美国语文第六册 第155期:哥伦布的性格(1)

 Columbus was a man of great and inventive genius. 哥伦布是一位伟人、一位富有创造性的天才。

The operations of his mind were energetic, but irregular; 他的思维非常活跃，别出心裁，

bursting forth¹, at times, with that irresistible² force which characterizes intellect of such an order. 爆发出不可遏制的力量，这种力量以睿智为标志。

His ambition was lofty and noble, inspiring him with high thoughts and an anxiety to distinguish himself by great achievements. 他抱负极高，以崇高的思想和对自己完成重大使命的焦虑来激励自己。

He aimed at dignity and wealth in the same elevated spirit with which he sought renown³; 他在提升追求名望所必需的精神同时，他的人生目标体现在尊贵和财富上。

they were to rise from the territories he should discover, and be commensurate in importance. 这些东西就在他发现的领土上，其重要性堪比领土本身。

His conduct was characterized by the grandeur⁴ of his views and the magnanimity of his spirit. 他的行为以视野的宏伟和精神的雅量高致为特征。

Instead of ravaging⁵ the newly-found countries, like many of his cotemporary discoverers, 与在新发现的国家进行破坏和蹂躏不同的是，同许多与他同时代的发现者，

who were intent only on immediate⁶ gain, he regarded them with the eyes of a legislator; 只是一心想马上索取——一样，他用立法者的眼光看待这些领土；

he sought to colonize⁷ and cultivate them, to civilize⁸ the natives, to build cities, introduce the useful arts,  他致力于殖民和拓荒，对土著进行教化，修建城市，引进实用技艺，

subject everything to the control of law, order, and religion, and thus to found regular and prosperous empires. 将所有的一切都纳入法律、秩序和宗教的控制之下，只有这样才能建立合乎原则和兴旺繁荣的帝国。

That he failed in this was the fault of the dissolute rabble⁹ which it was his misfortune to command, 导致他失败的错误在于无节制的暴民，不幸的是他未能控制住他们。

with whom all law was tyranny and all order oppression. 对这些人而言，所有的法律都是残暴的，所有的秩序都是压迫。

He was naturally irascible and impetuous, and keenly sensible to injury and injustice¹⁰; 他自然而然地失去理性并好冲动了，对损害和不公平尤其敏感。

yet the quickness of his temper was counteracted¹¹ by the generosity¹² and benevolence¹³ of his heart. 然而，他性情的急躁受被他内心的慷慨和仁爱所抵消。

 

1 forth   

adv.向前；向外，往外

参考例句：

• The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
• He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。

2 irresistible   

adj.非常诱人的，无法拒绝的，无法抗拒的

参考例句：

• The wheel of history rolls forward with an irresistible force.历史车轮滚滚向前，势不可挡。
• She saw an irresistible skirt in the store window.她看见商店的橱窗里有一条叫人着迷的裙子。

3 renown   

n.声誉，名望

参考例句：

• His renown has spread throughout the country.他的名声已传遍全国。
• She used to be a singer of some renown.她曾是位小有名气的歌手。

4 grandeur   

n.伟大，崇高，宏伟，庄严，豪华

参考例句：

• The grandeur of the Great Wall is unmatched.长城的壮观是独一无二的。
• These ruins sufficiently attest the former grandeur of the place.这些遗迹充分证明此处昔日的宏伟。

5 ravaging   

毁坏( ravage的现在分词 )； 蹂躏； 劫掠； 抢劫

参考例句：

• It is believed that in fatigue there is a repeated process of ravaging the material. 据认为，在疲劳中，有一个使材料毁坏的重复过程。
• I was able to capture the lion that was ravaging through town. 我能逮住正在城里肆虐的那头狮子。

6 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

7 colonize   

v.建立殖民地，拓殖；定居，居于

参考例句：

• Around 700 Arabs began to colonize East Africa.公元700年阿拉伯人开始把东非变为殖民地。
• Japan used to colonize many countries in Asia.日本曾经殖民过许多亚洲国家。

8 civilize   

vt.使文明，使开化 (=civilise)

参考例句：

• We must civilize away the boy's bad habit.我们必须教育这孩子使其改掉恶习。
• Those facilities are intended to civilize people.那些设施的目的在于教化民众。

9 rabble   

n.乌合之众，暴民；下等人

参考例句：

• They formed an army out of rabble.他们用乌合之众组成一支军队。
• Poverty in itself does not make men into a rabble.贫困自身并不能使人成为贱民。

10 injustice   

n.非正义，不公正，不公平，侵犯（别人的）权利

参考例句：

• They complained of injustice in the way they had been treated.他们抱怨受到不公平的对待。
• All his life he has been struggling against injustice.他一生都在与不公正现象作斗争。

11 counteracted   

对抗，抵消( counteract的过去式 )

参考例句：

• This can be counteracted only by very effective insulation. 这只能用非常有效的绝缘来防止。
• The effect of his preaching was counteracted by the looseness of his behavior. 他讲道的效果被他放荡的生活所抵消了。

12 generosity   

n.大度，慷慨，慷慨的行为

参考例句：

• We should match their generosity with our own.我们应该像他们一样慷慨大方。
• We adore them for their generosity.我们钦佩他们的慷慨。

13 benevolence   

n.慈悲，捐助

参考例句：

• We definitely do not apply a policy of benevolence to the reactionaries.我们对反动派决不施仁政。
• He did it out of pure benevolence. 他做那件事完全出于善意。