samuel-johnson-(塞缪尔约翰逊)-的简介

,SamuelJohnson,SamuelJohnson(17091784),oftenreferredtoasDr.Johnson,wasanEnglishauthorwhomadelastingcontributionstoEnglishliteratureasapoet,essayist,moralist,literarycritic,biographer,editorandlexicographer.Heisalsothesubjectofthemostfamoussingleworkofbiographicalartinthewholeofliterature:JamesBoswellsLifeofSamuelJohnson.,Afternineyearsofwork,JohnsonsADictionaryoftheEnglishLanguagewaspublishedin1755;ithadafar-reachingeffectonModernEnglishandhasbeendescribedasoneofthegreatestsingleachievementsofscholarship.ThisworkbroughtJohnsonpopularityandsuccess.UntilthecompletionoftheOxfordEnglishDictionary150yearslater,Johnsonswasviewedasthepre-eminentBritishdictionary.,Hislaterworksincludedessays,aninfluentialannotatededitionofWilliamShakespearesplays,andthewidelyreadtaleRasselas.In1763,hebefriendedJamesBoswell,withwhomhelatertravelledtoScotland.Towardstheendofhislife,heproducedthemassiveandinfluentialLivesoftheMostEminentEnglishPoets,acollectionofbiographiesandevaluationsof17th-and18th-centurypoets.,SamuelJohnsonoftenclaimedthathegrewupinpoverty.Hesooncontractedscrofula（淋巴结核）.Anoperationwasperformedthatlefthimwithpermanentscarsacrosshisfaceandbody.Johnsondemonstratedsignsofgreatintelligenceasachild.Toearnmoney,Johnsonbegantostitchbooksforhisfather,anditispossiblethatJohnsonspentmostofhistimeinhisfathersbookshopreadingvariousworksandbuildinghisliteraryknowledge.,In1728,afewweeksafterheturned19,JohnsonenteredPembrokeCollege,Oxford.Afterthirteenmonths,ashortageoffundsforcedJohnsontoleaveOxfordwithoutadegree.Heeventuallyreceivedadegree:justbeforethepublicationofhisDictionaryin1755,OxfordUniversityawardedJohnsonthedegreeofMasterofArts.Hewasawardedanhonorarydoctoratein1765byTrinityCollegeDublinandin1775byOxfordUniversity.,到了十八世纪中叶,意大利人有了他们的大词典；甚至世仇法国人也有了他们的大词典，而英国居然没有！但意大利文和法文大词典都是国家文学院编的，特别是法文大词典，四十位院士化了四十年才编成。而英国当时没有相应的学院；英国王室又像英国商人一样斤斤计较：资助四十位学者工作四十年，这投资是否收得回来？只能靠个人在有限几年内编成，这本词典的市场需要才会转化为商业可能。颇有几位文化名人跃跃欲试，仔细考虑之后，却是个个知难而退。年，伦敦几家出版商，联手找上了塞缪尔约翰生。,时年三十七岁的约翰生，是伦敦出名的万能文人，写作、评论、翻译、编杂志，样样都来。因为父亲生意失败，无钱交纳学费，约翰生被迫从牛津中途退学。因为没有学位，约翰生无法担任体面的公职。他又不幸患有抽动障碍，偶尔会有不合时宜的怪动作，为贵族做个秘书，也可能被解雇。,约翰生娶了个比他大二十一岁的寡妇，收入不继时只能用妻子的钱。有时自尊心上来了，不愿吃软饭，就跟朋友在廉价酒吧混通宵。出版商的开价一千五百个金基尼（约合现在二十二万英镑），对约翰生而言是天文数字，他答应在三年内交卷。约翰生其实干了九年才收工。即将完成前，他的朋友劝说牛津大学有关人士：这般重要著作，当应出自牛津人之手。牛津大学就为约翰生补了个学位。词典出版十年后，都柏林大学授予约翰生名誉博士学位；又十年，牛津大学颁了博士学位。所以现在人们都称他为约翰生博士。,英国人赞叹，称约翰生博士为标准英语奠定基石，使英语趋于稳定。现在，人们将十八世纪下半叶称作英语史的“约翰生时代”。伏尔泰等名人仍然建议法国文学院向约翰生博士学习，因为他的词典里收录了来自哲学和自然科学的例句，而当时的法国词典只有文学例句。在编词典的九年中，约翰生博士受到生活种种打击。贫穷始终追随着他。虽然出版商的预付金，按当时的标准不算少，但里面包括了买书、租工作场地和支付助手工资等全部费用。最大的打击是他的妻子在工作开始后的第六年去世。约翰生一度心灰意懒，几乎放弃。,DavidHumeclaimed:TheEleganceandProprietyofStilehavebeenverymuchneglectedamongus.WehavenoDictionaryofourLanguage,andscarceatolerableGrammar.JohnsonsDictionaryoffersinsightsintothe18thcenturyandafaithfulrecordofthelanguagepeopleused.Itismorethanareferencebook;itisaworkofliterature.,Johnsonhadtoemployanumberofassistantsforthecopyingandmechanicalwork,whichfilledthehousewithincessantnoiseandclutter.Hewasalwaysbusywithhiswork,andkepthundredsofbooksaround.Inpreparationforthework,JohnsonwroteaPlanfortheDictionary.PhilipStanhope,4thEarlofChesterfield,wasthepatronofthePlan,toJohnsonsdispleasure.,SevenyearsafterfirstmeetingJohnsontogooverthework,ChesterfieldwrotetwoanonymousessaysinTheWorldrecommendingtheDictionary.HecomplainedthattheEnglishlanguagelackedstructureandarguedinsupportofthedictionary.Johnsondidnotlikethetoneoftheessay,andhefeltthatChesterfieldhadnotfulfilledhisobligationsastheworkspatron.,JohnsonwrotealetterexpressingthisviewandharshlycriticisingChesterfield,saying“Isnotapatron,mylord,onewholookswithunconcernonamanstrugglingforlifeinthewater,andwhenhehasreachedground,encumbershimwithhelp?”Chesterfield,impressedbythelanguage,kepttheletterdisplayedonatableforanyonetoread.,中辜正坤译注,大人阁下：顷得世界报馆主告知，该报近日揭载二文，对拙编词典，颇有扬善褒荐之词，闻皆出阁下手笔。厚爱如此，理当引为大幸。奈何在下不惯贵人垂青，茫然不知何以领受、何辞逊谢。忆当年，在下小蒙鼓励，竟斗胆初谒公门。大人之言谈丰采，语惊四座，令人绝倒，使在下不禁谬生宏愿：他日或能自诩当世：“吾乃天下征服者之征服者也。”举世学人欲夺之殊荣，或竟鹿死我手!孰料余之趋走逢迎，未蒙丝毫宠幸。尔后余自度不复干谒此途，自尊与自卑，皆勿与论也。余本一介书生，不善谄辞，不尚交际，而曾一度当众致语阁下，可谓罄尽取悦文饰之辞。仆思已尽犬马之劳，虽功效绵薄，又何甘辛劳遭逢白眼之遇也。,回想当初侍立君堂，甚或见逐门首，忽焉七载飞去。斯年以来，吾力排艰辛，独撑大业，无援手相助，无片言相许，无一笑相期。幸得终竟全功，付梓在即。当此时，发怨尤之词，恐无益也。然余实从未曾知遇提携之人，自曾指望过蒙受惠顾。维吉尔笔下牧童终与爱神相识，方知爱神原只是草野之夫。设有人于溺水者奋命中流之际，漠然相对，视若无睹，伺其安全抵岸，方忽急伸援手，反增累赘，所谓赞助人也者，莫非即此辈耶?,大人而今忽有雅兴垂顾拙编，倘恩泽当初，犹可称善；奈何此惠顾珊珊来迟，我已心灰意冷，受之谅无深趣；我已鸳鸯失伴，有乐无人与共；我已名播天下，再不需阁下扬誉之辞!在下当初既不曾蒙恩今朝亦无须感德；天帝既助我独成大业，今何敢欺世惑众，默认身后有所谓莫须有之赞助者?在下言辞或有苛刻不敬，还望海涵。余自承担此编撰业以来，从未获所谓赞助者分毫，亦使大业行将告竣，纵或杀青之际倍感艰难无助，余亦绝无失望之心。奢望赞助之美梦，梦破多年；堪笑曾几何时余亦曾梦中顾盼自雄、自诩为大人您门下最卑微最驯顺之奴仆塞缪尔约翰逊,辜正坤白话体翻译,近日从世界报馆主得知，该报刊载了两篇文章，对拙编词典颇多举荐滥美之词，这些文章据悉均出自阁下您的手笔。承蒙您如此的推崇，本应是一种荣耀，只可惜在下自来无缘得到王公大人的青睐，所以真不知道该如何来领受这份荣耀，也不知道该用些什么言辞来聊表谢意。,回想当年，也不知哪来的勇气，我竟第一次拜访了大人阁下。我像所有的人一样，深为大人的言谈丰采所倾倒，不禁玄想他年能口出大言“吾乃天下征服者之征服者也。”虽知此殊荣是举世学人所欲得，仍希望有朝一日能侥幸获取。然而我很快发现自己的趋走逢迎根本没有得到鼓励。不管是出于自尊也好，自矜也好，我反正无法再周旋下去。我本是一个与世无争、不善逢迎的书生，但那时我也曾用尽平生所学的阿谀奉承的言辞，当众赞美过阁下。能做的一切我都做了。如果一个人在这方面付出的一切努力（不管是多么微不足道）受到完全的忽视，他是绝不会感到舒服的。,大人阁下，从我第一次候立于贵府门下，或者说被您拒于门外时算起，已经7年过去。7年多来，我一直苦苦地撑持着我的编撰工作。这些苦楚，现在再来倾诉，已经没有用处。所幸我的劳作而今终于快要出版，在这之前我没有获得过一个赞助的行为，一句鼓励的话语，一抹称许的微笑。我固然不曾指望这样的礼遇，因为我从未有过一位赞助人。维吉尔笔下的牧童最后终于和爱神相识，这才发现所谓爱神只不过是岩穴土人而已。,大人阁下，有的人眼见落水者在水中拼命挣扎而无动于衷，等他安全抵岸之后，却才多余地伸出所谓援手，莫非这就叫赞助人么？大人而今忽有雅兴来关照在下的劳作，这原本是一桩美意，只可惜太迟了一点。迟到我已经意懒心灰，再无法快乐地消受；迟到我已经是孤身一人，无从与家人分享；迟到我已经名闻海内，再不需阁下附丽张扬。我既然本来就没有得到过实惠，自然母需怀感恩之心；既然是上帝助我独立完成这桩大业，我自然不愿让公众产生错觉，似乎我曾受惠于某一赞助人。但愿上面这番话不致被认为太苛刻、太不近人情。,我已经在根本没有所谓学术赞助人赞助的情况下使自己的工作完成到目前这个地步，那么，尽管我将要在更艰难无助的情况下假如还有可能更艰难无助的话完成全稿，我也绝不会感到沮丧。因为我已经早就从那个赞助的美梦里幡然猛醒；曾几何时，我还在那梦中得意非凡地自诩是大人您门下最卑微最驯顺的仆人塞缪尔约翰逊1755年2月7日,TheDictionarywasfinallypublishedinApril1755.AnimportantinnovationinEnglishlexicographywastoillustratethemeaningsofhiswordsbyliteraryquotation,ofwhichtherearearound114,000.TheauthorsmostfrequentlycitedincludeShakespeare,MiltonandDryden.Yearslater,manyofitsquotationswouldberepeatedbyvariouseditionsoftheWebstersDictionaryandtheNewEnglishDictionary.,BesidesworkingontheDictionary,Johnsonalsowrotevariousessays,sermons,andpoemsduringthesenineyears.HedecidedtoproduceaseriesofessaysunderthetitleTheRamblerthatwouldruneveryTuesdayandSaturdayfortwopenceeach.However,notallofhisworkwasconfinedtoTheRambler.Hismosthighlyregardedpoem,TheVanityofHumanWishes,waswrittenwithsuchextraordinaryspeedthatBoswellclaimedJohnsonmighthavebeenperpetuallyapoet.,On16May1763,Johnsonfirstmet22-year-oldJamesBoswellwhowouldlaterbecomeJohnsonsfirstmajorbiographerinthebookshopofJohnsonsfriend,TomDavies.Theyquicklybecamefriends.JohnsonseditionofShakespearewasfinallypublishedin1765asThePlaysofWilliamShakespeare,inEightVolumes.TowhichareaddedNotesbySam.Johnsoninaprintingofonethousandcopies.,Thefirsteditionquicklysoldout,andasecondwassoonprinted.TheplaysthemselveswereinaversionthatJohnsonfeltmosttruetotheoriginalbasedonhisanalysisofthemanuscripteditions.In1777,JohnsonwrotetoBoswellthathewasbusypreparingalittleLivesandlittlePrefaces,toalittleeditionoftheEnglishPoets.TomDavies,WilliamStrahanandThomasCadellhadaskedJohnsontocreatethisfinalmajorwork,theLivesoftheEnglishPoets.,（1）、（5）、（10）、L（50）、C（100）、D（500）、M（1000）,JohnsonwasburiedatWestminsterAbbeywithaninscriptionthatreads:SamuelJohnson,LL.D.ObiitXIIIdieDecembris,AnnoDominiM.DCC.LXXXIV.tatissuLXXV.Hediedon_.13December1784,HisWorks,1738London1747PlanforaDictionaryoftheEnglishLanguage1749TheVanityofHumanWishes1755PrefacetoaDictionaryoftheEnglishLanguage;ADictionaryoftheEnglishLanguage1759TheHistoryofRasselas,PrinceofAbissinia1765PrefacetothePlaysofWilliamShakespeare;ThePlaysofWilliamShakespeare177981LivesofthePoets,陆谷孙序言中的约翰逊,TheJohnsonianlesson,asIseeit,liesfirstandforemostinthelexicographersfervourinreading.Besidesbeingapurposefulreaderwithscholarlytalonslaidoneveryavailablebook,whatotherqualitiesarerequiredofalexicographer?UsingSamuelJohnsonasanexemplaroncemore,heorshehastobeabibliophileoramanorwomanofletters,notonlykeenonreadingwithgustobutalsocapableofwritingwithbrio.,Partofbeingawordsmithistoknowasmanylanguagesaspossible.JohnsonwasconversantineightwhileJamesMurrayknewtwenty!YoursHumblyknowsonlyChineseandEnglish,withsixyearsofRussianinsecondaryschoolandoneyearofcollegeGermantoboot.Howeverrustyandpaltrymyknowledgeaboutthelattertwolanguages,itcomesinhandyindictionary-making.,Forexample,itwasmyknowledgeofRussianthathelpedtodecideifthepluralformofBolshevikwasBolsheviksorBolsheviki,dependingonwhethertheentrywastreatedasatotallynaturalizedEnglishwordoraRussianloan.Asthisessayisbeingprepared,itistheChristmasseasonof2006.IhavealwaysheardsungandseenasalightingornamentthewordNOELbuthadtolookitupinadictionarytoknowthatitcomesfromLatin“natal”torefertothebirthofJesusChrist.,Similarly,whenIperspiredprofuselysittinginasauna,IdidntknowthewordhadoriginatedinFinnish,thelanguageofavery,verycoldcountry.InsuchcircumstancesIwouldwistfullylamentthatIdidnttakethetroubleoflearningmorelanguagesinordertobeawell-equippedlexicographer.Anotherrequirementisanextraordinaryresolveandunusualfortitudepluspliantmutabilitywhenandwherenecessary.,老少书人搭档,Dr.SamuelJohnson&JamesBoswell约翰生固然因为编纂的字典而享誉，但是真正使他名垂青史、让世人永志不忘的，却是后生晚辈包斯威尔为他所撰写的约翰生传（TheLifeofSamuelJohnson）。热爱伦敦的约翰生博士曾经说：“当一个人厌倦伦敦时，他对人生也就觉得乏味。”仿效这句话，我以为：“当约翰生传让人提不起劲时，其它书也无法带给人乐趣。”,自尊心强,由于他严重近视，所以得双手、双膝趴下，仔细横量地上的阴沟有多宽，以便冒险越过。学校的某位女老师因为担心他走错路、或掉近阴沟、或是被车子撞上，因此尾随在后。谁知小小约翰生正好转头看到女老师，觉得她的小心关怀有损他的男子气慨，于是愤怒地冲向女老师，用尽吃奶力气对她猛打一番。,对苏格兰人的偏见,约翰生对苏格兰人素有偏见，他在字典中对“燕麦”(Oats)这个名词所下的定义是：Agrain,whichinEnglandisgenerallygiventohorses,butinScotlandappea