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Mr. Vernon, about this time, put me in mind of the debt I ow'd him, but did not press me.
约在此时，佛南提醒我我欠他的债款，但是他并不催迫我。
I wrote him an ingenuous letter of acknowledgment, crav'd his forbearance a little longer, which he allow'd me, and as soon as I was able, I paid the principal with interest, and many thanks; so that erratum was in some degree corrected.
我写了一封信给他，坦白地承认我的过失，恳请他再展缓一些时候，他也答应了，一等到我有了能力，我就连本带息地把它付清了，并且表达了我的谢意。这样，这一个过失在某种程度上总算改正了。
But now another difficulty came upon me which I had never the least reason to expect.
但是这时完全出乎我意料以外地另外一种困难发生了。
Mr. Meredith's father, who was to have paid for our printing-house, according to the expectations given me, was able to advance only one hundred pounds currency, which had been paid; and a hundred more was due to the merchant, who grew impatient, and su'd us all.
梅莱笛斯的父亲，按照我们原来的谅解，应当付偿我们印刷铺设备的费用，但是他付了一百镑，他只能付出这一百镑，还欠了一个商人一百镑，这个商人等不及了，就向法院告了我们。
We gave bail, but saw that, if the money could not be rais'd in time, the suit must soon come to a judgment and execution, and our hopeful prospects must, with us, be ruined, as the press and letters must be sold for payment, perhaps at half price.
我们缴了保释金，但是我们看到假如我们不能及时地筹措款项的话，法庭不久就得宣判和执行，那么我们美好的希望将与我们一起遭到破灭，因为他们要把印刷机和铅字出卖还债，可能还是半价出售哩。
In this distress two true friends, whose kindness I have never forgotten, nor ever shall forget while I can remember any thing, came to me separately, unknown to each other, and, without any application from me, offering each of them to advance me all the money that should be necessary to enable me to take the whole business upon myself, if that should be practicable;
在这种不幸之际却来了两个真正的朋友，他们的友情我从来也没有忘记，而且在毕生中将永志不忘。他们各人分别地不约而同地并且自动地愿意为我垫付一切必需的款项，使我能够自己单独经营业务，假如办得到的话。
but they did not like my continuing the partnership with Meredith, who, as they said, was often seen drunk in the streets, and playing at low games in alehouses, much to our discredit.
但是他们不喜欢我和梅莱笛斯继续合伙，他们说有人常看见梅莱笛斯喝醉了酒在街上行走；也有人看见他在酒馆里玩下流的赌博，这些对我都是奇耻大辱。
These two friends were William Coleman and Robert Grace.
这两位朋友是威廉·柯尔曼和劳勃脱·葛莱丝。
I told them I could not propose a separation while any prospect remain'd of the Meredith's fulfilling their part of our agreement, because I thought myself under great obligations to them for what they had done, and would do if they could;
我告诉他们只要还有希望梅莱笛斯父子能够履行他们在协定中的义务，我就不忍提议拆伙，因为我觉得他们过去帮了我不少忙，如果他们有能力的话，他们现在还将帮我忙，我受过了他们不少的恩惠。
but, if they finally fail'd in their performance, and our partnership must be dissolv'd, I should then think myself at liberty to accept the assistance of my friends.
但是假如他们终于不能履行他们的义务，因而我们的合伙势非解散不可的话，到了那时我将认为我可以随意接受我友人们的协助了。
Thus the matter rested for some time, when I said to my partner, "Perhaps your father is dissatisfied at the part you have undertaken in this affair of ours, and is unwilling to advance for you and me what he would for you alone.
事情就这样拖了一个时候，我就对我的伙友说：“可能你父亲不喜欢你参加我的事业，因此他不愿替我们两人垫付款项，但是他可能却愿意替你一人出钱。
If that is the case, tell me, and I will resign the whole to you, and go about my business."
假如是这样的话，请你告诉我，我将退出合伙，离开此地。”
"No," said he, "my father has really been disappointed, and is really unable; and I am unwilling to distress him farther.
“不，”他说，“我父亲倒是真正的感到失望的，他是真正无力垫付款项，同时我也不愿意更使他痛心。
I see this is a business I am not fit for. I was bred a farmer, and it was a folly in me to come to town, and put myself, at thirty years of age, an apprentice to learn a new trade.
我现在知道我不能胜任这个印刷工作。我从小就学农，我的进城来，在三十岁的年龄，充当学徒去学习一种新的行业，实在是一件荒唐事。
Many of our Welsh people are going to settle in North Carolina, where land is cheap.
我们有很多威尔斯人将到北卡罗来纳去殖民，因为那里土地很便宜。
I am inclin'd to go with them, and follow my old employment. You may find friends to assist you.
我想跟他们一块儿去干我的老行业。你可以找朋友来帮助你。
If you will take the debts of the company upon you; return to my father the hundred pounds he has advanced; pay my little personal debts, and give me thirty pounds and a new saddle, I will relinquish the partnership, and leave the whole in your hands."
假如你愿意承担印刷所的债务，归还我父亲所垫的一百镑，替我还清我个人的一些零星欠款，再给我三十镑和一个新的马鞍，我将让与我的股权。全部产权归你所有。”
I agreed to this proposal: it was drawn up in writing, sign'd, and seal'd immediately.
我同意他的提议。我们马上就写了一张证书，签了字盖了印。
I gave him what he demanded, and he went soon after to Carolina, from whence he sent me next year two long letters, containing the best account that had been given of that country, the climate, the soil, husbandry, etc., for in those matters he was very judicious.
我给了他他所要求的东西，不久他就到卡罗来纳去了，第二年他从那里寄了两封长信给我，信里包含了关于那一地区到那时为止最好的一篇叙述，讲到它的气候、土壤、农业等。因为关于这些事情他原是十分内行的，
I printed them in the papers, and they gave great satisfaction to the publick.
我把它们在报上发表了，读者大为满意。
As soon as he was gone, I recurr'd to my two friends; and because I would not give an unkind preference to either, I took half of what each had offered and I wanted of one, and half of the other;
他一走，我就去求助我的两位朋友。因为我不愿意对任何一位有所偏爱，我就向每一位借了他所提供的半数，也就是我本来要向一个人借贷的半数，
paid off the company's debts, and went on with the business in my own name, advertising that the partnership was dissolved.
偿清了印刷铺的债务，就开始以自己的名义经营事业，同时公开宣布合伙的解散。
I think this was in or about the year 1729.
我想这是在1729年或是那年前后。
