When I come to be old. (Jonathan Swift)

我2008年3月19日給永安的信


今天在清華讀另外一本 是
Oxford Authors Series 的 Swift卷
相當精彩
印象最深刻的是
年老戒之在.....
"當我年老  不娶少妻
.....當我年老
當我年老 不隨便疼小孩....
(十幾項)



他的墓碣是用拉丁文寫的
記得以前讀The Life of Johnson時
Samuel Johnson 說"英文還很不穩定" 所以墓誌銘等當然必須用拉丁文

Jonathan Swift

When I come to be old.

1699.

Not to marry a young Woman.

Not to keep young Company unless they reely desire it.

Not to be peevish or morose, or suspicious.

Not to scorn present Ways, or Wits, or Fashions, or Men, or War, &c.

Not to be fond of Children, or let them come near me hardly.

Not to tell the same story over and over to the same People.

Not to be covetous.

Not to neglect decency, or cleenlyness, for fear of falling into Nastyness.

Not to be over severe with young People, but give Allowances for their youthfull follyes and weaknesses.

Not to be influenced by, or give ear to knavish tatling servants, or others.

Not to be too free of advise, nor trouble any but those that desire it.

To desire some good Friends to inform me wch of these Resolutions I break, or neglect, and wherein; and reform accordingly.

Not to talk much, nor of my self.

Not to boast of my former beauty, or strength, or favor with Ladyes, &c.

Not to hearken to Flatteryes, nor conceive I can be beloved by a young woman, et eos qui hereditatem captant, odisse ac vitare.

Not to be positive or opiniative.

Not to sett up for observing all these Rules ; for fear I should observe none.