美國語文第六冊 第193期:新英格蘭清教徒先輩的品格(5)
他們的虔誠不僅僅是永恒的，這是發(fā)自內(nèi)心的。
it had the proof of a good tree in bearing good fruit; it produced and sustained a strict morality.
這恰好證明了善良之因必將結(jié)出善良之果。這種虔誠導(dǎo)致并維系著嚴(yán)格的道德準(zhǔn)則。
Their tenacious purity of manners and speech obtained for them, in the mother country,
他們堅(jiān)持習(xí)俗的純粹性，他們的語言也從中獲取營養(yǎng)。
their name of Puritans, which, though given in derision, was as honorable an appellation as was ever bestowed by man on man.
清教徒這個(gè)稱謂，盡管有些嘲弄的意味，卻是賦予他們的具有榮譽(yù)感的稱號。
That there were hypocrites among them, is not to be doubted; but they were rare.
在他們中間存在偽君子，這一點(diǎn)毋庸置疑。不過，這種人很少見。
The men who voluntarily exiled themselves to an unknown coast, and endured there every toil and hardship for conscience' sake,
那些自愿將自己放逐到未知海岸的人，出于良心的緣故在那兒忍受千難萬苦，
and that they might serve God in their own manner, were not likely to set conscience at defiance, and make the service of God a mockery;
他們以自己的方式為上帝服務(wù)，這樣的人不可能將良知棄之不顧，嘲弄對上帝的虔敬。
they were not likely to be, neither were they, hypocrites.
這樣的人不可能，也不會(huì)是偽君子。
I do not know that it would be arrogating too much for them to say, that, on the extended surface of the globe,
我不曉得是否可以這樣說，在地球的廣闊大地上，
there was not a single community of men to be compared with them, in the respects of deep religious impressions and an exact performance of moral duty.
沒有哪個(gè)人類社會(huì)在強(qiáng)烈的宗教情感和道德責(zé)任的嚴(yán)格履行方面能與他們相比。
