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