研英翻译演练(40)

it is human, perhaps, to appreciate little that which we have and to long for that which we have not, but it is a great pity that in the world of light the gift of sight is used only as a mere convenience rather than as a means of adding fullness to life.

参考答案:

要点：该句是由连词but连接的两个并列分句。第一个分句的形式主语it代替两个动词不定式短语to appreciate little that...和to long for that...。little是副词。第二个分句的形式主语it代替that引导的从句that in the world of light the gift of sight is used...adding fullness to life。

译文：或许，不珍惜已拥有的东西而渴望未拥有的东西，凡人皆如此，但是非常遗憾的是，在这光明的世界里，上天赐予人们的视觉只被用作一种方便，而不被用作使生活更加完美的手段。