To a Snail玛丽安·摩尔

致蜗牛李文俊 译


If " compression is the first grace of style, "
如果“精炼是优美风格的第一要素”,
you have it. Contractility is a virtue
那么,你正具有这种品质。蜷缩
as modesty is a virtue.
正如谦卑,也是一种美德。
It is not the acquisition of any one thing
那不是一件饰物,能从身外取得
that is able to adorn,
用以装扮自己,
or the incidental quality that occurs
也不是时隐时现的气质
as a concomitant of something well said,
说话得体时自会出现──
that we value in style,
人们认为好风度不能没有这种气质;
but the principle that is hid:
不,它是一种原则,隐藏在你
in the absence of feet, " a method of conclusions " ;
看不见的足部里,“那是一种收尾法”;
" a knowledge of principles, "
“是对原则的通晓”,它隐藏在
In the curious phenomenon of your occipital horn.
你头后部那对触角这古怪的现象里。


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