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I had made some courtship during this time to Miss Read.
在这期间我跟李得小姐恋爱了。
I had a great respect and affection for her, and had some reason to believe she had the same for me;
我非常尊敬她，也爱慕她，我也有理由相信她对我也是如此。
but, as I was about to take a long voyage, and we were both very young, only a little above eighteen, it was thought most prudent by her mother to prevent our going too far at present,
但是，因为我即将到海外作长途旅行，同时我们都很年轻，刚过了十八岁，她母亲认为最稳妥的办法是目前暂时不要我们操之过急。
as a marriage, if it was to take place, would be more convenient after my return, when I should be, as I expected, set up in my business.
因为如果决定要结婚的话，那么最合适的时候是在我从海外回来之后，到那时候，像我所预料的那样，我将自己开业。
Perhaps, too, she thought my expectations not so well founded as I imagined them to be.
也许她也觉得我的期望并不像我想象的那样有根有据。
My chief acquaintances at this time were Charles Osborne, Joseph Watson, and James Ralph, all lovers of reading.
这时候我主要的朋友是查理·奥斯朋、约瑟·华生和詹姆士·雷夫，他们全是好学之士。
The two first were clerks to an eminent scrivener or conveyancer in the town, Charles Brockden; the other was clerk to a merchant.
头两个是镇上一个有名的公证人查理·勃罗克田的书记，另一个是一个商店店员。
Watson was a pious, sensible young man, of great integrity; the others rather more lax in their principles of religion, particularly Ralph,
华生是一个虔诚明达的年轻人，十分正直诚实，其他两个对宗教信仰比较淡漠，特别是雷夫，
who, as well as Collins, had been unsettled by me, for which they both made me suffer.
雷夫这个人，像高令斯一样，受了我的影响，为了这事他们两人都使我自食其果。
Osborne was sensible, candid, frank; sincere and affectionate to his friends; but, in literary matters, too fond of criticizing.
奥斯朋通情达理、正直、坦率，对朋友诚恳而又热情。但是在文笔方面，他过分地喜欢批评。
Ralph was ingenious, genteel in his manners, and extremely eloquent; I think I never knew a prettier talker.
雷夫聪明多才，风度优雅，而又十分雄辩。我想我从来没有见过这样一个善于词令的人。
Both of them were great admirers of poetry, and began to try their hands in little pieces.
这两个人都十分爱好诗歌，因此试写了几首小诗。
Many pleasant walks we four had together on Sundays into the woods, near Schuylkill, where we read to one another, and conferr'd on what we read.
在礼拜天我们四个人常常一起愉快地到斯古基河附近的森林中去散步，在森林里，我们轮流朗读作品给大家听，然后大家座谈我们所读的作品。
Ralph was inclin'd to pursue the study of poetry, not doubting but he might become eminent in it, and make his fortune by it,
雷夫喜欢研究诗，深信他会因此而成名发财，
alleging that the best poets must, when they first began to write, make as many faults as he did.
他说即使是最出色的诗人，当他们初写诗时，他的诗也必定会像他的一样有许多瑕疵的。
Osborne dissuaded him, assur'd him he had no genius for poetry, and advis'd him to think of nothing beyond the business he was bred to;
奥斯朋却劝阻他，想使他相信他没有诗人的天才，劝他专心致力于他的业务，不要妄想别的。
that, in the mercantile way, tho' he had no stock, he might, by his diligence and punctuality, recommend himself to employment as a factor, and in time acquire wherewith to trade on his own account.
他说在商业方面，虽然雷夫没有资金，靠着他的勤勉和规矩，他可能当一个代理商，以后经过适当的时候可以积累资金，独立经商。
I approv'd the amusing one's self with poetry now and then, so far as to improve one's language, but no farther.
我赞成偶然写写诗作为消遣，改进自己的语言风格，但是此外，我别无志愿。
