Among those gentlemen in Virginia who expressed the greatest interest in my statement, more particularly in regard to that portion of it which related to the Antarctic Ocean, was Mr. Poe, lately editor of the Southern Literary Messenger, a monthly magazine, published by Mr. Thomas W. White, in the city of Richmond. He strongly advised me, among others, to prepare at once a full account of what I had seen and undergone, and trust to the shrewdness and common sense of the public — insisting, with great plausibility12, that however roughly, as regards mere authorship, my book should be got up, its very uncouthness13, if there were any, would give it all the better chance of being received as truth.
Notwithstanding this representation, I did not make up my mind to do as he suggested. He afterward14 proposed (finding that I would not stir in the matter) that I should allow him to draw up, in his own words, a narrative of the earlier portion of my adventures, from facts afforded by myself, publishing it in the Southern Messenger under the garb15 of fiction. To this, perceiving no objection, I consented, stipulating16 only that my real name should be retained. Two numbers of the pretended fiction appeared, consequently, in the Messenger for January and February, (1837), and, in order that it might certainly be regarded as fiction, the name of Mr. Poe was affixed17 to the articles in the table of contents of the magazine.
The manner in which this ruse18 was received has induced me at length to undertake a regular compilation19 and publication of the adventures in question; for I found that, in spite of the air of fable20 which had been so ingeniously thrown around that portion of my statement which appeared in the Messenger (without altering or distorting a single fact), the public were still not at all disposed to receive it as fable, and several letters were sent to Mr. P.’s address, distinctly expressing a conviction to the contrary. I thence concluded that the facts of my narrative would prove of such a nature as to carry with them sufficient evidence of their own authenticity21, and that I had consequently little to fear on the score of popular incredulity.
This expose being made, it will be seen at once how much of what follows I claim to be my own writing; and it will also be understood that no fact is misrepresented in the first few pages which were written by Mr. Poe. Even to those readers who have not seen the Messenger, it will be unnecessary to point out where his portion ends and my own commences; the difference in point of style will be readily perceived.
A. G. PYM. New-York, July, 1838.

点击
收听单词发音

1
narrative
![]() |
|
n.叙述,故事;adj.叙事的,故事体的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
2
deterred
![]() |
|
v.阻止,制止( deter的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
3
mere
![]() |
|
adj.纯粹的;仅仅,只不过 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
4
prone
![]() |
|
adj.(to)易于…的,很可能…的;俯卧的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
5
faculties
![]() |
|
n.能力( faculty的名词复数 );全体教职员;技巧;院 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
6
narrated
![]() |
|
v.故事( narrate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
7
positively
![]() |
|
adv.明确地,断然,坚决地;实在,确实 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
8
veracity
![]() |
|
n.诚实 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
9
forth
![]() |
|
adv.向前;向外,往外 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
10
impudent
![]() |
|
adj.鲁莽的,卑鄙的,厚颜无耻的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
11
advisers
![]() |
|
顾问,劝告者( adviser的名词复数 ); (指导大学新生学科问题等的)指导教授 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
12
plausibility
![]() |
|
n. 似有道理, 能言善辩 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
13
uncouthness
![]() |
|
参考例句: |
|
|
14
afterward
![]() |
|
adv.后来;以后 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
15
garb
![]() |
|
n.服装,装束 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
16
stipulating
![]() |
|
v.(尤指在协议或建议中)规定,约定,讲明(条件等)( stipulate的现在分词 );规定,明确要求 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
17
affixed
![]() |
|
adj.[医]附着的,附着的v.附加( affix的过去式和过去分词 );粘贴;加以;盖(印章) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
18
ruse
![]() |
|
n.诡计,计策;诡计 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
19
compilation
![]() |
|
n.编译,编辑 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
20
fable
![]() |
|
n.寓言;童话;神话 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
21
authenticity
![]() |
|
n.真实性 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
欢迎访问英文小说网 |