We landed in Philadelphia on the 11th of October, where I found sundry alterations. Keith was no longer governor, being superseded by Major Gordon. I met him walking the streets as a common citizen. He seem’d a little asham’d at seeing me, but pass’d without saying anything. I should have been as much asham’d at seeing Miss Read, had not her friends, despairing with reason of my return after the receipt of my letter, persuaded her to marry another, one Rogers, a potter, which was done in my absence. With him, however, she was never happy, and soon parted from him, refusing to cohabit with him or bear his name, it being now said that he bad another wife. He was a worthless fellow, tho’ an excellent workman, which was the temptation to her friends. He got into debt, ran away in 1727 or 1728, went to the West Indies, and died there. Keimer had got a better house, a shop well supply’d with stationery, plenty of new types, a number of hands, tho’ none good, and seem’d to have a great deal of business.
我们在十月十一日在费城登陆，城里有了许多改变，基夫不再是州长了，接替他的是柯登少校。我看见基夫像一个普通市民那样地在街上行走，看见我时他好像有点羞愧，一声不响地过去了。在接到我的信后，李得小姐的亲友们有充分理由以为我是不会回来的了，他们就劝她跟另外一个人（一个叫劳吉斯的陶工）结婚。这样在我出洋期间，他们结了婚。假如不然的话，我看见她时也会像基夫那样地感到惭愧哩！但是，婚后她总是不快乐，不久就跟他分手了，她拒绝跟他同居，或是用他的姓氏，因为这时有人说他另有妻室。他是一个生性卑劣的人，虽然他的手艺很高明，她亲友们就是贪图他这一点。他负了债在一七二七或二八年跑到西印度群岛去了，以后就死在那里。凯谋的铺子扩大了，又开了一家大的文具铺，添了许多新的铅字，而且有了许多帮手。虽然这些职工的技术并不高明。他的生意倒好像很兴隆。
Mr. Denham took a store in Water-street, where we open’d our goods; I attended the business diligently, studied accounts, and grew, in a little time, expert at selling.
田纳先生在水街租赁了一个店址，在那里我们把我们的商品陈列出来，我勤勉地照料生意，学习记账，不久就学会了做买卖。
We lodg’d and, boarded together; he counsell’d me as a father, having a sincere regard for me. I respected and lov’d him, and we might have gone on together very happy; but, in the beginning of February, 1726-7, when I had just pass’d my twenty-first year, we both were taken ill. My distemper was a pleurisy, which very nearly carried me off. I suffered a good deal, gave up the point in my own mind, and was rather disappointed when I found myself recovering, regretting, in some degree, that I must now, some time or other, have all that disagreeable work to do over again. I forget what his distemper was; it held him a long time, and at length carried him off. He left me a small legacy in a nuncupative will, as a token of his kindness for me, and he left me once more to the wide world; for the store was taken into the care of his executors, and my employment under him ended.
我们在一起膳宿，他像父亲一般地教导我，因为他真心诚意地重视我，我尊敬他，爱戴他，我们原可以很快乐地合作下去。但是，在一七二七年的二月原文是一七二六年的二月，但他们是一七二六年七月启程赴美，一七二六年十月到达费城的，则患病当在一七二七年，而不可能是一七二六年，因此译成一七二七年。——译者当我刚过了二十一岁的生日时，我们两人都得了病。我得了肋膜炎，几乎丧了命，我经受了极大的痛苦，我想我活不成了，而当我发现我自己逐渐恢复时，我倒反而有点失望了，因为我有点懊悔今后迟早还得重新再忍受死亡的痛苦。我现在不记得他得了什么病，他病了很长的一个时期，最后还是死了。在他的口头遗嘱里他留给我一笔小小的遗产，表示他对我的友情。但他使我再一次流浪失业，因为那铺子由他的遗嘱执行人接管去了，这样我在他铺子里的工作就结束了。
My brother-in-law, Holmes, being now at Philadelphia, advised my return to my business; and Keimer tempted me, with an offer of large wages by the year, to come and take the management of his printing-house, that he might better attend his stationer’s shop. I had heard a bad character of him in London from his wife and her friends, and was not fond of having any more to do with him. I tri’d for farther employment as a merchant’s clerk; but, not readily meeting with any, I clos’d again with Keimer. I found in his house these hands: Hugh Meredith, a Welsh Pensilvanian, thirty years of age, bred to country work; honest, sensible, had a great deal of solid observation, was something of a reader, but given to drink. Stephen Potts, a young countryman of full age, bred to the same, of uncommon natural parts, and great wit and humor, but a little idle. These he had agreed with at extream low wages per week, to be rais’d a shilling every three months, as they would deserve by improving in their business; and the expectation of these high wages, to come on hereafter, was what he had drawn them in with. Meredith was to work at press, Potts at book-binding, which he, by agreement, was to teach them, though he knew neither one nor t’other. John –, a wild Irishman, brought up to no business, whose service, for four years, Keimer had purchased from the captain of a ship; he, too, was to be made a pressman. George Webb, an Oxford scholar, whose time for four years he had likewise bought, intending him for a compositor, of whom more presently; and David Harry, a country boy, whom he had taken apprentice.
我姐夫荷麦斯这时在费城，劝我重回本行。凯谋在劝诱我，他愿意给我高额的年薪，要我去管理他的印刷铺，使他可以更好地照料他的文具铺。在伦敦时从他的妻子和他妻子的朋友那里我听到他的名声很坏，所以我不愿意再和他发生关系。我设法想找一个商店店员的位置，但是一时找不到，所以我又答应了凯谋。在他的印刷铺里我找到了下面这些工人：休·梅莱笛斯是一个威尔斯籍的宾夕法尼亚人，三十岁，惯做庄稼活，诚实，懂事，有相当敏锐的观察力，也喜欢念一点书，但好酒；司蒂芬·博茨是一个年轻的成年庄稼汉，习农，天资颖悟，生性幽默，善谐谑，但是有点吊儿郎当。凯谋跟他们约定每周给他们极低廉的工资，随着他们技术的改进，每隔三个月他们的工资将增加一先令。这种未来的高额工资是他勾引他们来的一种手段。梅莱笛斯将做印刷工，博茨装订工。按照合同，他要教他们这两种技术，虽然他自己一样也不懂。一个叫约翰什么的是一个粗野的爱尔兰人，什么行业也没有学过，凯谋从一只船的船主那里买了他四年的服役，他也要他成为一个印刷工。乔治·卫勃是一个牛津大学的学生，凯谋也买了他四年的服役，打算叫他做一个排字工人，下面我还要讲到他。还有大卫·海利是一个乡下孩子，凯谋收他当学徒。
It was an odd thing to find an Oxford scholar in the situation of a bought servant. He was not more than eighteen years of age, and gave me this account of himself; that he was born in Gloucester, educated at a grammar-school there, had been distinguish’d among the scholars for some apparent superiority in performing his part, when they exhibited plays; belong’d to the Witty Club there, and had written some pieces in prose and verse, which were printed in the Gloucester newspapers; thence he was sent to Oxford; where he continued about a year, but not well satisfi’d, wishing of all things to see London, and become a player. At length, receiving his quarterly allowance of fifteen guineas, instead of discharging his debts he walk’d out of town, hid his gown in a furze bush, and footed it to London, where, having no friend to advise him, he fell into bad company, soon spent his guineas, found no means of being introduc’d among the players, grew necessitous, pawn’d his cloaths, and wanted bread. Walking the street very hungry, and not knowing what to do with himself, a crimp’s bill was put into his hand, offering immediate entertainment and encouragement to such as would bind themselves to serve in America.
一个牛津大学的学生成为一个卖身仆，是一件奇闻。他还不到十八岁，他告诉我这样一段他自己的历史，他生在葛劳斯特，曾在当地的语法学校读过书，当他们在学校里演戏时，他因为在表演时显出了显而易见的才能，所以在学生中很有名气，在学校里他参加了“幽默社”，也写过一些短篇的诗歌和散文，它们曾经在葛劳斯特的报纸上发表过。从那里他被送到了牛津。在大学里他继续读了一年书，但是他不很满意，他最希望的是到伦敦去观光和当演员。最后，当他领到三个月的补助金十五个金币时，他不去还清债务，却走出了市镇，把他的大学礼服藏在金雀花丛中，步行到了伦敦，在那里，因为没有亲友指导他，结识了坏人，不久就花完了他的金币，还找不到进入戏剧界的门路，贫穷了，当衣服，但又无钱买面包。当他空着肚子走在街上，而又不知道如何是好时，有人把一张人贩子的传单塞入他的手中，上面答应凡是愿意出卖自己到美洲去服役的人马上可以得到饮食和奖励。
I soon perceiv’d that the intention of engaging me at wages so much higher than he had been us’d to give, was, to have these raw, cheap hands form’d thro’ me; and, as soon as I had instructed them, then they being all articled to him, he should be able to do without me. I went on, however, very cheerfully, put his printing-house in order, which had been in great confusion, and brought his hands by degrees to mind their business and to do it better.
我不久看出了他之所以出了远远高过于他惯常所给的工资来雇用我，他的目的就是要通过我来训练这些没有经验的、廉价的雇工，一等到我把他们教会以后（因为他们都跟他订有一定年限的契约），他就可以不用我了。尽管如此，我还是欢欢喜喜地继续工作，整顿了他的印刷铺，本来它是十分混乱的，我逐步地使他的雇工们注意和改进他们的工作。
He went directly, sign’d the indentures, was put into the ship, and came over, never writing a line to acquaint his friends what was become of him. He was lively, witty, good-natur’d, and a pleasant companion, but idle, thoughtless, and imprudent to the last degree.
他马上就跑了去，在定期服务契约上签了名，上了船，就渡海到美洲来了。他连一个字也不寄给他的亲友告诉他的近况。他很活泼幽默，性格温厚，谈吐风趣，但是懒惰、轻率和极度地不审慎。
John, the Irishman, soon ran away; with the rest I began to live very agreeably, for they all respected me the more, as they found Keimer incapable of instructing them, and that from me they learned something daily. We never worked on Saturday, that being Keimer’s Sabbath, so I had two days for reading. My acquaintance with ingenious people in the town increased. Keimer himself treated me with great civility and apparent regard, and nothing now made me uneasy but my debt to Vernon, which I was yet unable to pay, being hitherto but a poor oeconomist. He, however, kindly made no demand of it.
那个爱尔兰人约翰不久就逃跑了。我跟其余的人相处得很愉快，因为他们发现凯谋自己不能教他们技术，而从我这里他们每天学到一点东西，所以他们都更加尊敬我了。我们在礼拜六从不工作，因为那是凯谋的安息日，这样我就有两天可以读书了。我在城里认识了更多的有发明天才的人。凯谋自己待我十分殷勤，表面上很尊敬我，这时我心中别无挂虑，只是我欠佛南的债款，到这时我还无力偿还，因为我不善节约。但是，他很讲情义，不提起这笔债。
Our printing-house often wanted sorts, and there was no letter-founder in America; I had seen types cast at James’s in London, but without much attention to the manner; however, I now contrived a mould, made use of the letters we had as puncheons, struck the matrices in lead, And thus supply’d in a pretty tolerable way all eficiencies.
我们的印刷铺常常需要整套的铅字，而在美洲还没有浇铅字的人。在伦敦时我在詹姆士的铺子里曾经见过人家浇铸铅字，可是没有十分注意它的方法。但是这时我发明了一种铸模，利用我们用作打印器的字母，把铅制成铸模，这样相当不错地满足了各种需要。
But, however serviceable I might be, I found that my services became every day of less importance, as the other hands improv’d in the business; and, when Keimer paid my second quarter’s wages, he let me know that he felt them too heavy, and thought I should make an abatement. He grew by degrees less civil, put on more of the master, frequently found fault, was captious, and seem’d ready for an outbreaking. I went on, nevertheless, with a good deal of patience, thinking that his encumber’d circumstances were partly the cause. At length a trifle snapt our connections; for, a great noise happening near the court-house, I put my head out of the window to see what was the matter. Keimer, being in the street, look’d up and saw me, call’d out to me in a loud voice and angry tone to mind my business, adding some reproachful words, that nettled me the more for their publicity, all the neighbors who were looking out on the same occasion being witnesses how I was treated. He came up immediately into the printing-house, continu’d the quarrel, high words pass’d on both sides, he gave me the quarter’s warning we had stipulated, expressing a wish that he had not been oblig’d to so long a warning. I told him his wish was unnecessary, for I would leave him that instant; and so, taking my hat, walk’d out of doors, desiring Meredith, whom I saw below, to take care of some things I left, and bring them to my lodgings.
但是不管多么有用，我发现当其他工人的业务逐渐改进时，我的帮助一天比一天地显得不重要了。当凯谋付了我第二季度的工资以后，他告诉我他觉得我的工资太高了，认为我应当减低一些。他逐渐地待我没有从前那么殷勤了，摆出了老板的面孔，常常吹毛求疵，无事生非，好像准备爆发的样子。但是，我仍然是继续工作，勉强忍耐，因为我想他向我生气的部分原因是因为他的经济情况欠佳。终于一件琐事却使我们的关系突然破裂了。有一次在法院附近发生了巨大的嘈杂声，我把头伸出窗外，看看究竟是什么事情。凯谋这时候在街上，抬头见了我，声色俱厉地向我叫喊，要我别管闲事，接着又加了一些责备的话。这时所有往外面看热闹的邻居都看到了他是如何地待我，正因为他当众责备我，这才更加激怒了我。他立即跑到印刷所楼上来，继续跟我争吵，于是双方破口怒骂，他按照合同给我三个月的解雇通知，但是他对于他必须给我这样长期的预告表示后悔。我告诉他他的懊悔是不需要的，因为我要立刻离开他了。这样，我就拿了我的帽子，走出了门，在楼下我看见了梅莱笛斯，我就要他照料我留下的一些东西，并把它们送到我的宿舍来。
I also engrav’d several things on occasion; I made the ink; I was warehouseman, and everything, and, in short, quite a factotum.
必要时我也雕刻几块铜板，我制造油墨，我是仓库管理员和一切，简单地说，我差不多是一个打杂工。
Meredith came accordingly in the evening, when we talked my affair over. He had conceiv’d a great regard for me, and was very unwilling that I should leave the house while he remain’d in it. He dissuaded me from returning to my native country, which I began to think of; he reminded me that Keimer was in debt for all he possess’d; that his creditors began to be uneasy; that he kept his shop miserably, sold often without profit for ready money, and often trusted without keeping accounts; that he must therefore fall, which would make a vacancy I might profit of. I objected my want of money. He then let me know that his father had a high opinion of me, and, from some discourse that had pass’d between them, he was sure would advance money to set us up, if I would enter into partnership with him. “My time,” says he, “will be out with Keimer in the spring; by that time we may have our press and types in from London. I am sensible I am no workman; if you like it, your skill in the business shall be set against the stock I furnish, and we will share the profits equally.”
因此，梅莱笛斯在晚间来了，这时候我们讨论了我的事件。他非常尊敬我，因此在我离开了那个印刷所以后，他也不愿意再留在那里了。我开始想到回到家乡去，但是他却劝阻我。他提醒我凯谋所欠的债和他的资产相等了，他的债主们开始感到不安了，他把他的铺子弄得乱七八糟，为了得到现金他往往做不赚钱的生意，而且常常赊卖货物，又不记账，因此他必然会倒闭，他一倒闭我就有可乘之隙。但是我说我没有钱，然后他说他的父亲很相信我，从他跟他父亲的一些谈话中，他相信假如我愿意跟他合伙的话，他父亲会投资帮我们自己开业的。他说：“我跟凯谋的合同将在明春满期，到了那时候我们将从伦敦买到了我们自己的印刷机和铅字。我知道我的技术很差，假如你愿意的话，你提供你的业务上的技术，我供给资本，我们平分赢利。”
The proposal was agreeable, and I consented; his father was in town and approv’d of it; the more as he saw I had great influence with his son, had prevail’d on him to abstain long from dram-drinking, and he hop’d might break him off that wretched habit entirely, when we came to be so closely connected. I gave an inventory to the father, who carry’d it to a merchant; the things were sent for, the secret was to be kept till they should arrive, and in the mean time I was to get work, if I could, at the other printing-house. But I found no vacancy there, and so remain’d idle a few days, when Keimer, on a prospect of being employ’d to print some paper money in New Jersey, which would require cuts and various types that I only could supply, and apprehending Bradford might engage me and get the jobb from him, sent me a very civil message, that old friends should not part for a few words, the effect of sudden passion, and wishing me to return. Meredith persuaded me to comply, as it would give more opportunity for his improvement under my daily instructions; so I return’d, and we went on more smoothly than for some time before. The New jersey jobb was obtain’d, I contriv’d a copperplate press for it, the first that had been seen in the country; I cut several ornaments and checks for the bills. We went together to Burlington, where I executed the whole to satisfaction; and he received so large a sum for the work as to be enabled thereby to keep his head much longer above water.
这个提议我欣然赞同了，他父亲这时候在城里，也同意了我们的计划，特别是因为他看到他的儿子很信任我。我已经劝他戒了一个时期的酒，他希望当我们两人那样紧密地结合在一起时，我或许能使他完全戒掉这恶劣的习惯。我开了一张清单给他的父亲，他父亲交给一个商人去订货了。在机器未运到之前我们要严守秘密，在其间，假如可能的话，我将设法在其他印刷铺找些工作。但是我找不到空缺，所以闲了几天。这时，凯谋因为希望获得新泽西印纸币的生意，需要只有我能做的雕板和各种铅字，同时因为怕勃拉福雇用了我把生意抢去，所以给我写了一封十分谦恭的信，说多年的老朋友不应当因为几句一时气愤的话就分手，希望我回去。梅莱笛斯劝我去，因为在我日常的指导之下他可以有更多的机会增进他的技术。这样，我就回去了，我们相处得比以前一段时间好多了，凯谋得到了新泽西的生意，我替它设计了一部铜板印刷机，这在美洲还是第一次看到哩！我替纸币雕刻一些花纹和对号，我和凯谋一同到柏林敦跑了一趟，在那里我满意地完成了整个任务，他因此获得了一笔巨款，使他可以有一个时期不致破产了。
We continu’d there near three months; and by that time I could reckon among my acquired friends, Judge Allen, Samuel Bustill, the secretary of the Province, Isaac Pearson, Joseph Cooper, and several of the Smiths, members of Assembly, and Isaac Decow, the surveyor-general. The latter was a shrewd, sagacious old man, who told me that he began for himself, when young, by wheeling clay for the brick-makers, learned to write after be was of age, carri’d the chain for surveyors, who taught him surveying, and he had now by his industry, acquir’d a good estate; and says he, “I foresee that you will soon work this man out of business, and make a fortune in it at Philadelphia.” He had not then the least intimation of my intention to set up there or anywhere. These friends were afterwards of great use to me, as I occasionally was to some of them. They all continued their regard for me as long as they lived.
我们在那里继续工作了几乎三个月，到那时候，我已经结识了法官爱伦，州议会秘书撒木耳·部士帖耳，议员爱瑟·皮耳生，约瑟·库柏，和几个斯密司家的人，和测量局长爱瑟·狄考。狄考是一个机灵精明的老年人，他告诉我当他年轻时，他开始是替砖匠运送黏土的，在成年后才学习写字，后来替测量员背测链，从他们那里他学会了测量术，到了这时候靠着他自己的勤劳，他已经置了一份很好的家产，他说：“我预言你不久将把这个人从印刷业中排挤出去，你将在费城以印刷业起家。”这时候他丝毫也不知道我在费城或任何其他地方开业的意图。这些朋友日后对我大有裨益，有时我也偶尔帮助他们中间的一些人，他们毕生却一贯地重视敬慕我。
At Burlington I made an acquaintance with many principal people of the province. Several of them had been appointed by the Assembly a committee to attend the press, and take care that no more bills were printed than the law directed. They were therefore, by turns, constantly with us, and generally he who attended, brought with him a friend or two for company. My mind having been much more improv’d by reading than Keimer’s, I suppose it was for that reason my conversation seem’d to he more valu’d.
在柏林敦我结识了许多新泽西的要人。为了照料纸币印刷工作和监视按照法律纸币的印数起见，州议会指派了一个委员会，我所结识的人中间有几个就是这个委员会的委员，因此，这些人轮流地一直跟我们在一起，来监督印刷的人一般总是带了一两个朋友来做伴的。由于我曾经读了许多书，我的文化修养较凯谋为高，我猜想就是为了这个缘故所以他们好像更喜欢跟我谈话。
They had me to their houses, introduced me to their friends, and show’d me much civility; while he, tho’ the master, was a little neglected. In truth, he was an odd fish; ignorant of common life, fond of rudely opposing receiv’d opinions, slovenly to extream dirtiness, enthusiastic in some points of religion, and a little knavish withal.
他们邀我到他们家里去，把我介绍给他们的朋友，对我十分殷勤，但是，虽然他是老板，他们对他却有点轻视了。老实说，他是一个古怪的家伙，他不懂得公共生活，爱好粗鲁地驳斥一般人所公认的意见，衣冠不整到极度邋遢，狂信宗教上的某些教义，并且有点无赖气。
Before I enter upon my public appearance in business, it may be well to let you know the then state of my mind with regard to my principles and morals, that you may see how far those influenc’d the future events of my life. My parents had early given me religious impressions, and brought me through my childhood piously in the Dissenting way. But I was scarce fifteen, when, after doubting by turns of several points, as I found them disputed in the different books I read, I began to doubt of Revelation itself. Some books against Deism fell into my hands; they were said to be the substance of sermons preached at Boyle’s Lectures. It happened that they wrought an effect on me quite contrary to what was intended by them; for the arguments of the Deists, which were quoted to be refuted, appeared to me much stronger than the refutations; in short, I soon became a thorough Deist. My arguments perverted some others, particularly Collins and Ralph; but, each of them having afterwards wrong’d me greatly without the least compunction, and recollecting Keith’s conduct towards me (who was another freethinker), and my own towards Vernon and Miss Read, which at times gave me great trouble, I began to suspect that this doctrine, tho’ it might be true, was not very useful. My London pamphlet, which had for its motto these lines of Dryden:
在我讲述我正式开业之前，最好让你知道当时我对道德伦理的看法，让你可以看出这些观念是怎样地影响我未来生命中的大事的。我父母在早年就对我灌输了宗教思想，在我童年时代我受了虔诚的非国教徒的教养。由于在我所读到的各种书籍里我发现对教条有争辩，我自己对于教条中的某几点也先后发生了怀疑，接着，当我还不到十五岁时，我开始对《圣经》本身发生怀疑了。我偶然碰到了一些反对自然神教的书籍，据说这些书是博尔演讲中讲道文的大意。它们对我的影响恰巧跟它们的原意相反，因为为了驳斥自然神教，它们引证了自然神教信徒的议论，但是这些议论在我看来却比那些反驳它们的理论还坚强有力。简单地说，不久我就成为一个彻头彻尾的自然神教信徒了。我的议论带引一些人走上了歧途，特别是高令斯和雷夫，但是这两个人后来都毫无良心地大大地害了我，想到了基夫对我的行为（他是另一个宗教上的自由思想者）和我自己对佛南和李得小姐的行为，这种行为有时使我十分苦恼，我开始觉得这种教义虽然或许是真的，但是它不十分有益。我的伦敦小册子引用了德莱登的诗作为箴言：
“Whatever is, is right. Though purblind man Sees but a part o’ the chain, the nearest link: His eyes not carrying to the equal beam, That poises all above;” and from the attributes of God, his infinite wisdom, goodness and power, concluded that nothing could possibly be wrong in the world, and that vice and virtue were empty distinctions, no such things existing, appear’d now not so clever a performance as I once thought it; and I doubted whether some error had not insinuated itself unperceiv’d into my argument, so as to infect all that follow’d, as is common in metaphysical reasonings.
“存在即是合理，虽然半瞎的人，只看见链条的一端，最近的一环，他的两眼看不到，上面那权衡一切的秤杆。”在那本小册子里我从上帝的属性，他的无限智慧、善良与权力得到结论说世界上的一切事物全都是对的，恶与善是一种虚空的区别，根本就没有善恶。现在看起来这篇文章并不像我过去曾经一度认为的那样的巧妙杰作。因此我猜想某些错误可能会不知不觉地混入我的论断，以致影响随之而来的全部理论，这原是在形而上学的推论中常见的。
I grew convinc’d that truth, sincerity and integrity in dealings between man and man were of the utmost importance to the felicity of life; and I form’d written resolutions, which still remain in my journal book, to practice them ever while I lived. Revelation had indeed no weight with me, as such; but I entertain’d an opinion that, though certain actions might not be bad because they were forbidden by it, or good because it commanded them, yet probably these actions might be forbidden because they were bad for us, or commanded because they were beneficial to us, in their own natures, all the circumstances of things considered. And this persuasion, with the kind hand of Providence, or some guardian angel, or accidental favorable circumstances and situations, or all together, preserved me, thro’ this dangerous time of youth, and the hazardous situations I was sometimes in among strangers, remote from the eye and advice of my father, without any willful gross immorality or injustice, that might have been expected from my want of religion. I say willful, because the instances I have mentioned had something of necessity in them, from my youth, inexperience, and the knavery of others. I had therefore a tolerable character to begin the world with; I valued it properly, and determin’d to preserve it.
渐渐地我确信在人与人之间的相互关系中对人生的幸福最重要的莫过于真实、诚意和廉洁。我写下了我的决心（这决心书还在日记中），要在我的一生中不断地加以实践。《圣经》本身对我并没有重要性，但是我认为：虽然我们不能因为《圣经》禁止某些行动，就说这些行动是坏的，或是因为《圣经》叫我们做，所以就认为是好的，但是当我们考虑了事物的各种情况以后，也许正因为它们对我们不利，所以我们要禁止这些行动，或是正因为这种行动的本身于我们有益，所以我们要去做。这种信念，靠着上帝或是守护天使的祝福，或是偶然的有利情况或形势，或是三者合起来，保全了我，使我经过了青年的危险期，使我在没有父亲在旁照顾和忠告的情况下，安全地经过了有时我在陌生人中间所陷入的险境，而竟然没有任何故意的粗鄙的不道德或不正义行为，由于我的缺乏宗教信仰，这种错误或许原是在意料中的。我说故意的，因为我上面所提到的那些实例，由于我年轻，缺乏经验，由于别人的无赖行为，都包括一些必然性在其中。因此在开始进入社会时，我的品德还总算是过得去的。我正当地重视我这个品德，并且决心保持它。
We had not been long return’d to Philadelphia before the new types arriv’d from London. We settled with Keimer, and left him by his consent before he heard of it. We found a house to hire near the market, and took it. To lessen the rent, which was then but twenty-four pounds a year, tho’ I have since known it to let for seventy, we took in Thomas Godfrey, a glazier, and his family, who were to pay a considerable part of it to us, and we to board with them. We had scarce opened our letters and put our press in order, before George House, an acquaintance of mine, brought a countryman to us, whom he had met in the street inquiring for a printer. All our cash was now expended in the variety of particulars we had been obliged to procure, and this countryman’s five shillings, being our first-fruits, and coming so seasonably, gave me more pleasure than any crown I have since earned; and the gratitude I felt toward House has made me often more ready than perhaps I should otherwise have been to assist young beginners.
我们回到费城之后不久，新的铅字就从伦敦运到了。我们跟凯谋讲好了，经他同意，我们离开了他，这时他还没有听到我们开业的计划哩。我们在市场附近找到了一所出租的房屋，就租了下来。为了减轻房租负担（这时候才二十四镑一年，虽然到现在我听说已经到了七十镑了），我们便招了釉工汤麦斯·高德福莱和他的家庭来同住，他们要负担全部租金的一个相当部分，同时我们把伙食包给他们。我们还来不及拆开铅字，整理好印刷机，我的一个朋友乔治·赫司带了一个乡下人到我们这里来。他在街上遇见他的时候，他正在寻找印刷铺哩。到这时候我们的现金都已经花在我们必须置办的各式各样的项目上了，所以这个乡下人的五先令，因为它是我们的初次收益，而且来得这样合时，它给我的快乐胜过我以后所赚的任何一个五先令的银币。由于我对赫司的感激，我常常乐于帮助那些年轻的刚开业的人，要不然我或许不会这样热心的。
There are croakers in every country, always boding its ruin. Such a one then lived in Philadelphia; a person of note, an elderly man, with a wise look and a very grave manner of speaking; his name was Samuel Mickle. This gentleman, a stranger to me, stopt one day at my door, and asked me if I was the young man who had lately opened a new printing-house. Being answered in the affirmative, he said he was sorry for me, because it was an expensive undertaking, and the expense would be lost; for Philadelphia was a sinking place, the people already half-bankrupts, or near being so; all appearances to the contrary, such as new buildings and the rise of rents, being to his certain knowledge fallacious; for they were, in fact, among the things that would soon ruin us. And he gave me such a detail of misfortunes now existing, or that were soon to exist, that he left me half melancholy. Had I known him before I engaged in this business, probably I never should have done it. This man continued to live in this decaying place, and to declaim in the same strain, refusing for many years to buy a house there, because all was going to destruction; and at last I had the pleasure of seeing him give five times as much for one as he might have bought it for when he first began his croaking.
在每一个国家里都有经常预报国家即将毁灭的悲观主义者。在费城当时就住了这样的一个人，他是一个知名之士，一个上了年纪的人，看上去像是一个聪明人，讲话态度十分严肃。他的名字是撒木耳·密克尔。这位先生我并不认识，有一天跑到我门口来，问我是否就是那个新近开设一家新印刷铺的年轻人。我回答他是的，他说他很为我惋惜，因为开一家印刷铺很费钱，但是这笔费用要亏损蚀掉的。费城是一个没落的城市，城里的市民已经在半破产状态中了。尽管表面上相反，新建的大厦和房租的上涨他确切地认为是虚假的繁荣。因为事实上，这些正是不久就要造成我们毁灭的因素的一部分。接着他这样详细地叙述了当时已发生的或是即将发生的灾祸。当他离开时，我有点悒悒不乐了。假如我在开业前认识了他，可能我永不从事于此了。这个人继续住在一所破烂的房子里，用同样的论调诡辩着，许多年来他不肯在那里买一所房子，因为一切即将毁灭了。但是到了后来我高兴地看到他出了比他初倡悲观论调时可能买到的高出五倍的价格买了一所房子。
The first members were Joseph Breintnal, a copyer of deeds for the scriveners, a good-natur’d, friendly, middle-ag’d man, a great lover of poetry, reading all he could meet with, and writing some that was tolerable; very ingenious in many little Nicknackeries, and of sensible conversation.
这个组织的首批会员是：约瑟·勃赖诺，一个公证事务所的契约誊写员，一个温厚、友好的中年人，爱诗，遇诗即读，也能写一些过得去的诗，善于做一些小玩意儿，谈话很通情达理。
I should have mentioned before, that, in the autumn of the preceding year, I had form’d most of my ingenious acquaintance into a club of mutual improvement, which we called the JUNTO; we met on Friday evenings. The rules that I drew up required that every member, in his turn, should produce one or more queries on any point of Morals, Politics, or Natural Philosophy, to be discuss’d by the company; and once in three months produce and read an essay of his own writing, on any subject he pleased. Our debates were to be under the direction of a president, and to be conducted in the sincere spirit of inquiry after truth, without fondness for dispute, or desire of victory; and, to prevent warmth, all expressions of positiveness in opinions, or direct contradiction, were after some time made contraband, and prohibited under small pecuniary penalties.
我早先原该提到，在前一年的秋天，我把我大多数的有才能的朋友组成了一个相互切磋琢磨的社团，我们管它叫做“密社”。我们每星期五晚间开会。我起草的章程规定每一社员须依次提出一两篇研讨道德、政治或自然哲学中任何问题的论文，并在会中讨论，每隔三月要提出和诵读本人习作一篇，题目任选。我们的辩论由会长主持，而且应当根据诚恳的探求真理的精神，而不是以爱好争辩或是求胜的态度来进行。为了防止激昂的情绪，一切肯定意见的表达和直接的抗辩过了一些时候就成为非法了，违者处以小额罚金。
William Parsons, bred a shoemaker, but loving reading, had acquir’d a considerable share of mathematics, which he first studied with a view to astrology, that he afterwards laught at it. He also became surveyor-general.
威廉·柏生，学制鞋业，爱读书，学了不少的数学，他本来是为了占星学才学数学的，以后谈到这件事他就笑了。他也做了测量局局长。
Nicholas Scull, a surveyor, afterwards surveyor-general, who lov’d books, and sometimes made a few verses.
尼古拉·斯格尔，一个测量员，后来做了测量局局长，爱读书，有时也写几行诗。
Thomas Godfrey, a self-taught mathematician, great in his way, and afterward inventor of what is now called Hadley’s Quadrant. But he knew little out of his way, and was not a pleasing companion; as, like most great mathematicians I have met with, he expected universal precision in everything said, or was for ever denying or distinguishing upon trifles, to the disturbance of all conversation. He soon left us.
汤麦斯·高德福莱，一个自学的数学家，对于他的本行有专门的研究，后来成为现今所谓“哈德栗象限”的发明者，但在他本行以外，他一无所知，也不是一个讨人喜欢的伴侣。像我所遇到的大多数伟大数学家一样，他要求每一句话绝对地正确，无止境地否定或区别琐碎细小的事物，妨碍整个谈话的进行。他不久就离开了我们。
William Maugridge, a joiner, a most exquisite mechanic, and a solid, sensible man.
威廉·莫德集，一个细木匠，一个十分优秀的工匠，同时也是一个稳健明达的人。
Robert Grace, a young gentleman of some fortune, generous, lively, and witty; a lover of punning and of his friends.
劳勃脱·葛莱丝，一个有些财产的年轻绅士，慷慨，活泼，幽默，爱讲双关话，爱朋友。
And William Coleman, then a merchant’s clerk, about my age, who had the coolest, dearest head, the best heart, and the exactest morals of almost any man I ever met with. He became afterwards a merchant of great note, and one of our provincial judges. Our friendship continued without interruption to his death, upward of forty years; and the club continued almost as long, and was the best school of philosophy, morality, and politics that then existed in the province; for our queries, which were read the week preceding their discussion, put us upon reading with attention upon the several subjects, that we might speak more to the purpose; and here, too, we acquired better habits of conversation, every thing being studied in our rules which might prevent our disgusting each other. From hence the long continuance of the club, which I shall have frequent occasion to speak further of hereafter.
还有威廉·柯尔曼，那时是一个商店店员，大约与我同年，他几乎是我所知道的人中间头脑最冷静清楚、心肠最热、品行最端正的人了。他后来成为一个有声望的商人，也是我们州里的法官之一。我们的友谊毕生从未间断，先后有四十多年的时间。这个社团差不多也继续了那么多年，是当时在宾夕法尼亚的最优秀的哲学和政治学学派。由于我们在讨论前的一个星期先把论文在会上宣读一遍，这就使得我们在阅读时能够细心注意到不同的题目，庶使我们在讨论时更能讲得剀切中肯。在这会里我们也培养谈话时的良好习惯。在我们的会章中我们拟订了一切可以防止相互冲突的办法，因为这样，我们的社团才能够长期存在，关于这个社团今后我将有机会常常提到它。
Hugh Meredith, Stephen Potts, and George Webb I have characteriz’d before.
休·梅莱笛斯，司蒂芬·博茨，乔奇·卫勃，我在前面已经讲过了。
But my giving this account of it here is to show something of the interest I had, every one of these exerting themselves in recommending business to us. Breintnal particularly procur’d us from the Quakers the printing forty sheets of their history, the rest being to be done by Keimer; and upon this we work’d exceedingly hard, for the price was low. It was a folio, pro patria size, in pica, with long primer notes. I compos’d of it a sheet a day, and Meredith worked it off at press; it was often eleven at night, and sometimes later, before I had finished my distribution for the next day’s work, for the little jobbs sent in by our other friends now and then put us back. But so determin’d I was to continue doing a sheet a day of the folio, that one night, when, having impos’d my forms, I thought my day’s work over, one of them by accident was broken, and two pages reduced to pi, I immediately distributed and compos’d it over again before I went to bed; and this industry, visible to our neighbors, began to give us character and credit; particularly, I was told, that mention being made of the new printing-office at the merchants’ Every-night club, the general opinion was that it must fail, there being already two printers in the place, Keimer and Bradford; but Dr. Baird (whom you and I saw many years after at his native place, St. Andrew’s in Scotland) gave a contrary opinion: “For the industry of that Franklin,” says he, “is superior to any thing I ever saw of the kind; I see him still at work when I go home from club, and he is at work again before his neighbors are out of bed.” This struck the rest, and we soon after had offers from one of them to supply us with stationery; but as yet we did not chuse to engage in shop business.
但是我在这里叙述关于这个社团的事，目的是要指出我当时所有的一些伙伴。他们每个人都尽力为我们介绍生意。特别是勃赖诺，他替我们招揽了替教友会印刷他们历史中四十印张的生意，其余部分将由凯谋承印，在这宗生意上我们工作得非常辛苦，因为定价很低。这是用十二磅活字印的“为祖国”式的对开本，上面还有很长的用小号铅字印的注释。我每天排一大张，梅莱笛斯就在印刷机上把它印出来，等到我为第二天的工作做好拆版工作时，往往已经是夜间十一点钟了，有时还更晚，因为有时候其他朋友介绍来的零活耽误了我们的工作。但是我坚决要保持每天排好一大张的速度，甚至有一夜，当我装好了版以后，我满以为一天的工作业已结束时，其中有一版一不经心给碰坏了。有两页的铅字就乱成一堆，我马上拆了版，重新排印，然后才上床睡觉。这种勤劳是我们的邻居们有目共睹的，我们的名誉和声望就因此而增加了。特别有人告诉我：“当人们在商人的夜间俱乐部里提到这家新开设的印刷铺时，大家普遍地认为它必然要失败，因为在城里已经有了凯谋和勃拉福的两家印刷铺了。但是贝尔德博士（许多年以后我和你曾经在他的故乡，苏格兰的圣安得路兹，见到他过）提出了反面的意见，他说：‘因为那个富兰克林的勤劳是我从来没有见过的。当我从俱乐部回家时，我看见他还在工作，第二天在他的邻居们还没有起身前他又在工作了。’”这番话给大家留下了一个很深的印象，此后不久其中的一个就提议供给我们文具，要我们代销，但我们当时还不想经营文具铺。
I mention this industry the more particularly and the more freely, tho’ it seems to be talking in my own praise, that those of my posterity, who shall read it, may know the use of that virtue, when they see its effects in my favour throughout this relation.
我特别强调和格外直率地提到勤劳这一点，虽然好像我是在自吹自擂，我的目的不外是：当我的后裔读到这里，当他们在这个故事里看见勤劳是怎样地对我有利时，他们可以晓得这一品德的可贵了。
George Webb, who had found a female friend that lent him wherewith to purchase his time of Keimer, now came to offer himself as a journeyman to us. We could not then employ him; but I foolishly let him know as a secret that I soon intended to begin a newspaper, and might then have work for him. My hopes of success, as I told him, were founded on this, that the then only newspaper, printed by Bradford, was a paltry thing, wretchedly manag’d, no way entertaining, and yet was profitable to him; I therefore thought a good paper would scarcely fail of good encouragement. I requested Webb not to mention it; but he told it to Keimer, who immediately, to be beforehand with me, published proposals for printing one himself, on which Webb was to be employ’d. I resented this; and, to counteract them, as I could not yet begin our paper, I wrote several pieces of entertainment for Bradford’s paper, under the title of the BUSY BODY, which Breintnal continu’d some months. By this means the attention of the publick was fixed on that paper, and Keimer’s proposals, which we burlesqu’d and ridicul’d, were disregarded. He began his paper, however, and, after carrying it on three quarters of a year, with at most only ninety subscribers, he offered it to me for a trifle; and I, having been ready some time to go on with it, took it in hand directly; and it prov’d in a few years extremely profitable to me.
乔奇·卫勃交了一个女朋友，她借给他向凯谋赎买自由的所需的资金。这时他愿意到我们铺子里来当一个职工。那时我们没法雇用他，但是我愚蠢地告诉了他一个秘密，我不久打算开办一个报纸，到那时我或许可以雇用他。我告诉他我把成功的希望寄托在这样一个事实上：当时唯一的一家报纸是勃拉福办的，是一份毫无价值，经营得十分恶劣，而又枯燥无味的报纸，但是他还能赚钱，因此我想一家优秀的报纸一定会赚钱。我请卫勃不要告诉别人，但是他竟告诉了凯谋。凯谋为了抢在我前面，立即宣布他自己印报的计划，并雇用卫勃办报。我对此很愤慨。因为当时我还不能立刻办报，为了破坏他的计划，我替勃拉福的报纸写了几篇有趣的作品，总题目是《爱管闲事的人》，后来勃赖诺把它继续了几月之久。这样广大人民的注意被吸引到这家报纸来了，凯谋的计划，经过我们的冷嘲热讽，遭到了人们的漠视，但是他仍然办了报，办了九个月，最多是九十个订户，以后他就贱价把报纸出让给我了。我早就准备好接办这家报纸，就马上把它接受过来，在几年之内，这家报纸变成了我十分赚钱的事业了。
I perceive that I am apt to speak in the singular number, though our partnership still continu’d; the reason may be that, in fact, the whole management of the business lay upon me. Meredith was no compositor, a poor pressman, and seldom sober. My friends lamented my connection with him, but I was to make the best of it.
我知道我喜欢用单数第一人称讲话，虽然这时我们还是合伙经营的，这也许是因为事实上全部事业的经营都归我负责，梅莱笛斯根本不能排字，印刷也不行，而且难得有几天不喝醉酒。我的朋友们常因为我跟他合伙而表示惋惜，但是我将善处逆境尽量利用而已。
Their example was follow’d by many, and our number went on growing continually. This was one of the first good effects of my having learnt a little to scribble; another was, that the leading men, seeing a newspaper now in the hands of one who could also handle a pen, thought it convenient to oblige and encourage me. Bradford still printed the votes, and laws, and other publick business. He had printed an address of the House to the governor, in a coarse, blundering manner, we reprinted it elegantly and correctly, and sent one to every member. They were sensible of the difference: it strengthened the hands of our friends in the House, and they voted us their printers for the year ensuing.
许多人就照了他们的榜样做，这样我们的读者就不断地增加，这是我会写点小文章的最初的良好效果之一。另外一个效果是：当那些要人看到了一个能够动笔的人现在控制了一家报纸时，他们就认为应当鼓励我，对我施些恩惠。勃拉福这时还在承印选举票、法律和其他公家的生意。他把州议会向州长的请愿书印得又粗劣又错误百出，我们把它重印了，印得又精美又准确，我们寄一份给每一个议员，他们看出了这两者的不同。这件事就增加了在议会中支持我们的议员们说话的力量，这样他们就通过把下年度的印刷工作由我们来承印。
Our first papers made a quite different appearance from any before in the province; a better type, and better printed; but some spirited remarks of my writing, on the dispute then going on between Governor Burnet and the Massachusetts Assembly, struck the principal people, occasioned the paper and the manager of it to be much talk’d of, and in a few weeks brought them all to be our subscribers.
我们的报纸一出来，它的外貌就跟宾夕法尼亚以前的报纸迥然不同：不但字体清晰，而且印刷精美，当时保奈特州长和马萨诸塞州州议会之间正发生着争执，我在评论这件事时所作的一些激烈的言论引起了领导人物的注意，使得这报纸和它的发行人常常成为谈话的资料，不到几个星期他们都成为我们的订户了。
Among my friends in the House I must not forget Mr. Hamilton, before mentioned, who was then returned from England, and had a seat in it. He interested himself for me strongly in that instance, as he did in many others afterward, continuing his patronage till his death.
我们在州议会的朋友中，我不能忘了上面提到过的汉密顿先生，这时他已经从英国回来了，并且是州议会的议员。他在这件事上大力地支援我。像以后在其他事情上一样，他毕生对我爱护备至。
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