Letter to Lord 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 favors from the great, I know not well how to receive, or in what terms to acknowledge.
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.
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 favor. Such treatment I did not expect, for I never had a patron before.
The shepherd in Virgil grew at last acquainted with Love, and found him a native of the rocks.
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, encumbers him with help? The notice which you have been pleased to take of my labors, 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; 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.
Having carried on my work thus far with so little obligation to any favorer 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,
My Lord,
Your lordship's most humble,
most obedient servant,
SAM. JOHNSON.
February 7, 1755
译文：
伯爵大人阁下【Lord Chesterfield：菲利普·多墨·斯坦霍普（Philip Dormer Stanhope），切斯特菲尔德第四位伯爵，曾出使海牙，做过爱尔兰总督】：
近闻《人世间》【或《世界报》，周刊，由切斯特菲尔德和著名作家赫拉斯·沃尔普洱（Horace Walpole, 4th Earl of Orford）资助，爱德华·摩尔（Edward Moore）主编】主人言：阁下曾两度撰文，将仆之辞典推荐于世，曷胜荣幸。然仆生平鲜蒙贵人恩典，是以受宠若惊，不知何以答谢。
昔者偶为人所动，初度造府晋谒；于君之谈吐，一似世人之倾慕无已。实望一登龙门，身价百倍（英文意思为：Conqueror of the conqueror of the earth，世界征服者的征服者）；并冀能博得阁下之青睐，此天下人争相罗致者也。然仆之趋侯，颇遭冷遇；其后遂裹足不前，半以孤芳自赏，半以自惭形秽也。仆本一介寒士，不求闻达于世，不善逢迎之术。前者于大庭广众之间得与阁下共语，曲尽所能，以期取悦于君，终不可得。人之竭尽绵薄，辱遭鄙夷而复能怡然自得者，鲜矣哉！
忆昔伫候于室外，见拒于侯门，岁月荏苒，春秋七易。七岁之间，仆励志孟晋，披荆斩棘，致力于辞书之编著；个中艰辛，今日言之何益？所幸功垂于成，刊行在即，其间未尝获君一臂之助，一言之勋，一笑之惠。惟此等殊遇，原非所期，盖仆生平迄未受恩主之惠。
弗吉儿诗中之牧者，其后终得悉“爱童”之为人，方知其为铁石心肠之辈也。（典出古罗马诗人维吉尔的长诗《牧歌》第八章Eclogue VIII，英译为：Now I know what Love is: on iron flints of Tmaros or Rhodope or the utmost Garamants is he born, no child of our kin or blood.汉译：现在我认识了爱神，他在坚实的岩石间长成，在特马洛山或洛多贝山或靠近远方加拉蛮人，他不是我们族类，也不是血肉所生。）
伯爵阁下：见人挣扎于水中则漠漠然袖手旁观，见其安然登岸则遽遽乎殷勤相助，此非恩主之为人乎？阁下于拙著之锦注，若在昔年，诚不失为美意；惜于姗姗其来迟，今仆已兴味索然，难以欣赏；仆已孑然一身，无人分享；仆已薄有声名，不劳垂颐矣。且仆既未受惠于人，自不欲对其感恩戴德；仆借天助独立完竣之功业，自不欲天下人误以为恩主所赐；此言谅不致失之于尖酸刻薄耳。
仆自编撰辞书以还，既未受惠于任何学术赞助人于前，则于今大功垂成之日，即无丝毫恩赐于后，亦当不以为憾耳。盖仆昔时固尝陶醉于希望之美梦，今则梦醒久矣。
仆
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