美国语文第六册 第302期:夜间奇遇(2)
这是对教堂布道的慷慨激昂颇有几分讽刺意味的反驳。通过一种温和争辩的方式，
in which the merits of the Christian religion became the subject of discussion.
基督教的价值成为讨论的主题。
From six o'clock until eleven, the young champions wielded the sword of argument,
从六点到十一点，这几个年轻人剑拔弩张地各执己见，
adducing with ingenuity and ability everything that could be said pro and con.
在涉及正反两面的任何事情上运用智谋和能力进行论证。
During this protracted period, the old gentleman listened with the meekness and modesty of a child,
在这个长时间辩论过程中，这位年长的绅士像个孩子似的听着，温顺而谦逊，
as if he were adding new information to the stores of his own mind; or perhaps he was observing, with a philosophic eye,
仿佛在为自己的思维仓库储存新的信息材料;抑或他以哲学家的睿智目光，
the faculties of the youthful mind, and how new energies are evolved by repeated action,
在考察年轻人的思维能力，这些年轻人在这个重复的活动中是如何注入新的活力的，
or perhaps, with patriotic emotion, he was reflecting upon the future destinies of his country,
或者，他抱有爱国的热忱，在思考他的国家未来的命运，
and on the rising generation, upon whom those future destinies must devolve,
而正在成长的一代正是国家未来命运之所系，
or, most probably, with a sentiment of moral and religious feeling,
最有可能的情形是，凭借道德情操和宗教情感，
he was collecting an argument which no art would be "able to elude, and no force to resist."
他在搜集“没有任何技巧能规避，没有任何能力量能抗拒”的论据。
Our traveler remained a spectator, and took no part in what was said.
我们这位旅行者一直作为看客不动声色，没有插言。
