1705007943
1705007944
● combustibility：易燃性。support：（对于上述谣言之）支持。oblique：间接的。
1705007945
1705007946
● run：连续发表。（竞选也是run，run这个字的用处真大。）life span：生命的长度，寿命。
1705007947
1705007948
● senectitude：衰老。此字罕用，美国有些报纸的社论文章做得很古雅，这种罕用字、僻字、古字有时也会搬出来。舞文弄墨，为中外所共喜，不能独责美国报纸的社论作者也。（此处没有用引号，但是这种句子很像有些报纸里社论的句子。）
1705007949
1705007950
● that aged men 中的that是连接词，也是连前面reminding the voters使选民们勿忘此事。aged men in positions of public trust：老年人而居高位，身负万民重托。constitute=make up：形成。hazard：危险。（这种种话无非要叫市长真的任满不干。）
1705007951
1705007952
But Skeffington smashed them all in a matter of minutes.
1705007953
1705007954
On his seventy-second birthday Frank Skeffington had lunch with his nephew, and over the meal told him of his plan to run again. That night, at a birthday dinner given him by the party leaders, he made the announcement public. It was substantially the same announcement that he had delivered in private that noon.
1705007955
1705007956
● smashed：打碎。a matter of有about之意：不消几分钟，把敌方的流言都打碎了。
1705007957
1705007958
● announcement：呼应全文开头的announced his decision。
1705007959
1705007960
● delivered in private：私下表示的。
1705007961
1705007962
“My decision represents a submission to the will of the populace,” he said, “and is against my very personal desire. I had hoped, at the end of my current term, to retire to a well-earned rest, but unfortunately one look at the names of those who have declared themselves as candidates for this office forced me to change my decisions. Why, the mind positively boggles at the presumption of these men! As one looks down this bold list one would think that the only qualification necessary to run for mayor of this great city was to be without any qualification whatever. This is a time for experience, for leadership; I cannot abandon this fine city to the care of such fumbling hands. And so, dutifully if reluctantly, I submit my name to you once again, realizing full well that while my own health and rest are important, it is far more important that this city of ours should not be allowed to revert to Government by Pygmies!”
1705007963
1705007964
● 这段话是市长在生日宴会上，对党内显要发表的谈话。市长年逾古稀，但是所说的话还是虎虎有生气，话里还骂了人。
1705007965
1705007966
● submission to：屈服于（人民的意志）。
1705007967
1705007968
● I had hoped：用过去完成时态，那是因为同本句的另一动词forced比较而得。forced在后，hoped在前，但是forced也是过去的事，所以一个用过去式，一个用过去完成式。my current term：这一届任期。a well-earned rest：凭劳力挣来的休息；做了几十年公仆，老来也该享享清福。one look：一看。这一看使我改变了主意。
1705007969
1705007970
● boggles：突然受惊，因此停止不前。presumption：胆大妄为。
1705007971
1705007972
● As one looks down和前面的one look不同。这里的one不是“一次”，而是“某个人”，即说话的人自己。this bold list：胆大的人的名单。他们凭什么资格来竞选市长？我们将要以为，竞选市长的唯一资格就是没有什么资格；只有“一无所长，一无足取”的人才配来做这个大城市的市长。
1705007973
1705007974
● for experience, for leadership：用了两个抽象名词；其实是我们需要有经验的“人”，有领导才干的“人”，英文于此地不用“人”这个概念，此乃中英文思想不同之处。
1705007975
1705007976
● fumbling：笨拙的，瞎摸的。to the care of such fumbling hands：交到这种人的手里去。
1705007977
1705007978
● dutifully if reluctantly：心虽不愿，但是为了波士顿八十万市民计……。submit my name：把我的名字提出来。realizing full（副词）well：同时我充分了解这点道理。后面随一”that” clause，此clause中又先出一”while” clause，后面又用it代替另一”that” clause（that this city…）。
1705007979
1705007980
● revert：此字前面已见过，是“返老还童”；这里也有“开倒车”之意。Government by Pygmies：林肯有government by the people（由人民来作主的政府）的名言。这里是由Pygmies（侏儒，小人物）来作主的政府。
1705007981
1705007982
This announcement had been carefully timed so that it would appear in the city edition of all morning papers; in this way, the maximum desirable effect would be achieved; the majority of his opponents would learn the bad news over their morning coffee. It was a thought which appeared to afford him a virtually limitless satisfaction.
1705007983
1705007984
● timed：time作动词用，解作“时间算准”。city edition：本市版。
1705007985
1705007986
● the maximum desirable effect would be achieved：可以达到希望中的最大效用。
1705007987
1705007988
● It was a thought：（他的那些政敌一早起来，翻开报纸就看见他再度竞选的消息，不禁先则愕然，继则愤然，再则黯然）他一想到这点，心里就感到无限安慰。他事前封锁消息到那天晚上再公布，目的就要使他的敌人生一天气。virtually limitless：几乎是无限的。
1705007989
1705007990
1705007991
1705007992
[
上一页 ]
[ :1.705007943e+09 ]
[
下一页 ]