1、a modest proposal 中英对照A MODEST PROPOSALFOR PREVENTING THE CHILDREN OF POOR PEOPLE IN IRELAND FROM BEING A BURDEN TO THEIR PARENTS OR COUNTRY, AND FOR MAKING THEM BENEFICIAL TO THE PUBLICBy Jonathan Swift, 1729一个温和的建议为了防止体弱的孩子在爱尔兰的人摆脱精神负担他们的父母或国家,并且让他们有利于公众1729 由乔纳森。斯威夫特It is a melancholy object to t
2、hose who walk through this great town or travel in the country, when they see the streets, the roads, and cabin doors, crowded with beggars of the female sex, followed by three, four, or six children, all in rags and importuning every passenger for an alms. These mothers, instead of being able to wo
3、rk for their honest livelihood, are forced to employ all their time in strolling to beg sustenance for their helpless infants: who as they grow up either turn thieves for want of work, or leave their dear native country to fight for the Pretender in Spain, or sell themselves to the Barbadoes.对于走过这座大
4、城市，或在乡间旅行的人，他们看到的这些景象真是悲凉：街上、马路上、茅屋内挤满了女乞丐，后面跟着三个、四个或六个衣衫褴褛的孩子，向每个路人强要施舍。.这些母亲无法靠诚实劳动谋生，被迫终日游荡去养活那些无助的孩子，这些孩子长大后要么因找不到工作而沦为小偷，要么背井离乡去为西班牙那个觊觎王位者卖命，也许还会卖身到巴巴多斯。I think it is agreed by all parties that this prodigious number of children in the arms, or on the backs, or at the heels of their mothers, a
5、nd frequently of their fathers, is in the present deplorable state of the kingdom a very great additional grievance; and, therefore, whoever could find out a fair, cheap, and easy method of making these children sound, useful members of the commonwealth, would deserve so well of the public as to hav
6、e his statue set up for a preserver of the nation.我想所有的党派 人士 （各方面）都会同意，这些母亲（有时常常是父亲）怀中抱着、背上背着以及身后跟着的数量如此多的孩子 ，在王国可悲的现状下，将是一个平添民怨的灾难。.如果谁能想出一个简单易行的办法让这些孩子成为国家的健全有用之才，他将值得公众为他树立雕像，尊他为保国英雄。But my intention is very far from being confined to provide only for the children of professed beggars; it is of a
7、 much greater extent, and shall take in the whole number of infants at a certain age who are born of parents in effect as little able to support them as those who demand our charity in the streets.然而我的目的远不止限于救治那些公开宣称的乞丐的孩子，我所说的范围要大得多，包括所有那些在某个年代出生，其父母与那些在街上要求我们大发慈悲的乞丐一样，无力养活他们的幼儿。As to my own part,
8、having turned my thoughts for many years upon this important subject, and maturely weighed the several schemes of other projectors, I have always found them grossly mistaken in the computation. It is true, a child just dropped from its dam may be supported by her milk for a solar year, with little o
9、ther nourishment; at most not above the value of 2s., which the mother may certainly get, or the value in scraps, by her lawful occupation of begging; and it is exactly at one year old that I propose to provide for them in such a manner as instead of being a charge upon their parents or the parish,
10、or wanting food and raiment for the rest of their lives, they shall on the contrary contribute to the feeding, and partly to the clothing, of many thousands.至于我自己，我酝酿这个想法已有多年，也曾和其他提出计划的人充分地权衡过几个方案，但总是发现他们在计算时犯了极大的错误。确实，一个初生的婴儿在第一年里也许只需母乳而不用其他营养品，费用顶多不超过两先令，或不超过乞讨所得的残羹剩饭的价值。这两先令他们的母亲通过合法的乞讨肯定能挣到的。为了使
11、他们不再成为父母或其所在教区的负担，也无需在余生要吃要穿，我提议，在正好一岁的时候，他们反而应该为成千上万的人的食物，部分也可以作为衣物。There is likewise another great advantage in my scheme, that it will prevent those voluntary abortions, and that horrid practice of women murdering their bastard children, alas! too frequent among us! sacrificing the poor innocent
12、babes I doubt more to avoid the expense than the shame, which would move tears and pity in the most savage and inhuman breast.我的方案也有另外一个很大的好处,它能使妇女自愿堕胎和可怕的杀婴行为就此绝迹。唉，这种现象在我们之中太普遍了，我怀疑（她们）牺牲那些无辜的婴儿与其说是为了逃避耻辱，不如说是为了逃避抚养的代价。即使是最无情最没人性的人，对此也将一洒同情之泪。The number of souls in this kingdom being usually recko
13、ned one million and a half, of these I calculate there may be about two hundred thousand couple whose wives are breeders; from which number I subtract thirty thousand couples who are able to maintain their own children, although I apprehend there cannot be so many, under the present distresses of th
14、e kingdom; but this being granted, there will remain an hundred and seventy thousand breeders. I again subtract fifty thousand for those women who miscarry, or whose children die by accident or disease within the year. There only remains one hundred and twenty thousand children of poor parents annua
15、lly born. The question therefore is, how this number shall be reared and provided for, which, as I have already said, under the present situation of affairs, is utterly impossible by all the methods hitherto proposed. Forwe can neither employ them in handicraft or agriculture; we neither build house
16、s (I mean in the country) nor cultivate land: they can very seldom pick up a livelihood by stealing, till they arrive at six years old, except where they are of towardly parts, although I confess they learn the rudiments much earlier, during which time, they can however be properly looked upon only
17、as probationers, as I have been informed by a principal gentleman in the county of Cavan, who protested to me that he never knew above one or two instances under the age of six, even in a part of the kingdom so renowned for the quickest proficiency in that art.这个王国的人口数量大概总计为一百五十万，在其中我估计有二十万对夫妇妻子尚能生育
18、，从这个数目里我减去三千对有能力抚养孩子的夫妇虽然我知道在王国现今十分窘迫，不可能有这么多确定之后，就剩下十七万能够生育的妇女。. 我再减去五万流产的或孩子在一年内死于意外和疾病的妇女。现在实际出生的贫困家庭孩子只余十二万。.所以问题是如何抚养这么多的孩子，这个我之前已经说过，在目前的条件下，迄今所提的方案无一能解决。因为我们既不能雇他们从事手工业，也不可能雇他们从事农业；我们不建造房屋（我指的是在农村） ，也不用开拓耕地。这些孩子在六岁之前几乎不可能靠小偷小摸自讨生计，除非在那些他们有望拉帮抱团的地方。我承认，他们很早前就开始入门，但在这段期间他们只能被看作见习小偷。我从卡文郡一个数一数二的
19、缙绅那里得知此中内情，他曾对我断言，在这么一个因对那门艺术掌握得最迅速最熟练而闻名的王国里，他从没听说过哪个地方有小于六岁的小偷的一两个事例。I am assured by our merchants, that a boy or a girl before twelve years old is no salable commodity; and even when they come to this age they will not yield above three pounds, or three pounds and half-a-crown at most on the exch
20、ange; which cannot turn to account either to the parents or kingdom, the charge of nutriment and rags having been at least four times that value.我从我们的商人那里得到确证，十二岁前的男孩或女孩作为商品并不适合销售，即使他们到了十二岁，他们的利润也不会多于三镑，最多通过交易获利三镑五先令，可这并不能补偿他们的父母，也不能补偿王国，他们吃过的营养品和穿过的衣物的钱至少是这些的四倍。I shall now therefore humbly propose
21、my own thoughts, which I hope will not be liable to the least objection.因此，我谨此提出我的想法，希望不至遭到任何反对。I have been assured by a very knowing American of my acquaintance in London, that a young healthy child well nursed is at a year old a most delicious, nourishing, and wholesome food,whether stewed, roaste
22、d, baked, or boiled; and I make no doubt that it will equally serve in a fricassee or a ragout.我在伦敦的一个深知内情的美国朋友向我证实，一个年轻健康、营养良好的孩子在一岁的时候是味道最美、营养最佳、最有益健康的食品，焖、烤、焙、煮皆无不可；而我也确信无论做成炖重汁肉丁和蔬菜炖肉，他们都一样美味可口。I do therefore humbly offer it to public consideration that of the hundred and twenty thousand childre
23、n already computed, twenty thousand may be reserved for breed, whereof only one-fourth part to be males; which is more than we allow to sheep, black cattle or swine; and my reason is, that these children are seldom the fruits of marriage, a circumstance not much regarded by our savages, therefore on
24、e male will be sufficient to serve four females. That the remaining hundred thousand may, at a year old, be offered in the sale to the persons of quality and fortune through the kingdom; always advising the mother to let them suck plentifully in the last month, so as to render them plump and fat for
25、 a good table. A child will make two dishes at an entertainment for friends; and when the family dines alone, the fore or hind quarter will make a reasonable dish, and seasoned with a little pepper or salt will be very good boiled on the fourth day, especially in winter.因此我谨将其提交公众考虑：上面统计过的十二万名儿童，两万也
26、许将留于饲养，其中男性只需四分之一这已经比猪牛羊的比例大了我的理由是：这些孩子不是婚姻的产物，我们的粗人也不会计较这些，因此一男足配四女剩下的十万名在满一周岁时可以卖给国内有权有势的人，要总叮嘱母亲在他们最后一个月让他们喝饱奶，把他们养得圆圆胖胖，好作成美味佳肴。在招待朋友的筵席上，一个孩子可以做成两道菜，家庭聚餐的话，孩子的前后腿的四分之一已经可以作为一道好菜了，如果加点胡椒粉和盐放上四天再煮，味道将更好，尤其是在冬天。I have reckoned upon a medium that a child just born will weigh 12 pounds, and in a sol
27、ar year, if tolerably nursed, increaseth to 28 pounds.我算过，一个刚出生的孩子重十二磅，照料得好的话一年以后就可增至二十八磅。I grant this food will be somewhat dear, and therefore very proper for landlords, who, as they have already devoured most of the parents, seem to have the best title to the children.我承认这种食物多少有点昂贵，所以非常适合地主们食用，他们
28、已经榨干了孩子的父母，似乎也最有资格吃掉孩子。Infants flesh will be in season throughout the year, but more plentiful in March, and a little before and after; for we are told by a grave author, an eminent French physician, that fish being a prolific diet, there are more children born in Roman Catholic countries about nine
29、 months after Lent than at any other season; therefore, reckoning a year after Lent, the markets will be more glutted than usual, because the number of popish infants is at least three to one in this kingdom: and therefore it will have one other collateral advantage, by lessening the number of papis
30、ts among us.幼儿的嫩肉一年四时当令，但在三月及前后供应最为充足。.一位严肃的作家著名的法国内科医生告诉我们，由于鱼是促进生育的食物，在信仰罗马天主教国家里，出生在四旬斋后九个月后的孩子要比别的时节多。因此估计四旬节过后一年，市场上婴儿肉的供应将比平常充足，因为这个王国里天主教婴儿的数量至少是三比一。所以这个方案还有一个附带的好处，就是可以减少天主教婴儿的数量。I have already computed the charge of nursing a beggars child (in which list I reckon all cottagers, laborers, an
31、d four-fifths of the farmers) to be about two shillings per annum, rags included; and I believe no gentleman would repine to give ten shillings for the carcass of a good fat child, which, as I have said, will make four dishes of excellent nutritive meat, when he hath only some particular friend or h
32、is own family to dine with him. Thus the squire will learn to be a good landlord, and grow popular among his tenants; the mother will have eight shillings net profit, and be fit for work till she produces another child.我已经算过，照料一个乞丐孩子的费用（我把所有的佃农、劳工和五分之四的农民都算进去）每年大约要两先令，包括衣物；我相信没有一个绅士会对花十先令买一个优质多肉的婴儿的
33、躯体有任何意见，我之前已经说过，一个婴儿可以做成四道营养丰富的菜肴，如果他只有一些特别嘉宾、或只是和家人用餐的话。.这样，乡绅们都会成为好地主，并受到佃户们的敬爱，母亲们将有八先令的净利润，在生出下一胎之前还可以出外打工。Those who are more thrifty (as I must confess the times require) may flay the carcass; the skin of which artificially dressed will make admirable gloves for ladies, and summer boots for fin
34、e gentlemen.那些比较注重节约的绅士（我必须说明这是时代所需）可以剥下婴尸的皮，经过加工，这些皮可以制成极好的女用手套和绅士穿的夏季长靴。As to our city of Dublin, shambles may be appointed for this purpose in the most convenient parts of it, and butchers we may be assured will not be wanting; although I rather recommend buying the children alive, and dressing t
35、hem hot from the knife, as we do roasting pigs.至于在我们的都柏林城，屠宰场可以借便承担这项任务，我们将保证屠夫不会紧缺，虽然我建议大家还是买活的婴儿，在家用刀活生生地把他剥皮更好，就像我们对烤猪一样。A very worthy person, a true lover of his country, and whose virtues I highly esteem, was lately pleased in discoursing on this matter to offer a refinement upon my scheme. He
36、said that many gentlemen of this kingdom, having of late destroyed their deer, he conceived that the want of venison might be well supplied by the bodies of young lads and maidens, not exceeding fourteen years of age nor under twelve; so great a number of both sexes in every country being now ready
37、to starve for want of work and service; and these to be disposed of by their parents, if alive, or otherwise by their nearest relations. But with due deference to so excellent a friend and so deserving a patriot, I cannot be altogether in his sentiments; for as to the males, my American acquaintance
38、 assured me, from frequent experience, that their flesh was generally tough and lean, like that of our schoolboys by continual exercise, and their taste disagreeable; and to fatten them would not answer the charge. Then as to the females, it would, I think, with humble submission be a loss to the pu
39、blic, because they soon would become breeders themselves; and besides, it is not improbable that some scrupulous people might be apt to censure such a practice (although indeed very unjustly), as a little bordering upon cruelty; which, I confess, hath always been with me the strongest objection agai
40、nst any project, however so well intended.一位十分可敬的人他是一个真正的爱国者，我对他的德行十分敬重最近在这件事的讨论上，十分愿意根据我的方案再加改进。他说，近来这个王国的许多绅士畋猎无度导致野鹿绝迹。他构想对鹿肉的需求可以由十四周岁以下、十二周岁以上的童男童女的肉来填补。眼下在每个国家里，这个年龄段的童男童女快饿死的、找工作的、要服役的数不胜数 。他们的父母（如果还活着的话）或最近亲的人早就想这么做了。But with due deference to so.一个这么优秀的朋友，这么值得褒奖的爱国者，我本应当听从他的意见，可我不能完全站在他的立场，因
41、为我的美国朋友告诉我，根据他丰富的经验，男性由于经常活动，肉一般又硬又瘦，像我们的小学生一样，而且味道也很糟，养肥之后卖出去也抵不回这期间的费用。至于女性，我认为，虽然她们天性顺从，但这对公众也仍是一笔损失，因为她们很快便要成为哺乳者。除此，一些自命善良的人也有可能对此提出非难（尽管这是十分不公正的） ，说这个方案有失残忍。对于我而言，这种抗议总是最义愤填膺地针对任何方案，无论这种方案多么好。But in order to justify my friend, he confessed that this expedient was put into his head by the famou
42、s Psalmanazar, a native of the island Formosa, who came from thence to London above twenty years ago, and in conversation told my friend, that in his country when any young person happened to be put to death, the executioner sold the carcass to persons of quality as a prime dainty; and that in his t
43、ime the body of a plump girl of fifteen, who was crucified for an attempt to poison the emperor, was sold to his imperial majestys prime minister of state, and other great mandarins of the court, in joints from the gibbet, at four hundred crowns. Neither indeed can I deny, that if the same use were
44、made of several plump young girls in this town, who without one single groat to their fortunes cannot stir abroad without a chair, and appear at playhouse and assemblies in foreign fineries which they never will pay for, the kingdom would not be the worse.为了证明自己，我的朋友坦言， 这个权宜之计是那著名的台湾岛公民Psallmanazor
45、灌输给他的，此人二十多年前从台湾去到伦敦，在一次谈话中他告诉我的朋友，在他的国家，年轻人被处死时，其躯体的肉会被刽子手卖给有权势的人作为一种上等的美食。在他那时还有一个十五岁的胖姑娘意谋弑君，被钉死在十字架上，绞架上的大块肉以四百克朗的价钱卖给了帝国最权威的宰相以及朝廷的其他王公大臣。.确实，我两者都不能否认：如果这个城市里那些年轻的胖姑娘也被如此处理的话这些身无分文的小姐没有轿子就绝不踏出家门一步，在剧场招摇，身着外国绸缎（她们永远不会为此掏一点钱）聚集成群我们的王国就不会每况愈下了。Some persons of a desponding spirit are in great conce
46、rn about that vast number of poor people, who are aged, diseased, or maimed, and I have been desired to employ my thoughts what course may be taken to ease the nation of so grievous an encumbrance. But I am not in the least pain upon that matter, because it is very well known that they are every day
47、 dying and rotting by cold and famine, and filth and vermin, as fast as can be reasonably expected. And as to the young laborers, they are now in as hopeful a condition; they cannot get work, and consequently pine away for want of nourishment, to a degree that if at any time they are accidentally hi
48、red to common labor, they have not strength to perform it; and thus the country and themselves are happily delivered from the evils to come.一些心灰意冷的人对数目庞大的穷苦人民感到担忧，这些人老的老，病的病，残的残，我极其渴望运用我的才智让我们的国家采取措施清除这些令人忧心的累赘。我并非对此毫无恻隐，众所周知，他们每天都在垂死、腐烂，为饥饿寒冷所迫，与尘菌虫鼠为伍，快得正如可以合理地预料的那样。.那些年轻的劳动者，他们现在几乎也和那样老弱病残一样可悲。他们
49、找不到工作，如果由于某个偶然的机会他们被招为一个低贱的劳工，他们也没有力气做好，最终由于营养不足而形如槁木，国家和他们自己都十分高兴因此摆脱了厄运。I have too long digressed, and therefore shall return to my subject. I think the advantages by the proposal which I have made are obvious and many, as well as of the highest importance.我扯得太远，还是回到正题吧。我认为我的提议有众多明显的好处，而且包含极端的重要性。For first, as I have already observed, it would greatly lessen the number of papists, with whom we are yearly overrun, being the principal breeders of the nation as well as our most dangerous enemies; and who stay at home on purpose with a design to deliver the kingdom to the Prete
