（植物名）桤木。 金
257
英 38. repine：抱怨。这 段 诗 行 选 自 Marmion 第 四 章 第 10 节 7—10
文 行。
名
39. pensive：沉思的。
篇
鉴 40. Blackford：爱丁堡附近的一座山。
赏 41. broom：（植物名）金雀花。
金 42. whin：（植物名）棘豆。
库
43. truant：逃学的。
44. steeple：尖塔。
45. jangling：呼呼作响。
46. St. Giles：爱丁堡老城的大教堂。
47. din：絮絮不休地说。
48. naught：
（古英语）卑鄙的，邪恶的。
49. 此处诗行选自 Marmion 第四章第 24 节。

258
Mark Twain
马克・吐温
（1835 ～ 1910）

19 世纪美国最重要、最 具 代 表 性 的 作 家 塞 缪
尔・克莱门斯（Samuel Clemens）的笔名。他生于密苏
里州的佛罗里达镇，幼年丧父，很早就挑起了生活的
重担。曾当过印刷工、领航员、淘金者等，1861 年转
而以写文章为生。1863 年开始使用“马克・吐温”的
笔名，这个词是密西西比河水手的行话，意思是“12
英尺深”，指水的深度足以使航船通行 无 阻。 1865
年马克・吐温在纽约一家杂志发表了幽默故事《卡拉
韦拉斯县驰名的跳蛙》 （The Celebrated Jumping Frog of
Calaveras County），从此一举成名。
马克・吐温的作品具有欢快的幽默与尖锐的讽
刺等特征，他尤其擅长描绘年轻人对生活在受成人
控制的世界中的感受。他笔下的少年聪明活泼、坦
率而具有理想，与成人的虚伪、假正经和残忍形成鲜
明的对照。马克・吐温的文风轻快诙谐，讽刺含蓄不
露，多用平白话语与俚俗语。他的代表作有《汤姆・
索耶历险记》 （The Adventures of Tom Sawyer ，1876）和
《哈克 贝 利・费 恩 历 险 记》 （又 译《哈 克 贝 利・芬》）
（Hunkleberry Finn ，
1884）等。
马
克
・
吐
温
259
英
文
名
篇
From“The Adventures of Tom Sawyer”
鉴 《汤姆・索耶历险记》选段
赏
金
库
【作品赏析】
本篇选自马克・吐温的著名小说《汤姆・索耶历险记》。它叙述了
汤姆和他的伙伴们在岛上树林中夜营时遭遇暴风雨的场面，读来如
身临其境，足以显示大作家高超的手笔。
作者从暴风未起时写起。营地空气阴沉郁闷，四周一片寂静与
黑暗。“孩子们拥抱在一起，寻求篝火的友好陪伴”。天空划过一阵
比一阵强烈的闪电。林中吹过一阵微风，犹如轻轻的叹息。孩子们
感到脸上掠过一股气息，幻想夜的精灵从身边走过，不禁混身战栗。
远处滚过阵阵闷雷。一阵凉风吹过，树叶飕飕作响。此时电闪雷鸣，
风雨大作。
第二段描写暴雨的高峰，是本篇最精彩的部分。大雨开始后，眩
目的闪电与震耳的雷声接踵而来。倾盆大雨被越来越猛的飓风吹成
片片雨幕卷过地面。孩子们逃离营地，奔向储存食物的帐篷去避雨。
片刻之后，帐篷又被狂风吹跑，他们只得逃往河岸上一棵大橡树下藏
身。天空不停的闪电将地上的万物照得轮廓鲜明，清晰可见。雷霆
的威力不减，发出震耳的轰鸣，好像要把他们所在的小岛撕成碎片。
暴雨终于停了，一切复归宁静。孩子们心有余悸地返回营地，发
现还有值得庆幸之事———遮蔽他们床铺的大梧桐树被雷电劈倒，他
们幸免于难。孩子们重燃篝火的余烬，做了一顿夜餐果腹，然后围火
而坐，大肆吹嘘午夜的历险。黎明时分，睡意袭来，他们以沙洲为床，
进入甜蜜的梦乡。
这段散文以精雕细刻的描述见长。暴雨的过程分明，作者观察
细致入微，善于捕捉最具特色的细节。遣词精当贴切，尤以多姿多彩
的形容词与动词为佳。句型变化错落有致，时而简单，时而繁复，均
视场景所需而定。作者把一场暴风雨写得有声有色，渲染得酣畅淋
漓，成功地再现了暴雨波澜壮阔的气势。
（蒋显璟）

260
【作品欣赏】
About midnight Joe awoke，and called the boys . There was a
brooding oppressiveness1 in the air that seemed to bode2 some-
thing . The boys huddled3 themselves together and sought the
friendly companionship of the fire4 ，though the dull dead heat of
the breathless atmosphere was stifling5 . They sat still，intent6 and
waiting. The solemn hush7 continued . Beyond the light of the fire
everything was swallowed up8 in the blackness of darkness .
Presently there came a quivering glow9 that vaguely revealed the
foliage10 for a moment and then vanished . By and by another
came，a little stronger . Then another . Then a faint moan came
sighing through the branches of the forest and the boys felt a fleet-
ing11 breath upon their cheeks，and shuddered with the fancy12 that
the Spirit of the Night13 had gone by. There was a pause . Now a
weired14 flash turned night into day and showed every little grass
blade15，separate and distinct，that grew about their feet . And it
showed three white，startled faces，too. A deep peal16 of thunder
went rolling and tumbling down17 the heavens and lost itself in
sullen rumblings18 in the distance . A sweep of chilly air passed
by，rustling all the leaves and snowing the flaky19 ashes broadcast20
about the fire . Another fierce glare lit up the forest，and an instant
crash followed that seemed to rend21 the treetops right over the
boys’heads . They clung together22 in terror，in the thick gloom23
that followed . A few big raindrops fell pattering24 upon the leaves .
“Quick，boys！go for25 the tent！ ”exclaimed Tom.
They sprang away，stumbling over26 roots and among vines in
the dark，no two plunging in the same direction27 . A furious28 blast
roared through the trees，making everything sing as it went . One
马
blinding flash29 after another came，and peal on peal30 of deafening 克
・
thunder . And now a drenching31 rain poured down and the rising 吐
hurricane drove it in sheets32 along the ground . The boys cried out 温
261
英 to each other，but the roaring wind and the booming33 thun-
文
derblasts34 drowned35 their voices utterly. However，one by one
名
篇 they straggled36 in at last and took shelter37 under the tent，cold，
鉴 scared，and streaming with water38 ；but to have company in misery
赏
金 seemed something to be grateful for39 . They could not talk，the old
库 sail flapped40 so furiously，even if the other noises would have al-
lowed them. The tempest rose higher and higher，and presently the
sail tore loose41 from its fastenings and went winging away42 on the
blast. The boys seized each other’s hands and fled，with many
tumblings and bruises，to the shelter of a great oak that stood upon
the riverbank . Now the battle was at its highest43 . Under the
ceaseless conflagration44 of lightning that flamed in the skies，ev-
erything below stood out in clean-cut and shadowless distinct-
ness45 ：the bending trees，the billowy river，white with foam46 ，the
driving spray of spume flakes47 ，the dim outlines of the high
bluffs48 on the other side，glimpsed through the drifting cloud-
wrack49 and the slanting veil of rain50 . Every little while some gi-
ant tree yielded the fight51 and fell crashing through the younger
growth52 ；and the unflagging thunderpeals53 came now in ear-split-
ting54 explosive bursts，keen and sharp，and unspeakably ap-
palling55 . The storm culminated in56 one matchless effort57 that
seemed likely to tear the island to pieces，burn it up，drown it to
the treetops58 ，blow it away，and deafen every creature in it，all at
one and the same moment59 . It was a wild night for homeless
young heads to be out in . 60
But at last the battle was done61 ，and the forces retired with
weaker and weaker threatenings and grumblings62 ，and Peace re-
sumed her sway63 . The boys went back to camp，a good deal
awed64；but they found there was still something to be thankful
for65 ，because the great sycamore66 ，the shelter of their beds，was a
ruin now，blasted by the lightnings and they were not under it
262
when the catastrophe67 happened .
Everything in camp was drenched，the campfire as well，for
they were but heedless lads68 ，like their generation69 ，and had
made no provision against rain70 . Here was matter for dismay71 ，for
they were soaked through and chilled . They were eloquent in their
distress； 73
but they presently discovered that the fire had eaten74 so
far up under the great log it had been built against （where it
curved upward75 and separated itself from the ground）that a hand-
breadth76 or so of it had escaped wetting；so they patiently
wrought77 until，with shreds and bark gathered from the undersides
of sheltered logs，they coaxed the fire to burn again78 . Then they
piled on great dead boughs79 till they had a roaring furnace80 ，and
were gladhearted once more . They dried their boiled ham and had
a feast，and after that they sat by the fire and expanded and glori-
fied81 their midnight adventure until morning，for there was not a
dry spot to sleep on，anywhere around . As the sun began to steal
in upon82 the boys，drowsiness came over them83 and they went out
on the sand bar84 and lay down to sleep .

1. brooding oppressiveness：
（空气）郁闷压抑。
2. bode：预兆。
3. huddle：拥抱，依偎。
4. sought the friendly companionship of the fire：寻 求 篝 火 的 友 好
陪伴。
5. though the dull dead heat of the breathless atmosphere was stifling：尽
管郁闷的炎热空气使他们透不过气来。
6. intent：专心的。
7. solemn hush：肃静。
8. swallow up：吞没。
9. quivering glow：颤动的闪光。 马
10. foliage：（集体名词）树叶。 克
・
11. fleeting：飞逝的，迅疾的。 吐
12. shuddered with the fancy that…：幻想是夜之精灵从身边经过，不 温
263
英 禁战栗起来。
文 13. the Spirit of the Night：夜之精灵。
名
14. weird：奇异的，超自然的。
篇
鉴 15. blade：草叶。
赏 16. peal：
（一阵）雷声。
金 17. tumbling down：翻滚下去。
库
18. sullen rumblings：沉闷的隆隆声。
19. flaky：雪片似的。
20. broadcast：
（形容词）广泛撒布。
21. rend：撕裂。
22. clung together：互相抱住。
23. gloom：阴暗，黑暗。
24. pattering：
（雨点）拍打，发出劈啪声。
25. go for：往……跑去。
26. stumbling：绊倒，摔跤（over）。
27. no two plunging in the same direction：
（孩子们）四处乱跑。
28. furious：狂怒的。
29. blinding flash：眩目的闪电。
30. peal on peal：一阵接一阵的雷声。
31. drenching：倾盆（大雨）。
32. in sheets：
（雨）大片大片地。
33. booming：轰隆作响的。
34. thunderblasts：霹雳。
35. drowned：淹没。
36. straggled：
（此处指）陆续地回到（帐篷）。
37. took shelter：躲避，藏身。
38. streaming with water：浑身水流如注。
39. but to have company in misery seemed something to be grateful for：
但是有人共患难似乎还是值得庆幸之事。
40. flap：拍打。
41. tore loose：挣脱。
42. winging away： （随着狂风）飘去。
43. at its highest：
（战斗）正酣。
44. ceaseless conflagration：不停的（闪电）火光。
45. clean-cut and shadowless distinctness：
（地面上的一切）都轮廓分
264
明，毫无阴影。
46. the billowy river，white with foam：波涛汹涌的大河翻滚着片片
白沫。
47. the driving spray of spume flakes：来势汹汹的片片水沫。
48. bluffs：峭壁悬崖。
49. glimpsed through the drifting cloudwrack：在急驰的飞云间隙中断
续可见。
50. the slanting veil of rain：倾斜的雨幕。
51. yielded the fight：被击败，认输。
52. growth：生长物。（此处指）矮树丛。
53. the unflagging thunderpeals：势头不减的雷霆声。
54. ear-splitting：震耳欲聋的。
55. unspeakably appalling：难以形容地吓人。
56. culminated in：达到顶点，以……终结。
57. matchless effort：无与伦比的努力。
58. drown it to the treetops：把小岛淹没到树顶。
59. all at one and the same moment：都在同一时刻办到。
60. It was a wild night for homeless young heads to be out in：这几个离
家出走的孩子碰上这样狂风暴雨的夜晚可真是够呛。
61. the battle was done：激战结束了。
62. grumblings：抱怨。
63. Peace resumed her sway：一切复归宁静。
64. a good deal awed：惊魂未定。
65. to be thankful for：值得庆幸。
66. sycamore：美国梧桐。
67. catastrophe：大灾难。
68. heedless lads：粗心大意的孩子。
69. like their generation：像他们那年纪的人一样。
70. had made no provision against rain：没做防雨的准备。
71. Here was matter for dismay：有令人丧气的事。
72. soaked through：浑身湿透。
73. They were eloquent in their distress：他们的困窘十分明显。 马
74. eaten：
（火）侵蚀。 克
・
75. curved upward：向上弯曲。 吐
76. handbreadth：一掌之宽。 温
265
英 77. wrought：work 的过去式。（此处）引火。
文 78. they coaxed the fire to burn again：他们把火又引着了。coax：
（慢
名 慢）把火烧着。
篇
鉴 79. bough：大树枝。
赏 80. roaring furnace：熊熊大火。
金 81. expanded and glorified：添油加醋地夸张。
库
82. steal in upon：悄悄照在……。
83. drowsiness came over them：他们睡意沉沉。
84. sand bar：沙洲。

266
Edward Verral Lucas
爱德华・V・卢卡斯
（1868 ～ 1938）

20 世纪英国重要的散文作家。他出生于肯特
郡，曾在布莱顿及伦敦的大学学院受教育。卢卡斯
历任《笨拙》杂志编辑、副主编及 Methuen 出版公司
顾问、经理等职。他师承兰姆（Charles Lamb，1775 ～
1834）的散文文风，格调轻松、随便，兼有幽 默 与 情
趣。卢卡斯为文力求简朴，避免复杂的结构和含混
的用语；他的文字清淡自然，不多藻饰。卢卡斯的代
表性散 文 集 有《旅 行 者 的 好 运》 （Traveller’s Luck，
1930）、
《角 色 与 喜 剧》 （Character and Comedy，1907）、
《懒散者的收获》 （Loiterer’s Harvest ，1913）和《冒险与
忧虑》
（Adventures and Misgivings，1938）等。他还为兰
姆写过传记，并编纂过兰姆的书信集、散文集等。

爱
德
华
・
V
・
卢
卡
斯

267
英
文
名 The Windmill
篇
鉴 风 车
赏
金
库
【作品赏析】
《风车》是一篇短小意深的散文。作者抓住英国乡村中一件普通
事物———风车———来抒发一番别致的怀旧感慨，字里行间透出一种
冲淡的惋惜之情。
第一段从作者所在的风车磨坊着手，描绘了它周围的景色：从最
高的窗口可以远眺港口的船舶，也可俯瞰四周一片绿野和上面的羊
群。这座风车高而洁白，每当有雷、雨、云衬托时，它光亮得有如铝
制品。
作者的目光从磨坊窗口延伸到附近的四座风车：两座已弃置不
用，
但另外两座还在运转。然而总的来说，风车已是夕阳西下、日渐
式微的古董了。那吹过田野的阵阵好风也是枉费力气，劳而无功。
那衰亡的风车触发了作者的感慨：蒸汽与机械时代的到来破坏
了英国乡村传统的美景；美丽的红屋顶被镀锌铁皮替代，心甘情愿为
人服务的风车既悦目又浪漫，却正在日渐消失。他回忆起风车盛时
的景况：翼轮欢快地飞转，发出震耳的轰鸣，令人心惊胆颤。这感觉
就如见到惊涛拍岸时一模一样。风车的巨声出自自然，虽然如雷霆
贯耳，但不震耳欲聋。
在最后一段中作者的思绪又回到他置身于其中的磨坊中来。一
片死寂笼罩着它；但令人惋惜的是，里面的所有器械都井井有条，似
乎随时可用。20 年前的风车充满生气，而从今以后它就喑哑无声、死
气沉沉了。这景象就如溪流一夜之间封冻，也如童话中的睡美人沉
睡百年。风车并未衰朽，只是丧失了活力。
这篇散文的特色是闲逸素雅，不假藻饰。作者行文舒缓，从容不
迫，由景自然过渡到情。他并未直抒胸臆，只是从那雍容的笔调中隐
约传递出一股怀旧的幽情。
（蒋显璟）

268
【作品欣赏】
Chance recently made me1 for a while the tenant of a wind-
mill. Not to live in，and unhappily not to grind corn in2 ，but to
visit as the mood arose3 ，and see the ships in the harbour from the
topmost window，and look down on the sheep and the green world
all around . For this mill stands high and white— so white，indeed，
that when there is a thundercloud4 behind it，it seems a thing of
polished aluminium5 .
From its windows you can see four other mills，all，like itself，
idle，and one merely a ruin and one with only two sweeps6 left .
But just over the next range of hills，out of sight，to the north-east，
is a windmill that still merrily goes7 ，and about five miles away to
the north-west is another also active；so that things are not quite so
bad thereabouts8 as in many parts of the country，where the good
breezes blow altogether in vain9 . . .
Thinking over the losses which England has had forced
upon10 her by steam and the ingenuity of the engineer，one is dis-
posed to11 count the decay of the windmill among the first . Per-
haps in the matter of pure picturesqueness12 the most serious thing
that ever happened to England was the discovery of galvanized iron
roofing13 ；but，after all，there was never anything but quiet and rich
and comfortable beauty about red roofs，whereas the living wind-
mill is not only beautiful but romantic too：a willing，man-serving
creature，yoked to the elements14 ，a whirling monster15 ，often a
thing of terror16 . No one can stand very near the crashing sweeps17
of a windmill in half a gale18 without a tightening of the heart— a 爱
德
feeling comparable to that which comes from watching the waves 华
・
break over a wall in a storm. And to be within the mill at such a V
time is to know something of sound’s very sources；it is the cave of ・
卢
noise itself. No doubt there are dens of hammering energy which 卡
斯
are more shattering，but the noise of a windmill is largely natural，
269
英 the product of wood striving with the good sou’-wester19 ；it fills
文 the ears rather than assaults them20 . The effect，moreover，is by no
名
篇 means lessened by the absence of the wind itself and the silent
鉴 nonchalance21 of the miller and his man，who move about in the
赏
金 midst of this appalling racket22 with the quiet efficiency of
库 vergers23 .
In my mill，of course，here is no such uproar24 ；nothing but
the occasional shaking of the cross-pieces25 of the idle sails . Ev-
erything is still；and the pity of it is that everything is in almost
perfect order for the day’s work . The mill of one day— some
score26 years ago— was full of life；the next，and ever after，mute
and lifeless，like a stream frozen in a night or the palace in Ten-
nyson’s ballad of the Sleeping Beauty27 . There is no decay—
merely inanition28 . One or two of the apple-wood cogs29 have been
broken from the great wheel；a few floor planks30 have been rotted；
but that is all . A week’s overhauling31 would put everything
right. But it will never come，and the cheerful winds that once
were to drive a thousand English mills so happily now bustle32 over
the Channel33 in vain .

1. Chance recently made me：偶然的机会让我（一度在一座风车磨

坊里小住）。
2. to grind corn in：在里面磨谷子。
3. as the mood arose：在兴致高时。
4. thundercloud：雷雨云。
5. a thing of polished aluminium：一件光亮的铝制品。
6. sweep：（风车的）翼板。
7. that still merrily goes：欢快地转动。
8. thereabouts： （副词）周围；附近。
9. the good breezes blow altogether in vain：阵阵微风徒然吹拂。
10. force upon：强加于……（之上）。
11. disposed to：倾向于；偏向于。
12. picturesqueness：如画的景色。
270
 13. galvanized iron roofing：镀锌铁屋顶。
14. yoked to the elements：受制于自然力。
15. a whirling monster：飞旋的怪物。
16. a thing of terror：令人生畏之物。
17. crashing sweeps：
（风车）轰鸣的翼板。
18. gale：大风。
19. sou’-wester：西南风。
20. it fills the ears rather than assaults them：
（噪声）盈耳但不刺耳。
21. nonchalance ： 冷漠； 无动于衷。
22. appalling racket：震耳的喧嚣。
23. verger：教堂管理人。
24. uproar：喧嚣声。
25. cross-piece：
（翼板上的）横木。
26. score：二十。
27.“Sleeping Beauty”：
《睡美人》，原为 17 世纪法国作家沙尔・贝罗
所写的童话。
28. inanition：失去行动能力。
29. apple-wood cog：苹果木榫子。
30. plank：厚木板。
31. overhauling：彻底检修。
32. bustle：忙碌。
33. the Channel：英吉利海峡。

爱
德
华
・
V
・
卢
卡
斯

271
英
文
名
Bertrand Russell
篇
鉴
赏
伯特兰・罗素
金
库 （1872 ～ 1970）

全名伯特兰・阿瑟・威廉・罗素，罗素伯爵第三，
安伯 利 子 爵（Bertrand Arthur William Russell，3rd Earl
Russell，Viscount Amberley），20 世纪世界著名的英国
哲学家、数学家、逻辑学家、思想家、社会活动家和演
说家，
1950 年诺贝尔文学奖获得者。出身于名门贵
族家庭，幼年接受私立教育，后毕业于剑桥大学三一
学院，曾在剑桥、哈佛等多所英美著名大学任教。罗
素是一位多产作家，著作达四十余部，涉及哲学、数
学、逻辑学、科学、伦理学、社会学、教育、历史、宗教
以及政治等各个方面。其中以与怀特海合著的 3 卷
本《数学原理》 （Principia Mathematica ，1910 ～ 1913）影
响最 大，另 外 如《心 的 分 析》 （The Analysis of Mind ，
1921）、《意义与真理的探究》 （An Inquiry into Meaning
and Truth ，1940）和《人类的知识———它的 范 围 和 局
限》
（Human Knowledge，its Scope and Limits，1948）等哲
学著作也有广泛的社会反响。晚年罗素出版了 3 卷
本《自传》 （The Autobiography of Bertrand Russell ，
1967 ～
1969），十分坦率地回顾了自己一生的经历。
罗素还是一位和平主义者，曾两次因进行反战
活动而坐监。他曾于 1921 年来中国讲学，在我国学
术界有过相当的影响。
本文选自罗素的散文集《回忆的写真》
（Portraits
from Memory）。
272
 How to Grow Old
安度晚年之道

【作品赏析】
罗素在写这篇短文时已经步入高龄，但他依旧胸怀开朗，才思敏
捷，
想像丰富，语言风趣。读这篇文章，如聆听博学高人的谆谆教诲，
又如与知心朋友自由交谈，探究人生的真谛、生命的价值。
作者一下笔，就开宗明义，他在这里要讨论的，与其说是如何步
入老年，不如说是如何不步入老年，如何老而年轻。作者从四个方面
对这一主题进行了探讨：第一是遗传因素，第二是健康因素，第三是
心理因素，第四是人生哲理。他与读者的谈话围绕着这四点徐徐展
开。文章的前一半笔调轻快，用语诙谐。作者在讲述过程中甚至还
插进了几则家族轶事。只有当谈到第三和第四方面时，他的语调才
严肃起来。最精彩的是他在谈人生哲理时所使用的那个持续性隐
喻：
把人生比做一条长河，起初岸边陡峭，水流湍急，充满激情，慢慢
地河身加宽，河岸逐渐平坦，终至消失。于是个人的生命融入了浩瀚
的大海，与人类无尽的生命混为一体，个人未完成的事业自有后人来
担当。只有高尚的人才有如此开阔的胸襟，只有超脱的人才能如此
突然地面对人生的终结。
罗素虽然去世了，但他的文章却青春常在，他留在人间的是永恒
的教益，永恒的回味。
（龚登墉）

【作品欣赏】
In spite of the title，this article will really be on how not to
grow old，which，at my time of life，is a much more important sub-
ject . My first advice would be to choose your ancestors carefully. 1 伯
特
Although both my parents died young，I have done well in this re- 兰
・
spect as regards my other ancestors . My maternal grandfather，it is 罗
true，was cut off in the flower of his youth at the age of sixty- 素
273
英 seven2 ，but my other three grandparents all lived to be over eighty.
文
名 Of remoter ancestors I can only discover one who did not live to a
篇 great age，and he died of a disease which is now rare，namely，hav-
鉴 ing his head cut off. A great-grandmother of mine，who was a
赏
金 friend of Gibbon3 ，lived to the age of ninety-two，and to her last
库 day remained a terror to all her descendants . My maternal grand-
mother，after having nine children who survived，one who died in
infancy，and many miscarriages，as soon as she became a widow
devoted herself to women’s higher education . She was one of the
founders of Girton College4 ，and worked hard at opening the medi-
cal profession to women . She used to relate how she met in Italy
an elderly gentleman who was looking very sad . She inquired the
cause of his melancholy and he said that he had just parted from
his two grandchildren . “Good gracious， ”she exclaimed， “I have
seventy-two grandchildren，and if I were sad each time I parted
from one of them，I should have a dismal existence！ ”“Madre
snaturale”，he replied . But speaking as one of the seventy-two，I
5

prefer her recipe6 . After the age of eighty she found she had some
difficulty in getting to sleep，so she habitually spent the hours from
midnight to 3 a . m. in reading popular science . I do not believe
that she ever had time to notice that she was growing old . This，I
think，is the proper recipe for remaining young. If you have wide
and keen interests and activities in which you can still be effec-
tive， you will have no reason to think about the merely statistical
fact of the number of years you have already lived，still less of the
probable brevity of your future7 .
As regards health，I have nothing useful to say since I have
little experience of illness . I eat and drink whatever I like，and
sleep when I cannot keep awake . I never do anything whatever on
the ground that it is good for health，though in actual fact the
things I like doing are mostly wholesome .
274
 Psychologically there are two dangers to be guarded against in
old age . One of these is undue absorption in the past . It does not
do to live in memories，in regrets for the good old days，or in sad-
ness about friends who are dead . One’s thoughts must be directed
to the future，and to things about which there is something to be
done . This is not always easy；one’s own past is a gradually in-
creasing weight . It is easy to think to oneself that one’s emotions
used to be more vivid than they are，and one’s mind more keen .
If this is true it should be forgotten，and if it is forgotten it will
probably not be true . 8
The other thing to be avoided is clinging to youth in the hope
of sucking vigour from its vitality. 9 When your children are grown
up they want to live their own lives，and if you continue to be as
interested in them as you were when they were young，you are
likely to become a burden to them，unless they are unusually cal-
lous . I do not mean that one should be without interest in them，
but one’s interest should be contemplative and，if possible，philan-
thropic，but not unduly emotional10 . Animals become indifferent to
their young as soon as their young can look after themselves，but
human beings，owing to the length of infancy，find this difficult .
I think that a successful old age is easiest for those who have
strong impersonal interests involving appropriate activities . It is in
this sphere that long experience is really fruitful，and it is in this
sphere that the wisdom born of experience can be exercised with-
out being oppressive . 11 It is no use telling grown-up children not
to make mistakes，both because they will not believe you，and be-
cause mistakes are an essential part of education . But if you are
one of those who are incapable of impersonal interests，you may 伯
特
find that your life will be empty unless you concern youself with 兰
・
your children and grandchildren . In that case you must realise that 罗
while you can still render them material services，such as making 素
275
英 them an allowance or knitting them jumpers，you must not expect
文
that they will enjoy your company.
名
篇 Some old people are oppressed by the fear of death . In the
鉴 young there is a justification for this feeling. Young men who have
赏
金 reason to fear that they will be killed in battle may justifiably feel
库 bitter in the thought that they have been cheated of the best things
that life has to offer . But in an old man who has known human
joys and sorrows，and has achieved whatever work it was in him to
do12 ， the fear of death is somewhat abject and ignoble . The best
way to overcome it— so at least it seems to me— is to make your
interests gradually wider and more impersonal，until bit by bit the
walls of the ego recede13 ，and your life becomes increasingly
merged in the universal life . An individual human existence
should be like a river— small at first，narrowly contained within its
banks，and rushing passionately past rocks and over waterfalls .
Gradually the river grows wider，the banks recede，the waters flow
more quietly，and in the end，without any visible beak，they be-
come merged in the sea，and painlessly lose their individual being.
The man who ，in old age，can see his life in this way，will not suf-
fer from the fear of death，since the things he cares for will contin-
ue. And if，with the decay of vitality，weariness increases，the
thought of rest14 will not be unwelcome . I should wish to die while
still at work，knowing that others will carry on what I can no longer
do，and content in the thought that what was possible has been
done .

1. My first advice would be to choose your ancestors carefully：我的第一

点建 议 是 认 真 选 择 你 的 祖 先。注 意 这 种 似 非 而 是 的 反 论（para-
dox）———从逻辑上来讲，一个人是绝对不可能选择自己的祖先的，但
他的祖先是否有长寿的基因，又确实能影响他是否长寿。
2. My maternal grandfather. . . was cut off in the flower of his youth at the
age of sixty-seven：我的外祖父在年仅 67 岁时就夭折了。这又是一个
276
绝妙的似非而是的反论（paradox）——— 一个人死时已 67 岁，这怎么能
算夭折呢？但一看下文，我的另外三位祖父母死时都在 80 岁以上，
便又知此话不假。这种幽默的笔调当然会令读者兴趣大增。
3. Gibbon：爱德华・吉本（1737 ～ 1794），18 世纪英国历史学家，著
有《罗马帝国衰亡史》 （The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire）。
4. Girton College：格顿学院，英国第一所女 子 学 院，创 立 于 1869
年，属剑桥大学管理。
5. Madre snaturale：意大利语，意为“一位不寻常的母亲”。这种外
国语的使用能增加叙述的生动性和真实性，读者应予注意。
6. her recipe：她的处世方法。
7. you will have no reason to… the probable brevity of your future：你就
根本不用费神去想你已经活了多少年头，那只不过是一个没有意义
的统计数字，更不用为你可能已经来日无多去担忧。
8. If this is true it shoud be forgotten，and if it is forgotten it will probably
not be true：如果这（指过去年轻时感情比现在丰富，头脑比现在灵活）
是真的，那就应该忘记它；而一旦真地把它忘记了，它可能也就不存
在了。这句话的真谛在于：忘老可以年轻。
9. The other thing to be avoided is clinging to youth in the hope of suck-
ing vigour from its vitality：另外一种要避免的事情是缠住青年人不放，
一心想从他们身上攫取青春的活力。
10. but one’s interest should be contemplative and ，if possible，philan-
thropic，but not unduly emotional：但是你（对你的子女）的关心应该有节
制，如果可能的话，给他们一些经济资助，但绝不要太外露。
11. It is in this sphere that… can be exercised without being oppressive：
正是在这个范围内，长时间积累起来的经验才会真正产生实效；也正
是在这个范围内，经验所产生的智慧才会不专断地得到发挥。
12. and has achieved whatever work it was in him to do：他已经做完了
自己力所能及的工作。in him = within his ability。
13. until bit by bit the walls of the ego recede：直到自我意识一点一
点地消失掉（融合进宇宙万物之中）。
14. the thought of rest：= the thought of death，这是修辞格中的委婉 伯
说法。 特
兰
・
罗
素
277
英
文
名
V. Sackville-West
篇
鉴
赏 V・萨克维尔 - 威斯特
金
库 （1892 ～ 1962）

英国女诗人、小说家。她生于英国肯特郡的塞
文诺克。自幼在家受教育，后与一英国外交官尼科
尔逊结婚。曾随其夫游历过许多国家。她一生著作
甚伙，计有《德黑兰之行》、
《激情耗尽》、
《鹰与鸽》、
《爱德华时代的人》等。她与维吉尼娅・吴尔夫是密
友，
后者的 小 说《奥 尔 兰 多》中 的 主 人 公 即 以 她 为
原型。
萨克维尔的作品感情丰富，观察细致，文笔清丽
流畅，想像大胆奇特。她的这些特点由下面这篇散
文《大海无航标》中可见一斑。

No Signposts in the Sea

大海无航标

【作品赏析】
这篇节选的散文取自萨克维尔—威斯特的游记
《大海无航标》。作者在文中以清丽流畅的文笔记下
了海上旅行中的感触。
在第一段中，作者发挥奇特想像，将一轮向上弯
的月亮比作仰卧的处女，她似乎在温情脉脉地暗示
278
众星中哪一位情人来与她幽会。作者自己在夜深人静时溜进甲板上
的游泳池中沐浴，享受那习习和风与清凉碧波；身轻如燕，万分惬意！
她把自己想像成希腊神话中的美少年安狄米恩：他年轻力壮，自由自
在地浮游在神话般的水波中。这种沐浴使她洗尽各种俗念，犹如虔
诚的教徒在忏悔完毕后感到清除了罪孽，纯洁无暇一样。
第二段描绘岸边景色：既有拔地而起、陡峭险峻的悬崖，也有连
绵不尽的平坦海滩。它们让人联想起人的性格：有人不苟言笑、难以
亲近；有人胸无城府，一眼可知其性格。作者想起她的女友劳拉，她
初看似乎严厉，但内心却蕴藏着万般温情。
在第三段中，作者由海中小岛而生奇想：人们喜爱小岛是否因为
可以在无意识中将它们据为己有，在自己无法控制的大千世界中得
到一小片可以掌管的领地？人只是宇宙间匆匆的过客，而小岛却超
越古今永存。这些内心情思无法言传，只有一二知己可以神会。
作者对这种无忧无虑的海上旅游感到心旷神怡，留连忘返。她
喜爱船上的闲暇时光，尽情享受旅行之乐，忘却故我。
尽管这篇散文是游记，但却以抒情见长。作者将情与景交融，以
舒卷自如的文笔、平淡闲适的情调将细腻的感情娓娓诉说。读者犹
如阅读别人日记一样窥探了她的内心世界。文章的句子结构较为松
散，思想之间跳跃的幅度很大，比较真实地追溯了作者的感情踪迹。
（蒋显璟）

【作品欣赏】
The young moon lies on her back1 tonight as is her habit in
the tropics，and as，I think，is suitable if not seemly for a virgin2 .
Not a star but might not shoot down and accept the invitation to
become her lover . 3 When all my fellow-passengers have finally
dispersed4 to bed，I creep up again to the deserted deck5 and slip
into6 the swimming pool and float，no longer what people believe V
・
me to be，a middle-aged journalist taking a holiday on an ocean- 萨
going liner7 ，but a liberated being，bathed in mythological waters8 ， 克
维
an Endymion9 young and strong，with a god for his father10 and a 尔
vision of the world inspired from Olympus11 . All weight is lifted -
威
from my limbs； 12
I am one with the night13 ； I understand the 斯
meaning of pantheism14 . How my friends would laugh if they knew 特

279
英 I had come to this！To have discarded15 ，as I believe，all usual
文
frailties16，to have become incapable of envy，ambition，malice17 ，
名
篇 the desire to score off18 my neighbour，to enjoy this purification19
鉴 even as I enjoy the clean voluptuousness20 of the warm breeze on
赏
金 my skin and the cool support21 of the water . Thus，I imagine，must
库 the pious feel cleansed22 on leaving the confessional23 after the
solemnity of absolution24 .
    
Sometimes we follow a coastline25 ，it may be precipitous26
bluffs27 of grey limestone28 rising sheer29 out of the sea，or a low-
lying arid stretch30 with miles of white sandy beach，and no sign of
habitation，very bleached and barren31 . These coasts remind me of
people；either they are forbiding and unapproachable32 ，or else they
present no mystery and show all they have to give at a glance；you
feel the country would continue to be flat and featureless33 however
far you penetrated inland . What I like best are the stern cliffs34 ，
with ranges of mountains soaring behind them，full of possibili-
ties35 ，peaks to be scaled only by the most daring36 . What plants
of the high altitudes37 grow unravished38 among their crags and val-
leys？ So do I let my imagination play over the recesses39 of
Laura’s character，so austere40 in the foreground but nurturing
what treasures of tenderness，like delicate flowers，for the discovery
of the venturesome41 .
My fellow-passengers apparently do not share my admiration .
‘Drearee sorter cowst， ’42 said an Australian .‘Makes you
long for a bit of green .’
    
In all this great serenity43 of ocean it is seldom that we espy44
so much as another ship；the jolly dolphins and the scratchy45 little
flying-fish have the vast circle all to themselves46 ， ‘the Flying
Fish，who has a part with the birds ， 47
’and doubtless are glad to
280
see the last of the monster48 which bears us into and out of sight .
Our wake49 closes up and we might never have been50 . But it does
happen from time to time that an island appears on the horizon，
nameless to us and full of mystery，the peak of a submarine moun-
tain range，lonely，unblemished51 ，remote . Does one like islands
because one unconsciously appropriates52 them，a small manage-
able domain53 in a large unmanageable world？I cannot tell why it
should give me such a queer sensation54 to reflect that that island
has always been there（unless indeed it be no more than the work
of the patient coral55） and will be there still，should I return to
find it waiting for me . It is the same sensation as I have experi-
enced in looking at a photograph of，say，some river valley of in-
nermost China，and seen a boulder56 ，and thought that if I could
find myself transported to that spot I could touch the reality of that
particular piece of rock . . . It is there . For me . I could sit on that
very boulder . I explain myself badly，and it is not a sensation I
could expect anyone save Laura to understand，but of such incom-
municable quirks is the private mind made up57 .
    
I would never have believed in the simple bliss58 of being，
day after day，at sea . Our ports of call59 are few，and when they do
occur I resent60 them. I should like this empty existence to be pro-
longed beyond calculation61 . In the ship’s library stands a large
globe whose function so far as I am concerned is to reveal the pro-
portion of ocean to the landmasses62 of the troubled world；the Pa-
V
cific alone dwarfs63 all the continents put together . Blue，the ・
萨
colour of peace . And then I like all the small noises of a ship：the 克
faint creaking64 ，as of the saddle-leather65 to a horseman riding 维
尔
，the slap of a rope67 ，the hiss of sudden spray68 . I have
across turf 66 -
威
been exhilarated by two days of storm，but above all I love these 斯
long purposeless days in which I shed all that I have ever been69 . 特

281
英
文 1. lies on her back：仰卧。（作者把月亮比作处女。 ）
名
2. is suitable if not seemly for a virgin：
（as 作关系代词）（这姿势）对
篇
鉴 于处女来说不雅观，但却合适。
赏 3. Not a star but might not shoot down and accept the invitation to be-
金 come her lover：任何一颗星星都可能降落下来，接受邀请，做她的情
库
人。（but 是关系代词。 ）
4. disperse：散开，散去。
5. deserted deck：空无一人的甲板。
6. slip into：溜进。
7. ocean-going liner：远洋航船。
8. bathed in mythological waters：沐浴在神话似的水中。
9. Endymion：安狄米恩（月神狄安娜所爱的美少年）。
10. with a god for his father：有一位神是他的父亲。
11. Olympus：奥林匹斯山，希腊神话中众神居处。
12. All weight is lifted from my limbs：我四肢轻盈。
13. I am one with the night：我与夜色溶为一体。
14. pantheism：泛神论。
15. discard：抛弃。
16. frailties：弱点，软弱。
17. malice：恶意。
18. score off：羞辱（某人）。
19. purification：净化。
20. voluptuousness：
（和风的）清爽宜人。
21. cool support：（水的）清凉的浮力。
22. must the pious feel cleansed：虔 诚 的 信 徒 一 定 会 感 到 清 除 了
俗念。
23. confessional：忏悔室。
24. solemnity of absolution：忏悔仪式。
25. coastline：海岸线。
26. precipitous：陡峭的。
27. bluffs：峭壁，断崖。
28. limestone：石灰石。
29. rising sheer：垂直立起。
30. arid stretch：干燥的一片（海滩）。
282
 31. bleached and barren：洁白荒芜的。
32. forbiding and unapproachable：令人生畏而不敢亲近的。
33. featureless：毫无特色的。
34. stern cliffs：陡峭的悬崖。
35. full of possibilities：充满各种可能。
36. the most daring：最大胆无畏的。
37. high altitudes：海拔高处。
38. grow unravished：（指高海拔植物）野生野长，无人采摘。
39. play over the recesses：在……幽深处随意发挥。
40. austere：严峻的；严肃的。
41. the venturesome：具有冒险精神的人。
42.‘Drearee sorter cowst，
’：=‘Dreary sort of coast，
’乏味的海岸。
43. serenity：宁静；安祥。
44. espy：看见；发现。
45. scratchy：扎人的，刺痒的。
46. all to themselves：尽归它们所有。
47. who has a part with the birds：具有部分鸟的能力（飞行）。
48. to see the last of the monster：再不要见到这只怪物（轮船）。
49. wake：
（船的）尾波；航迹。
50. we might never have been：我们可能从未存在过。
51. unblemished：毫无瑕疵的。
52. appropriate：占用。
53. domain：领地。
54. queer sensation：奇怪的感觉。
55. the patient coral：有 耐 心 的 珊 瑚。（指 经 过 漫 长 岁 月 构 成
新岛。）
56. boulder：巨砾；圆石。
57. but of such incommunicable quirks is the private mind made up：但
是我们的内心世界就是由这些无法言表的怪念头组成的。
V
・
58. the simple bliss of being：仅仅存在的快乐。 萨
克
59. ports of call：
（沿途）停靠港。 维
60. resent：憎恶；憎恨。 尔
61. beyond calculation：无法估算。 -
威
62. landmasses：大块陆地。 斯
63. dwarf：
（动词）使相比之下显得矮小。
特

283
英 64. the faint creaking：
（船的）轻微的吱嘎声。
文 65. saddle-leather：马鞍皮革。
名
66. turf：草皮泥。
篇
鉴 67. slap：（甩缆绳的）劈拍声。
赏 68. spray：浪花。
金 69. I shed all that I have ever been：我摆脱故我。
库

284
Pri John Boynton Priestley
P・约翰・B・普里斯特利
（1894 ～ 1984）

20 世纪英国小说家、散文家和剧作家。他出生
于约克郡布雷德福德的教师家庭，第一次世界大战
期间服过兵役，后在剑桥大学受过教育。 1922 年普
里斯特利出版了两本书———《短暂的消遣》
（Brief Di-
versions）和《利利普特文献》
（Papers from Liliput），并以
此奠定了他的文名。普里斯特利最著名的小说是
（The Good Companions，1929）和《天 使 街》
《好伙 伴》
（又译《天使人行道》） （Angel Pavement ，1930），他的代
表剧作有《菩提树》 （The Linden Tree，
1947）和《巡官登
（An Inspector Calls，
门》 1945）。
除了小说和戏剧之外，普里斯特利还写了大量
散文。此 处 选 出《在 成 衣 店》和《初 雪》两 篇，以 飨
读者。

P
・
约
翰
・
B
・
普
里
斯
特
利
285
英
文
名 At the Tailors
篇
鉴 在成衣店
赏
金
库
【作品赏析】
普里斯特利的《在成衣店》是一篇典型的英国式幽默散文。作者
用诙谐的语气描绘一种古老的职业———裁缝———及他们对工作一丝
不苟、精益求精的态度。当然他也时不时地对裁缝们加以微妙的调
侃。文中的“我”甚至对自己也毫不留情，把他的邋遢习惯及在成衣
店里诚惶诚恐、手足无措的窘态赤裸裸地暴露在读者面前，以博取他
们善意的一笑。能够自嘲正是英国式幽默的一个特征。
在第一段中，作者从大处着眼，描绘了地处伦敦繁华区的成衣店
的外观。这些铺子保持了老派绅士的尊严，不求助于庸俗的广告方
式以招徕顾客，而是以谦谨的方法提醒顾客自己选择绅士该穿的衣
服。当然，
“君子不言利”，在这里做交易是不能提到“钱”字的。穿着
店里买的成衣的顾客只要敢于踏进这样一家铺子，立刻会受到裁缝
目光的无声责备，自惭形秽，无地自容。这一段渲染了成衣店的尊严
气派与不言而喻的优势，先声夺人，令人肃然起敬。
作者在第二段中着重强调，这些裁缝并非匠人，而是艺术家。他
们并不追求利润与顾客的满意，而是追求尽善尽美、令自己满意的艺
术品。作者化用的两处诗句巧妙而幽默地暗示：这里的衣服是精雕
细刻的艺术品，是裁缝的得意之作。
从第三段开始，作者转向对自己的调侃。他用了一个贴切的比
喻———一个不懂音乐的人被邀请去听勒内弦乐四重奏小组的演出。
这个比喻说明“我”配不上这些艺术家呕心沥血为我缝制的衣服。
“我”总是把挺括的衣服弄得皱巴巴的，使这些“艺术家”们为自己被
糟蹋的艺术品深深惋惜。作为一种“报复”，只要“我”走进了他们的
试衣室，他们就要无休无止地摆弄“我”，使“我”变成一具人体模型。
慑于他们的权威，
“我”的自尊心丧失殆尽，只好对他们俯首贴耳，唯
命是从。
在最后一段，作者赋予那句成语“九个裁缝当个人”以新的涵义：
裁缝们已经为了艺术而泯灭了普通的人情味，只有九个裁缝才能凑
286
足一个普通人所具有的愚蠢和友情。但是现在讲究穿着的花花公子
已经灭迹，这些裁缝只属于一个孤独的、过去的世界。他们已经成了
老古董。作者一方面对他们忠于职守、精益求精的精神表示钦佩，另
一方面也为他们的落伍与守旧发出无可奈何的叹息。
（蒋显璟）

【作品欣赏】
Between the chaos of Regent Street and the opulent bustle of
New Bond Street1 is a little region that is curiously hushed . It is
made up of short streets that pretend to run parallel to one anoth-
er，but actually go off at all angles . At a first glance these streets
appear to be filled with the offices of very old firms of family
solicitors2 . Many of their windows have severe wire screens . The
establishments there have a certain air of dignified secrecy3 ，not
unlike that of servants of the old school4 ，those impassive butlers
who appeared to know nothing，but really knew everything. There
is little evidence that anything is being sold in this part of the
world. The electric-light bills must be very modest indeed，for
there are no flashing signs to assault the eye，no gaudily dressed
windows to tempt the feet to loiter . Whatever the season，no Sales5
are held there . You are not invited to stop a moment longer than
you may wish to do. Now and then you catch sight of a roll of
cloth，a pair of riding breeches，or，perhaps，a sober little drawing
of a gentleman in evening clothes，and as you pass you can hear
these things whispering： “If you are a gentleman and wish to wear
P
the clothes that a gentleman should wear，kindly make an appoint- ・
约
ment here and we will see what we can do for you .” Money，of 翰
・
course，is not mentioned，this being impossible in all such gentle- B
・
manly transactions . For this is the region，Savile Row，Conduit 普
Street，Maddox Street6 ，and the rest，of the tailors or— rather— the 里
斯
tailors7 . Enter it wearing a cheap ready-made suit，and immediate- 特
ly the poor thing begins to bag in some places and shrivel up in 利
287
英 others. If you have the audacity（as I once had）actually to walk
文
名 into one of these establishments wearing a ready-made suit，you
篇 will regret it . Nothing is said，but a glance from one of the higher
鉴 officials here strips you and quietly deposits your apparel in the
赏
金 dust-bin . 8
库 The hush here is significant . It might be described as old-
world，and for a very good reason，too. In a new world in which
anything will do so long as it arrives quickly and easily，this region
has fallen sadly behind the times . It is still engaged in the old
quest for perfection . Behind these wire screens the search for the
absolute still goes on . Tailoring here remains one of the arts .
There are men in this quarter who could announce in all sincerity
that trousers are beauty，beauty trousers，and that is all we know
and need to know9 . For them the smallest seam they sew can give
thoughts that do often lie too deep for tears . 10 That they are artists
and not tradesmen is proved by the fact that，unlike tradesmen，
they do not labour to please their customers，but to please them-
selves. A tailor who is a mere shopkeeper fits you until you are
satisfied. These artists go on fitting you until they are satisfied，
and that means they continue long after you have lost all interest
in the matter . You stand there，a mere body or lay figure11 ，and
they still go on delicately ripping out sleeves and collars with their
little penknives，pinning and unpinning，and making mysterious
signs with chalk，and you have long ceased to understand what all
the bother is about . And even then they may tell you，quietly but
firmly，that they must have another fitting. That they should do
this to me is proof positive12 of their disinterested passion for the
art of tailoring.
I never walk into my own tailor’s without feeling apologetic .
I know I am unworthy of their efforts . It is as if a man without an
ear for music should be invited to spend an evening with the Lener
288
Quartet13 . I am the kind of man who can make any suit of clothes
look shabby and undistinguished after about a fortnight’s wear .
Perhaps the fact that I always carry about with me two or three
fairly large pipes，matches，about two ounces of tobacco，a wallet，
cheque-book，diary，fountain-pen，knife，odd keys，and loose
change，to say nothing of old letters，may have something to do
with it . I can never understand how a man can contrive to look
neat and spruce and do anything else . Wearing clothes properly
seems to me to be a full-time job，and as I happen to have a great
many other，more important or more amusing，things to do，I cheer-
fully bag and sag and look as if I had slept in my suits . I can say
this cheerfully here，but once I am inside my tailors’I immediate-
ly begin to feel apologetic . They do not say anything，but there is
mournful reproach in their eyes as they turn them upon their
ruined sonnets and sonatas14 . One day I shall call upon them in
evening clothes because I fancy they are not so bad as the lounge
suits. But I do not know；they may see enormities15 where I see
nothing；and so perhaps I had better keep the fate of their master-
pieces hidden from them. Possibly they whisper to one another，
when they see me slouching in，looking like a man who might buy
his clothes through the post： “He’s one of those gentlemen who’re
a bit careless during the day. I shouldn’t wonder， ”I hear them
adding wistfully，anxious to convince themselves， “If he takes trou-
ble at night .”
P
They have their revenge，though，when they get me inside one ・
约
of their horrible cubicles，for a fitting. By the time I have been in- 翰
・
side one of those places ten minutes I have not a shred of self-re- B
・
spect left . It is worse than being at the barber’s，and fully equal 普
to being at the dentist’s . To stand like a dummy，to be simply a 里
斯
shape of flesh and bone，is bad enough，but what make it much 特
worse are the mirrors and the lighting. These mirrors go glimmer- 利
289
英 ing away into infinity. 16 At each side is a greeny-gold tunnel . I do
文
名 not mind that，having only a slight distaste for tunnels and hardly
篇 any at all for infinity. But I do not like all those images of myself.
鉴 Wherever I look，I see a man whose appearance does not please
赏
金 me . His head seems rather too big for his body，his body rather
库 too big for his legs . In that merciless bright light，his face looks
fattish and somewhat sodden . There is something vaguely dirty
about him. The clothes he is wearing，apart from the particular
garment he is trying on at the moment，look baggy，wrinkled，and
shabby. He does not pay enough attention to his collar，his boots .
His hair wants cutting，and another and closer shave would do him
good . In full face he does not inspire confidence . His profile，
however，is simply ridiculous，and the back view of him is really
horrible. And a woman and several children are tied to a fellow
like that！Incredible that a man can take such a face and carcase
about with him，and yet entertain a tolerably good opinion of him-
self！As I think these things，it is possible that I smile a little .
That is what it feels like— smiling a little；but immediately twenty
images in that cubicle break into ghostly grins，produce wrinkles
from nowhere，show distorted acres of cheek and jowl . And there
is no looking away17 .
Meanwhile，the tailors themselves，so neat，so clean，so deft，
are busy with the pins and the chalk . They are at home in these
little halls of mirrors，and so look well in them from every possible
angle of reflection . They pretend a certain subservience，but it is
the idlest of pretences . They know— and they know that I know—
that I am but a shadow of myself，a puppet in their hands . Their
opinions，such as they are，seem to be those of most moderate sen-
sible men，but even if they murmured that it was high time the
Spanish Inquisition18 was established in this island，I should have
to agree with them. They are not all alike，these fitters，or cutters，
290
or whatever they are . Thus my usual trouser man is quite different
from my usual coat man . He is smaller and livelier，more
bustling，more given to cheerful gossip . A long and intimate ac-
quaintance with trousers has made him far more democratic and
earthy. There are times when I feel I can almost hold my own with
him19 . On the other hand，the coat man is quietly tremendous . He
has one of those tight，healthy-looking，clean-shaven faces，like a
brownish apple；and looks something between a priest，a surgeon，
and a solicitor who occasionally rides to hounds20 . Everything
about him is clear，polished，and speckless . He regards me with
about the same amount of interest that I give to another man’s
coat . When he once condesended to tell me about his boy（who is
at public school21）I felt immensely flattered and rushed to agree
with everything he said . For a few minutes I was really alive，al-
most sharing the honours with my coat . But then he became seri-
ous again and took out a pin somewhere and made another chalk-
mark .
I can understand the feelings of those people who are com-
pelled to live with great artists . I can also understand the inner
meaning of the old saying about nine tailors making a man22 . They
have so little common humanity，these artists of the pins and
chalk，that it must be difficult to wring out of nine of them folly
and friendliness enough to make an ordinary citizen . But now that
the dandies are all dead and gone，theirs must be a lonely world .
Will they accept these few words of tribute from a pocketstuffer，a P
・
rumpler and crumpler，a bagger？ 约
翰
・
1. Regent Street：摄政街；New Bond street：新邦街。这两条街都是
B
・
豪华的伦敦西区的繁华大街。 普
里
2. family solicitors：家庭律师。
斯
3. dignified secrecy：尊严的保密神态。 特
4. of the old school：老派的。 利
291
英 5. sales：降价销售；拍卖。
文 6. Savile Row，Conduit Street，Maddox Street：均为成衣店所在地区，
名 这里的裁缝为伦敦的富人与时髦人士做衣服。
篇
鉴 7. the tailors：此处斜体字的 the 强调这里的裁缝是真正的裁缝，
赏 即“正宗”的。
金 8. 此句意为“这里的高级裁缝之一只要看你一眼，就能使你脱下
库
（你穿的成衣），把它悄悄地扔到垃圾箱里去。”
9. 这是对济慈的《希腊古瓮颂》中两句诗的滑稽模仿。原诗是：
“美即是真，真即是美， ”这就包括你们所知道和该知道的一切。
10. 这两句话是对华兹华斯的《永恒的信息颂》中两句诗的滑稽
模仿：那最卑贱的绽开的花朵也能触发我深沉的情思，并非泪水所能
表达。
11. lay figure：人体活动模型，用于陈列服装。
12. proof positive：确证。
13. 勒内弦乐四重奏小组。成立于 1920 年的一个著名的匈牙利
弦乐四重奏小组。
14. their ruined sonnets and sonatas：这里是与前面提过的济慈与华
兹华斯的十四行诗以及 the Lener Quartet 相呼应，把裁缝精心制做的
衣服幽默地比作艺术品。
15. enormities：原义为“滔天罪恶”，此处指“不珍惜衣服的行为”。
16. These mirrors go glimmering away into infinity：小试衣室四面墙上
的镜子中映出的影像闪闪发光，好像延伸到无穷的尽头。
17. there is no looking away：没法掉头不看（因为四边都有镜子）。
18. the Spanish Inquisition：西班牙宗教法庭。天主教会于 15 世纪
在西班牙建立的法庭，目的是镇压异端邪说。它以手段残忍而臭名
昭著。
19. hold my own with him：与他不相上下。
20. rides to hounds：猎狐。
21. public school：
（英国的）公学。实为私立学校，学费昂贵，只有
贵族及富人子弟才上得起。
22. nine tailors make a man：九个裁缝当个人。英国流传的一句老
话，含有对裁缝的轻蔑与嘲笑。

292
 First Snow
初 雪

【作品赏析】
《初雪》是一篇抒发作者突然见到冬日大雪初降时的喜悦与感触
的佳作。它观察细微，描摹逼真，想像丰富；读起来是一种美的享受。
文章以写景开始。一觉醒来，窗外是一片沉寂的白色。那照进
窗内的奇异雪光给我们平日熟悉的行为笼罩上一层新奇的色彩。日
出时分景色又是一变：朝霞把白雪染红，餐室的窗帘变幻成五彩纷陈
的日本印花布；窗外一株小腊梅粉妆玉琢，亭亭玉立在朝阳中。然而
转瞬间天又变阴，一片青白的雪光闪烁，万象阴森肃杀，那温柔的乡
野变成冷酷的荒原。黑暗的灌木丛中暗藏杀机，似乎随时有金戈铁
马的武士冲出来血战一番。片时之后，雪光与阴森之气顿消，一片茫
茫大雪纷飞。作者见到儿童把鼻尖贴在窗玻璃上看下雪，不禁回忆
起儿时观雪所唱的童谣，一片天真情趣跃然纸上。
在第三段中作者由眼前的雪景想到，若是英国也像美国东部各
州和加拿大一样，冬季大雪连月，冰封雪盖，霜花璀璨；而不是绵绵无
尽的灰暗无特色的冬日，寒风冷雨交加，那景色该多么喜人！那里的
人每年可以指望大雪如期而至并逗留数月，不到春天不会化作黑色
雪泥。可是转念一想，这样持久的雪很快会失去其魅力而令人厌倦。
雪的迷人之处不在于冰雪覆盖的世界，而在于它初临时带来的意外
悄然的变化。作者由此联想到那句俗话：别的国家都有气候，只有英
国才有天气。气候按节气变化，而天气却捉摸不定，无法预料。作者
P
将英国变化无常的天气比作古埃及艳后克利奥帕特拉，尽管她情绪 ・
多变，但若是我们移居他国，一定会因为失去她而深感遗憾。行文至 约
翰
此，作者话锋一转，回到今日的初雪上来。因为它今天与昨天全然不 ・
同，气氛迥异，而他也觉得稍异于昨日之故我。这种新鲜感并非巨金 B
・
所能购得，而是初雪所赐。 普
里
这篇散文思绪曲折多变，描写逼真细腻，文笔活泼有致，想象奇
斯
特又不离主题，反映出作者高超的散文写作技巧。 特
（蒋显璟） 利
293
英
文 【作品欣赏】
名
篇 When I got up this morning the world was a chilled hollow of
鉴 dead white and faint blues1 . The light that came through the win-
赏 dows was very queer，and it contrived to2 make the familiar busi-
金
库 ness of splashing and shaving and brushing and dressing very
queer too. Then the sun came out，and by the time I had sat down
to breakfast it was shining bravely3 and flushing the snow with del-
icate pinks . The dining-room window had been transformed into a
lovely Japanese print4 . The little plum-tree outside，with the faint-
ly flushed5 snow lining its boughs and artfully disposed6 along its
trunk，stood in full sunlight . An hour or two later everything was a
cold glitter of white and blue . The world had completely changed
again . The little Japanese prints had all vanished . I looked out of
my study window7 ，over the garden，the meadow，to the low hills
beyond，and the ground was one long glare8 ，the sky was steely， 9

and all the trees so many black and sinister10 shapes . There was
indeed something curiously sinister about the whole prospect11 . It
was as if our kindly countryside12 ，close to the very heart of Eng-
land，had been turned into a cruel steppe13 . At any moment，it
seemed，a body of horsemen might be seen breaking out from14 the
black copse15 ，so many instruments of tyranny16 ，and shots might
be heard and some distant patch of snow be reddened17 . It was
that kind of landscape .
Now it has changed again . The glare has gone and no touch18
of the sinister remains . But the snow is falling heavily，in great
soft flakes，so that you can hardly see across the shallow valley，
and the roofs are thick and the trees all bending，and the weather-
cock19 of the village church，still to be seen through the grey load-
ed air，has become some creature out of Hans Andersen20 . From
my study，which is apart from the house and faces it，I can see the
children flattening their noses against the nursery window，and
294
there is running through my head a jangle21 of rhyme I used to re-
peat when I was a child and flattened my nose against the cold
window to watch the falling snow：
Snow，snow faster：
White alabaster22 ！
Killing geese in Scotland，
Sending feathers here！
This morning，when I first caught sight of the unfamiliar
whitened world，I could not help wishing that we had snow often-
er，that English winters were more wintry. How delightful it would
be，I thought，to have months of clean snow and a landscape
sparkling with23 frost instead of innumerable grey featureless days
of rain and raw winds . I began to envy my friends in such places
as the Eastern States of America and Canada，who can count
upon24 a solid winter every year and know that the snow will arrive
by a certain date and will remain，without degenerating into black
slush25 ，until Spring is close at hand26 . To have snow and frost
and yet a clear sunny sky and air as crisp27 as a biscuit— this
seemed to me happiness indeed . And then I saw that it would
never do for us28 . We should be sick of it29 in a week . After the
first day the magic would be gone and there would be nothing left
but the unchanging glare of the day and the bitter cruel nights . It
is not the snow itself，the sight of the blanketed world30 ，that is so
enchanting31，but the first coming of the snow，the sudden and
P
silent change . Out of the relations，for ever shifting and unantici- ・
约
pated32，of wind and water comes a magical event . Who would 翰
・
change this state of things for a steadily recurring round33 ，an B
・
earth governed by the calendar34 ？It has been well said that while 普
other countries have a climate，we alone in England have weather . 里
斯
There is nothing duller than climate，which can be converted into a 特
topic only by scientists and hypochondriacs35 . But weather is our 利
295
英 earth’s Cleopatra36 ，and it is not to be wondered at that we，who
文 must share her gigantic moods，should be for ever talking about
名
篇 her . Once we were settled in America，Siberia37 ，Australia，where
鉴 there is nothing but a steady pact38 between climate and the calen-
赏
金 dar，we should regret her very naughtinesses39 ，her wilful pranks40 ，
库 her gusts of rage41 ，and sudden tears . Waking in a morning would
no longer be an adventure . 42 Our weather may be fickle43 but it is
no more fickle than we are，and only matches our inconstancy with
her changes44 . Sun，wind，snow，rain，how welcome they are at
first and how soon we grow weary of45 them. If this snow lasts a
week I shall be heartily sick of it and glad to speed its going46 .
But its coming has been an event . To-day has had a quality，an
atmosphere，quite different from that of yesterday，and I have
moved through it feeling a slightly different person，as if I were
staying with new friends or had suddenly arrived in Norway. A
man might easily spend five hundred pounds trying to break the
crust of indifference in his mind47 ，and yet feel less than I did this
morning.

1. a chilled hollow of dead white and faint blues：

（世界）变成一座死白
淡青的冰窟。
2. contrived to：设法（办到）。
3. shining bravely：辉煌地照耀。brave = beautiful，是文雅用语。
4. Japaness print：日本印花布。
5. faintly flushed：淡红色的。
6. artfully disposed：别出心裁地摆设。dispose = arrange。
7. study window：书斋的窗口。
8. one long glare：一大片眩目的白光。
9. steely：
（天空）是一片钢灰色（铁青色）。
10. sinister：阴险的，
（此处指）阴森的。
11. prospect：景象。
12. kindly countryside：气候温和的乡村。
13. steppe：（西伯利亚的）干草原地带。
296
 14. breaking out from：从……冲刺而出。
15. copse：矮灌木丛。
16. instruments of tyranny：暴政的工具。
17. and some distant patch of snow be reddened：远处一片白雪变得
殷红。
18. touch：少许，一点。
19. weathercock：风向标。
20. Hans Andersen：汉斯・安徒生（1805 ～ 1875），
19 世纪丹麦著名童
话作家。
21. jangle：聒耳的噪声。
22. alabaster：雪花石膏。
23. sparkling with：闪耀着……的光辉。
24. count upon 依靠；指望（得上）。
25. slush：泥浆。
26. close at hand：就在眼前；即将到来。
27. crisp：清新的（空气）。
28. it would never do for us：对于我们来说可不行。
29. be sick of：厌烦；腻烦。
30. the blanketed world：白雪覆盖的世界。
31. enchanting：迷人的。
32. for ever shifting and unanticipated：变化无常和出人预料的。
33. a steadily recurring round：不断的周而复始。
34. an earth governed by the calender：由日历统治的大地。
35. hypochondriacs：疑病症患者。
36. Cleopatra：克利奥帕特拉（69—30B. C.），古埃及女王，以美艳好
淫、反复无常著称。
37. Siberia：西伯利亚。
P
38. a steady pact：稳定的契约。 ・
39. naughtinesses：调皮的行为。
约
翰
40. wilful pranks：任性胡闹。 ・
41. gusts of rage：勃然大怒。
B
・
42. Waking in a morning would no longer be an adventure：清晨的苏醒 普
里
不再是一种冒险（指没有新奇事物）。
斯
43. fickle：变幻无常的。 特
44. and only matches our inconstancy with her changes：她的反复与我 利
297
英 们的无常正好相配。
文 45. grow weary of：对……厌烦了。
名
46. speed its going：巴不得雪早停。
篇
鉴 47. break the crust of indifference in his mind：击 破 心 中 那 漠 然 的
赏 硬壳。
金
库

298
George Bernard Shaw
乔治・伯纳・萧
（1856 ～ 1950）

英国著名剧作家、评论家。生于爱尔兰都柏林。
青年时期曾潜心研读马克思的《资本论》，1884 年加
入改良主义组织“费边社”，是该社最有影响的成员
之一。萧・伯纳自称社会主义者，同情苏联社会主
义。但是他的社会主义与苏联社会主义是有区别
的。他从 80 年代起从事新闻写作和戏剧艺术评论。
其散文收 入 三 卷 本《我 们 九 十 年 代 的 戏 剧》
（1931
年）。但萧・伯纳的主要成就是戏剧创作。在长达
58 年的戏剧创作中，他总共写过 51 个剧本。他的第
一个剧本是《鳏夫的房产》 （1892 年）。两年后写了
《华伦夫人的职业》
（1894 年），这两个剧本都至今享
有盛名。他的《人与超人》 （1903 年）、 《巴巴拉少校》
（1905 年）、
《伤心之家》（1913 ～ 1916 年）、
《圣女贞德》
（1924 年）、
《苹果车》
（1929 年）等戏剧作品都是文学
史必提的名作。萧・伯纳 1925 年获诺贝尔文学奖。
他 1931 年访问苏联，
1932 年曾访问中国。

乔
治
・
伯
纳
・
萧
299
英
文
名 Valedictory1
篇
鉴 告 别 辞
赏
金
库
【作品赏析】
萧・伯纳素以幽默、辛辣的文笔著称。这里选入的《告别辞》就是
这样的名篇。此文发表于 1898 年 5 月 21 日。萧伯纳在文中声称自
己将要告别自己的戏剧评论生涯。他抱怨“差不多有四年的时间”，
他都不得不成为剧院的奴仆，极其忙碌地舞文弄墨。“有一半的时间
我都用来告诉人们：瞧，我是个多么聪明的家伙！
”“我以一种史无前
例的坚毅和执拗精神喋喋不休地要让公众相信，我是一个绝顶机智、
聪慧的人。
”作者说，经过他自己和相关机构的舆论宣传，他居然真的
实现了这种梦想。他现在的声望果然如日中天，几乎与莎士比亚的
名声平分秋色。而且他一旦建立了固若金汤的名声，则以后无论怎
样的信笔涂鸦，也总是会有应声虫。这样的诙谐的文字，其实也并非
完全是假话。萧・伯纳的陈述其实道出一个残酷的真理：有的名声确
实是通过炒作建立起来的。在萧的笔下，公众未必真的理解他，他们
不过是人云亦云良莠不分的糊涂虫。然而作者不再醉心于虚幻的荣
誉，
他自知在这个戏剧评论领域已经江郎才尽，便毅然决然地走出剧
院的门口。萧的告别辞十分诙谐俏皮，用语警策。颇值一读。
（辜正坤）

【作品欣赏】
As I lie here，helpless and disabled，or，at best，nailed by one
foot to the floor2 like a doomed Strasburg goose3 ，a sense of injury
grows on me4 . For nearlyfour years — to be precise，since New
Year 1895 — I have been the slave of the theatre . It has tethered
me to5 the mile radius of foul and sooty air6 which has its centre in
the Strand7 ，as a goat is tethered in the little circle of cropped and
trampled grass that makes the meadow ashamed . Every week it
clamors for8 its tale of written words；so that I am like a man fight-
300
ing a windmill9 ：I have hardly time to stagger to my feet10 from the
knockdown blow of one sail，when the next strikes me down . Now I
ask，is it reasonable to expect me to spend my life in this way？For
just consider my position . 11 Do I receive any spontaneous recogni-
tion12 for the prodigies of skill and industry I lavish on13 an unwor-
thy institution and a stupid public？Not a bit of it：half my time is
spent in telling people what a clever man I am. It is no use merely
doing clever things in England . The English do not know what to
think until they are coached，laboriously and insistently for years，
in the proper and becoming opinion . For ten years past，with an
unprecedented pertinacity and obstination14 ，I have been dinning
into the public head15 that I am an extraordinarily witty，brilliant，
and clever man . That is now part of the public opinion of England；
and no power in heaven or on earth will ever change it . I may dod-
der and dote16 ，I may potboil17 and platitudinize；I may become the
butt and chopping-block18 of all the bright，original spirits of the
rising generation，but my reputation shall not suffer19 ：it is built up
fast and solid，like Shakespeare’s，on an impregnable basis of dog-
matic reiteration .
Unfortunately，the building process has been a most painful
one to me，because I am congenitally20 an extremely modest man .
Shyness is the form my vanity and self-consciousness take by na-
ture . It is humiliating，too，after making the most dazzling displays
of professional ability，to have to tell people how clever it all is .
Besides，they get so tired of it，that finally，without dreaming of
disputing the alleged brilliancy，they begin to detest it . I sometimes
get quite frantic letters from people who feel that they cannot stand
乔
me any longer21 . 治
Then there are the managers . Are they grateful？No：they are ・
伯
simply forbearing. Instead of looking up to me as their guide， 纳
・
philosopher and friend，they regard me merely as the author of a 萧
301
英 series of weekly outrages or their profession and their privacy.
文
Worse than the managers are the Shakespeareans22 . When I began
名
篇 to write，William23 was a divinity and a bore . Now he is a fellow-
鉴 creature；and his plays have reached an unprecedented pitch of
赏
金 popularity. And yet his worshippers overwhelm my name with in-
库 sult .
These circumstances will not bear thinking of. I have never
had time to think of them before；but now I have nothing else to
do. When a man of normal habits is ill，every one hastens to assure
him that he is going to recover . When a Vegetarian24 is ill（which
fortunately very seldom happens），every one assures him that he is
going to die，and that they told him so，and that it serves him
right25 . They implore him to take at least a little gravy，so as to
give himself a chance of lasting out the night26 . They tell him awful
stories of cases just like his own which ended fatally after inde-
scribable torments；and when he tremblingly inquires whether the
victims were not hardened meat-eaters，they tell him he must not
talk，as it is not good for him. Ten times a day I am compelled to
reflect on my past life，and on the limited prospect of three weeks
or so of lingering moribundity27 which is held up ot me as my
probable future，with the intensity of a drowning man . And I can
never justify to myself the spending of four years on dramatic criti-
cism. I have sworn an oath to endure no more of it . Never again
will I cross the threshold of a theatre . The subject is exhausted；
and so am I .
Still，the gaiety of nations must not be eclipsed . The long
string of beautiful ladies who are at present in the square without，
awaiting，under the supervision of two gallant policemen，their turn
at my bedside，must be reassured when they protest，as they will，
that the light of their life will go out if my dramatic arricles cease .
To each of them I will present the flower left by her predecessor，
302
and assure her that there are as good fish in the sea as ever came
out of it28 . The younger generation is knocking at the door；and as I
open it there steps spritely in the incomparable Max.
For the rest，let Max speak for himself. I am off duty for ev-
er，and am going to sleep .

1. valedictory：告别辞。
2. nailed by one foot to the floor：一条腿被钉在地板上。
3. Strasburg goose：即将被取走其肝做肝酱用的斯特拉斯堡鹅。法
国斯特拉斯堡盛产一种肥鹅肝酱（pété de foie gras），在取用鹅的肝之
前，要将鹅的肢体强行压扁，或紧紧夹住，以便使其肝的体积宽大，利
于制作肝酱。
4. a sense of injury grows on me：我心里不禁产生一种受伤的感觉。
5. tethered me to：把我局限在。
6. foul and sooty air：乌烟瘴气。
7. the Strand：伦敦的河滨马路。
8. it clamors for：它（剧院）吵吵嚷嚷地要求。此处指剧院老向萧・
伯纳索要剧本之类。
9. a man fighting a windmill：一个向风车挑战的人。典出西班牙塞
万提斯的《堂・吉诃德》。该书主人翁自认为骑侠，把风车当成敌人并
与之作战。
10. I have hardly time to stagger to my feet：我还摇摇晃晃地没有来
得及站稳脚跟。
11. For just consider my position：请想想我现在的处境吧。
12. spontaneous recognition：自然流露出的赏识、承认。
13. prodigies of skill and industry I lavish on：我的超凡绝技和我耗费
在……之上的辛劳。
14. unprecedented pertinacity and obstination：前所未有的坚毅、执着
精神。
15. dinning into the public head：喋喋不休地向公众灌输。 乔
16. dodder and dote：步履蹒跚，老眼昏花。 治
・
17. potboil：粗制滥造。 伯
18. the butt and chopping - block：笑柄和攻击对象。 纳
・
19. but my reputation shall not suffer：但是我的声望不容受损。注 萧
303
英 意 shall 的用法。 shall not 不容许。
文 20. congenitally：天生地。
名
21. cannot stand me any longer：再也忍受不了我了。
篇
鉴 22. Shakespeareans：莎士比亚的崇拜者们；莎士比亚研究者们。
赏 23. William：指威廉・莎士比亚。
金 24. vegetarian：素食者。
库
25. it serves him right：他活该。
26. lasting out the night：熬过这个晚上。
27. lingering moribundity：行将病逝。
28. there are as good fish in the sea as ever came out of it：海里的大鱼
古今都有。（江山代有才人出。 ）

304
George Orwell
乔治・奥威尔
（1903 ～ 1950）

20 世纪英国著名小说家、散文家、社会评论家
和政治讽刺作家埃里克・布莱尔（Eric Blair）的笔名。
他出生于孟加拉，幼年时被带回英国并受教于伊顿
公学。从 1922 年至 1927 年奥威尔在驻缅甸的印度
皇家警察部队服役，这段经历反映在他的小说《缅甸
（Burmese Days，1934）中。随后奥威尔返回欧
岁月》
洲大陆，先后在巴黎和伦敦干苦活，写了《巴黎伦敦
落魄 记》
（Down and Out in Paris and London ，1933）。
西班牙内战爆发后，他自愿参加了政府军的反法西
斯战争，在战斗中身负重伤，之后写出了《敬礼！加
（Homage to Catalonia ，1938），在书中宣称
泰罗尼亚》
自己是民主社会主义者。第二次世界大战期间，奥
威尔先后在英国广播公司印度部和工党左翼《论坛
报》工作，成为多产的新闻记者和文艺评论作家。
奥威尔最著名的两部政治讽刺小说均出版于
40 年代，它们是《兽园》 （又译《动物庄园》） （Animal
Farm，1945）和 幻 想 小 说《1984 年》 （又 译《回 顾》）
（Nineteen Eighty-Four ，
1949），后者描写了一个过度集
权的社会如何歪曲真相和不断地改写历史，以及人 乔
在这样社会中的命运。 治
本文写于 1946 年，选自奥威尔的散文集《猎象
・
奥
记》
（Shooting an Elephant and Other Essays，
1950）。 威
尔
305
英
文
名 Politics and the English Language
篇
鉴 政治与英语
赏
金
库
【作品赏析】
素以写政治讽刺小说闻名的乔治・奥威尔在散文方面也有精彩
之作。本文和其自传体散文《猎象记》都是范例，常被选入英美大学
教材中。
在《政治与英语》这个醒目的标题下面，作者旁征博引，力证腐败
的政治必然产生腐败的语言———甚至名人的作品也难逃这种污染。
虽然有的人认为把语言的蜕变现象完全归咎于政治原因未免过于片
面和简单化，还有人指摘奥威尔在论证过程中常常偏离主题，但他自
有他的道理。通观此文，人们不得不承认作者的每一个论点都有大
量的实例来支撑，每一个小标题、每一个自然段的过渡都是合情合理
的。全文一气呵成，说理透辟，当中不乏新颖的比喻和强劲的逻辑力
量，要驳倒它是很不容易的。
奥威尔反复强调：今天的英语———不管是书面语还是口语———
已经被各种空洞无物、晦涩难懂的陈词滥调糟踏得不成样子了，即使
是讲话人本身也常常无法弄清自己究竟在说些什么。唤起全民族的
危机感和责任感，这就是全文的精髓。这无异是向他的同胞们大声
疾呼：
“救救英语！不要再自欺欺人了！
”
为祖国语言的纯洁化而斗争！这不仅是英语国家人民的任务，
也是世界所有民族的任务。
最后，奥威尔为医治语言腐败症开的种种药方，如绝不使用别人
用过的隐喻、暗喻和其他修辞格；能用短词时决不用长词；能省一个
字就决不保留它；能用主动语态绝不要用被动语态；能用日常英语词
汇就不要用同义的外来词、科学术语或行话等，这些都对我们有很大
的启发。
（龚登墉）

【作品欣赏】
Most people who bother with the matter at all would abmit
306
that the English language is in a bad way，but it is generally as-
sumed that we cannot by conscious action do anything about it .
Our civilization is decadent and our language— so the argument
runs—must inevitably share in the general collapse . It follows that
any struggle against the abuse of language is a sentimental ar-
chaism，like preferring candles to electric light or hansom cabs to
aeroplanes. 1 Underneath this lies the half-conscious belief that
language is a natural growth and not an instrument which we shape
for our own purposes .
Now，it is clear that the decline of a language must ultimately
have political and economic cause：it is not due simply to the bad
influence of this or that individual writer . But an effect can be-
come a cause，reinforcing the original cause and producing the
same effect in an intensified form，and so on indefinitely. A man
may take to drink because he feels himself to be a failure，and
then fail all the more completely because he drinks . It is rather
the same thing that is happening to the English language . It be-
comes ugly and inaccurate because our thoughts are foolish，but
the slovenliness of our language makes it easier for us to have fool-
ish thoughts . The point is that the process is reversible . Modern
English，especially written English，is full of bad habits which
spread by imitation and which can be avoided if one is willing to
take the necessary trouble . If one gets rid of these habits one can
think more clearly，and to think clearly is a necessary first step to-
wards political regeneration2 ：so that the fight against bad English
is not frivolous and is not the exclusive concern of professional
writers . I will come back to this presently，and I hope that by that
time the meaning of what I have said here will have become clear- 乔
治
er . Meanwhile，here are five specimens of the English language as ・
奥
it is now habitually written . 威
These five passages have not been picked out because they 尔
307
英 are especially bad— I could have quoted far worse if I had cho-
文
名 sen—but because they illustrate various of the mental vices from
篇 which we now suffer . They are a little below the average，but are
鉴 fairly representative samples . I number them so that I can refer
赏
金 back to them when necessary：
库 “（1）I am not，indeed，sure whether it is not true to say that
the Milton who once seemed not unlike a seventeenth-century
Shelley had not become，out of an experience ever more bitter in
each year，more alien［sic］to the founder of that Jesuit sect which
nothing could induce him to tolerate .”
Professor Harold Laski（Essay in Freedom of Expression）3 .

“（2）Above all，we cannot play ducks and drakes with a na-

tive battery of idioms which prescribes such egregious collocations
of vocables as the Basic put up with for tolerate or put at a loss
for bewilder .”
Professor Lancelot Hogben（Interglossa）. 4

“（3）On the one side we have the free personality：by defini-

tion it is not neurotic，for it has neither conflict nor dream. Its de-
sires，such as they are，are transparent，for they are just what insti-
tutional approval keeps in the forefront of consciousness；another
institutional pattern would alter their number and intensity；there is
little in them that is natural，irreducible，or culturally dangerous .
But on the other side，the social bond itself is nothing but the mu-
tual reflection of these self-secure integrities . Recall the definition
of love . Is not this the very picture of a small academic？Where is
there a place in this hall of mirrors for either personality or frater-
nity？ ”
Essay on psychology in Politics （New York）. 5

308
 “（4）All the ‘best people’from the gentlemen’s clubs，and
all the frantic fascist captains，united in common hatred of Social-
ism and bestial horror of the rising tide of the mass revolutionary
movement，have turned to acts of provocation，to foul incendi-
arism，to medieval legends of poisoned wells，to legalize their own
destruction of proletarian organizations，and rouse the agitated pet-
ty-bourgeoisie to chauvinistic fervour on behalf of the fight against
the revolutionary way out of the crisis .”
Communist pamphlet . 6

“（5）If a new spirit is to be infused into this old country，

there is one thorny and contentious reform which must be tackled，
and that is the humanization and galvanization of the B. B. C.
Timidity here will bespeak cancer and atrophy of the soul . The
heart of Britain may be sound and of strong beat，for instance，but
the British lion’s roar at present is like that of Bottom in Shake-
speare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream— as gentle as any sucking
dove . A virile new Britain cannot continue indefinitely to be tra-
duced in the eyes or rather ears，of the world by the effete languors
of Langham Place，brazenly masquerading as ‘standard English’.
When the Voice of Britain is heard at nine o’clock，better far and
infinitely less ludicrous to hear aitches honestly dropped than the
present priggish inflated，inhibited，school-ma’arnish arch braying
of blameless bashful mewing maidens！ ”
Letter in Tribune . 7

Each of these passages has faults of its own，but，quite apart

from avoidable ugliness，two qualities are common to all of them. 乔
治
The first is staleness of imagery：the other is lack of precision . The ・
奥
writer either has a meaning and cannot express it，or he inadver- 威
tently says something else，or he is almost indifferent as to whether 尔
309
英 his words mean anything or not . This mixture of vagueness and
文
sheer incompetence is the most marked characteristic of modern
名
篇 English prose，and especially of any kind of political writing. As
鉴 soon as certain topics are raised，the concrete melts into the ab-
赏
金 stract and no one seems able to think of turns of speech that are
库 not hackneyed：prose consists less and less of words chosen for the
sake of their meaning，and more and more of phrases tacked to-
gether like the sections of a prefabricated hen-house . I list below，
with notes and examples，various of the tricks by means of which
the work of prose-construction is habitually dodged：

Dying Metaphors

A newly invented metaphor assists thought by evoking a visu-

al image，while on the other hand a metaphor which is technically
“dead” （e . g. iron resolution）has in effect reverted to being an or-
dinary word and can generally be used without loss of vividness .
But in between these two classes there is a huge dump of worn-out
metaphors which have lost all evocative power and are merely used
because they save people the trouble of inventing phrases for
themselves. Examples are：Ring the changes on ，take up the cud-
gels for ，toe the line，ride roughshod over ，stand shoulder to shoul-
der with ，play into the hands of，no axe to grind ，grist to the mill ，
fishing in troubled waters，on the order of the day，Achilles’ heel ，
swan song ，hotbed . Many of these are used without knowledge of
their meaning（what is a “rift”，for instance？ ），and incompatible
metaphors are frequently mixed，a sure sign that the writer is not
interested in what he is saying. Some metaphors now current have
been twisted out of their original meaning without those who use
them even being aware of the fact . For example，toe the line is
sometimes written tow the line . Another example is the hammer
310
and the anvil ，now always used with the implication that the anvil
gets the worst of it . In real life it is always the anvil that breaks
the hammer，never the other way about：a writer who stopped to
think what he was saying would be aware of this，and would avoid
perverting the original phrase8 .

Operators or Verbal False Limbs

These save the trouble of picking out appropriate verbs and

nouns，and at the same time pad each sentence with extra syllables
which give it an appearance of symmetry9 . Characteristic phrases
are：render inoperative，militate against ，make contact with ，be
subjected to，give rise to，give grounds for ，have the effect of，play
a leading part （role） in ，make itself felt ，take effect ，exhibit a
tendency to，serve the purpose of，etc . ，etc . The keynote is the e-
limination of simple verbs . 10 Instead of being a single word，such
as break，stop，spoil ，mend ，kill ，a verb becomes a phrase，made
up of a noun or adjective tacked on to some general-purposes verb
such as prove，serve，form，play，render . In addition，the passive
voice is wherever possible used in preference to the active，and
noun constructions are used instead of gerunds（by examination of
instead of by examining）. The range of verbs is further cut down
by means of the - ize and de- formation，and the banal statements
are given an appearance of profundity by means of the not un- for-
mation . Simple conjunctions and prepositions are replaced by such
phrases as with respect to，having regard to，the fact that ，by dint
of，in view of，in the interests of，on the hypothesis that ；and the
ends of sentences are saved from anticlimax by such resounding 乔
治
commonplaces as greatly to be desired ，cannot be left out of ac- ・
奥
count ，a development to be expected in the near future，deserving of 威
serious consideration ，brought to a satisfactory conclusion ，and so 尔
311
英 on and so forth .
文
名
篇 Pretentious Diction
鉴
赏
金 Words like phenomenon ，element ，individual （as noun），ob-
库
jective，categorical ，effective，virtual ，basic，primary，promote，con-
stitute，exhibit ，exploit ，utilize，eliminate，liquidate，are used to
dress up simple statements and give an air of scientific impartiality
to biased judgments . Adjectives like epoch-making ，epic，his-
toric，unforgettable，triumphant ，age-old ，inevitable，inexorable，
veritable，are used to dignify the sordid processes of international
politics，while writing that aims at glorifying war usually takes on
an archaic colour，its characteristic words being： ‘realm，throne，
chariot ，mailed fist ，trident ，sword ，shield ，buckler ，banner ，jack-
boot ，clarion . Foreign words and expressions such as cul de sac，
ancien régime，deus ex machina ，mutatis mutandis，status quo，
gleichschaltung ，weltanschauung ，are used to give an air of culture
and elegance . Except for the useful abbreviations i . e . ，e . g. ，and
etc . ，there is no real need for any of the hundreds of foreign
phrases now current in English . Bad writers，and especially scien-
tific，political and sociological writers，are nearly always haunted
by the notion that Latin or Greek words are grander than Saxon
ones，and unnecessary words like expedite，ameliorate，predict ，ex-
traneous，deracinated ，clandestine，subaqueous and hundreds of
others constantly gain ground from their Anglo-Saxon opposite
numbers .  The jargon peculiar to Marxist writing（hyena ，hang-
man，cannibal ，petty bourgeois，these gentry，lacquey，flunkey，

 An interesting illustration of this is the way in which the English flower names
which were in use till very recently are being ousted by Greek ones，snapdragon becoming
antirrhinum，forget-me-not becoming myosotis，etc. It is hard to see any practical reason
for this change of fashion：it is probably due to an instinctive turning-away from the more
homely word and a vague feeling that the Greek word is scientific［Orwell’s note］.

312
mad dog ，White Guard ，etc .）consists largely of words and phras-
es translated from Russian，German or French；but the normal way
of coining a new word is to use a Latin or Greek root with the ap-
propriate affix and，where necessary，the - ize formation . It is often
easier to make up words of this kind （deregionalize，impermissi-
ble，extramarital ，nonfragmentatory and so forth）than to think up
the English words that will cover one’s meaning. The result，in
general，is an increase in slovenliness and vagueness .

Meaningless Words

In certain kinds of writing，particularly in art criticism and

literary criticism，it is normal to come across long passages which
are almost completely lacking in meaning.  Words like romantic，
plastic，values，human ，dead ，sentimental ，natural ，vitality，as
used in art criticism，are strictly meaningless in the sense that they
not only do not point to any discoverable object，but are hardly ev-
er expected to do so by the reader . When one critic writes，“The
outstanding feature of Mr . X’s work is its living quality”，while
another writes， “The immediately striking thing about Mr . X’s
work is its peculiar deadness”，the reader accepts this as a simple
difference of opinion . If words like black and white were in-
volved，instead of the jargon words dead and living ，he would see
at once that language was being used in an improper way. Many
political words are similarly abused . The word Fascism has now
no meaning except in so far as it signifies “something not desir-
able”. The words democracy，socialism，freedom，patriotic，realis-
乔
 Example：“Comfort’s catholicity of perception and image，strangely Whit- 治
manesque in range，almost the exact opposite in aesthetic compulsion，continues to evoke ・
that trembling atmospheric accumulative hinting at a cruel，an inexorably serene time- 奥
lessness. . . Wrey Gardiner scores by aiming at simple bull’s-eyes with precision . Only 威
they are not so simple，and through this contented sadness runs more than the surface bit-
（Poetry Quarterly）
tersweet of resignation” ［Orwell’s note］. 尔
313
英 tic，justice，have each of them several different meanings which
文
cannot be reconciled with one another . In the case of a word like
名
篇 democracy，not only is there no agreed definition，but the attempt
鉴 to make one is resisted from all sides . It is almost universally felt
赏
金 that when we call a country democratic we are praising it：conse-
库 quently the defenders of every kind of régime claim that it is a
democracy，and fear that they might have to stop using the word if
it were tied down to any one meaning. Words of this kind are of-
ten used in a consciously dishonest way. That is，the person who
uses them has his own private definition，but allows his hearer to
think he means something quite different . Statements like Marshal
Pétain was a true patriot ， The Soviet Press is the freest in the
world ，the Catholic Church is opposed to persecution ，are almost al-
ways made with intent to deceive . Other words used in variable
meanings，in most cases more or less dishonestly，are：class，totali-
tarian ，science，progressive，reactionary，bourgeois，equality .
Now that I have made this catalogue of swindles and perver-
，
sions let me give another example of the kind of writing that they
lead to. This time it must of its nature be an imaginary one . I am
going to translate a passage of good English into modern English of
the worst sort . Here is a well-known verse from Ecclesiastes：
“I returned and saw under the sun，that the race is not to the
swift，nor the battle to the strong，neither yet bread to the wise，nor
yet riches to men of understanding，nor yet favour to men of skill；
but time and chance happeneth to them all .”
Here it is in modern English：
“Objective consideration of contemporary phenomena compels
the conclusion that success or failure in competitive activities ex-
hibits no tendency to be commensurate with innate capacity，but
that a considerable element of the unpredictable must invariably be
taken into account .”
314
 This is a parody，but not a very gross one . Exhibit（3），
above，for instance，contains several patches of the same kind of
English . It will be seen that I have not made a full translation .
The beginning and ending of the sentence follow the original
meaning fairly closely，but in the middle the concrete illustra-
tions —race，battle，bread— dissolve into the vague phrase “suc-
cess or failure in competitive activities”. This had to be so，be-
cause no modern writer of the kind I am discussing— no one capa-
ble of using phrases like “objective consideration of contemporary
phenomena”— would ever tabulate his thoughts in that precise and
detailed way11 . The whole tendency of modern prose is away from
concreteness . Now analyse these two sentences a little more close-
ly. The first contains forty-nine words but only sixty syllables，and
all its words are those of everyday life . The second contains thirty-
eight words of ninety syllables：eighteen of its words are from Latin
roots，and one from Greek . The first sentence contains six vivid
images，and only one phrase（“time and chance”）that could be
called vague . The second contains not a single fresh，arresting
phrase，and in spite of its ninety syllables it gives only a shortened
version of the meaning contained in the first . Yet without a doubt
it is the second kind of sentence that is gaining ground in modern
English . I do not want to exaggerate . This kind of writing is not
yet universal，and outcrops of simplicity will occur here and there
in the worst-written page . Still，if you or I were told to write a few
lines on the uncertainty of human fortunes，we should probably
come much nearer to my imaginary sentence than to the one from
Ecclesiastes .
As I have tried to show，modern writing at its worst does not 乔
治
consist in picking out words for the sake of their meaning and in- ・
奥
venting images in order to make the meaning clearer . It consists in 威
gumming together long strips of words which have already been set 尔
315
英 in order by someone else，and making the results presentable by
文
sheer humbug. 12 The attraction of this way of writing is that it is
名
篇 easy. It is easier— even quicker，once you have the habit— to say
鉴 In my opinion it is a not unjustifiable assumption that than to say I
赏
金 think . If you use ready-made phrases，you not only don’t have to
库 hunt about for words；you also don’t have to bother with the
rhythms of your sentences，since these phrases are generally so ar-
ranged as to be more or less euphonious . When you are composing
in a hurry— when you are dictating to a stenographer，for instance，
or making a public speech— it is natural to fall into a pretentious，
Latinized style . Tags like a consideration which we should do well
to bear in mind or a conclusion to which all of us would readily as-
sent will save many a sentence from coming down with a bump . 13
By using stale metaphors，similes and idioms，you save much men-
tal effort，at the cost of leaving your meaning vague，not only for
your reader but for yourself. This is the significance of mixed
metaphors . 14 The sole aim of a metaphor is to call up a visual im-
age. When these images clash— as in The Fascist octopus has
sung its swan song ，the jackboot is thrown into the melting pot — it
can be taken as certain that the writer is not seeing a mental image
of the objects he is naming；in other words he is not really think-
ing. Look again at the examples I gave at the beginning of this es-
say. Professor Laski（1）uses five negative in fifty-three words .
One of these is superfluous，making nonsense of the whole pas-
sage，and in addition there is the slip alien for akin，making fur-
ther nonsense，and several avoidable pieces of clumsiness which
increase the general vagueness . Professor Hogben（2）plays ducks
and drakes with a battery which is able to write prescriptions，and，
while disapproving of the everyday phrase put up with ，is unwilling
to look egregious up in the dictionary and seewhat it means . （3），
if one takes an uncharitable attitude towards it，is simply meaning-
316
less：probably one could work out its intended meaning by reading
the whole of the article in which it occurs . In （4），the writer
knows more or less what he wants to say，but an accumulation of
stale phrases chokes him like tea leaves blocking a sink . In（5），
words and meaning have almost parted company. People who write
in this manner usually have a general emotional meaning— they
dislike one thing and want to express solidarity with another— but
they are not interested in the detail of what they are saying. A
scrupulous writer，in every sentence that he writes，will ask him-
self at least four questions，thus：What am I trying to say？What
words will express it？What image or idiom will make it clearer？Is
this image fresh enough to have an effect？And he will probably
ask himself two more：Could I put it more shortly？Have I said
anything that is avoidably ugly？But you are not obliged to go to
all this trouble . You can shirk it by simply throwing your mind
open and letting the ready-made phrases come crowding in . They
will construct your sentences for you— even think your thoughts for
you，to a certain extent— and at need they will perform the impor-
tant service of partially concealing your meaning even from your-
self. It is at this point that the special connection between politics
and the debasement of language becomes clear .
In our time it is broadly true that political writing is bad writ-
ing. Where it is not true，it will generally be found that the writer
is some kind of rebel，expressing his private opinions and not a
“party line”. Orthodoxy，of whatever colour，seems to demand a
lifeless，imitative style . The political dialects to be found in pam-
phlets，leading articles，manifestos，White Papers and the speeches
of under-secretaries do，of course，vary from party to party，but 乔
治
they are all alike in that one almost never finds in them a fresh， ・
奥
vivid，home-made turn of speech . When one watches some tired 威
hack15 on the platform mechanically repeating the familiar phras- 尔
317
英 es— bestial atrocities，iron heel ，bloodstained tyranny，free peoples
文
名 of the world ，stand shoulder to shoulder — one often has a curious
篇 feeling that one is not watching a live human being but some kind
鉴 of dummy：a feeling which suddenly becomes stronger at moments
赏
金 when the light catches the speaker’s spectacles and turns them in-
库 to blank discs which seem to have no eyes behind them. And this
is not altogether fanciful . A speaker who uses that kind of phrase-
ology has gone some distance towards turning himself into a ma-
chine . The appropriate noises are coming out of his larynx，but his
brain is not involved as it would be if he were choosing his words
for himself. If the speech he is making is one that he is accus-
tomed to make over and over again，he may be almost unconscious
of what he is saying，as one is when one utters the responses in
church . And this reduced state of consciousness，if not indispens-
able，is at any rate favourable to political conformity.
In our time，political speech and writing are largely the de-
fence of the indefensible16 . Things like the continuance of British
rule in India，the Russian purges and deportations，the dropping of
the atom bombs on Japan，can indeed be defended，but only by ar-
guments which are too brutal for most people to face，and which do
not square with the professed aims of political parties . Thus politi-
cal language has to consist largely of euphemism，question-beg-
ging17 and sheer cloudy vagueness . Defenceless villages are bom-
barded from the air，the inhabitants driven out into the country-
side，the cattle machine-gunned，the huts set on fire with incendi-
ary bullets：this is called pacification . Millions of peasants are
robbed of their farms and sent trudging along the roads with no
more than they can carry：this is called transfer of population or
rectification of frontiers . People are imprisoned for years without
trial，or shot in the back of the neck or sent to die of scurvy in
Arctic lumber camps：this is called elimination of unreliable ele-
318
ments. Such phraseology is needed if one wants to name things
without calling up mental pictures of them. Consider for instance
some comfortable English professor defending totalitarianism. He
cannot say outright，“I believe in killing off your opponents when
you can get good results by doing so.”Probably，therefore，he will
say something like this：
“While freely conceding that the Soviet régime exhibits cer-
tain features which the humanitarian may be inclined to deplore，
we must，I think，agree that a certain curtailment of the right to
political opposition is an unavoidable concomitant of transitional
periods，and that the rigours which the Russian people have been
called to upon undergo have been amply justified in the sphere of
concrete achievement .”
The inflated style is itself a kind of euphemism. A mass of
Latin words falls upon the facts like soft snow，blurring the outlines
and covering up all the details . The great enemy of clear language
is insincerity. When there is a gap between one’s real and one’s
declared aims，one turns as it were instinctively to long words and
exhausted idioms，like a cuttlefish squirting out ink . In our age
there is no such thing as“keeping out of politics”. All issues are
political issues，and politics itself is a mass of lies，evasions，folly，
hatred and schizophrenia18 . When the general atmosphere is bad，
language must suffer . I should expect to find— this is a guess
which I have not sufficient knowledge to verify— that the German，
Russian and Italian languages have all deteriorated in the last ten
or fifteen years，as a result of dictatorship .
But if thought corrupts language，language can also corrupt
thought. A bad usage can spread by tradition and imitation，even 乔
治
among people who should and do know better . The debased lan- ・
奥
guage that I have been discussing is in some ways very conve- 威
nient . Phrases like a not unjustifiable assumption ，leaves much to 尔
319
英 be desired ，would serve no good purpose，a consideration which we
文
名 should do well to bear in mind ，are a continuous temptation，a
篇 packet of aspirins always at one’s elbow19 . Look back through this
鉴 essay，and for certain you will find that I have again and again
赏
金 committed the very faults I am protesting against . By this morn-
库 ing’s post I have received a pamphlet dealing with conditions in
Germany. The author tells me that he“felt impelled”to write it .
I open it at random，and here is almost the first sentence that I
see：“（The Allies）have an opportunity not only of achieving a rad-
ical transformation of Germany’s social and political structure in
such a way as to avoid a nationalistic reaction in Germany itself，
but at the same time of laying the foundations of a co-operative
and unified Europe .”You see，he“feels impelled”to write— feels，
presumably，that he has something new to say— and yet his words，
like cavalry horses answering the bugle，group themselves automat-
ically into the familiar dreary pattern . This invasion of one’s mind
by ready-made phrases （lay the foundations，achieve a radical
transformation）can only be prevented if one is constantly on guard
against them，and every such phrase anaesthetizes a portion of
one’s brain .
I said earlier that the decadence of our language is probably
curable . Those who deny this would argue，if they produced an ar-
gument at all，that language merely reflects existing social condi-
tions，and that we cannot influence its development by any direct
tinkering with words and constructions . 20 So far as the general tone
or spirit of a language goes，this may be true，but it is not true in
detail. Silly words and expressions have often disappeared，not
through any evolutionary process but owing to the conscious action
of a minority. Two recent examples were explore every avenue and
leave no stone unturned ，which were killed by the jeers of a few
journalists. There is a long list of flyblown metaphors21 which
320
could similarly be got rid of if enough people would interest them-
selves in the job；and it should also be possible to laugh the not
un-formation out of existence，  to reduce the amount of Latin and

Greek in the average sentence，to drive out foreign phrases and

strayed scientific words22 ，and，in general，to make pretentiousness
unfashionable . But all these are minor points . The defence of the
English language implies more than this，and perhaps it is best to
start by saying what it does not imply.
To begin with it has nothing to do with archaism，with the
salvaging of obsolete words and turns of speech，or with the setting
up of a“standard English”which must never be departed from. On
the contrary，it is especially concerned with the scrapping of every
word or idiom which has outworn its usefulness . It has nothing to
do with correct grammar and syntax，which are of no importance so
long as one make one’s meaning clear，or with the avoidance of
Americanisms，or with having what is called a“good prose style”.
On the other hand it is not concerned with fake simplicity and the
attempt to make written English colloquial . Nor does it even imply
in every case preferring the Saxon word to the Latin one，though it
does imply using the fewest and shortest words that will cover
one’s meaning. What is above all needed is to let the meaning
choose the word，and not the other way about . 23 In prose，the worst
thing one can do with words is to surrender to them. When you
think of a concrete object，you think wordlessly，and then，if you
want to describe the thing you have been visualizing you probably
hunt about till you find the exact words that seem to fit . When you
think of something abstract you are more inclined to use words
乔
from the start，and unless you make a conscious effort to prevent 治
・
奥
 One can cure oneself of the not unformation by memorizing this sentence：A not 威
unblack dog was chasing a not unsmall rabbit across a not ungreen field ［Orwell’s
note］. 尔
321
英 it，the existing dialect24 will come rushing in and do the job for
文
名 you，at the expense of blurring or even changing your meaning.
篇 Probably it is better to put off using words as long as possible and
鉴 get one’s meaning as clear as one can through pictures or sensa-
赏
金 tions . Afterwards one can choose— not simply accept— the phrases
库 that will best cover the meaning，and then switch round and decide
what impression one’s words are likely to make on another per-
son . This last effort of the mind cuts out all stale or mixed im-
ages ，all prefabricated phrases，needless repetitions，and humbug
and vagueness generally. But one can often be in doubt about the
effect of a word or a phrase，and one needs rules that one can rely
on when instinct fails . I think the following rules will cover most
cases：
（i）Never use a metaphor，simile or other figure of speech
which you are used to seeing in print .
（ii）Never use a long word where a short one will do.
（iii）If it is possible to cut a word out，always cut it out .
（iv）Never use the passive where you can use the active .
（v）Never use a foreign phrase，a scientific word or a jargon
word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent .
（vi）Break any of these rules sooner than say anything out-
right barbarous . 25
These rules sound elementary，and so they are，but they de-
mand a deep change of attitude in anyone who has grown used to
writing in the style now fashionable . One could keep all of them
and still write bad English，but one could not write the kind of
stuff that I quoted in those five specimens at the beginning of this
article .
I have not here been considering the literary use of language，
but merely language as an instrument for expressing and not for
concealing or preventing thought . Stuart Chase26 and others have
322
come near to claiming that all abstract words are meaningless，and
have used this as a pretext for advocating a kind of political qui-
etism27. Since you don’t know what Fascism is，how can you
struggle against Fascism？One need not swallow such absurdities
as this，but one ought to recognize that the present political chaos
is connected with the decay of language，and that one can probably
bring about some improvement by starting at the verbal end28 . If
you simplify your English，you are freed from the worst follies of
orthodoxy29 . You cannot speak any of the necessary dialects， 30

and when you make a stupid remark its stupidity will be obvious，
even to yourself. Political language— and with variations this is
true of all political parties，from Conservatives to Anarchists— is
designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable，and
to give an appearance of solidity to pure mind31 . One cannot
change this all in a moment，but one can at least change one’s
own habits，and from time to time one can even，if one jeers loudly
enough，send some worn-out and useless phrase— some jackboot ，
Achilles’ heel ，hotbed ，melting pot ，acid test ，veritable inferno or
other lump of verbal refuse32 into the dustbin where it belongs .

1. It follows that any struggle… to electric light or hansom cabs to aero-

planes：按照这种说法，任何反对滥用语言的斗争都是感情用事的复
古主义，就正如弃电灯不用而用蜡烛，或弃飞机不用而用旧式马车一
样。这里的 sentimental archaism 是指对旧标准、旧风俗、旧的行为准则
的不合时宜的依恋。
2. political regeneration：政治上的新生。
3. 第一个例子选自哈罗德・拉斯基教授（Professor Harold Laski，
1893 ～ 1950）的散文《表达自由》 （Freedom of Expression）。这位英国工
党的著名理论家和经济学家想表达的意思是：
“我认为可以说曾经像 乔
是 17 世纪的雪莱的弥尔顿已经变得更像他所痛恨的耶稣会创始人 治
了。
”由于他在这个长句子中使用了转弯抹角的手法，又连续用否定
・
奥
来表达肯定意思，已使这个句子十分难懂，再加上他用了一个错字 威
（alien 应为 akin），读者就更如堕烟雾之中了。 尔
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英 4. 第二个例子出自兰斯洛特・霍格本教授（Professor Lancelot Hog-
文 ben，
1895 ～ 1975）的《辩舌》
（Interglossa）一文。霍格本是英国动物学
名 家、语言学家，有不少科普文集。他在这里反对使用浅显易懂的英国
篇
鉴 动词成语，而主张使用晦涩的拉丁文词语。奥威尔在本文中指出：他
赏 所使用的比喻滑稽可笑，而且连 egregious 一词的基本含义都弄错了。
金 5. 第三个例子摘自纽约《政治》杂志（Politics）上的一篇心理学论
库
文，是玩弄抽象概念、使读者不知所云这一坏文风的典型。如果我们
强猜硬凑，可以模模糊糊地捉摸作者的意思是：
“一般正常人的愿望
容易理解，因为这是长期形成的社会行为准则在人们头脑中的反映。
人与人的关系不是别的，而正是受这些准则支配的相互行为，它们建
立在一种牢固的、准确无误的道德准绳上。
”
6. 第四个例子选自一本宣传共产主义思想的小册子。这段文字
的大意是： “上流社会和法西斯头目们被他们对社会主义的仇恨和对
群众运动的恐惧捆到一起了。为了反对为摆脱社会危机而进行的革
命，
他们在无产阶级组织之间极尽挑拨之能事，或进行蛊惑式的宣
传，
或煽动狂热的小资产阶级的沙文主义 情 绪，如 此 等 等，不 一 而
足。
”从字面上来看，作者的意思是清楚的，但由于大量使用套语陈
词，以文害意，结果适得其反。
7. 第五个例子是发表在英国《论坛报》
（Tribune）上的一封读者来
信中的一段话。这位读者在信中报怨说：BBC 娇气十足的柔弱声音
实在与英国雄狮的强大国力不相称，如果英国要刷新面目，就必须改
变这种现状。但是他在发表这一番议论时玩弄词藻，弄巧成拙，使读
者被搞得头昏脑胀。
8. avoid perverting the original phrase：避免歪曲词组的原意。
9. give it an appearance of symmetry：赋予它（指这个句子）一种外形
上的对称美。
10. The keynote is the elimination of simple verbs：其要害是弃简单动
词于不用。
11. no modern writer of the kind I am discussing. . . would ever tabulate
his thoughts in that precise and detailed way：在我此刻所谈论的这类现代
作家中……没有人会以那种准确而具体的方式来表达自己的思想。
注意 tabulate 这个词的字面意义是“列表显示”，奥威尔在这里把它用
活了。
12. It consists in gumming together long strips of words which have al-
ready been set in order by someone else，and making the results presentable by
324
sheer humbug：它（指现代的劣质文章）只不过是把一串串早已由他人
编排好了的套语拼凑在一起了，面子上堂堂皇皇，其实空洞无物。
13. Tags like. . . will save many a sentence from coming down with a
bump：诸如……这类的结语可以防止很多句子显得有头无尾。 come
down with a bump：突然下落；突然结尾。
14. This is the significance of mixed metaphors：这就是前后不一致的
隐喻所造成的严重后果。注意 significance 一词在这里带有贬义。
15. tired hack：没精打彩的雇佣文人。
16. the defence of the indefensible：强词夺理。
17. question-begging：用未经证明的假定来进行的辩论。
18. schizophrenia：精神分裂症。
19. a packet of aspirins always at one’s elbow：一袋随手可取的阿斯
匹林药片；它是 continuous temptation（一种持续的诱惑力）的同位语。
现代医学认为阿斯匹林有防治心血管病症、癌症等多种用途，因此很
多西方人 都 长 期 服 用 它，久 而 久 之 就 上 了 瘾，所 以 一 见 到 就 想 取
来吃。
20. . . . we cannot influence its development by any direct tinkering with
words and constructions：……我们无法用直接在词语上小修小补的办
法来影响它（指语言）的发展。
21. flyblown metaphors：过时的，已经被用滥了的隐喻。注意这个
词组 本 身 就 包 含 着 一 个 隐 喻——— flyblown 的 原 意 是“沾 满 蝇 卵
（屎）的”。
22. strayed scientific words：不应该进入日常生活用语的科学术语。
stray 一词在这里的含意是“偏离正道”。
23. What is above all needed is to let the meaning choose the word，and
not the other way about：最需要做的是以意造词，而绝不能走到相反的
方向上去（即以词害意）。
24. the existing dialect：现成的老一套用语。
25. Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous：
宁可打破这些规则中的任何一条，也不违背坚持写地道的现代英语
的大原则。 outright barbarous：完全不规范的（英语）。 乔
26. Stuart Chase：斯图尔特・蔡斯。 治
27. political quietism：政治寂静主义，一种在任何政治状态下都保
・
奥
持清静无力、不进行抗争的主张。 威
28. starting at the verbal end：从正确的用词开始。 尔
325
英 29. you are freed from the worst follies of orthodoxy：你就摆脱了传统
文 习俗中那种乱用词藻的最愚蠢行为。
名
30. You cannot speak any of the necessary dialects：你不能讲任何一种
篇
鉴 言不由衷的套语。 necessary 一词在这里有“非自愿”、 “被迫的”这种
赏 意思。
金 31. to give an appearance of solidity to pure mind：给心地善良的人造
库
成一种讲实在话的表面印象。
32. other lump of verbal refuse：其 他 种 种 废 话；诸 如 此 类 的 废 话。
注意 lump 一词的贬义。

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