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AModestProposal（一个温和的建议）[1]ItisamelancholyObjecttothose,whowalkthroughthisgreatTown,1ortravelintheCountry,whentheyseetheStreets,theRoads,andCabin-Doors,crowdedwithBeggarsofthefemaleSex,followedbythree,four,orsixChildren,allinRags,andimportuningeveryPassengerforanAlms.对于走过这座大城市，或在乡间旅行的人，他们看到的这些景象真是悲凉：街上、马路上、茅屋内挤满了女乞丐，后面跟着三个、四个或六个衣衫褴褛的孩子，向每个路人强要施舍。TheseMothersinsteadofbeingabletoworkfortheirhonestlivelihood,areforcedtoemployalltheirtimeinStrolling,tobegSustenancefortheirhelplessInfants,who,astheygrowupeitherturnThievesforwantofwork,orleavetheirdearnativeCountrytofightforthePretenderinSpain,2orsellthemselvestotheBarbadoes.这些母亲无法靠诚实劳动谋生，被迫终日游荡去养活那些无助的孩子，这些孩子长大后要么因找不到工作而沦为小偷，要么背井离乡去为西班牙那个觊觎王位者卖命，也许还会卖身到巴巴多斯。[2]IthinkitisagreedbyallParties,thatthisprodigiousnumberofChildren,intheArms,orontheBacks,orattheheelsoftheirMothers,andfrequentlyoftheirFathers,isinthepresentdeplorablestateoftheKingdomaverygreatadditionalgrievance;我想所有的党派人士（各方面）都会同意，这些母亲（有时常常是父亲）怀中抱着、背上背着以及身后跟着的数量如此多的孩子，在王国可悲的现状下，将是一个平添民怨的灾难。andthereforewhoevercouldfindoutafair,cheapandeasymethodofmakingtheseChildrensoundandusefulMembersofthecommon-wealthwoulddeservesowellofthepublic,astohavehisStatuesetupforapreserveroftheNation.如果谁能想出一个简单易行的办法让这些孩子成为国家的健全有用之才，他将值得公众为他树立雕像，尊他为保国英雄。[3]ButmyIntentionisveryfarfrombeingconfinedtoprovideonlyfortheChildrenofprofessedbeggars,itisofamuchgreaterextent,andshalltakeinthewholenumberofInfantsatacertainAge,whoarebornofParentsineffectaslittleabletosupportthem,asthosewhodemandourCharityintheStreets.然而我的目的远不止限于救治那些公开宣称的乞丐的孩子，我所说的范围要大得多，包括所有那些在某个年代出生，其父母与那些在街上要求我们大发慈悲的乞丐一样，无力养活他们的幼儿。[4]Astomyownpart,havingturnedmythoughtsformanyYears,uponthisimportantSubject,andmaturelyweighedtheseveralSchemesofotherProjectors,4Ihavealwaysfoundthemgrosslymistakenintheircomputation..至于我自己，我酝酿这个想法已有多年，也曾和其他提出计划的人充分地权衡过几个方案，但总是发现他们在计算时犯了极大的错误。ItistrueaChild,justdroptfromit'sDam,5maybesupportedbyherMilk,foraSolaryearwithlittleotherNourishment,atmostnotabovetheValueoftwoShillings,whichtheMothermaycertainlyget,ortheValueinScraps,byherlawfulOccupationofbegging,anditisexactlyatoneyearOldthatIproposetoprovideforthem,insuchamanner,as,insteadofbeingaChargeupontheirParents,ortheParish,6orwanting7FoodandRaimentfortherestoftheirLives,theyshall,ontheContrary,contributetotheFeedingandpartlytotheClothingofmanyThousands.确实，一个初生的婴儿在第一年里也许只需母乳而不用其他营养品，费用顶多不超过两先令，或不超过乞讨所得的残羹剩饭的价值。这两先令他们的母亲通过合法的乞讨肯定能挣到的。为了使他们不再成为父母或其所在教区的负担，也无需在余生要吃要穿，我提议，在正好一岁的时候，他们反而应该为成千上万的人的食物，部分也可以作为衣物。[5]ThereislikewiseanothergreatAdvantageinmyScheme,thatitwillpreventthosevoluntaryAbortions,andthathorridpracticeofWomenmurderingtheirBastardChildren,alas,toofrequentamongus,SacrificingthepoorinnocentBabes,Idoubt,8moretoavoidtheExpense,thantheShame,whichwouldmoveTearsandPityinthemostSavageandinhumanbreast.我的方案也有另外一个很大的好处,它能使妇女自愿堕胎和可怕的杀婴行为就此绝迹。唉，这种现象在我们之中太普遍了，我怀疑（她们）牺牲那些无辜的婴儿与其说是为了逃避耻辱，不如说是为了逃避抚养的代价。即使是最无情最没人性的人，对此也将一洒同情之泪。[6]ThenumberofSoulsinthisKingdombeingusuallyreckonedoneMillionandahalf,OftheseIcalculatetheremaybeabouttwohundredthousandCouplewhoseWivesarebreeders,fromwhichnumberISubtractthirtyThousandCouples,whoareabletomaintaintheirownChildren,althoughIapprehend9therecannotbesomany,underthepresentdistressesoftheKingdom,butthisbeinggranted,therewillremainanhundredandseventythousandBreeders.这个王国的人口数量大概总计为一百五十万，在其中我估计有二十万对夫妇妻子尚能生育，从这个数目里我减去三千对有能力抚养孩子的夫妇——虽然我知道在王国现今十分窘迫，不可能有这么多——确定之后，就剩下十七万能够生育的妇女。IagainSubtractfiftyThousandforthoseWomenwhomiscarry,orwhoseChildrendiebyaccidentordiseasewithintheYear.我再减去五万流产的或孩子在一年内死于意外和疾病的妇女。ThereonlyremainanhundredandtwentythousandChildrenofpoorParentsannuallyborn.现在实际出生的贫困家庭孩子只余十二万。Thequestionthereforeis,Howthisnumbershallberearedandprovidedfor,which,asIhavealreadysaid,underthepresentSituationofAffairs,isutterlyimpossiblebyallthemethodshithertoproposed.所以问题是如何抚养这么多的孩子，这个我之前已经说过，在目前的条件下，迄今所提的方案无一能解决。ForwecanneitheremploytheminHandicraft,orAgriculture;weneitherbuildHouses,(ImeanintheCountry)norcultivateLand.10因为我们既不能雇他们从事手工业，也不可能雇他们从事农业；我们不建造房屋（我指的是在农村），也不用开拓耕地。TheycanveryseldompickupaLivelyhoodbyStealinguntiltheyarriveatsixyearsOld,exceptwheretheyareoftowardlyparts,11although,IconfesstheylearntheRudimentsmuchearlier;duringwhichtimetheycanhoweverbeproperlylookedupononlyasProbationers,asIhavebeeninformedbyaprincipalGentlemanintheCountyofCavan,whoprotestedtome,thatheneverknewaboveoneortwoInstancesundertheAgeofsix,eveninapartoftheKingdomsorenownedforthequickestproficiencyinthatArt.这些孩子在六岁之前几乎不可能靠小偷小摸自讨生计，除非在那些他们有望拉帮抱团的地方。我承认，他们很早前就开始入门，但在这段期间他们只能被看作见习小偷。我从卡文郡一个数一数二的缙绅那里得知此中内情，他曾对我断言，在这么一个因对那门艺术掌握得最迅速最熟练而闻名的王国里，他从没听说过哪个地方有小于六岁的小偷的一两个事例。[7]IamassuredbyourMerchants,thataBoyorGirl,beforetwelveyearsOld,isnosaleableCommodity,andevenwhentheycometothisAge,theywillnotyieldabovethreePounds,orthreePoundsandhalfaCrownatmostontheExchange,whichcannotturntoAccounteithertotheParentsortheKingdom,theChargeofNutrimentsandRagshavingbeenatleastfourtimesthatValue.我从我们的商人那里得到确证，十二岁前的男孩或女孩作为商品并不适合销售，即使他们到了十二岁，他们的利润也不会多于三镑，最多通过交易获利三镑五先令，可这并不能补偿他们的父母，也不能补偿王国，他们吃过的营养品和穿过的衣物的钱至少是这些的四倍。[8]