← Leviathan

Leviathan — Page 4

English → Chinese Preface Level 9/10

For in a way beset with those that contend on one side for too great Liberty, and on the other side for too much Authority, 'tis hard to passe between the points of both unwounded.

因为在这条道路上,一侧有人争辩自由过度,另一侧有人争辩权威过甚,要在两者之间穿行而不受创伤,实属不易。

But yet, me thinks, the endeavour to advance the Civill Power, should not be by the Civill Power condemned;

然而,我以为,致力于提升公民权力之举,不应受到公民权力本身的谴责;

nor private men, by reprehending it, declare they think that Power too great.

私人之人亦不应以批驳此举来表明他们认为该权力过于强大。

Besides, I speak not of the men, but (in the Abstract) of the Seat of Power, (like to those simple and unpartiall creatures in the Roman Capitol, that with their noyse defended those within it, not because they were they, but there) offending none, I think, but those without, or such within (if there be any such) as favour them.

此外,我所论及的并非具体的人,而是(抽象而言)权力的所在之处,(犹如罗马卡比托利欧山上那些朴实而公正的动物,以其鸣叫守护其中之人,并非因为那些人是谁,而是因为他们身处其中)我想,此举冒犯的不过是城外之人,或城内(若有此类人)袒护城外之人者。

That which perhaps may most offend, are certain Texts of Holy Scripture, alledged by me to other purpose than ordinarily they use to be by others.

或许最易引起冒犯的,乃是我所援引的若干《圣经》经文,其用途与他人惯常所用有所不同。

But I have done it with due submission, and also (in order to my Subject) necessarily;

然而我此举怀有应有的谦恭之心,且(就我论题而言)亦属必要;

for they are the Outworks of the Enemy, from whence they impugne the Civill Power.

因为那些经文乃是敌方的外围工事,敌人借此攻击公民权力。

Vocabulary

因为
yīnwèi — because; due to a reason
zài — at, in, on; to be located at
这条
zhè tiáo — this (measure word for roads/paths)
道路
dàolù — road, path, way forward
shàng — on, above, upon a surface
一侧
yī cè — one side, one flank
有人
yǒu rén — there are people; someone argues
争辩
zhēngbiàn — to argue, debate, dispute a point
自由
zìyóu — freedom, liberty, free from restraint
过度
guòdù — excessive, going beyond proper limits
另一侧
lìng yī cè — the other side, opposite flank
权威
quánwēi — authority, power, authoritative figure
过甚
guòshèn — going too far, excessively strong
yào — to want; to need; must
两者
liǎng zhě — both parties, the two sides
之间
zhī jiān — between, among, in the middle
穿行
chuānxíng — to navigate through, pass between obstacles
ér — and yet, but, while (conjunction)
不受
bù shòu — not suffer, not be subjected to
创伤
chuāngshāng — trauma, wound, injury inflicted
实属
shí shǔ — truly is, genuinely constitutes
不易
bù yì — not easy, difficult to accomplish
然而
rán'ér — however, nevertheless, yet
wǒ — I, me, myself
以为
yǐwéi — to think, believe, consider
致力于
zhìlì yú — to dedicate oneself to, commit to
提升
tíshēng — to elevate, improve, promote
公民
gōngmín — citizen, civilian member of society
权力
quánlì — power, authority, political power
之举
zhī jǔ — such an act, this kind of action
不应
bù yīng — should not, ought not to
受到
shòudào — to receive, be subjected to
本身
běnshēn — itself, in itself, inherently
de — structural particle indicating possession or modification
谴责
qiǎnzé — to condemn, censure, blame
私人
sīrén — private individual, personal
之人
zhī rén — such persons, people of that kind
yì — also, likewise (literary)
yǐ — by means of, using, with
批驳
pībó — to refute, rebut, criticize an argument
此举
cǐ jǔ — this action, this measure taken
lái — to come; used to indicate purpose
表明
biǎomíng — to indicate, make clear, demonstrate
他们
tāmen — they, them (plural third person)
认为
rènwéi — to think, consider, hold the view
gāi — that; should; the said (referential)
过于
guòyú — too, excessively, overly strong
强大
qiángdà — powerful, strong, mighty
此外
cǐwài — furthermore, in addition, besides
所论及
suǒ lùn jí — what is discussed, matters touched upon
并非
bìng fēi — is not, not at all (emphatic negation)
具体
jùtǐ — concrete, specific, particular
rén — person, people, human being
而是
ér shì — but rather, instead it is
抽象
chōuxiàng — abstract, theoretical, not concrete
而言
ér yán — speaking of, in terms of
所在
suǒzài — where something is located, the place
之处
zhī chù — the place where, location of
犹如
yóurú — just like, resembling, similar to
罗马
Luómǎ — Rome, the city of Rome, Italy
那些
nàxiē — those, those particular ones
朴实
pǔshí — simple, plain, honest and unadorned
公正
gōngzhèng — just, fair, impartial
动物
dòngwù — animal, creature
以其
yǐ qí — using their, by means of their own
鸣叫
míngjiào — to cry out, make animal calls
守护
shǒuhù — to guard, protect, watch over
其中
qízhōng — among them, within it
那些人
nàxiē rén — those people, those particular individuals
是谁
shì shuí — who is it, who are they
身处
shēnchǔ — to be situated in, find oneself at
我想
wǒ xiǎng — I think, I believe, I suppose
冒犯
màofàn — to offend, affront, cause offense
不过是
bùguò shì — merely is, nothing more than
城外
chéng wài — outside the city walls
huò — or, either, alternatively
城内
chéng nèi — inside the city, within city walls
若有
ruò yǒu — if there are, should there be
此类人
cǐ lèi rén — such people, persons of this kind
袒护
tǎnhù — to shield, protect, take sides for
zhě — one who, person that (suffix)
或许
huòxǔ — perhaps, maybe, possibly
最易
zuì yì — most easily, most likely to
引起
yǐnqǐ — to cause, trigger, arouse
乃是
nǎi shì — is indeed, it is precisely
所援引
suǒ yuányǐn — what is cited, that which is quoted
若干
ruògān — several, a certain number of
圣经
Shèngjīng — the Bible, Holy Scripture
经文
jīngwén — scripture passage, biblical text
qí — its, their, his/her (literary pronoun)
用途
yòngtú — use, application, purpose
yǔ — and, with, together with
他人
tārén — other people, others
惯常
guàncháng — customary, habitual, usual practice
所用
suǒ yòng — what is used, the usage employed
有所
yǒu suǒ — somewhat, to some degree, having
不同
bùtóng — different, unlike, not the same
怀有
huáiyǒu — to harbor, hold, cherish a feeling
应有
yīng yǒu — due, proper, what one ought to have
谦恭
qiāngōng — humble, respectful, modest in manner
之心
zhī xīn — such a heart, that kind of mindset
qiě — and, moreover, furthermore (literary)
jiù — regarding, as for, with respect to
论题
lùntí — topic of discussion, thesis subject
亦属
yì shǔ — also belongs to, is also considered
必要
bìyào — necessary, essential, required
敌方
dí fāng — the enemy's side, opposing party
外围
wàiwéi — outer perimeter, surrounding area
工事
gōngshì — fortification, military earthwork
敌人
dírén — enemy, foe, adversary
借此
jiè cǐ — using this, by means of this
攻击
gōngjī — to attack, assault, strike against
← Previous Next →

Unlock audio playback, vocabulary games, and reading progress tracking.

Create free account →