The Gay Genius |Chapter 21阅读笔记

《苏东坡传》

1. 中文感悟

苏东坡终于身居高位可以展示自己的政治抱负为百姓做点实事，但是总有小人恶意诽谤想把他打倒。以苏东坡的性格也是无意与他们争论的，要不是有太后的信任和惜才，指不定都被贬多少回了。苏东坡给朝廷的建议都挺利国利民的，多次请辞之后得到朝廷的允许觉得还是挺无奈和惋惜的。

2. 词汇学习

When Tseyu arrived at the capital as a high censor in the premier's office at the beginning of the new regime, he thought it was his duty to clean up the government and get rid of all the fence-riders and remnant politicians who had played ball with Wang Anshih.

remnant    n. & adj.

The remnants of something are small parts of it that are left over when the main part has disappeared or has been used or destroyed. 残余部分;剩余的

play ball with sb.

to cooperate with someone 与……合作

eg: We won't play ball with you any more.

In two years' time, he had "four times received smears" from his enemies, and people recommended by him were also under attack by groundless slanders.

smear    n. & v.

A smear is an unpleasant and untrue rumour or accusation that is intended to damage someone's reputation. 诽谤; 诋毁 [journalism]

slander          n. & v.

Slander is an untrue spoken statement about someone which is intended to damage their reputation. 诽谤 (参较 )(libel)

eg: He can't stand these slanders.

But if I try to keep my own soul and continue as I have been doing, I shall incur the hostility of the petty politicians, and sooner or later, must come to the end of my career...

incur      vt.

If you incur something unpleasant, it happens to you because of something you have done. 招致; 蒙受 [书面]

eg: He incurred huge debts because of breaking the contract.

Su Tungpo was already mounted on his horse.

mount        v.

If you mount a horse or motorcycle, you climb on to it so that you can ride it. 骑上

eg: He has mounted the horse and headed for the grassland.