萨克雷《名利场》：
But she had the dismal precocity of poverty.
其实贫穷的生活已经使她养成阴沉沉的脾气，比同年的孩子懂事得多。
原文：
By the side of many tall and bouncing young ladies in the establishment, Rebecca Sharp looked like a child. But she had the dismal precocity of poverty.Many a dun had she talked to, and turned away from her father's door; many a tradesman had she coaxed and wheedled into good-humour, and into the granting of one meal more.
利蓓加·夏泼在学校里许多又高又大、跳跳蹦蹦的同学旁边，好像还没有长大成人。其实贫穷的生活已经使她养成阴沉沉的脾气，比同年的孩子懂事得多。她常常和逼债的人打交道，想法子打发他们回去。她有本领甜言蜜语地哄得那些做买卖的回心转意，再让她赊一顿饭吃。
