评论
打印
Several persons were named, and for that reason not agreed to.
理事们提出了几个候选人的名字，但是为了上述的理由未能通过。
At length one mention'd me, with the observation that I was merely an honest man, and of no sect at all, which prevailed with them to chuse me.
终于有一个理事提出我的名字，他说我仅仅是一个诚实人，不属于任何教派，这一下可说服了其他理事，使他们推选了我。
The enthusiasm which existed when the house was built had long since abat'd, and its trustees had not been able to procure fresh contributions for paying the ground-rent, and discharging some other debts the building had occasion'd, which embarrass'd them greatly.
当年修建会堂时的那股热情老早就烟消云散了，理事会无法觅得新的捐款来付偿地租和其他与会堂有关的债务，因此感到十分为难。
Being now a member of both sets of trustees, that for the building and that for the academy, I had a good opportunity of negotiating with both, and brought them finally to an agreement,
现在我是两个理事会的理事了，是会堂的理事，也是学院的理事，因此我有一个很好的机会跟两方面商谈，最后使双方达成了一项协议。
by which the trustees for the building were to cede it to those of the academy, the latter undertaking to discharge the debt, to keep forever open in the building a large hall for occasional preachers, according to the original intention, and maintain a free-school for the instruction of poor children.
按照这项协议，会堂理事会把会堂让渡给学院理事会，后者承担付偿债务的责任，应允遵照修建该堂的原意永远在会堂里划出一大间听任传教士们的不时之需，并开办一所免费教育清寒子弟的学校。
Writings were accordingly drawn, and on paying the debts the trustees of the academy were put in possession of the premises; and by dividing the great and lofty hall into stories, and different rooms above and below for the several schools, and purchasing some additional ground, the whole was soon made fit for our purpose, and the scholars remov'd into the building.
于是双方订了合同，学院理事会付清了债以后，就接管了房产，我们把这高大的会堂分成两层，每层又隔成若干房间作为讲堂，我们另外又买了一些地，整个场所不久就符合我们的需要了，学员们就搬进了这所大楼。
The care and trouble of agreeing with the workmen, purchasing materials, and superintending the work, fell upon me; and I went thro' it the more cheerfully, as it did not then interfere with my private business, having the year before taken a very able, industrious, and honest partner, Mr. David Hall, with whose character I was well acquainted, as he had work'd for me four years.
所有跟工人订合同、采购物资和监督工程等工作都落在我的肩上，但是我倒还是很乐意地担任这些工作的，特别是因为它们并不妨害我自己的业务，因为一年前我已经跟一个十分能干、勤勉和诚实的伙友大卫·荷尔先生合了伙，他以前替我做了四年工，所以我很了解他的性格。
He took off my hands all care of the printing-office, paying me punctually my share of the profits.
他负担了管理印刷铺的一切工作，使我得以脱身，他按时付给我应得的红利。
The partnership continued eighteen years, successfully for us both.
这一合伙维持了十八年之久，对双方都大有裨益。
The trustees of the academy, after a while, were incorporated by a charter from the governor; their funds were increas'd by contributions in Britain and grants of land from the proprietaries, to which the Assembly has since made considerable addition; and thus was established the present University of Philadelphia.
过了一些时候，学院理事会向州长领得了一张执照，组成了一个社团，从英国寄来了捐款，地主们也捐献了土地，所以理事会的基金增加了，州议会迄今为止也捐了不少，现今的费列得尔费亚大学就这样成立了。
I have been continued one of its trustees from the beginning, now near forty years, and have had the very great pleasure of seeing a number of the youth who have receiv'd their education in it, distinguish'd by their improv'd abilities, serviceable in public stations, and ornaments to their country.
我从开始一直是理事之一，迄今快四十年了，我看到许多青年在大学里受了教育后，因他们的卓越才能著称于世，在社会上成了有用之材，为国增光，我感到莫大的快慰。
When I disengaged myself, as above mentioned, from private business, I flatter'd myself that, by the sufficient tho' moderate fortune I had acquir'd, I had secured leisure during the rest of my life for philosophical studies and amusements.
如上所述，我摆脱了私人的业务经营，当时我自以为我已经获得一笔足够的财产，虽然数目很有限，但是已经能够使我在未来的一生中获得空闲时间从事哲理的探讨，欢度晚年。
I purchased all Dr. Spence's apparatus, who had come from England to lecture here, and I proceeded in my electrical experiments with great alacrity; but the publick, now considering me as a man of leisure, laid hold of me for their purposes, every part of our civil government, and almost at the same time, imposing some duty upon me.
我购买了斯宾斯博士的全部仪器，他是从英国到美洲来讲学的，我很快地着手做电学试验，但是现在社会上以为我是一个有闲阶级了，就抓住我来为他们服务，我们政府的各部门几乎同时地要我效劳。
The governor put me into the commission of the peace; the corporation of the city chose me of the common council, and soon after an alderman; and the citizens at large chose me a burgess to represent them in Assembly.
州长任命我为治安推事；市政府选我做市议会议员，不久以后又选我为市参议员；全体人民又选我为州议员，在州议会中代表他们。
This latter station was the more agreeable to me, as I was at length tired with sitting there to hear debates, in which, as clerk, I could take no part, and which were often so unentertaining that I was induc'd to amuse myself with making magic squares or circles, or anything to avoid weariness; and I conceiv'd my becoming a member would enlarge my power of doing good.
后面的那个职位特别使我乐意，因为我对于枯坐一旁听别人辩论，终于感到厌倦了，作为州议会的秘书，我不能参加辩论，而这些辩论又是如此枯燥无味，我不得不在纸上画画数字方阵表、圆圈或是任何东西以自娱解闷，同时我认为当了州议员，我可以做出更大的贡献。
I would not, however, insinuate that my ambition was not flatter'd by all these promotions; it certainly was; for, considering my low beginning, they were great things to me; and they were still more pleasing, as being so many spontaneous testimonies of the public good opinion, and by me entirely unsolicited.
我绝不是说我对这一切荣誉无动于衷，我当然感到很光荣，因为考虑到我出身的低微，这些地位对我是十分了不起的，使我特别感到高兴的是这些职位代表着社会舆论对我的一种自发的称赞，完全不是我自己钻营得来的光荣。
