英譯中

　　When I was an editor, I always preferred to apologise promptly, whatever the merits of the case, rather than face the expense and, more importantly, the time-consuming complexities and debilitating worry of litigation, libel being one of the least satisfactory branches of the law. When we took a crack at Dr Bodkin Adams, believing him to be dead, and his joyful lawyer phoned me the next morning to tell me he was very much alive, I settled the matter there and then for the sum (if I remember correctly) of ￡450 and an apology. So my advice to editors is, get shot of claims quickly, unless the plaintiff's demands are manifestly unreasonable.

　　我還是編輯的時(shí)候，無(wú)論情況如何，我總是選擇立馬道歉，而不是去面對(duì)訴訟過(guò)程中所發(fā)生的費(fèi)用，更為重要的是，去面對(duì)費(fèi)時(shí)耗神的訴訟過(guò)程中產(chǎn)生的復(fù)雜情況。誹謗法是法律當(dāng)中最不盡人意的部分。我們?cè)�拿鮑德金·亞當(dāng)姆斯醫(yī)生開(kāi)涮，還以為他已經(jīng)死了;蒞日，他的律師喜滋滋地打電話給我，告訴我亞當(dāng)姆斯醫(yī)生還活得好好的，我立時(shí)以一筆450 英鎊 (如果我沒(méi)記錯(cuò)的話)的賠償費(fèi)和一句道歉的話了結(jié)此事。所以，我對(duì)編輯們的忠告是：對(duì)于賠償要求要立馬了結(jié)，除非原告的要求太離譜。

　　Besides, there is something distinguished about a ready apology. It is the mark of a gentleman, more particularly if it is not necessary. It is the opposite of revenge. Bacon wrote, "In seeking revenge, a man is but equal with his enemy, but in forgiving him, he is superior, for it is a princes' part to pardon." So, the person who apologises freely has the moral ball in his court.

　　此外，隨時(shí)準(zhǔn)備好一句道歉的話，是一種高尚行為，特別是在沒(méi)有必要道歉時(shí)而道歉，更顯示出一個(gè)紳士的特質(zhì)。道歉與報(bào)復(fù)相對(duì)。培根有云：“夫圖報(bào)復(fù)焉，汝與汝仇等：茍汝恕之，則汝優(yōu)於汝仇焉;蓋寬恕也，王者之風(fēng)也。”由是，誰(shuí)把“對(duì)不起”常掛在嘴邊，誰(shuí)就在道義上掌握了主動(dòng)。