约翰逊致切斯特菲尔德勋爵
《世界上最动人的书信》章节:约翰逊致切斯特菲尔德勋爵,宠文网网友提供全文无弹窗免费在线阅读。!
约翰逊致切斯特菲尔德勋爵
萨缪尔?约翰逊(1709—1784),英国评论家、诗人、散文家和词典编纂家，生于斯塔福德郡的利奇菲尔德，父亲为乡村书商。约翰逊早年生活贫困，还有视力差等生理缺陷。1728年进牛津大学深造，后因家境贫寒辍学。1735年结婚，婚后定居伦敦，并开始文学创作，先后发表长诗《伦敦》（1738）和散文《理查德?萨维奇的生平》（1744）等作品。1746年，约翰逊应约承担编纂词典任务，经过八年努力，终于在1755年出版了两卷本的《英文词典》，收词4万余个，词义界定精确，文学引语丰富，是辞书编纂史上一座永久的丰碑。作为评论家，他的主要代表作有《莎士比亚集》（1765）和《诗人传》（1779－1781）。
勋爵大人：
最近从《世界》杂志老板处得知，阁下曾两次写文章向世人推荐我的词典，在下真是不胜荣幸。然而，由于在下平时很少蒙受贵人垂青，所以在下受宠若惊，不知如何接纳，更不知如何答谢。
昔日，我在别人的鼓励下初次拜访大人时，跟世人一样被大人的谈吐所折服，所以油然而生一种奢望：我可以成为征服世界之人的征服者，并希望能像天下人竞相追求的那样，博得阁下的青睐。然而，我的热情却遭逢如此冷遇，后来再也不敢登府上一步，因为自尊与自卑都不允许我再继续这样做。在下本是一介书生，深居简出，不善逢迎，当时在众人面前竭尽全力取悦大人。我已尽力而为，却不能令大人满意而遭受冷遇，实在难以再欣然面对啊！
勋爵大人，回想七年之前，我曾静候于贵府外室，却被大人拒之门外。这七年来我历尽艰辛，致力于词典的编纂，其中的艰辛，今天说来已于事无补。幸而功成在即，词典行将面世，其间并未得到大人任何的帮助、勉励或恩惠，一言、一行、一笑也没有。所以，现在大人的厚待并不是我所期望的，因为之前我并未受到任何恩典。
维吉尔诗中的牧童最后终于结识了“爱神”，却发现他原来是铁石心肠之辈。
勋爵大人，看见有人在水中挣扎，自己却漠然袖手旁观，等到他安然上岸后却殷勤相助，这不正是大人的所作所为吗？阁下对于拙著的关注，如果是在昔日，在下不胜感激；可惜这份关注姗姗来迟，而今在下已兴味索然，不想接受。在下孑然一身、四顾茫然时，没有得到任何人的恩惠；在下略有薄名时，已不想得到任何恩惠。而且，在下既然没有受惠于人，自然不会对阁下感恩戴德；在下凭借天助独力完成词典之编纂，自不想让世人误以为是大人惠助的功劳。希望这些言语不至于像愤世嫉俗者那样尖酸刻薄。
自从在下编纂辞书以来，并未得到任何学术恩主的惠助，现在大功告成之时，即便得到再少的恩典也无任何遗憾，因为在下早已从昔日那奢望的美梦中醒悟过来，虽然我曾一度陶醉于梦中。
大人，
您最谦卑、最顺从的仆人，
萨缪尔?约翰逊
1755年2月7日
Samuel Johnson
To
February 7, 1755.
My Lord,
I have been Comtely 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.
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 Com 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 schoComr 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 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 compComin, and have brought it, at Comst, to the verge of publication, without one act of assistance, one word of encouragement, or one smile of favor. Such treatment I did not expect, for I never had a Patron before.
r /> The shepherd in Virgil grew at Comst acquainted with Love, and found him a native of the rocks.
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 Combours, had it been early, had been kind, but it has been deComyed 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.
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，
My Lord,
Your Lordship's most humble,
Most obedient servant,
Sam. JohnsonT/xt.小/说.天+堂