现代大学英语精读(第2版)第五册:U4 Professions for Women(8)
日期:2019-10-30 06:33

(单词翻译:单击)

Those are the questions that I should like, had I time, to ask you. And indeed, if I have laid stress upon these professional experiences of mine, it is because I believe that they are, though in different forms, yours also. Even when the path is nominally open—when there is nothing to prevent a woman from being a doctor, a lawyer, a civil servant—there are many phantoms and obstacles, as I believe, looming in her way. To discuss and define them is, I think, of great value and importance; for thus only can the labour be shared, the difficulties be solved.
如果还有时间,这些就是我向大家提出的问题。我之所以强调我自己的这些职业经验是因为我认为它们在不同的形式上和你们的问题是一样的。即使这条道路在表面上畅通无阻,没有什么能阻止女人成为医生、律师和公务员,但是正如我想的,在这条路上还是会有很多鬼影和障碍挡道。我认为讨论和界定这些障碍是十分重要的,因为只有如此我们才能共同努力并克服困难。
But besides this, it is necessary also to discuss the ends and the aims for which we are fighting, for which we are doing battle with these formidable obstacles. Those aims cannot be taken for granted; they must be perpetually questioned and examined. The whole position, as I see it—here in this hall surrounded by women practising for the first time in history I know not how many different professions—is one of extraordinary interest and importance. You have won rooms of your own in the house hitherto exclusively owned by men. You are able, though not without great labour and effort, to pay the rent. You are earning your five hundred pounds a year. But this freedom is only a beginning; the room is your own, but it is still bare. It has to be furnished; it has to be decorated; it has to be shared. How are you going to furnish it, how are you going to decorate it? With whom are you going to share it, and upon what terms?
除此之外,我们还必须讨论我们为之奋斗而必须克服巨大障碍的目的。那些目的是什么,对这个问题我们不能想当然地认为已经解决了,而要不断地提出疑问和进行审视。在有史以来首次由追求多种职业的妇女参加的聚会大厅里,我认为,我们的立场是我们特别感兴趣和重要的内容之一。在这个一直由男人控制的房子里,你们已经贏得了自己的房间。虽然不得不付出艰辛的劳动和努力,但是你们已经能够自付房租,你们已经能够每年赚出自己的五百英镑。但是,这个自由只是个开端,现在屋子是你自己的了,但它依然是空的,它需要装修和装饰,需要与人分享。你准备置办什么样的家具,准备进行什么样的装饰,准备和谁一起分享,有什么条件?
These, I think are questions of the utmost importance and interest. For the first time in history you are able to ask them; for the first time you are able to decide for yourselves what the answers should be. Willingly would I stay and discuss those questions and answers—but not tonight. My time is up; and I must cease.
我认为这些都是最为重要的目标所在。有史以来你们第一次提出这些问题,第一次能够自己回答这些问题。我非常愿意留下来和大家一起讨论这些问题和答案,但今晚不行,时间到了,就讲到这里吧。

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