Jonathan Swift - Resolutions When I Come to Be Old 汉译

Not to marry a young Woman.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

Not to keep young Company.

Not to be peevish, or morose, or suspicious.

Not to scorn present Ways, or Wits, or Fashions, or Men, or War, &c.

Not to be fond of Children.

Not to tell the same Story over and over to the same People.

Not to be covetous.

Not to neglect decency, or cleanliness, for fear of falling into Nastiness.

Not to be over severe with young People, but to give allowances for their youthful follies and weaknesses.

Not to be influenced by, or give ear to knavish tattling servants, or others.

Not to be too free of advice, not trouble any but those that desire it.

To desire some good Friends to inform me which of these Resolutions I break, or neglect, & wherein; and reform accordingly.

Not to talk much, nor of myself.

Not to boast of my former beauty, or strength, or favour with ladies, &c.

Not to hearken to Flatteries, nor conceive I can be beloved by a young woman, et eos qui hoereditatem captant, odisse ac vitare.

Not to be positive or opiniative.

Not to set up for observing all these Rules, for fear that I should observe none.

 

预拟老年决心

斯威夫特

 

不娶年轻老婆。

不同年轻人作伴，除非人家真心要求。

不暴躁，发愣，或多疑。

不嘲笑当今的风气、俏皮话、时装、人物、战争等等。

不亲儿童，或让他们随便接近。

不对同样的人老说同样的故事。

不贪婪。

不可忽略体面、清洁，否则会脏得不堪。

不可对年轻人太严厉，而要谅解他们的蠢事、弱点。

不听不老实的仆人之流搬弄是非的话，更不受他们影响。

不轻易替人出主意，也不麻烦人，除非人家自己愿意。

要请几个好友告诉我这些决心有哪一条我没遵守或忽略了，在哪一点上，并且立即改正。

不可多言，不要老谈自己。

不夸自己以前如何英俊，如何强壮，如何得到小姐太太们的青睐，种种。

不听谄言，不幻想还会有年轻女人爱自已。要憎恨那些伸手来抓遗产的人。

不可武断，或固执己见。

不可摆起一定会遵守所有这些条条的架子，很可能一条也遵守不了。