第三冊(cè)第14篇：致切斯特菲爾德伯爵書(shū)

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To The Right Honourable The Earl Of Chesterfield 7th February, 1755

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.

新近從《世界報(bào)》業(yè)主處獲悉，有兩篇文章是大人閣下所寫(xiě)，此兩文把我的辭典介紹給了公眾。如此出眾，實(shí)是一種榮耀。因?yàn)閷?duì)來(lái)自大人物的恩惠很不習(xí)慣，我真不知道如何承受這種榮耀，或以何種方式來(lái)感激。

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.

當(dāng)初，受到些許的鼓勵(lì)，我首次去拜訪大人時(shí)，像其他人一樣，我被您談吐的魅力所傾倒，不禁希望我可以吹噓我自己是“世界征服者的征服者”。我的自尊與羞怯都不讓我繼續(xù)這種拜訪。當(dāng)我曾在公眾面前對(duì)您致意時(shí)，我是盡我一個(gè)與事無(wú)征、不善阿諛?lè)畛械膶W(xué)者所能具有的所有方式讓人愉快。我已經(jīng)做了我所能做到的一切，而他的一切努力被忽視了。哪怕是一點(diǎn)點(diǎn)的忽視，也是沒(méi)有人會(huì)感到高興的。

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.

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

伯爵大人，自從我在您的外廳等候，或者說(shuō)，被拒之于您的門(mén)外，已過(guò)去7年了。這7年中我含辛茹苦地進(jìn)行著我的工作。現(xiàn)在去抱怨這些已無(wú)用了。最終，我的辭典出版在即，沒(méi)有一個(gè)援助之舉動(dòng)，沒(méi)有一句鼓勵(lì)之話語(yǔ)，沒(méi)有一絲贊許之微笑。這樣的待遇我未曾盼望過(guò)，因?yàn)槲乙郧皬奈从羞^(guò)保護(hù)人。維吉爾筆下的牧童終認(rèn)識(shí)了愛(ài)神，發(fā)現(xiàn)他不過(guò)是個(gè)荒山野嶺中的野蠻人。

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.

伯爵大人，這樣的人不應(yīng)算是一個(gè)保護(hù)者吧?他看著一個(gè)人在水中爭(zhēng)扎求生而無(wú)動(dòng)于衷，可是，當(dāng)那人上岸后卻以援助礙事，承蒙您關(guān)注到我的勞作。如果這種關(guān)注來(lái)得早一點(diǎn)，那會(huì)是善意的;但它耽延了，直到我已淡漠無(wú)興，不能消受了，直到我孤獨(dú)一身，不能分享了，直到我功成名就，不需要它了。我沒(méi)有接受恩惠，就不承情。上蒼使我獨(dú)自完成事業(yè)，我不愿公眾認(rèn)為我應(yīng)感激一個(gè)保護(hù)人，我希望這不是客薄寡情吧!

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,

既已在無(wú)保護(hù)人之援的情況下把我的工作進(jìn)行到這一步，我不會(huì)感到失望的，雖然我要最后完結(jié)我的工作，如果無(wú)任何可能的援助，那就在無(wú)援的情況下去完結(jié)它吧，因?yàn)槲以缫褟哪欠N希望之夢(mèng)中清醒。伯爵大人，我曾極其興奮地自夸我自己是您最恭謙最忠順的仆人.

Samuel Johnson

薩姆·約翰遜