A_Modest_Proposal(一个小小的建议)_中英双语_格式精编

A Modest Proposal ( for preventing the children of poor people in Ireland, from being a burden on their parents or country, and for making them beneficial to the public.) by Dr. Jonathan Swift. 1729 A Modest Proposal(一个小小的建议) [1] It is a melancholy object to those, who walk through this great Town, or travel in the Country, when they see the Streets, the Roads, and Cabin-Doors, crowded with Beggars of the female Sex, followed by three, four, or six Children, all in Rags, and importuning every Passenger for an Alms. 对于走过这座大城市,或在乡间旅行的人,他们看到的这些景象真是悲凉:街上、马路上、茅屋内挤满了女乞丐,后面跟着三个、四个或六个衣衫褴褛的孩子,向每个路人强要施舍。 These Mothers instead of being able to work for their honest livelihood, are forced to employ all their time in Strolling, to beg Sustenance for their helpless Infants, who, as they grow up either turn Thieves for want of work, or leave their dear native Country to fight for the Pretender in Spain, or sell themselves to the Barbadoes. 这些母亲无法靠诚实劳动谋生,被迫终日游荡去养活那些无助的孩子,这些孩子长大后要么因找不到工作而沦为小偷,要么背井离乡去为西班牙那个觊觎王位者卖命,也许还会卖身到巴巴多斯。 [2] I think it is agreed by all Parties, that this prodigious number of Children, in the Arms, or on the Backs, or at the heels of their Mothers, and frequently of their Fathers, is in the present deplorable state of the Kingdom a very great additional grievance; and therefore whoever could find out a fair, cheap and easy method of making these Children sound and useful Members of the common-wealth would deserve so well of the public, as to have his Statue set up for a preserver of the Nation. 我想所有的党派人士(各方面)都会同意,这些母亲(有时常常是父亲)怀中抱着、背上背着以及身后跟着的数量如此多的孩子,在王国可悲的现状下,将是一个平添民怨的灾难。如果谁能想出一个简单易行的办法让这些孩子成为国家的健全有用之才,他将值得公众为他树立雕像,尊他为保国英雄。 [3] But my Intention is very far from being confined to provide only for the Children of professed beggars, it is of a much greater extent, and shall take in the whole number of Infants at a certain Age, who are born of Parents in effect as little able to support them, as those who demand our Charity in the Streets. 然而我的目的远不止限于救治那些公开宣称的乞丐的孩子,我所说的范围要大得多,包括所有那些在某个年代出生,其父母与那些在街上要求我们大发慈悲的乞丐一样,无力养活他们的幼儿。 [4] As to my own part, having turned my thoughts for many Years, upon this important Subject, and maturely weighed the several Schemes of other Projectors, I have always found them grossly mistaken in their computation. . It is true a Child, just dropt from it's Dam, may be supported by her Milk, for a Solar year with little other Nourishment, at most not above the Value of two Shillings, which the Mother may certainly get, or the Value in Scraps, by her lawful Occupation of begging, and it is exactly at one year Old that I propose to provide for them, in such a manner, as, instead of being a Charge upon their Parents, or the Parish, or wanting Food and Raiment for the rest of their Lives, they shall, on the Contrary, contribute to the Feeding and partly to the Clothing of many Thousands. 至于我自己,我酝酿这个想法已有多年,也曾和其他提出计划的人充分地权衡过几个,但总是发现他们在计算时犯了极大的错误。确实,一个初生的婴儿在第一年里也许只需母乳而不用其他营养品,费用顶多不超过两先令,或不超过乞讨所得的残羹剩饭的价值。这两先令他们的母亲通过合法的乞讨肯定能挣到的。为了使他们不再成为父母或其所在教区的负担,也无需在余生要吃要穿,我提议,在正好一岁的时候,他们反而应该为成千上万的人的食物,部分也可以作为衣物。 [5] There is likewise another great Advantage in my Scheme, that it will prevent those voluntary Abortions, and that horrid practice of Women murdering their Bastard Children, alas, too frequent among us, Sacrificing the poor innocent Babes, I doubt, more to avoid the Expense, than the Shame, which would move Tears and Pity in the most Savage and inhuman breast. 我的方案也有另外一个很大的好处,它能使妇女自愿堕胎和可怕的杀婴行为就此绝迹。唉,这种现象在我们之中太普遍了,我怀疑(她们)牺牲那些无辜的婴儿与其说是为了逃避耻辱,不如说是为了逃避抚养的代价。即使是最无情最没人性的人,对此也将一洒同情之泪。 [6] The number of Souls in this Kingdom being usually reckoned one Million and a half, Of these I calculate there may be about two hundred thousand Couple whose Wives are breeders, from which number I Subtract thirty Thousand Couples, who are able to maintain their own Children, although I apprehend there cannot be so many, under the present distresses of the Kingdom, but this being granted, there will remain an hundred and seventy thousand Breeders. I again Subtract fifty Thousand for those Women who miscarry, or whose Children die by accident or disease within the Year. There only remain an hundred and twenty thousand Children of poor Parents annually born. The question therefore is, How this number shall be reared and provided for, which, as I have already said, under the present Situation of Affairs, is utterly impossible by all the methods hitherto proposed. For we can neither employ them in Handicraft, or Agriculture; we neither build Houses, (I mean in the Country) nor cultivate Land. They can very seldom pick up a Livelihood by Stealing until they arrive at six years Old, except where they are of towardly parts, although, I confess they learn the Rudiments much earlier; during which time they can however be properly looked upon only as Probationers, as I have been informed by a principal Gentleman in the County of Cavan, who protested to me, that he never knew above one or two Instances under the Age of six, even in a part of the Kingdom so renowned for the quickest proficiency in that Art. 这个王国的人口数量大概总计为一百五十万,在其中我估计有二十万对夫妇妻子尚能生育,从这个数目里我减去三千对有能力抚养孩子的夫妇——虽然我知道在王国现今十分窘迫,不可能有这么多——确定之后,就剩下十七万能够生育的妇女。我再减去五万流产的或孩子在一年内死于意外和疾病的妇女。现在实际出生的贫困家庭孩子只余十二万。所以问是如何抚养这么多的孩子,这个我之前已经说过,在目前的条件下,迄今所提的方案无一能解决。因为我们既不能雇他们从事手工业,也不可能雇他们从事农业;我们不建造房屋(我指的是在农村),也不用开拓耕地。这些孩子在六岁之前几乎不可能靠小偷小摸自讨生计,除非在那些他们有望拉帮抱团的地方。我承认,他们很早前就开始入门,但在这段期间他们只能被看作见习小偷。我从卡文郡一个数一数二的缙绅那里得知此中内情,他曾对我断言,在这么一个因对那门艺术掌握得最迅速最熟练而闻名的王国里,他从没听说过哪个地方有小于六岁的小偷的一两个事例。 [7] I am assured by our Merchants, that a Boy or Girl, before twelve years Old, is no saleable Commodity, and even when they come to this Age, they will not yield above three Pounds, or three Pounds and half a Crown at most on the Exchange, which cannot turn to Account either to the Parents or the Kingdom, the Charge of Nutriments and Rags having been at least four times that Value. 我从我们的商人那里得到确证,十二岁前的男孩或女孩作为商品并不适合销售,即使他们到了十二岁,他们的利润也不会多于三镑,最多通过交易获利三镑五先令,可这并不能补偿他们的父母,也不能补偿王国,他们吃过的营养品和穿过的衣物的钱至少是这些的四倍。 [8] I shall now therefore humbly propose my own thoughts, which I hope will not be liable to the least Objection. 因此,我谨此提出我的想法,希望不至遭到任何反对。 [9] I have been assured by a very knowing American of my acquaintance in London, that a young healthy Child well Nursed is at a year Old, a most delicious, nourishing, and wholesome Food, whether Stewed, Roasted, Baked, or Boiled, and I make no doubt that it will equally serve in a Fricassee, or Ragout. 我在伦敦的一个深知内情的美国朋友向我证实,一个年轻健康、营养良好的孩子在一岁的时候是味道最美、营养最佳、最有益健康的食品,焖、烤、焙、煮皆无不可;而我也确信无论做成炖重汁肉丁和蔬菜炖肉,他们都一样美味可口。 [10] I do therefore humbly offer it to public consideration, that of the hundred and twenty thousand Children, already computed, twenty thousand may be reserved for Breed, whereof only one fourth part to be Males, which is more than we allow to Sheep, black Cattle, or Swine, and my reason is, that these Children are seldom the Fruits of Marriage, a Circumstance not much regarded by our Savages, therefore, one Male will be sufficient to serve four Females. That the remaining hundred thousand may at a year Old be offered in Sale to the persons of Quality, and Fortune, through the Kingdom, always advising the Mother to let them Suck plentifully in the last Month, so as to render them Plump and Fat for a good Table. A Child will make two Dishes at an Entertainment for Friends, and when the Family dines alone, the fore or hind Quarter will make a reasonable Dish, and seasoned with a little Pepper or Salt will be very good Boiled on the fourth Day, especially in Winter. 因此我谨将其提交公众考虑:上面统计过的十二万名儿童,两万也许将留于饲养,其中男性只需四分之一——这已经比猪牛羊的比例大了——我的理由是:这些孩子不是婚姻的产物,我们的粗人也不会计较这些,因此一男足配四女。剩下的十万名在满一周岁时可以卖给国内有权有势的人,要总叮嘱母亲在他们最后一个月让他们喝饱奶,把他们养得圆圆胖胖,好作成美味佳肴。在招待朋友的筵席上,一个孩子可以做成两道菜,家庭聚餐的话,孩子的前后腿的四分之一已经可以作为一道好菜了,如果加点胡椒粉和盐放上四天再煮,味道将更好,尤其是在冬天。 [11] I have reckoned upon a Medium that a Child just born will weigh 12 pounds, and in a solar Year if tolerably nursed increaseth to 28 Pounds. 我算过,一个刚出生的孩子重十二磅,照料得好的话一年以后就可增至二十八磅。 [12] I grant this food will be somewhat dear, and therefore very proper for Landlords, who, as they have already devoured most of the Parents, seem to have the best Title to the Children. 我承认这种食物多少有点昂贵,所以非常适合地主们食用,他们已经榨干了孩子的父母,似乎也最有资格吃掉孩子。 [13] Infant's flesh will be in Season throughout the Year, but more plentiful in March, and a little before and after. For we are told by a grave Author an eminent French physician, that Fish being a prolific Diet, there are more Children born in Roman Catholic Countries about nine Months after Lent, than at any other Season; therefore reckoning a Year after Lent, the Markets will be more glutted than usual, because the Number of Popish Infants, is at least three to one in this Kingdom; and therefore it will have one other Collateral advantage by lessening the Number of Papists among us. 幼儿的嫩肉一年四时当令,但在三月及前后供应最为充足。一位严肃的作家——著名的法国内科医生告诉我们,由于鱼是促进生育的食物,在信仰罗马天主教国家里,出生在四旬斋后九个月后的孩子要比别的时节多。因此估计四旬节过后一 年,市场上婴儿肉的供应将比平常充足,因为这个王国里天主教婴儿的数量至少是三比一。所以这个方案还有一个附带的好处,就是可以减少天主教婴儿的数量。 [14] I have already computed the Charge of nursing a Beggar’s Child (in which list I reckon all Cottagers, Labourers, and four fifths of the Farmers) to be about two Shillings per Annum, Rags included; and I believe no Gentleman would repine to give Ten Shillings for the Carcass of a good fat Child, which, as I have said will make four Dishes of excellent Nutritive Meat, when he hath only some particular friend, or his own Family to Dine with him. Thus the Squire will learn to be a good Landlord, and grow popular among his Tenants, the Mother will have Eight Shillings neat profit, and be fit for Work till she produceth another Child. 我已经算过,照料一个乞丐孩子的费用(我把所有的佃农、劳工和五分之四的农民都算进去)每年大约要两先令,包括衣物;我相信没有一个绅士会对花十先令买一个优质多肉的婴儿的躯体有任何意见,我之前已经说过,一个婴儿可以做成四道营养丰富的菜肴,如果他只有一些特别嘉宾、或只是和家人用餐的话。这样,乡绅们都会成为好地主,并受到佃户们的敬爱,母亲们将有八先令的净利润,在生出下一胎之前还可以出外打工。 [15] Those who are more thrifty (as I must confess the Times require) may flay the Carcass; the Skin of which, Artificially dressed, will make admirable Gloves for Ladies, and Summer Boots for fine Gentlemen. 那些比较注重节约的绅士(我必须说明这是时代所需)可以剥下婴尸的皮,经过加工,这些皮可以制成极好的女用手套和绅士穿的夏季长靴。 [16] As to our City of Dublin, Shambles may be appointed for this purpose in the most convenient parts of it, and Butchers we may be assured will not be wanting, although I rather recommend buying the Children alive, and dressing them hot from the Knife, as we do roasting Pigs. 至于在我们的都柏林城,屠宰场可以借便承担这项任务,我们将保证屠夫不会紧缺,虽然我建议大家还是买活的婴儿,在家用刀活生生地把他剥皮更好,就像我们对烤猪一样。 [17] A very worthy Person, a true Lover of his Country, and whose Virtues I highly esteem, was lately pleased, in discoursing on this matter, to offer a refinement upon my Scheme. He said, that many Gentlemen of this Kingdom, having of late destroyed their Deer, he conceived that the want of Venison might be well supplied by the Bodies of young Lads and Maidens, not exceeding fourteen Years of Age, nor under twelve; so great a Number of both Sexes in every County being now ready to Starve, for want of Work and Service: And these to be disposed of by their Parents if alive, or otherwise by their nearest Relations. But with due deference to so excellent a friend, and so deserving a Patriot, I cannot be altogether in his Sentiments, for as to the Males, my American acquaintance assured me from frequent Experience, that their flesh was generally Tough and Lean, like that of our School-boys, by continual exercise, and their Taste disagreeable, and to Fatten them would not answer the Charge. Then as to the Females, it would, I think, with humble Submission, be a loss to the Public, because they soon would become Breeders themselves: And besides it is not improbable that some scrupulous People might be apt to Censure such a Practice, (although indeed very unjustly) as a little bordering upon Cruelty, which, I confess, hath always been with me the strongest objection against any Project, how well soever intended. 一位十分可敬的人——他是一个真正的爱国者,我对他的德行十分敬重——最近在这件事的讨论上,十分愿意根据我的方案再加改进。他说,近来这个王国的许多绅士畋猎无度导致野鹿绝迹。他构想对鹿肉的需求可以由十四周岁以下、十二周岁以上的童男童女的肉来填补。眼下在每个国家里,这个年龄段的童男童女快饿死的、找工作的、要服役的数不胜数。他们的父母(如果还活着的话)或最近亲的人早就想这么做了。一个这么优秀的朋友,这么值得褒奖的爱国者,我本应当听从他的意见,可我不能完全站在他的立场,因为我的美国朋友告诉我,根据他丰富的,男性由于经常活动,肉一般又硬又瘦,像我们的小学生一样,而且味道也很糟,养肥之后卖出去也抵不回这期间的费用。至于女性,我认为,虽然她们天性顺从,但这对公众也仍是一笔损失,因为她们很快便要成为哺乳者。除此,一些自命善良的人也有可能对此提出非难(尽管这是十分不公正的),说这个方案有失残忍。对于我而言,这种抗议总是最义愤填膺地针对任何方案,无论这种方案多么好。 [18] But in order to justify my friend, he confessed, that this expedient was put into his head by the famous Psallmanazor, a Native of the Island Formosa, who came from thence to London, above twenty Years ago, and in Conversation told my friend, that in his Country when any young Person happened to be put to Death, the Executioner sold the Carcass to Persons of Quality, as a prime Dainty, and that, in his Time, the Body of a plump Girl of fifteen, who was crucified for an attempt to Poison the Emperor, was sold to his Imperial Majesty's prime Minister of State, and other great Mandarins of the Court, in Joints from the Gibbet, at four hundred Crowns. Neither indeed can I deny, that if the same use were made of several plump young Girls in this Town, who, without one single Groat to their Fortunes, cannot stir abroad without a Chair, and appear at a Play-House, and Assemblies in Foreign fineries, which they never will Pay for; the Kingdom would not be the worse. 为了证明自己,我的朋友坦言,这个权宜之计是那著名的台湾岛公民Psallmanazor 灌输给他的,此人二十多年前从台湾去到伦敦,在一次谈话中他告诉我的朋友,在他的国家,年轻人被处死时,其躯体的肉会被刽子手卖给有权势的人作为一种上等的美食。在他那时还有一个十五岁的胖姑娘意谋弑君,被钉死在十字架上,绞架上的大块肉以四百克朗的价钱卖给了帝国最权威的宰相以及朝廷的其他王公大臣。确实,我两者都不能否认:如果这个城市里那些年轻的胖姑娘也被如此处理的话——这些身无分文的小姐没有轿子就绝不踏出家门一步,在剧场招摇,身着外国绸缎(她们永远不会为此掏一点钱)聚集成群——我们的王国就不会每况愈下了。 [19] Some Persons of a desponding Spirit are in great concern about that vast Number of poor People, who are aged, diseased, or maimed, and I have been desired to employ my thoughts what Course may be taken to ease the Nation of so grievous an encumbrance. But I am not in the least pain upon that matter, because it is very well known, that they are every Day dying, and rotting, by cold, and famine, and filth, and vermin, as fast as can be reasonably expected. And as to the younger Labourers, they are now in almost as hopeful a Condition. They cannot get Work, and consequently pine away from want of Nourishment to a degree that if at any time they are accidentally hired to common Labour, they have not strength to perform it, and thus the Country and themselves are happily delivered from the Evils to come. 一些心灰意冷的人对数目庞大的穷苦人民感到担忧,这些人老的老,病的病,残的残,我极其渴望运用我的才智让我们的国家采取措施清除这些令人忧心的累赘。我并非对此毫无恻隐,众所周知,他们每天都在垂死、腐烂,为饥饿寒冷所迫,与尘菌虫鼠为伍,快得正如可以合理地预料的那样。那些年轻的劳动者,他们现在几乎也和那样老弱病残一样可悲。他们找不到工作,如果由于某个偶然的机会他们被招为一个低贱的劳工,他们也没有力气做好,最终由于营养不足而形如槁木,国家和他们自己都十分高兴因此摆脱了厄运。 [20] I have too long digressed, and therefore shall return to my subject. I think the advantages by the Proposal which I have made are obvious and many, as well as of the highest importance. 我扯得太远,还是回到正题吧。我认为我的提议有众多明显的好处,而且包含极端的重要性。 [21] For first, as I have already observed, it would greatly lessen the Number of Papists, with whom we are Yearly over-run, being the principal Breeders of the Nation, as well as our most dangerous Enemies, and who stay at home on purpose with a design to deliver the Kingdom to the Pretender, hoping to take their Advantage by the absence of so many good Protestants, who have chosen rather to leave their Country, than stay at home, and pay Tithes against their Conscience, to an idolatrous Episcopal Curate. 首先,正如我已经认识到的,方案将会大大地减少天主教徒的数量,他们每年都在侵占我们的地盘,已经成了国家的主要生育者,而且也是我们最危险的敌人。他们故意留守家园,趁着众多新教徒不在的时候——新教徒们出于宗教良心,宁愿离乡也不愿向主教的助理牧师缴纳什一税——图谋把王国献给那个觊觎王位的人。 [22] Secondly, the poorer Tenants will have something valuable of their own, which by Law may be made liable to Distress, and help to pay their Landlord's Rent, their Corn and Cattle being already seized, and Money a thing unknown. 其次,许多贫困的佃户将因此有自己的值钱的东西,可在法律上可充当抵押品,用以偿付地主的租金。他们的庄稼和牲畜早已被没收,而钱根本毫无着落。 [23] Thirdly, Whereas the Maintenance of an hundred thousand Children, from two Years old, and upwards, cannot be computed at less than Ten Shillings a piece per Annum, the Nation's Stock will be thereby increased fifty thousand pounds per Annum, besides the profit of a new Dish, introduced to the Tables of all Gentlemen of Fortune in the Kingdom, who have any refinement in Taste. And the Money will circulate among ourselves, the Goods being entirely of our own Growth and Manufacture. 第三,供养十万两岁和两岁以上的儿童,每人每年的花费不会少于十先令,因此,除了国内所有食不厌精的富绅们的饭桌可添加一碟新鲜菜肴外,国库每年也将有五万英镑的额外收入。而且这笔钱将在我们之间流通,货品也完全由我们自产自制。 [24] Fourthly, The constant Breeders, besides the gain of Eight Shillings Sterling per Annum, by the Sale of their Children, will be rid of the Charge of maintaining them after the first Year. 第四,那些常年生育的妇女,除了每年卖孩子可以拿到八个先令的钱外,也能在第一年后免去抚养的负担。 [25] Fifthly, this food would likewise bring great Custom to Taverns, where the Vintners will certainly be so prudent as to procure the best receipts for dressing it to perfection, and consequently have their Houses frequented by all the fine Gentlemen, who justly value themselves upon their knowledge in good Eating, and a skillful Cook, who understands how to oblige his Guests will contrive to make it as expensive as they please. 第五,这些食品还可为酒馆招徕大批主顾。酒馆老板必将小心精明地搜寻最好的食谱,从而使自己的酒馆成为那些自命美食家的富绅们频频光临之所;熟知顾客心理的手艺高超的厨师,也将把它做成一道阔气的菜肴,以满足顾客所好。 [26] Sixthly, This would be a great Inducement to Marriage, which all wise Nations have either encouraged by Rewards, or enforced by Laws and Penalties. It would increase the care and tenderness of Mothers towards their Children, when they were sure of a Settlement for Life to the poor Babes, provided in some sort by the Public, to their Annual profit instead of Expense. We should soon see an honest Emulation among the married women, which of them could bring the fattest Child to the Market. Men would become as fond of their Wives, during the Time of their Pregnancy, as they are now of their Mares in Foal, their Cows in Calf, or Sows when they are ready to Farrow, nor offer to Beat or Kick them (as is too frequent a practice) for fear of a Miscarriage. 第六,这对促进婚姻也有诱导作用。一切明智的国家对婚姻如非通过奖赏来鼓励,就是通过法律和刑罚来强制实行。此举将增进母亲对孩子的关爱和呵护,她们的孩子每年将受到公家某种形式的救助,她们不用再为孩子花销,还可以获得收益。我们很便可看到已婚妇女中的诚实竞争,看谁能养出最胖的孩子送到市场去。在女人怀孕期间,男人们也会十分爱护她们的妻子,就像他们现在爱护怀着马驹的母马,爱护怀着牛犊的母牛,爱护即将临盆的母猪一样,他们不会对她们拳打脚踢(这种情况平时很普遍),怕造成流产。 [27] Many other advantages might be enumerated. For Instance, the addition of some thousand Carcasses in our exportation of Barreled Beef, The Propagation of Swine’s Flesh, and Improvement in the Art of making good Bacon, so much wanted among us by the great destruction of Pigs, too frequent at our Tables, which are no way comparable in Taste, or Magnificence to a well-grown, fat Yearling Child, which Roasted whole will make a considerable Figure at a Lord Mayor's Feast, or any other Public Entertainment. 我还可以列举其他好处。例如,猪的大量死亡导致我们有了如此多的需求:我们出口的桶装牛肉里需增加几千头牛,猪肉产量需要提高,制腌肉的手艺也需要改进,但这些在我们的餐桌上太常见了,其色泽味道怎么也比不上那些健康多肉的一岁幼儿。在地方之长的筵席上,或其他公共宴会上,他们整个可以烤出多么诱人的形状啊。But this, and many others I omit being studious of Brevity.但为了不耽搁各位的时间,我把这些和许多其他的都省去了。 [28] Supposing that one thousand Families in this City, would be constant Customers for Infants Flesh, besides others who might have it at Merry-meetings, particularly at Weddings and Christenings, I compute that Dublin would take off Annually about twenty thousand Carcasses, and the rest of the Kingdom (where probably they will be Sold somewhat Cheaper) the remaining eighty thousand. 假如我们城市的那一千个家庭都成为幼儿肉的长期消费者,不算那些在欢庆会——尤其是在婚宴和洗礼会上的,我算得都柏林每年将卖出两千具童尸,王国的其他地方(那些地方也许会卖得便宜一点)可以卖出余下的八千。 [29] I can think of no one Objection, that will possibly be raised against this Proposal, unless it should be urged, that the Number of People will be thereby much lessened in the Kingdom. This I freely own, and it was indeed one Principal design in offering it to the World. desire the Reader will observe, that I Calculate my Remedy for this one individual Kingdom of IRELAND, and for no other that ever was, is, or, I think, ever can be upon Earth. Therefore let no man talk to me of other expedients: Of taxing our Absentees at five Shillings a pound: Of using neither Cloths, nor household Furniture, except what is of our own Growth and Manufacture: Of utterly rejecting the Materials and Instruments that promote Foreign Luxury: Of curing the Expensiveness of Pride, Vanity, Idleness, and Gaming in our Women: Of introducing a Vein of Parsimony, Prudence and Temperance: Of learning to Love our Country, wherein we differ even from LAPLANDERS, and the Inhabitants of TOPINAMBOO: Of quitting our Animosities, and Factions, nor Act any longer like the Jews, who were Murdering one another at the very moment their City was taken: Of being a little Cautious not to Sell our Country and Consciences for nothing: Of teaching Landlords to have at least one degree of Mercy towards their Tenants. Lastly of putting a Spirit of Honesty, Industry and Skill into our Shop-keepers, who, if a Resolution could now be taken to Buy only our Native Goods, would immediately unite to Cheat and Exact upon us in the Price, the Measure, and the Goodness, nor could ever yet be brought to make one fair Proposal of just dealing, though often and earnestly invited to it. 我想不到任何可能针对我的方案的反对意见,除非它极大地导致了这个王国的人口数量大量减少。我承认的确有这个意图,而这正是它对世界的主要贡献。I 我希望读者能看到,我提出的这个补救方法只是针对爱尔兰王国,而不是为了其他任何一个在这个地球上曾经存在,或我认为将要存在的国家。因此我不许任何人和我谈这些权益之计:向我们那些不在拘留所的人收取每个拘留所五先令的税款;除了我们自产自制的,不用别的衣物和家具;完全拒用那些宣扬外国式奢侈的物品和器材;纠正女人那些带来巨大花费的傲慢、虚荣、懒散和赌博之风;大力提倡俭省、审慎、节欲的风气;学会爱我们的祖国,我们甚至连拉普兰人和塔平兰布的居民都不如;放下仇恨,停止内讧,不要再像犹太人一样,他们在自己的城市被占领的时候还互相杀戮;小心谨慎,别为了一些毫无价值的东西出卖我们的祖国和自己的良心;教导我们的地主对佃户存有些许慈悲之心;最后,给开店的人灌输诚实、勤奋和熟巧的观念,如果人们现在下决心只买国货,他们会马上勾结起来,在价格、尺度和质量上欺骗我们和向我们强制推销,而且,他们决不会提出任何有利公平交易的合理建议,虽然这是我们经常热心提倡的。 [30] Therefore I repeat, let no Man talk to me of these and the like Expedients, till he hath at least a Glimpse of Hope, that there will ever be some hearty and sincere attempt to put them into Practice. 因此,我再次强调,在有人发自内心地,真诚地愿意将其付诸实践之前,谁也不要跟我谈这些以及类似的权宜之计,他至少得瞥见一线希望才可以。 [31] But as to my self, having been wearied out for many Years with offering vain, idle, visionary thoughts, and at length utterly despairing of Success, I fortunately fell upon this Proposal, which as it is wholly new, so it hath something Solid and Real, of no Expense and little Trouble, full in our own Power, and whereby we can incur no Danger in disobliging England. For this kind of Commodity will not bear Exportation, the Flesh being of too tender a Consistence, to admit a long continuance in Salt, although perhaps I could name a Country, which would be glad to Eat up our whole Nation without it. 至于我自己,我常年思考一些无用的、没有价值的、不切实际的东西,最终对成功已完全绝望,我厌烦透了,很幸运可以开始实践这个方案。它完全新颖,所以它有可靠和真实的东西在其中,不花什么代价,也不麻烦,完全在我们的能力之内,所以也不会从高高挂起的英格兰那惹祸上身。因为这种商品不能用于出口, 它的肉太软,不能在盐里保存太久,虽然我或许可以说出一些国家的名字,这些国家不想吃这种肉但很想把我们国家吞掉。 [32] After all I am not so violently bent upon my own Opinion, as to reject any Offer, proposed by wise Men, which shall be found equally Innocent, Cheap, Easy and Effectual. But before something of that kind shall be advanced in Contradiction to my Scheme, and offering a better, I desire the Author, or Authors will be pleased maturely to consider two points. First, As things now stand, how they will be able to find Food and Raiment for a hundred thousand useless Mouths and Backs. And Secondly, there being a round Million of Creatures in human Figure, throughout this Kingdom, whose whole Subsistence put into a common Stock, would leave them in Debt two Millions of Pounds Sterling, adding those who are Beggars by Profession, to the Bulk of Farmers, Cottagers and Labourers with their Wives and Children, who are Beggars in Effect; I desire those Politicians, who dislike my Overture, and may perhaps be so bold to attempt an Answer, that they will first ask the Parents of these Mortals, whether they would not at this Day think it a great Happiness to have been sold for Food at a year Old in the manner I prescribe, and thereby have avoided such a perpetual Scene of Misfortunes, as they have since gone through, by the oppression of Landlords, the Impossibility of paying Rent without Money or Trade, the want of common Sustenance, with neither House nor Cloths to cover them from Inclemencies of Weather, and the most inevitable Prospect of entailing the like, or greater Miseries upon their Breed for ever. 毕竟我也不是那么激烈地倾向我自己的观点,不至于拒绝其他有智之士提出的建议,只要它们也同样地无害、省钱、简易和有效。但我希望在提出某些与我的方案相冲突的内容和提出更好的建议之前,这个建议者或这些建议者能够成熟地考虑我两点意见。首先,问题摆在面前,他们如何能给这十万个不事劳动的婴儿找到食物和衣物。其次,这个王国有一百万长着人样的生物,把他们的全部家当都收在国库后,他们将负债两百万英镑,加上职业乞丐、大批的农民、佃农、劳工(他们拖家带口,本质上也是乞丐)。我希望那些不喜欢我的提议、又十分敢作敢为想找出解决办法的政治家们,先问问这些孩子的父母,今时今日,他们还会不会不认为这是一件幸事:在一岁时以我所提议的方式被当食物卖掉,可以摆脱永久的不幸感,不用像他们遭受过的那样,被地主压迫,没有钱和生意还得缴租(那简直是不可能的),要维持一般的生计,却没有房子也没有衣物来抵挡恶劣的天气,更无法逃避把这种同样的、或更巨大的痛苦世世代代延续下去的命运。 [33] I Profess in the sincerity of my Heart that I have not the least personal Interest in endeavouring to promote this necessary Work, having no other Motive than the public Good of my Country, by advancing our Trade, providing for Infants, relieving the Poor, and giving some Pleasure to the Rich. I have no Children, by which I can propose to get a single Penny; the youngest being nine Years old, and my Wife past Child-bearing. 实话实说,我在尽力促进这项必要的工作时,没有一丝一毫的个人利益考虑,除了为国家的公共利益——推进贸易、供应幼儿、救助穷人、为富人提供享受—— 着想外,我没有任何其他意图。我没有一个孩子能卖到哪怕一便士,最小的孩子已经九岁了,我的妻子也早过了适合生育的年龄。 _________________________________________________________________ Summary The full title of Swift's pamphlet is "A Modest Proposal for Preventing the Children of Poor People from Being a Burthen to their Parents, or the Country, and for Making them Beneficial to the Publick." The tract is an ironically conceived attempt to "find out a fair, cheap, an d easy Method" for converting the starving children of Ireland into "sound and useful members of the Commonwealth." Across the country poor children, predominantly Catholics, are living in squalor because their families are too poor to keep them fed and clothed. The author argues, by hard-edged economic reasoning as well as from a self-righteous moral stance, for a way to turn this problem into its own solution. His proposal, in effect, is to fatten up these undernourished children and feed them to Ireland's rich land-owners. Children of the poor could be sold into a meat market at the age of one, he argues, thus combating overpopulation and unemployment, sparing families the expense of child-bearing while providing them with a little extra income, improvi ng the culinary experience of the wealthy, and contributing to the overall economic well-being of the nation. The author offers statistical support for his assertions and gives specific data about the number of children to be sold, their weight and price, and the projected consumption patterns. He suggests some recipes for preparing this delicious new meat, and he feels sure that innovative cooks will be quick to generate more. He also anticipates that the practice of selling and eating children will have positive effects on family morality: husbands will treat their wives with more respect, and parents will value their children in ways hitherto unknown. His conclusion is that the implementation of this project will do more to solve Ireland's complex social, political, and economic problems than any other measure that has been proposed. Context Jonathan Swift was born in Dublin in 1667. His father died before he was born, leaving the family with relatively modest means. Nevertheless, as a member of the Anglo-Irish ruling class, Swift received the best education Ireland could offer. As a young man, he worked as private secretary to Sir William Temple, a retired Whig diplomat, at Moor Park in southern England. During his ten years in this position, Swift took ad vantage of Temple's vast library to round out his education and immersed himself in the politics and opinions of this prominent intellectual. Swift took orders in the Anglican Church in 1694, and he was named dean of St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin in 1713. For many years he worked, anxiously and unsuccessfully, to secure himself a permanent appointment in England; during this period he considered his life in Ireland a kind of exile. Shuttling back and forth between Ireland and England with some regularit y, he became increasingly embroiled in English politics. He also established himself in the literary circle that included Addison and Steele. Later, he changed both political and literary loyalties and befriended Pope, Gay, and Arbuthnot, who would be his lifelong friends. Swift's Ireland was a country that had been effectively controlled by England for nearly 500 years. The Stuarts had established a Protestant governing aristocracy amid the country's relatively poor Catholic population. Denied union with E ngland in 1707 (when Scotland was granted it), Ireland continued to suffer under English trade restrictions and found the authority of its own Parliament in Dublin severely limited. Swift, though born a member of Ireland's colonial ruling class, came to be known as one of the greatest of Irish patriots. He, however, considered himself more English than Irish, and his loyalty to Ireland was often ambivalent in spite of his staunch support for certain Irish causes. The complicated nature of his own relationsh ip with England may have left him particularly sympathetic to the injustices and exploitation Ireland suffered at the hand of its more powerful neighbor. Particularly in the 1720s, Swift became vehemently engaged in Irish politics. He reacted to the debilitating effects of English commercial and political injustices in a large body of pamphlets, essays, and satirical works, including the perennially popular Gulliver's Travels.A Modest Proposal, published in 1729 in response to worsening conditions in Irela nd, is perhaps the severest and most scathing of all Swift's pamphlets. The tract did not shock or outrage contemporary readers as Swift must have intended; its economics was taken as a great joke, its more incisive critiques ignored. Although Swift's disgust with the state of the nation continued to increase, A Modest Proposal was the last of his essays about Ireland. Swift wrote mostly poetry in the later years of his life, and he died in 1745. Analysis In A Modest Proposal, Swift vents his mounting aggravation at the ineptitude of Ireland's politicians, the hypocrisy of the wealthy, the tyranny of the English, and the squalor and degradation in which he sees so many Irish people living. While A Modest Proposal bemoans the bleak situation of an Ireland almost totally subject to England's exploitation, it also expresses Swift's utter disgust at the Irish people's seeming inability to mobilize on their own behalf. Without excusing any party, the essay shows that not only the English but also the Irish thems elves--and not only the Irish politicians but also the masses--are responsible for the nation's lamentable state. His compassion for the misery of the Irish people is a severe one, and he includes a critique of their incompetence in dealing with their own problems. Political pamphleteering was a fashionable pastime in Swift's day, which saw vast numbers of tracts and essays advancing political opinions and proposing remedies for Ireland's economic and social ills. Swift's tract parodies the style and method of these, and the grim irony of his own solution reveals his personal despair at the failure of all this paper journalism to achieve any actual progress. His piece protests the utter inefficacy of Irish political leadership, and it also attacks the orie ntation of so many contemporary reformers toward economic utilitarianism. While Swift himself was an astute economic thinker, he often expressed contempt for the application of supposedly scientific management ideas to humanitarian concerns. The main rhetorical challenge of this bitingly ironic essay is capturing the attention of an audience whose indifference has been well tested. Swift makes his point negatively, stringing together an appalling set of morally untenable positions in order to cast blame and aspersions far and wide. The essay progresses through a series of surprises that first shocks the reader and then causes her to think critically not only about policies, but also about motivations and values. Oxford Companion to Irish Literature: A Modest Proposal Read : #ixzz2UOvBnVWS Swift goes to great lengths to support his argument, including a list of possible preparation styles for the children, and calculations showing the financial benefits of his suggestion. He uses methods of argument throughout his essay which lampoon then-influential William Petty and the social engineering popular among followers of Francis Bacon. These lampoons include appealing to the authority of "a very knowing American of my acquaintance in London" and "the famous Psalmanazar, a native of the island Formosa" (who had already confessed to not being from Formosa in 1706). This essay is widely held to be one of the greatest examples of sustained irony in the history of the English language. Much of its shock value derives from the fact that the first portion of the essay describes the plight of starving beggars in Ireland, so that the reader is unprepared for the surprise of Swift's solution when he states, "A young healthy child well nursed, is, at a year old, a most delicious nourishing and wholesome food, whether stewed, roasted, baked, or boiled; and I make no doubt that it will equally serve in a fricassee, or a ragout."[1] Readers unacquainted with its reputation as a satirical work often do not immediately realize that Swift was not seriously proposing cannibalism and infanticide, nor would readers unfamiliar with the satires of Horace and Juvenal recognize that Swift's essay follows the rules and structure of Latin satires. The satirical element of the pamphlet is often only understood after the reader notes the allusions made by Swift to the attitudes of landlords, such as the following: "I grant this food may be somewhat dear, and therefore very proper for Landlords, who as they have already devoured most of the Parents, seem to have the best Title to the Children." Swift extends the conceit to get in a few jibes at England’s mistreatment of Ireland, noting that "For this kind of commodity will not bear exportation, and flesh being of too tender a consistence, to admit a long continuance in salt, although perhaps I could name a country, which would be glad to eat up our whole nation without it." In the tradition of Roman satire, Swift introduces the reforms he is actually suggesting by paralipsis: Therefore let no man talk to me of other expedients: Of taxing our absentees at five shillings a pound: Of using neither clothes, nor household furniture, except what is of our own growth and manufacture: Of utterly rejecting the materials and instruments that promote foreign luxury: Of curing the expensiveness of pride, vanity, idleness, and gaming in our women: Of introducing a vein of parsimony, prudence and temperance: Of learning to love our country, wherein we differ even from Laplanders, and the inhabitants of Topinamboo: Of quitting our animosities and factions, nor acting any longer like the Jews, who were murdering one another at the very moment their city was taken: Of being a little cautious not to sell our country and consciences for nothing: Of teaching landlords to have at least one degree of mercy towards their tenants. Lastly, of putting a spirit of honesty, industry, and skill into our shop-keepers, who, if a resolution could now be taken to buy only our native goods, would immediately unite to cheat and exact upon us in the price, the measure, and the goodness, nor could ever yet be brought to make one fair proposal of just dealing, though often and earnestly invited to it. Therefore I repeat, let no man talk to me of these and the like expedients, 'till he hath at least some glympse of hope, that there will ever be some hearty and sincere attempt to put them into practice. Population solutions George Wittkowsky argued that Swift’s main target in A Modest Proposal was not the conditions in Ireland, but rather the can-do spirit of the times that led people to devise a number of illogical schemes that would purportedly solve social and economic ills.[3] Swift was especially insulted by projects that tried to fix population and labor issues with a simple cure-all solution.[4] A memorable example of these sorts of schemes "involved the idea of running the poor through a joint-stock company".[4] In response, Swift’s Modest Proposal was "a burlesque of projects concerning the poor",[5] that were in vogue during the early 18th century. A Modest Proposal also targets the calculating way people perceived the poor in designing their projects. The pamphlet targets reformers who "regard people as commodities".[6] In the piece, Swift adopts the "technique of a political arithmetician"[7] to show the utter ridiculousness of trying to prove any proposal with dispassionate statistics. Critics differ about Swift’s intentions in using this faux-mathematical philosophy. Edmund Wilson argues that statistically "the logic of the 'Modest proposal' can be compared with defense of crime (arrogated to Marx) in which he argues that crime takes care of the superfluous population".[7] Wittkowsky counters that Swift's satiric use of statistical analysis is an effort to enhance his satire that "springs from a spirit of bitter mockery, not from the delight in calculations for their own sake".[8] Rhetoric Charles K. Smith argues that Swift’s rhetorical style persuades the reader to de test the speaker and pity the Irish. Swift’s specific strategy is twofold, using a "trap"[9] to create sympathy for the Irish and a dislike of the narrator who, in the span of one sentence, "details vividly and with rhetorical emphasis the grinding poverty" but feels emotion solely for members of his own class.[10]Swift’s use of gripping details of poverty and his narrator’s cool approach towards them create "two opposing points of view" that "alienate the reader, perhaps unconsciously, from a narrator who can view with 'melancholy' detachment a subject that Swift has directed us, rhetorically, to see in a much less detached way."[10] Swift has his proposer further degrade the Irish by using language ordinarily reserved for animals. Lewis argues that the speaker uses "the vocabulary of animal husbandry"[11] to describe the Irish. Once the children have been commodified, Swift’s rhetoric can easily t urn "people into animals, then meat, and from meat, logically, into tonnage worth a price per pound".[11] Swift uses the proposer’s serious tone to highlight the ab surdity of his proposal. In making his argument, the speaker uses the conventional, text book approved order of argument from Swift’s time (which was derived from the Latin rhetorician Quintilian).[12] The contrast between the "careful control against the almost inconceivable perversion of his scheme" and "the ridiculousness of the proposal" create a situation in which the reader has "to consider just what perverted values and assumptions would allow such a diligent, thoughtful, and conventional man to propose so perverse a plan".[12] Influences There has been some scholarship about what other writings influenced Swift to write A Modest Proposal. Tertullian’s Apology James Johnson argued that A Modest Proposal was largely influenced and inspired by Tertullian’s Apology: a satirical attack against early Roman persecution of Christianity. James William Johnson believes that Swift saw major similarities between the two situations.[13]Johnson notes Swift’s obvious affinity for Tertullian and the bold stylistic and structural similarities between the works A Modest Proposal and Apology.[14] In structure, Johnson points out the same central theme, that of cannibalism and the eating of babies as well as the same final argument, that "human depravity is such that men will attempt to justify their own cruelty by accusing their victims of being lower than human."[13] Stylistically, Swift and Tertullian share the same command of sarcasm and language.[13] In agreement with Johnson, Donald C. Baker points out the similarity between both authors' tones and use of irony. Baker notes the uncanny way that both authors imply an ironic "justification by ownership" over the subject of sacrificing children—Tertullian while attacking pagan parents, and Swift while attacking the English mistreatment of the Irish poor.[15] Defoe's The Generous Projector It has also been argued that A Modest Proposal was, at least in part, a response to the 1728 essay The Generous Projector or, A Friendly Proposal to Prevent Murder and Other Enormous Abuses, By Erecting an Hospital for Foundlings and Bastard Children by Swift's rival Daniel Defoe.[16] Economic themes Robert Phiddian's article "Have you eaten yet? The Reader in A Modest Proposal" focuses on two aspects of A Modest Proposal: the voice of Swift and the voice of the Proposer. Phiddian stresses that a reader of the pamphlet must learn to distinguish between the satiric voice of Jonathan Swift and the apparent economic projections of the Proposer. He reminds readers that "there is a gap between the narrator’s meaning and the text’s, and that a moral-political argument is being carried out by means of parody".[17] While Swift’s proposal is obviously not a serious economic proposal, George Wittkowsky, author of "Swift’s Modest Proposal: The Biography of an Early Georgian Pamphlet", argues that to understand the piece fully, it is important to understand the economics of Swift’s time. Wittowsky argues that not enough critics have taken the time to focus directly on the mercantilism and theories of labor in 18th century England. "[I]f one regards the Modest Proposal simply as a criticism of condition, about all one can say is that conditions were bad and that Swift's irony brilliantly underscored this fact".[18] "People are the riches of a nation" At the start of a new industrial age in the 18th century, it was believed that "people are the riches of the nation", and there was a general faith in an economy that paid its workers low wages because high wages meant workers would work less.[19] Furthermore, "in the mercantilist view no child was too young to go into industry". In those times, the "somewhat more humane attitudes of an earlier day had all but disappeared and the laborer had come to be regarded as a commodity".[17] Louis A. Landa presents Swift’s A Modest Proposal as a critique of the popular and unjustified maxim of mercantilism in the 18th century that "people are the riches of a nation".[20] Swift presents the dire state of Ireland and shows that mere population itself, in Ireland’s case, did not always mean greater wealth and economy.[21] The uncontrolled maxim fails to take into account that a person who does not produce in an economic or political way makes a country poorer, not richer.[21] Swift also recognizes the implications of such a fact in making mercantilist philosophy a paradox: the wealth of a country is based on the poverty of the majority of its citizens.[21] Swift however, Landa argues, is not merely criticizing economic maxims but also addressing the fact that England was denying Irish citizens their natural rights and dehumanizing them by viewing them as a mere commodity.[21] Modern usage A Modest Proposal is included in many literature programs as an example of early modern western satire. It also serves as an exceptional introduction to the concept and use of argumentative language, lending itself well to secondary and post-secondary essay courses. Outside of the realm of English studies, A Modest Proposal is a relevant piece included in many comparative and global literature and history courses, as well as those of numerous other disciplines in the arts, humanities, and even the social sciences. The essay has been emulated many times. In his book A Modest Proposal (1984), evangelical author Frank Schaeffer emulated Swift's work in social conservative polemic against abortion and euthanasia in a future dystopia that advocated recycling of aborted embryos and fetuses, as well as some disabled infants with compound intellectual, physical and physiological difficulties. (Such Baby Doe Rules cases were then a major concern of the pro-life movement of the early 1980s, which viewed selective treatment of those infants as disability discrimination.) Hunter S. Thompson's Fear and Loathing in America: The Brutal Odyssey of an Outlaw Journalist, which contains hundreds of private letters written by Thompson over the years, contains a letter in which he uses A Modest Proposal's satire technique against the Vietnam War. Thompson writes a letter to a local Aspen newspaper informing them that, on Christmas Eve, he was going to use napalm to burn a number of dogs and hopefully any humans they find. This letter protests the burning of Vietnamese people occurring overseas. In popular culture The game Orphan Feast on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim website is loosely based on A Modest Proposal. The Sealab 2021 character Jodene Sparks references A Modest Proposal when trying to convince Debbie DuPree to eat her own baby.[22] A Modest Proposal is the name of The University of Texas at Dallas' Alternative Student Newspaper, the monthly opinion paper of the University; it was also the name of a regular column in SWIFT Magazine of Harvard University, a satire publication that also takes its name from Jonathan Swift. A Modest Proposal is mentioned in the 1996 film The Birdcage. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre writer/creator Kim Henkel cited "A Modest Proposal" as an influence in scripting his 2012 horror film "Boneboys," directed by Duane Graves and Justin Meeks.[23] Controversial American political activist and disbarred attorney Jack Thompson's A Modest Video Game Proposal draws its title from A Modest Proposal. On the December 13, 2010 episode of The Colbert Report, Stephen reads a passage of A Modest Proposal in support of Ted Turner's suggestions on reducing overpopulation by having poor people sell (to rich people) their right to bear a single child per family. Notes 1.^ a b"A Modest Proposal, by Dr. Jonathan Swift". Project Gutenberg. July 27, 2008. Retrieved January 10, 2012. 2.^"From cradle to crock pot". Sydney Morning Herald. October 13, 2010. Retrieved January 10, 2012. 3.^ Wittkowsky, Swift’s Modest Proposal, p76 4.^ a b Wittkowsky, Swift’s Modest Proposal, p85 5.^ Wittkowsky, Swift’s Modest Proposal, p88 6.^ Wittkowsky, Swift’s Modest Proposal, p101 7.^ a b Wittkowsky, Swift’s Modest Proposal, p95 8.^ Wittkowsky, Swift’s Modest Proposal, p98 9.^ Smith, Toward a Participatory Rhetoric, p. 135 10.^ a b Smith, Toward a Participatory Rhetoric, p. 136 11.^ a b Smith, Toward a Participatory Rhetoric, p. 138 12.^ a b Smith, Toward a Participatory Rhetoric, p. 139 13.^ a b c Johnson, Tertullian and A Modest Proposal, p563 14.^ Johnson, Tertullian and A Modest Proposal, p562 15.^ Baker, Tertullian and Swift's A Modest Proposal, p219 16.^ Waters, Juliet (February 19, 2009). "A modest but failed proposal". Montreal Mirror. Retrieved January 10, 2012. 17.^ a b Phiddian, Have You Eaten Yet?, p6 18.^ Phiddian, Have You Eaten Yet?, p3 19.^ Phiddian, Have You Eaten Yet?, p4 20.^ Landa, A Modest Proposal and Populousness, p161 21.^ a b c d Landa, A Modest Proposal and Populousness, p165 22.^ "Chickmate". Sealab 2021. Season 1. September 2, 2001. Adult Swim. 23.^ O'Connell, Joe (November 26, 2010). The Dallas Morning News "'Boneboys' cannibal comedy traces roots back to 'Texas Chain Saw Massacre'". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved January 10, 2012. References Baker, Donald C (1957), "Tertullian and Swift's A Modest Proposal", The Classical Journal Read more: #ixzz2UOuyBDsO