To The Right Honourable The Earl Of Chesterfield
My Lord,
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.
公爵大人：
我最近从《世界期刊》的老板处得知，您写了两篇文章，向公众推荐我编纂的字典。这份荣耀是如此的显赫，但我不太习惯从大人物处得到青睐，所以我不太明白怎样去接受，或者怎样去表达感谢。
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 possess. I had done all that I could; and no man is well pleased to have his all neglected, be it ever so little.
之前，在少许的激励下，我第一次去拜见公爵大人您。当时我就像其他人一样，陶醉于您的演说中，并因此浑身上下充满着力量，不禁期待自己有朝一日能吹嘘自己是“征服天下者之征服者”——即使这荣誉天下人为之争夺，但是我仍然期待为我所得。但是我对您的迎合并没有得到您的鼓励，而我的尊严和谦虚使得我不愿再迎合您。当我在众人面前一谈到您，我这个上了年纪且笨拙的学者就会竭尽平生习得的赞美之艺术来赞美您。我已经使出了浑身解数，就算这些只不过是微不足道的付出，但是没有人能够忍受在付出这一切后，还是遭到了忽视。
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.
公爵大人，自从我在您的外房间里等待您的宣召，或是被您拒于门外时算起，七年过去了。这七年间，我克服重重困难，推进自己的工作，这些困难如今再来抱怨已经没用了。所幸我的艰辛工作终于带来了即将出版的机会。这些年来，我没有得到赞助人一回帮助的行动，一句鼓励的话语，一次赞同的微笑，当然我也不期盼会有这些待遇，因为我从未有过赞助人。
The shepherd in Virgil grew at last acquainted with Love, and found him a native of the rocks.
维吉尔笔下的羊倌最后与爱神相识，但这爱神是从岩石堆中长成。
Is not a patrons 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; (2) 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.
您如今高兴地关注我的劳作，这是及时而仁慈的。但已经晚了，我已经冷漠无感，无福消受；已经孑然一人，无法分享；已经名扬四方，无处可用。既然我没有受到任何帮助，那我也不必承认有恩于人，我也不希望公众把本应是由上帝助力，让我独立完成我的事业的事，认作是由赞助人帮助我完成的。我希望我的这番话不会显得那么讽刺生硬。
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,
我既然在没有学术赞助人的赞助下把我的工作做到现在，那么我会完成它，尽管情况可能会变得更糟糕——如果真的会的话——而且不会感到沮丧；因为我早已从充满希冀的梦中醒来，再也不会兴高采烈地吹嘘自己。
My Lord,
Your lordship's most humble,
most obedient servant,
SAM. JOHNSON.
公爵大人，
您那最卑微，
最恭顺的仆人，
山姆·约翰逊
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