本书简介：
《沉思录》是古罗马皇帝奥勒留写给自己的书，内容大部分是他在鞍马劳顿中写成的。作品来自奥勒留对身羁宫廷的自己和自己所处混乱世界的感受，追求一种冷静而达观的生活。这部著作是斯多葛学派的一个里程碑，亦是温总理放在枕边，读了不下百遍的书。
本书原文由古希腊文而作，英文版选择比较权威的George Long的版本，中文版选择何怀宏的版本作参考。笔记中的英文释义摘自《牛津高阶英汉双解词典》

 作者简介：
马可•奥勒留（Marcus Aurelius，公元121—180年），著名的“帝王哲学家”，古罗马帝国皇帝，在希腊文学和拉丁文学、修辞、哲学、法律、绘画方面受过很好的教育，晚期斯多葛学派代表人物之一。奥勒留也许是西方历史上唯一的一位哲学家皇帝。他是一个比他的帝国更加完美的人，他的勤奋工作最终并没有能够挽救古罗马，但是他的《沉思录》却成为西方历史上的伟大名著。

卷一：品质闪烁在良好的传承中（6）
 小编语：在卷一中，奥勒留回忆自己身边之人所教会自己的东西，George Long的翻译十分精炼，有些看起来也许不成句子，仅仅是一些词组和短语，但就在字里行间，我们可以感受到作者的思考与自省。如果要作为翻译练习的话，需要注意添加动词及调整语序，使你的翻译语句通顺，易于理解。
这一期和下一期的选段都是奥勒留评价他父亲的，很长，我把它分成好几段来学习，可见最亲的亲人对自己的影响是最大的。

1.15(1) In my father I observed mildness of temper, and unchangeable resolution in the things which he had determined after due deliberation; and no vainglory in those things which men call honours; and a love of labour and perseverance; and a readiness to listen to those who had anything to propose for the common weal; and undeviating firmness in giving to every man according to his deserts; and a knowledge derived from experience of the occasions for vigorous action and for remission.

 Notes：
deliberation [n] process of carefully considering or discussing sth.
                 e.g.: After considering hours of deliberation, the jury returned a verdict of ‘not guilty’. (经过十小时的商议，陪审团宣告了“无罪”的裁决。)
                      2.[u]the quality of being slow and careful in what you say or do.
                 e.g.: She signed her name with great deliberation. (她非常审慎地签上了自己的名字。)
vainglorious [adj] (literary, disapproving) too proud o your own abilities or achievements 
                vainglory [u.n]
derive [v]
derive sth from sth
1.(formal) to get sth from sth. e.g.: He derived great pleasure from painting.
2.(technical) toobtain a substance from sth. e.g.: The new drug is derived from fish oil.
derive from sth| be derived from sth: to come or develop from sth. e.g.: The word ‘politics’ is derived from a Greek word meaning ‘city’.

1.15(2) And I observed that he had overcome all passion for boys; and he considered himself no more than any other citizen; and he released his friends from all obligation to sup with him or to attend him of necessity when he went abroad, and those who had failed to accompany him, by reason of any urgent circumstances, always found him the same. I observed too his habit of careful inquiry in all matters of deliberation, and his persistency, and that he never stopped his investigation through being satisfied with appearances which first present themselves; and that his disposition was to keep his friends, and not to be soon tired of them, nor yet to be extravagant in his affection; and to be satisfied on all occasions, and cheerful; and to foresee things a long way off, and to provide for the smallest without display; and to check immediately popular applause and all flattery; and to be ever watchful over the things which were necessary for the administration of the empire, and to be a good manager of the expenditure, and patiently to endure the blame which he got for such conduct; and he was neither superstitious with respect to the gods, nor did he court men by gifts or by trying to please them, or by flattering the populace; but he showed sobriety in all things and firmness, and never any mean thoughts or action, nor love of novelty.

 Notes:

a.文中说到的“found him the same”, 让DQ我想到了最近英语课上背过的词组“a man all of a piece”，是“表里如一”的意思。通俗讲就是一个人是完整的一片（= =！），不会玩小心眼，背地里刺你一刀什么的。奥勒留的父亲希望手下做该做的事而不是整天围在自己的身边喝茶，问安。

b. "a habit of careful inquiry in all matters of deliberation" 深究所有值得考虑的事情的习惯。我们活在这个每天用“140字符”表达观点的“微博时代”，深入思考一些问题变得很难，往往是发现问题，但后续的思考没有跟上，更不用说采取什么行动，所以我们只是在原地踏步。

c. "be satisfied on all occasions" 对所有环境都感到满足和快乐

d. "foresee things a long way off" 富有远见。

e. "sobriety in all things and firmness", being sensible and serious. 是多么可贵的精神啊！

 看了笔记注释之后，先尝试自己翻译一下吧，参考译文见下：

中文翻译：

1.15(1) 在我的父亲那里， 我看到了一种温柔的气质，和在他经过适当的考虑之后对所决定的事情的不可更改的决心；在世人认为光荣的事情上他毫无骄矜之心，热爱劳作，持之以恒，乐意倾听对公共福利提出的建议；在论功行赏方面毫不动摇，并拥有一种从经验中获得的辨别精力充沛和软弱无力的行动的知识。

1.15(2) 我注意到克服了对孩子的所有激情；他把自己视为与任何别的公民一样平等的公民；他解除了他的朋友要与他一起喝茶，或者在他去国外时必须觐见他的所有义务，那些由于紧急事务而没有陪伴他的人，总是发现他对他们一如往常。我也看到了他仔细探讨所有需要考虑的事情的习惯，他坚持不懈，决不因对初步印象的满足就停止他的探究；他有一种保持友谊的气质，不会很快厌倦朋友，同时又不放纵自己的柔情；他对所有环境都感到满足和快乐；能不夸示地显微知着，富有远见；他直接阻止流行的赞颂和一切谄媚；对帝国的管理所需要的事务保持警醒，善于量入为出，精打细算，并耐心地忍受由此而来的责难；他不迷信神灵，也不以赏赐、娱乐或奉承大众而对人们献殷勤；他在所有事情上都显示出一种清醒和坚定，不表现任何卑贱的思想或行为，也不好新骛奇。
回顾：《沉思录》读书笔记系列>>