On Presenting a View立　论①◎ Lu Xun◎　鲁　迅I dreamed that while preparing to write a composition in a primary school classroom I asked the teacher how to present a view.

我梦见自己正在小学校的讲堂上预备作文，向老师请教立论的方法②。

That's a hard nut, said the teacher, giving me a sidelong glance over his glasses.

"Let me tell you this story —"难！

”③老师从眼镜圈外斜射出眼光来④，看着我，说。

我告诉你一件事⑤——"When a baby boy is born to a family, there is immense joy in the whole household.

When he is one month old, they invite some people over for taking a look at him — customarily, of course, in expectation of some good wishes.

One of the guests receives hearty thanks for saying, 'The child is destined to be rich.

'"一家人家生了一个男孩⑥，合家⑦高兴透顶了。

满月的时候，抱出来给客人看，——大概自然是想得一点好兆头⑧。

One of the guests receives hearty thanks for saying, 'The child is destined to be rich.

'一个说：‘这孩子将来要发财的⑨。

’他于是得到一番感谢⑩。

"Another is paid some compliments in return for saying, 'The child is destined to be an official.

' Still another, however, is given a sound beating by the whole family for saying, 'The child will eventually die.

'"一个说：‘这孩子将来要做官的。

’他于是收回几句恭维。

Still another, however, is given a sound beating by the whole family for saying, 'The child will eventually die.

'一个说⑪：‘这孩子将来是要死的⑫。

’他于是得到一顿大家合力的痛打。

To call the child mortal is to state the inevitable while to say that the child will become very rich or a high official is probably a lie.

Yet the former gets a thrashing while the latter is rewarded.

You .

说要死的必然⑬，说富贵的许谎。

但说谎的得好报，说必然的遭打。

你”I don't want to tell a lie, and neither do I want to be beaten.

Then what should I do, sir?

我愿意既不谎人，也不遭打⑭。

那么，老师，我得怎么说呢？

”Well, just say, 'Ai-ya, this child!

Just look!

Oh, my!

Hah!

Hehe!

He, hehehehe!

'那么，你得说：‘啊呀！

这孩子呵！

您瞧！

多么啊唷！

哈哈！

Hehe!

he, hehehehe!

’” 立论　是鲁迅1925年7月8日在北京写的一篇短文，1927年7月编入散文诗集 野草　。

文章写立论之难”，悲诉人生，感叹在现实生活中人们不敢说真话或有话难于直说，导致假话盛行。

【(中英)现代散文:立论 On Presenting a View查看网站：[db:时间]】