美国语文第六册 第180期:论幸福感(2)

Everything furnished him with an opportunity of mirth;

对他而言，周围所有的一切都向他提供了欢愉的机会。

and though some thought him, from his insensibility, a fool, he was such an idiot as philosophers should wish to imitate.

虽然有人根据他表面上的满不在乎断定他是个傻子，但他确是连哲学家都想仿效的傻瓜。

They who, like that slave, can place themselves all that side of the world in which everything appears in a pleasant light,

那些同这位苦工一样的人，能将自己置于这样的地位，即世间的一切似乎都是快乐的明灯，

will find something in every occurrence to excite their good humor.

他们发现每件事情都能激发他们的幽默感。

The most calamitous¹ events, either to themselves or others, can bring no new affliction;

那些最悲惨的事情，不论对他们自己还是别人，都不会带来新的痛苦。

the world is to them a theater, in which only comedies are acted.

对他们来说，整个世界就是一个大剧场，而里面上演的永远只有喜剧。

All the bustle² of heroism³, or the aspirations⁴ of ambition, seem only to heighten the absurdity⁵ of the scene, and make the humor more poignant⁶.

所有的个人英雄主义或施展抱负的强烈愿望，似乎只会提高演出本身的荒谬性，使得幽默更能深深打动人的内心。

They feel, in short, as little anguish⁷ at their own distress⁸, or the complaints of others, as the undertaker, though dressed in black, feels sorrow at a funeral.

简而言之，他们对自己的悲惨境地或他人的抱怨一点也不觉得苦恼，尽管在葬礼上着黑衣服会令人觉得悲呛。

Of all the men I ever read of, the famous Cardinal⁹ de Retz possessed¹⁰ this happiness in the highest degree.

至于我在书中读过的那些人，著名的雷斯大主教拥有最高程度的幸福感。

When fortune wore her angriest look,

当命运女神现出气愤之极的神情时，

and he fell into the power of Cardinal Mazarin, his most deadly enemy, (being confined a close prisoner in the castle of Valenciennes,)

雷斯大主教落入他最可怕的敌人马扎林大主教的掌握之中（被囚禁在瓦伦西安城堡），

he never attempted to support his distress by wisdom or philosophy, for he pretended to neither.

他从未试图通过智慧或哲学来排解痛苦，因为他假装自己对两者一窍不通。

1 calamitous   

adj.灾难的，悲惨的；多灾多难；惨重

参考例句：

• We are exposed to the most calamitous accidents. 我们遭受着极大的灾难。 来自辞典例句
• Light reveals the subtle alteration of things, the sly or calamitous impermanence or mortal life. 事物的细微变动，人生的狡猾，倏忽无常，一一都在光中显露出来。 来自辞典例句

2 bustle   

v.喧扰地忙乱，匆忙，奔忙；n.忙碌；喧闹

参考例句：

• The bustle and din gradually faded to silence as night advanced.随着夜越来越深，喧闹声逐渐沉寂。
• There is a lot of hustle and bustle in the railway station.火车站里非常拥挤。

3 heroism   

n.大无畏精神，英勇

参考例句：

• He received a medal for his heroism.他由于英勇而获得一枚奖章。
• Stories of his heroism resounded through the country.他的英雄故事传遍全国。

4 aspirations   

强烈的愿望( aspiration的名词复数 )； 志向； 发送气音； 发 h 音

参考例句：

• I didn't realize you had political aspirations. 我没有意识到你有政治上的抱负。
• The new treaty embodies the aspirations of most nonaligned countries. 新条约体现了大多数不结盟国家的愿望。

5 absurdity   

n.荒谬，愚蠢；谬论

参考例句：

• The proposal borders upon the absurdity.这提议近乎荒谬。
• The absurdity of the situation made everyone laugh.情况的荒谬可笑使每个人都笑了。

6 poignant   

adj.令人痛苦的，辛酸的，惨痛的

参考例句：

• His lyrics are as acerbic and poignant as they ever have been.他的歌词一如既往的犀利辛辣。
• It is especially poignant that he died on the day before his wedding.他在婚礼前一天去世了，这尤其令人悲恸。

7 anguish   

n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼

参考例句：

• She cried out for anguish at parting.分手时，她由于痛苦而失声大哭。
• The unspeakable anguish wrung his heart.难言的痛苦折磨着他的心。

8 distress   

n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛

参考例句：

• Nothing could alleviate his distress.什么都不能减轻他的痛苦。
• Please don't distress yourself.请你不要忧愁了。

9 cardinal   

n.(天主教的)红衣主教；adj.首要的，基本的

参考例句：

• This is a matter of cardinal significance.这是非常重要的事。
• The Cardinal coloured with vexation. 红衣主教感到恼火，脸涨得通红。

10 possessed   

adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的

参考例句：

• He flew out of the room like a man possessed.他像着了魔似地猛然冲出房门。
• He behaved like someone possessed.他行为举止像是魔怔了。