paths老师的博客地址 http://paths.blog.163.com/

When I wrote the following pages, or rather the bulk1 of them, I lived alone, in the woods, a mile from any neighbor2, in a house which I had built myself, on the shore of Walden Pond3, in Concord, Massachusetts, and earned my living by the labor of my hands only.4 I lived there two years and two months. At present I am a sojourner in civilized life5 again.
① bulk：大部分，大半。the bulk of them：指所撰书稿的大部分。
② a mile from any neighbor：方圆一英里，没有一个邻居。
③ Walden Pond：通译“瓦尔登湖”，位于美国马萨诸塞州，因梭罗的这部同名著作而闻名。湖深31米，面积61公顷，由冰川消融而成。
④ 第一句全句结构可简化为“When I wrote the book, I lived alone and earned my living by……”。
⑤ Sojourner 过客，寄居者。a sojourner in civilized life 可译作“文明生活的匆匆过客”。


I should not obtrude [1] my affairs so much on the notice of my readers if very particular inquiries [2] had not been made by my townsmen [3] concerning my mode of life, which some would call impertinent[4], though they do not appear to me at all impertinent, but, considering the circumstances[5], very natural and pertinent. Some have asked what I got to eat; if I did not feel lonesome[6]; if I was not afraid; and the like[7]. Others have been curious to learn what portion of my income[8] I devoted to charitable purposes[9]; and some, who have large families[10], how many poor children I maintained[11]. I will therefore ask those of my readers who feel no particular interest in me to pardon me if I undertake [12] to answer some of these questions in this book.
① obtrude: 强加。obtrude my affairs so much on the notice of my readers 将诸多个人私事强加给读者。
② inquiry: 询问，打听。make particular inquiries concerning my mode of life，指人们对“我”的生活方式的关注超出一般。
③ townsmen: 镇上的人们。
④ impertinent: 失礼的，莽撞的；不相关的。此处impertinent 修饰inquiries，指有人认为镇上人过度的打探是失礼的；另有一种看法认为impertinent可以修饰my affairs，认为在书中谈论私事是“离题的，不相干的”，亦通，但下文的the circumstances则不好落实。pertinent是impertinent“不相关”义的反义词，后文的natural and pertinent指合情合理，与前文的impertinent只是字形上的对照，并不是针对“失礼、鲁莽”的义项要反其意而用之。
⑤ considering the circumstances: 考虑到种种情形，状语，指当初镇上人对梭罗离群索居的生活方式的关注与好奇。
⑥ lonesome: 孤单，寂寞。
⑦ and the like: 以及诸如此类的问题。
⑧ portion: 部分。what portion of my income: 我收入的几成/多少（用于慈善事业）。
⑨ charitable purposes: 慈善目的。
10 large families 指子女众多，不是字面上的“大家庭”之意。
11 maintain: 救助，资助。
12 undertake: 预备，试图。全句试译：如果我打算在本书中回答部分这类问题，还请对此无甚兴趣的读者见谅。

友人应邀给英文版做注释，不怕忙碌，不辞辛苦，却又不肯署名，让我感慨。我收到后，会及时贴出，以飨读者。
现把友人关于注释的凡例一并贴上来：
凡例
1、词汇注释以中等及中等以上难度为主。
2、词汇注释只注与文本相关的义项。
3、注释重在文意，不在语法分析。
4、择要添加知识或背景注释。
5、注释兼涉对译文的讨论。


惊之，置顶之帖竟成了最先忽略之帖！
此业着实可敬也，支持之，学习之。

非常方便学习者的好东西呀！