MAY 15.

5月15日

The common people of the place know me already, and love me, particularly the children. When at first I associated with them, and inquired in a friendly tone about their various trifles, some fancied that I wished to ridicule them, and turned from me in exceeding ill—humour. I did not allow that circumstance to grieve me: I only felt most keenly what I have often before observed. Persons who can claim a certain rank keep themselves coldly aloof from the common people, as though they feared to lose their importance by the contact; whilst wanton idlers, and such as are prone to bad joking, affect to descend to their level, only to make the poor people feel their impertinence all the more keenly.

当地的老百姓都已经认识我了，并且很喜欢我，尤其是孩子们。记得刚开始接触他们的时候，我友好地向他们问这问那，有些人却以为我是要取笑他们，便极为粗暴地打发我离开。我并未因此事而苦恼，只是对自己以前见过的事有了极其生动的体会。某些稍有地位的人对老百姓总是冷漠地采取疏远的态度，似乎觉得跟百姓接触会有失身份；还有些游手好闲的浅薄之辈，则总摆出一副屈尊降贵的姿态，反而让人觉得更傲慢无礼、俗不可耐。

I know very well that we are not all equal, nor can be so; but it is my opinion that he who avoids the common people, in order not to lose their respect, is as much to blame as a coward who hides himself from his enemy because he fears defeat.

我知道，人与人并不平等，也不可能平等，但我认为，那些为了不失尊严而疏远老百姓的人，同那些怕吃败仗，见了敌人就躲起来的胆小鬼一样，都该受到谴责。

The other day I went to the fountain, and found a young servant—girl, who had set her pitcher on the lowest step, and looked around to see if one of her companions was approaching to place it on her head. I ran down, and looked at her. "Shall I help you, pretty lass? " said I. She blushed deeply. "Oh, sir! " she exclaimed. "No ceremony! " I replied. She adjusted her head—gear, and I helped her. She thanked me, and ascended the steps.

不久前我去泉边，看到一位年轻的女仆把水翁搁在最下面的一级台阶上，正东瞅西望着，看有没有女伴来帮她把水翁放到头顶上去。我走下台阶，望着她。 “要我帮你吗，姑娘？” 我说。她脸涨得通红。 “噢，不了，先生！” 她说。 “别客气！” 我回应道。她摆正头上的垫环，我帮她放好水瓮。她谢过我便拾级而上离开了。