美國語文第六冊 第258期:印第安耍把戲者(5)
然而，我能做的也就是這些了。就一個主題，我極力回想所有我曾經聽到的或者有關的思考，盡可能恰到好處地表述出來。
Instead of writing on four subjects at a time, it is as much as I can manage, to keep the thread of one discourse clear and unentangled.
我當然不會一次就四個主題侃侃下筆，這遠非我能力所及，我能做到的就是使一篇文章的線索清晰和簡單化。
I have also time on my hands to correct my opinions and polish my periods; but the one I can not, and the other I will not, do.
我也把有限的時間用在糾正我的觀點和修飾詞藻上;但是，有的我不能做，而其他的我又不會做。
I am fond of arguing; yet, with a good deal of pains and practice, it is often much as I can do to beat my man, though he may be a very indifferent hand.
我熱衷于辯論;然而，借此產生的許多苦惱和經驗，通常都會極大地挫傷自我，盡管他也許是非常平庸的一個人。
A common fencer would disarm his adversary in the twinkling of an eye, unless he were a professor like himself.
一般的劍術家會在眨眼之間令對手怒氣全消，除非他是一個顧影自憐的教授。
A stroke of wit will sometimes produce this effect, but there is no such power or superiority in sense or reasoning.
風趣有時就有這種效果，但是在理性或推理層面上，沒有這樣的感染力或優(yōu)越感。
There is no complete mastery of execution to be shown there; and you hardly know the professor from the impudent pretender or the mere clown.
那里沒有顯示出對技巧的完美掌握和駕馭，從粗魯無禮的覬覦高位者或者純粹行為荒誕不經的人看法出發(fā)，你根本無法洞悉這位教授的內心世界。
