第 52 节
作者:
津鸿一瞥 更新:2021-10-16 18:44 字数:1292
referring to the story as familiar to ourselves。
{4} What a SAFE word 〃relation〃 is; how little it predicates! yet
it has overgrown 〃kinsman。〃
{5} The root alluded to is not the potato of our own gardens; but
a plant so near akin to it that I have ventured to translate it
thus。 Apropos of its intelligence; had the writer known Butler he
would probably have said …
〃He knows what's what; and that's as high;
As metaphysic wit can fly。〃
{6} Since my return to England; I have been told that those who
are conversant about machines use many terms concerning them which
show that their vitality is here recognised; and that a collection
of expressions in use among those who attend on steam engines would
be no less startling than instructive。 I am also informed; that
almost all machines have their own tricks and idiosyncrasies; that
they know their drivers and keepers; and that they will play pranks
upon a stranger。 It is my intention; on a future occasion; to
bring together examples both of the expressions in common use among
mechanicians; and of any extraordinary exhibitions of mechanical
sagacity and eccentricity that I can meet withnot as believing in
the Erewhonian Professor's theory; but from the interest of the
subject。
End