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“Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance. Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good.” Titus 2:2-3
“你要劝老年人有节制、端庄、自守，在信心、爱心和忍耐上都要健全。又劝老年妇人，举止行动要恭敬，不说谗言，不嗜好很多酒，作善事的教师。”提多书 2:2–3
You have here a plain discourse concerning old-age.
你在这里看到的是一篇关于老年的直白论述。
The design of it is to instruct, to warn, and to comfort the weaker sort of aged people, among whom I must place myself.
其目的在于教导、警戒并安慰那些较为软弱的老年人，而我自己也必须列在其中。
The wiser and stronger may find divers things upon this subject collected here together, which they know and practice better than I.
那些更有智慧、也更为刚强的人，或许会在此看到许多关于此主题汇集在一起的内容，而这些事情他们比我知道得更清楚，也实行得更好。
But that which put me upon this attempt, was,
但促使我进行这次尝试的原因是：
- Some years experience of old-age in myself.
- 我自己已有数年的老年经历。
- More leisure time, by reason of my bodily infirmities, and other restraints than I could have desired.
- 因着我身体的软弱，以及一些非我所愿的限制，使我拥有了更多的闲暇时间。
- An observation, that there was no full treatise in our tongue upon this point.
- 我观察到，用我们的语言（即英语）写成的、关于这一主题的完整论著尚付阙如。
- And lastly, an sincere desire to be some way useful in the world.
- 最后，也是出于一颗真诚的心，盼望能在世上以某种方式成为有用之人。
These were the true occasions of this treatise.
这些便是撰写本论著的真实缘由。
Whatever in it tastes of the cask — impute that to my weakness;
其中凡是带着“酒桶味道”（tastes of the cask，比喻陈旧或个人气息）的地方——请归因于我的软弱；
whatever is worthy — ascribe it only to God’s goodness.
凡是值得称许的——只当归因于神的良善。
I know it is full of imperfections,
我知道其中充满了不完全之处，
but when the principle, matter, and end of an action are honest, candid people will interpret the rest in the best sense.
但当一件事的动机、内容与目标都是诚实的，坦率的人便会以最善意的方式来理解其余之处。
Such ancient and modern authors, I could meet with, as have written upon this subject, I have perused, and digested their observations in their places.
凡是我所能遇见的、古今写过此主题的作者，我都已阅读过，并在适当之处整理、吸收了他们的见解。
But the Scriptures here produced are my great vouchers, and which I do most earnestly recommend to the readers, for they are worthy the highest regard.
然而，这里所引证的圣经经文才是我最重要的凭据，我也极其恳切地向读者推荐它们，因为它们配得最高的重视。
That the Lord would enable me and you to frame our old-age according to these instructions, is the earnest prayer of,
愿主使我和你都能照着这些教导来塑造我们的老年生活，这是以下之人恳切的祷告：
Your servant for Jesus sake,
为耶稣的缘故，作你们的仆人，
Richard Steele, May 10, 1688
理查德·斯蒂尔（Richard Steele），1688 年 5 月 10 日
Intending a discourse concerning old-age, I shall use that method, which I conceive will be most comprehensive, and most commodious for my purpose; which is,
既然我意在撰写一篇关于老年的论述，我将采用我认为最为全面、也最适合我目的的方法，即：
- By making some description old age.
- 对老年作出一些描述。
- By showing the true causes of it, and the best preservatives against it.
- 阐明老年的真实成因，以及防范其弊端的最佳保守之道（preservatives，指保全、保守的方法）。
- The sins or vices which are most usual in it.
- 老年中最常见的罪或恶习。
- The graces and virtues that are most proper for it.
- 最适合老年的恩典与美德。
- The inconveniences and miseries which attend it.
- 随之而来的不便与苦楚。
- The privileges and comforts peculiar to it.
- 老年所特有的特权与安慰。
- And lastly, the work and business that is most needful in it.
- 最后，老年中最为必要的工作与要务。