美国语文第六册 第149期:守安息日(2)

 If there is an institution which opposes itself to this progress of human degeneracy, 如果存在一种本身能够抵制人类堕落这一进程的宗教习俗，

and throws a shield before the interests of moral virtue¹ in our thoughtless and wayward world, it is the Sabbath. 在我们这个没有思想和任性的世界的伦理德性利益面前能够被竖起一道盾牌的话，那就是安息日。

In the fearful struggle between virtue and vice², 再美的和恶性之间展开的这场骇人的斗争中，

notwithstanding the powerful auxiliaries³ which wickedness finds in the bosoms⁴ of men, 虽然存在强大的辅助工具，能在人的内心深处，

and in the seductions and influence of popular example, wherever the Sabbath has been suffered to live, 在流行的时尚的诱惑和影响中发现邪恶，但是无论在哪里坚守安息日都是一个艰难的宗教习俗，

the trembling interests of moral virtue have always been revered⁵ and sustained. 伦理德性那震颤人心灵的吸引力始终受到人们的崇敬并得以维系下来。

One of the principal occupations of this day is to illustrate⁶ and enforce the great principles of sound morality. 在当今时代最重要的一项使命就是阐述和践行正确的道德原则。

Where this sacred trust is preserved inviolate⁷, 这种神圣的信任对社会和任何人都没有伤害，

you behold⁸ a nation convened⁹ one day in seven for the purpose of acquainting themselves with the best moral principles and precepts¹⁰; 你会发现人们基于通过最好的道德原则和观念来彼此增进了解的目的，一个国家在一周里要有一天守安息日。

and it can not be otherwise than that the authority of moral virtue, under such auspices¹¹, should be acknowledged and felt. 除此之外，没有其他宗教习俗能让人们在教会的帮助和支持下，认识和感受到伦理德性的权威。

We may not, at once, perceive the effects which this weekly observance produces. 我们不会马上就能洞察到这种每周一次守安息日的习俗所产生的效果。

Like most moral causes, it operates slowly; 同绝大多数道德事业一样，守安息日也要慢慢进行；

but it operates surely, and gradually weakens the power and breaks the yoke¹² of profligacy¹³ and sin. 不过，守安息日肯定会慢慢削弱那种力量，打破导致放荡和罪恶的枷锁。

No villain¹⁴ regards the Sabbath. 没有哪个恶棍会看重安息日，

No vicious family regards the Sabbath. 没有哪个邪恶的家庭会把安息日当回事，

No immoral¹⁵ community regards the Sabbath. 没有哪个不道德的社会会尊重安息日。

 

1 virtue   

n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力

参考例句：

• He was considered to be a paragon of virtue.他被认为是品德尽善尽美的典范。
• You need to decorate your mind with virtue.你应该用德行美化心灵。

2 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

3 auxiliaries   

n.助动词 ( auxiliary的名词复数 )；辅助工，辅助人员

参考例句：

• These auxiliaries have made our work much easier. 有了这些辅助人员，我们的工作才顺利多了。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• In English the future tense is often rendered by means of auxiliaries. 在英语中，将来时常用助动词来表现。 来自辞典例句

4 bosoms   

胸部( bosom的名词复数 )； 胸怀； 女衣胸部（或胸襟）； 和爱护自己的人在一起的情形

参考例句：

• How beautifully gold brooches glitter on the bosoms of our patriotic women! 金光闪闪的别针佩在我国爱国妇女的胸前，多美呀！
• Let us seek out some desolate shade, and there weep our sad bosoms empty. 我们寻个僻静的地方，去痛哭一场吧。

5 revered   

v.崇敬，尊崇，敬畏( revere的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• A number of institutions revered and respected in earlier times have become Aunt Sally for the present generation. 一些早年受到尊崇的惯例，现在已经成了这代人嘲弄的对象了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The Chinese revered corn as a gift from heaven. 中国人将谷物奉为上天的恩赐。 来自辞典例句

6 illustrate   

v.举例说明，阐明；图解，加插图

参考例句：

• The company's bank statements illustrate its success.这家公司的银行报表说明了它的成功。
• This diagram will illustrate what I mean.这个图表可说明我的意思。

7 inviolate   

adj.未亵渎的，未受侵犯的

参考例句：

• The constitution proclaims that public property shall be inviolate.宪法宣告公共财产不可侵犯。
• They considered themselves inviolate from attack.他们认为自己是不可侵犯的。

8 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。

9 convened   

召开( convene的过去式 )； 召集； （为正式会议而）聚集； 集合

参考例句：

• The chairman convened the committee to put the issue to a vote. 主席召集委员们开会对这个问题进行表决。
• The governor convened his troops to put down the revolt. 总督召集他的部队去镇压叛乱。

10 precepts   

n.规诫，戒律，箴言( precept的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• They accept the Prophet's precepts but reject some of his strictures. 他们接受先知的教训，但拒绝他的种种约束。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• The legal philosopher's concern is to ascertain the true nature of all the precepts and norms. 法哲学家的兴趣在于探寻所有规范和准则的性质。 来自辞典例句

11 auspices   

n.资助，赞助

参考例句：

• The association is under the auspices of Word Bank.这个组织是在世界银行的赞助下办的。
• The examination was held under the auspices of the government.这次考试是由政府主办的。

12 yoke   

n.轭；支配；v.给...上轭，连接，使成配偶

参考例句：

• An ass and an ox,fastened to the same yoke,were drawing a wagon.驴子和公牛一起套在轭上拉车。
• The defeated army passed under the yoke.败军在轭门下通过。

13 profligacy   

n.放荡，不检点，肆意挥霍

参考例句：

• Subsequently, this statement was quoted widely in the colony as an evidence of profligacy. 结果这句话成为肆意挥霍的一个例证在那块领地里传开了。 来自辞典例句
• Recession, they reason, must be a penance for past profligacy. 经济衰退，他们推断，肯定是对过去大肆挥霍的赎罪。 来自互联网

14 villain   

n.反派演员，反面人物；恶棍；问题的起因

参考例句：

• He was cast as the villain in the play.他在戏里扮演反面角色。
• The man who played the villain acted very well.扮演恶棍的那个男演员演得很好。

15 immoral   

adj.不道德的，淫荡的，荒淫的，有伤风化的

参考例句：

• She was questioned about his immoral conduct toward her.她被询问过有关他对她的不道德行为的情况。
• It is my belief that nuclear weapons are immoral.我相信使核武器是不邪恶的。