美国语文第六册 第101期:拿破仑·波拿巴的性格(1)

 He is fallen! 他倒下了！

We may now pause before that splendid prodigy¹, which towered among us like some ancient ruin, whose power terrified the glance its magnificence attracted. 现在，我们在这位举世罕见的奇才面前驻足，他就像某些古代遗迹那样伫立在我们中间，他的威力令投向他那富丽堂皇外表的目光慑服。

Grand, gloomy, and peculiar², he sat upon the throne a sceptered hermit³, wrapt in the solitude⁴ of his own originality⁵. 高傲、沮丧和异乎寻常，他坐在一位被授予权杖的隐士坐过的宝座上，周身笼罩着他独有的孤独。

A mind, bold, independent, and decisive; a will, despotic in its dictates⁶; 他的想法大胆，有主见，坚决果断；他的意志体现出独裁者的专横；

an energy that distanced expedition; and a conscience, pliable⁷ to every touch of interest, 他有进行长距离远征的旺盛精力；他的良心易受每一切身利益的影响。

marked the outlines of this extraordinary character — the most extraordinary, perhaps, that in the annals of this world ever rose, or reigned⁸, or fell. 这种奇特的性格以上述特征为标志——也许，最不同寻常的就体现在这个世界总是兴起、占主导地位和覆灭的编年史之中。

Flung into life in the midst of a revolution that quickened every energy of a people who acknowledged no superior, 扑进一场大革命，这场革命很快将认为不存在优越感的人们调集起来，

he commenced his course, a stranger by birth, and a scholar by charity. 他开始了自己的伟大航程，一个天生的陌生人、一个悲天悯人的学者。

With no friend but his sword, and no fortune but his talents, 没有朋友，只有手中的利刃；没有财产，但有的是才具，

he rushed into the lists where rank, and wealth, and genius had arrayed themselves, and competition fled from him, as from the glance of destiny. 他匆忙进入按等级、财富和天才排列的名单，但他逃离了竞争，也逃离了命运的眷顾。

He knew no motive⁹ but interest; acknowledged no criterion but success; he worshiped no God but ambition; 他的眼中只有利益，没有动机；他只认可成功，而不论标准；他奉为神明的不是上帝，而是野心。

and, with an eastern devotion, he knelt at the shrine¹⁰ of his idolatry. 凭借一种东方式的虔诚，他拜倒在自己偶像崇拜的神龛前。

 

1 prodigy   

n.惊人的事物，奇迹，神童，天才，预兆

参考例句：

• She was a child prodigy on the violin.她是神童小提琴手。
• He was always a Negro prodigy who played barbarously and wonderfully.他始终是一个黑人的奇才，这种奇才弹奏起来粗野而惊人。

2 peculiar   

adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的

参考例句：

• He walks in a peculiar fashion.他走路的样子很奇特。
• He looked at me with a very peculiar expression.他用一种很奇怪的表情看着我。

3 hermit   

n.隐士，修道者；隐居

参考例句：

• He became a hermit after he was dismissed from office.他被解职后成了隐士。
• Chinese ancient landscape poetry was in natural connections with hermit culture.中国古代山水诗与隐士文化有着天然联系。

4 solitude   

n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方

参考例句：

• People need a chance to reflect on spiritual matters in solitude. 人们需要独处的机会来反思精神上的事情。
• They searched for a place where they could live in solitude. 他们寻找一个可以过隐居生活的地方。

5 originality   

n.创造力，独创性；新颖

参考例句：

• The name of the game in pop music is originality.流行音乐的本质是独创性。
• He displayed an originality amounting almost to genius.他显示出近乎天才的创造性。

6 dictates   

n.命令，规定，要求( dictate的名词复数 )v.大声讲或读( dictate的第三人称单数 )；口授；支配；摆布

参考例句：

• Convention dictates that a minister should resign in such a situation. 依照常规部长在这种情况下应该辞职。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He always follows the dictates of common sense. 他总是按常识行事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 pliable   

adj.易受影响的；易弯的；柔顺的，易驾驭的

参考例句：

• Willow twigs are pliable.柳条很软。
• The finely twined baskets are made with young,pliable spruce roots.这些编织精美的篮子是用柔韧的云杉嫩树根编成的。

8 reigned   

vi.当政，统治（reign的过去式形式）

参考例句：

• Silence reigned in the hall. 全场肃静。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Night was deep and dead silence reigned everywhere. 夜深人静，一片死寂。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

9 motive   

n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的

参考例句：

• The police could not find a motive for the murder.警察不能找到谋杀的动机。
• He had some motive in telling this fable.他讲这寓言故事是有用意的。

10 shrine   

n.圣地，神龛，庙；v.将...置于神龛内，把...奉为神圣

参考例句：

• The shrine was an object of pilgrimage.这处圣地是人们朝圣的目的地。
• They bowed down before the shrine.他们在神龛前鞠躬示敬。