Of Discourse 论辞令(2)

the one was given to scoff, but kept ever royal cheer in his house: the other would  ask of those, that had been at the other\'s table; Tell truly, was there never a flout  or dry blow given; to which the guest would answer.  我认得一个人，当他说及他所看不起的某人的时候，常说“他一定是个智者，因为他关于自己有那么多的话说”。一个人称扬自己而不显丑态的唯一的时候，就在他称扬别人底长处的时候，尤其是在所说的长处是与他自己可说是有的那种长处一类的时候。伤及他人的话应当少说，因为谈论应当象一片广田，人可以在里面东西行走；而不应当象一条大道，直达某家底门口也。我知道有两位贵族，都是英国西部的人；其中的一位喜欢菲薄他人，但是在家中宴客的时候却总是肴馔极丰的；另外的一位常常问那些曾经与宴的人，“老实告诉我，在他底席上没人受他底嘲弄或玩笑么”？对这个问题那作过客的人就答道：“有某事某事在席上发生了”。   Such and such a thing passed: the lord would say; I thought he would mar a good dinner. Discretion of speech is more than eloquence; and to speak agreeably to him, with whom we deal. is more than to speak in good words, or in good order. A good continued speech, without a good speech of interlocution, shows slowness: and a good reply, or second speech, without a good settled speech, showeth shallowness and weakness. As we see in beasts, that those that are weakest in the course, are yet nimblest in the turn: as it is betwixt the greyhound and the hare. To use too many circumstances, ere one come to the matter, is wearisome; to use none at all, is blunt 于是这位贵族就说：“我早就料到他一定会把一桌好筵席弄坏的”。慎言胜于雄辩，用适当的话向我们与之交涉的人谈话是比我们言辞优美，条理井然还要紧的。一个人若会说一篇滔滔不绝的言辞，而不善于问答，则显得他底说话迟滞；若善于应答而不能作持久而有始终的言辞，则显得其人底言语之浅薄无力。这就如我们在动物界所见的一样，最不善走者却最敏于转身，如猎犬与野兔间之分别是也。在说到正题以前叙述许许多多的枝节话是可厌的；若全然不顾枝节，则又太率直了。 http://meiwen.anslib.com/