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Walpole's appeal was to shameless self-interest.
沃波尔坚持追求无耻的私利
From the pursuit of it, he believed,would come the country's greater good.
他坚信在追求私利的同时 也会给国家带来莫大的好处
"Which do you prefer?" He might've said.
你会怎么选呢 他可能会说
"A battle over principles and religious convictions?"
是为了原则和宗教信仰而战吗
That was only going to lead to war, turmoil and poverty.
那只会带来战争 动乱和贫穷
Or would you rather have what I offer you?
还是你会想要我能给你的一切呢
Peace, political stability and low taxes.
和平 稳定的政局还有低税收
What today we'd call A healthy business environment.
也就是今日我们所称的"健康的商业环境"
From the beginning, Walpole, nicknamed "Cock Robin", had made a bet
从一开始 外号"知更鸟"的沃波尔就打赌说
that the politics of the future would be about portfolio management
未来的政治会和资产组合管理一样
rather than religious passion or legal debate.
而非宗教激情或法律辩论
In 1712, he'd been sent to prison for embezzlement
1712年 他因为挪用公款锒铛入狱
and the experience gave him a painful lesson
而这次的经验给他上了痛苦的一课
in how tightly intertwined were political and financial fortunes.
告诉他政治和财富是互相依存 缺一不可的
But perhaps his greatest asset was his unerring grip on the psychology of loyalty.
但他最大的财富也许就是 他对忠诚心理准确无误的把握
Walpole made a point of taking every new Whig member of the House out to dinner.Tete-a-tete.
沃波尔会邀请每个 新晋入议院的辉格党成员出去大快朵颐 促膝长谈
And there, with a glass of his best claret in your fat little hand,
席间 佳酿在手 觥筹交错
and a haunch of mutton juicily oozing on the trencher
羊肥肉嫩 汁溢香飘
and Cock Robin's glittering eyes twinkling amiably at you,
"知更鸟"乌溜溜的眼中带着亲切
assuring you that the life of the party, the state of the nation,
信誓旦旦地称你为党国之栋梁
depended on you, the new member from Little Mucking-on-the-Wold.
尽管你只是个新晋的无名小卒
How could you not express undying devotion and loyalty to his interest?
你当然恨不得肝脑涂地 报答他的知遇之恩
