美国语文第六册 第52期:我的演说经历(1)

 　　In the academy I attended, elocution was taught in a way I shall never forget—never! 在我读书的学院，演说术的传授方式我一辈子也忘不了——永生难忘！

　　We had a yearly exhibition, and the favorites of the preceptor were allowed to speak a piece; and a pretty time they had of it. 我们每年都要公开示范，老师让自己喜爱的学生读一段文字，经过一段时间他们就能掌握演讲的要领。

　　Somehow I was never a favorite with any of my teachers after the first two or three days; 不知怎么地，从上两三天课后我就不再为任何老师所喜欢；

　　and, as I went barefooted, I dare say it was thought unseemly, or perhaps cruel, to expose me upon the platform. 当我赤足走上讲台时，我敢说没有谁认为这很得体，让我出现在讲台上本身就有点残酷。

　　And then, as I had no particular aptitude¹ for public speaking, 因此，我在当众演讲方面没有什么天资，

　　and no relish² for what was called oratory³, it was never my luck to be called up. 对于所谓的演说术也不抱什么乐趣。对我而言，被叫起来演讲从来就不是什么幸运的事情。

　　Among my schoolmates, however, was one—a very amiable⁴, shy boy—to whom was assigned, at the first exhibition I attended, 然而在我的同学中，有一位非常和蔼、害羞的男生，在我第一次参加公开示范时，指定他来示范演讲，

　　that passage in Pope's Homer beginning with, "Aurora⁵, now, fair daughter of the dawn!" 那篇选段是蒲伯的《荷马》，该文开头是这样的：“现在，曙光女神奥罗拉，黎明女神那位漂亮的女儿！”

　　This the poor boy gave with so much emphasis and discretion⁶, that, to me, it sounded like "O roarer!"  这可怜的孩子太过强调和谨慎，以至于在我听起来，就像是“啊，奥罗雷！”

　　and I was wicked enough, out of sheer envy, I dare say, to call him "O roarer!" 出于纯粹的嫉妒，我感到颇不耐烦，直接想叫他“啊，奥罗雷！”

　　a nickname which clung to him for a long while, though no human being ever deserved it less; 这个绰号伴他很长时间，尽管没有别人配得上这个绰号。

　　for in speech and action both, he was quiet, reserved, and sensitive. 就说话和举止两者来说，他过于内敛、含蓄和敏感了。

1 aptitude   

n.(学习方面的)才能，资质，天资

参考例句：

• That student has an aptitude for mathematics.那个学生有数学方面的天赋。
• As a child,he showed an aptitude for the piano.在孩提时代，他显露出对于钢琴的天赋。

2 relish   

n.滋味，享受，爱好，调味品；vt.加调味料，享受，品味；vi.有滋味

参考例句：

• I have no relish for pop music.我对流行音乐不感兴趣。
• I relish the challenge of doing jobs that others turn down.我喜欢挑战别人拒绝做的工作。

3 oratory   

n.演讲术；词藻华丽的言辞

参考例句：

• I admire the oratory of some politicians.我佩服某些政治家的辩才。
• He dazzled the crowd with his oratory.他的雄辩口才使听众赞叹不已。

4 amiable   

adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的

参考例句：

• She was a very kind and amiable old woman.她是个善良和气的老太太。
• We have a very amiable companionship.我们之间存在一种友好的关系。

5 aurora   

n.极光

参考例句：

• The aurora is one of nature's most awesome spectacles.极光是自然界最可畏的奇观之一。
• Over the polar regions we should see aurora.在极地高空,我们会看到极光。

6 discretion   

n.谨慎；随意处理

参考例句：

• You must show discretion in choosing your friend.你择友时必须慎重。
• Please use your best discretion to handle the matter.请慎重处理此事。