书城哲学穷理查智慧书
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第11章 1743年

友好的读者:

我希望每个人都可以从上天的眷顾中获益,不过懂得利用林子里的野生葡萄来酿酒的人并不多,所以我想在这里给他们介绍一些简单的窍门。这是我从多年经验中总结出来的,人们遵照此法,就能自己酿出醇香爽口的红葡萄酒。这酒可以贮藏数年,而且绝不逊色于法国原产的红葡萄酒。

从9月10日开始采集葡萄(先采最熟的)一直摘到10月底。把蜘蛛网和死叶片清理干净,将葡萄放置在大酒缸或者朗姆酒桶里。把桶彻底清洗干净过后,去掉一边盖子,把它固定在另一头上。如果有地窖,竖着放或堆放在地窖里;没有的话,就放在屋子里最暖和的地方,距离地面两英尺。葡萄沉下去之后,再添加一些新葡萄进去,这样持续三四天之后,光脚站进酒桶里踩踏,直到汁液浸到腿部,这大概需要不到半个小时时间。然后出来,将底下的葡萄翻到上层,再进去踩上一刻钟,这样就可以踩出最棒的葡萄汁了。踩的时间过长会把未熟的葡萄也踩出汁来,影响整桶酒的味道。完成之后,用一块厚毯子把酒桶严实地盖起来,如果没有地窖而且天气较凉的话,就得用上两块厚毯子。 这时你必须等待其进行第一次发酵,大约四五天后,就会猛烈作响。当桶内发出的声响变小时,说明发酵慢慢减退,在底部开一个六英寸的栓口,每天从中抽取两次汁液,装到玻璃器皿里。当汁液看上去与山泉一样清澈时,再按大酒桶里原料的多少程度,倒进一个干净而非全新的酒桶里,就是说,如果大酒桶装了二十蒲式耳的葡萄(包括茎叶等杂物)新酒桶也必须至少能装二十加仑,因为每一蒲式耳都能产出一加仑的汁。就这样,将葡萄汁从大酒桶里汲取出来,进行第二次发酵。

葡萄汁必须保存在大罐或瓶子里,每二十加仑葡萄汁可以酿造一加仑或五夸脱葡萄酒,步骤如下:

将酒桶装满,桶口朝上,每天早晚打开两次;向桶里注入贮藏的葡萄汁,一次两勺便足够。每次盛完后需用手指或勺子将瓶塞清理干净,不要留下葡萄核或其他发酵时浮上来的杂质;就这样持续添加,到圣诞节的时候,你就可以盖上塞子。明年二月便可以饮用,或是分批装入干净的酒桶或瓶子,贮藏起来。

注意,要在干季的时候,而且要等霜降之后再采集葡萄。不要让孩子靠近葡萄汁,他们的鼻子会受到严重刺激。如果你打算把酒卖掉或者海运,就得滤掉总量的四分之一,把白兰地掺入剩下的四分之三中。大致推算,从藤蔓上采下的一蒲式耳葡萄至少能酿造一加仑酒,如果手艺好,甚至能达到五夸脱。 这些方法并非给酿酒熟手看,而是写给那些未曾接触过这项手艺的新手们学习的。

R.桑德斯

勇于承认错误或决心改正的人少之又少。

How few there are who have courage enough to own their Faults, or resolution enough to mend them!

人们对看不见的事物,看法往往一致;而对看得见摸得着的事物,看法却时时变化。

Men differ daily, about things which are subject to Sense, is it likely then they should agree about things invisible.

记住什么才是傲慢与自大,

呱呱叫的蟾蜍迈开大步走;

根本就不把青蛙当作同类。

Mark with what insolence and pride,

Blown Bufo takes his haughty stride;

As if no toad was toad beside.

坏朋友就像狗,喜欢谁就弄脏谁。

Ill Company is like a dog who dirts those most, that he loves best.

飞黄腾达时谦逊明智,

毕竟兴盛衰败皆有时;

而自大者一朝落魄,

悲惨境遇没人同情。

In prosperous fortunes be modest and wise,

The greatest may fall, and the lowest may rise:

But insolent People that fall in disgrace,

Are wretched and nobody pities their Case.

智者听话信半分。别人的话不可满盘皆收)

Le sage entend a demi mot.——法语谚语

The wise one listens to half the word.

悲痛无味。

Sorrow is dry.

世上充满了傻瓜与心态脆弱的人;但每个人都不缺面对不幸的勇气,和扶助友邻的智慧。

The World is full of fools and faint hearts; and yet every one has courage enough to bear the misfortunes, and wisdom enough to manage the Affairs of his neighbour.

当心,当心!无所畏惧的人欺骗起来毫无顾虑。

Beware, beware! he"ll cheat "ithout scruple, who can without fear.

满足与财富很少同时拥有,

你有财富,我更注重满足。

Content and Riches seldom meet together,

Riches take thou, contentment I had rather.

言谈勿显鄙夷,无论对奴隶还是国君,

等级最低的蜜蜂也会用刺蛰人。兔子急了也会咬人。

Speak with contempt of none, from slave to king,

The meanest Bee hath, and will use, a sting.

教堂、国家与穷人是我们应当抚养的三个女儿,不要抛弃任一个。

The church the state, and the poor, are 3 daughters which we should maintain, but not portion off.

比起通过掠夺和鲜血获得地位和权利,

实现一个小小的心愿对我们更加有益。

A little wellgotten will do us more good,

Than lordships and scepters by Rapine and Blood.

让所有人了解你,但别让人看透你:水浅被人趟,心浅遭人欺。

Let all Men know thee, but no man know thee thoroughly: Men freely ford that see the shallows.

许下承诺不难,

难在付诸实施。

Tis easy to frame a good bold resolution;

but hard is the Task that concerns execution.

寒冷与狡猾都来自北方“北方”在英文俚语中表示精明。

但没有智慧的狡猾毫无价值。

Cold & cunning come from the north:

But cunning sans wisdom is nothing worth.

发牢骚也没用,就算学富五车,天主召他也要去。

Tis vain to repine,

Tho" a learned Divine Will die this day at nine.

愚蠢的人啊!孩提时,有两颗宝石送到你的手中——时间与忠告;如今,第一颗遗失了,第二颗丢弃了。

Ah simple Man! when a boy two precious jewels were given thee, Time, and good Advice; one thou hast lost, and the other thrown away.

迪克告诉他妻子,他要大胆许个愿,

无论她祈祷何事,神都不让它实现:

是嘛!妮尔说,听到这个我真高兴;

亲爱的,我现在祈祷你长生不老。

Dick told his spouse, he durst be bold to swear,

Whate"er she pray"d for, Heav"n would thwart her pray"r:

Indeed! says Nell, "tis what I"m pleas"d to hear;

For now I"ll pray for your long life, my dear.

睡懒觉的狐狸抓不到鸡。起床!起床!晚起的鸟儿没虫吃。

The sleeping Fox catches no poultry. Up! up!

若是想要变富,节省重于收入:印度群岛没使西班牙富裕,因为他们入不敷出。

If you"d be wealthy, think of saving, more than of getting: The Indies have not made Spain rich, because her Outgoes equal her Incomes. 想把生意干好,动手去吧。

要是不想干了,卖了它吧。

If you"d have it done, Go: If not, send.

诸神之间旷日持久的争论不外乎是:是这样;不是这样。是这样;不是这样。

Many a long dispute among Divines may be thus abridg"d, It is so: It is not so. It is so; It is not so.

经验是所宝贵的学校,但蠢人什么都学不到。

Experience keeps a dear school, yet Fools will learn in no other.