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(guó)作家、文學(xué)評(píng)論家和詩(shī)人。約翰遜對(duì)英國(guó)文學(xué)和語(yǔ)言的貢獻(xiàn)體現(xiàn)在其歷經(jīng)九年編成的《英語(yǔ)大辭典》(1755)上。除此以外，約翰遜的重要作品還包括長(zhǎng)詩(shī)《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(jiǎn)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(yǔ)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(duì)一位巴結(jié)攀附的伯爵義正辭嚴(yán)的拒絕，但卻因其措辭的嚴(yán)厲、語(yǔ)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(yǔ)學(xué)習(xí)者必備的學(xué)習(xí)材料。在信中，約翰遜回顧了在他默默無(wú)聞、渴望伯樂(lè)之時(shí)，在伯爵那里所受到的冷遇和侮辱，將之與如今來(lái)自伯爵的熱情巴結(jié)相對(duì)比，揭露了伯爵無(wú)情、虛榮的丑惡嘴臉，彰顯了知識(shí)分子的骨氣。
整篇信件措辭講究，既不失文字大師的風(fēng)范，又不卑不亢，無(wú)損于知識(shí)分子的名譽(yù)與氣節(jié)。在一針見血地指出伯爵的虛偽嘴臉時(shí)，約翰遜運(yùn)用比喻，使其要求約翰遜承認(rèn)受其資助的想法顯得極為可笑和無(wú)恥：“有的人眼見落水者在水中拼命掙扎而無(wú)動(dòng)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(yǔ)語(yǔ)言文學(xué)史中的意義在于，它以謹(jǐn)慎的、有節(jié)制的語(yǔ)言，表達(dá)了知識(shí)分子面對(duì)誘惑和無(wú)理要求時(shí)的氣度和氣節(jié)。同時(shí)它也是英語(yǔ)學(xué)習(xí)者了解高層次英語(yǔ)運(yùn)用和英國(guó)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(yǔ)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(bào)告
2 proprietor6n. 業(yè)主；所有者；經(jīng)營(yíng)者
3 recommend4vt. 推薦，介紹；勸告
4 distinguished4adj. 著名的；高貴的
5 accustomed4adj. 習(xí)慣的；通常的；獨(dú)有的
6 favour4n. 偏愛(ài)；贊同；善行
7 terms4n. [復(fù)數(shù)](有一定意義的)措辭，說(shuō)法
8 acknowledge6vt. 承認(rèn)；答謝；報(bào)償；告知已收到
9 slight4adj. 細(xì)小的；不重要的
10 enchantment6n. 魅力；魔法；著迷；妖術(shù)
11 forbear8vt. 忍耐；克制
12 boast4vt. 夸口說(shuō)；以有……而自豪
13 contend6vi.競(jìng)爭(zhēng)；奮斗；斗爭(zhēng)；爭(zhēng)論
14 address6vt.(書面或口頭)發(fā)言，講話，致詞；(尤指)正式演講
15 uncourtly8adj.無(wú)禮的；不典雅的
16 repulse6vt. 拒絕；驅(qū)逐；憎惡
17 verge6n. 邊緣
18 assistance4n. 援助，幫助
19 patron6n. 贊助人；保護(hù)人
20 shepherd4n. 牧羊人；指導(dǎo)者
21 acquainted6adj. 相識(shí)的；熟悉的
22 unconcern4n. 不關(guān)心；不感興趣；冷淡
23 encumber8vt. 阻塞；妨害；拖累
24 indifferent4adj. 漠不關(guān)心的；無(wú)關(guān)緊要的；中性的，中立的
25 solitary6adj. 孤獨(dú)的；獨(dú)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(yán)酷；艱苦的條件；(性格)粗暴
29 obligation6n. 義務(wù)；職責(zé)；債務(wù)
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(bào)》館主得知，該報(bào)刊載了兩篇文章，對(duì)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(yīng)是一種榮耀，只可惜在下自來(lái)無(wú)緣得到王公大人的青睞，所以真不知道該如何來(lái)領(lǐng)受這份榮耀，也不知道該用些什么言辭來(lái)聊表謝意。
回想當(dāng)年，也不知哪來(lái)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(fēng)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(xué)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(méi)有得到鼓勵(lì)。不管是出于自尊也好，自矜也好，我反正無(wú)法再周旋下去。我本是一個(gè)與世無(wú)爭(zhēng)、不善逢迎的書生，但那時(shí)我也曾用盡平生所學(xué)的阿諛?lè)畛械难赞o，當(dāng)眾贊美過(guò)閣下。能做的一切我都做了。如果一個(gè)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(huì)感到舒服的。
大人閣下，從我第一次候立于貴府門下，或者說(shuō)被您拒于門外時(shí)算起，已經(jīng)七年過(guò)去。七年多來(lái)，我一直苦苦地?fù)纬种业木幾ぷ?。這些苦楚，現(xiàn)在再來(lái)傾訴，已經(jīng)沒(méi)有用處。所幸我的勞作而今終于快要出版，在這之前我沒(méi)有獲得過(guò)一個(gè)贊助的行為、一句鼓勵(lì)的話語(yǔ)、一抹稱許的微笑。我固然不曾指望這樣的禮遇，因?yàn)槲覐奈从羞^(guò)一位贊助人。
維吉爾筆下的牧童最后終于和愛(ài)神相識(shí)，這才發(fā)現(xiàn)所謂愛(ài)神只不過(guò)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(wú)動(dòng)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(lái)關(guān)照在下的勞作，這原本是一樁美意，只可惜太遲了一點(diǎn)。遲到我已經(jīng)意懶心灰，再無(wú)法快樂(lè)地消受；遲到我已經(jīng)是孤身一人，無(wú)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(yáng)。我既然本來(lái)就沒(méi)有得到過(guò)實(shí)惠，自然毋需懷感恩之心；既然是上帝助我獨(dú)立完成這樁大業(yè)，我自然不愿讓公眾產(chǎn)生錯(cuò)覺(jué)，似乎我曾受惠于某一贊助人。但愿上面這番話不致被認(rèn)為太苛刻、太不近人情。
我已經(jīng)在根本沒(méi)有所謂學(xué)術(shù)贊助人贊助的情況下使自己的工作完成到目前這個(gè)地步，那么，盡管我將要在更艱難無(wú)助的情況下——假如還有可能更艱難無(wú)助的話——完成全稿，我也絕不會(huì)感到沮喪。因?yàn)槲乙呀?jīng)早就從那個(gè)贊助的美夢(mèng)里幡然猛醒；曾幾何時(shí)，我還在那夢(mèng)中得意非凡地自詡是大人。
伯爵大人
您門下最卑微
最馴服的仆人
塞繆爾·約翰遜
1755年2月7日
鄂公網(wǎng)安備 42010302001612號(hào)