《富兰克林自传》中有用的英文表述小记

《自传》中有很多精彩的长句子，以及一些很实用的短语和谚语，故在读书时一一记录之。

This afterwards occasion'd me a good deal of uneasiness。   这后来使我处于尴尬的境地。Doing fitness afterwards made me stay health.

 I have since kept several Lents most strictly, leaving the common diet for that, and that for the common, abruptly, without the least inconvenience, so that I think there is little in the advice of making those changes by easy gradations. --自此之后我守了几个Lents(四旬斋），从普通饮食到素食，又从素食到普通饮食。如此突然的变换并没有什么不变。所以我认为那种要逐步过渡的建议没有什么道理。

以上翻译，主要是leaving ... for ...的意思要理解。以及there is little是指“没有”。少加了一个a就是没有，这种基础知识要牢固才看的懂。

More of him hereafter  关于他，以后会说更多

Mr. Hamilton and his son (it was James, since governor)  since governor是指“即后来的总督”

late general: late 做已故讲；late President Kennedy 已故总统肯尼迪

Mr. Denham contracted a friendship for me 与我结下了友谊

there was a secret scheme on foot to the prejudice of Hamilton  : 有一个侵害Hamilton的阴谋。

rubbed on from hand to mouth  : 仅能糊口的生活。from hand to mouth就是刚到手里就没了。

 This, however, he deemed a business below him  ：business below him 对他来说是高才低就

 he changed his name, and did me the honor to assume mine   ：did me the honor 赏光给我（冒用我的名字）

acquaint: 在此书中常被用指告知，通知的意思

furnish: 这个词出现频率很高。意为给某人提供。furnished me with several particulars relating to our ancestors.

having on his account lost her friends and business   因为他的原因，她失去了朋友和她的买卖。

advancing for the service of my own money, upwards of one thousand pounds sterling, of which I sent him an account -------account在这里做账单讲

notwithstanding the master's protection, I found myself oblig'd to comply and pay the money, convinc'd of the folly of being on ill terms with those one is to live with continually.  ---尽管有主人的保护，我发现自己还是被迫顺从并且交钱。我意识到与自己朝夕相处的人交恶是愚蠢的。注意分析the folly of xxx就是做XXX事是愚蠢的。 on ill terms with 就是交恶。

occasion在书中常用来做引起，导致的意思。eg：my uncommon quickness at composing occasioned my being put upon all work of dispatch, which was generally better paid

keeping good hours： 作息规律

In a garret of her house there lived a maiden lady of seventy, in the most retired manner, of whom my landlady gave me this account：xxx    --在房子的阁楼住着一位七十岁还保持处女之身的女士。她深居简出。我的房东太太告诉我关于她的一些事情：xxx 。 there lived: 那儿住着一位xxx  in  retired manner, 与世隔绝的 account这个词在书中多次用来做 xxx的原因讲。 这里用来做解释，说明

as near as might be done in those circumstances 在那种环境下尽力而为

how she, as she liv'd, could possibly find so much employment for a confessor?  不说could possibly find so much to confess, 而说find so much employment for a confessor.

draw in ,吸引某人干某事。

George Webb, an Oxford scholar, whose time for four years he had likewise bought, intending him for a compositor, of whom more presently ------likewise：同样地。即同上个人一样，George Webb的四年工期也是从一个船长那里买的。 of whom more presently ：关于此人还有更多叙述

keep his head much longer above water:   拉某人一把，不至于覆灭

notwithstanding the master's protection, I found myself oblig'd to comply and pay the money, convinc'd of the folly of being on ill terms with those one is to live with continually.  ---尽管有主人的保护，我发现自己还是被迫顺从并且交钱。我意识到与自己朝夕相处的人交恶是愚蠢的。注意分析the folly of xxx就是做XXX事是愚蠢的。 on ill terms with 就是交恶。

so that erratum was in some degree corrected -----in somedegree xxed. 

 the inhabitants of the city were deserting it one after another 城里的居民一个接一个地离开

 I was not above my business  -------我不是甩手掌柜

and I went on swimmingly.-------go on swimmingly  很顺利地，顺风顺水

lived some years in very poor circumstances------过了几年穷困潦倒的生活

at length ----在书中经常做“最终”讲

notwithstanding the master's protection, I found myself oblig'd to comply and pay the money, convinc'd of the folly of being on ill terms with those one is to live with continually.  ---尽管有主人的保护，我发现自己还是被迫顺从并且交钱。我意识到与自己朝夕相处的人交恶是愚蠢的。注意分析the folly of xxx就是做XXX事是愚蠢的。 on ill terms with 就是交恶。

parents and young persons are left destitute of other just means of estimating and becoming prepared for a reasonable course in life, your discovery that the thing is in many a man's private power, will be invaluable! -------destitute：贫乏、缺乏、贫穷    just：有“正确的，正义”的意思。父母和年轻人缺乏正确的评估和为合理的人生做好准备的方法。

关于Conduct的用法：

    1.man should arrange his conduct so as to suit the whole of a life   此处当“行为”讲。

    2.Such a conduct is easy for those who make virtue and themselves in countenance by examples of other truly great men, of whom patience is so often the characteristic---也当“行为”讲

    3. I had still an opinion of its propriety, and of its utility when rightly conducted , rightly conducted,译本翻译为“搞好了” ，适当地进行

 This style of writing seems a little gone out of vogue-----out of vogue 不时髦

Considering your great age,  ---great age：年事已高

with a personal application to your proper self.----your goodself /your proper self:敬称，足下，阁下，贵方

after having settled so many points in nature and politics  -------settle point这里当解决问题讲

As I have not read any part of the life in question, but know only the character that lived it, I write somewhat at hazard-----这里的question是指“被提及的”。the player we questioned is Mark Williams.我们提到的选手是M.W。somewhat的用法也值得学习。

Should they even prove unsuccessful in all that a sanguine admirer of yours hopes from them, you will at least have framed pieces to interest the human mind; and whoever gives a feeling of pleasure that is innocent to man, has added so much to the fair side of a life otherwise too much darkened by anxiety and too much injured by pain. In the hope, therefore, that you will listen to the prayer addressed to you in this letter, I beg to subscribe myself, my dearest sir, etc., etc.  ----这句话有几处值得学习：

    1， should they ....  即使如何如何

    2，whoever ..., do sth..  谁做了。。。，谁就。。。

    3，darkened by anxiety, injured by pain.

    4. in the hope that you will do sth  希望你能做...

    5. prayer,不是指祈祷者，而是指请求

6. subscribe myself，使我自己得到认可；subscribe做认可讲。例如I've personally neversubscribedto the view   我从不认可这种观点。注意和文中一样，view做观点讲

dispose，这个词看着眼熟却总是不知道什么意思。一个意思是处置，解决，另一个是使倾向于。例如dispose the nuclear wast,处理核废料。文中的even envy will be disposed to do you justice by plucking those assumed feathers, and restoring them to their right owner  即使嫉妒都倾向为你主持正义，拔掉那些假冒的羽毛，将荣耀归于应得者。assumed意为假冒。文中还有几处提到假冒的，后续再读到时加在这里

Seest thou a man diligent in his calling, he shall stand before kings, he shall not stand before mean men----可背诵。seest:古语，看见。calling，职业。

He that would thrive, must ask his wife----谚语，可背诵

And like him who, having a garden to weed, does not attempt to eradicate all the bad herbs at once, which would exceed his reach and his strength, but works on one of the beds at a time, and, having accomplish'd the first, proceeds to a second ----------也是he who/that的用法，指某人

 My conduct might be blameable, but I leave it, without attempting further to excuse it; my present purpose being to relate facts, and not to make apologies for them.---我的 行为 也许 该受 责难， 但我 随它去， 不做 进一步 的 辩解， 因为 我 眼下 的 目的 是 陈述 事实， 而 不是 替 它们 辩护。  ------leave it ,随它去；excuse it,为它辩解，找借口；后半句用being，而不用was，注意这种用法也通，虽然不太符合语法；relate有“陈述”的意思，不仅是联系的意思；注意本书也有用account做记述、陈述的地方

用来表示陈述、记述的单词：statement, address, account, relate, express, represent, allege, describe, 

I concluded, at length, that the mere speculative conviction that it was our interest to be completely virtuous, was not sufficient to prevent our slipping; and that the contrary habits must be broken, and good ones acquired and established, before we can have any dependence on a steady, uniform rectitude of conduct. -----------理解这句话的关键在于speculative和conviction。简单的翻译工具将speculative翻译为投机，实际上该词还有“思考的，推测的，揣摩的”意思；convition通常是指“定罪”，实际上还有“信念，说服”的意思。uniform也不是统一的意思，而是“始终如一”的意思

Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty.   ---wrong sb. 是伤害某人的意思。本书中看到两次用到；omitting the benefits that are your duty.----意思是不要对你应尽的义务熟视无睹，而不是放弃你的义务给你带来的好处。

Temperance----这个词经常出现，是指节制的意思。

moderation：温和，节制，克制；humility: 谦逊。 moderate的意思不是谦逊！错了好多年.modest才是谦逊。

my desire being to gain knowledge at the same time that I improv'd in virtue, and considering that in conversation it was obtain'd rather by the use of the ears than of the tongue, and therefore wishing to break a habit I was getting into of prattling, punning, and joking, which only made me acceptable to trifling company, I gave Silence the second place  ------------my desire "that" being ... 中间加个that就顺了。  rather by A than B, 意思是要取A，而不是B。at the same time that I improv'd in virtue----这里的that是指"the same time"，指那段时间。

Length of days is in her right hand, and in her left hand riches and honour. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.  ---------Solomon箴言，length of day指寿命，这里可以引申为长寿

 I had not been early accustomed to it, and, having an exceeding good memory, I was not so sensible of the inconvenience attending want of method. -----------读了三遍才读懂。want这个词在此书中经常做 “缺少”的意思。attending want of method 伴随缺乏方法

 I found myself incorrigible with respect to Order--------incorrigible：无可救药

every now and then------不时地，这个词组在本书中经常出现

 it was not possible to be exactly observed by a master, who must mix with the world-----------observed在此处不是观察到的意思，而是遵守的意思

 To Temperance he ascribes his long-continued health   -----ascribes to:归因于。注意这里倒着说：to temperance he ascribe to. 正着说应该是he ascribes his long-continued health to temperance. 倒着说应该是为了强调

To Temperance he ascribes his long-continued health, and what is still left to him of a good constitution; to Industry and Frugality, the early easiness of his circumstances and acquisition of his fortune, with all that knowledge that enabled him to be a useful citizen, and obtained for him some degree of reputation among the learned; to Sincerity and Justice, the confidence of his country, and the honorable employs it conferred upon him; and to the joint influence of the whole mass of the virtues, even in the imperfect state he was able to acquire them, all that evenness of temper, and that cheerfulness in conversation, which makes his company still sought for, and agreeable even to his younger acquaintance.   ------这个长句值得欣赏。To ascribe 延伸至后面的句子，省了ascribe。下面是一个比较好的翻译（比kindle上的好) 他把他长期的健康和他那迄今还强健的结实体格归功于节制；他早年境遇的安适和他的财产的获得和一切使他成为一个有用公民和使他在学术界得到一些声誉的知识，这一切当归功于勤勉和俭朴。国家对他的信任和国家给他的光荣的职位当归功于诚恳和公正。他的和气和他谈话时的愉快爽直当归功于全部这些品德的总影响，即使他不能达到尽善尽美的境地。由于他谈话时的愉快爽直，即使在晚年他还颇受人们的欢迎，甚至年轻的友人们也喜欢与他交往。  -------还有一个值得注意的地方是这里使用了第三人称，这就没有给人一种自夸的感觉

attend这个词，在本书中常做伴随/带来讲。例如： I purposed writing a little comment on each virtue, in which I would have shown the advantages of possessing it, and the mischiefs attending its opposite vice;

I did, indeed, from time to time, put down short hints of the sentiments, reasonings, etc., to be made use of in it, some of which I have still by me; but the necessary close attention to private business in the earlier part of thy life, and public business since, have occasioned my postponing it; for, it being connected in my mind with a great and extensive project, that required the whole man to execute, and which an unforeseen succession of employs prevented my attending to, it has hitherto remain'd unfinish'd.  ------------put down是指“记下，记录” short hints是短的提示

My list of virtues contain'd at first but twelve; but a Quaker friend having kindly informed me that I was generally thought proud; that my pride show'd itself frequently in conversation; that I was not content with being in the right when discussing any point, but was overbearing, and rather insolent, of which he convinc'd me by mentioning several instances; I determined endeavouring to cure myself, if I could, of this vice or folly among the rest, and I added Humility to my list) giving an extensive meaning to the word. ---------------这一段也很好。

a Quaker friend having kindly informed me that I was generally thought proud; that my pride show'd itself frequently in conversation; that I was not content with being in the right when discussing any point, but was overbearing, and rather insolent, of which he convinc'd me by mentioning several instances; I determined endeavouring to cure myself, if I could, of this vice or folly among the rest, and I added Humility to my list) giving an extensive meaning to the word.

I cannot boast of much success in acquiring the reality of this virtue, but I had a good deal with regard to the appearance of it. I made it a rule to forbear all direct contradiction to the sentiments of others, and all positive assertion of my own. I even forbid myself, agreeably to the old laws of our Junto, the use of every word or expression in the language that imported a fix'd opinion, such as certainly, undoubtedly, etc., and I adopted, instead of them, I conceive, I apprehend, or I imagine a thing to be so or so; or it so appears to me at present. When another asserted something that I thought an error, I deny'd myself the pleasure of ontradicting him abruptly, and of showing immediately some absurdity in his proposition; and in answering I began by observing that in certain cases or circumstances his opinion would be right, but in the present case there appear'd or seem'd to me some difference, etc. I soon found the advantage of this change in my manner; the conversations I engag'd in went on more pleasantly. The modest way in which I propos'd my opinions procur'd them a readier recep tion and less contradiction; I had less mortification when I was found to be in the wrong, and I more easily prevail'd with others to give up their mistakes and join with me when I happened to be in the right.  --------这一整段说的非常好。对争强好胜的人很有教益。

And to this habit (after my character of integrity) I think it principally owing that I had early so much weight with my fellow-citizens when I proposed new institutions, or alterations in the old, and so much influence in public councils when I became a member;  --------这里的语法和上面的ascribe to差不多，把to this habit放在前面，owing放后面。it owing to this habit. it用that修饰。如果不会这种表达方式，同样的意思就很不方便表达，因为it指代的东西太长了。

My ideas at that time were, that the sect should be begun and spread at first among young and single men only; that each person to be initiated should not only declare his assent to such creed, but should have exercised himself with the thirteen weeks' examination and practice of the virtues) as in the before-mention'd model; that the existence of such a society should he kept a secret, till it was become considerable, to prevent solicitations for the admission of improper persons, but that the members should each of them search among his acquaintance for ingenuous, well-disposed youths, to whom, with prudent caution, the scheme should be grad ually communicated; that the members should engage to afford their advice, assistance, and support to each other in promoting one another's interests, business, and advancement in life; that, for distinction, we should be call'd The Society of the Free and Easy: free, as being, by the general practice and habit of the virtues, free from the dominion of vice; and particularly by the practice of industry and frugality, free from debt, which exposes a man to confinement, and a species of slavery to his creditors.  --------这里每一个that都指代了一个idea

 I am still of opinion that it was a practicable scheme, and might have been very useful, by forming a great number of good citizens; ------i am of opinion that ...这种用法在书里常见。我认为。。。

These proverbs, which contained the wisdom of many ages and nations, I assembled and form'd into a connected discourse prefix'd to the Almanack of 1757, as the harangue of a wise old man to the people attending an auction. The bringing all these scatter'd counsels thus into a focus enabled them to make greater impression. The piece, being universally approved, was copied in all the newspapers of the Continent; reprinted in Britain on a broad side, to be stuck up in houses; two translations were made of it in French, and great numbers bought by the clergy and gentry, to distribute gratis among their poor parishioners and tenants. In Pennsylvania, as it discouraged useless expense in foreign superfluities, some thought it had its share of influence in producing that growing plenty of money which was observable for several years after its publication.----------这一长段话，值得注意的是这里的it： In Pennsylvania, as it discouraged useless expense in foreign superfluities, 英文里的it要特别注意，有时指前面相距较远的事物；有时用了定语从句，指后面描述的事物。这里就是指前面的，指历书。

About the year 1734 there arrived among us from Ireland a young Presbyterian preacher, named Hemphill, who delivered with a good voice, and apparently extempore, most excellent discourses, which drew together considerable numbers of different persuasion, who join'd in admiring them.-------------注意there arrived用法（如果是我写一定会写成a young ... came to Philadelphia），以及后面的who, which , who的连用。长句子的典型写法。

met with more success---------meet with success, 这种用法在此书中常见。取得成功。

 It was managed by the constables of the respective wards in turn;--------respective：这个词经常见到，不是尊敬地 之意，而是各自的，相对的。

 The settlement of that province had lately been begun, but, instead of being made with hardy, industrious husbandmen, accustomed to labor, the only people fit for such an enterprise, it was with families of broken shop-keepers and other insolvent debtors, many of indolent and idle habits, taken out of the jails, who, being set down in the woods, unqualified for clearing land, and unable to endure the hardships of a new settlement, perished in numbers, leaving many helpless children unprovided for.   ----------那个州的开拓才刚刚开始，只有勇敢、勤劳和惯于劳作的农民才是进行这项事业最合适的人选。然而，破产的店主和负债人，还有游手好闲的被释放出来的犯人，以及这些人的家庭被流放到那里的森林中；他们并不适合去拓荒，而且不能适应那里的艰苦环境。他们大批死亡，留下很多无依无靠的孩子。         以上是我自己翻译的。注意the only people修饰的是之前的hardy, industrious husbandmen.  who 修饰的是it was

by preparing the minds of people for the change, it paved the way for the law obtained a few years after, when the members of our clubs were grown into more influence.  ------pave the way for 为某事铺平道路  grow into more 变得更。。。

 his proselytes would be left at liberty to feign for him as great a variety of excellence as their enthusiastic admiration might wish him to have possessed.-----be left at liberty to do 自由地做某事；

 I stated our defenceless situation in strong lights  ----state记述，in strong lights, 非常强调的

关于议会： council是指地方上的议会；assembly在本书中指州上的议会；parliament指国家层面的议会；House貌似也指级别比较高的议会

上议院：the House of Lords

下议院：the House of Commons

参议院：the House of Councilors

众议院：the House of Representatives

英国议会：the Parliament of the United Kingdom

美国国会：U.S. Congress / Congress，United States

speaker of the Assembly  议会的议长

I once purpos'd answering the abbe, and actually began the answer; but, on consideration that my writings contain'd a description of experiments which any one might repeat and verify, and if not to be verifi'd, could not be defended; or of observations offer'd as conjectures, and not delivered dogmatically, therefore not laying me under any obligation to defend them; -------- purposed doing sth. 打算做某事； on consideration that 考虑到....

lay me under obligation to do sth. ---------将我置于务必要做某事的境地，使我非得做...

I have given out that she is to sail on Saturday next; but I may let you know, entre nous, that if you are there by Monday morning, you will be in time, but do not delay longer." ------entre nous----不要跟别人说

dispatch，在书中经常做“急件”的意思。all the paquet-boats in company ordered to attend the General's ship, ready to receive his dispatches when they should be ready

but, as he represented the injury to his affairs, it was very considerable. ------considerable, 可观，很有用的一个词

明智的，聪明的说法：sensible, judicious，sagacious。例句：he was sensible and sagacious in himself, and attentive to good advice from others, capable of forming judicious plans。

I now took a fancy to poetry ---take a fancy to sth. 痴迷某物

but as prose writing bad been of great use to me in the course of my life, and was a principal means of my advancement, I shall tell you how, in such a situation, I acquired what little ability I have in that way.------------bad been of great use to me -----bad应该是强调的意思

We sometimes disputed, and very fond we were of argument, and very desirous of confuting one another, which disputatious turn, by the way, is apt to become a very bad habit, making people often extremely disagreeable in company by the contradiction that is necessary to bring it into practice; and thence, besides souring and spoiling the conversation, is productive of disgusts and, perhaps enmities where you may have occasion for friendship.

-------that is necessary 的that修饰的是前面的bad habit; bring it into practice的it也是指bad habit；occasion for----给...的时机；

About this time I met with an odd volume of the Spectator-------met with；偶然得到。