History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire — Volume 1 — Page 14
A second attentive and regular perusal of the entire work, of the notes of the author, and of those which I had thought it right to subjoin, showed me how much I had exaggerated the importance of the reproaches which Gibbon really deserved;
作品全体、著者の注釈、そして私が付け加えるのが適切と考えた注釈を、二度目に注意深く丁寧に通読したことで、ギボンが本当に受けるべき批判の重要性を私がいかに誇張していたかが明らかになった。
I was struck with the same errors, the same partiality on certain subjects;
私は同じ誤り、特定の主題における同じ偏向に気づいた。
but I had been far from doing adequate justice to the immensity of his researches, the variety of his knowledge, and above all, to that truly philosophical discrimination (_justesse d'esprit_) which judges the past as it would judge the present;
しかし私は、彼の研究の膨大さ、彼の知識の多様さ、そして何よりも、現在を判断するのと同様に過去を判断する、真に哲学的な識別力（_精神の的確さ_）に対して、十分な評価を与えるには程遠かった。
which does not permit itself to be blinded by the clouds which time gathers around the dead, and which prevent us from seeing that, under the toga, as under the modern dress, in the senate as in our councils, men were what they still are, and that events took place eighteen centuries ago, as they take place in our days.
その識別力は、時が死者の周囲に集める雲に盲目にされることを自らに許さず、トーガの下でも現代の衣服の下でも、元老院でも我々の議会でも、人間はいまだにかつてのままであり、十八世紀前に起きた出来事も現代に起きる出来事と変わらないということを、我々が見えなくなることを防ぐものである。
I then felt that his book, in spite of its faults, will always be a noble work—and that we may correct his errors and combat his prejudices, without ceasing to admit that few men have combined, if we are not to say in so high a degree, at least in a manner so complete, and so well regulated, the necessary qualifications for a writer of history.
そして私は、彼の著作は、その欠点にもかかわらず、常に崇高な作品であり続けるであろうと感じた。また、これほど高い水準とまでは言わないにしても、少なくともこれほど完全かつ整然とした形で、歴史家に必要な資質を兼ね備えた人間はほとんどいないということを認めることをやめずに、彼の誤りを正し、彼の偏見に立ち向かうことができると感じた。
Vocabulary
- 作品
- sakuhin — A work of art, literature, or creative production.
- 全体
- zentai — The whole, entirety, or complete picture overall.
- 著者
- chosha — An author or writer of a book or text.
- 注釈
- chuushaku — A note, annotation, or explanatory comment.
- そして
- soshite — And then, and also, furthermore, moreover.
- 付け加える
- tsukekaeru — To add, attach, or append something additional.
- 適切
- tekisetsu — Appropriate, suitable, fitting, or proper.
- 考え
- kangae — A thought, idea, opinion, or way of thinking.
- 二度目
- nidome — The second time, second occurrence, or second instance.
- 注意深く
- chuuibukai — Carefully, attentively, or with careful attention.
- 丁寧
- teinei — Polite, careful, detailed, or thorough in manner.
- 通読
- tsuudoku — To read through entirely or read from beginning to end.
- こと
- koto — A thing, matter, fact, or action undertaken.
- 本当
- hontou — Truth, reality, authenticity, or genuine actuality.
- 受ける
- ukeru — To receive, accept, undergo, or experience something.
- べき
- beki — Should, ought to, must, or should do.
- 批判
- hihan — Criticism, critique, or critical evaluation assessment.
- 重要性
- juuyousei — Importance, significance, or the state of being important.
- いかに
- ikani — How, in what way, or by what means.
- 誇張
- kochou — Exaggeration, overstatement, or magnification of facts.
- 明らか
- akiraka — Clear, obvious, evident, or plainly apparent.
- 同じ
- onaji — Same, identical, equal, or the very same.
- 誤り
- ayamari — An error, mistake, or incorrect action taken.
- 特定
- tokutei — Specific, particular, designated, or identified thing.
- 主題
- shudai — A theme, subject, or main topic addressed.
- 偏向
- henkou — Bias, prejudice, partiality, or slanted viewpoint.
- 気づい
- kizui — Noticed, became aware of, or perceived something.
- しかし
- shikashi — However, but, nevertheless, or yet still.
- 研究
- kenkyuu — Research, study, investigation, or scholarly examination.
- 膨大
- boudai — Enormous, vast, huge, or extremely large amount.
- 知識
- chishiki — Knowledge, information, understanding, or learned facts.
- 多様
- tayou — Diverse, varied, varied types, or multiple kinds.
- 何より
- nanimoyori — Most of all, above all, especially importantly.
- 現在
- genzai — Present, now, current time, or at present.
- 判断
- handan — Judgment, decision, assessment, or evaluation determination.
- する
- suru — To do, to make, to perform, or to act.
- 同様
- douyou — Same way, likewise, similarly, or in the manner.
- 過去
- kako — Past, history, previous time, or bygone era.
- 哲学的
- tetsugakuteki — Philosophical, relating to philosophy or philosophical thought.
- 識別力
- shikibetsutsuryoku — Discernment, ability to distinguish, or perceptive ability.
- 精神
- seishin — Spirit, mind, soul, or the spiritual essence.
- 的確
- tekikaku — Accurate, precise, correct, or aptly stated.
- に対して
- nitaishite — Against, toward, to, or in contrast with.
- 十分
- juubun — Sufficient, adequate, enough, or plenty available.
- 評価
- hyouka — Evaluation, assessment, appraisal, or valuation rating.
- 与える
- ataeru — To give, grant, bestow, or confer upon.
- その
- sono — That, that particular, the specific one mentioned.
- 死者
- shisha — The dead, deceased person, or the departed.
- 周囲
- shuui — Surroundings, vicinity, circumference, or around area.
- 集める
- atsumeru — To gather, collect, assemble, or bring together.
- 盲目
- moumoku — Blindness, blind, sightless, or without vision.
- 自ら
- mizukara — Oneself, by oneself, personally, or of one's own.
- 現代
- gendai — Modern times, contemporary period, or the present age.
- 衣服
- ifuku — Clothing, clothes, garments, or wearable items.
- 我々
- wareware — We, us, ourselves, or our people collectively.
- 議会
- gikai — Parliament, assembly, congress, or legislative body.
- 人間
- ningen — A human being, person, or human individual.
- いまだ
- imada — Still, yet, not yet, or hitherto still.
- かつて
- katsute — Once, formerly, in the past, or previously.
- まま
- mama — As is, just as, in the manner unchanged.
- あり
- ari — Exists, there is, have, or being present.
- 世紀
- seiki — Century, period of one hundred years time.
- 起き
- oki — Woke up, arose, happened, or occurred event.
- 出来事
- dekigoto — An event, incident, occurrence, or happening.
- 起きる
- okiru — To happen, occur, wake up, or arise.
- ない
- nai — Not, doesn't, isn't, or negative suffix.
- という
- toiu — Called, named, that is, or so-called.
- 見え
- mie — Appears, seems, looks, or is visible.
- なく
- naku — Not, without, negation, or negative particle form.
- なる
- naru — To become, turn into, grow, or change.
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