02 Samuel Johnson to Lord Chesterfield　薩繆爾·約翰遜致切斯特菲爾德大人

My Lord,

伯爵大人：

I have been lately informed, by the proprietor of The World, that two papers, in which my Dictionary is recommended to the public, were written by your lordship. To be so distinguished is an honour which, being very little accustomed to favours from the great, I know not well how to receive, or in what terms to acknowledge.

近日從《世界報(bào)》館主得知，該報(bào)刊所載有關(guān)拙著詞典之推薦文章二篇，均出自勛爵閣下手筆。承蒙您如此的推崇，本應(yīng)是一種榮耀，只可惜在下自來無緣得到王公大人的青睞，所以真不知道該如何來領(lǐng)受這份榮耀，也不知道該用些什么言辭來聊表謝意。

When, upon some slight encour-agement, I first visited your lordship, I was overpowered, like the rest of mankind, by the enchantment of your address, and could not forbear to wish that I might boast myself Le vainqueur du vainqueur de la terre；—that I might obtain that regard for which I saw the world contending; but I found my attendance so little encouraged, that neither pride nor modesty would suffer me to continue it. When I had once addressed your Lordship in public, I had exhausted all the art of pleasing which a retired and uncourtly scholar can possess. I had done all that I could; and no man is well pleased to have his all neglected, be it ever so little.

回想當(dāng)年，偶受他人慫恿，首次拜訪大人閣下。我像所有的人一樣，深為大人的言談豐采所傾倒，不禁心生奢望有朝一日能口出大言“吾乃天下征服者之征服者也。”——知此殊榮是舉世學(xué)人所欲得，仍希望有朝一日能僥幸獲取。然而我很快發(fā)現(xiàn)自己的趨走逢迎皆不奏效。不管是出于自尊也好，自矜也好，我反正無法再周旋下去。我本是一個(gè)與世無爭、不善逢迎的書生，但那時(shí)我也曾用盡平生所學(xué)的阿諛奉承的言辭，當(dāng)眾贊美過閣下——卻終究不能取悅于你。能做的一切我都做了。如果一個(gè)人在這方面付出的一切努力

Seven years, my lord, have now passed, since I waited in your outward rooms, or was repulsed from your door; during which time I have been pushing on my work through difficulties, of which it is useless to complain, and have brought it, at last, to the verge of publication, without one act of assistance, one word of encouragement, or one smile of favour. Such treatment I did not expect, for I never had a patron before.

（不管是多么微不足道）受到完全的忽視，他是絕不會感到舒服的。

The shepherd in Virgil grew at last acquainted with Love, and found him a native of the rocks.

伯爵大人，從我第一次候立于貴府門下，或者說被您拒于門外時(shí)算起，已經(jīng)過去7年。7年多來，我一直苦苦地?fù)纬种业木幾ぷ鳌€(gè)中滋味，不說也罷。所幸我的勞作而今終于快要出版，在這之前我沒有獲得過一個(gè)贊助的行為，一句鼓勵的話語，一抹稱許的微笑。如此殊榮實(shí)出意料，因?yàn)槲覐膩聿辉玫竭^他人的贊助與恩惠。

Is not a patron my lord, one who looks with unconcern on a man struggling for life in the water, and, when he has reached ground, encumbers him with help? The notice which you have been pleased to take of my labours, had it been early, had been kind; but it has been delayed till I am indifferent, and cannot enjoy it: till I am solitary, and cannot impart it; till I am known, and do not want it. I hope it is no very cynical asperity not to confess obligations where no benefit has been received, or to be unwilling that the public should consider me as owing that to a patron, which Providence has enabled me to do for myself.

維吉爾筆下的牧童最后終于和愛神相識，卻發(fā)現(xiàn)所謂愛神竟是鐵石心腸之人。

Having carried on my work thus far

伯爵閣下，有的人眼見落水者在水中拼命掙扎而無動于衷，等他安全抵岸之后，卻才多余地伸出所謂援手，莫非這就叫贊助人嗎？大人而今忽有雅興來關(guān)照在下的勞作，這原本是一樁美意，只可惜太遲了一點(diǎn)兒。遲到得我已經(jīng)意懶心灰，再無法快樂地消受；遲到得我已經(jīng)是孤身一人，無法與家人分享；遲到得我已經(jīng)名聞海內(nèi)，再不需閣下附麗張揚(yáng)。我既然本來就沒有得到過實(shí)惠，自然無須感恩；既然是上帝助我獨(dú)立完成這樁大業(yè)，我自然不愿讓公眾產(chǎn)生錯(cuò)覺，似乎我曾受惠于某一贊助人。但愿這么說還不至于太尖酸刻薄。

with so little obligation to any favourer of learning, I shall not be disappointed though I should conclude it, if less be possible, with less; for I have been long wakened from that dream of hope, in which I once boasted myself with so much exultation.

My Lord,

Your lordship’s most humble,

Most obedient servant,

Sam. Johnson

既然我的工作進(jìn)行至今從未得到過學(xué)界任何資助，所以值此完工之際，也不會擔(dān)心得到的資助變少（何來“變少”無從談起），因?yàn)槲以缇鸵呀?jīng)從那個(gè)贊助的美夢里幡然猛醒；曾幾何時(shí)，我還在那夢中得意非凡地自詡是大人。

伯爵閣下

您最謙恭溫順的仆人

薩繆爾·約翰遜

單詞解析 Word Analysis

proprietor[pr??pra??t?（r）]n.所有人，業(yè)主

例　He was the sole proprietor with total management control.

他是唯一業(yè)主，掌握全部管理權(quán)。

distinguished[d??st??gw??t]adj.著名的；卓越的

例　It seems such a pity that a distinguished and honored name should be commercialized in such a manner.

一個(gè)著名的、令人尊敬的名字被人用得如此商業(yè)化，似乎太讓人遺憾了。

enchantment[?n?t?ɑ?ntm?nt]n.魅力；迷人之處

例　It was a place of deep mystery and enchantment.

這是一個(gè)極其神秘和迷人的地方。

retired[r??ta??d]adj.與世隔絕的；遁世隱居的

例　The play starred a well-known retired actress who was intent on a come-back.

該劇由一名志在復(fù)出的著名隱退女演員主演。

uncourtly[?n?k??tl?]adj.無禮的；不典雅的；不會奉承的

例　He is regarded by the royal family as uncourtly and misbehaved.

皇室認(rèn)為他舉止失當(dāng)，行為無禮。

repulse[r??p?ls]vt.擊退；拒絕；駁斥；憎惡

例　I was repulsed by the horrible smell.

這種可怕的氣味讓我惡心。

verge[v??d?]n.邊，邊緣；界限

例　He was on the verge of tears.

他差點(diǎn)兒哭了出來。

patron[?pe?tr?n]n.贊助人，資助人

例　Frederick the Great was the patron of many artists.

腓特烈大帝是許多藝術(shù)家的贊助人。

encumber[?n?k?mb?（r）]v.妨礙；阻礙；拖累

例　The police operation was encumbered by crowds of reporters.

警方的行動被成群的記者所妨礙。

asperity[??sper?ti]n.（尤指語言、態(tài)度）粗暴，嚴(yán)厲

例　I said, with some asperity, that that was no concern of mine.

我頗為粗暴地說，那跟我毫無關(guān)系。

obligation[??bl??ge??n]n.債務(wù)；義務(wù)，責(zé)任

例　You are under no obligation to buy anything.

你不必非買什么東西不可。

語法知識點(diǎn) Grammar Points

①To be so distinguished is an honour which, being very little accustomed to favours from the great.

這個(gè)句子中有一個(gè)固定搭配“be accustomed to something/doing something”，意為“習(xí)慣于做某事”。

例　My father is accustomed to walking his dog every morning.

我的爸爸習(xí)慣了每天早上去遛狗。

②When, upon some slight encouragement, I first visited your lordship, I was overpowered, like the rest of mankind, by the enchantment of your address.

這個(gè)句子中“upon some slight encouragement”做原因狀語，“upon+n.”為固定用法，表示“出于……原因”。

例　Upon great fear, he dared not to enter that dark cave.

因?yàn)闃O度害怕，他不敢進(jìn)入那個(gè)黑漆漆的山洞。

③But I found my attendance so little encouraged, that neither pride nor modesty would suffer me to continue it.

這個(gè)句子中有一個(gè)固定用法“find+something+v.過去分詞”，意為“發(fā)現(xiàn)某事被做”，也可將something替換為oneself，意為“發(fā)覺某人自己處于……狀態(tài)”。

例　Five minutes later, I found myself lost in the city.

五分鐘后，我發(fā)現(xiàn)自己在城市里迷路了。

④I had done all that I could.

這個(gè)句子中could后省略了do，原因是前面的“had done”出現(xiàn)了動詞“do”，所以從句中為免累贅，省去了動詞do。

例　Don’t worry, he will do all he can to help us.

別擔(dān)心，他會盡他所能幫助我們的。

經(jīng)典名句 Famous Classics

1. Enjoy your own life without comparing it with that of another.—Marquis de Condorcet, Philosopher

享受自己的生活，不要和別人比較。——馬奎斯·孔多塞（哲學(xué)家）

2. The man who has made up his mind to win will never say “impossible”.—Bonapart Naploeon, French emperor

凡是決心取得勝利的人是從來不說“不可能的”。——拿破侖

3. I’m a slow walker, but I never walk back.

我走得不快，但決不走回頭路。

4. The world breaks everyone, and afterward many are strong at the broken places.—Ernest Hemingway

這世界會打擊每一個(gè)人，但經(jīng)歷過后，許多人會在受傷的地方變得更強(qiáng)大。——?dú)W內(nèi)斯特·海明威

5. Faith is what gets you started. Hope is what keeps you going. Love is what brings you to the end.—Mother Mary Angelica

信念使你啟身，希望讓你堅(jiān)持，愛帶你到達(dá)終點(diǎn)。——安琪拉卡修女

6. You got to put the past behind you before you can move on.—Forrest Gump

你只有忘記以往的事情，才能夠繼續(xù)前進(jìn)。——《阿甘正傳》

7.difficult circumstances serve as a textbook of life for people.

困難坎坷是人們的生活教科書。

8. Better to light one candle than to curse the darkness.

與其詛咒黑暗，不如點(diǎn)亮蠟燭。

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