第三册第14篇：致切斯特菲尔德伯爵书

14. Letter to Lord Chesterfield 致切斯特菲尔德伯爵书

To The Right Honourable¹ The Earl Of Chesterfield 7th February, 1755

My Lord,
伯爵大人：

I have been lately informed, by the proprietor² of The World, that two papers, in which my Dictionary is recommended to the public, were written by your lordship. To be so distinguished³ 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.
新近从《世界报》业主处获悉，有两篇文章是大人阁下所写，此两文把我的辞典介绍给了公众。如此出众，实是一种荣耀。因为对来自大人物的恩惠很不习惯，我真不知道如何承受这种荣耀，或以何种方式来感激。

When, upon some slight encouragement, I first visited your lordship, I was overpowered, like the rest of mankind, by the enchantment⁴ 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 modesty⁵ would suffer me to continue it. When I had once addressed your Lordship in public, I had exhausted⁶ all the art of pleasing which a retired⁷ 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.
当初，受到些许的鼓励，我首次去拜访大人时，像其他人一样，我被您谈吐的魅力所倾倒，不禁希望我可以吹嘘我自己是“世界征服者的征服者”。我的自尊与羞怯都不让我继续这种拜访。当我曾在公众面前对您致意时，我是尽我一个与事无征、不善阿谀奉承的学者所能具有的所有方式让人愉快。我已经做了我所能做到的一切，而他的一切努力被忽视了。哪怕是一点点的忽视，也是没有人会感到高兴的。

Seven years, my lord, have now passed, since I waited in your outward rooms, or was repulsed⁸ 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 verge⁹ 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，自从我在您的外厅等候，或者说，被拒之于您的门外，已过去7年了。这7年中我含辛茹苦地进行着我的工作。现在去抱怨这些已无用了。最终，我的辞典出版在即，没有一个援助之举动，没有一句鼓励之话语，没有一丝赞许之微笑。这样的待遇我未曾盼望过，因为我以前从未有过保护人。维吉尔笔下的牧童终认识了爱神，发现他不过是个荒山野岭中的野蛮人。

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, encumbers¹⁰ 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 solitary¹¹, and cannot impart it; till I am known, and do not want it. I hope it is no very cynical¹² asperity¹³ not to confess obligations where no benefit has been received, or to be unwilling¹⁴ that the public should consider me as owing that to a patron, which Providence¹⁵ has enabled me to do for myself.
伯爵大人，这样的人不应算是一个保护者吧？他看着一个人在水中争扎求生而无动于衷，可是，当那人上岸后却以援助碍事，承蒙您关注到我的劳作。如果这种关注来得早一点，那会是善意的；但它耽延了，直到我已淡漠无兴，不能消受了，直到我孤独一身，不能分享了，直到我功成名就，不需要它了。我没有接受恩惠，就不承情。上苍使我独自完成事业，我不愿公众认为我应感激一个保护人，我希望这不是客薄寡情吧！

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 exultation¹⁶, my Lord,your lordship's most humble,most obedient servant,
既已在无保护人之援的情况下把我的工作进行到这一步，我不会感到失望的，虽然我要最后完结我的工作，如果无任何可能的援助，那就在无援的情况下去完结它吧，因为我早已从那种希望之梦中清醒。伯爵大人，我曾极其兴奋地自夸我自己是您最恭谦最忠顺的仆人.

Samuel Johnson
萨姆·约翰逊

1 honourable   

adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的

参考例句：

• I don't think I am worthy of such an honourable title.这样的光荣称号，我可担当不起。
• I hope to find an honourable way of settling difficulties.我希望设法找到一个体面的办法以摆脱困境。

2 proprietor   

n.所有人；业主；经营者

参考例句：

• The proprietor was an old acquaintance of his.业主是他的一位旧相识。
• The proprietor of the corner grocery was a strange thing in my life.拐角杂货店店主是我生活中的一个怪物。

3 distinguished   

adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的

参考例句：

• Elephants are distinguished from other animals by their long noses.大象以其长长的鼻子显示出与其他动物的不同。
• A banquet was given in honor of the distinguished guests.宴会是为了向贵宾们致敬而举行的。

4 enchantment   

n.迷惑，妖术，魅力

参考例句：

• The beauty of the scene filled us with enchantment.风景的秀丽令我们陶醉。
• The countryside lay as under some dread enchantment.乡村好像躺在某种可怖的魔法之下。

5 modesty   

n.谦逊，虚心，端庄，稳重，羞怯，朴素

参考例句：

• Industry and modesty are the chief factors of his success.勤奋和谦虚是他成功的主要因素。
• As conceit makes one lag behind,so modesty helps one make progress.骄傲使人落后，谦虚使人进步。

6 exhausted   

adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的

参考例句：

• It was a long haul home and we arrived exhausted.搬运回家的这段路程特别长，到家时我们已筋疲力尽。
• Jenny was exhausted by the hustle of city life.珍妮被城市生活的忙乱弄得筋疲力尽。

7 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

8 repulsed   

v.击退( repulse的过去式和过去分词 )；驳斥；拒绝

参考例句：

• I was repulsed by the horrible smell. 这种可怕的气味让我恶心。
• At the first brush,the enemy was repulsed. 敌人在第一次交火时就被击退了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 verge   

n.边，边缘；v.接近，濒临

参考例句：

• The country's economy is on the verge of collapse.国家的经济已到了崩溃的边缘。
• She was on the verge of bursting into tears.她快要哭出来了。

10 encumbers   

v.妨碍，阻碍，拖累( encumber的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

11 solitary   

adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士

参考例句：

• I am rather fond of a solitary stroll in the country.我颇喜欢在乡间独自徜徉。
• The castle rises in solitary splendour on the fringe of the desert.这座城堡巍然耸立在沙漠的边际，显得十分壮美。

12 cynical   

adj.(对人性或动机)怀疑的，不信世道向善的

参考例句：

• The enormous difficulty makes him cynical about the feasibility of the idea.由于困难很大，他对这个主意是否可行持怀疑态度。
• He was cynical that any good could come of democracy.他不相信民主会带来什么好处。

13 asperity   

n.粗鲁，艰苦

参考例句：

• He spoke to the boy with asperity.他严厉地对那男孩讲话。
• The asperity of the winter had everybody yearning for spring.严冬之苦让每个人都渴望春天。

14 unwilling   

adj.不情愿的

参考例句：

• The natives were unwilling to be bent by colonial power.土著居民不愿受殖民势力的摆布。
• His tightfisted employer was unwilling to give him a raise.他那吝啬的雇主不肯给他加薪。

15 providence   

n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝

参考例句：

• It is tempting Providence to go in that old boat.乘那艘旧船前往是冒大险。
• To act as you have done is to fly in the face of Providence.照你的所作所为那样去行事，是违背上帝的意志的。

16 exultation   

n.狂喜，得意

参考例句：

• It made him catch his breath, it lit his face with exultation. 听了这个名字，他屏住呼吸，乐得脸上放光。
• He could get up no exultation that was really worthy the name. 他一点都激动不起来。