05 塞缪尔·约翰逊致切斯特菲尔德伯爵 Samuel Johnson to Lord Chesterfield
塞缪尔·约翰逊(Samuel Johnson)
名人档案
塞缪尔·约翰逊(1709—1784)，英国作家、文学评论家和诗人。约翰逊对英国文学和语言的贡献体现在其历经九年编成的《英语大辞典》(1755)上。除此以外，约翰逊的重要作品还包括长诗《伦敦》(1738)、《人类欲望的虚幻》(1749)、《阿比西尼亚王子》(1759)等。另外，他还编注了《莎士比亚集》(1765)。
简介与鉴赏
约翰逊博士写给切斯特菲尔德伯爵大人的这封信恐怕是其除《英语大辞典》外最知名的作品之一。尽管其初衷并非为了名垂文史，相反这封信只是对一位巴结攀附的伯爵义正辞严的拒绝，但却因其措辞的严厉、语言的考究，成为英文世界里信件和散文的模范样本之一，是历代英语学习者必备的学习材料。在信中，约翰逊回顾了在他默默无闻、渴望伯乐之时，在伯爵那里所受到的冷遇和侮辱，将之与如今来自伯爵的热情巴结相对比，揭露了伯爵无情、虚荣的丑恶嘴脸，彰显了知识分子的骨气。
整篇信件措辞讲究，既不失文字大师的风范，又不卑不亢，无损于知识分子的名誉与气节。在一针见血地指出伯爵的虚伪嘴脸时，约翰逊运用比喻，使其要求约翰逊承认受其资助的想法显得极为可笑和无耻：“有的人眼见落水者在水中拼命挣扎而无动于衷，等他安全抵岸之后，却才多余地伸出所谓援手，莫非这就叫赞助人吗？”
这封信在英语语言文学史中的意义在于，它以谨慎的、有节制的语言，表达了知识分子面对诱惑和无理要求时的气度和气节。同时它也是英语学习者了解高层次英语运用和英国文化的典型参考。
英文正文
My Lord,
I have been lately informed1, by the proprietor2of The World, that two papers, in which my Dictionary is recommended3to the public, were written by your lordship. To be so distinguished4, is an honour which, being very little accustomed5to favours6from the great, I know not well how to receive, or in what terms7to acknowledge8.
When, upon some slight9encouragement, I first visited your lordship, I was overpowered, like the rest of mankind, by the enchantment10of your address, and could not forbear11to wish that I might boast12myself Le vainqueur du vainqueur de la terre; that I might obtain that regard for which I saw the world contending13; but I found my attendance so little encouraged, that neither pride nor modesty would suffer me to continue it. When I had once addressed14your Lordship in public, I had exhausted all the art of pleasing which a retired and uncourtly15scholar 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 passed, since I waited in your outward rooms, or was repulsed16from 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 verge17of publication, without one act of assistance18, one word of encouragement, or one smile of favour. Such treatment I did not expect, for I never had a Patron19before.
The shepherd20in Virgil grew at last acquainted21with Love, and found him a native of the rocks.
Is not a Patron，my lord, one who looks with unconcern22on a man struggling for life in the water, and, when he has reached ground, encumbers23him 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 indifferent24, and cannot enjoy it; till I am solitary25, and cannot impart26it; till I am known, and do not want it. I hope it is no very cynical27asperity28, not to confess obligations29where no benefit has been received, or to be unwilling that the Public should consider me as owing that to30a 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 exultation31.
My Lord,
Your Lordship’s most humble,
Most obedient servant,
Sam. Johnson
February 7, 1755
经典语句
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 dif？ culties, 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.
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 bene？ t 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.
单词/词组
1 inform4vt. 通知；告诉；报告
2 proprietor6n. 业主；所有者；经营者
3 recommend4vt. 推荐，介绍；劝告
4 distinguished4adj. 著名的；高贵的
5 accustomed4adj. 习惯的；通常的；独有的
6 favour4n. 偏爱；赞同；善行
7 terms4n. [复数](有一定意义的)措辞，说法
8 acknowledge6vt. 承认；答谢；报偿；告知已收到
9 slight4adj. 细小的；不重要的
10 enchantment6n. 魅力；魔法；着迷；妖术
11 forbear8vt. 忍耐；克制
12 boast4vt. 夸口说；以有……而自豪
13 contend6vi.竞争；奋斗；斗争；争论
14 address6vt.(书面或口头)发言，讲话，致词；(尤指)正式演讲
15 uncourtly8adj.无礼的；不典雅的
16 repulse6vt. 拒绝；驱逐；憎恶
17 verge6n. 边缘
18 assistance4n. 援助，帮助
19 patron6n. 赞助人；保护人
20 shepherd4n. 牧羊人；指导者
21 acquainted6adj. 相识的；熟悉的
22 unconcern4n. 不关心；不感兴趣；冷淡
23 encumber8vt. 阻塞；妨害；拖累
24 indifferent4adj. 漠不关心的；无关紧要的；中性的，中立的
25 solitary6adj. 孤独的；独居的
26 impart6vt. 给予(尤指抽象事物)，传授；告知，透露
27 cynical6adj. 愤世嫉俗的；冷嘲的
28 asperity8n. (表面的)粗糙；(气候等的)严酷；艰苦的条件；(性格)粗暴
29 obligation6n. 义务；职责；债务
30 owe to4phr.归功于
31 exultation8n. 狂喜；得意
中文译文
伯爵大人：
近日从《世界报》馆主得知，该报刊载了两篇文章，对拙编词典颇多举荐滥美之词，这些文章据悉均出自阁下您的手笔。承蒙您如此的推崇，本应是一种荣耀，只可惜在下自来无缘得到王公大人的青睐，所以真不知道该如何来领受这份荣耀，也不知道该用些什么言辞来聊表谢意。
回想当年，也不知哪来的勇气，我竟第一次拜访了大人阁下。我像所有的人一样，深为大人的言谈风采所倾倒，不禁玄想他年能口出大言“吾乃天下征服者之征服者也。”——虽知此殊荣是举世学人所欲得，仍希望有朝一日能侥幸获取。然而我很快发现自己的趋走逢迎根本没有得到鼓励。不管是出于自尊也好，自矜也好，我反正无法再周旋下去。我本是一个与世无争、不善逢迎的书生，但那时我也曾用尽平生所学的阿谀奉承的言辞，当众赞美过阁下。能做的一切我都做了。如果一个人在这方面付出的一切努力(不管是多么微不足道)受到完全的忽视，他是绝不会感到舒服的。
大人阁下，从我第一次候立于贵府门下，或者说被您拒于门外时算起，已经七年过去。七年多来，我一直苦苦地撑持着我的编撰工作。这些苦楚，现在再来倾诉，已经没有用处。所幸我的劳作而今终于快要出版，在这之前我没有获得过一个赞助的行为、一句鼓励的话语、一抹称许的微笑。我固然不曾指望这样的礼遇，因为我从未有过一位赞助人。
维吉尔笔下的牧童最后终于和爱神相识，这才发现所谓爱神只不过是岩穴土人而已。
大人阁下，有的人眼见落水者在水中拼命挣扎而无动于衷，等他安全抵岸之后，却才多余地伸出所谓援手，莫非这就叫赞助人吗？大人而今忽有雅兴来关照在下的劳作，这原本是一桩美意，只可惜太迟了一点。迟到我已经意懒心灰，再无法快乐地消受；迟到我已经是孤身一人，无从与家人分享；迟到我已经名闻海内，再不需阁下附丽张扬。我既然本来就没有得到过实惠，自然毋需怀感恩之心；既然是上帝助我独立完成这桩大业，我自然不愿让公众产生错觉，似乎我曾受惠于某一赞助人。但愿上面这番话不致被认为太苛刻、太不近人情。
我已经在根本没有所谓学术赞助人赞助的情况下使自己的工作完成到目前这个地步，那么，尽管我将要在更艰难无助的情况下——假如还有可能更艰难无助的话——完成全稿，我也绝不会感到沮丧。因为我已经早就从那个赞助的美梦里幡然猛醒；曾几何时，我还在那梦中得意非凡地自诩是大人。
伯爵大人
您门下最卑微
最驯服的仆人
塞缪尔·约翰逊
1755年2月7日
