Unit Eight The Life of Samuel Johnson Objectives 1. To get to know the style of biography. 2. To understand the content of the text. 3. To learn translating skills and do translation exercises. 4. To improve understanding and translating abilities.

Procedures 1. Fast reading 2. Text 3. Exercise 4. Translation

Fast reading Reading practice Finish the three reading passages in 10 minutes (150 words per minute) Try to use the reading skills we have learned before in your reading. Check the keys Fast Reading 1:d c a a d Fast Reading 2: b c d d c Fast Reading 3: d d d c d

The Text Related Information: Samuel Johnson (1709----1784) : a famous English essayist, literary critic and dictionary compiler. In 1747, when Johnson began his “Dictionary of the English Language““, Chesterfield had at first indicated that he could be his patron, but when Johnson came to him for concrete help, Chesterfield neglected him to the point of ignoring him. Johnson was insulted and furious. In 1755, when Johnson‘s Dictionary was published and acclaimed after seven years of hard work, Chesterfield openly recommended it, hoping to get some credit for it as Johnson‘s patron. Johnson at once wrote his famous letter in a sharp style, openly denying Chesterfield‘s patronage, and attacking him outright for his behaviour. The attack, however, was made in a circumlocutions way.

塞缪尔·约翰逊 （Samuel Johnson，1709年9月7日－1784年12月3日）， 常称为约翰逊博士（Dr. Johnson），英国历史上最有名的文人之一，集文评家、诗人、散文家、传记家于一身，前半生名不经传，但他花了九年时间独力编出的《约翰逊字典》（A Dictionary of the English Language），为他赢得了文名及“博士”的头衔，博斯韦尔（James Boswell）后来为他写的传记《约翰逊传》记录了他后半生的言行，使他成为家喻户晓的人物。 塞缪尔·约翰逊(Samuel Johnson),英国作家,批评家。（1709—1784）英国文学史上重要的诗人、散文家、传记家和健谈家，编纂的《词典》对英语发展作出了重大贡献。和琼森一样，他也是当时文坛的一代盟主，他对文学小说诗歌文学作品的评论，即使片言只语，也被众口宣传，当作屑金碎玉。约翰逊1765年出版了经他校订的《莎士比亚全集》，这个版本在后世常为学者诟病，因为约翰逊有时出于己意，对原文进行删改。他对莎评的主要贡献，在于他为莎剧所作的批注和他为这个版本所作的序言。在约翰逊时代，文化氛围已经在向浪漫主义方向发展，人们已不再视“三一律”为神圣。与德莱登、伏尔泰相比，约翰逊是更为宽容的新古典主义者。

About the author James Boswell (1740-1795) author of The Life of Samuel Johnson, remains one of the more celebrated biographers in modern literary history. In his monumental A Life of James Boswell, Peter Martin takes on the formidable task of writing the biographer's biography ― of telling the story of a man whose numerous journals are renowned for their vivid evocation(唤起) of his life and times.

James Boswell Samuel Johnson

The moving biography A Life of James Boswell reassesses(再评价) James Boswell's achievements and uncovers the breadth of his world. Peter Martin dispels(驱散, 赶跑) the notion that Boswell's masterly Life of Johnson was an accidental work of genius, and shows that Boswell was a writer of the highest order and a complex, troubled, but ultimately appealing man.

Structure of the Text Part I (para. 1) ―Johnson was angered by the continued neglect of Chesterfield who later attempted to please Johnson by writing two papers Part II (para. 2-4) ― Chesterfield’s flattery of Johnson & recommendation of his dictionary Part III (para. 5- 13) ― Johnson despised Chesterfield’s honeyed words by writing him a letter Part IV (14-17) ― Chesterfield’s influence on Johnson’s writing couplets

Comprehension Questions 1. Do you know the five noble titles available in Britain? They are Duke (公爵), Marquis (侯爵), Earl (伯爵) , Viscount (子爵) and Baron (男爵).

2. Why did Johnson resolved to have no connexion with Chesterfield? Because Chesterfield took no notice of Johnson for quite a long time.

Find the answers in the text: 3 Find the answers in the text: 3. Why did Samuel Johnson reject Lord Chesterfield’s recommendation of his Dictionary to the public? 4. What qualities in Johnson’s personality are revealed in his letter to Lord Chesterfield? 5. Why do you think Johnson changed the word ‘garret’ to ‘patron’ in the couplet?

致 切 斯 特 菲 尔 德 大 人 函 《致切斯特菲尔德大人函》是约翰逊于1755年2月7日写给切斯特菲尔德伯爵菲力浦·多墨·斯坦厚甫(Philip Dormer Stanhope) 的一封信。 切斯特菲尔德伯爵开始对约翰逊编辞典一事冷眼相看。约翰逊艰辛奋斗7年，终于独立完成辞典编写，出版在即。这时，切斯特菲尔德伯爵在当时的《世界报》上连写两篇文章，对约翰逊的辞典大加吹捧，希望约翰逊将来能把英国的第一部英语辞典献给他。 约翰逊得知此事后，义愤填膺，挥笔写下了这篇名传千秋的著名信函。信中数落了伯爵对他的冷淡，嘲讽了伯爵的傲慢与专横，对比了约翰逊自己对伯爵的热情与诚恳，从而宣布了约翰逊的辞典与伯爵无关，是他独立完成的，对伯爵无恩可感，无情可载。

约翰逊的信是一个穷作家对大人物的控诉状，表现了作家对权贵的蔑视，有着我国著名诗人李白一样的“安能摧眉折腰事权贵”的反叛精神。 在实质上，约翰逊的这种精神代表了英国新兴的资产阶级对封建权势的反抗。 人们将约翰逊的这封信比做是“作家的独立宣言”。 事实上，此后，英国文坛上的保护人制度（Patronage）在英国，在欧洲大陆逐渐消失了。

约翰逊的信不仅思想性深刻，而且文笔优美、语句典雅，不长的信中，三联排比的结构被两次运用。文中的反语、讽刺、幽默含义加强了语句的感染力，而且约翰逊所用的比喻含有高深的典故性和哲理性。 为了表达自己对伯爵“一往情深”的仰慕，约翰逊引用了古罗马诗人维吉尔诗中的牧童“发现爱神只不过是荒山野岭中的野蛮人”的故事，用以喻指伯爵的铁石心肠，是不通情理的人。    这封信中的句子结构上，约翰逊还显示了他高超的安排技巧，信正文的最后一段是一个句子，在末尾的一个定语从句中，作者把书信中的客套结尾语和签名巧妙地变成了这个句子的组成部分。

Difficult Points– Translation Practise. Lord Chesterfield, to whom Johnson had paid the high compliment of addressing to his Lordship the Plan of his Dictionary, had behaved to him in such a manner as to excite his contempt and indignation. lord ― used as a form of address for a marquis, an earl, or a viscount 勋爵(用作侯爵、伯爵或子爵的称呼) lordship ― often Lordship Used with ‘Your’, ‘His’, or ‘Their’ as a title and form of address for a man or men holding the rank of lord 常作 Lordship 阁下：与Your , his 或 their 连用，作为对拥有勋爵头衔的男子的称呼方式和头衔

翻译 约翰逊曾非常恭敬地将(词典》的《计划书》呈给切斯特菲尔德勋爵，后者对约翰逊的表现却引起了他的蔑视和愤慨。

2. When the Dictionary was upon the eve of publication, Lord Chesterfield, who,……, in a courtly manner, to soothe and insinuate himself with the Sage, … …,and further attempted to conciliate him… … soothe ― to calm or placate 使平静或安慰 insinuate ― to introduce or insert (oneself) by subtle and artful means 用微妙和机灵的方式做（自我）介绍、献媚求宠 sage ― one venerated for experience, judgment, and wisdom 圣人 conciliate ― (1) appease 安抚 (2) to please 取悦

翻译 据说，《词典》即将出版之时，切斯特菲尔德爵士以为约翰逊会在作品中题献词给他，便用彬彬有礼的方式，想奉承和接近圣人，虽然心里清楚，外人看起来他确是心里清楚，他自己曾经冷落了《词典》的博学作者；他写了两篇文章在《世界》发表，推荐这部作品，想进一步赢得他的好感；必须承认，文章里的一些恭维话经过精心推敲，运用娴熟，如果先前没有芥蒂，也许约翰逊会大悦于心。

3. ；but let it not, like the Tarpeian maid, be overwhelmed and crushed by unnecessary ornaments. Tarpeain maid – [罗神]塔尔皮亚(古罗马侍奉灶神的处女,背叛罗马,打开城门迎接入侵的塞宾人( Sabines),当要求赏赐时,被塞宾人用盾刺死) 注: Sabines 是古罗马三个部族中的一个 不要让它像塔尔皮亚少女一样，被不必要的装饰品淹没和压垮。

翻译：维吉尔的牧者终于认识了仁者，发现这位仁者不过是岩穴土人罢了。 4. The shepherd in Virgil grew at last acquainted with love , and found him a native of the rocks. referring to the poet Virgil‘s story of Damon (戴蒙,罗马神话中的西西里人) in the 8th Eclogue (田园诗), who sings a sad song of love and heartbreak. In the quote, "Love" is a personification of the emotion, who, by living among the rocks, is proven to be a cruel and heartless character. 为了表达自己对伯爵“一往情深”的仰慕，约翰逊引用了古罗马诗人维吉尔诗中的牧童“发现爱神只不过是荒山野岭中的野蛮人”的故事，用以喻指伯爵的铁石心肠，是不通情理的人。 翻译：维吉尔的牧者终于认识了仁者，发现这位仁者不过是岩穴土人罢了。

5. and to tell him, that he honored him for his manly behavior in rejecting these condescensions of Lord Chesterfield, and for resenting the…… Indeed, the force of mind which appeared in this letter, was congenial with that which Warburton himself amply possessed. condescension ― patronizingly superior behavior or attitude 恩赐态度 resent ― to feel indignantly aggrieved at 憎恶,怨恨 congenial ― having the same tastes, habits, or temperament; sympathetic 性格相似的 amply ―广泛地; 充足地; 详细地; 丰富地 He apologized amply for his suddenness. 他因自己的唐突而深表歉意。

翻译 并告诉约翰逊，他赞赏约翰逊拒绝切斯特菲尔德爵士屈尊以就时表现的大丈夫气概，赞赏他不满切斯特菲尔德爵士对自己的所作所为时，行为得体。约翰逊显然对他的致意感到高兴， 因为他一直对沃伯顿评价很高。的确，这封信中显现的思想力量，和沃伯顿本人充分拥有的思想万量是一致的。

Key Words and expressions republic ― a group of people working as equals in the same sphere or field 团体, 界 letter – (1) literary culture; belles-lettres (纯)文学 (2) learning or knowledge, especially of literature文学知识 (3) literature or writing as a profession文学家,作家 the republic of letters 文学界 perusal – reading through carefully 熟[精, 细]读 own – acknowledge 承认 anarchy – chaos, confusion 混乱，无秩序

arduous – demanding great effort or labor; difficult 艰巨的；困难的 hereby – by virtue of this act, decree, bulletin, or document; by this means 据此 subject – one who is under the rule of another or others, especially one who owes allegiance to a government or ruler (国)臣民 said – adj. named or mentioned before; 上 (前)述的 eg: Said party has denied the charges.上述一方已 否认了控诉. nay – and moreover 不仅如此,而且 eg: He was ill-favored, nay, hideous. 他是难看的，不仅如此，而且是可怕的.

infallible – (1)Roman Catholic Church Incapable of error in expounding doctrine on faith or morals【罗马天主教】 阐述教义无误的 (2) Incapable of erring 不可能犯错误的 eg:an infallible guide 绝无谬误的向导; eg: an infallible source of information 可 靠的资料来源 in the chair – 担任主席[会长], 处主席地位 importunately – urgently 急迫地 resort to – to have recourse 诉诸，依靠,求助

dupe – an easily deceived person 易受骗的人 artifice ― an artful or crafty expedient; a stratagem诡计;计谋 scribbling ―乱涂[写]; [pl.]胡[乱]写的文章[作品] civil ― polite , not rude solicit ― to petition persistently不断请求 posterity ― future generations 后代 dictate ― to say or read aloud to be recorded or written by another 口述 transcript ― something transcribed, especially a written, typewritten, or printed copy 抄本

proprietor ― one who has legal title to sth.; an owner 业主；主人 enchantment ― something that enchants 魅力 forbear ― to refrain from; resist 克制；抵制 regard ― respect, affection, or esteem 尊敬,喜爱 He has high regard for your work. 他十分敬重你的工作. contend ― to strive in opposition or against difficulties; struggle 斗争

repulse – (1) to drive back; repel 击退;驱逐 (2) to rebuff or reject with rudeness, coldness, or denial 拒绝 patron ― one that supports, protects sb. or sth, such as an institution, an event, or a cause; a sponsor or benefactor 资助人 a patron of the arts 艺术事业的赞助者

encumber – o put a heavy load on; burden 负重担;拖累 solitary – lonesome or lonely 孤独(寂)的 impart – to grant a share of; bestow 分给；授予 asperity – harshness of manner; ill temper or irritability 粗暴或易怒 Providence –天意, 上帝, 神的眷顾 conclude – to bring about (a final agreement or settlement)订立 ,达成（最终和约或解 决方案） eg: conclude a peace treaty 订立和平条约 exultation – the act or condition of rejoicing greatly 狂喜，欢跃

couplet – a unit of verse consisting of two successive lines, usually rhyming and having the same meter and often forming a complete thought or syntactic unit 对句(联),双句：包括两个相连的诗行的一种诗的单位，通常压韵并具有同样的格律，经常组成一个完整的意思和句法单位 assail – to trouble; beset 使苦恼；困扰 garret – a room on the top floor of a house, typically under a pitched roof; an attic 顶(阁)楼 fallacious – (1) tending to mislead; deceptive 误导的；欺骗性的 (2) based on a fallacy 包含或建立在谬误上的

Homework Home reading Translating Practice Preview Unit 10