《罗马帝国衰亡史》章节试读

《罗马帝国衰亡史》的笔记-第15章 - 第15章

The great law of impartiality too often obliges us to reveal the imperfections of the uninspired teachers and believers of the Gospel ; to a careless observer , their faults may seem to cast a shade on the faith which they professed. But the scandal of the pious Christian , and the fallacious triumph of the infidel , should cease as soon as they recollect not only by whom , but likewise to whom , the Divine Revelation was given. The theologian may indulge the pleasing task of describing Religion as she descended from Heaven , arrayed in her native purity. A more melancholy duty is imposed on the historian. He must discover the inevitable mixture of error and corruption which she contracted in a long residence upon earth , among a weak and degenerate race of beings.
第15 章专述基督教的兴起。在起始的两段, 吉本先要申明自己的宗旨。以上三句出自第二段。译文第一句中的“平庸”译的是uninspired , 有误。这个词在宗教里的意思是“未经神启”, 在这里指的是早期教会里的一些人虽然信仰和传播福音, 但并未得到耶稣的真传。教会关于自身历史的说法不足征信, 根本的原因在于利益和愚昧。这是全书力陈史事, 详加说明的一点。而此处并不明言教会的自私和信众的糊涂, 只称某些人未得神启。吉本对基督教心存不敬, 语多讥讽, 这就是一个例子。第二句中的“他们”指代不明。核对原文, 知道是信教和不信教的人的合指。同句中的“攻击”, 原文是scandal 。这个词在宗教里也有特殊的意思, 指的是信徒的言行有违教规, 在同一教门内引起的震惊和动摇。此外, 第三句中的“宗教”可以径译为“基督教”, 因为此处的religion 根据上下文是特有所指的。