burke_translate.txt

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          Burke: Italiano -> English

Italian translation taken from
  Scritti Politici di Edmund Burke, a cura di Anna Martelloni, p.152

French translation (1823) par J.-A. A***

Chinese translation by 何兆武
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para 1.1: my attempt
Sir, you are pleased to call again, and with some earnestness, for my opinions
on the latest proceedings in France.

Burke's text:
Dear Sir, You are pleased to call again, and with some earnestness, for my
thoughts on the late proceedings in France.

para 1.2: my attempts
I will not give you reason to suppose that I would attribute/bestow/confer
such value to my opinions to wish to be repeatedly solicited to express them.
I will not give you reason to think that I assign such value to my opinions as
to wish to be solicited about them.

Burke's text:
I will not give you reason to imagine that I think my sentiments of such value
as to wish myself to be solicited about them.

para 1.3: my attempt
They are of too little importance to be very anxiously either communicated
or withheld.

Burke's text:
They are of too little consequence to be very anxiously either communicated or
withheld.

para 1.4: my attempt
It was only from attention to you that I hesitated the first time you asked me.

Burke's text:
It was from attention to you, and to you only, that I hesitated at the time when
you first desired to receive them.

para 1.5: my attempt
In the first letter that I had the honor to write you, and at length I sent, I
wrote neither for or by the account of others; nor shall I in this one.

Burke's text:
In the first letter I had the honor to write to you, and which at length I send,
I wrote neither for nor from any description of men; nor shall I in this.

para 1.6: my attempt
My errors, if any, are my own, and my reputation only is responsible for them. 

Burke's text:
My errors, if any, are my own. My reputation alone is to answer for them.

para 2.1: my attempt
You see, sir, in the long letter that I have sent to you, that although I
do sincerely wish that France should enjoy a vivid spirit of rational liberty 
and I believe you deem to provide a permanent assembly in which such liberty may
reside, and an effective organ upon which it may act, it is my great misfortune 
to entertain certain doubts on various fundamental aspects of your recent 
actions.

Burke's text:
You see, Sir, by the long letter I have transmitted to you, that, though I do
most heartily wish that France may be animated by a spirit of rational liberty,
and that I think you bound, in all honest policy, to provide a permanent body in
which that spirit may reside, and an effectual organ by which it may act, it is
my misfortune to entertain great doubts concerning several material points in
your late transactions.

para 3.1: my attempt
You imagined, when you wrote last, that I might be counted among those who
will approve the proceedings in France, based on your supposition of
the solemn seal of public approval from two London clubs, called respectively 
the Constitutional Society, and the Revolution Society.

Burke's text:
You imagine, when you wrote last, that I might possibly be reckoned among the
approvers of certain proceedings in France, from the solemn public seal of
sanction they have received from two clubs of gentlemen in London, called the
Constitutional Society, and the Revolution Society.

para 4.1: my attempt
I certainly have the honor to belong to more clubs than one in which the
constitution of this kingdom and the principles of our glorious Revolution are
held in high reverence; and I consider myself among the most enthusiastic
to defend this constitution and those principles in their uttermost purity and
vigor.

Burke's text:
I certainly have the honor to belong to more clubs than one in which the
Constitution of this kingdom and the principles of the glorious Revolution are
held in high reverence; and I reckon myself among the most forward in my zeal
for maintaining that Constitution and those principles in their utmost purity
and vigor.

para 4.2: my attempt
It is because I do so, that I think there should be no mistake.

Burke's text:
It is because I do so that I think it necessary for me that there should be no
mistake.

para 4.3: my attempt
Those who treasure the memory of our Revolution and love the Constitution of
this nation, would take good care not to associate with men who proclaim in high
voice their fidelity in the Revolution and the Constitution, who frequently
depart from the true principles of both; men who take all occasions to abandon
the firm and modest spirit which produced the one and presides in the other.

Burke's text:
Those who cultivate the memory of our Revolution, and those who are attached to
the Constitution of this kingdom, will take good care how they are involved with
persons who, under the pretext of zeal towards the Revolution and Constitution,
too frequently wander from their true principles, and are ready on every
occasion to depart from the firm, but cautious and deliberate, spirit which
produced the one and which presides in the other.

para 4.4: my attempt
Before I respond the more important points in your letter, please allow
me to inform you what I am able to obtain of these two clubs which have thought
it proper to interfere officially with the affairs of France, first assure you
that I am not and have never been a member of either of those clubs.

Burke's text:
Before I proceed to answer the more material particulars in your letter, I shall
beg leave to give you such information as I have been able to obtain of the two
clubs which have thought proper, as bodies, to interfere in the concerns of
France, --- first assuring you that I am not, and that I have never been, a
member of either of those societies.

para 5.1: my attempt
The first, calling itself the Constitutional Society, or the Society of
Constitutional Information, or some other similar names, exists, I beleive, for
seven or eight years now.

Burke's text:
The first, calling itself the Constitutional Society, or the Society for
Constitutional Information, or by some such title, is, I believe, of seven or
eight years standing.

para 5.2: my attempt
The institution of this association appears to be of a charitable therefore
laudable nature.

Burke's text:
The institution of this society appears to be of a charitable, and so far of a
laudable nature:

para 5.3: my attempt
It was established to promote the circulation, at the expense of its members, of
the books which very few people would otherwise purchase, 

2018-9-11

1st attempt:
It was from attention to you, and to you only, that I hesitated the first time
when you asked for them.

2nd attempt:
It was from attention to you, and to you only, that I hesitated at the time when
you first desired to receive them.

1st attempt:
In the first letter I had the honor to write to you, and at length I send, I
wrote neither for nor from the description of men; nor shall I in this.

2nd attempt:
In the first letter I had the honor to write to you, and which at length I send,
I wrote neither for nor from any description of men; nor shall I in this.

1st attempt:
My errors, if any, are my own. my reputation alone is to answer for them.

1st attempt:
You see, Sir, in the long letter I have transmitted to you, though I do heartily
wish France to be animated by a spirit of rational liberty, and I believe you
bound, in all honest policy, to provide a permanent body in which it may reside,
and an effectual organ upon which it may act, it is my misfortune to entertain
great doubts concerning several material points of your latest transactions.

2nd attempt:
You see, Sir, by the long letter I have transmitted to you, though I do
heartily wish that France may be animated by a spirit of rational liberty, and
that I think you bound, in all honest policy, to provide a permanent body in
which that spirit may reside, and an effectual organ by which it may act, it is
my misfortune to entertain great doubts concerning several material points in
your late transactions.

1st attempt:
You imagined, when I wrote last, that I may be reckoned among the approvers of
certain proceedings in France, based on the solemn public seal of approval from
two clubs of gentlemen in London, called the Constitutional Society, and the
Revolution Society.

2nd attempt:
You imagined, when you wrote last, that I might possibly be reckoned among the
approvers of certain proceedings in France, from the solemn public seal of
approval they have received from two clubs of gentlemen in London, called the
Constitutional Society, and the Revolution Society.

1st attempt:
I surely have the honor to belong to more clubs than one in which the
Constitution of this kingdom, and the principles of the glorious Revolution are
held in high reverence; and I count myself among the most forward in my zeal to
maintain that constitution and those principles in their utmost purity and
vigor.

2nd attempt:
I certainly have the honor to belong to more clubs than one in which the
Constitution of this kingdom and the principles of the glorious Revolution are
held in high reverence; and I reckon myself among the most forward in my zeal
for maintaining that constitution and those principles in their utmost purity
and vigor.

1st attempt:
It is because I do so, that there should be no mistake.

2nd attempt:
It is because I do so that I think it necessary that there should be no mistake.

3rd attempt:
It is because I do so that I think it necessary for me that there should be no
mistake.

1st attempt: 
Those who value the memory of our Revolution and who love the Constitution of
this kingdom, would take good care not to association  with persons,
which under the pretext of zeal too often departed from their true principles,
and who take all occastions to depart from the firm, but cautious and deliberate 
spirit, which produced the one and resides in the other.

2nd attempt:
Those who cultivate the memory of our Revolution, and those who are attached to
the Constitution of this kingdom, would take good care how to associate with
persons who, under the pretext of zeal towards the constitution and the
Revolution, too frequently wandered from the true principles of both; and who
would take all occasions to depart from the firm but cautions and deliberate
spirit which produced the one and which resides in the other.

3rd attempt:
Those who cultivate the memory of our Revolution, and those who are attached to
the Constitution of this kingdom, would take good care how they are involved
with persons who, under the pretext of zeal towards the Revolution and 
Constitution, too frequently wandered from the true principles of both; and who
are ready in every occasion to depart from the firm, but caustions and
deliberate spirit whch produced the one and which resides in the other.

==========================
Burke, Italiano->English
 
1st attempt:
Before I start to answer some of the more material points in your letter, first
allow me to take leave to inform you what I have managed to learn about these 
two clubs which have thought proper, in their pretended capacity of corporation,
to be officially involved in the affairs of France: First assure you, that I am 
not, and have never been a member of either of these clubs.

2nd attempt:
Before I proceed to answer the more material particulars in your letter, I shall
beg leave to give you information which I have managed to obtain on these two
clubs which have thought proper, as bodies, to interfere officially the affairs
of France: first assuring you that I am not, and have never been a member of
either of these clubs. 

3rd attempt: 
Before I proceed to answer the more material particulars in your letter, I shall
beg leave to give you information which I am able to obtain of these two clubs
which have thought proper, as bodies, to interfere in the concerns of France:
first assuring you that I am not, and have never been, a member of either of
those societies.

4th attempt:
Before I procced to answer the more material particulars in your letter, I shall
beg leave to give you such information as I have been able to obtain of the two
clubs which have thought proper, as bodies, to interfere in the concerns of
France: first assuring you, that I am not, and that I have never been, a member
of either of those societies.

=============
1st attempt:
The first, calling itself the Constitutional Society, or the Society of
Constitutional Information, or of[?] some other similar title, is, I believe, of
seven or eight years standing.

2nd attempt:
The first, calling itself the Constitutional Society, or the Society for
Constitutional Information, or some other like title, is, I believe, of seven or
eight years' standing.

3rd attempt:
The first, calling itself the Constitutional Society, or the Society for
Constitutional Information, or by some such title, is, I believe, of seven or
eight years' standing.

=============
1st attempt:
The institution of this society seems to be of a charitable hence laudable
nature: it was intended for the promotion of circulation, at the expense of its
members, of many books which very few other people are at the risk of buying,
and thereforef are remaining unsold with the booksellers, at the cost of harming
an useful group of men.

2nd attempt:
The institution of this society appears to be of a charitable, and so far of a
laudable nature: it was intended for the circulation, at the expense of the
members, of many books which few others are at the expense of buying, and which
might lie at the hands of the booksellers, to the great loss of an useful
group of men.

3rd attempt:
The institution of this society appears to be of a charitable, and so far of a
laudable nature: it was intended for the circulation, at the expense of the
members, of many books which few others would be at the expense of buying, and
which might lie on the hands of the booksellers, to the great loss of an useful
body of men.

=============
1st attempt:
Whether the books so charitably circulated were as charitably read, is more than
I know.

2nd attempt:
Whether the books so charitably circulated were as ever charitably read is more
than I know.

=============
1st attempt:
Probably some of them have been exported to France where they, like goods not 
needed here, have found a favorable market.

2nd attempt:
Possible several of them have been exported to France, and, like goods not in
request here, may with you have found a favorable market.

=============
1st attempt:
I have often heard spoken of the light of those books which have crossed the
shores; I do not know what improvement might arise during their cross (like it
is said that certain liquors might improve by crossing the sea), but I have
never heard a person equipped with common good sense, or at the least a little
information, speak a word of praise of that society; nor any act of this society
have been considered seriously, by anyone but its own members.

2nd attempt:
I have heard much talk about the lights which can be drawn from the books 
send from hence. What improvements they might be able to get (as it is said 
that certain liquors are meliorated by crossing the sea) I cannot tell; but I
have never heard any man ...

===========================
Burke: Italiano -> English
1st attempt:
I have heard much talk about the light from books sent to such expedition.

2nd attempt:
I have heard much talk of the lights which could be drawn from the books sent
from hence.

3rd attempt:
I have heard much talk of the lights to be drawn from books that are sent from
hence.

1st attempt:
What improvement they could get during the crossing (as some say that 
certain liquors would meliorate by crossing the sea) I cannot tell, but I have
never heard any man equipped with a common good sense, or the least information, 
speaks a word in favor of the majority part of those publications circulated by
that society; nor was any document of this society been considered seriously,
except by its own members.

2nd attempt:
What improvements they have had in their passage (as it is said that certain
liquors are meliorated by crossing the sea) I cannot tell; but I never heard a
man with common judgment, or the least degree of information, speak a word of
praise on the greater part of the publications circulated by that society, nor
has any of their books received, except from its own members, any serious 
consideration.

3rd attempt:
What improvements they have had in their passage (as it is said that some
liquors are meliorated by crossing the sea) I cannot tell; but I never heard a
man of common judgment or the least degree of information speak a word in praise
of the greater part of the publications circulated by that society; nor have
their proceedings been taken, except by some of their own, to be of any serious
consquence.

4th attempt:
What improvements they have had in their passage (as it is said that some
liquors are meliorated by crossing the sea) I cannot tell; but I never heard a
man of common judgment or the least degree of information speak a word in praise
of the greater part of the publications circulated by that society; nor have
their proceedings been accounted, except by some of themselves, as of any
serious consequence.

======================
1st attempt:
It seems that your National Assembly has almost the same opinion as mine 
concerning this poor charitable club.

2nd attempt:
Your National Assembly seems to entertain much the same opinion conerning
this poor charitable club.

3rd attempt:
Your National Assembly seems to entertain much the same opinion that I do of
this poor charitable club.

======================
1st attempt:
As a country, you have reserved your more eloquent thanks towards the 
Revolution Society, although in equity, some members of the Constitutional 
Society deserved a share.

2nd attempt:
As a nation, you reserved the more eloquent thanks for the Revolution Society,
when members of the Constitutional Society in equity deserved some share.

3rd attempt:
As a nation, you reserved a great part of your eloquent acknowledgements for the
Revolution Society, when their associates in the Constitutional Society in
equity deserved some share.

4th attempt:
As a nation, you reserved the whole stock of your eloquent acknowledgements for
the Revolution Society, when their fellows in the Constitutional in equity were
entitled with some share.

5th attempt:
As a nation, you reserved the whole stock of your eloquent acknowledgements for
the Revolution Society, when their fellows in the Constitutional were in equity
entitled to some share.

=====================
1st attempt:
Since you have selected the Revolution Society as the sole object of your
official acknowledgements, I think myself excusable to focus my attention on the
examination of the recent conduct of the same society.

2nd attempt:
Since you have selected the Revolution Society as the great object of your
national thanks and praises, you will think it excusable that the latest conduct
of the club shall also be my main observations.

3rd attempt:
Since you have selected the Revolution Society as the great object of your
national thanks and praises, you will think me excusable in making the late
conduct of the same society the subject of my observations.

4th attempt:
Since you have selected the Revolution Society as the great object of your
national thanks and praises, you will think me excusable in making its late
conduct the subject of my observations.

===================
1st attempt:
The National Assembly of France has given importance to these gentlemen by
recognizing [adopting?] them, and they repayed this cortesy by acting like a
sort of English branch[sub-committee] for the diffusion of the ideas of the 
National Assembly.

2nd attempt:
The National Assembly of France has given them importance by adopting them; and
they repayed the favour by acting as a sort of committee in England for
extending the principles of the National Assembly.

3rd attempt:
The National Assembly of France has given these gentlemen importance by adopting
them; and they repay the favour by acting as a committee in England for
extending the principles of the National Assembly.

================
1st attempt:
Henceforth we must consider them as a class of privileged persons, as members of 
some important diplomatic body.

2nd attempt:
Henceforward we must consider them as a kind of privileged persons, as no
inconsiderable members of the diplomatic body.

3rd attempt:
Henceforward we must consider them as a kind of privileged persons, as no
inconsiderable members in the diplomatic body.

=================
1st attempt:
Of all the revolutions, this one has dispensed splendor to the obscured and 
distinction to undeserved merit.

2nd attempt:
This is the one amongst all revolutions that has given splendor to obscurity and
distinction to undiscerned merit.

3rd attempt:
This is one among the revolutions which have given splendor to obscurity and
distincition to undiscerned merit.

=================
1st attempt:
In fact, up until now I do not remember ever have heard about this club, and I
can assure you that it had never for once crossed my mind, nor, I believe, the
minds of any one out of their own circle.

2nd attempt:
Up till the present time I do not recollect to have heard of this club. I can
assure you that it had never for a moment occupied my thoughts, -- nor, as I
believe, the thoughts of any person out of their own set.

3rd attempt:
Till very lately I do not recollect to have heard of this society. I am sure it
had not occupied a moment of my thoughts, -- nor, as I believe, those of any
person out of their own set.

4th attempt:
Till very lately I do not recollect to have heard of this club. I am quite sure
it never occupied a moment of my thoughts, -- nor, as I believe, those of any
person out of their own set.

5th attempt:
Until very lately I do not recollect to have heard of this club. I am quite sure
that it never occupied a moment of my thoughts, -- nor, I believe, those of any
person out of their own set.

=================
1st attempt:

What I was able to discover was that for a long time a group of dissenters, of
what confession I know not, has the habit of gathering at one of their chapels
every year at the aniversary of the Revolution in 1688 to hear one sermon, after 
which the members would spend the morning joyfully at the tavern, like other
clubs did.

2nd attempt:
I find, upon inquiry, that every year at the anniversary of the Revolution of
1688, a group of dissenters, of what denomination I know long, has long had the
custom of hearing a sermon in their own church, and afterwards would spend the
day cheerfully, like other clubs did, at the tavern.

3rd attempt:
I find, upon inquiry, on the anniversary of the Revolution in 1688, a club of
dissenters, of what denomination I know not, have long had the custom of hearing
a sermon in one of their churches, and that afterwards they spent the day
cheerfully, as other clubs did, at the tavern.

4th attempt:
I find, upon inquiry, that, on the anniversary of the Revolution in 1688, a club
of dissenters, but of what denomination I know not, have long had the custom of
hearing a sermon in one of their churches, and that afterwards they spend the
day cheerfully, as other clubs do, at the tavern.

==================
1st attempt:
But I have never heard of anything speaking that on these celebrations anything has
been formally discussed about public issues or political systems, and even less the merit
of the constitution of a foreign country; till at last, with my inexpressible
surprise, I see them, almost in a public mandate, give authorative sanction to
the acts of the National Assembly of France through the remission of a
resolution of praise.

2nd attempt:
But I never heard of anything of public measure or political system, much less
the merits of the constitution of a foreign nation, being a formal proceeding in
any of their festivals; until, to my inexpressible surprise, I see them under a
sort of public account, through an address of congratulation, giving an
authorative sanction to the acts of the National Assembly of France.

3rd attempt:
But I never heard that anything of public measure or political system, much less 
the merits of the constitution of a foreign nation, had ever been a subject of
formal proceeding at their festivals; until, to my inexpressible surprise, I
found them in a sort of public capacity, in a congratulatory address, giving an
authoritative sanction to the proceedings of the National Assembly of France.

4th attempt:
But I never heard that any public measure or political system, much less that
the merits of the constitution of any foreign nation, had been a subject of
a formal proceeding at their festivals, until, to my inexpressible surprise, I
found them in a sort of public capacity, by a congratulatory address, giving an
authoritative sanction to the proceedings of the National Assembly of France.

=================
1st attempt:
In the ancient principles and conducts of this club, at least those that are
public, I see not anything to reprove. 

2nd attempt:
In the ancient principles and conduct of the club, at least those that are
publicly declared, I see nothing to which I could take exception.

3rd attempt:
In the ancient principles and conduct of the club, so far at least as they were
declared, I see nothing to which I could take exception.

=================
1st attempt:
I think new members may have joined the club, and some politicians of Christian
spirit, loving to dispense their benefit but hide the hands that dispose the
dole, may have used them as instrument for their pious design.