http://webwriter.blog.sohu.com/
所有的人都是平凡的，有些人因为知道了这个道理而成为了非凡的人。”
查斯特菲尔德勋爵Lord Chesterfield (1694–1773)，英国著名政治家、外交家及文学家，曾就读于剑桥大学，并游学欧洲大陆。1726年继承爵位，1728年出使荷兰，曾任爱尔兰总督及英国国务大臣等职位。他与同时代的文学家波普、艾略特、伏尔泰、斯威夫特等过从甚密。有《教子信札》(letters to son)传世,此书被誉为"培养绅士的教科书","英国的《傅雷家书》"。下面是三年前陈漠从《教子信札》中摘译的50句,曾经作为课堂练习发给了翻译课上的学生.查斯特菲尔德勋爵对其儿子的那种朋友般耐心引导的话语,虽然时过境迁,但今天读来也每每让陈漠感动,为那片即使显得有些圆滑和市侩的父爱.
21．目中无人.我一再同你讲到，风度的高雅，不仅完全不是目中无人，正如真正的勇敢不同于吹牛，真正的聪明不同于戏谑：而且二者之间毫无共通之处，因为没有比目中无人更能贬损一个人的人格了。This dignity of manners, which I recommend so much to you, is not only as different from pride, as true courage is from blustering, or true wit from joking; but is absolutely inconsistent with it; for nothing vilifies and degrades more than pride.
22．心不在焉.就我而言，我情愿陪伴一个死人，也不愿陪伴一个心不在焉的家伙。因为死人虽然不会使我快乐，但至少也不会显示出对我的轻视：而一个心不在焉的家伙，虽然他一言未发但却十分直白地表示出我根本不值得他重视。For my own part, I would rather be in company with a dead man, than with an absent one; for if the dead man gives me no pleasure; at least he shows me no contempt; whereas, the absent man, silently indeed, but very plainly, tells me that he does not think me worth his attention.
23．教育.我相信：人与人之间有天壤之别的根本原因，是教育而不是天生品质。I am convinced that education, more than nature, is the cause of that great difference which you see in the characters of men.
24．选择.普林尼留给世人一个惟一的选择：要么做些值得被载入史册的事情，要么写些值得被咀嚼品味的东西。Pliny leaves mankind this only alternative; either of doing what deserves to be written, or of writing whatdeserves to be read.
25．人.人的身体尽管一样，但其中的各个组成部分在每个人的身体上的比例大不相同，没有两个人一模一样，每个人在不同的年龄段也并非一成不变。最能干的人有时很软弱;最自豪的人有时很卑劣；最诚实的人有时会作恶;而最狡猾的人有时也会行善。Though men are all of one composition, the several ingredients are so differently proportioned in each individual that no two are exactly alike; and no one at all times like himself. The ablest man will sometimes do weak things; the proudest man, mean things; the honestest man, ill things; and the wickedest man, good ones.
26．过犹不及.人们说，每一种美德都有它同源的恶行；我确信，每一种享乐也有它邻近的耻辱。因此，必须小心注意二者之间的界线，宁可保留一码的距离，也不可超越一寸。Every virtue, they say, has its kindred vice; every pleasure, I am sure, has its neighboring disgrace. Mark carefully, therefore, the line that separates them, and rather step a yard short, than step an inch beyond it.
27．好好先生.一个年轻人如果没有自己的主意，无论别人要求什么事情都一一答应，尽管可以认为他脾气好，但同时也会被人们认为是一个十分愚蠢的年轻人。A young fellow who seems to have no will of his own, and who does everything that is asked of him, is called a very good-natured, but at the same time, is thought a very silly young fellow.
28.流星的消失.一个人如果没有扎扎实实地培养出名副其实的诚信、正直、谦和与道德高尚的性格，他涉世之初也许会引人注目，很短的时期内就像一颗流星那样发出光亮，但终将很快消失得无影无踪，在人们的轻视中尽失光芒。A man who does not solidly establish, and really deserve, a character of truth, probity, good manners, and good morals, at his first setting out in the world, may impose, and shine like a meteor for a very short time,but will very soon vanish, and be extinguished with contempt.
29．虚荣心.你必须十分注意提防虚荣心。虚荣心是无经验的年轻人的通病。尤其要提防那种使年轻人堕落为花花公子的虚荣心。虚荣心一旦产生，就难以消除，比一旦做了牧师再要还俗更难。Be extremely upon your guard against vanity, the common failing of inexperienced youth; but particularly against that kind of vanity that dubs a man a coxcomb; a character which, once acquired, is more indelible than that of the priesthood.
30．让享乐使你升华.享受青春的快乐，你正当其时，但须同一个有才华男子的身份相适应。让享乐使你升华，而不是沉沦：让享乐使你变得更高尚，而不是受玷污。总之，要作为一位绅士去享乐，至少同和你身份相等的人作伴，最好同比你更优秀的人(主要应是法国人)作伴。Enjoy the pleasures of youth, you cannot do better: but refine and dignify them like a man of parts; let them raise, and not sink; let them adorn and not vilify your character; let them, in short, be the pleasures of a gentleman, and taken with your equals at least, but rather with your superiors, and those chiefly French.
英语广场
