and they have not a dreary commitment to mean ambitions or love of comfort.

他们既不追逐卑鄙的名利，也不贪图生活的舒适。

Some old people are oppressed by the fear of death.

有些老年人因为怕死而感到烦恼。

It is possible that upon such an occasion a battle ensued, with the sharks being driven away or killed.

双方可能随之发生搏斗，搏斗结果是海豚赶走或咬死鲨鱼。

the bottle, the box, and the jar are almost always granted them.

结果就是把瓶药、盒药、罐药开给看病的人而完事大吉。

in fact they did nothing of the kind,

实际上那是根本不行的。

and are capable of a considerable degree of personal affection.

而且会对主人产生相当深厚的私人感情。