英译汉模拟（四）

The art of pleasing is a very necessary one to possess; but a very difficult one to acquire. It can hardly be reduced to rules; and your own good sense and observation will teach you more of it than I can. Do as you would be done by, is the surest method that I know of pleasing. Observe carefully what pleases you in others, and probably the same things in you will please others. If you are pleased with the complaisance and attention of others to your humors, your tastes, or your weaknesses, depend upon it, the same complaisance and attention, on your part, to theirs, will equally please them. Take the tone of the company, that you are in, and do not pretend to give it;

be serious, gay, or even trifling, as you find the present humor of the company; this is an attention due from every individual to the majority. Do not tell stories in company, there is nothing more tedious and disagreeable; if by chance you know a very short story, and exceedingly applicable to the present subject of conversation, tell it in as few words as possible.

参考译文

取悦于人的艺术是非常必要具备的，然而又很难学到。不可能把它简化成几条规则;你自己的辨别力和观察力能教给你的东西比我所能教给你的多。就我所知，最可靠的办法是你愿意别人如何对待你，你就这样对待别人。务必仔细观察，在别人身上有什么使你喜欢他的地方，很可能你身上同样的东西会使别人喜欢你。如果别人彬彬有礼并关心注意你风趣的谈吐、你的爱好、或是你的弱点，你因此感到高兴;我敢说，你的彬彬有礼与关心注意，同样会使别人高兴。谈吐要与大家的气氛一致，不要想去定调子;严肃、欢快，甚至轻浮无聊，都得适合你所处的当时人们的心境;这是个人对多数人应有的礼貌。切勿当众讲故事;使人讨厌、不愉快的事莫过于此了。如果碰巧你有个小故事，又极适合当时的话题，尽量讲得简短些。