and to close all, he told me I had my elder brother for an example, [qh]

谈话结束时，他又说，我应以大哥为前车之鉴。[qh]

to whom he had used the same earnest persuasions to keep him from going into the Low Country wars, [qh]

他也曾经同样恳切地规劝过大哥不要去佛兰德打仗，[qh]

but could not prevail, his young desires prompting him to run into the army, where he was killed; [qh]

但大哥没听从他的劝告。当时他年轻气盛，血气方刚，决意去部队服役，结果在战场上丧了命。[qh]

and though he said he would not cease to pray for me, yet he would venture to say to me, [qh]

他还对我说，他当然会永远为我祈祷，[qh]

that if I did take this foolish step, God would not bless me, [qh]

但我如果执意采取这种愚蠢的行动，那么，他敢说，上帝一定不会保佑我。[qh]

and I should have leisure hereafter to reflect upon having neglected his counsel when there might be none to assist in my recovery. [qh]

当我将来呼援无门时，我会后悔自己没有听从他的忠告。[qh]

I observed in this last part of his discourse, which was truly prophetic, [qh]

事后想起来，我父亲最后这几句话，成了我后来遭遇的预言；[qh]

though I suppose my father did not know it to be so himself - I say, I observed the tears run down his face very plentifully, [qh]

当然我相信我父亲自己当时未必意识到有这种先见之明。我注意到，当我父亲说这些话的时候，老泪纵横，[qh]

especially when he spoke of my brother who was killed: and that when he spoke of my having leisure to repent, and none to assist me, [qh]

尤其是他讲到我大哥陈尸战场，讲到我将来呼援无门而后悔时，[qh]

he was so moved that he broke off the discourse, and told me his heart was so full he could say no more to me. [qh]

更是悲不自胜，不得不中断了他的谈话。最后，他对我说，他忧心如焚，话也说不下去了。[qh]

I was sincerely affected with this discourse, and, indeed, who could be otherwise? [qh]

我为这次谈话深受感动。真的，谁听了这样的话会无动于衷呢？[qh]

And I resolved not to think of going abroad any more, but to settle at home according to my father's desire. [qh]

我决心不再想出洋的事了，而是听从父亲的意愿，安心留在家里。[qh]

But alas! a few days wore it all off; and, in short, to prevent any of my father's further importunities, [qh]

可是，天哪！只过了几天，我就把自己的决心丢到九霄云外去了。简单地说，为了不让我父亲再纠缠我，[qh]

in a few weeks after I resolved to run quite away from him. [qh]

在那次谈话后的好几个星期里，我一直远远躲开他。[qh]

However, I did not act quite so hastily as the first heat of my resolution prompted; [qh]

但是，我并不仓促行事，不像以前那样头脑发热时想干就干，[qh]

but I took my mother at a time when I thought her a little more pleasant than ordinary, [qh]

而是等我母亲心情较好的时候去找了她。[qh]

and told her that my thoughts were so entirely bent upon seeing the world that I should never settle to anything with resolution enough to go through with it, [qh]

我对她说，我一心想到外面去见见世面，除此之外我什么事也不想干。[qh]

and my father had better give me his consent than force me to go without it; [qh]

父亲最好答应我，免得逼我私自出走。[qh]