← A Modest Proposal: For preventing the children of poor people in Ireland, from being a burden on their parents or country, and for making them beneficial to the publick

A Modest Proposal: For preventing the children of poor people in Ireland, from being a burden on their parents or country, and for making them beneficial to the publick — Page 11

English → Chinese Full Text Level 9/10

Secondly, The poorer tenants will have something valuable of their own, which by law may be made liable to a distress, and help to pay their landlord's rent, their corn and cattle being already seized, and money a thing unknown.

其二，较为贫穷的佃户将拥有属于自己的有价值之物，依法可将其扣押抵债，以助缴纳地主的租金，因为他们的粮食与牲畜已遭没收，而钱财更是无从谈起。

Thirdly, Whereas the maintainance of a hundred thousand children, from two years old, and upwards, cannot be computed at less than ten shillings a piece per annum, the nation's stock will be thereby encreased fifty thousand pounds per annum, besides the profit of a new dish, introduced to the tables of all gentlemen of fortune in the kingdom, who have any refinement in taste.

其三，养育十万名两岁及以上儿童，每人每年所需费用不低于十先令，如此算来，国家财富每年将因此增加五万英镑，此外尚不计将这道新菜引入全国各位有品味的富绅餐桌所带来的收益。

And the money will circulate among our selves, the goods being entirely of our own growth and manufacture.

且这些钱财将在我们本国流通，因为此类货品完全出自本国的生产与制造。

Fourthly, The constant breeders, besides the gain of eight shillings sterling per annum by the sale of their children, will be rid of the charge of maintaining them after the first year.

其四，那些频繁生育的妇女，除每年出售子女可获八先令收益外，还可免去第一年之后抚养孩子的负担。

Fifthly, This food would likewise bring great custom to taverns, where the vintners will certainly be so prudent as to procure the best receipts for dressing it to perfection; and consequently have their houses frequented by all the fine gentlemen, who justly value themselves upon their knowledge in good eating; and a skilful cook, who understands how to oblige his guests, will contrive to make it as expensive as they please.

其五，此种食材亦将为酒馆带来大批顾客，酒馆老板必会审时度势，钻研最佳烹调方法以求尽善尽美；由此，那些以精于饮食自诩的上流绅士们将纷至沓来；而善于取悦宾客的厨师，亦会想方设法将菜肴定价得尽可能高昂。

Sixthly, This would be a great inducement to marriage, which all wise nations have either encouraged by rewards, or enforced by laws and penalties.

其六，此举将大力促进婚姻，而一切明智的国家，无不以奖励鼓励婚嫁，或以法律与惩罚加以强制推行。

Vocabulary

其二: qí èr — Second point; used to introduce a second argument.
较为: jiào wéi — Relatively; comparatively more so.
贫穷: pínqióng — Poor; lacking money or resources.
佃户: diànhù — Tenant farmer who rents land from a landlord.
将: jiāng — Will; about to; used before a verb.
拥有: yōngyǒu — To own; to possess something.
属于: shǔyú — To belong to; to be part of.
自己: zìjǐ — Oneself; one's own.
价值: jiàzhí — Value; worth of something.
之物: zhī wù — Things of; objects belonging to a category.
依法: yīfǎ — According to law; legally.
其: qí — His; her; its; their (formal).
扣押: kòuyā — To detain; to seize as collateral or arrest.
抵债: dǐzhài — To pay off a debt with goods or assets.
以助: yǐ zhù — In order to help; so as to assist.
缴纳: jiǎonà — To pay; to submit fees or taxes.
地主: dìzhǔ — Landlord; person who owns land and rents it.
租金: zūjīn — Rent; payment for using property.
因为: yīnwèi — Because; due to the reason that.
粮食: liángshi — Grain; food crops; staple food supply.
与: yǔ — And; with; together with.
牲畜: shēngchù — Livestock; domesticated farm animals.
已遭: yǐ zāo — Have already suffered; have been subjected to.
没收: mòshōu — To confiscate; to seize property by authority.
而: ér — And; but; yet; connecting clauses.
钱财: qiáncái — Money and wealth; financial assets.
更是: gèng shì — Even more so; all the more.
无从谈起: wúcóng tán qǐ — Cannot even begin to discuss; out of the question.
其三: qí sān — Third point; used to introduce a third argument.
养育: yǎngyù — To raise and nurture children.
十万: shíwàn — One hundred thousand (100,000).
名: míng — Measure word for people.
两岁: liǎng suì — Two years old; age of two.
及: jí — And; as well as; reaching up to.
以上: yǐshàng — Above; more than; and over.
儿童: értóng — Children; young kids.
每人: měi rén — Per person; each individual.
每年: měi nián — Every year; annually.
所需: suǒ xū — Required; what is needed.
费用: fèiyòng — Cost; expenses; fees.
不低于: bù dīyú — No less than; at least a certain amount.
先令: xiānlìng — Shilling; former British monetary unit.
如此: rúcǐ — Thus; in this way; like this.
算来: suàn lái — Calculating this way; by this reckoning.
国家: guójiā — Country; nation; state.
财富: cáifù — Wealth; riches; financial resources.
因此: yīncǐ — Therefore; as a result; consequently.
增加: zēngjiā — To increase; to add to; to grow.
五万: wǔwàn — Fifty thousand (50,000).
英镑: yīngbàng — Pound sterling; British currency unit.
此外: cǐwài — Besides; in addition; furthermore.
尚不计: shàng bù jì — Not yet counting; excluding in addition.
这道: zhè dào — This (dish or course); measure word for dishes.
新菜: xīn cài — New dish; a newly introduced food item.
引入: yǐnrù — To introduce; to bring in something new.
全国: quánguó — The whole country; nationwide.
各位: gèwèi — Everyone; ladies and gentlemen (polite address).
品味: pǐnwèi — To taste; refined taste; aesthetic sensibility.
富绅: fùshēn — Wealthy gentleman; rich and influential person.
餐桌: cānzhuō — Dining table; the table where meals are eaten.
所: suǒ — Particle indicating what follows is a result.
带来: dài lái — To bring; to introduce; to produce a result.
收益: shōuyì — Revenue; profit; financial returns.
且: qiě — Moreover; and also; furthermore.
这些: zhèxiē — These; referring to nearby items.
本国: běnguó — Our own country; domestic; home nation.
流通: liútōng — To circulate; to flow; in economic circulation.
此类: cǐ lèi — This type; this kind; such goods.
货品: huòpǐn — Goods; merchandise; products.
完全: wánquán — Completely; entirely; fully.
出自: chūzì — To originate from; to come from a source.
生产: shēngchǎn — To produce; production; manufacturing.
制造: zhìzào — To manufacture; to make; to fabricate.
其四: qí sì — Fourth point; used to introduce a fourth argument.
那些: nàxiē — Those; referring to distant plural items.
频繁: pínfán — Frequent; happening often and repeatedly.
生育: shēngyù — To give birth; to bear children; reproduction.
妇女: fùnǚ — Women; adult females.
除: chú — Besides; in addition to; excluding.
出售: chūshòu — To sell; to put up for sale.
子女: zǐnǚ — Children; sons and daughters.
可获: kě huò — Can obtain; able to receive a gain.
外: wài — Outside; beyond; in addition to.
还可: hái kě — Can also; additionally able to.
免去: miǎnqù — To be relieved of; to exempt from a burden.
第一年: dì yī nián — The first year; the initial year.
之后: zhīhòu — After; afterwards; following that.
抚养: fǔyǎng — To raise; to support and care for children.
孩子: háizi — Child; kid; offspring.
负担: fùdān — Burden; load; financial or emotional pressure.
其五: qí wǔ — Fifth point; used to introduce a fifth argument.
此种: cǐ zhǒng — This type of; this kind of ingredient or thing.
食材: shícái — Ingredients; food materials used in cooking.
亦将: yì jiāng — Will also; shall likewise.
为: wèi — For; on behalf of; in order to benefit.
酒馆: jiǔguǎn — Tavern; inn; pub where alcohol is served.
大批: dàpī — Large numbers of; a great batch of.
顾客: gùkè — Customers; clients; patrons of a business.
老板: lǎobǎn — Boss; proprietor; owner of a business.
必会: bì huì — Will certainly; sure to; bound to.
审时度势: shěn shí duó shì — Assess the situation carefully and act accordingly.
钻研: zuānyán — To study deeply; to delve into a subject.
最佳: zuìjiā — Best; optimal; most suitable.
烹调: pēngtiáo — Cooking; culinary preparation of food.
方法: fāngfǎ — Method; way; approach to doing something.
以求: yǐ qiú — In order to achieve; so as to attain.
尽善尽美: jìn shàn jìn měi — To achieve perfection; as good as can be.
由此: yóucǐ — From this; hereby; as a result of this.
以: yǐ — With; by means of; using.
精于: jīng yú — To be skilled in; to excel at something.
饮食: yǐnshí — Food and drink; diet; eating habits.
自诩: zìxǔ — To boast about oneself; to pride oneself on.
上流: shàngliú — Upper class; high society; elite social stratum.
绅士们: shēnshìmen — Gentlemen; men of refined upper-class standing.
纷至沓来: fēn zhì tà lái — Arrive in succession; come flocking in large numbers.
善于: shànyú — To be good at; skilled in doing something.
取悦: qǔyuè — To please; to delight someone; to curry favor.
宾客: bīnkè — Guests; visitors; invited patrons.
厨师: chúshī — Chef; cook; professional kitchen worker.
亦会: yì huì — Will also; shall likewise be able to.
想方设法: xiǎng fāng shè fǎ — To try every possible means to achieve something.
菜肴: càiyáo — Dishes; cooked food; prepared culinary items.
定价: dìngjià — To set a price; pricing of goods or services.
得: de / děi — Must; need to; structural complement particle.
尽可能: jǐn kěnéng — As much as possible; to the greatest extent.
高昂: gāo'áng — High; expensive; lofty in price or spirit.
其六: qí liù — Sixth point; used to introduce a sixth argument.
此举: cǐ jǔ — This action; this measure; this move.
大力: dàlì — Vigorously; energetically; with great effort.
促进: cùjìn — To promote; to encourage; to facilitate growth.
婚姻: hūnyīn — Marriage; the institution of matrimony.
一切: yīqiè — Everything; all; every single thing.
明智: míngzhì — Wise; sensible; showing good judgment.
无不: wúbù — Without exception; invariably; all without fail.
奖励: jiǎnglì — To reward; incentive; award for good behavior.
鼓励: gǔlì — To encourage; to motivate someone positively.
婚嫁: hūnjià — Marriage; getting married; wedding matters.
或: huò — Or; either; alternatively.
法律: fǎlǜ — Law; legal regulations; the legal system.
惩罚: chéngfá — To punish; punishment; penalty for wrongdoing.
加以: jiāyǐ — To apply; to carry out an action upon something.
强制: qiángzhì — To compel; to force; coercive enforcement.
推行: tuīxíng — To implement; to carry out; to promote a policy.

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