Frankenstein; or, the modern prometheus — Page 1
我生于日内瓦，我的家族是那个共和国最显赫的家族之一。
I am by birth a Genevese, and my family is one of the most distinguished of that republic.
我的祖先多年来一直担任顾问和行政长官，我父亲也曾以荣誉和声望担任过多项公职。
My ancestors had been for many years counsellors and syndics, and my father had filled several public situations with honour and reputation.
所有认识他的人都因他的正直和对公务孜孜不倦的尽心而尊重他。
He was respected by all who knew him for his integrity and indefatigable attention to public business.
他年轻的岁月都全心投入在国家事务之中；种种原因使他未能早婚，直到人生迟暮之年，他才成为丈夫和一家之主。
He passed his younger days perpetually occupied by the affairs of his country; a variety of circumstances had prevented his marrying early, nor was it until the decline of life that he became a husband and the father of a family.
由于他婚姻的经过正好能说明他的性格，我忍不住要将其讲述出来。
As the circumstances of his marriage illustrate his character, I cannot refrain from relating them.
他最亲密的朋友之一是一位商人，此人曾家业兴旺，却因接连不断的变故而陷入贫困。
One of his most intimate friends was a merchant who, from a flourishing state, fell, through numerous mischances, into poverty.
这个人名叫博福特，性情高傲倔强，无法忍受在曾经以地位和荣华显赫一时的故土上，沦为贫穷而默默无闻之人。
This man, whose name was Beaufort, was of a proud and unbending disposition and could not bear to live in poverty and oblivion in the same country where he had formerly been distinguished for his rank and magnificence.
因此，他以最体面的方式还清了债务，之后便带着女儿退隐到卢塞恩小城，在那里过着默默无闻、悲苦潦倒的生活。
Having paid his debts, therefore, in the most honourable manner, he retreated with his daughter to the town of Lucerne, where he lived unknown and in wretchedness.
我父亲以最真挚的友情深爱着博福特，对他在这样不幸的处境下隐退而深感悲痛。
My father loved Beaufort with the truest friendship and was deeply grieved by his retreat in these unfortunate circumstances.
他痛切地惋惜那虚假的自尊，正是这种自尊使他的朋友做出了如此有负于他们之间深厚情谊的行为。
He bitterly deplored the false pride which led his friend to a conduct so little worthy of the affection that united them.
Vocabulary
- birth
- 出生；诞生的时刻或事实
- Genevese
- 日内瓦人；与瑞士日内瓦有关的
- distinguished
- 杰出的；声望显赫、受人尊敬的
- republic
- 共和国；由选举产生领导人的国家
- ancestors
- 祖先；家族中比自己早几代的人
- counsellors
- 顾问；提供建议或担任议员的人
- syndics
- 市政官员；负责管理城市事务的官员
- situations
- 职位；处境；所处的状况或岗位
- honour
- 荣誉；良好的道德品质和声望
- reputation
- 名誉；他人对某人品行的总体评价
- respected
- 被尊敬的；得到他人敬重
- integrity
- 诚实正直；坚守道德原则的品质
- indefatigable
- 不知疲倦的；持续努力从不懈怠
- attention
- 注意力；专心关注某事
- perpetually
- 永久地；持续不断地，从不停止
- occupied
- 忙于；专注于某事或某活动
- affairs
- 事务；公共或个人相关的事情
- variety
- 多样性；各种不同的事物
- circumstances
- 情况；影响某事发生的各种条件
- prevented
- prevent的过去式；阻止某事发生
- nor
- 也不；用于否定句中连接并列成分
- decline
- 衰退；人生晚年或体力下降的阶段
- illustrate
- 说明；用例子或事实阐释某观点
- character
- 品格；一个人的性格和道德特质
- refrain
- 克制；忍住不去做某事
- relating
- 讲述；叙述某个故事或事件
- intimate
- 亲密的；关系非常亲近友好的
- merchant
- 商人；从事买卖贸易的人
- flourishing
- 繁荣的；发展兴盛、成功的状态
- state
- 状态；情形；也指国家或州
- numerous
- 许多的；数量很多的
- mischances
- 不幸；意外的坏运气或灾祸
- poverty
- 贫困；极度缺乏金钱和物质的状态
- proud
- 骄傲的；自尊心强、不愿低头
- unbending
- 坚定不屈的；态度强硬、不妥协的
- disposition
- 性情；一个人天生的性格倾向
- bear
- 忍受；承受某种痛苦或困难
- oblivion
- 默默无闻；被人完全遗忘的状态
- formerly
- 以前；在过去某个时间
- rank
- 地位；社会阶层或职位高低
- magnificence
- 华丽壮观；极为奢华和气派的状态
- debts
- 债务；欠他人的钱或应还的款项
- therefore
- 因此；表示结果或结论的连接副词
- honourable
- 光荣的；符合道德、值得尊敬的方式
- manner
- 方式；做事的方法或态度
- retreated
- retreat的过去式；退隐，撤退到某处
- unknown
- 不为人知的；没有名气或身份不明
- wretchedness
- 悲惨；极度痛苦和不幸的状态
- truest
- true的最高级；最真诚、最忠实的
- friendship
- 友谊；朋友之间深厚的情感关系
- deeply
- 深深地；程度非常深的
- grieved
- grieve的过去式；因悲痛而深感难过
- retreat
- 退隐；离开原来环境去偏僻之处
- unfortunate
- 不幸的；遭受厄运或处境悲惨的
- bitterly
- 痛苦地；极度悲伤或愤怒地
- deplored
- deplore的过去式；强烈谴责或深感遗憾
- false
- 虚假的；不真实或不正确的
- pride
- 骄傲；对自身过度的自尊或自负
- conduct
- 行为；一个人的举止或行动方式
- worthy
- 值得的；配得上某种对待或尊重
- affection
- 感情；对他人温柔的爱或喜爱
- united
- unite的过去式；联合，将两者结合在一起
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