精美英文欣赏:热爱美食

Part 5 Love for Good Eating

第五部分 热爱美食

At supper Johnson talked of good eating with uncommon¹ satisfaction. "Some people," said he, "have a foolish way of not minding, or pretending not to mind, what they eat. For my part, I mind my belly² very studiously, and very carefully; for I look upon it, that he who does not mind his belly will hardly mind anything else,"He was, for the moment, not only serious but vehement³. Yet I have heard him, upon other occasions, talk with great contempt of people who were anxious to gratify their palates; and the 206th number of his Rambler is a masterly essay against gulosity. His practice, indeed, I must acknowledge, may be considered as casting the balance of his different opinions upon this subject; for I never knew any man who relished⁴ good eating more than he did.

晚餐时约翰逊谈起了美食，满意之情异乎寻常。他说："有些人不介意，或者假装不介意他们吃的食物，这是愚蠢的表现。对我来说，我非常细心和认真地为我的肚子考虑。我认为，一个不在意肚子的人几乎不会在意任何其他的事情。"此刻，他不仅神情严肃，而且感情激烈。然而，在其他一些时候，我曾听到他对那些急于满足自己食欲的人又嗤之以鼻。并且他的《漫步者》一书中的第206篇就是一则反对贪食的散文佳作。我必须承认，他的行为确实可以被认为是在平衡有关同一话题的不同观点，因为我从未碰到过比他还要更热衷于美食的人。

When at table, he was totally absorbed in the business of the moment; his looks seemed riveted⁵ to his plate; nor would he, unless when in very high company, say one word, or even pay the least attention to what was said by others, till he had satisfied his appetite, which was so fierce, and indulged with such intenseness，that while in the act of eating, the veins⁶ of his forehead swelled⁷, and generally a strong perspiration⁸ was visible. To those whose sensations were delicate, this could not but be disgusting; and it was doubtless not very suitable to the character of a philosopher, who should be distinguished⁹ by self-command. But it must be owned, that Johnson, though he could be rigidly¹⁰ ABSTEMIOUS¹¹, was not a TEMPERATE¹² man either in eating or drinking. He could refrain, but he could not use moderately.

在饭桌边，他完完全全被眼前的食物所吸引，他的脸似乎牢牢地贴在了盘子上，除非宾客众多，他都一言不发，甚至一点也不留意其他人的言谈，直到他强烈的食欲得以满足，神情专注地暴饮暴食完毕为止。吃饭时，他前额青筋爆出，通常还能看见额头上大滴大滴的汗珠。对那些感觉敏感的人而言，这副吃相绝对令人作呕；毫无疑问，这和一位哲学家的品质太不相称了，哲学家应以严于律己而得名。但是，必须指出的是，尽管约翰逊可能是一个严格约束自己的人，但是在饮食上他没有节制。他可以克制，但真正吃喝起来就不能自拔了。

He told me, that he had fasted two days without inconvenience, and that he had never been hungry. They who beheld¹³ with wonder how much he eat upon all occasions when his dinner was to his taste, could not easily conceive what he must have meant by hunger.

他告诉我，他巳经顺利斋戒两天了，并且从来没有感到过饥饿。但是一旦餐点合他的胃口，他便狼吞虎咽起来，每次目睹他这副吃相的朋友们都深感惊奇，想不出他所谓的饥饿到底意指何意。

And not only was he remarkable¹⁴ for the extraordinary quantity which he eat, but he was, or affected¹⁵ to be, a man of very nice discernment in the science of cookery. He used to descant¹⁶ critically on the dishes which had been at table where he had dined or supped, and to recollect¹⁷ very minutely what he had liked. I remember, when he was in Scotland, his praising "Gordon's palates，" (a dish of palates at the Honourable¹⁸ Alexander Gordon's) with a warmth of expression which might have done honour to more important subjects. "As for Maclaurin's imitation of a MADE DISH, it was a wretched attempt." He about the same time was so much displeased¹⁹ with the performances of a nobleman's French cook, that he exclaimed with vehemence²⁰, "I'd throw such a rascal²¹ into the river"，and he then proceeded to alarm a lady at whose house he was to sup, by the following manifesto²² of his skill: "I，Madam, who live at a variety of good tables, am a much better judge of cookery, than any person who has a very tolerable cook, but lives much at home; for his palate is gradually adapted to the taste of his cook; whereas, Madam, in trying by a wider range, I can more exquisitely²³ judge." When invited to dine, even with an intimate friend, he was not pleased if something better than a plain dinner was not prepared for him. I have heard him say on such an occasion, "This was a good dinner enough, to be sure; but it was not a dinner to ASK a man to." On the other hand, he was wont²⁴ to express, with great glee, his satisfaction when he had been entertained quite to his mind.

约翰逊不仅因食量惊人而引人注目，而且他还是，或者假装是鉴赏烹饪技艺的能手。他过去常常在餐桌边详细地评论刚刚品尝或饮用过的菜肴，非常细致地回味他喜爱的食物。我记得在苏格兰的时候，他称赞"高登阁下府邸的饮食味道"（尊敬的亚历山大·高登阁下）时，言辞激动热烈，而这本该是在探讨更重要的话题时才应有的情感和语气。"至于麦克劳林仿效的拼盘，真是一次恶劣的尝试。"当时他对一位贵族的法国厨师的表现极为不悦，甚至义愤填鹰地说："我要把这个恶棍扔进河里。"之后他继续警示一位女士，不久他要去女士家进餐，他对自己的美食技艺发表了如下宣言："夫人，我生活在各式各样的美食桌旁，更是一个美食行家，评判能力远远胜过长期居家、有优秀厨师备餐的任何人，因为这样的人往往会逐渐适应厨师的口味。但是，夫人，我尝过的饭菜种类繁多，能够更加细致地作出判断。"只要有人邀他进餐，即使是亲密的朋友，如果招待他的只是家常便饭，没有配备更为精美的饭菜，他就会面露不悦的神色。一次我听他提起："这顿饭很不错，那是肯定的，但是这不是款待客人的食物。"另一方面，如果款待他的饭菜正合他心意，他常常会兴高采烈地表达他的满足感。

1 uncommon   

adj.罕见的，非凡的，不平常的

参考例句：

• Such attitudes were not at all uncommon thirty years ago.这些看法在30年前很常见。
• Phil has uncommon intelligence.菲尔智力超群。

2 belly   

n.肚子，腹部；(像肚子一样)鼓起的部分，膛

参考例句：

• The boss has a large belly.老板大腹便便。
• His eyes are bigger than his belly.他眼馋肚饱。

3 vehement   

adj.感情强烈的；热烈的；(人)有强烈感情的

参考例句：

• She made a vehement attack on the government's policies.她强烈谴责政府的政策。
• His proposal met with vehement opposition.他的倡导遭到了激烈的反对。

4 relished   

v.欣赏( relish的过去式和过去分词 )；从…获得乐趣；渴望

参考例句：

• The chaplain relished the privacy and isolation of his verdant surroundings. 牧师十分欣赏他那苍翠的环境所具有的幽雅恬静，与世隔绝的气氛。 来自辞典例句
• Dalleson relished the first portion of the work before him. 达尔生对眼前这工作的前半部分满有兴趣。 来自辞典例句

5 riveted   

铆接( rivet的过去式和过去分词 )； 把…固定住； 吸引； 引起某人的注意

参考例句：

• I was absolutely riveted by her story. 我完全被她的故事吸引住了。
• My attention was riveted by a slight movement in the bushes. 我的注意力被灌木丛中的轻微晃动吸引住了。

6 veins   

n.纹理；矿脉( vein的名词复数 )；静脉；叶脉；纹理

参考例句：

• The blood flows from the capillaries back into the veins. 血从毛细血管流回静脉。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• I felt a pleasant glow in all my veins from the wine. 喝过酒后我浑身的血都热烘烘的，感到很舒服。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 swelled   

增强( swell的过去式和过去分词 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情）

参考例句：

• The infection swelled his hand. 由于感染，他的手肿了起来。
• After the heavy rain the river swelled. 大雨过后，河水猛涨。

8 perspiration   

n.汗水；出汗

参考例句：

• It is so hot that my clothes are wet with perspiration.天太热了，我的衣服被汗水湿透了。
• The perspiration was running down my back.汗从我背上淌下来。

9 distinguished   

adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的

参考例句：

• Elephants are distinguished from other animals by their long noses.大象以其长长的鼻子显示出与其他动物的不同。
• A banquet was given in honor of the distinguished guests.宴会是为了向贵宾们致敬而举行的。

10 rigidly   

adv.刻板地，僵化地

参考例句：

• Life today is rigidly compartmentalized into work and leisure. 当今的生活被严格划分为工作和休闲两部分。
• The curriculum is rigidly prescribed from an early age. 自儿童时起即已开始有严格的课程设置。

11 abstemious   

adj.有节制的，节俭的

参考例句：

• He is abstemious in eating and drinking.他在饮食方面是很有节制的。
• Mr.Hall was naturally an abstemious man indifferent to luxury.霍尔先生天生是个饮食有度，不爱奢侈的人。

12 temperate   

adj.温和的，温带的，自我克制的，不过分的

参考例句：

• Asia extends across the frigid,temperate and tropical zones.亚洲地跨寒、温、热三带。
• Great Britain has a temperate climate.英国气候温和。

13 beheld   

v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟

参考例句：

• His eyes had never beheld such opulence. 他从未见过这样的财富。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The soul beheld its features in the mirror of the passing moment. 灵魂在逝去的瞬间的镜子中看到了自己的模样。 来自英汉文学 - 红字

14 remarkable   

adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的

参考例句：

• She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。
• These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。

15 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

16 descant   

v.详论，絮说；n.高音部

参考例句：

• You need not descant upon my shortcomings.你不必絮说我的缺点。
• An elderly woman,arms crossed,sang the descant.一位双臂交叉的老妇人演唱了高音部。

17 recollect   

v.回忆，想起，记起，忆起，记得

参考例句：

• He tried to recollect things and drown himself in them.他极力回想过去的事情而沉浸于回忆之中。
• She could not recollect being there.她回想不起曾经到过那儿。

18 honourable   

adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的

参考例句：

• I don't think I am worthy of such an honourable title.这样的光荣称号，我可担当不起。
• I hope to find an honourable way of settling difficulties.我希望设法找到一个体面的办法以摆脱困境。

19 displeased   

a.不快的

参考例句：

• The old man was displeased and darted an angry look at me. 老人不高兴了，瞪了我一眼。
• He was displeased about the whole affair. 他对整个事情感到很不高兴。

20 vehemence   

n.热切；激烈；愤怒

参考例句：

• The attack increased in vehemence.进攻越来越猛烈。
• She was astonished at his vehemence.她对他的激昂感到惊讶。

21 rascal   

n.流氓；不诚实的人

参考例句：

• If he had done otherwise,I should have thought him a rascal.如果他不这样做，我就认为他是个恶棍。
• The rascal was frightened into holding his tongue.这坏蛋吓得不敢往下说了。

22 manifesto   

n.宣言，声明

参考例句：

• I was involved in the preparation of Labour's manifesto.我参与了工党宣言的起草工作。
• His manifesto promised measures to protect them.他在宣言里保证要为他们采取保护措施。

23 exquisitely   

adv.精致地；强烈地；剧烈地；异常地

参考例句：

• He found her exquisitely beautiful. 他觉得她异常美丽。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He wore an exquisitely tailored gray silk and accessories to match. 他穿的是做工非常考究的灰色绸缎衣服，还有各种配得很协调的装饰。 来自教父部分

24 wont   

adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯

参考例句：

• He was wont to say that children are lazy.他常常说小孩子们懒惰。
• It is his wont to get up early.早起是他的习惯。