【每天读一点英文】gnuhpc注释版： Suit Is Best

      The proper force of words lies not in the words themselves, but in their application. A word may be a fine sounding  word, of an unusual length, and very imposing from its learning and novelty, and yet in the connection in which it is introduced may be quite pointless and irrelevant, It is not pomp（  [pɔmp] n.盛况，不必要的炫耀） or pretension（ [priˈtenʃən] n.自命不凡）, but the adaptation of  the expression to the idea, that clenches a writer's meaning: as it is not the size or glossiness of the materials, but their being fitted each to its place, that gives strength to the arch; or as the pegs and nails are as necessary to the support of the building as the larger timbers（   [ˈtimbə] n.木材）, and more so than the mere showy, unsubstantial ornaments. I hate anything that occupies more space than it is worth. I hate to see a load of bandboxes go along the street, and I hate to see a parcel of big words without anything in them. A person who dews not deliberately dimples of all his thoughts alike in  cumbrous（ ['kʌmbrəs]   adj. 讨厌的, 累赘的, 笨拙的） draperies（ [ˈdreipəri] n.布业，布匹，帐帘） and flimsy disguises may strike out twenty varieties of familiar everyday language, each coming somewhat nearer to the feeling he wants to convey, and at last not hit upon that particular and only one which may be said to be identical with the exact impression in his mind. This would seem to show that Mr. Cobalt is hardly right in saying that the first word that occurs is always the best. It may be a very good one ; and yet a better may present itself on reflection or from time to time . It may be suggested naturally, however, and spontaneously, from a fresh and lively conception of the subject .

 

 

适合的才是最好的

 

    词汇的力量不在词汇本身，而在词汇的应用。一个音节嘹亮的长字，就其本身的学术性和新奇感来说，可能是令人叹赏的，然而，把它放在某句上下文之中，说不定倒会牛头不对马嘴。这是因为要确切表达作者的意思，关键并不在文词是否华丽，堂皇，而在于文词是否切合内容；正象在建筑中，要使拱门坚固，关键不在于材料的大小和光泽，而在于它们用在那里是否恰好严丝合缝。因此，在建筑物中，砂木钉有时竟与大件木料同等重要，而其支撑作用肯定远远胜过那些徒有其表、不切实用的装饰部件。我讨厌那些白占地方的东西，讨厌一大堆空纸盒装在车上招摇过市，也讨厌那些写在纸面上的大而无实际内容的字眼。一个人写文章，只要他不是立志要把自己的真意用重重锦绣帐幔、层层多余伪装完全遮掩起来，他总会从熟悉的日常用语中想出一二十种说法，一个比一个更接近他所要表达的情感，只怕到了最后，他竟会拿不定主意要用哪一种说法才能恰如其分地表达自己的心意哩！如此说来，考拜特先生所谓最先闪现脑际之词自然是最好的说法未必可靠。这样出现的字眼也许很好，然而经过一次又一次推敲，还会发现更好的字眼。这种字眼，要经过围绕内容进行清醒而活泼的构思，才能够自自然然的想到。

【作者简介】

威廉·赫兹里特(1778—1830)，十九世纪初英国著名的浪漫主义散文家。本文节选自其名篇《论平易的文体》。