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