美国语文第六册 第185期:占卜者(3)

But, in truth, I was for a long time so weak that I spit blood whenever I attempted to work.

但是事实上，很长时间以来我的身体一直很虚弱，以至于每当我打算找工作时就咯血。

I had no relation living, and I never kept a friend above a week when I was able to joke.

我要工作与不是为了维持生计，当我能开玩笑时，从未与一个朋友保持一个星期以上的交往。

Thus I was forced to beg my bread, and a sorry trade I have found it, Mr. Harley.

我被迫乞讨，我发现这个可悲的行当很适合我，哈特利先生。

I told all my misfortunes truly, but they were seldom believed;

我在讲述我的所有不幸时是真诚的，可是那些人很少相信我说的话。

and the few who gave me a half-penny as they passed, did it with a shake of the head, and an injunction not to trouble them with a long story.

在他们从我身边经过时，连半个便士都不会给的，他们所能做的就是摇摇头，禁止乞讨的命令并非指的是用一个冗长的故事来使他们心烦。

In short, I found that people do n't care to give alms without some security for their money,—such as a wooden leg, or a withered¹ arm, for example.

简而言之，我发现人们并不在意在没有安全感的情况下给施舍物，把施舍物当做钱。譬如，一条木头腿，或者一只干瘪的胳膊。

So I changed my plan, and instead of telling my own misfortunes, began to prophesy² happiness to others.

于是，我改变了计划，不再讲述自己的不幸，开始为别人占卜幸福。”

"This I found by much the better way.

“结果我发现这个办法很灵。

Folks will always listen when the tale is their own,

当故事的主人公是他们自己时，他们始终听得有滋有味。

and of many who say they do not believe in fortune telling, I have known few on whom it had not a very sensible effect.

那些不相信占卜的人，很少对个人钱财不敏感。

I pick up the names of their acquaintance; amours and little squabbles are easily gleaned³ from among servants and neighbors;

我提到的都是他们老相识的名字；在仆人和邻居中间很容易搜集一些风流韵事和吵嘴的事情；

and, indeed, people themselves are the best intelligencers in the world for our purpose.

诚然，那些人本身就是这个世界上最出色的情报员。

They dare not puzzle us for their own sakes, for everyone is anxious to hear what he wishes to believe;

出于自己利益的考虑，他们不敢为难我们，因为每个人都急于想知道他们希望相信什么。

and they who repeat it, to laugh at it when they have done, are generally more serious than their hearers are apt to imagine.

那些一再重复的人，反而对自己做的事情嗤之以鼻，一般而言这要比倾听他们的人易于想象的更严重。

1 withered   

adj. 枯萎的，干瘪的，（人身体的部分器官）因病萎缩的或未发育良好的 动词wither的过去式和过去分词形式

参考例句：

• The grass had withered in the warm sun. 这些草在温暖的阳光下枯死了。
• The leaves of this tree have become dry and withered. 这棵树下的叶子干枯了。

2 prophesy   

v.预言；预示

参考例句：

• He dares to prophesy what will happen in the future.他敢预言未来将发生什么事。
• I prophesy that he'll be back in the old job.我预言他将重操旧业。

3 gleaned   

v.一点点地收集（资料、事实）( glean的过去式和过去分词 )；（收割后）拾穗

参考例句：

• These figures have been gleaned from a number of studies. 这些数据是通过多次研究收集得来的。
• A valuable lesson may be gleaned from it by those who have eyes to see. 明眼人可从中记取宝贵的教训。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》