When the theme is circumscribed, as in his delightful sketches of George Ripley and Thoreau, or in his perceptive English Traits the product is far more satisfactory than in the unconfined essay.

• 如果题目的范围有限制，如关于乔治·里普利和梭罗的随笔和那本极有见地的《英国人的性格》，就远比无拘束的散文使人满意。