02 Samuel Johnson to Lord Chesterfield萨缪尔·约翰逊致切斯特菲尔德大人
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.
近日从《世界报》馆主得知，该报刊所载有关拙著词典之推荐文章二篇，均出自勋爵阁下手笔。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。
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.
回想当年，偶受他人怂恿，首次拜访大人阁下。我像所有的人一样，深为大人的言谈丰采所倾倒，不禁心生奢望有朝一日能口出大言“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皆不奏效。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——却终究不能取悦于你。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。
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.
伯爵大人，从我第一次候立于贵府门下，或者说被您拒于门外时算起，已经过去7年。7年多来，我一直苦苦地撑持着我的编撰工作。个中滋味，不说也罢。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。如此殊荣实出意料，因为我从来不曾得到过他人的赞助与恩惠。
The shepherd in Virgil grew at last acquainted with Love,and found him a native of the rocks.
维吉尔笔下的牧童最后终于和爱神相识，却发现所谓爱神竟是铁石心肠之人。
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，只可惜太迟了一点儿。迟到得我已经意懒心灰，再无法快乐地消受；迟到得我已经是孤身一人，无法与家人分享；迟到得我已经名闻海内，再不需阁下附丽张扬。我既然本来就没有得到过实惠，自然无须感恩；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。但愿这么说还不至于太尖酸刻薄。
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.
既然我的工作进行至今从未得到过学界任何资助，所以值此完工之际，也不会担心得到的资助变少（何来“变少”无从谈起），因为我早就已经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。
My Lord，
伯爵阁下
Your lordship's most humble，
Most obedient servant，
您最谦恭温顺的仆人
Sam.Johnson
萨缪尔·约翰逊
proprietor[prəˈpraɪətə（r）]n.所有人，业主
例 He was the sole proprietor with total management control.
他是唯一业主，掌握全部管理权。
distinguished[dɪˈstɪŋgwɪʃt]adj.著名的；卓越的
例 It seems such a pity that a distinguished and honored name should be commercialized in such a manner.
一个著名的、令人尊敬的名字被人用得如此商业化，似乎太让人遗憾了。
enchantment[ɪnˈtʃɑːntmənt]n.魅力；迷人之处
例 It was a place of deep mystery and enchantment.
这是一个极其神秘和迷人的地方。
retired[rɪˈtaɪəd]adj.与世隔绝的；遁世隐居的
例 The play starred a well-known retired actress who was intent on a come-back.
该剧由一名志在复出的著名隐退女演员主演。
uncourtly[ʌnˈkɔːtlɪ]adj.无礼的；不典雅的；不会奉承的
例 He is regarded by the royal family as uncourtly and misbehaved.
皇室认为他举止失当，行为无礼。
repulse[rɪˈpʌls]vt.击退；拒绝；驳斥；憎恶
例 I was repulsed by the horrible smell.
这种可怕的气味让我恶心。
verge[vɜːdʒ]n.边，边缘；界限
例 He was on the verge of tears.
他差点儿哭了出来。
patron[ˈpeɪtrən]n.赞助人，资助人
例 Frederick the Great was the patron of many artists.
腓特烈大帝是许多艺术家的赞助人。
encumber[ɪnˈkʌmbə（r）]v.妨碍；阻碍；拖累
例 The police operation was encumbered by crowds of reporters.
警方的行动被成群的记者所妨碍。
asperity[æˈsperəti]n.（尤指语言、态度）粗暴，严厉
例 I said,with some asperity,that that was no concern of mine.
我颇为粗暴地说，那跟我毫无关系。
obligation[ˌɒblɪˈgeɪʃn]n.债务；义务，责任
例 You are under no obligation to buy anything.
你不必非买什么东西不可。
①To be so distinguished is an honour which,being very little accustomed to favours from the great.
这个句子中有一个固定搭配“be accustomed to something/doing something”，意为“习惯于做某事”。
例 My father is accustomed to walking his dog every morning.
我的爸爸习惯了每天早上去遛狗。
②When,upon some slight encouragement,I first visited your lordship,I was overpowered,like the rest of mankind,by the enchantment of your address.
这个句子中“upon some slight encouragement”做原因状语，“upon+n.”为固定用法，表示“出于……原因”。
例 Upon great fear,he dared not to enter that dark cave.
因为极度害怕，他不敢进入那个黑漆漆的山洞。
③But I found my attendance so little encouraged,that neither pride nor modesty would suffer me to continue it.
这个句子中有一个固定用法“find+something+v.过去分词”，意为“发现某事被做”，也可将something替换为oneself，意为“发觉某人自己处于……状态”。
例 Five minutes later，I found myself lost in the city.
五分钟后，我发现自己在城市里迷路了。
④I had done all that I could.
这个句子中could后省略了do，原因是前面的“had done”出现了动词“do”，所以从句中为免累赘，省去了动词do。
例 Don’t worry,he will do all he can to help us.
别担心，他会尽他所能帮助我们的。
1.Enjoy your own life without comparing it with that of another.—Marquis de Condorcet,Philosopher
享受自己的生活，不要和别人比较。——马奎斯·孔多塞（哲学家）
2.The man who has made up his mind to win will never say“impossible”.—Bonapart Naploeon,French emperor
凡是决心取得胜利的人是从来不说“不可能的”。——拿破仑
3.I'm a slow walker,but I never walk back.
我走得不快，但决不走回头路。
4.The world breaks everyone,and afterward many are strong at the broken places.—Ernest Hemingway
这世界会打击每一个人，但经历过后，许多人会在受伤的地方变得更强大。——欧内斯特·海明威
5.Faith is what gets you started.Hope is what keeps you going.Love is what brings you to the end.—Mother Mary Angelica
信念使你启身，希望让你坚持，爱带你到达终点。——安琪拉卡修女
6.You got to put the past behind you before you can move on.—Forrest Gump
你只有忘记以往的事情，才能够继续前进。——《阿甘正传》
7.Difficult circumstances serve as a textbook of life for people.
困难坎坷是人们的生活教科书。
8.Better to light one candle than to curse the darkness.
与其诅咒黑暗，不如点亮蜡烛。
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