富兰克林的《自传》Benjamin Franklin The Autobiography.ppt

BenjaminFranklin TheAutobiography ForwhatpurposedidhewritehisAutobiography 1 DearSon IhaveeverhadaPleasureinobtaininganylittleAnecdotesofmyAncestors YoumayremembertheEnquiriesImadeamongtheRemainsofmyRelationswhenyouwerewithmeinEngland andthejourneyItookforthatpurpose NowimaginingitmaybeequallyagreeabletoyoutoknowtheCircumstancesofmyLife manyofwhichyouareyetunacquaintedwith andexpectingaWeeksuninterruptedLeisureinmypresentCountryRetirement Isitdowntowritethemforyou interestingenealogy 2 Besides therearesomeotherinducementsthatexcitemetothisundertaking FromthepovertyandobscurityinwhichIwasborn andinwhichIpassedmyearliestyears Ihaveraisedmyselftoastateofaffluenceandsomeofcelebrityintheworld Asconstantgoodfortunehasaccompaniedmeeventoanadvancedperiodoflife myposteritywillperhapsbedesirousoflearningthemeanswhichIemployed andwhich thankstoProvidence sowellsucceededwithme Theymayalsodeemthemfittobeimitated shouldanyofthemfindthemselvesinsimilarcircumstances toinstructposterity 3 ThatFelicity whenIreflectedonit hasinduc dmesometimestosay thatwereitoffer dtomyChoice IshouldhavenoObjectiontoaRepetitionofthesameLifefromitsBeginning onlyaskingtheAdvantageAuthorshaveinasecondEditiontocorrectsomeFaultsofthefirst SowouldIifImight besidescorrectingtheFaults changesomesinisterAccidentsandtomakethatRecollectionasdurableaspossible theputtingitdowninWriting Toenjoylivinghislifeagain 4 Inthusemployingmyself Ishallyieldtotheinclinationsonaturaltooldmen oftalkingofthemselvesandtheirownactions andIshallindulgeitwithoutbeingtiresometothosewho fromrespecttomyage mightconceivethemselvesobligedtolistentome sincetheywillbealwaysfreetoreadmeornot writingtheautobiographywouldbeharmless 5 And lastly Imayaswellconfessit asthedenialofitwouldbebelievedbynobody Ishall perhaps notalittlegratifymyownvanity Indeed Ineverheardorsawtheintroductorywords WithoutvanityImaysay etc butsomevainthingimmediatelyfollowed Mostpeopledislikevanityinothers whateversharetheyhaveofitthemselves butIgiveitfairquarterwhereverImeetwithit beingpersuadedthatitisoftenproductiveofgoodtothepossessor andtootherswhoarewithinhissphereofaction andtherefore inmanycases itwouldnotbealtogetherabsurdifamanweretothankGodforhisvanityamongtheothercomfortsoflife togratifyhisvanity Somecomments Thefifthreasonisnotareasoninitself Itsfunctionhereistoserveasakindof antidote totheself complacentstyleinthepreviouspart whichmaymaketheauthorvulnerabletopossibleattackorcriticismswhentheoccasionshouldarise sincethebestmaneuverindefendingoneselfagainstanyassaultlaunchedbypenandinkismoreoftenthannottokeeponeselflow andhidebehindthestrongtrenchofself mockinghumor anyexamples AndnowIspeakofthankingGod Idesire withallhumility toacknowledgethatIattributethementionedhappinessofmypastlifetoHisdivineprovidence whichledmetothemeansIused andgavethesuccess Mybeliefofthisinducesmetohope thoughImustnotpresume thatthesamegoodnesswillstillbeexercisedtowardsmeincontinuingthathappiness orenablingmetobearafatalreverse whichImayexperienceasothershavedone thecomplexionofmyfuturefortunebeingknowntoHimonlyinwhosepoweritistoblessus eveninourafflictions questions 1 isFranklin saccountofhispersonalexperiencesdependableandtrustworthyasmaterialforhistoricalstudies Why Howhonestcouldhebe WhydidFranklinleaveboston 1 Thoughabrother heconsideredhimselfasmymaster andmeashisapprentice andaccordinglyexpectedthesameservicesfrommeashewouldfromanother whileIthoughthedegradedmetoomuchinsomeherequiredofme whofromabrotherexpectedmoreindulgence Ourdisputeswereoftenbroughtbeforeourfather andIfancyIwaseithergenerallyintheright orelseabetterpleader becausethejudgmentwasgenerallyinmyfavour Butmybrotherwaspassionate andhadoftenbeatenme whichItookextremelyamiss and thinkingmyapprenticeshipverytedious Iwascontinuallywishingforsomeopportunityofshorteningit whichatlengthofferedinamannerunexpected Perhapsthisharshandtyrannicaltreatmentofmemightbeameansofimpressingmewiththeaversiontoarbitrarypower thathasstucktomethroughmywholelife 2 Oneofthepiecesinournewspaperonsomepoliticalpoint whichIhavenowforgotten gaveoffencetotheAssembly Hewastakenup censured andimprisonedforamonthbytheSpeaker swarrant Isupposebecausehewouldnotdiscovertheauthor ItoowastakenupandexaminedbeforetheCouncil but thoughIdidnotgivethemanysatisfaction theycontentedthemselveswithadmonishingme anddismissedme consideringmeperhapsasanapprentice whowasboundtokeephismaster ssecrets Duringmybrother sconfinement whichIresentedagooddealnotwithstandingourprivatedifferences Ihadthemanagementofthepaper andImadeboldtogiveourrulerssomerubsinit whichmybrothertookverykindly whileothersbegantoconsidermeinanunfavourablelight asayouththathadaturnforlibellingandsatire Mybrother sdischargewasaccompaniedwithanorder andaveryoddone JamesFranklinshouldnolongerprintthenewspapercalledTheNewEnglandCourant Onaconsultationheldinourprinting officeamongsthisfriends whatheshoulddointhisconjuncture itwasproposedtoeludetheorderbychangingthenameofthepaper Butmybrother seeinginconveniencesinthis cametoaconclusion asabetterway toletthepaperinfuturebeprintedinthenameofBenjaminFranklin anditordertoavoidthecensureoftheAssembly thatmightfallonhim asstillprintingitbyhisapprentice hecontrivedandconsentedthatmyoldindentureshouldbereturnedtomewithadischargeonthebackofit toshowincaseofnecessity and inordertosecuretohimthebenefitofmyservice Ishouldsignnewindenturesfortheremainderofmytime whichweretobekeptprivate Averyflimsyschemeitwas however itwasimmediatelyexecuted andthepaperwasprintedaccordingly undermyname forseveralmonths Atlength afreshdifferencearisingbetweenmybrotherandme Itookuponmetoassertmyfreedom presumingthathewouldnotventuretoproducethenewindentures Itwasnotfairinmetotakethisadvantage andthisIthereforereckononeorthefirsterrataofmylife buttheunfairnessofitweighedlittlewithmewhenundertheimpressionsofresentmentfortheblowshispassiontoooftenurgedhimtobestowuponme Thoughbewasotherwisenotanill naturedman perhapsIwastoosaucyandprovoking 3 WhenhefoundIwouldleavehim hetookcaretopreventmygettingemploymentinanyotherprinting houseofthetown bygoingroundandspeakingtoeverymaster whoaccordinglyrefusedtogivemework IthenthoughtofgoingtoNewYork asthenearestplacewheretherewasaprinter 4 AndIwasratherinclinedtoleaveBoston whenIreflectedthatIhadalreadymademyselfalittleobnoxioustothegoverningparty and fromthearbitraryproceedingsoftheAssemblyinmybrother scase itwaslikelyImight ifIstayed soonbringmyselfintoscrapes andfurther thatmyindiscreetdisputationsaboutreligionbegantomakemepointedatwithhorrorbygoodpeople asaninfidelandatheist Iconcluded therefore toremovetoNewYork Howdidhemanagetoleave butmyfathernowsidingwithmybrother Iwassensiblethat ifIattemptedtogoopenly meanswouldbeusedtopreventme MyfriendCollins therefore undertooktomanagemyflight HeagreedwiththecaptainofaNewYorkslooptotakeme underafalsepretence Isoldmybookstoraisealittlemoney wastakenonboardthesloopprivately hadafairwind andinthreedaysfoundmyselfatNewYork nearthreehundredmilesfrommyhome attheageofseventeen October 1723 withouttheleastrecommendation orknowledgeofanypersonintheplace andverylittlemoneyinmypocket what sthecontentofthis falsepretence WhatmadehimdecidetoleaveforPhiladelphia THEinclinationIhadhadfortheseawasbythistimedoneaway orImightnowhavegratifiedit Buthavinganotherprofession andconceivingmyselfaprettygoodworkman Iofferedmyservicestoaprinteroftheplace oldMr WilliamBradford whohadbeenthefirstprinterinPennsylvania buthadremovedthence inconsequenceofaquarrelwiththegovernor GeorgeKeith Hecouldgivemenoemployment havinglittletodo andhandsenoughalready buthesaid MysonatPhiladelphiahaslatelylosthisprincipalhand AquilaRose bydeath ifyougothither Ibelievehemayemployyou Philadelphiawasonehundredmilesfurther Isetout however inaboatforAmboy leavingmychestandthingstofollowmeroundbysea WhathappenedonhisvoyagetoPhiladelphia 1 Incrossingthebay wemetwithasquallthattoreourrottensailstopieces preventedourgettingintotheKill theKillVanKullwaters anddroveusuponLongIsland Inourway adrunkenDutchman whowasapassengertoo felloverboard whenhewassinking Ireachedthroughthewatertohisshockpate anddrewhimup sothatwegothiminagain Hisduckingsoberedhimalittle andhewenttosleep takingfirstoutofhispocketabook whichhedesiredIwoulddryforhim Itprovedtobemyoldfavouriteauthor Bunyan sPilgrim sProgress inDutch finelyprintedongoodpaper coppercuts adressbetterthanIhadeverseenitwearinitsownlanguage IhavesincefoundthatithadbeentranslatedintomostofthelanguagesofEurope andIsupposeithasbeenmoregenerallyreadthananyotherbook exceptperhapstheBible HonestJohnwasthefirstthatIknowofwhomixednarrationanddialogue amethodofwritingveryengagingtothereader whointhemostinterestingpartfindshimself asitwere admittedintothecompanyandpresentattheconversation DefoehasimitatedhimsuccessfullyinhisRobinsonCrusoe inhisMollFlanders andotherpieces andRichardsonhasdonethesameinhisPamela c Onapproachingtheisland wefounditwasinaplacewheretherecouldbenolanding therebeingagreatsurgeonthestonybeach Sowedroppedanchor andswungoutourcabletowardtheshore Somepeoplecamedowntotheshoreandhallooedtous aswedidtothem butthewindwassohigh andthesurgesoloud thatwecouldnotunderstandeachother Thereweresomesmallboatsneartheshore andwemadesigns andcalledtothemtofetchus buttheyeitherdidnotcomprehendus oritwasimpracticable sotheywentoff Nightapproaching wehadnoremedybuttohavepatiencetillthewindabated andinthemeantimetheboatmenandmyselfconcludedtosleep ifwecould andsowecrowdedintothehatches wherewejoinedtheDutchman whowasstillwet andthespray breakingovertheheadofourboat leakedthroughtous sothatweweresoonalmostaswetashe Inthismannerwelayallnight withverylittlerest but thewindabatingthenextday wemadeashifttoreachAmboybeforenight havingbeenthirtyhoursonthewater withoutvictuals oranydrinkbutabottleoffilthyrum thewaterwesailedonbeingsalt perils 2 IntheeveningIfoundmyselfveryfeverish andwenttobed but havingreadsomewherethatcoldwaterdrunkplentifullywasgoodforafever Ifollowedtheprescription andsweatplentifullymostofthenight Myfeverleftme andinthemorning crossingtheferry Iproceededonmyjourneyonfoot havingfiftymilestogotoBurlington where1wastoldIshouldfindboatsthatwouldcarrymetherestofthewaytoPhiladelphia illness 3 Itrainedveryhardalltheday Iwasthoroughlysoaked andbynoonagooddealtired soIstoppedatapoorinn whereIstayedallnight beginningnowtowishIhadneverlefthome Imadesomiserableafigure too thatIfound bythequestionsaskedme Iwassuspectedtobesomerunawayindenturedservant andindangerofbeingtakenuponthatsuspicion However Iproceedednextday andgotintheeveningtoaninn withineightortenmilesofBurlington keptbyoneDr Brown HeenteredintoconversationwithmewhileItooksomerefreshment and findingIhadreadalittle becameveryobligingandfriendly Ouracquaintancecontinuedalltherestofhislife hehadbeen Iimagine atravelingdoctor fortherewasnotowninEngland noranycountryinEurope ofwhichhecouldnotgiveaveryparticularaccount Hehadsomeletters andwasingenious buthewasaninfidel andwickedlyundertook someyearsafter toturntheBibleintodoggerelverse asCottonhadformerlydonewithVirgil Bythismeanshesetmanyfactsinaridiculouslight andmighthavedonemischiefwithweakminds ifhisworkhadbeenpublished butitneverwas dangersandinterestingpersonageencountered 4 findthattheregularboatsweregonealittlebefore andnootherexpectedtogobeforeTuesday thisbeingSaturday WhereforeIreturnedtoanoldwomaninthetown ofwhomIhadboughtsomegingerbreadtoeatonthewater andaskedheradvice Sheproposedtolodgeme tillapassagebysomeotherboatoccurred Shewashospitable gavemeadinnerofox cheekwithgreatgood will andIthoughtmyselffixedtillTuesdayshouldcome However walkingintheeveningbythesideoftheriver aboatcameby whichIfoundwasgoingtowardPhiladelphiawithseveralpeopleinher Theytookmein andastherewasnowind werowedalltheway andaboutmidnight nothavingyetseenthecity someofthecompanywereconfidentwemusthavepassedit andwouldrownofurther theothersknewnotwherewewere soweputtowardtheshore andthereweremainedtilldaylight ThenoneofthecompanyknewtheplacetobeCooper sCreek alittleabovePhiladelphia whichwesawassoonaswegotoutofthecreek andarrivedthereabouteightornineo clockontheSundaymorning andlandedatMarket streetwharf hospitablefemale InwhatconditiondidhefirstappearinPhiladelphia 1 Ihavebeenthemoreparticularinthisdescriptionofmyjourney andshallbesoofmyfirstentryintothatcity thatyoumayinyourmindcomparesuchunlikelybeginningswiththefigureIhaveSincemadethere Iwasinmyworkingdress mybestclothescomingroundbysea Iwasdirtyfrommybeingsolongintheboat Mypocketswerestuffedoutwithshirtsandstockings andIknewnoone norwheretolookforlodging Fatiguedwithwalking rowing andthewantofsleep Iwasveryhungry andmywholestockofcashconsistedinasingledollar andaboutashillingincoppercoin whichIgavetotheboatmenformypassage Atfirsttheyrefusedit onaccountofmyhavingrowed butIinsistedontheirtakingit Manissometimesmoregenerouswhenhehaslittlemoneythanwhenhehasplenty perhapstopreventhisbeingthoughttohavebutlittle generosity Iwalkedtowardthetopofthestreet gazingabouttillnearMarketStreet whereImetaboywithbread Ihadoftenmadeamealofdrybread and inquiringwherehehadboughtit Iwentimmediatelytothebaker shedirectedmeto Iaskedforbiscuits meaningsuchaswehadatBoston thatsort itseems wasnotmadeinPhiladelphia Ithenaskedforathreepennyloaf andwastoldtheyhadnone Notknowingthedifferentprices northenamesofthedifferentsortsofbread Itoldhimtogivemethreepennyworthofanysort Hegavemeaccordinglythreegreatpuffyrolls Iwassurprisedatthequantity buttookit and havingnoroominmypockets walkedoffwitharollundereacharm andeatingtheother ThusIwentupMarketStreetasfarasFourthStreet passingbythedoorofMr Read myfuturewife sfather whenshe standingatthedoor sawme andthoughtImade asIcertainlydidamostawkward ridiculousappearance ThenIturned andwentdownChestnutStreetandpartofWalnutStreet eatingmyrollalltheway and cominground foundmyselfagainatMarket streetwharf neartheboatIcamein towhichIwentforadraughtoftheriverwater and beingfilledwithoneofmyrolls gavetheothertwotoawomanandherchildthatcamedowntheriverintheboatwithus andwerewaitingtogofarther firstencounterwithhisfuturewife andakindd