美文赏析（五十八）
The Definition of a Gentleman
John Henry Newman 1801-1890
It is almost a definition of a gentleman to say he is one who never inflicts pain. This description is both refined and, as far as it goes, accurate. He is mainly occupied in merely removing the obstacles which hinder the free and unembarrassed action of those about him. His benefits may be considered as parallel to what are called comforts or conveniences in arrangements of a personal nature: like an easy chair or a good fire, which do their part in dispelling cold and fatigue, though nature provides both means of rest and animal heat without them. The true gentleman in like manner carefully avoids whatever may caused a jar or a jolt in the minds of those with whom he is cast;--- all clashing of opinion, or collision of feeling, all restraint, or suspicion, or gloom, or resentment; his great concern being to make every one at their ease and at home. He has his eyes on all his company: he is tender towards the bashful, gentle towards the distant, and merciful towards the absurd;
he can recollect to whom he is speaking; he guards against unseasonable allusions, or topics which may irritate; he is seldom prominent in a conversation, and never wearisome.
He makes light of favours while he does them, and seems to be receiving when he is conferring. He never speaks of himself except when compelled, defends himself by a mere retort, he has no ears for slander or gossip, is scrupulous in imputing motives to those who interfere with him, and interprets every thing for the best. He is never mean or little in his disputes, never takes unfair; advantage, never mistakes personalities or sharp sayings for arguments, or insulates evil which he dare not say out. From a long-sighted prudence, he observes the maxim of the ancient sage that we should ever conduct ourselves towards our enemy as if he were one day to be our friend. He has too much good sense to be affronted at insults, he is too well employed to remember injuries, and too indolent to bear malice. He is patient,  forbearing , and resigned, on philosophical principles; he submits to pain, because it is inevitable, to bereavement, because it is irreparable, and to death, because it is his destiny. If he engages in controversy of any kin
d, his disciplined intellect preserves him from the blunder.
New words and expressions生词和短语
jolt [dʒəult] n.震动，摇动，颠簸，震惊
collision [kə'liʒən] n.碰撞，冲突，抵触
bashful [bæʃful] adj.局促不安的，扭怩的，羞怯的
absurd [əb'sə:d] adj.荒谬的，荒唐的
confer [kən'fə:]vt.商谈，商议vt.(on)授予，赋予
retort [ri'tɔ:t] v.反驳，回嘴n.反驳，回嘴
slander ['sla:ndə] n.诽谤，诋毁
scrupulous ['skru:pjuləs] adj.细致的，一丝不苟的
美文赏析
insulate ['insjuleit] vt.隔离，使隔绝
prudence ['pru:dəns] n.审慎，精明，深谋远虑
indolent ['indələnt] adj.懒惰的，怠惰的
malice ['mælis] n.恶意，怨恨
bereavement [biri:vmənt] n.丧亲，丧友
blunder ['blʌndə] n.犯错误
参考译文
绅士的定义
绅士是从不给人造成痛苦的人，这个说法近乎是给绅士下的一个定义。这样的描绘不但精妙，而且泛泛而论的话，也可谓准确。他的主要精力无非用于排除各种障碍，因为它们妨碍了他身边那些人无拘无束的活动。他带来的益处不妨看作类似于我们安排个人身体需要时所谓的舒适便利之物：比如一把安乐椅或一堆烧旺的炉火，这两样东西在去寒解乏时起了作用，虽然生命提供了休息和体温这两个手段而没有那两样东西。真正的绅士同样如此，
凡是可能在他置身其中的那些人的心里引起刺激或震惊的言行，他都细心地加以避免；——所有的意见冲突，或情绪抵触，所有的约束、嫌疑、沉闷、或是怨尤，他最为关心的是让人人感到轻松自如宾至如归。他时时留意于在场的宾客；对拘束的人亲切相待，对矜持的人温和相待，对荒唐的人仁慈相待；他能够记得与之言谈的人的身份；他防止不合时宜的旁敲侧击，或是可能激怒他人的话题；他在交谈时很少突出自己，而且决不会令人厌倦。
他在施惠于人时满不在乎，明明他在赐予，看上去却像是在拜领。他从不言及自我，除非是在不得已的时候，也从不以片言反驳来为自己辩护，诽谤流言他置若罔闻，遇到从中作梗的人，他小心翼翼，避免归咎于别有用心，凡事总从出于好意去解释。他在发生争执时决不采用卑鄙或小人手段，决不利用不正当的好处，决不把人身攻击或尖刻言论误作论争，不敢直说的恶言决不含沙射影，由于目光远大处事审慎，他遵循古贤的箴言：对待敌人我们应该始终不失分寸，姑且当作有朝一日成为朋友。他头脑清醒而不会遇到侮辱，事务繁忙而不会对恶语伤人耿耿于怀，自我陶醉而不会心存恶意。他懂得忍耐、宽容、默认，以通晓事理为原则；他接受痛苦，因为不可避免；接受丧亲，因为无从挽回；接受死亡，因为天命已定；倘若他参加任何性质的争论，他那种训练过的才智能帮助他不犯错误。