（原 文）

Though fond of many acquaintances， I desire an intimacy only with a few. The Man in Black， whom I have often mentioned， is one whose friendship I could wish to acquire， because he possesses my esteem. His manners， it is true， are tinctured with some strange inconsistencies， and he may be justly termed a humorist in a nation of humorists. Though he is generous even to profusion， he affects to be thought a prodigy of parsimony and prudence； though his conversation be replete with the most sordid and selfish maxims， his heart is dilated with the most unbounded love. I have known him profess himself a man-hater， while his cheek was glowing with compassion； and， while his looks were softened into pity， I have heard him use the language of the most unbounded ill-nature. Some affect humanity and tenderness， others boast of having such dispositions from Nature； but he is the only man I ever knew who seemed ashamed of his natural benevolence. He takes as much pains to hide his feelings， as any hypocrite would to conceal his indifference； but on every unguarded moment the mask drops off， and reveals him to the most superficial observer.

（译 文）

尽管我喜欢广交朋友，但我只愿与为数不多的几人成为至交。我所提及的那位黑衣男士，就是那样一个我希冀与其成为莫逆之交的人，因为他深得我的景仰。诚然，其行为举止不乏某些怪异的出尔反尔，他全然可被称为幽默家王国中的幽默大师。虽然他慷慨大方，乃至奢靡无度，但他仍假惺惺地希望人们将其视作节俭与审慎之奇才。尽管其言谈之中满是污秽和自私的格言，其内心却充盈着最博大无际的爱心。据我所知，他常宣称自己是人类憎恶者；然而，他的脸庞上却总漾溢着怜悯之情。虽然其神情会柔化为一片慈悲，我却听到过他使用最为恶劣的言辞，其恶劣程度可谓无以复加。有些人佯装人道与柔情，也有一些人则夸耀说这样的秉性乃天性使然。但在我所有认识的人当中，唯有他似乎羞耻于其与生俱有的慈悲之心。他会竭力掩饰其真情，一如任何一个伪君子会掩饰其冷漠那样。然则，在每一个毫无防范的瞬间，那戴着的假面具便会脱落下来，使其毕露于哪怕是最为肤浅的观察者。