英譯漢

我承認，撰寫我們民族自羅馬初期以來的歷史使我略懷惴惴之感，即使我對自己著作的價值頗有信心，也不敢貿然以此自詡。我知道，歷史學家自吹自擂／夸大其詞乃是常事，而且歷來是屢見不鮮。每一位撰寫歷史的史家／作家都會鄙薄以往學養不如自己的同行，沾沾自喜地認為自己會在（史書）風格上超過他們，或者會揭示前歌后舞史實。有關（這個民族的歷史）著作汗牛充棟，我的著作很可能淹（YAN）沒其中，無人在意，倘若如此，那只能是因為我的對手實在是卓而超群，才華橫溢，所以他們的大作才會使得拙著變得默默無聞，我必須藉此聊以自慰。

而且，我的寫作是極其艱辛的，必須上溯700余年，從最細的源頭一直探求到支脈縱橫交叉、幾乎難以詳述的近代。我發現研究古代歷史很有裨益，至少沉浸于遠古往事，我就能避而不見長期折磨著現代世界的諸多煩惱，并且能夠放手寫作，而不會像當代史作者／那些寫當代生活的作者那樣免不了會顧慮重重--即使此種顧慮尚不至于導致他們去掩蓋事實。

漢譯英

Shanghai men are said to be the best of husbands. They know how to win the favor of their wives and avoid conflicts so that happiness pervades their families. Shanghai men can be regarded as the symbol of social security and harmony. They are joyful whenever their wives are, thus filling the whole city of Shanghai with happiness.

Shanghai men are jokingly called hen-pecked husbands. However, they will never yield to their wives but remain silent or smile away the quarrels. And they will apologize without hesitation shortly after they lose their temper, which is a rarity. Finally, their wives find themselves complying with what their husbands say.

Shanghai men are smart and practical and even slippery, but what impresses most is that they are aggressive in their career and responsible to their families and respectful to females.