英译汉常用的方法和技巧(4-7)
第三章英译汉常用方法和技巧
（教学安排：6课时）
无论翻译的标准如何，翻译的目的都是要求译者最大程度地传递原文信息/再现原文风格，以求最大程度地“忠实”于原文。翻译标准只是给译者提供了翻译的大方向，在具体的翻译运作过程中，还会遇到种种问题，所以在翻译实践中，还要灵活运用相应的翻译方法和技巧，从原文和译文的整体出发，全面分析，透过现象，抓住本质。经过不断的翻译实践，翻译技巧一定会运用得越来越娴熟，翻译水平也会越来越高。合理有效地运用翻译技巧可以使译文生辉，有效地提高翻译质量。
常用的翻译方法和技巧：
直译和意译
词义的选择
省略法和增补法
词类转译法
重复法
正反、反正表达法
分译法和合译法
直译和意译
英汉两种语言的结构有相同的一面，也有不同的一面，因此翻译时有时使用直译，有时用意译，有时直译并举。无论使用哪种方法，其原则是在忠实原文内容和风格的前提下，摆脱原文结构的束缚，使译文符合汉语的规范
直译(metaphrase/literal translation)
在不影响译入语的自然流畅并保持原文信息的前提下，在译文中既保持原文的内容信息，又保持原文的形式结构，尤其要保持原文的修辞、文体和文化特质。
to kill two birds with one stone
to shed crocodile tears
如果不破坏原文结构，译文也能通顺自然且忠实原意，这是最理想的直译，但逐字对等且保持原文结构和语义的情况微乎其微。
直译法的使用不仅极大丰富了汉语的词汇，而且及大地拓展了汉语的表达方式和表达范围。汉语中的外来语大都采用直译法或音译法。例如：
lady-killer talk show mad cow disease
bird flu chain reaction cat walk
humor second-hand car tittup
hippy yuppie shock
例1
原文：There are two types of electric current: alternating current in which the current flows first one way then the other in a forward and backward motion, and direct current which flows the same way all the time.
译文：
例2
原文：Losing one’s independence for Americans is a shameful thing.
例3
原文：Italian gourmets are protesting against the invasion of foreign foods on the dinner table.
译文：
例4
原文：In short, when employees leave their performance reviews, they should be focusing on what they can do better in the year ahead, not worrying about what went into their files about the past.
译文：
例5
原文：But when I look at the Third World and think “What can I do to solve this?”, my reaction isn’t to say “Let’s bring population down immediately”.
译文：
例6
原句：Hitler was armed to the teeth when he launched the Second World War, but in a few years, he was completely defeated.
译文：
例7
原文：People are always talking about “the problem of yo uth.” I f there is one, then it is older people who create it, not the young people themselves. Let us get down to fundamentals and agree that the young are after all human beings—people just like their elders. There is only one difference between an old man and a young one: the young man has a glorious future before him and the old one has a splendid future behind him, and maybe that is where the rub is.
译文：
直译不等于死译、硬译，直译也需要灵活变通，不能只求形式对等而破坏原文内容。原文结构与译入语结构一致时，尽量保持原结构。但如果结构不一致，不能硬用直译法。
例8
原文：Drinking wine in moderation improves the IQ and may boost mental agility in old people.
译法一：适度饮酒可以提高智商，也许还可以促进老年人中的思维敏捷。
译法二：适度饮酒可以益智，也许还可以使老年人思维敏捷。
意译（paraphrase/ free translation）
在不宜采用直译的前提下所使用的另一种最基本的翻译方法。意译是指按照译入语的表达方式将原文所传达的语义和信息重新再现，使其准确完整地转换到译入语中来。
采用该方法时，可以不拘泥于原文的语法结构，重点着眼于原文的语义信息与译入语表达规范之间的协调和整理，最大程度地再现原文的内容与风貌。
意译的结果往往是从译文的表面看与原文大相径庭，但却表现出了原文的“筋骨”和“内
如把“stand on one’s head”译成“站在某人的脑袋上”；把“He is the last person I will see.”译成“他是我最后要见的人”；You have my sympathy. 你有我的同情。
由于中外文化差异，很多时候都需要透过原文的字面意思，打破原文的语言形式，使用相宜的汉语表达手法进行处理，否则就无法有效传递出原文信息，很多由于文化差异造成的习惯表达尤其如此，例如：
dear John letter dead shot/ dead eye a cold fish
blue-eyed boy natural history a shot-gun wedding
clean author a couch potato
例9
原文：Too clearly, it is a topic we shall do no justice to in this place.
直译：很显然，这是一个我们在这个地方不能够充分说明的论题。
意译：很显然，这是一个我们
例10
原文：After dinner the two ladies retired to another room and left their husbands to talk shop.
译文：
例11
原文：Lasts spring, Mother Nature made April Fools of all of us who live in New England. 译文：
例12
原文：He gave up the sword for the plough.
直译：他放下了刀剑，拿起来犁耙。
意译：
例13
原文：Do you see any green in my eye?
译文：你认为我好骗吗？
例14
原文：A great elation overcame them.
直译：一种巨大的欢乐情绪控制了他们。
意译：
例15
原文：My sister goes back to the fat farm again.
译文：slim chance
例16 chew the fat
原文：His son lives under the government’s expense.
译文：
例17
直译：我打算做一件任何人都不能替我去做的大事。
意译：
直意并举
翻译过程中单一使用直译或意译都是不可取的。完全的直译有时会使译文生硬晦涩或辞不达意；完全的意译又往往会改变原作的风格特点，造成误读。科学的翻译态度应该是宜直译时就直译，须意译时就意译，或直译与意译兼顾，不能生搬硬套某一方法。
例18
原文：The parson officially pronounced that they became one.
译文：
例19
原文：Ten to one he has forgotten it.
译文：
例20
原文：The first time we met I know this was the only one I wanted to marry. It was love from the word go.
直译：初次见面我就知道自己想娶的人是她了，这是从“走”这个字开始的爱。
直意并举：
例21
原文：I never thrust my nose into other men’s porridge. It is no bread and butter of mine. Let every man for himself, and God for us all.
原译：我从来不会把自己的鼻子伸到别人的粥里。那不是我的面包和黄油。让每个人都为自己，上帝为我们大家吧。
改译：
翻译练习
A writer achieves brevity in language by expressing his thoughts and feelings with such propriety and precision that it would not be possible to add or detract a single paragraph, line or word.
You only know the hows but not the whys.
We must get to the bottom of the matter.
Smashing a mirror is no way to make an ugly person beautiful, nor is it a way to make social problems evaporate.
Both democracy and freedom are relative, not absolute, and they come into being and develop in specific historical conditions.
The reform and open-up policy has increased people’s purchasing power and market prosperity and financial thriving.
Our teenagers, if we fail to give them enough moral education, will become a social burden.
词义的选择
（一）词义的选择
英汉两种语言都有一词多类、一词多义现象。在英汉翻译过程中，在弄清原句结构后要善
根据词在句中的词类来选择和确定词义
例1
like
1）Like charges repel; unlike charges attract.
2）He likes mathematics more than physics.
3）In the sunbeam passing through the window there are fine grains of dust shining like gold.
4）Like knows like.
根据上下文联系以及词在句中的搭配关系来选择和确定词义
英语同一个词同一词类，在不同的场合往往也有不同含义，必须根据上下文的联系以及词的搭配关系或句型来判断和确定某个词在特定场合下具有的含义。例如：
例2
Produce
The artist produced a beautiful painting.
Last year she also produced a baby boy.
That factory produces shoes.
That Italian director has produced a lovely movie.
Let’s produce the line AB to C.
例3
last
He is the last man to come.
He is the last man to do it.
He is the last person for such a job.
He should be the last to blame.
He is the last man to consult.最不该
This is the last place where I expected to meet you. 没料到
例4
原文：I got on horseback within ten minutes after I got your letter. When I got to Canterbury I got a chaise for town; but I got wet through, and have got such a cold that I should not get rid of it in a hurry. I got to the Treasury at about noon. But first of all got shaved and dressed. I soon got into the secret of getting a memorial before the board, but I could not get an answer then; however, I got intelligence from a messenger that I should get one next morning. As soon as I got back to my inn, I got my supper, and, then got to bed. When I got up next morning, I got my breakfast, and, having got dressed, I got out in time to get an answer to my memorial. As soon as I got it, I got into a chaise, and got back to Canterbury by three, and got home for tea. I have got nothing for you, and so adieu.
赏析：这是一段奇文，是英国维多利亚女王时代的一位作家威瑟斯（Dr. Withers）所作的一篇短文。各种形式的get共出现了27次。虽然除get外没有使用任何其他动词，风格也比较口语化，但文章的意思却表达得十分清楚。英语词汇的多义性由此可见一斑。
译文：
（二）词义的引申
英译汉时，如果某些词在字典上找不到合适的词义，就应根据上下文和逻辑关系，从该词的根本含义出发，进一步引申，选择比较恰当的汉语词来表达。
将词义做抽象化引申
在现代英语中常用一个表示具体形象的词来表示一种属性、一个事物或一种概念。翻译时，一般可以将其词义做抽象化的引申。
1）将表示具体形象的词译成该形象所代表的属性的词。
例5
原文：There is a mixture of the tiger and the ape in the character of the imperialists.
译文：帝国主义的特点及凶猛又狡猾
例6
原文：Every life has its roses and thorns.
译文：
2）注意词汇的字面意思与引申意义
例7
原文：The music business marries art and commerce.
原译：音乐与艺术和商业成了亲。
改译：
将带有特征性形象的词译成该形象所代表的概念的词
例8
原文：Hitler’s storm troops goosestepped into power in Furth in 1930.
译文：希特勒的突击队
3．将词义做具体化的引申
英语中有用代表抽象概念或属性的词来表示一种具体事物，英译汉时一般可做具体化引申。例9
原文：Vietnam was his entrée to the new Administration.
译文：
英语中有些词在特定的上下文中，其含义是清楚的，但译成汉语时必须做具体化的引申，否则就不够清楚。
例10
原文：The car in front of me stalled and I missed the green.
译文：
（三）词义的褒贬
英语中有些词本身带有褒贬意义，汉译时要表达出来
例11
1）He was a man of high renown.
3）“He was polite and always gave advice willingly,”she recalled.
4）His notoriety as a rake did not come until his death.
5）Henry keeps boasting that he had talked to the President.
6）We were shocked by his coarse manners.
英语中有些词是中立的，本身不表示褒贬，但在一定上下文中可能有褒贬意味，汉译时就应用具有褒贬意味的相应词来表达
例12
原文：Once, early in 1974, while driving along the San Diego Freeway to Los Angeles, he was asked to reflect on his hopes and ambitions.
译文：
例13
原文：He was a man of integrity, but unfortunately he had a certain reputation. I believe the reputation was not deserved.
译文：
省略与增补
主要有语法性的省略与增补、语义性的省略和增补、修辞性的省略与增补和语篇性省略和增补。前者主要是由于英汉两种语言在语法功能方面存在着许多差异所致，如：英语中有虚拟语气、时态、语态、非谓语动词、独立主格、倒装等，汉语没有这些现象。后者主要着眼于语义性的等值转换。
使用增减法时，应遵循以下原则：增减要适度，决不能根据自己的主观意愿胡乱增减，破坏原文意思，要力争做到增词不增义，减词不减义，无论是增补还是省略都要保证原文信息的饱满传递。一般来说，增词是为了表达明晰，减词是力求简洁。
[I] 语法性的省略与增补
1.省略
删除原文中某些词在译文中没有必要表达出来的词语，但删除部分的意义仍隐含在译文中。删掉那些不必要的、繁琐的、违背译入语表达习惯的词语，是为了使译文更加符合译文读者的欣赏品位。
与英语相比，汉语里代词（尤其是人称代词）和连接词（尤其是并列连接词“和”）用得不多，能被省略的代词和连接词一般都不在句子里出现。因此，在汉译英时，应该避免在句子中过多地使用代词和连接词，否则译文就会显得生硬不自然。
英译汉常见的省略情况包括：省略代词、连词、冠词、介词、动词、非人称代词“it”。
省略代词
例1
原文：He put his hands into his pockets and then shrugged his shoulders.
译文：
例2
原文：Eleven-year-old Vladimir Putin infuriated his gym teacher, skipped his maths homework, nearly flunked drawing, and in short, was “one of us”, a popular Russian tabloid declared. The paper announced it had unearthed Putin’s grade book in the attic of a small wooden house where he spend his childhood. The evidence hardly bore signs of future
译文：
省略连词
例3
原文：He looked gloomy and troubled.
译文：
例4
原文：A thousand years will pass and the guilt of Germany will not be erased.
译文：
例5
原文：No man can be brave who considers pain as the greatest evil of life; or temperate, who regards pleasure as the highest good.
译文：
省略冠词
例6
原文：The moon was slowly rising above the sea.
译文：
例7
原文：A teacher should have patience in his work.
译文：
只有在强调“一个”、“这个”或“这些”时才将冠词译出。有时译出冠词是出于措辞的需要。
例8
原文：Col ombians see themselves as the world’s happiest people, as shown in an internet survey of more than 400,000 people around the globe.
译文：
例9
原文：The palm-sized gadget developed by 911 Computer Co. samples the timbre in human speech for signs of faltering then delivers its verdict.
译文：
省略介词
表示时间或地点的英语介词往往不译。
例10
原文：Many water power stations have been built in the country.
译文：
例11
原文：Hydrogen is the lightest element with an atomic weight of 1.0008.
（5）省略动词
例12
原文：When the pressure gets low, the boiling point becomes low.
译文：
（6）省略非人称代词“it”
例13
原文：Outside it was pitch dark and it was raining cats and dogs.
译文：
it气象代词
例14
原文：This formula makes it easy to determine the wavelength of sounds.
译文：
例15
原文：It was not until the middle of the 19th century that the blast furnace came into use. 译文：
2．增补
如原文的真正意义隐含在原文的词义中，翻译时需要将隐含意义挖掘出来，加以展开，用增词法，将其内容补充完整。
有如下六种情况：增添原文所省略的词语；必要的连接词；用增词法表达出原文的复数概念；把抽象概念表达清楚；逻辑性增词；概括性增词等
增添原文所省略的词语
例16
原文：Matter can be changed into energy, and energy into matter.
译文：
例17
原文：The Italians are wise before the deed, the Germans in the deed, the French after the deed.
原译：意大利人事前聪明，德国人事中，法国人事后。
改译：德国人事中聪明
增添必要的连接词
例18
原文：Heated, water will change into vapor.
译文：
例19
原文：Had we needed to get in touch with them, we could have sent a telegram.
译文：
表达出原文的复数概念
原文：The mountains began to throw their long blue shadows over the valley.
译文：
用增词法把抽象概念表达清楚
例21
原文：This lack of resistance in very cold metals may become useful in electronic computers. 译文：
逻辑性增词
例22
原文：According to scientist, it takes nature 500 years to create an inch of topsoil.
译文：
概括性增词
例23
原文：The Americans and Japanese conducted a completely secret exchange of message.
译文：
[II] 语义性省略和增补
有时英文句子是完整的，但按照字面翻译过来，则汉语句子的意思就显得不完整，或意思含混不清，或句子繁琐。
省略
例24
原文：The sun was sinking fast and the peasants had all left the church area.
译文：
例25
原文：说起季羡林先生的认真，那是出了名的。
译文：
增补
例26
原文：Instead of kilometers, we have light-years in universe.
译文：
例27
原文：He did all this without looking at the mayor. But the mayor didn’t take his eyes off him.
译文：
例28
原文：女孩子为了扮靓，小手也一次次伸向她富足抑或拮据的老爸老妈面前。
译文：
[III] 修辞性省略和增补
例29
原文：He became an oil baron—all by himself.
译文：
例30
原文：Avoid using this computer in extreme cold, heat, dust or humidity.
译文：
例31
原文：Their host carved, poured, served, cut bread, talked, laughed, proposed health.
原译：他们的主人不断切肉、倒茶、上菜、切面包、谈话、笑，还不断祝酒。
改译：
为了使句子更加生动，用一个同义“四字词”加强语气
例32
原文：But there had been too much publicity about my case.
译文：
[IV] 语篇性省略和增补
例33
原文：They were welcomed at the church by its religious leaders who dropped water on their head and blessed them.
译文：
例34
原文：This is something any man would be glad to do for him. It is an emergency. But I am dirty. My clothes are dirty.
译文：
翻译练习
Let’s speak loudly so that the whole world can hear us. Violence against women is not cultural, it is criminal. (Hilary Clinton)
Actually, words and gestures have no meaning in themselves; the meanings are in the people. Successful communication occurs when both communicators attach the same meaning to the same gesture or word. (Stone from Another Mountain David Etheridge) After he had put on his shoes and tied the shoe laces, he lay down on the bed and pulled the covers up to his chin. He let his arms rest under the covers at his sides. He closed his eyes and pretended it was night and pretended he was going to fall asleep. Then he brought his arms up and crossed them over his chest to see how this position would suit him. He kept his eyes closed, trying it out.
On a gold-colored sofa there are two embroidered cushions. One bears the message: “Eat, sleep and remarry,” the other the kitsch observation: “Before you meet your real prince you have to kiss a lot of frogs.” (Inside the Palace Richard Kay and Geoffrey Levy)
词类转译法
（1）英语中有大量由动词派生的名词和具有动词意义的名词往往可以转译成汉语的动词。例1
原文：Talking with his son, the old man was the forgiver of the young man’s past wrong things.
译文：
例2
原文：A glance through his office window offers a panoramic view of the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial.
译文：
（2）英语中很多由名词派生的动词以及由名词转用的动词，在汉语中往往不易找到相应的动词，可以将其转译成汉语的名词。
例3
原文：To them, he personified the absolute power.
译文：
例4
原文：In the early dawn, the guard towers were silhouetted （侧面影象, 轮廓）against the sky.
译文：
形容词转译成动词
英语中表示知觉、情欲、欲望等心理状态的形容词，在系动词后作表语用时，往往可以转译成汉语动词
例5
原文：Doctors have said that they are not sure they can save his life.
译文：
例6
原文：And moderate alcohol consumption is, we now know, also good for health.
译文：
形容词和副词的转换
（1）英语名词转译成汉语动词时，修饰该名词的形容词往往转译成汉语的副词。
例7
原文：On this question people of different age groups think differently.
译文：
（2）英语动词译成汉语名词时，修饰该动词的副词往往转译成形容词。
例8
原文：He asked me for a full account of myself and family.
译文：
（3）由于英汉两种语言表达方式不同，有一些英语形容词可译为汉语的副词。
原文：Another war will be the absolute end of our country.
译文：
形容词和名词的转译
（1）英语中有些形容词加上定冠词表示某一类人，汉译时常常译成名词
例10
原文：Robin Hood and his merry men hated the rich and loved and protected the poor.
译文：
例11
原文：They were considered insincere.
译文：
例12
原文：Stevenson was eloquent and elegant—but soft.
译文：
（2）形容词派生的名词可以转译成形容词；有些名词加上不定冠词作表语时，往往可以转译成形容词
例13
原文：The pallor of her face indicated clearly how she was feeling at the moment.
译文：
例14
原文：Independent thinking is an absolute necessity in study.
译文：
介词转译成动词
例15
原文：I barreled straight ahead, across the harbor, and out over the sea.
译文：
副词和名词的转换
（1）副词转译成名词
例16
原文：He is physically weak but mentally sound.
译文：
（2）名词转译成副词
例17
原文：The new mayor earned some appreciation by the courtesy of coming to visit the city poor.
译文：
重复法
重复法实际上是一种增词法，只不过增加的词是上文刚刚出现过的词。翻译和写作一样，
将一些关键性的词加以重复。
为了明确
例1
原文：I had experienced oxygen and/or engine trouble.
译文：
例2
原文：John is your friend as much as he is mine.
译文：
例3
原文：We talked of ourselves, of our prospects, of the journey, of the weather, of each other —of everything but our host and hostess.
译文：
为了强调
例4
原文：He wandered about in the chill rain, thinking and thinking, brooding and brooding. 译文：
例5
原文：Eye for eye, tooth for tooth.
译文：
例6
原文：Out of sight, out of mind.
译文：
例7
原文：Every change of season, every change of weather, every hour of the day produces some change in the magical hues and shape of these mountains; and they are regarded by all housewives, far and near, as perfect barometers.
译文：
为了生动
英文原文中即使没有词的重复，有时为了生动也使用重复。可以用四字词组、词的重叠、四字对偶词组等。
例8
原文：Target priorities were established there.
译文：
例9
原文：I had been completely honest in my replies, withholding nothing.
译文：
原文：He sat there and watched them, so changelessly changing, so bright and dark, so grave and gay.
译文：
例11
great contributions gratitude ingratitude
prosperity eternal glory to vivid
hesitate arrogance careless
in chaos street gossip rumors
正反、反正表达法
英语里有些从正面表达的词或句子，译文中可从反面来表达；英语里从反面表达的，译文可以从正面来表达。
例1
原文：He went into the insecure building.
正面表达：
反面表达：
英语从正面表达，译文从反面表达
例2
原文：Such a chance was denied me.
译文：我没有得到这样的机会
例3
原文：We may safely say so.
译文：万无一失
例4
原文：It would be most disastrous if even a rumor of it were given out.
译文：后果不不堪设想
例5
原文：We believe that the younger generation will prove worthy of our trust.
译文：不会辜负我们的信任
例6
原文：My guess is as good as yours.
译文：我的猜测和你的半斤八两
例7
原文：All international disputes must be settled through negotiations and the avoidance of any armed conflicts.
译文：
英语从反面表达，译文从正面表达
例8
原文：The doubt was still unsolved after his repeated explanations.
译文：这个疑虑虽经他反复解释仍然有待解决
例9
译文：
例10
原文：Students, with no exception, are to hand in their papers this afternoon.
译文：书面作业
例11
原文：The significance of these incidents wasn’t lost on us.
译文：对某人不起作用引起了我们的重视
3. 双否定译肯定
例12
原文：There can be no sunshine without shadow.
译文：没有阳光不带阴影
但是，如果翻译时保留英语原来的“否定之否定”的形式并不影响中文的流畅时，则应保留的目的还可突出原文中婉转的语气。
例13
原文：He is not unequal to the duty.
译文：胜任这个这个职位
4、正反移位
例14
原文：I don’t think he will come.
译文：
5、译为部分否定
例15
原文：Not all minerals come from mines.
译文：All minerals don’t come from mines.
例16
原文：All the scientists are not geniuses.
译文：
例17
原文：Both of the substances do not dissolve in water.
译文：只有一种物质溶于水
翻译练习
The thief made a trembling confession of his wrongdoing.
小偷战战兢兢地交待了他的罪行
No wonder the sight of it should send the memories of quite a number of people of the old generation back to 36 years ago.
毫无疑问这样的场景会把相当一部分老一辈的人带回到36年前的记忆中去
The destruction of our natural resources and contamination of our food supply continue to occur, largely because of the extreme difficulty in affixing legal responsibility on those who continue to treat our environment with reckless abandon.
She was a little fuller of figure than five years before when she married, but she had lost nothing of her vivacity.可爱依然
He still hadn’t changed his expression.
他的表情和以前一样
分译和合译
一、分译
介词短语做定语时，往往是定语从句的一种简略形式。介词短语做状语时，有时是状语从句的简略形式。有些介词短语还是并列句的简略形式。因此英译汉时可以拆句分译。
例1
原句：Man’s warm blood // makes it difficult for him to live long in the sea // without some kind warmth.
译文：
例2
原文：Interrupted frequently by laughter, whoops and shouts of “We love you”from the quests, // Lee (Ang Lee) told the audience that including media from around greater China // that his success was built on the back of other Chinese filmmakers.
译文：
二、合译
1．把原文中两个或两个以上的简单句译成一个单句。
例3
原文：He was very clear. His mind was open.
译文：
例4
原文：The young man was very miserable. // He had no money about him. // All his savings had been stolen.
译文：
2．把原文中的主从复合句译成一个单句
例5
原文：When we praise the Chinese leadership and the people, we are not merely being polite.
译文：
把原文中的并列复合句译成一个单句
例6
原文：In 1844 Engels met Marx, and they became friends.
译文：
例7
原文：The time was 10:30, and traffic on the street was light.
译文：
三、分合并举
例8
原文：Chow Yun-fat was speaking at a news conference to launch a set of stamps and first-day covers issued by the South American Nation of Guyana and featuring him. // The set includes six colorful stamps depicting show in his various movie roles.
译文：
例9
原文：Heart pounding, Martin crawled out in the ledge, making sure his window stayed open. // He stood up gingerly, and cold wind whipped at his shirt. His fingers clutched the bricks as he started inching toward Thorne’s office. Lights blinked below.
译文：
翻译练习
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times; it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness; it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity (怀疑)；it was the season of the Light; it was the season of Darkness; it was the spring of Hope, it was the winter of Despair; we had everything before us, we had nothing before us; we were all going to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way.
这是最好的时期；这是最糟糕的时期；这是智慧盛行的年代；这是愚昧当道的年代；这是一个相信信仰的时代；这是一个崇尚怀疑（顾虑重重）的时代；这是光明的季节；这是黑暗的季节；这是希望的春天；这是绝望的冬季；一切都摆在我么面前；我们面前一无所有；我们将升往天堂；我们将直入地狱。
Histories make man wise; poets witty; the mathematics subtle; natural philosophy deep; moral grave; logic and rhetoric able to contend.
读史使人明智，读诗使人聪慧，数学使人周密，物理使人深刻；德育（伦理）使人庄重；逻辑修辞使人善辩；
Oceans do not so much divide the world as unite it.
海洋很大程度与其说是把世界分开起来不如说是集合起来
For generations, coal and oil have been regarded as the chief energy source to transport man from place to place.
一直以来，
These developing countries cover vast territories, encompass a large population and abound in natural resources.
It helps to explain why so many inventions that were of Chinese origin or that had been known to the Greco-Romans (希腊罗马人) were fully developed and exploited only by the Western Europeans.