But in an old man who has known human joys and sorrows, and has achieved whatever work it was in him to do, the fear of death is somewhat abject and ignoble.

【译文】

但对于经历了人世悲欢、履行了个人职责的老人，害怕死亡就有些可怜且可耻了。

【讲解】

whatever work it was in him to do作achieved的宾语从句。这里的in表示能力。in him即他有能力。whatever work相当于any work，作do的宾语。it是形式主语，to do才是真正的主语。who has known…him to do为定语从句，修饰an old man， has known和has achieved为who的并列谓语。

【单词和短语】

abject：可鄙的，卑鄙的（an abject action or expression shows that your feel very ashamed），

例如：
an abject coward 可鄙的懦夫

an abject fear 卑怯

abject另一常见意为“绝望无助的，凄苦可怜的（the state of being extremely poor, unhappy, unsuccessful etc）”，

例如：
abject poverty 赤贫
abject failure 惨败

ignoble：卑鄙的；不光彩的；可耻的（ignoble thoughts, feelings, or actions are ones that you should feel ashamed or embarrassed about），

例如：
an ignoble purpose 卑鄙的目的
There's something cowardly and ignoble about such an attitude.
这样的态度有点怯懦可鄙。