美國語文第四冊 第195期：知識的力量（01）
"What an excellent thing is knowledge," said a sharp-looking, bustling little man, to one who was much older than himself.
“知識是多么非同尋常啊，”一位長相瘦削，精力充沛的小個子男人對一位老年人說。
"Knowledge is an excellent thing," repeated he.
“知識是多么非同尋常啊，”他重復道。
My boys know more at six and seven years old than I did at twelve.
六七歲大的男孩子們比我十二歲的時候懂得更多。
They can read all sorts of books, and talk on all sorts of subjects.
他們讀的書多，談論的話題也多。
The world is a great deal wiser than it used to he.
世界比以前變聰明了。
Everybody knows something of everything now.
現在人人對所有事都有所了解。
Do you not think, sir, that knowledge is all excellent thing?
先生，你不認為知識真的非同尋常嗎？
"Why, sir," replied the old man, looking grave, that depends entirely upon the use to which it is applied.
“這個嘛，先生，”老人回答說，他看起來很嚴肅，那完全取決于知識用在什么地方。
It may be a blessing or a curse.
知識可能是好事，也可能是禍根。
Knowledge is only an increase of power, and power may be a bad, as well as a good thing.
知識意味著力量的增加，而力量既可能是好事，也可能是壞事。
"That is what I can not understand," said the bustling little man. "How can power be a bad thing?"
“我無法理解你說的話，”精力旺盛的小個子說，“力量怎么可能是壞事呢？”
"I will tell you," meekly replied the old man;
“我這就跟你講，”老人溫和地回答，
and thus he went on，When the power of a horse is under restraint,
接下來他說道：“當馬匹的力量得到約束，
the animal is useful in bearing burdens, drawing loads, and carrying his master;
這牲口可以用來負重、拉貨、馱主人；
but when that power is unrestrained, the horse breaks his bridle, dashes to pieces the carriage that he draws, or throws his rider.
但是當這種力量不受約束，馬會脫韁，飛奔的時候把車拖碎，或者把主人掀下來。
"I see!" said the little man.
“我明白了！”小個子說道。
