第三册第5篇：切斯特菲尔德伯爵给他儿子的信—再谈写信

5 Lord Chesterfield to His Son More About Letter Writing 切斯特菲尔德伯爵给他儿子的信—再谈写信

Isleworth, Sep. 19, 1739.

My Dear Child,-I am very well pleased with your last letter.The writing was very good, and the promise you make exceedingly fine.You must keep it, for an honest man never breaks his word. You engage to retain the instructions which I give you. That issufficient, for though you do not properly comprehend them at present, ageand reflection will, in time, make you understand them.

With respect to the contents of your letter, I believe youhave had proper assistance; indeed, I do not as yet expect that youcan write a letter without help. You ought, however, to try, fornothing is more requisite¹ than to write a good letter. Nothing in fact ismore easy. Most persons, who write ill, do so because they aim at writingbetter than they can, by which means they acquire a formal and unnaturalstyle. Whereas, to write well, we must write easily andnaturally. For instance, if you want to write a letter to me, you should onlyconsider what you would say if you were with me, and then write it inplain terms, just as if you were conversing². I will suppose, then, thatyou sit down towrite to me unassisted, and I imagine your letter would probablybe much in these words:─

My dear Papa: I have been at Mr. Maittaire's this morning, where I have translated English into Latin and Latin intoEnglish, and, so well that at the end of my exercise he has write optime. Ihave likewise repeated a Greek verb, and pretty well. After this I ranhome, like a little wild boy, and played till dinner-time. This becamea serious task, for I ate like a wolf, and by that you judge that I am invery good health. Adieu.

Well, sir, the above is a good letter, and yet very easilywritten, because it is exceedingly natural. Endeavour then sometimes towrite to me of yourself, without minding either the beauty of thewriting or the straightness of the lines. Take as little trouble aspossible. By that means you will by degrees use yourself to write perfectly³ well,and with ease. Adieu. Come to me tomorrow at twelve, or Fridaymorning at eight o'clock.
by Philip Dormer Stanhope Chesterfield
 

1 requisite   

adj.需要的，必不可少的；n.必需品

参考例句：

• He hasn't got the requisite qualifications for the job.他不具备这工作所需的资格。
• Food and air are requisite for life.食物和空气是生命的必需品。

2 conversing   

v.交谈，谈话( converse的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• I find that conversing with her is quite difficult. 和她交谈实在很困难。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They were conversing in the parlor. 他们正在客厅谈话。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

3 perfectly   

adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said.证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。
• Everything that we're doing is all perfectly above board.我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。