美国语文第六册 第83期:怀念先辈(2)

 　　"The memory of our fathers" should be the watchword of liberty throughout the land; “对我们先辈的怀念”应该是整个这块土地上打出的自由的口号，

　　for, imperfect as they were, the world before had not seen their like, nor will it soon, we fear, behold¹ their like again. 尽管他们并不完美，而之前的世界并没有见到与他们相类的人，我们担心今后也不会见到这样的人。

　　Such models of moral excellence², such apostles of civil and religious liberty, 道德上这样完美的模范，这样孜孜追求国家和宗教自由的传道先驱，

　　such shades of the illustrious dead looking down upon their descendants with approbation³ or reproof,  那些以赞许和鄙夷的神情看待他们先辈的杰出人士的内心留下这样的阴影，

　　according as they follow or depart from the good way, constitute a censorship inferior only to the eye of God; 不论他们遵守还是抛弃美德，建立属下审查制度只是为了做给上帝看。

　　and to ridicule⁴ them is national suicide. 嘲笑先辈就意味着这个国家在自杀。

　　The doctrines⁵ of our fathers have been represented as gloomy, superstitious⁶, severe, irrational⁷, and of a licentious⁸ tendency. 我们先辈的信条以蒙昧、迷信、纯朴和非理性为特征，具有一种淫乱倾向。

　　But when other systems shall have produced a piety⁹ as devoted¹⁰, a morality as pure, a patriotism¹¹ as disinterested¹², 但是，当其他制度导致能够为之献身的虔敬，纯粹的道德伦理，公正的爱国主义，

　　and a state of society as happy, as have prevailed where their doctrines have been most prevalent, 快乐的社会形态时——这是他们的制度所能取得的最普遍的结果，

　　it may be in season to seek an answer to this objection. 也许就反对的理由寻求答案就有其合理性了。

　　The persecutions instituted by our fathers have been the occasion of ceaseless obloquy¹³ upon their fair fame. 从我们先辈开始的迫害使他们的名誉蒙受无休止的诽谤。

1 behold   

v.看，注视，看到

参考例句：

• The industry of these little ants is wonderful to behold.这些小蚂蚁辛勤劳动的样子看上去真令人惊叹。
• The sunrise at the seaside was quite a sight to behold.海滨日出真是个奇景。

2 excellence   

n.优秀，杰出，(pl.)优点，美德

参考例句：

• His art has reached a high degree of excellence.他的艺术已达到炉火纯青的地步。
• My performance is far below excellence.我的表演离优秀还差得远呢。

3 approbation   

n.称赞；认可

参考例句：

• He tasted the wine of audience approbation.他尝到了像酒般令人陶醉的听众赞许滋味。
• The result has not met universal approbation.该结果尚未获得普遍认同。

4 ridicule   

v.讥讽，挖苦；n.嘲弄

参考例句：

• You mustn't ridicule unfortunate people.你不该嘲笑不幸的人。
• Silly mistakes and queer clothes often arouse ridicule.荒谬的错误和古怪的服装常会引起人们的讪笑。

5 doctrines   

n.教条( doctrine的名词复数 )；教义；学说；（政府政策的）正式声明

参考例句：

• To modern eyes, such doctrines appear harsh, even cruel. 从现代的角度看，这样的教义显得苛刻，甚至残酷。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• His doctrines have seduced many into error. 他的学说把许多人诱入歧途。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

6 superstitious   

adj.迷信的

参考例句：

• They aim to deliver the people who are in bondage to superstitious belief.他们的目的在于解脱那些受迷信束缚的人。
• These superstitious practices should be abolished as soon as possible.这些迷信做法应尽早取消。

7 irrational   

adj.无理性的，失去理性的

参考例句：

• After taking the drug she became completely irrational.她在吸毒后变得完全失去了理性。
• There are also signs of irrational exuberance among some investors.在某些投资者中是存在非理性繁荣的征象的。

8 licentious   

adj.放纵的，淫乱的

参考例句：

• She felt uncomfortable for his licentious act.她对他放肆的行为感到有点不舒服。
• The licentious monarch helped bring about his country's downfall.这昏君荒淫无道，加速了这个国家的灭亡。

9 piety   

n.虔诚，虔敬

参考例句：

• They were drawn to the church not by piety but by curiosity.他们去教堂不是出于虔诚而是出于好奇。
• Experience makes us see an enormous difference between piety and goodness.经验使我们看到虔诚与善意之间有着巨大的区别。

10 devoted   

adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的

参考例句：

• He devoted his life to the educational cause of the motherland.他为祖国的教育事业贡献了一生。
• We devoted a lengthy and full discussion to this topic.我们对这个题目进行了长时间的充分讨论。

11 patriotism   

n.爱国精神，爱国心，爱国主义

参考例句：

• His new book is a demonstration of his patriotism.他写的新书是他的爱国精神的证明。
• They obtained money under the false pretenses of patriotism.他们以虚伪的爱国主义为借口获得金钱。

12 disinterested   

adj.不关心的，不感兴趣的

参考例句：

• He is impartial and disinterested.他公正无私。
• He's always on the make,I have never known him do a disinterested action.他这个人一贯都是唯利是图，我从来不知道他有什么无私的行动。

13 obloquy   

n.斥责，大骂

参考例句：

• I have had enough obloquy for one lifetime.我一辈子受够了诽谤。
• I resent the obloquy that you are casting upon my reputation.我怨恨你对我的名誉横加诽谤。