塞謬爾約翰遜致切斯特菲爾德的信
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Samuel Johnson
TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE EARL
OF CHESTERFIELD.
February 7. 1755.
MY LORD,
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.
When, upon some slight encouragement, 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.
Seven years, my lord, have now past, 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.
The shepherd in Virgil grew at last acquainted with Love, and found him a native of the rocks.
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.
Having carried on my work thus far 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
February 7. 1755.
辜正坤先生白話體譯文
伯爵大人：
近日從《世界報》館主得知，該報刊載了兩篇文章，對拙編詞典頗多舉薦濫美之詞，這些文章據悉均出自閣下您的手筆。承蒙您如此的推崇，本應是一種榮耀，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受這份榮耀，也不知道該用些什么言辭來聊表謝意。
回想當年，也不知哪來的勇氣，我竟第一次拜訪了大人閣下。我像所有的人一樣，深為大人的言談豐采所傾倒，不禁玄想他年能口出大言“吾乃天下征服者之征服者也。”——雖知此殊榮是舉世學人所欲得，仍希望有朝一日能僥幸獲取。然而我很快發現自己的趨走逢迎根本沒有得到鼓勵。不管是出于自尊也好，自矜也好，我反正無法再周旋下去。我本是一個與世無爭、不善逢迎的書生，但那時我也曾用盡平生所學的阿諛奉承的言辭，當眾贊美過閣下。能做的一切我都做了。如果一個人在這方面付出的一切努力（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。
大人閣下，從我第一次候立于貴府門下，或者說被您拒于門外時算起，已經7年過去。7年多來，我一直苦苦地撐持著我的編撰工作。這些苦楚，現在再來傾訴，已經沒有用處。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贊助的行為，一句鼓勵的話語，一抹稱許的微笑。我固然不曾指望這樣的禮遇，因為我從未有過一位贊助人。
維吉爾筆下的牧童最后終于和愛神相識，這才發現所謂愛神只不過是巖穴土人而已。
大人閣下，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，莫非這就叫贊助人么？大人而今忽有雅興來關照在下的勞作，這原本是一樁美意，只可惜太遲了一點。遲到我已經意懶心灰，再無法快樂地消受；遲到我已經是孤身一人，無從與家人分享；遲到我已經名聞海內，再不需閣下附麗張揚。我既然本來就沒有得到過實惠，自然母需懷感恩之心；既然是上帝助我獨立完成這樁大業，我自然不愿讓公眾產生錯覺，似乎我曾受惠于某一贊助人。但愿上面這番話不致被認為太苛刻、太不近人情。
我已經在根本沒有所謂學術贊助人贊助的情況下使自己的工作完成到目前這個地步，那么，盡管我將要在更艱難無助的情況下—假如還有可能更艱難無助的話—完成全稿，我也絕不會感到沮喪。因為我已經早就從那個贊助的美夢里幡然猛醒；曾幾何時，我還在那夢中得意非凡地自詡是大人
您門下最卑微
最馴順的仆人
塞繆爾?約翰遜
1755年2月7日
本文標題：塞謬爾約翰遜致切斯特菲爾德的信 - 英語短文_英語美文_英文美文TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE EARL
OF CHESTERFIELD.
February 7. 1755.
MY LORD,
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.
When, upon some slight encouragement, 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.
Seven years, my lord, have now past, 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.
The shepherd in Virgil grew at last acquainted with Love, and found him a native of the rocks.
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.
Having carried on my work thus far 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
February 7. 1755.
辜正坤先生白話體譯文
伯爵大人：
近日從《世界報》館主得知，該報刊載了兩篇文章，對拙編詞典頗多舉薦濫美之詞，這些文章據悉均出自閣下您的手筆。承蒙您如此的推崇，本應是一種榮耀，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受這份榮耀，也不知道該用些什么言辭來聊表謝意。
回想當年，也不知哪來的勇氣，我竟第一次拜訪了大人閣下。我像所有的人一樣，深為大人的言談豐采所傾倒，不禁玄想他年能口出大言“吾乃天下征服者之征服者也。”——雖知此殊榮是舉世學人所欲得，仍希望有朝一日能僥幸獲取。然而我很快發現自己的趨走逢迎根本沒有得到鼓勵。不管是出于自尊也好，自矜也好，我反正無法再周旋下去。我本是一個與世無爭、不善逢迎的書生，但那時我也曾用盡平生所學的阿諛奉承的言辭，當眾贊美過閣下。能做的一切我都做了。如果一個人在這方面付出的一切努力（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。
大人閣下，從我第一次候立于貴府門下，或者說被您拒于門外時算起，已經7年過去。7年多來，我一直苦苦地撐持著我的編撰工作。這些苦楚，現在再來傾訴，已經沒有用處。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贊助的行為，一句鼓勵的話語，一抹稱許的微笑。我固然不曾指望這樣的禮遇，因為我從未有過一位贊助人。
維吉爾筆下的牧童最后終于和愛神相識，這才發現所謂愛神只不過是巖穴土人而已。
大人閣下，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，莫非這就叫贊助人么？大人而今忽有雅興來關照在下的勞作，這原本是一樁美意，只可惜太遲了一點。遲到我已經意懶心灰，再無法快樂地消受；遲到我已經是孤身一人，無從與家人分享；遲到我已經名聞海內，再不需閣下附麗張揚。我既然本來就沒有得到過實惠，自然母需懷感恩之心；既然是上帝助我獨立完成這樁大業，我自然不愿讓公眾產生錯覺，似乎我曾受惠于某一贊助人。但愿上面這番話不致被認為太苛刻、太不近人情。
我已經在根本沒有所謂學術贊助人贊助的情況下使自己的工作完成到目前這個地步，那么，盡管我將要在更艱難無助的情況下—假如還有可能更艱難無助的話—完成全稿，我也絕不會感到沮喪。因為我已經早就從那個贊助的美夢里幡然猛醒；曾幾何時，我還在那夢中得意非凡地自詡是大人
您門下最卑微
最馴順的仆人
塞繆爾?約翰遜
1755年2月7日
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