05 塞繆爾·約翰遜致切斯特菲爾德伯爵 Samuel Johnson to Lord Chesterfield

塞繆爾·約翰遜(Samuel Johnson)

名人檔案

塞繆爾·約翰遜(1709—1784)，英國作家、文學評論家和詩人。約翰遜對英國文學和語言的貢獻體現(xiàn)在其歷經(jīng)九年編成的《英語大辭典》(1755)上。除此以外，約翰遜的重要作品還包括長詩《倫敦》(1738)、《人類欲望的虛幻》(1749)、《阿比西尼亞王子》(1759)等。另外，他還編注了《莎士比亞集》(1765)。

簡介與鑒賞

約翰遜博士寫給切斯特菲爾德伯爵大人的這封信恐怕是其除《英語大辭典》外最知名的作品之一。盡管其初衷并非為了名垂文史，相反這封信只是對一位巴結攀附的伯爵義正辭嚴的拒絕，但卻因其措辭的嚴厲、語言的考究，成為英文世界里信件和散文的模范樣本之一，是歷代英語學習者必備的學習材料。在信中，約翰遜回顧了在他默默無聞、渴望伯樂之時，在伯爵那里所受到的冷遇和侮辱，將之與如今來自伯爵的熱情巴結相對比，揭露了伯爵無情、虛榮的丑惡嘴臉，彰顯了知識分子的骨氣。

整篇信件措辭講究，既不失文字大師的風范，又不卑不亢，無損于知識分子的名譽與氣節(jié)。在一針見血地指出伯爵的虛偽嘴臉時，約翰遜運用比喻，使其要求約翰遜承認受其資助的想法顯得極為可笑和無恥：“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，莫非這就叫贊助人嗎？”

這封信在英語語言文學史中的意義在于，它以謹慎的、有節(jié)制的語言，表達了知識分子面對誘惑和無理要求時的氣度和氣節(jié)。同時它也是英語學習者了解高層次英語運用和英國文化的典型參考。

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

經(jīng)典語句

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.

單詞/詞組

1 inform⁴vt. 通知；告訴；報告

2 proprietor⁶n. 業(yè)主；所有者；經(jīng)營者

3 recommend⁴vt. 推薦，介紹；勸告

4 distinguished⁴adj. 著名的；高貴的

5 accustomed⁴adj. 習慣的；通常的；獨有的

6 favour⁴n. 偏愛；贊同；善行

7 terms⁴n. [復數(shù)](有一定意義的)措辭，說法

8 acknowledge⁶vt. 承認；答謝；報償；告知已收到

9 slight⁴adj. 細小的；不重要的

10 enchantment⁶n. 魅力；魔法；著迷；妖術

11 forbear⁸vt. 忍耐；克制

12 boast⁴vt. 夸口說；以有……而自豪

13 contend⁶vi.競爭；奮斗；斗爭；爭論

14 address⁶vt.(書面或口頭)發(fā)言，講話，致詞；(尤指)正式演講

15 uncourtly⁸adj.無禮的；不典雅的

16 repulse⁶vt. 拒絕；驅逐；憎惡

17 verge⁶n. 邊緣

18 assistance⁴n. 援助，幫助

19 patron⁶n. 贊助人；保護人

20 shepherd⁴n. 牧羊人；指導者

21 acquainted⁶adj. 相識的；熟悉的

22 unconcern⁴n. 不關心；不感興趣；冷淡

23 encumber⁸vt. 阻塞；妨害；拖累

24 indifferent⁴adj. 漠不關心的；無關緊要的；中性的，中立的

25 solitary⁶adj. 孤獨的；獨居的

26 impart⁶vt. 給予(尤指抽象事物)，傳授；告知，透露

27 cynical⁶adj. 憤世嫉俗的；冷嘲的

28 asperity⁸n. (表面的)粗糙；(氣候等的)嚴酷；艱苦的條件；(性格)粗暴

29 obligation⁶n. 義務；職責；債務

30 owe to⁴phr.歸功于

31 exultation⁸n. 狂喜；得意

中文譯文

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?lián)ぞ鲎蚤w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，深為大人的言談風采所傾倒，不禁玄想他年能口出大言“吾乃天下征服者之征服者也?！薄m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(fā)現(xiàn)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(jīng)七年過去。七年多來，我一直苦苦地撐持著我的編撰工作。這些苦楚，現(xiàn)在再來傾訴，已經(jīng)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(fā)現(xiàn)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，莫非這就叫贊助人嗎？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(jīng)意懶心灰，再無法快樂地消受；遲到我已經(jīng)是孤身一人，無從與家人分享；遲到我已經(jīng)名聞海內(nèi)，再不需閣下附麗張揚。我既然本來就沒有得到過實惠，自然毋需懷感恩之心；既然是上帝助我獨立完成這樁大業(yè)，我自然不愿讓公眾產(chǎn)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(jīng)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(jīng)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。

伯爵大人

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塞繆爾·約翰遜

1755年2月7日