Once I lost a small dictionary only a few days after I bought it.A short time later I got a letter from a friend informing me of his being jilted by his sweetheart.[1] In reply I remember I wrote something like this:
I am very sorry to learn that you have lost your sweetheart.I also have a loss to tell you of; that is,[2] I have recently lost a small dictionary,which I bought but a fortnight ago.[3]
You want me to console[4]you? Well,losing things is common enough,and losing a sweetheart is no exception.[5]So far as I can see,[6] the only way not to lose a thing is not to get it.If I had not bought the small dictionary,I could not possibly have lost it.I have never had a sweetheart,and so[7] I have never had the sad experience of losing one.
What do you think of my opinion,reader? Don't think that I wrote the letter in jest.[8] I was perfectly serious.[9]I meant what I said.[10] All we have may be lost at any moment - and for ever.[11]One may lose one's life when one least expects it.[12] A clerk may lose his position when he counts on[13] promotion.A girl may lose her chastity[14]when she thinks she has most force of character[15] among her friends.
As soon as you come into possession of [16] something,you begin to run the risk of [17]losing it.By something I mean everything; it may be a dictionary,a fountain-pen,[18] a reputation,[19] a friendship,a love,and so forth.[20]
A student of mine lost an umbrella in a tram-car[21] the other day.[22] I am glad that he does not seem to have lost the few rhetorical principles[23]that I had explained to him only two or three days before he lost his umbrella.
注释
[1]jilted by his sweetheart：为其爱人所弃
[2]that is：即谓
[3]but a fortnight ago：仅两星期以前
[4]console：安慰
[5]exception：例外
[6]So far as I can see：就我所知
[7]so：故；所以（此字应重读）
[8]in jest：嬉戏
[9]serious：认真的；非说笑话的
[10]meant what I said：意与言合
[11]for ever：永远
[12]least expects it：最不期望之；以为决不临到此事
[13]counts on：预冀
[14]chastity：贞操
[15]force of character：品性之力量；自持之力
[16]come into possession of：得到
[17]run the risk of...：冒……之险
[18]fountain-pen：自来水笔
[19]reputation：名誉
[20]and so forth：以及其他
[21]tram-car：电车
[22]the other day：数日前
[23]rhetorical principles：修辞学原理