溫故而知新，可以為師矣。

【例句11】中英文語句結構不同，有些語句需要從後向前處理。

46.A vote given in accordance with the terms of an instrument of proxy or of a power of attorney is valid notwithstanding the previous death or unsoundness of mind of the principal, the revocation of the instrument (or of the authority under which the instrument was executed) or of the power, or the transfer of the share in respect of which the instrument or power is given, if no intimation in writing of the death, unsoundness of mind, revocation or transfer has been received by the Company at the registered office or at such other place as is specified for that purpose in the notice convening the meeting before commencement of the meeting or adjourned meeting at which the instrument is used or the power is exercised.

【要點解析】

中英文語句結構不同，英文法律文件尤其如此。我們首先通讀整段文字，理解大意，然後用符合國文句法的文字，把原文的意思準確表述出來。上面的例句就需要我們從後向前處理語句。

這段文字可以分成三個意群。

第一個意群是A vote given in accordance with the terms of an instrument of proxy or of a power of attorney is valid。這句話是主句，主語vote後面有一個較長的分詞短語given in accordance with the terms of an instrument of proxy or of a power of attorney。instrument of proxy和power of attorney都是授權委託書的意思。instrument of proxy側重授權他人代表本人在公司股東大會、董事會會議上投票。下面列出《元照英美法詞典》和《布萊克法律詞典》的解釋供大家參考：

power of attorney(pl.powers of attorney)

Black’s Law Dictionary (Eighth Edition):①An instrument granting someone authority to act as agent or attorney-in-fact for the grantor. An ordinary power of attorney is revocable and automatically terminates upon the death or incapacity of the principal. Also termed letter of attorney. ②The authority so granted, specifically, the legal ability to produce a change in legal relations by doing whatever acts are authorized.

《元照英美法詞典》：授權書；委託書。一種書面文件，本人〔principal〕以此指定他人為代理人，授權其為本人利益從事某類行為或某一特定行為。它可以是單方面出具的法律文件〔deed poll〕，也可以是其他法律文件(如契約或協議)的組成部分。其授權可以是總括性的〔general or full〕，也可以是特定的〔special or limited〕。授權委託書產生代理關係，而所涉財產的所有權仍由授權人享有。代理人如為「非法律代理人」〔attorney in fact〕，則本人死亡時，代理權亦即依法終止。亦作「letter of attorney」或「warrant of attorney」。

proxy

Black’s Law Dictionary (Eighth Edition):①One who is authorized to act as a substitute for another; esp., in corporate law, a person who is authorized to vote another’s stock shares. ②The grant of authority by which a person is so authorized. ③The document granting this authority.

《元照英美法詞典》：

(1)代理人；代表

尤用於公司法中，指由公司股東授予權利，代表其參加公司會議並投票的人。

(2)授權

(3)授權委託書；代理委託書

第二個意群是notwithstanding the previous death or unsoundness of mind of the principal, the revocation of the instrument (or of the authority under which the instrument was executed) or of the power, or the transfer of the share in respect of which the instrument or power is given。

介詞notwithstanding引導的名詞短語表示讓步關係，可以譯成“即便”、“即使”、“縱使”等。參見布萊克法律詞典對它的解釋：

Black’s Law Dictionary (eighth edition):

notwithstanding prep.Despite; in spite of <notwithstanding the conditions listed above, the landlord can terminate the lease if the tenant defaults>.

這些名詞短語用並列連詞or連接起來，表示它們屬於同一層次的情況，即委託人已經死亡或心智不健全；委託書（或簽署委託書的許可權）或者授權書被撤銷；簽發的委託書或授權書關涉的股份被轉讓。

第三個意群是if no intimation in writing of the death, unsoundness of mind, revocation or transfer has been received by the Company at the registered office or at such other place as is specified for that purpose in the notice convening the meeting before commencement of the meeting or adjourned meeting at which the instrument is used or the power is exercised.

連詞if引導了一個條件狀語從句。主語是intimation in writing，介詞短語of the death, unsoundness of mind, revocation or transfer作它的定語。has been received是謂語。by the Company是表示施動者的狀語。

後面的定語很長，at the registered office or at such other place as is specified for that purpose in the notice convening the meeting是表示地點的定語。before commencement of the meeting or adjourned meeting at which the instrument is used or the power is exercised是表示時間的定語。

intimation比較特別，其實就是“通知”的意思。參見《元照英美法詞典》：

intimation

(1)訴訟通知

(羅馬法)告知一方當事人已申請或將申請進行某一法律程式或步驟的通知。尤指上訴方提交給對方的、告知其上級法院將審理上訴的通知。

(2)通知書

〈蘇格蘭〉公證員作成的、通知一方當事人第三人已取得某項權利的書據。如債權人將其債權轉讓給他人時，受讓人必須以通知書通知債務人。

注意不要混淆intimation和intimidation。

《元照英美法詞典》：intimidation[ɪnˌtɪməˈdeɪʃən] 脅迫；威脅；恐嚇

通常指採用威脅或暴力手段迫使他人做某事或阻止其行使權利的侵權行為或犯罪行為。即加害人故意使被害人陷入即將受到人身傷害的恐懼，這種恐懼不是因受害人膽小所致，但也不必達到使受害人陷入驚懼、恐慌或歇斯底里的程度。也指被脅迫的狀態。在英國，1964年魯克斯訴巴納德〔Rookes v.Barnard〕一案確定脅迫為侵權行為。

根據對上面三個意群的簡析，我們可以看出這段文字表示，只要滿足連詞if後面引導的條件，即使發生介詞notwithstanding引導的情況，主句表示的情況仍然成立，也就是投票仍然有效。

【參考譯文】

即使在表決前委託人已經死亡或者心智不健全、委託書（或簽署委託書的許可權）或者授權書被撤銷、或者簽發的委託書或授權書關涉的股份被轉讓，只要使用委託書或行使授權的會議或延期舉行的會議開始以前，本公司沒有在註冊辦公地或者召集會議的通知中為此指定的其他地點收到關於委託人死亡或心智不健全、委託書或授權書被撤銷或者股份被轉讓的書面通知，根據委託書或授權書作出的表決就是有效表決。