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1、,Samuel Johnson,Samuel Johnson (1709 1784), often referred to as Dr. Johnson, was an English author who made lasting contributions to English literature as a poet, essayist, moralist, literary critic, biographer, editor and lexicographer. He is also the subject of “the most famous single work of bio
2、graphical art in the whole of literature“: James Boswells Life of Samuel Johnson.,After nine years of work, Johnsons A Dictionary of the English Language was published in 1755; it had a far-reaching effect on Modern English and has been described as “one of the greatest single achievements of schola
3、rship.“ This work brought Johnson popularity and success. Until the completion of the Oxford English Dictionary 150 years later, Johnsons was viewed as the pre-eminent British dictionary.,His later works included essays, an influential annotated edition of William Shakespeares plays, and the widely
4、read tale Rasselas. In 1763, he befriended James Boswell, with whom he later travelled to Scotland. Towards the end of his life, he produced the massive and influential Lives of the Most Eminent English Poets, a collection of biographies and evaluations of 17th- and 18th-century poets.,Samuel Johnso
5、n often claimed that he grew up in poverty. He soon contracted scrofula（淋巴结核）. An operation was performed that left him with permanent scars across his face and body. Johnson demonstrated signs of great intelligence as a child. To earn money, Johnson began to stitch books for his father, and it is p
6、ossible that Johnson spent most of his time in his fathers bookshop reading various works and building his literary knowledge.,In 1728, a few weeks after he turned 19, Johnson entered Pembroke College, Oxford. After thirteen months, a shortage of funds forced Johnson to leave Oxford without a degree
7、. He eventually received a degree: just before the publication of his Dictionary in 1755, Oxford University awarded Johnson the degree of Master of Arts. He was awarded an honorary doctorate in 1765 by Trinity College Dublin and in 1775 by Oxford University.,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
8、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
9、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
10、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。,David Hume claimed: “The Elegance and Propriety of Stile have been very much neglected among us. We have no
11、 Dictionary of our Language, and scarce a tolerable Grammar“. Johnsons Dictionary offers insights into the 18th century and “a faithful record of the language people used“. It is more than a reference book; it is a work of literature.,Johnson had to employ a number of assistants for the copying and
12、mechanical work, which filled the house with incessant noise and clutter. He was always busy with his work, and kept hundreds of books around. In preparation for the work, Johnson wrote a Plan for the Dictionary. Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield, was the patron of the Plan, to Johnsons disp
13、leasure.,Seven years after first meeting Johnson to go over the work, Chesterfield wrote two anonymous essays in The World recommending the Dictionary. He complained that the English language lacked structure and argued in support of the dictionary. Johnson did not like the tone of the essay, and he
14、 felt that Chesterfield had not fulfilled his obligations as the works patron.,Johnson wrote a letter expressing this view and harshly criticising Chesterfield, saying “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, e
15、ncumbers him with help?” Chesterfield, impressed by the language, kept the letter displayed on a table for anyone to read.,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
16、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
