美国语文第六册 第265期:英国人的性格(2)
英国人天性羞怯——这是一种自然的内敛，使他对陌生人显得冷漠，难于接近。
But once corner him in his own house, a frank and full expansion will be given to his feelings that we should look for in vain in the colder Yankee,
不过一旦身处自家一隅，那种坦率和个性的张扬便赋予他我们在冷酷的美国佬身上难得一见的情感，
and a depth not to be found in the light and superficial Frenchman, speaking of nationalities, not of individualities.
其深邃程度是我们在轻浮和流于表面的法国人身上见不到的，这里所指的是作为群体的民族，不是个体。
The Englishman is the most truly rural in his tastes and habits of any people in the world. I am speaking of the higher classes.
英国人是世界上最能保持趣味和习惯原初本质的民族。我指的是较高阶层的人。
The aristocracy of other countries affect the camp and the city. But the English love their old castles and country seats with a patriotic love.
其他国家的贵族偏爱营地和城市，而英国的贵族喜爱的是古老的城堡和能寄寓爱国情怀的乡村。
They are fond of country sports. Every man shoots or hunts. No man is too old to be in the saddle some part of the day,
他们喜爱乡村才有的体育运动。每个人都喜欢射猎。没有谁太守旧，以至于在一天里总有一些时间居高临下骑着马，
and men of seventy years and more follow the hounds, and, take a five-barred gate at a leap.
年届七旬和更年长的老人牵着狗，飞身越过有五道木栅的门。
The women are good whips, are fond of horses and dogs, and other animals.
女人都很会使鞭子，喜欢骑马和遛狗。
Duchesses have their cows, their poultry, their pigs, all watched over and provided with accommodations of Dutch-like neatness.
女公爵有属于她们的母牛、家禽和猪——所有人都照看这些动物，提供荷兰式整洁干净的生活必需品。
All this is characteristic of the people.
这就是英国人的民族性格。
