29．The Angler 钓 鱼 翁

29．The  Angler

 

　　How comforting it is to see a cheerful and contented¹ old age; and to beholda poor fellow, like this, after being tempest-tost through life, safelymoored  in  a  snug  and  quiet  harbour  in  the  evening  of  his  days  !  Hishappiness, how- ever, sprung from within himself, and was independent ofexternal circumstances; for he had that inexhaustible good-nature, whichis the most precious gift of Heaven, spreading itself like oil over  thetroubled sea of thought, and keeping the mind smooth and equable  in  theroughest  weather.
On inquiring further about him I learned that he was a universal favoritein  the  village,  and  the  oracle  of  the  tap-  room;  where  he  delighted  therustics with his songs(1), and, like Sindbad(2), astonished them with hisstories  of  strange  lands,  and  shipwrecks,  and  sea-fights.  He  was  muchnoticed too by gentlemen sportsmen of the neighborhood; had taught severalof  them  the  art  of  angling;  and  was  a  privileged  visitor  to  theirkitchens(3). The whole tenor² of his life was quiet and inoffensive, beingprincipally  passed  about  the  neighboring  streams,  when  the  weather  andseason were favorable; and at other times he employed himself at home(4),preparing his fishing tackle for the next campaign(5), or manufacturingrods,  nets,  and  flies(6),  for  his  patrons  and  pupils  among  the  gentry³.

1 contented   

adj.满意的，安心的，知足的

参考例句：

• He won't be contented until he's upset everyone in the office.不把办公室里的每个人弄得心烦意乱他就不会满足。
• The people are making a good living and are contented,each in his station.人民安居乐业。

2 tenor   

n.男高音（歌手），次中音（乐器），要旨，大意

参考例句：

• The tenor of his speech was that war would come.他讲话的大意是战争将要发生。
• The four parts in singing are soprano,alto,tenor and bass.唱歌的四个声部是女高音、女低音、男高音和男低音。

3 gentry   

n.绅士阶级，上层阶级

参考例句：

• Landed income was the true measure of the gentry.来自土地的收入是衡量是否士绅阶层的真正标准。
• Better be the head of the yeomanry than the tail of the gentry.宁做自由民之首，不居贵族之末。