To the Right Honourable the Earl of Chesterfield
To the Right Honourable the Earl of Chesterfield
致谢斯特菲尔德伯爵大人
February 1755.
一七七五年二月
My Lord.
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.
近期从《世界报》所有人处得知，该报有两篇文章向公众推荐我的辞典，出自您的手笔。得到如此提携是荣幸，对来自贵人的恩惠很不习惯的我，不甚明了如何消受这般礼遇，如何表达我的谢意。
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. 些微鼓励让我初次拜访您，如同其他人，被您的言谈举止折服，不禁梦想或许我会得到世人竞相争夺的尊宠，自诩“世界征服者的征服者”，但我发现，自己的陪侍不能带来多少希望，无论自尊还是自谦都不允许我继续。我这个粗鄙的隐居文人曾一度公开逢迎您，使尽了浑身解数。我已经尽力了，没有人乐意别人对自己的努力不屑一顾，无论那努力是多么微弱。
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.
七年了，大人，自从我等候在贵府门厅，或被您拒之门外起，已经七年过去，七年来我一直在推进编撰进度，去抱怨期间的难处无益，终于在没有一点赞助，没有一句鼓励，没有一个笑脸的情况下，这本辞书即将出版。我从未有过赞助人，所以未曾预料这等境遇。
The Shepherd in Virgil grew at last acquainted with Love, and found him a Native of the Rocks.
维吉尔的牧人终于得以结识爱神，发现他是山间土著。
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.
大人，某个人的赞助人，不就是当他于水中挣扎求生时冷眼旁观，当他抵达岸边后，伸出援手让他领情。对于拙作，您已乐意投以
青眼，您的垂青若早些降临，会是善意；可您的垂青已经延误太久，以至于我已漠然，无法享受，以至于我已独居，无人分享，以至于我已成名，无所求于您。
I hope it is no very cynical asperity not to confess obligation 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.
既然您对我无恩无惠，我不认可自己对您有所亏欠，既然上天助我独力完成，我不愿公众以为我对一位赞助人心存感激，我希望这种做法不至太过刻薄。
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.
未从任何学术赞助人那里得到多少恩惠，我的编撰工作坚持至今，纵然将在更孤立无援的情况下——如果还会更困难——完成它，我也不会失望，因为我早已从那希冀的梦想中清醒，梦中我曾得
意忘形地自诩为
My Lord,
大人
Your Lordship's Most humble
您门下最谦卑
Most Obedient Servant
最恭顺的仆人
S.J.
塞穆尔?约翰逊