But the problem with Lincoln is indeed his ambiguity,

解读林肯的难题是其思想人格的多重性
the reality of his historical ambiguity.

他的历史真实性是模凌两可的
There is a puzzling dualism about him.

让人困惑的是他在人们心中有两种形象
There are two, at least two,

至少有两种有关亚拉伯罕·林肯的形象
seemingly incompatible legends, if you want, about Abraham Lincoln.

它们之间看上去相互矛盾
One has him as the kind of awkward, amiable, storytelling,

一种形容他笨拙和蔼爱讲故事
rail splitting, frontier folk hero,

劈木围栏的边疆民间英雄
everybody's favorite homespun,

一个所有人都喜爱的平凡形象
granddaddy with a corncob pipe,

抽着玉米穗轴烟斗的老爷爷
who might just tell you a little raunchy story,

他甚至会给你讲些荤段子
and have you chuckling; he's kind of fun.

逗你发笑可以说他很有意思
The other though is the towering political genius,

另外一个则形容他是伟大的政治天才