致切斯特菲尔德伯爵书 译文.doc

To Lord Chesterfield 致切斯特菲尔德伯爵书 By Samuel Johnson [英]约翰逊 February 7, 1755. 1755年2月7日 My Lord， 尊敬的阁下： 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. 日前蒙《世界》杂志业主相告，两篇向公众推荐我所编纂的词典的文章是出自阁下之手。受此推崇，甚感荣幸；我素来不太习惯贵人之惠，故不知如何承接阁下之恩，不知以何言辞向阁下致谢。 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 process. 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，受他人所励，我初次拜访阁下，如芸芸众人所感，为阁下言辞之魅力所折服；不禁自诩为“世界征服者的征服者，虽亲眼目睹世人为得见阁下尊容而相争，我也期望能得阁下之关切；不料拜谒之际，并为得到丝毫鼓励，自惭自尊之感顿生，断无胆气再睹阁下之容。 Seven years, my Lord, have now past, 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. 尊敬的阁下，自当日候于府上外室，被拒于阁下门前而不得入，七年已逝。在此期间，我为事业颠沛潦倒，艰难竭蹶，困苦之时仍无牢骚满腹，终拨云见日，呕心之作得以出版。然于困顿始终，未得丝毫援手，未闻半句鼓励之词，未见半丝赞赏之笑。受此对待，我始料未及；追溯缘由，即先前不得赞助之故。 The shepherd in Virgil grew at last acquainted with unconcern on a man struggle for life in the water, and when he has reached g