美国语文第六册 第109期:沃尔浦尔反驳皮特先生的演讲(1)

 I was unwilling¹ to interrupt the course of this debate, while it was carried on with calmness and decency², 我不愿意中断这场辩论的进程，这场辩论以温和而高雅的方式进行，

by men who do not suffer the ardor³ of opposition⁴ to cloud their reason, 参加辩论的人们不堪忍受对方的狂热致使其失去理性，

or transport them to such expressions as the dignity of this assembly does not admit. 或将他们导向这样庄严的集会所不允许的表述。

I have hitherto deferred⁵ answering the gentleman, who declaimed against the bill with such fluency⁶ and rhetoric⁷, and such vehemence⁸ of gesture; 到目前为止，我推迟回答这位绅士提出的问题，他以强烈的姿态宣称反对如此流畅和讲究言辞的议案。

who charged the advocates for the expedients⁹ now proposed, with having no regard to any interests but their own, 指责那些拥护该权宜之计的人，没有考虑各方的利益，只看了自己的利益，

and with making laws only to consume paper, and threatened them with the defection of their adherents¹⁰, 制订的法律毫无用处徒费纸张而已，现在提出自己的看法，用拥护者的背叛来威胁他们，

and the loss of their influence, upon this new discovery of their folly¹¹ and ignorance. 针对他们的愚蠢和无知这一新的发现，他们显得语无伦次。

Nor, do I now answer him for any other purpose than to remind him 我现在不管出于任何其他原因，当然不会对他的任何指责做出回答，我只想提醒他，

how little the clamor of rage and petulancy of invective¹² contribute to the end for which this assembly is called together; 大吵大闹地发泄愤怒和气急败坏的猛烈抨击，对于结束这场将众人召集起来的大会毫无助益，

how little the discovery of truth is promoted, and the security of the nation established, by pompous¹³ diction and theatrical¹⁴ emotion. 对于发现真理和确立国家安全来说，通过夸张的言辞和威胁的神情也毫无意义。

Formidable sounds and furious declamation, confident assertions and lofty periods, may affect the young and inexperienced; 可怕的喧嚣和用慷慨激昂的演说来宣泄狂怒，有自信心的主张和表现出高高在上的傲慢，也许会影响年轻人和无甚经验的人；

 

1 unwilling   

adj.不情愿的

参考例句：

• The natives were unwilling to be bent by colonial power.土著居民不愿受殖民势力的摆布。
• His tightfisted employer was unwilling to give him a raise.他那吝啬的雇主不肯给他加薪。

2 decency   

n.体面，得体，合宜，正派，庄重

参考例句：

• His sense of decency and fair play made him refuse the offer.他的正直感和公平竞争意识使他拒绝了这一提议。
• Your behaviour is an affront to public decency.你的行为有伤风化。

3 ardor   

n.热情，狂热

参考例句：

• His political ardor led him into many arguments.他的政治狂热使他多次卷入争论中。
• He took up his pursuit with ardor.他满腔热忱地从事工作。

4 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

5 deferred   

adj.延期的，缓召的v.拖延，延缓，推迟( defer的过去式和过去分词 )；服从某人的意愿，遵从

参考例句：

• The department deferred the decision for six months. 这个部门推迟了六个月才作决定。
• a tax-deferred savings plan 延税储蓄计划

6 fluency   

n.流畅，雄辩，善辩

参考例句：

• More practice will make you speak with greater fluency.多练习就可以使你的口语更流利。
• Some young children achieve great fluency in their reading.一些孩子小小年纪阅读已经非常流畅。

7 rhetoric   

n.修辞学，浮夸之言语

参考例句：

• Do you know something about rhetoric?你懂点修辞学吗？
• Behind all the rhetoric,his relations with the army are dangerously poised.在冠冕堂皇的言辞背后，他和军队的关系岌岌可危。

8 vehemence   

n.热切；激烈；愤怒

参考例句：

• The attack increased in vehemence.进攻越来越猛烈。
• She was astonished at his vehemence.她对他的激昂感到惊讶。

9 expedients   

n.应急有效的，权宜之计的( expedient的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• He is full of [fruitful in] expedients. 他办法多。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• Perhaps Calonne might return too, with fresh financial expedients. 或许卡洛纳也会回来，带有新的财政机谋。 来自辞典例句

10 adherents   

n.支持者，拥护者( adherent的名词复数 )；党羽；徒子徒孙

参考例句：

• He is a leader with many adherents. 他是个有众多追随者的领袖。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The proposal is gaining more and more adherents. 该建议得到越来越多的支持者。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 folly   

n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话

参考例句：

• Learn wisdom by the folly of others.从别人的愚蠢行动中学到智慧。
• Events proved the folly of such calculations.事情的进展证明了这种估计是愚蠢的。

12 invective   

n.痛骂，恶意抨击

参考例句：

• He retorted the invective on her.他用恶言讽刺还击她。
• His command of irony and invective was said to be very classic and lethal.据说他嬉笑怒骂的本领是极其杰出的，令人无法招架的。

13 pompous   

adj.傲慢的，自大的；夸大的；豪华的

参考例句：

• He was somewhat pompous and had a high opinion of his own capabilities.他有点自大，自视甚高。
• He is a good man underneath his pompous appearance. 他的外表虽傲慢，其实是个好人。

14 theatrical   

adj.剧场的，演戏的；做戏似的，做作的

参考例句：

• The final scene was dismayingly lacking in theatrical effect.最后一场缺乏戏剧效果，叫人失望。
• She always makes some theatrical gesture.她老在做些夸张的手势。