The Scarlet Letter — Page 14

English → Chinese Full Text Level 8/10

At all events, I, the present writer, as their representative, hereby take shame upon myself for their sakes, and pray that any curse incurred by them—as I have heard, and as the dreary and unprosperous condition of the race, for many a long year back, would argue to exist—may be now and henceforth removed.

无论如何，我，本文的作者，作为他们的代表，在此为了他们的缘故，自愿承担羞耻，并祈祷他们所招致的任何诅咒——正如我所听闻的，也正如这个家族长久以来那阴郁而衰败的处境所印证的——如今能够从此得以解除。

Doubtless, however, either of these stern and black-browed Puritans would have thought it quite a sufficient retribution for his sins, that, after so long a lapse of years, the old trunk of the family tree, with so much venerable moss upon it, should have borne, as its topmost bough, an idler like myself.

然而，毫无疑问，这两位严峻而浓眉深锁的清教徒中的任何一位，都会认为这已是对他罪孽的充分惩罚——在如此漫长的岁月之后，那棵古老的家族之树，虽覆满令人肃然起敬的苔藓，却在其最高的枝头，结出了像我这般无所事事之人。

No aim, that I have ever cherished, would they recognize as laudable; no success of mine—if my life, beyond its domestic scope, had ever been brightened by success—would they deem otherwise than worthless, if not positively disgraceful.

我所曾怀抱的任何志向，在他们看来都不值得称赞；我所取得的任何成就——倘若我的生命在家庭范围之外曾有过任何成就的话——在他们眼中也不过是毫无价值，甚至是彻头彻尾的耻辱。

"What is he?" murmurs one gray shadow of my forefathers to the other.

「他是做什么的？」我的一位先祖的灰色幽灵喃喃地对另一位说道。

"A writer of story-books! What kind of a business in life—what mode of glorifying God, or being serviceable to mankind in his day and generation—may that be?

「一个故事书的作者！这算是什么样的营生——在他所处的时代，这能算是荣耀上帝或服务人类的何种方式呢？

Why, the degenerate fellow might as well have been a fiddler!"

哼，这个堕落之徒倒不如去当一名提琴手算了！」

Such are the compliments bandied between my great-grandsires and myself, across the gulf of time!

这便是我的先祖们与我之间，跨越时间的鸿沟所互赠的赞语！

And yet, let them scorn me as they will, strong traits of their nature have intertwined themselves with mine.

然而，尽管他们尽情地蔑视我，他们天性中强烈的特质已与我的天性深深交织在一起。

Vocabulary

无论如何: wúlùn rúhé — No matter what; regardless of the circumstances.
我: wǒ — First-person singular pronoun: I, me.
本文: běn wén — This text; the present article or writing.
的: de — Structural particle indicating possession or modification.
作者: zuòzhě — Author; the person who wrote something.
作为: zuòwéi — As; in the capacity or role of something.
他们: tāmen — Third-person plural pronoun: they, them.
代表: dàibiǎo — To represent; a representative or delegate.
在此: zài cǐ — Here; at this place or moment.
为了: wèile — For the sake of; in order to achieve something.
缘故: yuángù — Reason; cause or sake of something.
自愿: zìyuàn — Voluntarily; of one's own free will.
承担: chéngdān — To bear; to take on responsibility or burden.
羞耻: xiūchǐ — Shame; a feeling of disgrace or embarrassment.
并: bìng — And; furthermore; also connecting two actions.
祈祷: qídǎo — To pray; to offer a prayer or supplication.
所: suǒ — Particle used before verbs to nominalize them.
招致: zhāozhì — To incur; to bring about something undesirable.
任何: rènhé — Any; whichever; used in broad reference.
诅咒: zǔzhòu — A curse; to curse someone with evil wishes.
正如: zhèngrú — Just as; exactly like something previously stated.
听闻: tīngwén — To hear about; to learn of through hearing.
也: yě — Also; too; likewise connecting parallel statements.
这个: zhège — This; referring to a specific nearby thing.
家族: jiāzú — Family clan; an extended family lineage group.
长久: chángjiǔ — Long-lasting; for a prolonged period of time.
以来: yǐlái — Since; from a past point up to now.
那: nà — That; referring to something previously mentioned.
阴郁: yīnyù — Gloomy; dark and melancholy in atmosphere.
而: ér — And yet; but; connecting contrasting clauses.
衰败: shuāibài — Decline; deterioration into a ruined state.
处境: chǔjìng — Situation; circumstances one finds oneself in.
印证: yìnzhèng — To confirm; to verify through evidence or proof.
如今: rújīn — Nowadays; at the present time.
能够: nénggòu — To be able to; capable of doing something.
从此: cóngcǐ — From now on; henceforth after this point.
得以: déyǐ — To be able to; to have the chance to.
解除: jiěchú — To remove; to lift or dissolve something binding.
然而: rán'ér — However; nevertheless; introducing a contrasting statement.
毫无疑问: háowú yíwèn — Without any doubt; absolutely certain and unquestionable.
这: zhè — This; a demonstrative pronoun for nearby things.
两位: liǎng wèi — Two people; a polite counter for two individuals.
严峻: yánjùn — Stern; severe and uncompromising in manner.
浓眉深锁: nóng méi shēn suǒ — Heavy brows deeply furrowed in a serious frown.
清教徒: Qīngjiàotú — Puritan; a member of strict Protestant reform movement.
中: zhōng — Among; in the middle of a group.
一位: yī wèi — One person; polite measure word for an individual.
都会: dōu huì — Would all; every one of them would do.
认为: rènwéi — To think; to consider or hold an opinion.
已是: yǐ shì — Already is; this situation already constitutes something.
对: duì — Toward; for; directed at someone or something.
他: tā — Third-person masculine singular pronoun: he, him.
罪孽: zuìniè — Sin; grave moral wrongdoing or transgression.
充分: chōngfèn — Sufficient; fully adequate for the purpose.
惩罚: chéngfá — Punishment; penalty imposed for wrongdoing.
在: zài — At; in; located at a place or time.
如此: rúcǐ — Like this; such; in this manner.
漫长: màncháng — Long and seemingly endless; tediously prolonged.
岁月: suìyuè — Years; the passage of time over one's life.
之后: zhīhòu — After; following a particular time or event.
那棵: nà kē — That (tree); measure word for a specific tree.
古老: gǔlǎo — Ancient; very old and having long existed.
虽: suī — Although; even though; concessive conjunction.
覆满: fùmǎn — Covered entirely; completely coated with something.
令人: lìng rén — Causing people to feel; making one feel something.
肃然起敬: sùrán qǐ jìng — To feel deep reverence and awe spontaneously.
苔藓: táixiǎn — Moss; small green plants growing on surfaces.
却: què — Yet; but; however indicating contrast or surprise.
其: qí — Its; his/her/their classical possessive pronoun.
最高: zuìgāo — Highest; topmost; the greatest in height.
枝头: zhītóu — Branch tip; the top end of a tree branch.
结出: jiéchū — To bear or produce fruit on a plant.
了: le — Particle indicating completed action or change of state.
像: xiàng — Like; resembling; used for comparisons.
这般: zhèbān — Like this; of this sort or kind.
无所事事: wúsuǒ shìshì — Idle; having nothing to do; doing nothing.
曾: céng — Once; at some past time; ever having done.
怀抱: huáibào — To cherish; to harbor ambitions or hopes.
志向: zhìxiàng — Ambition; aspiration toward a meaningful goal.
看来: kànlái — It seems; apparently; based on appearances.
都: dōu — All; both; every one without exception.
不值得: bù zhídé — Not worth; undeserving of praise or effort.
称赞: chēngzàn — To praise; to commend someone's actions or qualities.
取得: qǔdé — To achieve; to obtain results or accomplishments.
成就: chéngjiù — Achievement; accomplishment attained through effort.
倘若: tǎngruò — If; supposing that; a conditional conjunction.
生命: shēngmìng — Life; existence as a living being.
家庭: jiātíng — Family; the domestic household unit.
范围: fànwéi — Scope; range or boundary of something.
之外: zhīwài — Outside of; beyond the limits of something.
有过: yǒuguò — Have had; to have experienced something before.
话: huà — Words; speech; something said or spoken.
眼中: yǎnzhōng — In the eyes of; from someone's perspective.
不过: búguò — Only; merely; nothing more than something.
是: shì — To be; linking subject and predicate.
毫无价值: háowú jiàzhí — Completely worthless; having absolutely no value.
甚至: shènzhì — Even; going so far as to include.
彻头彻尾: chètóu chèwěi — Through and through; completely and utterly so.
耻辱: chǐrǔ — Disgrace; deep humiliation or shameful dishonor.
做: zuò — To do; to make; to perform an action.
什么: shénme — What; used in questions about identity or nature.
先祖: xiānzǔ — Ancestors; forefathers from earlier generations.
灰色: huīsè — Gray; the color between black and white.
幽灵: yōulíng — Ghost; a spectral spirit of the deceased.
喃喃: nánnán — Murmuring; speaking in a soft low mumble.
地: de — Adverbial particle linking adverb to following verb.
另一位: lìng yī wèi — Another person; a different individual among several.
说道: shuōdào — Said; to say, used introducing quoted speech.
一个: yīgè — One; a single item, general measure word.
故事书: gùshishū — Storybook; a book containing fictional tales.
算是: suànshì — Count as; be considered as something approximately.
什么样: shénmeyàng — What kind of; asking about the type or nature.
营生: yíngshēng — Livelihood; a way of earning one's living.
所处: suǒchǔ — The place or era one exists in currently.
时代: shídài — Era; a period of time with distinct characteristics.
能: néng — Can; to be capable of doing something.
荣耀: róngyào — Glory; great honor and splendid distinction.
上帝: Shàngdì — God; the supreme deity in monotheistic religion.
或: huò — Or; alternatively; indicating a choice between options.
服务: fúwù — To serve; to provide service to others.
人类: rénlèi — Humanity; all human beings as a species.
何种: hé zhǒng — What kind of; which type or sort.
方式: fāngshì — Method; manner or way of doing something.
呢: ne — Modal particle expressing mild questioning or continuation.
哼: hēng — Humph; an interjection expressing contempt or displeasure.
堕落: duòluò — Depraved; morally fallen or corrupted person.
倒不如: dào bùrú — Better off; it would be preferable instead.
去: qù — To go; to proceed toward somewhere or action.
当: dāng — To become; to serve as a role.
一名: yī míng — One person; measure word for professional individuals.
提琴手: tíqínshǒu — Violinist; a person who plays the violin.
算了: suànle — Forget it; let it be; just give up.
便是: biàn shì — That would be; so it is; then so.
先祖们: xiānzǔmen — Ancestors; plural form of forefathers or predecessors.
与: yǔ — With; and; between two parties or things.
之间: zhījiān — Between; among; in the space separating two things.
跨越: kuàyuè — To span; to cross over a gap or distance.
时间: shíjiān — Time; the dimension in which events occur.
鸿沟: hónggōu — A vast chasm; an unbridgeable gap or divide.
互赠: hùzèng — To exchange gifts or compliments with each other.
赞语: zànyǔ — Words of praise; complimentary remarks or commendations.
尽管: jǐnguǎn — Although; even though; despite the fact that.
尽情: jìnqíng — To one's heart's content; freely without restraint.
蔑视: mièshì — To scorn; to look down on with contempt.
天性: tiānxìng — Natural disposition; innate character traits one has.
强烈: qiángliè — Intense; strong and powerful in degree.
特质: tèzhì — Characteristic quality; a distinctive trait or feature.
已: yǐ — Already; having occurred before the present moment.
深深: shēnshēn — Deeply; profoundly affecting something at a deep level.
交织: jiāozhī — Intertwined; woven together in a complex mix.
一起: yīqǐ — Together; in the same place or jointly.

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