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①line n. [C] [熟词生义] 诗行;歌词
②remain v.仍然是
③excerpt ['eksɜːrpt]
n. [C] 摘录,节选
④tangled ['tæŋɡ(ə)ld]
adj.纠结的;复杂的
⑤web [web] n.蜘蛛网;错综复杂的事物
⑥weave [wiːv] v.
编,织
⑦deceive [dI'siːv] v.
欺骗
⑧value n.[C] 价值观
⑨majority n.大部分,
大多数
“a/the majority+of+可数名词复数”作主语时,谓语动词应用复数形式。
⑩to...extent到……程度,在……程度上
⑪justify ['dʒʌstIfaI] v.证明(别人认为不合理的事)有道理;为……辩护
⑫say for example that比如,例如
⑬despite [dI'spaIt]
prep.即使,尽管
⑭frank [fræŋk] adj.坦率的,坦诚的,直言不讳的
⑮latter ['lætə] n.
后者
the former前者
⑯ask for sb.'s advice
征求某人的意见;寻求某人的建议
⑰go back to回到
(原来的话题等)
⑱in advance提前,
事先
in advance of...
在……之前;超过
⑲serve [sɜːv] vt.& vi.
(给某人)提供;端上
⑳moreover [mɔːr'əʊvə]
adv.此外,而且
㉑hide...from...
对……隐瞒……;躲避
[人物小传]
沃尔特·司各特(Walter Scott)是英国著名的历史小说家和诗人。他生于苏格兰的爱丁堡市,自幼患有小儿麻痹症。他以苏格兰为背景的诗歌十分有名,而后逐渐转行开始写历史小说,最终成为英国历史文学的一代鼻祖。在他去世后,浪漫主义时代也随之走向终结。
Little White Lies
[1]Written more than two hundred years ago, these lines① by Walter Scott remain② one of the most wellknown excerpts③ of Scottish poetry:
Oh, what a tangled④ web⑤ we weave⑥,
When first we practise to deceive⑦!
We all know that honesty is an important value⑧ and that lying is wrong, but who can honestly say that they've never told a lie? Perhaps we comfort ourselves with the knowledge [2]that most of the lies we tell are “white lies”: little lies that we tell to protect others from the truth.
[2]此处是that引导的同位语从句,对knowledge进行解释说明;第一个we tell是省略关系代词的定语从句,修饰先行词most of the lies;冒号后的内容解释说明“white lies”,其中that引导定语从句,修饰先行词little lies;动词不定式短语to protect others from the truth在从句中作目的状语。
We've all surely had the experience of someone cooking a meal for us that we don't like. The majority⑨ of us of course don't tell the truth—we lie and say that the food is “delicious”.
[3]Or if a friend asks us what we think of their new haircut, we say “It's great!”, even if we think it's awful. But to what extent⑩ can we justify⑪ telling white lies like these?
[3]本句是主从复合句。主句为“we say ‘It's great!’”;if 引导条件状语从句,其中含有what引导的宾语从句;even if引导让步状语从句。
One of the main reasons for telling a white lie is [4]to try to make others feel better. However, when we lie and say that someone's haircut looks good, or when we say that we love a meal that we secretly hate, are we really hoping to improve the situation for someone else? Perhaps we are in fact lying to protect ourselves from the disappointment and anger of others.
[4]此处是动词不定式短语作表语;make others feel better为 “make+宾语+宾语补足语” 结构。
Another reason for telling a white lie is to give encouragement. Say for example that⑫ your friend asks you what you think of his singing. You of course say that it's wonderful, despite⑬ secretly thinking that your cat can sing better. Stop for a moment and consider that perhaps your friend wants some frank⑭ comments from you [5]so that they can improve. Or perhaps, they need to know that they should look for a different hobby.
[5]此处是so that引导的目的状语从句。
Finally, we may also tell a white lie when we want to protect others from bad news. If you've had a bad day, do you tell your parents about it, or do you hide your tears and lie that your day was “fine”? If the latter⑮, don't you think your parents would want to listen to you and understand your feelings? Wouldn't it be better to respect their concern for you and ask for their advice⑯?
[6]Going back to⑰ Walter Scott's lines, we may find even white lies have results we cannot know in advance⑱. Perhaps the meal you said was “delicious” will be served⑲ [7]every time you visit. Would your friend trust your opinion again if he found out you had lied about his “wonderful” singing? How would you expect others to truly understand your emotions if you only shared good news instead of bad? Moreover⑳, how would you feel if you discovered that the people closest to you had been hiding the truth from㉑ you?
[6]此处是现在分词短语作状语。
[7]此处是名词词组every time引导的时间状语从句。
小小的善意谎言
沃尔特·司各特在两百多年前写下的这些诗句(至今)仍是苏格兰诗歌中最为著名的节选之一:
哦,我们一旦开始进行欺骗,就编织了一张多么错综复杂的网啊!
我们都知道诚实是一种重要的价值观,说谎是错误的,但谁能诚实地说他们从来没有说过谎呢?或许我们会这样安慰自己,我们说的大多数谎言都是“善意的谎言”:(这是)我们为了保护他人免受真相的伤害而说的小谎言。
我们肯定都有过这样的经历,有人为我们做了一顿我们不喜欢的饭菜。我们中的大部分人当然不会讲实话——我们会谎称食物“很美味”。
或者,如果有朋友问我们他们的新发型怎么样,即使我们觉得它是糟糕的,我们还是会说“真好看!”。但是,我们能在多大程度上证明说这些善意的谎言有道理呢?
(人们)说善意的谎言的主要原因之一就是尽量让他人感觉更好一些。然而,当我们撒谎说某人的发型好看,或说不合我们口味的饭菜很好吃时,我们真的是想改善他人的处境吗?或许实际上我们撒谎是为了不让别人失望和愤怒,以免殃及自身。
(人们)说善意的谎言的另一个原因是给予鼓励。比如,你的朋友问你他的歌唱得如何,你当然会说很棒,尽管你私底下认为你的猫都能唱得(比他)更好。停下来思考一下,或许你的朋友想要从你那里得到一些诚恳的意见,以便他们能够改进。又或许,他们需要知道他们应该寻找(其他)不同的爱好。
最后,当我们想保护他人免受坏消息影响时,我们也可能会说善意的谎言。如果你经历了糟糕的一天,你会告诉你的父母,还是会藏起你的眼泪,谎称你的这一天过得“很好”呢?如果是后者,难道你不认为你的父母(其实)希望听你倾诉,并理解你的感受吗?尊重他们对你的关心并向他们寻求建议不是更好吗?
回到沃尔特·司各特的诗句,我们或许会发现,哪怕是善意的谎言也会造成我们无法预料的结果。可能你称之为“美味的”那顿饭在你每次去拜访的时候都会被端上来。朋友若发现你说他歌唱得不错是个谎言后,他还会再相信你的看法吗?如果你只分享好消息,对坏消息闭口不提,你怎么能期待别人能够真正理解你的情绪呢?而且,如果你发现你最亲近的人一直都在对你隐瞒真相,你会怎么想呢?
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