Translation (I)
In-class Practice 1
9/16/2014
Translate the following passages into Chinese.
1. The lives of most men are determined by their environment. They
accept the circumstances amid1 which fate has thrown them not only
with resignation2 but even with good will3. They are like streetcars
running contentedly on their rails and they despise the sprightly4
flivver5 that dashes6 in and out of the traffic and speeds so jauntily7
across the open country. I respect them; they are good citizens, good
husbands, and good fathers, and of course somebody has to pay the
taxes; but I do not find them exciting. I am fascinated by the men, few
enough in all conscience8, who take life in their own hands and seem
to mould9 it to their own liking. It may be that we have no such thing
as free will, but at all events10 we have the illusion of it. At a
cross-road it does seem to us that we might go either to the right or the
left and, the choice once made, it is difficult to see that the whole
course of the world’s history obliged11 us to take the turning we did.
--William S. Maugham
1
in the middle of; surrounded by; among.
an accepting, unresisting attitude, state, etc.
3
cheerful acquiescence or consent
4
in an animated, buoyant, lively manner
5
Older Slang. an automobile, esp. one that is small, inexpensive, and old
6
to move with violence; rush: to dash around the corner
7
jaunty: easy and sprightly in manner or bearing: to walk with a jaunty step
8
in (all) conscience: 1. in all reasonableness and fairness 2. beyond a doubt
9
to work into a required shape or form; shape
10
at all events: regardless of what happens; in any case
11
to require or constrain, as by law, conscience, or force
2