BBC英国史

surrendering to the temptations of the city

被城市诱惑所包围

and falling hopelessly into a deep, dark, sink of iniquity and disease.

逐渐无可救药地堕入 邪恶而病态的黑暗深渊

But however much moralists frowned on the new consumerism gripping the city,

不论多少卫道士信誓旦旦地声称 消费主义不会充斥整个城市

economic realists knew it was the way forward.

经济学家都知道这是发展必然趋势

There had been other great emporium cities in Europe,but nothing like this.

欧洲还有其他的大都会城市 但都不若如此

London had invented serious shopping and it had something like 20,000 shops to prove it.

伦敦商业极其繁荣 城中两万间店铺就是最好佐证

Its shops would lure the customer to buy something they'd never thought of acquiring.

这些商铺甚至能引诱顾客 选购他们不必需的商品

Novelty items like oriental goldfish,which became an aristocratic marvel.

东方金鱼这样的新奇玩意 已成为贵族新宠

Caged canaries, finches and parrots.

还有家养金丝雀 鹦鹉等

Unheard-of luxuries became commonplace,priced to appeal to the middle class.

闻所未闻的奢侈品也成为普通商品 逐渐普及中产阶级

China from Holland from which to sip your tea.

荷兰瓷器更多运用于泡沏茶水

Exotic fruits like pomegranates and pineapples.

外来的水果 如石榴和菠萝 也大受欢迎

The first commercially available condoms.

更有人开始贩卖避孕套

Lambskin for the rich,linen soaked in brine for the not-so-rich.

羊皮做的卖给富人 亚麻泡盐水做的卖给穷人

London's consumer culture was Mephistopheles winking an eye, crooking a finger, and proffering credit.

伦敦的商业文化极具魅惑力 眨眼之间 就能完成借贷

But terrible things could happen to those who ran out of credit and ran out of time.

但对那些逾期还不上钱的人来说 事情可能会变得很糟糕

词汇解析

1、appeal

呼吁;恳请;恳求

The Prime Minister appealed to young people to use their vote.

首相呼吁年轻人行使他们的投票权。

He will appeal to the state for an extension of unemployment benefits.

他将呼吁国家延长领取失业救济金的时限。

（为慈善或正义事业的）募捐

an appeal to save a library containing priceless manuscripts.

为挽救存有珍贵手稿的图书馆的一次募捐

This is not another appeal for famine relief.

这不是为赈济饥荒的又一次募捐。

上诉;申诉

He said they would appeal against the decision.

他说他们将对该决议提出申诉。

We intend to appeal the verdict.

我们打算对裁决提出上诉。

2、credit

赊购;赊欠

The group can't get credit to buy farming machinery.

这些人无法赊购到农用机械。

You can ask a dealer for a discount whether you pay cash or buy on credit.

无论是付现还是赊购，都可以要求经销商打折。

赞扬;称赞;认可

We don't mind who gets the credit so long as we don't get the blame.

谁受到表扬无所谓，只要我们不挨批就好。

It would be wrong for us to take all the credit.

如果我们把所有功劳都揽到自己身上，那就不对了。

认为是…的功劳;把…归于

The staff are crediting him with having saved Hythe's life.

职员们称赞他救了海丝的命。

The 74-year-old mayor is credited with helping make Los Angeles the financial capital of the West Coast.

洛杉矶成为西海岸的金融中心，那位74岁的市长功不可没。