美国语文第五册 第264期:人类与动物(2)

 　　But the inferior animals provide for themselves and their young without any of these things. 然而，低级动物无法为自己或后代制造任何劳动工具。

　　Now for the second distinction. Man, in all his operations, makes mistakes; animals make none. 现在，我们来谈谈第二个差异。就人类行为举止而言，凡夫俗子错误在所难免；

　　Did you ever hear of such a thing as a bird sitting on a twig¹ lamenting² over her half-finished nest and puzzling her little head to know how to complete it? 而动物不会犯错误。你是否听说栖息树枝上的小鸟哀叹自己尚未完工的巢穴，或是不知所措怎样将巢穴建好？

　　Or did you ever see the cells of a beehive in clumsy, irregular shapes, 你是否观察过那些拙笨、不规则的蜂房巢室，

　　or observe anything like a discussion in the little community, as if there were a difference of opinion among the architects? 是否留意在筑造蜂巢时，蜜蜂群体成员存在不同意见从而进行讨论？

　　The lower animals are even better physicians than we are; 与人类相比，低级动物不愧是更好的医生。

　　for when they are ill, they will, many of them, seek out some particular herb, which they do not, use as food, 动物生病时，它们大多寻找某些特殊药草，这类药草并非食用，

　　and which possesses a medicinal quality exactly suited to the complaint; 而是专门用作治病养伤，并且确实具有某种药物疗效；

　　whereas, the whole college of physicians will dispute for a century about the virtues³ of a single drug. 相反，就医用疗效来说，哪怕一种药物，整个医学院专家医生们完全可以喋喋不休地辩论上百年。

　　Man undertakes nothing in which he is not more or less puzzled; 人类做事总喜欢瞻前顾后，

　　and must try numberless experiments before he can bring his undertakings⁴ to anything like perfection; 他必须无数次躬身亲为，试图将事情做到近乎完善，

　　even the simplest operations of domestic life are not well performed without some experience; 然而，哪怕最简单的家庭生活缺乏实践，他亦无法做到称心如意。

　　and the term of man's life is half wasted before he has done with his mistakes and begins to profit by his lessons. 人类初涉某一事物，错误过失在所难免，每每开始从自身经验教训里终有所得，他的人生时光早已挥霍过半。

1 twig   

n.小树枝，嫩枝；v.理解

参考例句：

• He heard the sharp crack of a twig.他听到树枝清脆的断裂声。
• The sharp sound of a twig snapping scared the badger away.细枝突然折断的刺耳声把獾惊跑了。

2 lamenting   

adj.悲伤的，悲哀的v.（为…）哀悼，痛哭，悲伤( lament的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Katydids were lamenting fall's approach. 蝈蝈儿正为秋天临近而哀鸣。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Lamenting because the papers hadn't been destroyed and the money kept. 她正在吃后悔药呢，后悔自己没有毁了那张字条，把钱昧下来！ 来自英汉文学 - 败坏赫德莱堡

3 virtues   

美德( virtue的名词复数 )； 德行； 优点； 长处

参考例句：

• Doctors often extol the virtues of eating less fat. 医生常常宣扬少吃脂肪的好处。
• She delivered a homily on the virtues of family life. 她进行了一场家庭生活美德方面的说教。

4 undertakings   

企业( undertaking的名词复数 )； 保证； 殡仪业； 任务

参考例句：

• The principle of diligence and frugality applies to all undertakings. 勤俭节约的原则适用于一切事业。
• Such undertakings require the precise planning and foresight of military operations. 此举要求军事上战役中所需要的准确布置和预见。