2008年3月23日星期日
下面這段不一定有用，先翻出來再說，書上得翻譯看得確實有點困惑，當然，我翻譯的也不見得好到哪裡去，只是自己看看而已。
From these studies I proceeded to elementary geometry； beyond which I never advanced； although I persistently attempted； in some degree； to overe my weakness of memory by dint of retracing my steps hundreds of times； and by incessantly going over the same ground。
此後，我接著學習基礎幾何學，這門學科，儘管我嘗試過反覆地學了N多遍，並且不斷從頭看起，在一定程度上試圖以這種努力，來克服我記憶力低下的問題，但是沒有獲得進展。
I did not like Euclid； whose object is rather a chain of proofs than the connection of ideas。 I preferred Father Lamy’s Geometry； Which from that time bee one of my f*ourite works； and which I am still able to read with pleasure。
相比歐幾里得得幾何學，他的幾何學只是一連串的證明，而概念間的聯絡甚少，我更喜歡神父拉密的幾何學，這從此成了我喜愛的著作，直到現在我仍然能充滿喜悅地閱讀它。
Next e algebra； in which I still took Father Lamy for my guide。 When I was more advanced； I took Father Reynaud’s Science of Calulation； then his Analysis Demonstrated； Which I merely skimmed。
之後我學習代數學，也用神父拉密的著作作為入門指南。在我取得了一些進展之後，我閱讀了神父雷諾的《計算學》和《直觀解析》，後面那本，我只是略讀了一點。
I h*e never got so far as to understand properly the application of algebra to geometry。
我始終沒有真正地領會代數學在幾何學上的應用。
I did not like this method of working without knowing that I was doing； and it appeared to me that solving a geometrical problem by means of equations was like playing a tune by simply turning the handle of a barrelorgan。
對於這種不知道在作些什麼的運算方法我怎麼會喜歡呢？對我來說，用方程式來解幾何學問題就像演奏樂曲的效果似乎和僅僅透過搖動手搖風琴的把手發出的聲音差不多！
The first