The journeymen were inquisitive where I had been, what sort of a country it was, and how I lik’d it. I prais’d it much, the happy life I led in it, expressing strongly my intention of returning to it; and, one of them asking what kind of money we had there, I produc’d a handful of silver, and spread it before them, which was a kind of raree-show they had not been us’d to, paper being the money of Boston. Then I took an opportunity of letting them see my watch; and, lastly (my brother still grum and sullen), I gave them a piece of eight to drink, and took my leave. This visit of mine offended him extreamly; for, when my mother some time after spoke to him of a reconciliation, and of her wishes to see us on good terms together, and that we might live for the future as brothers, he said I had insulted him in such a manner before his people that he could never forget or forgive it. In this, however, he was mistaken.
店里的职工们想知道我一直在什么地方，我到的是一个什么样子的地方，我喜欢不喜欢那地方。我对那地方和我在那里的愉快生活，大加赞扬，强调表示我打算回去的意图。他们中间有一个人问我们在那里有什么样子的钱，我就拿出了一把银币，摊在他们面前。这种银币是他们从来没有见过的奇观，因为在波士顿通用的是纸币。接着我又乘机让他们看看我的表，最后（我哥哥仍然绷着脸显得怪不高兴的）我送了他们一块钱去买点酒喝，就告辞了。我这次探望使他大为不快，因为，当我母亲过了一些时候向他提起和解，并表示希望看到我们和睦地相处在一起，在将来还能手足相处的时候，他说我曾在他的职工面前用一种使他永远不能忘记或是饶恕的方式侮辱了他。但是，这一点他却弄错了。
My father received the governor’s letter with some apparent surprise, but said little of it to me for some days, when Capt. Holmes returning he showed it to him, ask’d him if he knew Keith, and what kind of man he was; adding his opinion that he must be of small discretion to think of setting a boy up in business who wanted yet three years of being at man’s estate. Holmes said what he could in favor of the project, but my father was clear in the impropriety of it, and at last gave a flat denial to it. Then he wrote a civil letter to Sir William, thanking him for the patronage he had so kindly offered me, but declining to assist me as yet in setting up, I being, in his opinion, too young to be trusted with the management of a business so important, and for which the preparation must be so expensive.
我父亲对于州长的信显然表示有点惊奇，但是他对我好几天不提这件事。当荷麦斯船主回来时，他就拿信给他看，问他是否认识基夫，他是什么样子的一种人。他又表示他的意见，说此人考虑事情一定不很周到，他竟想叫一个离开成年还差三岁的男孩子去开业。荷麦斯尽力表示赞同这计划，但是我父亲确实地认为这计划是不合式的，最后他直截了当地否决了它。然后他给威廉爵士写了一封措辞婉转的信，感谢他对我的恩惠和栽培，但是表示他还不能资助我开业，因为他觉得我年纪还太小，他不能信赖我经营管理这样一种需要巨额开办费的重大企业。
My father, tho’ he did not approve Sir William’s proposition, was yet pleas’d that I had been able to obtain so advantageous a character from a person of such note where I had resided, and that I had been so industrious and careful as to equip myself so handsomely in so short a time; therefore, seeing no prospect of an accommodation between my brother and me, he gave his consent to my returning again to Philadelphia, advis’d me to behave respectfully to the people there, endeavor to obtain the general esteem, and avoid lampooning and libeling, to which he thought I had too much inclination; telling me, that by steady industry and a prudent parsimony I might save enough by the time I was one-and-twenty to set me up; and that, if I came near the matter, he would help me out with the rest. This was all I could obtain, except some small gifts as tokens of his and my mother’s love, when I embark’d again for New York, now with their approbation and their blessing.
虽然我父亲不能赞同威廉爵士的计划，他对于我能够从我所在地如此有声望的人那里获得这样一封推崇备至的推荐书，对于我在这样短促的时间内，靠着自己的勤劳和谨慎能够把自己打扮得这样体面，他仍然感到欣慰。因此，既然我跟我哥哥之间没有和解的可能，他就答应让我回到费城去。劝我对当地人士应当谦恭有礼，好获得人们一致的好评，切戒讽刺和诽谤，他认为我过分地爱好这样做。他告诉我靠着不断的辛勤劳动和耐心节约，到我二十一岁时我或许能有足够的积蓄使我能够开业。假如到了那时候，我的积蓄接近所需的费用，那么他会帮我凑满不足之数。这就是我所能得到的一切了，除了当我上船重去纽约时，他给我的表示父母爱子之心的一些小小纪念品以外。但是我这次去纽约却是获得他们的同意和祝福的。
My friend and companion Collins, who was a clerk in the post-office, pleas’d with the account I gave him of my new country, determined to go thither also; and, while I waited for my father’s determination, he set out before me by land to Rhode Island, leaving his books, which were a pretty collection of mathematicks and natural philosophy, to come with mine and me to New York, where he propos’d to wait for me.
我的朋友和伴侣高令斯是邮局的一个职员，他听了我关于我到的新地方的报告，十分喜欢，因此决定也要上那里去了。当我还在等我父亲作出决定时，他先从陆路出发上罗特岛去了。他收集了许多关于数学和自然哲学的书籍，这时他把书留下来，等我把它们跟我自己的书一同伴送到纽约去，他打算在纽约等我。
The sloop putting in at Newport, Rhode Island, I visited my brother John, who had been married and settled there some years. He received me very affectionately, for he always lov’d me. A friend of his, one Vernon, having some money due to him in Pensilvania, about thirty-five pounds currency, desired I would receive it for him, and keep it till I had his directions what to remit it in. Accordingly, he gave me an order. This afterwards occasion’d me a good deal of uneasiness.
帆船停靠在罗特岛的新港，我就去探望我的哥哥约翰。他结了婚，在这里已经住了好几年。他很亲热地接待了我，因为他一直爱我。他的一个朋友，一个叫做佛南的人，有人在宾夕法尼亚欠他一笔钱，大约是三十五镑，他要我代他收这笔钱，并代为保管，直到我接到他的通知叫我如何把款汇寄给他时为止。因此，他给了我一张汇票。这件事后来给了我很多不安。
At Newport we took in a number of passengers for New York, among which were two young women, companions, and a grave, sensible, matron-like Quaker woman, with her attendants. I had shown an obliging readiness to do her some little services, which impress’d her I suppose with a degree of good will toward me; therefore, when she saw a daily growing familiarity between me and the two young women, which they appear’d to encourage, she took me aside, and said: “Young man, I am concern’d for thee, as thou has no friend with thee, and seems not to know much of the world, or of the snares youth is expos’d to; depend upon it, those are very bad women; I can see it in all their actions; and if thee art not upon thy guard, they will draw thee into some danger; they are strangers to thee, and I advise thee, in a friendly concern for thy welfare, to have no acquaintance with them.” As I seem’d at first not to think so ill of them as she did, she mentioned some things she had observ’d and heard that had escap’d my notice, but now convinc’d me she was right. I thank’d her for her kind advice, and promis’d to follow it. When we arriv’d at New York, they told me where they liv’d, and invited me to come and see them; but I avoided it, and it was well I did; for the next day the captain miss’d a silver spoon and some other things, that had been taken out of his cabbin, and, knowing that these were a couple of strumpets, he got a warrant to search their lodgings, found the stolen goods, and had the thieves punish’d. So, tho’ we had escap’d a sunken rock, which we scrap’d upon in the passage, I thought this escape of rather more importance to me.
在新港我们船上来了好几个到纽约去的旅客，其中有两个年轻的女伴和一位严肃、通达、管家婆似的教友会妇人和她的仆人。我对她谦恭有礼，欣然地愿为她做些小事。我想这使她对我有了一些好感。所以当她看到我和两个年轻妇人之间的关系一天比一天地亲热起来，而且她们好像也在鼓励这种发展时，她把我拉到一边说：“年轻人，我替你担忧，因为你身旁没有朋友，你好像也不大懂得世道或年轻人容易上的圈套。相信我，这两个是很坏的女人，我可以从她们的各种各样的行动中看出来。假如你不当心，她们会陷害你。你跟她们素昧平生，为了对你的幸福表示友好的关怀，我劝你不要和她们来往。”由于开头我好像对她们没有像她那样的恶感，她就提到了她观察到和听到的、但是被我疏忽了的一些事情，当时她使我相信她是对的。我感谢了她的善意忠告，答应信奉不渝。当我们到达纽约时，她们告诉我她们住在什么地方，请我去探访她们。但是我没有去，也幸亏如此，因为第二天船主失窃了一只银勺子和一些其他的东西，这些东西是从他的舱房里偷去的。因为船主知道这两个妇女是妓女，他就领了一张搜查证搜查了她们的住宅，找到了赃物，这两个小偷也受了处分。所以，虽然在途中，当一块沉在海底的大岩石擦过我们船边的时候，我们总算躲过了这一暗礁，但是我想这次避开这两个女人，对我来讲，重要性更大。
At New York I found my friend Collins, who had arriv’d there some time before me. We had been intimate from children, and had read the same books together; but he had the advantage of more time for reading and studying, and a wonderful genius for mathematical learning, in which he far outstript me. While I liv’d in Boston most of my hours of leisure for conversation were spent with him, and he continu’d a sober as well as an industrious lad; was much respected for his learning by several of the clergy and other gentlemen, and seemed to promise making a good figure in life. But, during my absence, he had acquir’d a habit of sotting with brandy; and I found by his own account, and what I heard from others, that he had been drunk every day since his arrival at New York, and behav’d very oddly. He had gam’d, too, and lost his money, so that I was oblig’d to discharge his lodgings, and defray his expenses to and at Philadelphia, which prov’d extremely inconvenient to me.
在纽约我找到了我的朋友高令斯，他比我先一些时候到了纽约。我们从童年起就很亲密，我们在一起读了同样的书籍。但是他的条件比我好。他读书和钻研的时间比我多，同时他对学习数学有极好的天才，因此在数学方面他远远地跑在我前面。当我在波士顿的时候，我大部分的空闲聊天时间是跟他在一起消磨的，他当时仍然是一个滴酒不喝的勤勉的小伙子，他的学识颇受当地几个牧师和其他绅士们的尊敬。他看来好像是一个将在社会上可以大露头角的有为青年。可惜，在我不在波城的时候，他沾染了滥喝白兰地酒的习惯。从他自己的叙述中和从旁人的报告中，我知道自从他到了纽约以后他无日不喝得酩酊大醉，举止行动十分乖戾。他并且也赌博，输了钱。这样我就不得不替他付房租，并负担他赴费城的旅费和在费城时的生活费，这些负担后来给了我极大的麻烦。
The then governor of New York, Burnet (son of Bishop Burnet), hearing from the captain that a young man, one of his passengers, had a great many books, desir’d he would bring me to see him. I waited upon him accordingly, and should have taken Collins with me but that he was not sober. The gov’r. treated me with great civility, show’d me his library, which was a very large one, and we had a good deal of conversation about books and authors. This was the second governor who had done me the honor to take notice of me; which, to a poor boy like me, was very pleasing.
当时纽约的州长保奈特（保奈特主教之子）听到船主提起在他的乘客中有一个年轻人带了一大堆书籍，要求船主把我带去见他，因此我就去拜访他。若不是因为高令斯当时已经烂醉，我一定会带了他同去的。那位州长非常殷勤地招待我，带我参观他的藏书室，那是一个很大的藏书室，我们谈了许多关于书籍和作家的话。我光荣地获得州长们的青睐，这是第二次。这种赏识对一个像我这样的穷小子来说是十分使人高兴的。
We proceeded to Philadelphia. I received on the way Vernon’s money, without which we could hardly have finish’d our journey. Collins wished to be employ’d in some counting-house, but, whether they discover’d his dramming by his breath, or by his behaviour, tho’ he had some recommendations, he met with no success in any application, and continu’d lodging and boarding at the same house with me, and at my expense. Knowing I had that money of Vernon’s, he was continually borrowing of me, still promising repayment as soon as he should be in business. At length he had got so much of it that I was distress’d to think what I should do in case of being call’d on to remit it.
我们向费城前进了，在路上我收到了佛南的钱。假如没有这笔钱，我们几乎就到不了我们的目的地。高令斯想当会计，但是，虽然他有一些推荐信，人家或是从他的呼吸或是从他的举止看出了他好醉酒，他找工作一直没有成功，继续跟我在同一个地方膳宿，费用由我负担。因为他知道我身边有佛南这笔钱，他就不断地向我借贷，口头上还说等他一有职业就还我，到了后来，他用了那么多佛南的钱，当我想到假如佛南要我把款子汇去的话，我将怎么办时，我感到焦虑不安。
His drinking continu’d, about which we sometimes quarrell’d;, for, when a little intoxicated, he was very fractious. Once, in a boat on the Delaware with some other young men, he refused to row in his turn. “I will be row’d home,” says he. “We will not row you,” says I. “You must, or stay all night on the water,” says he, “just as you please.” The others said, “Let us row; what signifies it?” But, my mind being soured with his other conduct, I continu’d to refuse. So he swore he would make me row, or throw me overboard; and coming along, stepping on the thwarts, toward me, when he came up and struck at me, I clapped my hand under his crutch, and, rising, pitched him head-foremost into the river. I knew he was a good swimmer, and so was under little concern about him; but before he could get round to lay hold of the boat, we had with a few strokes pull’d her out of his reach; and ever when he drew near the boat, we ask’d if he would row, striking a few strokes to slide her away from him. He was ready to die with vexation, and obstinately would not promise to row. However, seeing him at last beginning to tire, we lifted him in and brought him home dripping wet in the evening. We hardly exchang’d a civil word afterwards, and a West India captain, who had a commission to procure a tutor for the sons of a gentleman at Barbadoes, happening to meet with him, agreed to carry him thither. He left me then, promising to remit me the first money he should receive in order to discharge the debt; but I never heard of him after.
他还是经常不断地喝酒。我们有时也为了这件事争吵过，因为当他稍有醉意的时候，他的脾气是很坏的。有一次，当他跟几个其他的年轻人在道拉瓦泛舟，轮到他划船时，他不肯。他说：“我要别人把我划回家去。”我说：“我们决不替你划。”他说：“你们非划不可，否则就在水上过夜，随你们的便吧。”旁边的人说：“让我们划吧，这有什么关系？”但是，因为我气他另外的事情，我还是不肯划。所以他起誓他一定要我划船，否则就把我扔入河中。这样他站在坐板上向我走过来。当他跑上来打我时，我一手抓住了他的腿，同时站了起来，把他两脚朝天地扔入水中。我知道他善于泅水，所以我并不为他担忧。但是在他转过身来攀住船舷之前，我们划了几下把船划到他够不到的地方。每当他泅近船旁时，我们总是问他究竟他愿否划船，同时划几下使船离开他。他气得要死，固执地不肯答应划船。但是当我们后来看到他有点疲乏时，我们把他捞了起来，在一个黄昏里我们把他全身湿淋淋地送回家去。此后我们总是相互顶撞吵嘴。一个西印度的船主受人的委托要替巴巴多群岛的一个地主的儿子找一个家庭教师，偶然遇见了他，同意送他到那里去。这样他离开了我，约好他一领到钱就把它汇给我偿清债务，但是此后我一直没有听到他的消息。
The breaking into this money of Vernon’s was one of the first great errata of my life; and this affair show’d that my father was not much out in his judgment when he suppos’d me too young to manage business of importance. But Sir William, on reading his letter, said he was too prudent. There was great difference in persons; and discretion did not always accompany years, nor was youth always without it. “And since he will not set you up,” says he, “I will do it myself. Give me an inventory of the things necessary to be had from England, and I will send for them. You shall repay me when you are able; I am resolv’d to have a good printer here, and I am sure you must succeed.” This was spoken with such an appearance of cordiality, that I had not the least doubt of his meaning what he said. I had hitherto kept the proposition of my setting up, a secret in Philadelphia, and I still kept it. Had lt been known that I depended on the governor, probably some friend, that knew him better, would have advis’d me not to rely on him, as I afterwards heard it as his known character to be liberal of promises which he never meant to keep. Yet, unsolicited as he was by me, how could I think his generous offers insincere? I believ’d him one of the best men in the world.
动用佛南这笔款项是我一生中早期重大的错误之一。这件事说明了当我父亲认为我太年轻，还不能经营重大企业时，他的判断是相当正确的，但是当威廉爵士读了我父亲的信时，他说我父亲过分迂谨了。他说人不能一概而论，年长的人不一定谨慎，年轻的人也不全是轻率的。“既然他不肯帮你开业，”他说，“我自己来。你把必须从英国购买的东西开一张单子给我，我去订购。你以后有能力时再付还给我好了。我决定要使这里有一家优良的印刷铺，我相信你一定会成功。”他说这话时，态度是这样的诚挚，我深信他不是说着玩的。在那时以前，我把在费城开业的计划保守秘密，那时候我仍然秘不告人。但是假如人家知道我把希望寄托在州长身上，可能一些知道他性格的友人会劝我不要信他，因为后来我听说他滥许心愿而又不打算履行诺言的脾气是尽人皆知的，但是因为我根本没有请求他帮助，我怎么会想到他那慷慨的援助会是虚伪的呢？我还以为他是世界上最好的人呢。
I believe I have omitted mentioning that, in my first voyage from Boston, being becalm’d off Block Island, our people set about catching cod, and hauled up a great many. Hitherto I had stuck to my resolution of not eating animal food, and on this occasion consider’d, with my master Tryon, the taking every fish as a kind of unprovoked murder, since none of them had, or ever could do us any injury that might justify the slaughter. All this seemed very reasonable. But I had formerly been a great lover of fish, and, when this came hot out of the frying-pan, it smelt admirably well. I balanc’d some time between principle and inclination, till I recollected that, when the fish were opened, I saw smaller fish taken out of their stomachs; then thought I, “If you eat one another, I don’t see why we mayn’t eat you.” So I din’d upon cod very heartily, and continued to eat with other people, returning only now and then occasionally to a vegetable diet. So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable creature, since it enables one to find or make a reason for everything one has a mind to do.
我相信我忘了讲这件事：在我第一次从波士顿来费城的旅途中，因为风浪太大，船停靠在勃劳克岛，乘客开始捕捉鳕鱼，并且拖了许多上来。到这时为止，我坚守我不食荤食的决心，在这种场合，我同意我的老师屈理昂，认为每捉一条鱼等于是一种无缘无故的谋杀，因为鱼过去既没有伤害我们，将来也不会，我们没有正当的理由去杀害它们。这一切好像十分合情合理。但是在过去我是非常爱吃鱼的，所以当热气腾腾的鱼刚从炸锅里拿出来时，它芬芳扑鼻，美妙非常。我好一会踌躇于原则和爱好之间，直到后来我记起了在剖鱼时，看见有人从鱼肚里拿出小鱼来，这时候我想：“假如你们自己互相吞食，我为什么不能吃你们呢？”这样我痛快地吃了一顿鳕鱼，以后还继续跟别人在一起吃鱼，只是偶然有时恢复蔬食罢了。做一个有理性的生物原是这样方便，因为理性能使人找到或是制造理由去干人心里想干的事。
I presented him an inventory of a little print’g-house, amounting by my computation to about one hundred pounds sterling. He lik’d it, but ask’d me if my being on the spot in England to chuse the types, and see that every thing was good of the kind, might not be of some advantage. “Then,” says he, “when there, you may make acquaintances, and establish correspondences in the bookselling and stationery way.” I agreed that this might be advantageous. “Then,” says he, “get yourself ready to go with Annis;” which was the annual ship, and the only one at that time usually passing between London and Philadelphia. But it would be some months before Annis sail’d, so I continu’d working with Keimer, fretting about the money Collins had got from me, and in daily apprehensions of being call’d upon by Vernon, which, however, did not happen for some years after.
我开了一张小印刷铺设备的清单。据我的估计约需一百英镑左右，我把清单交给州长。他很高兴，但是问我假如我自己在英国能够亲自在场选择铅字，并且检查各种机件的质量，是不是方便些。他说：“那么，当你在那里的时候，你可以认识一些人，并且可以在贩卖书籍和文具方面建立通信关系。”我同意这样做或许会是有益的。“那么，”他说，“做好准备坐安妮丝号去。”安妮丝号是当时一年一度经常来往伦敦与费城之间的唯一船只。但是离开安妮丝号启碇，还有几个月的时间。所以我继续和凯谋在一块儿工作，一面为高令斯从我这里拿去的钱焦急着，每天唯恐佛南来提款，但是过了几年一直没有发生这件事。
Keimer and I liv’d on a pretty good familiar footing, and agreed tolerably well, for he suspected nothing of my setting up. He retained a great deal of his old enthusiasms and lov’d argumentation. We therefore had many disputations. I used to work him so with my Socratic method, and had trepann’d him so often by questions apparently so distant from any point we had in hand, and yet by degrees lead to the point, and brought him into difficulties and contradictions, that at last he grew ridiculously cautious, and would hardly answer me the most common question, without asking first, “What do you intend to infer from that?” However, it gave him so high an opinion of my abilities in the confuting way, that he seriously proposed my being his colleague in a project he had of setting up a new sect. He was to preach the doctrines, and I was to confound all opponents. When he came to explain with me upon the doctrines, I found several conundrums which I objected to, unless I might have my way a little too, and introduce some of mine.
我和凯谋相处得很好，意见也还相投，因为他一点也不知道我开业的事。他在很大程度上还保持着他旧日的虔诚狂信，酷爱争辩。因此我们争论了不少次。我常常用苏格拉底的对话法来使他跟我论辩，用一些看起来显然离开我们当前的题目很远〔的问题提问〕，但是逐渐地把他引入窘境，把他诱进各种困难和矛盾之间，我用这种方法常常叫他上圈套，甚至最后他变成了可笑地谨慎，几乎连最普通的问题也不愿回答，总是先问“你究竟想说什么呢？”但是，这件事却使他对我的辩才有很高的评价，他甚至认真地提议要我作为他的同事，帮他创立一个新的教派。他打算讲道，要我去驳斥一切反对者。当他向我说明他的教条时，我发现当中有一些莫名其妙的东西是我所反对的，除非我也可以参加一点意见，介绍一点我自己对宗教的看法。
Keimer wore his beard at full length, because somewhere in the Mosaic law it is said, “Thou shalt not mar the corners of thy beard.” He likewise kept the Seventh day, Sabbath; and these two points were essentials with him. I dislik’d both; but agreed to admit them upon condition of his adopting the doctrine of using no animal food.
凯谋留着长胡子，因为在摩西法中有这样一条：“不许毁损你胡须的边缘。”同样他也以礼拜六为安息日，这两点对他是必不可少的。我可全不喜欢，但是我同意将它们放入教条中，假如他能接受不吃荤食这一条。
“I doubt,” said he, “my constitution will not bear that.” I assur’d him it would, and that he would be the better for it. He was usually a great glutton, and I promised myself some diversion in half starving him. He agreed to try the practice, if I would keep him company. I did so, and we held it for three months. We had our victuals dress’d, and brought to us regularly by a woman in the neighborhood, who had from me a list of forty dishes to be prepar’d for us at different times, in all which there was neither fish, flesh, nor fowl, and the whim suited me the better at this time from the cheapness of it, not costing us above eighteenpence sterling each per week. I have since kept several Lents most strictly, leaving the common diet for that, and that for the common, abruptly, without the least inconvenience, so that I think there is little in the advice of making those changes by easy gradations. I went on pleasantly, but poor Keimer suffered grievously, tired of the project, long’d for the flesh-pots of Egypt, and order’d a roast pig. He invited me and two women friends to dine with him; but, it being brought too soon upon table, he could not resist the temptation, and ate the whole before we came.
他说：“我担心我身体会吃不消。”我向他保证身体不受影响，他的健康会因此而增进。他平常是一个老饕，因此我暗自忖量：将来看着他半饥半饿的样子倒很好玩。他同意试行蔬食，假如我愿意陪他的话。我陪了他，我们实行了三个月。我们的食物经常不变地是由一个邻妇烹调后送来的。他从我这里拿去一张开着四十种菜肴的单子，可以随时替我们烹调这些菜，在这些菜肴中既没有鱼肉，也没有鸡鸭。这种想入非非的念头这时候更合乎我的要求，因为它省钱，每人每周所费不超过十八个便士。从那时起我曾经几次十分严格地守四旬斋，突然地从平常的食物换到吃斋时的食物或是从吃斋换到平常的伙食，我一点也没有什么不便，因此有人劝告说吃四旬斋时应当依照易行的级次逐渐改变，我认为这话是没有什么道理的。我很愉快地吃着素食，但是可怜的凯谋却苦不堪言。他对这个计划已经感到厌倦，一心向往着丰肴美食，因此叫了一份烤猪肉。他请了我和两个女友来跟他一同进餐，但是因为烤猪肉端到桌上来太早了，他无法抵抗那种诱惑，所以在我们到达之前他把它全部吃光了。
My chief acquaintances at this time were Charles Osborne, Joseph Watson, and James Ralph, all lovers of reading. The two first were clerks to an eminent scrivener or conveyancer in the town, Charles Brogden; the other was clerk to a merchant. Watson was a pious, sensible young man, of great integrity; the others rather more lax in their principles of religion, particularly Ralph, who, as well as Collins, had been unsettled by me, for which they both made me suffer. Osborne was sensible, candid, frank; sincere and affectionate to his friends; but, in literary matters, too fond of criticising. Ralph was ingenious, genteel in his manners, and extremely eloquent; I think I never knew a prettier talker. Both of them great admirers of poetry, and began to try their hands in little pieces. Many pleasant walks we four had together on Sundays into the woods, near Schuylkill, where we read to one another, and conferr’d on what we read.
这时候我主要的朋友是查理·奥斯朋、约瑟·华生和詹姆士·雷夫，他们全是好学之士，头两个是镇上一个有名的公证人查理·勃罗克田的书记，另一个是一个商店店员，华生是一个虔诚明达的年轻人，十分正直诚实，其他两个对宗教信仰比较淡漠，特别是雷夫。雷夫这个人，像高令斯一样，受了我的影响，因而他的宗教信仰发生了动摇。为了这事他们两人都使我自食其果。奥斯朋通情达理、正直、坦率，对朋友诚恳而又热情。但是在文笔方面，他过分地喜欢批评。雷夫聪明多才，风度优雅，而又十分雄辩。我想我从来没有见过这样一个善于词令的人。这两个人都十分爱好诗歌，因此试写了几首小诗。在礼拜天我们四个人常常一起愉快地到斯古基河附近的森林中去散步。在森林里，我们轮流朗读作品给大家听，然后大家座谈我们所读的作品。
I had made some courtship during this time to Miss Read. I had a great respect and affection for her, and had some reason to believe she had the same for me; but, as I was about to take a long voyage, and we were both very young, only a little above eighteen, it was thought most prudent by her mother to prevent our going too far at present, as a marriage, if it was to take place, would be more convenient after my return, when I should be, as I expected, set up in my business. Perhaps, too, she thought my expectations not so well founded as I imagined them to be.
在这期间我跟李得小姐恋爱了。我非常尊敬她，也爱慕她，我也有理由相信她对我也是如此。但是，因为我即将到海外作长途旅行，同时我们都很年轻，刚过了十八岁，她母亲认为最稳妥的办法是目前暂时不要我们操之过急。因为如果决定要结婚的话，那么最合适的时候是在我从海外回来之后。到那时候，像我所预料的那样，我将自己开业。也许她也觉得我的期望并不像我想象的那样有根有据。
Ralph was inclin’d to pursue the study of poetry, not doubting but he might become eminent in it, and make his fortune by it, alleging that the best poets must, when they first began to write, make as many faults as he did. Osborne dissuaded him, assur’d him he had no genius for poetry, and advis’d him to think of nothing beyond the business he was bred to; that, in the mercantile way, tho’ he had no stock, he might, by his diligence and punctuality, recommend himself to employment as a factor, and in time acquire wherewith to trade on his own account. I approv’d the amusing one’s self with poetry now and then, so far as to improve one’s language, but no farther.
雷夫喜欢研究诗，深信他会因此而成名发财，他说即使是最出色的诗人，当他们初写诗时，他的诗也必定会像他的一样有许多瑕疵的。奥斯朋却劝阻他，想使他相信他没有诗人的天才，劝他专心致力于他的业务，不要妄想别的。他说在商业方面，虽然雷夫没有资金，靠着他的勤勉和规矩，他可能当一个代理商，以后经过适当的时候可以积累资金，独立经商。我赞成偶然写写诗作为消遣，改进自己的语言风格，但是此外，我别无志愿。
On this it was propos’d that we should each of us, at our next meeting, produce a piece of our own composing, in order to improve by our mutual observations, criticisms, and corrections. As language and expression were what we had in view, we excluded all considerations of invention by agreeing that the task should be a version of the eighteenth Psalm, which describes the descent of a Deity. When the time of our meeting drew nigh, Ralph called on me first, and let me know his piece was ready. I told him I had been busy, and, having little inclination, had done nothing. He then show’d me his piece for my opinion, and I much approv’d it, as it appear’d to me to have great merit. “Now,” says he, “Osborne never will allow the least merit in any thing of mine, but makes 1000 criticisms out of mere envy. He is not so jealous of you; I wish, therefore, you would take this piece, and produce it as yours; I will pretend not to have had time, and so produce nothing. We shall then see what he will say to it.” It was agreed, and I immediately transcrib’d it, that it might appear in my own hand.
关于写诗，这时有人提议，为了相互观摩、批评和改进，我们每人在下次会面时拿出一篇自己写的诗来。因为我们的目标只限于语言和表达方式，我们不考虑虚构幻想，我们大家同意我们的课题是改写《诗篇》第十八篇，这一篇描述上帝的降临。当会期将到时，雷夫首先来访我，告诉我他的诗已经写好了。我告诉他我一直没空，也没有兴趣，因此没有写。然后他给我看他的诗，并征求我的意见。我十分欣赏它，因为在我看来它好像是一首十分优秀的诗。他说：“但是奥斯朋决不肯承认我的任何作品会有一丝一毫的优点，由于忌妒，他总是千方百计地加以攻击。他对你并不怎样妒忌，因此我希望你拿着这首诗，把它当作你自己的交出去，我将假装没有空交白卷。那么我可以看他有什么话可讲。”我同意了，我立刻把它誊了一篇，使它看起来好像是我写的。
We met; Watson’s performance was read; there were some beauties in it, but many defects. Osborne’s was read; it was much better; Ralph did it justice; remarked some faults, but applauded the beauties. He himself had nothing to produce. I was backward; seemed desirous of being excused; had not had sufficient time to correct, etc.; but no excuse could be admitted; produce I must. It was read and repeated; Watson and Osborne gave up the contest, and join’d in applauding it. Ralph only made some criticisms, and propos’d some amendments; but I defended my text. Osborne was against Ralph, and told him he was no better a critic than poet, so he dropt the argument.
我们开会了。华生的诗读了出来，里面有些佳句，但是缺点很多。奥斯朋的读了出来，比华生的好多了。雷夫主持公道：他指出了一些缺点，但是称赞了它的佳句。我很忸怩，好像想请求免交似的，说我没有时间加以修改等等的话，但是他们不允许任何借口，我必须把诗读出来，所以我的诗就读了出来而且重复了一遍。华生和奥斯朋自认输了，退出了竞赛，跟大伙儿一起热烈地赞扬着。雷夫仅仅提出了一些批评，建议作一些修改，但是我替我的原文辩护。奥斯朋反对雷夫，说他的批评比他的诗高明不了多少。所以雷夫就不再争辩了。
As they two went home together, Osborne expressed himself still more strongly in favor of what he thought my production; having restrain’d himself before, as he said, lest I should think it flattery. “But who would have imagin’d,” said he, “that Franklin had been capable of such a performance; such painting, such force, such fire! He has even improv’d the original. In his common conversation he seems to have no choice of words; he hesitates and blunders; and yet, good God! how he writes!” When we next met, Ralph discovered the trick we had plaid him, and Osborne was a little laught at.
当他们两人一起回去时，奥斯朋对被他当作是我的作品更加赞不绝口，他说他早先抑止了他自己，因为他说他怕说出来我会认为是当面阿谀。“但是过去谁想得到，”他说，“富兰克林能写出这样的作品，如此绘声绘色，如此坚强有力，如此热情！他甚至改进了原来的《诗篇》。在他日常谈话中他好像词不达意，他讲话疙疙瘩瘩错误百出。但是天啊！他写得多好呀！”当我们下次会见时，雷夫揭穿了我们向他开的玩笑，大家都笑了奥斯朋一阵。
The governor, seeming to like my company, had me frequently to his house, and his setting me up was always mention’d as a fixed thing. I was to take with me letters recommendatory to a number of his friends, besides the letter of credit to furnish me with the necessary money for purchasing the press and types, paper, etc. For these letters I was appointed to call at different times, when they were to be ready, but a future time was still named. Thus he went on till the ship, whose departure too had been several times postponed, was on the point of sailing. Then, when I call’d to take my leave and receive the letters, his secretary, Dr. Bard, came out to me and said the governor was extremely busy in writing, but would be down at Newcastle before the ship, and there the letters would be delivered to me.
那位州长表面上好像很喜欢和我来往，常常叫我到他家去。在谈到他帮我开业这件事的时候，总是当作已经议定的题目提出来的。除了银行汇信，使我获得购买印刷机、铅字和纸张等所必需的款项外，他说他将给我一些给他朋友的介绍信。他好几次指定了写好这些信件的日期，叫我去领取，但是到了时候总是指定一个更远的日期。这样几次三番地延宕着，直到那只船，也经过了几次延期以后，快要启航了。那时，当我去辞行领取信件时，他的秘书拜耳博士出来见我，说州长正忙于写信，但是在开船之前他会到纽开色来，在那里他会把信件交给我。
This transaction fixed Ralph in his resolution of becoming a poet. I did all I could to dissuade him from it, but he continued scribbling verses till Pope cured him. He became, however, a pretty good prose writer. More of him hereafter. But, as I may not have occasion again to mention the other two, I shall just remark here, that Watson died in my arms a few years after, much lamented, being the best of our set. Osborne went to the West Indies, where he became an eminent lawyer and made money, but died young. He and I had made a serious agreement, that the one who happen’d first to die should, if possible, make a friendly visit to the other, and acquaint him how he found things in that separate state. But he never fulfill’d his promise.
这一事件使雷夫立意要成为一个诗人。我尽我之所能劝阻他，但是他继续写诗，直到蒲柏治了他。但是，他后来成了一个相当好的散文家，以后我还要提到他。但是因为也许我以后不再有机会提到其他两个，我在这里交代一下：过了几年，华生躺在我的怀抱里死去了，使我大为悲痛，他是我们当中最优秀的一个人。奥斯朋到西印度群岛去了，在那里他成了一个著名的律师，赚了钱，但是早年夭折了。我和他曾经认真地订了一个合同：谁先死，如果可能的话，就应当向另外的一个人作一个友好的探访，告诉他死后的情况如何。但是他从来没有履行他的诺言。
Mr. Andrew Hamilton, a famous lawyer of Philadelphia, had taken passage in the same ship for himself and son, and with Mr. Denham, a Quaker merchant, and Messrs. Onion and Russel, masters of an iron work in Maryland, had engag’d the great cabin; so that Ralph and I were forced to take up with a berth in the steerage, and none on board knowing us, were considered as ordinary persons. But Mr. Hamilton and his son (it was James, since governor) return’d from Newcastle to Philadelphia, the father being recall’d by a great fee to plead for a seized ship; and, just before we sail’d, Colonel French coming on board, and showing me great respect, I was more taken notice of, and, with my friend Ralph, invited by the other gentlemen to come into the cabin, there being now room. Accordingly, we remove’d thither.
费城的一个著名律师安得烈·汉密顿先生带了他的儿子乘坐同一只船，他跟一个教友会的商人田纳先生和马里兰一家铁工厂的两个老板安宁先生和赖叟先生包了正舱，这样我和雷夫就不得不坐三等舱了。船上我们一个熟人也没有，所以他们把我们当作普通人。但是汉密顿先生和他的儿子（是詹姆士，以后当了州长）从纽开色回到费城去了，老汉密顿为了替一只被没收的船进行辩护被人用重金请回去了。在我们刚要启碇前，富兰契上校上船来了，对我颇器重。因此他们注意了我，那些绅士邀请我和我的朋友雷夫住到正舱里去，因为这时候有地方空出来了。因此，我们就搬入了舱中。
Ralph, though married, and having one child, had determined to accompany me in this voyage. It was thought he intended to establish a correspondence, and obtain goods to sell on commission; but I found afterwards, that, thro’ some discontent with his wife’s relations, he purposed to leave her on their hands, and never return again.
雷夫，虽然已经结了婚，有了一个孩子，还是决定陪我出洋。据猜度他是想去建立通信联系，获得可以代销的货品，抽取佣金，但是后来我知道由于他对他妻子的亲戚不满，他打算把他妻子交给他们，自己永不再回来了。
Having taken leave of my friends, and interchang’d some promises with Miss Read, I left Philadelphia in the ship, which anchor’d at Newcastle. The governor was there; but when I went to his lodging, the secretary came to me from him with the civillest message in the world, that he could not then see me, being engaged in business of the utmost importance, but should send the letters to me on board, wish’d me heartily a good voyage and a speedy return, etc. I returned on board a little puzzled, but still not doubting.
我辞别了我的朋友，跟李得小姐交换了海誓山盟以后，我就坐船离开了费城，船不久就停泊在纽开色。州长果然在那里，当我到他住所去的时候，他的秘书出来接见我，传达了他的口信，措辞的谦恭是世界第一，说他那时因有十分重要的公务羁身，不能见我，但是他会把信送到船上来的，他衷心地祝我一路顺风、早日归来等等。当我回到船上时，我有点迷惑了，但是我还是没有怀疑。
Understanding that Colonel French had brought on board the governor’s despatches, I ask’d the captain for those letters that were to be under my care. He said all were put into the bag together and he could not then come at them; but, before we landed in England, I should have an opportunity of picking them out; so I was satisfied for the present, and we proceeded on our voyage. We had a sociable company in the cabin, and lived uncommonly well, having the addition of all Mr. Hamilton’s stores, who had laid in plentifully. In this passage Mr. Denham contracted a friendship for me that continued during his life. The voyage was otherwise not a pleasant one, as we had a great deal of bad weather.
因为我猜测富兰契上校已经把州长的公文送到船上来了，所以我就向船主要那些委托由我保管的信件，他说所有的信都一起放在信袋里了，这时候他一时没法拿出来，但是在我们到达英国前，他会给我机会把他们拣出来。这样我就暂时安心了，我们继续向前航行。舱中的乘客很爱交谈，同时我们的饮食特别丰盛，因为除了普通的伙食外，我们还额外有汉密顿先生的饮食必需品，汉密顿先生原来贮备了很丰富的伙食的。在这次旅途中田纳先生跟我结成了朋友，我们的友谊一直继续到他死为止。但是在另一方面，这次旅程是不舒适的，因为有许多日子天气太恶劣了。
When we came into the Channel, the captain kept his word with me, and gave me an opportunity of examining the bag for the governor’s letters. I found none upon which my name was put as under my care. I picked out six or seven, that, by the handwriting, I thought might be the promised letters, especially as one of them was directed to Basket, the king’s printer, and another to some stationer. We arriv’d in London the 24th of December, 1724. I waited upon the stationer, who came first in my way, delivering the letter as from Governor Keith. “I don’t know such a person,” says he; but, opening the letter, “O! this is from Riddlesden. I have lately found him to be a compleat rascal, and I will have nothing to do with him, nor receive any letters from him.” So, putting the letter into my hand, he turn’d on his heel and left me to serve some customer. I was surprized to find these were not the governor’s letters; and, after recollecting and comparing circumstances, I began to doubt his sincerity.
我们驶入英格兰海峡后，船主实践了对我的诺言，给我一个机会在信袋里寻找州长的信件。我找不到一封委托我保管的信，我挑出了六七封信，按照信上的笔迹，我猜想可能是那些约定的信件，特别是因为其中有一封是写给皇家印刷所巴斯吉的，另一封是给一个文具商的。我们在一七二四年十二月二十四日到达伦敦。我去拜访那个文具商，他离开我的地方较近，我递送了那封信，说是从基夫州长来的，“我不认识这样一个人，”他说，但是一面拆信，“哦，这是李德斯田的信。近来我发现他完全是个骗子，我将与他断绝来往，我不收受任何他的来信。”这样，把信放在我的手中，转过身去，离开我去接待一个顾客去了。我很惊奇，发现这些信并不是那位州长写的，经过回忆和比较先后的事实，我开始怀疑他的诚意了。
We both of us happen’d to know, as well as the stationer, that Riddlesden, the attorney, was a very knave. He had half ruin’d Miss Read’s father by persuading him to be bound for him. By this letter it appear’d there was a secret scheme on foot to the prejudice of Hamilton (suppos’d to be then coming over with us); and that Keith was concerned in it with Riddlesden. Denham, who was a friend of Hamilton’s thought he ought to be acquainted with it; so, when he arriv’d in England, which was soon after, partly from resentment and ill-will to Keith and Riddlesden, and partly from good-will to him, I waited on him, and gave him the letter. He thank’d me cordially, the information being of importance to him; and from that time he became my friend, greatly to my advantage afterwards on many occasions.
我们两人，像那个文具商人一样，碰巧知道这个律师李德斯田是一个彻头彻尾的无赖。他唆使李得小姐的父亲拜他为师，订立师徒合同，几乎使得李得先生破了产。从这封信里看来，好像有人正在酝酿着一个不利于汉密顿的秘课（他们假定汉密顿是跟我们一起到英国来的），而这一陰谋又牵涉到基夫和李德斯田。田纳是汉密顿的一个朋友，认为我应当告诉汉密顿这封信的内容。这样，当他不久到达英国时，一则是为了发泄我对基夫和李德斯田的愤怒和憎恶，二则是为了对汉密顿表示好感，我去拜访了他，并把这封信给了他。他诚挚地感谢我，因为这一消息对他是很重要的。从此以后，他成了我的朋友，他的友谊后来有许多次都是对我极有利的。
I found my friend Denham, and opened the whole affair to him. He let me into Keith’s character; told me there was not the least probability that he had written any letters for me; that no one, who knew him, had the smallest dependence on him; and he laught at the notion of the governor’s giving me a letter of credit, having, as he said, no credit to give. On my expressing some concern about what I should do, he advised me to endeavor getting some employment in the way of my business. “Among the printers here,” said he, “you will improve yourself, and when you return to America, you will set up to greater advantage.”
我找了我的朋友田纳先生，把这件事的经过全部讲给他听了。他告诉我基夫的性格，他说他绝对不可能替我写了任何信，无论哪一个知道他的人都不会对他有任何信赖，他听说州长会给我银行汇信，他笑了起来，因为他说他根本没有账款可汇。当我担心我今后当怎么办时，他劝我设法在我的本行中找一工作。“在这里的印刷铺里工作，你可以提高你自己。以后你回到美洲去时，那你开业的条件就更好了。”
Ralph and I were inseparable companions. We took lodgings together in Little Britain at three shillings and sixpence a week — as much as we could then afford. He found some relations, but they were poor, and unable to assist him. He now let me know his intentions of remaining in London, and that he never meant to return to Philadelphia. He had brought no money with him, the whole he could muster having been expended in paying his passage. I had fifteen pistoles; so he borrowed occasionally of me to subsist, while he was looking out for business. He first endeavored to get into the playhouse, believing himself qualify’d for an actor; but Wilkes, to whom he apply’d, advis’d him candidly not to think of that employment, as it was impossible be should succeed in it. Then he propos’d to Roberts, a publisher in Paternoster Row, to write for him a weekly paper like the Spectator, on certain conditions, which Roberts did not approve. Then he endeavored to get employment as a hackney writer, to copy for the stationers and lawyers about the Temple, but could find no vacancy.
我和雷夫是不可分离的伴侣。我们一同寄宿在小不列颠，每周租金三先令六便士——这是我们当时所能支出的最高租金。雷夫找到了一些亲戚，但是他们很穷，无力协助他。这时他告诉我他想留在伦敦的意图，他说他一开头就没有回到费城去的意思。他没有带来钱财，他所能筹措的款项全部都用在船票上了。我身边有十五块西班牙币，所以，在他寻找工作的时候，有时他偶尔向我借一点去维持生活。他起初力图进入戏院，相信他自己适宜于充当演员。他向威尔克申请剧场工作，威尔克坦率地劝他别再在这种工作上转念头，因为他不可能在这方面有所成就。接着他向圣父街的一个出版商罗伯茨提议替他编一份像《旁观者报》一样的周报，他提出了一定的条件，但是罗伯茨不赞同这些条件。以后他就设法寻找作家助手的工作，替出版商或是法学院的律师们抄写，但是这方面他也找不到空缺。
But what shall we think of a governor’s playing such pitiful tricks, and imposing so grossly on a poor ignorant boy! It was a habit he had acquired. He wish’d to please everybody; and, having little to give, he gave expectations. He was otherwise an ingenious, sensible man, a pretty good writer, and a good governor for the people, tho’ not for his constituents, the proprietaries, whose instructions he sometimes disregarded. Several of our best laws were of his planning and passed during his administration.
但是一个州长玩这种卑鄙的把戏，那样下流地欺骗一个可怜无知的孩子，我们又将如何理解呢！原来这是他的一个已经形成了的习惯，他想讨好大家，但又没有东西可以给人，所以他就给人希望。除此以外，他倒是一个聪明、懂事的人，文章写得不坏，对老百姓来说他是一个好州长，虽然对他的选民有产阶级来讲，他并不如此，因为他们的指令他有时候置之不理。我们有一些最好的立法是他规划的，并且是在他任期内通过的。
He seem’d quite to forget his wife and child, and I, by degrees, my engagements with Miss Read, to whom I never wrote more than one letter, and that was to let her know I was not likely soon to return. This was another of the great errata of my life, which I should wish to correct if I were to live it over again. In fact, by our expenses, I was constantly kept unable to pay my passage.
他好像完全忘了他的妻子和孩子，而我也逐渐地忘了我跟李得小姐的约言。我只写给她过一封信，在那封信里我告诉她我大概一时不会回来。这是我一生中另一重大错误，假如我要重演一生，我愿意纠正这一错误。事实上，由于我们的开支，我一直没有钱支付我的旅费。
I immediately got into work at Palmer’s, then a famous printing-house in Bartholomew Close, and here I continu’d near a year. I was pretty diligent, but spent with Ralph a good deal of my earnings in going to plays and other places of amusement. We had together consumed all my pistoles, and now just rubbed on from hand to mouth.
我立即在帕麦的印刷铺里找到了工作。这是当时开设在巴士罗米巷的一家著名的印刷所，在这里我继续工作了近一年的时间。我工作相当勤勉，但是我把我工资的很大一部分花在与雷夫同去剧场和其他娱乐场所。我们一起把我的十五块钱都用完了，现在我们仅仅能够勉强糊口。
At Palmer’s I was employed in composing for the second edition of Wollaston’s “Religion of Nature.” Some of his reasonings not appearing to me well founded, I wrote a little metaphysical piece in which I made remarks on them. It was entitled “A Dissertation on Liberty and Necessity, Pleasure and Pain.” I inscribed it to my friend Ralph; I printed a small number. It occasion’d my being more consider’d by Mr. Palmer as a young man of some ingenuity, tho’ he seriously expostulated with me upon the principles of my pamphlet, which to him appear’d abominable. My printing this pamphlet was another erratum. While I lodg’d in Little Britain, I made an acquaintance with one Wilcox, a bookseller, whose shop was at the next door. He had an immense collection of second-hand books. Circulating libraries were not then in use; but we agreed that, on certain reasonable terms, which I have now forgotten, I might take, read, and return any of his books. This I esteem’d a great advantage, and I made as much use of it as I could.
在帕麦的印刷所里，我被指定替胡拉斯顿的《自然的宗教》的第二版排字。因为他的理论有些地方在我看来没有充分的根据，所以我写了一篇短短的哲学论文批评这些理论。论文的题目是《论自由和必然，快乐与痛苦》。我把这篇论文献给我的朋友雷夫。我印刷了一些。这使得帕麦对我较为重视，以为我是一个有些聪明才能的年轻人，虽然对于这本小册子所包含的那些理论，他严肃地告诫我，他认为是十分讨厌的。印行这一小册子又是我的一个错误。当我住在小不列颠时，我结交了一个书商，叫做威尔考克，他的书铺就在我住处的隔壁。他拥有大量的旧书。当时流通图书馆还不存在，所以我们达成了协议，我出一笔合理的费用，数目我现在已经记不清了，我可以借阅他的任何书籍。我把这看作是莫大的便利，因此我就尽量地利用它。
I had brought over a few curiosities, among which the principal was a purse made of the asbestos, which purifies by fire. Sir Hans Sloane heard of it, came to see me, and invited me to his house in Bloomsbury Square, where he show’d me all his curiosities, and persuaded me to let him add that to the number, for which he paid me handsomely.
我从美洲带来了几件珍品，其中最主要的是一个用石棉制成的荷包，这个荷包要用火来洗涤。汉斯·司隆爵士听到了这件事，就来看我，邀请我到他在泼鲁姆斯保利广场的府上去，在那里他给我看了他所搜集的全部珍品，并劝我把荷包出让给他，使他能把它收入他的珍藏。为此，他慷慨地付给我一笔很高的代价。
My pamphlet by some means falling into the hands of one Lyons, a surgeon, author of a book entitled “The Infallibility of Human Judgment,” it occasioned an acquaintance between us. He took great notice of me, called on me often to converse on those subjects, carried me to the Horns, a pale alehouse in — Lane, Cheapside, and introduced me to Dr. Mandeville, author of the “Fable of the Bees,” who had a club there, of which he was the soul, being a most facetious, entertaining companion. Lyons, too, introduced me to Dr. Pemberton, at Batson’s Coffee-house, who promis’d to give me an opportunity, some time or other, of seeing Sir Isaac Newton, of which I was extreamely desirous; but this never happened.
我的小册子不知通过某种方式被一个叫做赖英斯的外科医生看到了，他是一本叫做《人类判断的不谬性》的作者，因此我们就相识了。他很重视我，常常来看我，同我讨论这类问题，带我到一家在契泼赛的一条某某巷里叫做荷恩斯的淡啤酒店里去，把我介绍给《蜜蜂的童话》的作者曼得维博士，他在那家酒店里成立了一个俱乐部，因为他是一个十分幽默风趣的伙伴，所以他成了这个俱乐部的灵魂。赖英斯也替我介绍了在巴脱生咖啡馆的宾柏顿博士。宾柏顿答应早晚替我找一个机会见见爱瑟·牛顿爵士。我是极想有这样的一个机缘的，但是这件事从未实现。
In our house there lodg’d a young woman, a milliner, who, I think, had a shop in the Cloisters. She had been genteelly bred, was sensible and lively, and of most pleasing conversation. Ralph read plays to her in the evenings, they grew intimate, she took another lodging, and he followed her. They liv’d together some time; but, he being still out of business, and her income not sufficient to maintain them with her child, he took a resolution of going from London, to try for a country school, which he thought himself well qualified to undertake, as he wrote an excellent hand, and was a master of arithmetic and accounts. This, however, he deemed a business below him, and confident of future better fortune, when he should be unwilling to have it known that he once was so meanly employed, he changed his name, and did me the honor to assume mine; for I soon after had a letter from him, acquainting me that he was settled in a small village (in Berkshire, I think it was, where he taught reading and writing to ten or a dozen boys, at sixpence each per week), recommending Mrs. T — to my care, and desiring me to write to him, directing for Mr. Franklin, schoolmaster, at such a place.
有一个年轻的女帽商人住在我们的寄宿舍里，我想她在修道院街有一家铺子，她受过贵族式的教育，通情达理，举止活泼，谈吐很风趣。在晚间雷夫读剧本给她听，他们逐渐地亲昵起来了。她搬到另外的一个寄宿舍去，雷夫也随她同去。他们同居了一些时候，但是由于他仍然失业，而她的收入又不足维持他俩和她孩子的生活，所以他就决心离开伦敦去试做乡村教师。他认为他自己很有资格做教师，因为他的字迹清秀而又擅长算术和簿记。但是他认为这是一种跟他不相称的下贱职业，他深信他在将来会飞黄腾达，到了那时候他会不愿意人家知道他过去曾经干过这样卑微的工作，所以他改换他的姓氏。为了表示对我尊敬起见，他冒称我的姓。因为不久我接到他的来信，告诉我他住在一个小村庄里（我想是柏克夏），在那里他教十一二个男孩读本和算术，每周薪金六便士，要我照顾T夫人，希望我写信给他，上面写明寄给那地方的教师富兰克林先生。
He continued to write frequently, sending me large specimens of an epic poem which he was then composing, and desiring my remarks and corrections. These I gave him from time to time, but endeavor’d rather to discourage his proceeding. One of Young’s Satires was then just published. I copy’d and sent him a great part of it, which set in a strong light the folly of pursuing the Muses with any hope of advancement by them. All was in vain; sheets of the poem continued to come by every post. In the mean time, Mrs. T –, having on his account lost her friends and business, was often in distresses, and us’d to send for me, and borrow what I could spare to help her out of them. I grew fond of her company, and, being at that time under no religious restraint, and presuming upon my importance to her, I attempted familiarities (another erratum) which she repuls’d with a proper resentment, and acquainted him with my behaviour. This made a breach between us; and, when he returned again to London, he let me know he thought I had cancell’d all the obligations he had been under to me. So I found I was never to expect his repaying me what I lent to him, or advanc’d for him. This, however, was not then of much consequence, as he was totally unable; and in the loss of his friendship I found myself relieved from a burthen. I now began to think of getting a little money beforehand, and, expecting better work, I left Palmer’s to work at Watts’s, near Lincoln’s Inn Fields, a still greater printing-house.
他继续不断地来信，寄来他当时正在写的一首史诗的冗长的实例，要我批评和指正。这些我不时地都照办了，但是我却劝阻他继续写诗。那时候杨的一篇《讽刺诗》刚发表了，我抄写了一大部分，寄给他，这首诗鲜明地指出那些毫无希望地追逐诗神的人的愚行，但是这一切努力都无用。诗稿不断地在每封信里寄来。同时T夫人由于他的关系失去了她的朋友和生意，常常因此而穷困潦倒，常常叫我去，向我借贷一点多余的钱以救燃眉之急。慢慢地我喜欢与她来往了，由于这时候我不受宗教的约束，同时利用她对我的依赖，我竟试图与她发生关系（又一错误），但是她正当地表示了愤怒，拒绝了我，并且把我的行为通知了雷夫。这就使我们绝了交。当他回到伦敦时，他让我知道他认为我已经勾销了一切过去我对他的恩惠。这样我知道我永远不能希望他偿还我借给他或是替他垫付的款项了。但是在当时，这还无关紧要，因为他完全没有能力来还债，而且失去了他的友谊以后，我倒发现我解除了一个重负。这时我开始想预先积蓄一点钱了。为了得到较优越的职位，我离开了帕麦，到林肯协会广场的瓦茨印刷所去，这是一家规模更大的印刷所。
At my first admission into this printing-house I took to working at press, imagining I felt a want of the bodily exercise I had been us’d to in America, where presswork is mix’d with composing. I drank only water; the other workmen, near fifty in number, were great guzzlers of beer. On occasion, I carried up and down stairs a large form of types in each hand, when others carried but one in both hands. They wondered to see, from this and several instances, that the Water-American, as they called me, was stronger than themselves, who drank strong beer! We had an alehouse boy who attended always in the house to supply the workmen. My companion at the press drank every day a pint before breakfast, a pint at breakfast with his bread and cheese, a pint between breakfast and dinner, a pint at dinner, a pint in the afternoon about six o’clock, and another when he had done his day’s work. I thought it a detestable custom; but it was necessary, he suppos’d, to drink strong beer, that he might be strong to labor. I endeavored to convince him that the bodily strength afforded by beer could only be in proportion to the grain or flour of the barley dissolved in the water of which it was made; that there was more flour in a pennyworth of bread; and therefore, if he would eat that with a pint of water, it would give him more strength than a quart of beer. He drank on, however, and had four or five shillings to pay out of his wages every Saturday night for that muddling liquor; an expense I was free from. And thus these poor devils keep themselves always under.
当我初进入这家印刷铺时，我开始在印刷机旁工作，因为我以为我缺少我在美洲所习惯的那种体力锻炼。在美洲印刷工作跟排字工作是不分开的。我只喝水，其他工人，约有五十名，都是酒鬼。遇必要时，我能够两手各提着一版铅字上下楼梯，其他工人需要两只手捧着一版铅字。从这个和其他的实例中，他们看见了这个“喝水的美洲人”，因为他们这样称呼我，倒比喝浓啤酒的他们自己来得强壮有力，他们感到惊奇。在我们印刷所里经常有一个啤酒店的小厮替工人们送酒。跟我在同一架印刷机上工作的一个朋友每天在早餐前要喝一品脱啤酒，吃早餐时跟着面包和乳饼喝一品脱，在早餐和午餐之间喝一品脱，吃中饭时一品脱，下午六时左右一品脱，当工作完毕时又一品脱，我以为这是一种极可恶的习惯，但是他认为，为了使得他在工作时有力气，他必须喝强烈的啤酒。我设法使他相信啤酒所能产生的体力只能与制造啤酒所用的溶解在水中的谷物或大麦粉成正比例，价值一便士的面包所含的粉比一奈尔的啤酒还多。因此，假如他吃一便士的面包和一品脱的水，他所得的力气多于喝一夸尔的啤酒。但是他还是继续喝啤酒，每星期六夜里要从他的工资中为那泥浆水支付出四五先令。这种费用我倒是没有的，这样这些可怜的家伙永远使他们自己处于从属地位。
Here I continued all the rest of my stay in London.
我在这里继续工作直到我离开伦敦时为止。
I was now on a fair footing with them, and soon acquir’d considerable influence. I propos’d some reasonable alterations in their chappel laws, and carried them against all opposition. From my example, a great part of them left their muddling breakfast of beer, and bread, and cheese, finding they could with me be suppli’d from a neighboring house with a large porringer of hot water-gruel, sprinkled with pepper, crumbl’d with bread, and a bit of butter in it, for the price of a pint of beer, viz., three half-pence. This was a more comfortable as well as cheaper breakfast, and kept their heads clearer. Those who continued sotting with beer all day, were often, by not paying, out of credit at the alehouse, and us’d to make interest with me to get beer; their light, as they phrased it, being out. I watch’d the pay-table on Saturday night, and collected what I stood engag’d for them, having to pay sometimes near thirty shillings a week on their account. This, and my being esteem’d a pretty good riggite, that is, a jocular verbal satirist, supported my consequence in the society. My constant attendance (I never making a St. Monday) recommended me to the master; and my uncommon quickness at composing occasioned my being put upon all work of dispatch, which was generally better paid. So I went on now very agreeably.
现在我跟他们交情很好，不久我在他们中获得了相当的势力。我提议对于他们的教堂工人们总把印刷所叫作“教堂”〔富兰克林原注〕。法规作一些合理的修改，我压倒了一切反对，通过了这些修改案。由于我的榜样，他们中间一大部分人停止了他们那种把啤酒、面包和乳饼混杂在一起的早餐，因为他们发现他们跟我在一起只要花一品脱啤酒的价格，即一便士半，就可以在一家附近的饭馆里买到一大碗热气腾腾的薄粥，上面洒一些胡椒粉，加上碎面包和一些牛油。这种早餐既舒适又便宜，并且使他们头脑清醒。那些继续整天滥喝啤酒的人，由于欠债不还，常常在啤酒店里赊欠不动了，因此求我借钱给他们去买啤酒，按照他们的说法，他们的光熄灭了。在星期六晚上我等着发饷，收回了我借给他们的账款，有时候一星期我得替他们预先垫付几乎三十先令。同时，我被公认为是一个相当好的幽默讽刺家。这两件事支持了我在他们中间的威信。我从不缺勤（我从不因为星期天玩累了，星期一续假），因此老板喜欢我。同时，由于我排字非常迅速，我总是被指定做急件工，这种工作一般工资较高。这样，我这时候过得很舒适。
Watts, after some weeks, desiring to have me in the composing-room, I left the pressmen; a new bien venu or sum for drink, being five shillings, was demanded of me by the compositors. I thought it an imposition, as I had paid below; the master thought so too, and forbad my paying it. I stood out two or three weeks, was accordingly considered as an excommunicate, and bad so many little pieces of private mischief done me, by mixing my sorts, transposing my pages, breaking my matter, etc., etc., if I were ever so little out of the room, and all ascribed to the chappel ghost, which they said ever haunted those not regularly admitted, that, notwithstanding the master’s protection, I found myself oblig’d to comply and pay the money, convinc’d of the folly of being on ill terms with those one is to live with continually.
几星期之后瓦茨要我到排字房去了，所以我离开了印刷工人。排字工人却要我重新付一笔陋规或是一笔五先令的酒费。我认为这是一种敲诈，因为我在下面印刷房里已经付过了。老板也是这样想法，不许我付这笔钱。我坚持了二三个礼拜，因此被认为是一个被驱逐出会籍的人，他们私下对我作了许多小小的恶作剧，假如我稍稍出去一忽儿，他们把我的铅字搅乱了，把我的页次颠倒了，打破我的排版等等等等，这一切都说成是印刷所鬼魂所做的事。他们说印刷所的鬼魂总是向那些不付正规入会费的人作祟的。尽管老板保护我，这种恶作剧发生的次数那么多，使我不得不同意付了钱，因为我相信跟那些经常与你在一起的人发生恶感是愚蠢的。
My lodging in Little Britain being too remote, I found another in Duke-street, opposite to the Romish Chapel. It was two pair of stairs backwards, at an Italian warehouse. A widow lady kept the house; she had a daughter, and a maid servant, and a journeyman who attended the warehouse, but lodg’d abroad. After sending to inquire my character at the house where I last lodg’d she agreed to take me in at the same rate, 3s. 6d. per week; cheaper, as she said, from the protection she expected in having a man lodge in the house. She was a widow, an elderly woman; had been bred a Protestant, being a clergyman’s daughter, but was converted to the Catholic religion by her husband, whose memory she much revered; had lived much among people of distinction, and knew a thousand anecdotes of them as far back as the times of Charles the Second. She was lame in her knees with the gout, and, therefore, seldom stirred out of her room, so sometimes wanted company; and hers was so highly amusing to me, that I was sure to spend an evening with her whenever she desired it. Our supper was only half an anchovy each, on a very little strip of bread and butter, and half a pint of ale between us; but the entertainment was in her conversation. My always keeping good hours, and giving little trouble in the family, made her unwilling to part with me; so that, when I talk’d of a lodging I had heard of, nearer my business, for two shillings a week, which, intent as I now was on saving money, made some difference, she bid me not think of it, for she would abate me two shillings a week for the future; so I remained with her at one shilling and sixpence as long as I staid in London.
我在小不列颠的寄宿舍太远了，因此我在公爵街，天主教堂对面，找到了一个地方。那是在一家意大利仓库的三层楼后楼上。一个寡妇主持家务，她有一个女儿、一个女佣人和一个看守仓库的职工，但她却寄宿在外面。经过派人到我原住的地方了解我的品德以后，她同意按照我原先所付的租金收我寄宿，就是每周三先令六便士。照她的说法，这租金特别低廉，因为有一个男人住在这所房子里，她以为可以获得一些保护。她是一个寡妇，一个年长的妇人，是一个牧师的女儿，幼年受的是新教徒的教养，但是她的丈夫使她改信了天主教，她提起她的丈夫还是十分尊敬的。过去她与上层社会人士颇有来往，因此她知道成千上百的上流社会的遗闻轶事，有些还是远在查理二世时期的事哩。她因膝部患痛风症而成残废，极少离开她的卧室，因而时感寂寞。对我来讲，她的谈吐十分风趣，所以每当她感到寂寞时，我总是陪她一个晚上。我们的晚餐只是每人半条鱼、一小块面包和牛油，和两人共饮半品脱的啤酒，但是她的谈话却使人心醉神怡。我经常早起早睡，安分守己，这些都使她不愿意我离开她的寄宿舍。我听到在我印刷所附近有一个寄宿舍，每周只要两先令的租金，由于当时我一心一意地想积蓄一点钱，所以这一差数是相当重要的。当我提到这事时，她叫我不要考虑那地方，因为她愿意今后替我减去两先令，这样，我在伦敦期间一直住在她那里，每周一先令六便士。
In a garret of her house there lived a maiden lady of seventy, in the most retired manner, of whom my landlady gave me this account: that she was a Roman Catholic, had been sent abroad when young, and lodg’d in a nunnery with an intent of becoming a nun; but, the country not agreeing with her, she returned to England, where, there being no nunnery, she had vow’d to lead the life of a nun, as near as might be done in those circumstances. Accordingly, she had given all her estate to charitable uses, reserving only twelve pounds a year to live on, and out of this sum she still gave a great deal in charity, living herself on water-gruel only, and using no fire but to boil it. She had lived many years in that garret, being permitted to remain there gratis by successive Catholic tenants of the house below, as they deemed it a blessing to have her there. A priest visited her to confess her every day. “I have ask’d her,” says my landlady, “how she, as she liv’d, could possibly find so much employment for a confessor?” “Oh,” said she, “it is impossible to avoid vain thoughts.” I was permitted once to visit her, She was chearful and polite, and convers’d pleasantly. The room was clean, but had no other furniture than a matras, a table with a crucifix and book, a stool which she gave me to sit on, and a picture over the chimney of Saint Veronica displaying her handkerchief, with the miraculous figure of Christ’s bleeding face on it, which she explained to me with great seriousness. She look’d pale, but was never sick; and I give it as another instance on how small an income life and health may be supported.
在她家的顶楼上隐居着一个七十岁的老处女。关于她我的房东告诉我这样一段故事：她是一个天主教徒，年轻时就被送到外国去住在修女院中，立志成为修女，但是因为水土不服，她回到英国来了。在英国却没有修女院，因此她立誓要在这种情况下使她的生活尽可能地接近修女的生活。所以，她把她的财产全部捐给了慈善事业，只保留年金十二镑作为生活费用，但从这笔款中她还拿出一大部分来救济别人，自己只喝薄粥，除了煮饭以外并不生火。她住在那个顶楼上已经许多年了，在她下面的历代天主教徒房东都允许她免费居住，因为他们认为有她住在那里是一种祝福。一个神父每天去听她忏悔。“我问过她，”我的房东说，“照她那样的生活，她怎么会这样需要一个忏悔者呢？”“哦，”她说，“人们不可能没有无用的思想。”有一次她允许我去探访她，她很快乐，有礼貌，谈话时也很愉快。她的房间很清洁，没有别的家具，只有一个垫子，一张桌子，上面放着一个十字架和一本书，一张她让我坐的凳子，和烟囱旁放着的一张圣佛朗尼卡展示她的手巾的图画。图中画着基督面孔流血的奇迹，她严肃地向我解释这幅图画。她面色苍白，但从不生病，我把她当作一个实例，说明多么微小的收入就可以维持生命和健康。
At Watts’s printing-house I contracted an acquaintance with an ingenious young man, one Wygate, who, having wealthy relations, had been better educated than most printers; was a tolerable Latinist, spoke French, and lov’d reading. I taught him and a friend of his to swim at twice going into the river, and they soon became good swimmers. They introduc’d me to some gentlemen from the country, who went to Chelsea by water to see the College and Don Saltero’s curiosities. In our return, at the request of the company, whose curiosity Wygate had excited, I stripped and leaped into the river, and swam from near Chelsea to Blackfryar’s, performing on the way many feats of activity, both upon and under water, that surpris’d and pleas’d those to whom they were novelties.
在瓦茨的印刷所中我结识了一个聪明的年轻人，一个叫做华盖特的人。他有有钱的亲友，所以他比大多数的印刷工人有教养。他的拉丁文还过得去，会说法语，酷爱读书。我教了他和他的一个朋友游泳，下水两次，不久他们成为很好的游泳家了。他把我介绍给一些从乡下来的乡绅们，他们从夏尔西坐船去参观学院和沙特罗先生的珍藏。在我们归途中，华盖特讲到我的游泳术，引起了大家的好奇心，因此应了大家的请求，我剥去了衣服，跳入河中，一直从夏尔西泅到勃莱克佛里雅的地方，一路上玩着各式各样水上的或水中的花样，他们从未见过这种把戏，感到又惊又喜。
I had from a child been ever delighted with this exercise, had studied and practis’d all Thevenot’s motions and positions, added some of my own, aiming at the graceful and easy as well as the useful. All these I took this occasion of exhibiting to the company, and was much flatter’d by their admiration; and Wygate, who was desirous of becoming a master, grew more and more attach’d to me on that account, as well as from the similarity of our studies. He at length proposed to me travelling all over Europe together, supporting ourselves everywhere by working at our business. I was once inclined to it; but, mentioning it to my good friend Mr. Denham, with whom I often spent an hour when I had leisure, he dissuaded me from it, advising me to think only of returning to Pennsilvania, which he was now about to do.
我从童年起就一直爱好这种运动，曾经钻研和实习过佘夫诺的一切动作和姿势，加上一些我自己的心得，其目的在于使得姿势既要优美舒适又要有效。这一切我乘机都表演给大家看了，他们的羡慕和赞赏使我感到很高兴。华盖特原想成为一个游泳专家，同时因为我们研究的学科相似，他渐渐地越来越跟我亲热了。他最后提议我们一同到全欧旅行去，在各地靠着做印刷工作来维持我们的生活。有一度我倒曾经颇有此意，但是我跟我的好友田纳先生提到此事，因为当我有空时，我常去跟他聊上点把钟的工夫，他劝阻了我，劝我只考虑回到费城去。这时候，他自己也快回去了。
He now told me he was about to return to Philadelphia, and should carry over a great quantity of goods in order to open a store there. He propos’d to take me over as his clerk, to keep his books, in which he would instruct me, copy his letters, and attend the store. He added that, as soon as I should be acquainted with mercantile business, he would promote me by sending me with a cargo of flour and bread, etc., to the West Indies, and procure me commissions from others which would be profitable; and, if I manag’d well, would establish me handsomely. The thing pleas’d me; for I was grown tired of London, remembered with pleasure the happy months I had spent in Pennsylvania, and wish’d again to see it; therefore I immediately agreed on the terms of fifty pounds a year, Pennsylvania money; less, indeed, than my present gettings as a compositor, but affording a better prospect.
这时候他告诉我他快要回到费城去了，为了在费城开设一家商号，他要带回去大量物资。他提议雇用我为店员，替他记账，他会教我簿记，替他抄写信件和照料铺子。他说等到我熟悉了业务以后，他会提升我，派我带一船面粉和面包到西印度群岛去，并且使我从其他方面得到佣金，获利甚厚。假如我经营得法，我会发财致富。这事正中我意，因为我对伦敦已感到厌倦，愉快地回忆昔日在宾夕法尼亚所过的快乐的岁月，就想旧地重游，因此我就立即接受了这一职位，年薪五十镑，宾夕法尼亚币，比我当时排字工的工资确是少了，但是较有前途。
I must record one trait of this good man’s character. He had formerly been in business at Bristol, but failed in debt to a number of people, compounded and went to America. There, by a close application to business as a merchant, he acquir’d a plentiful fortune in a few years. Returning to England in the ship with me, he invited his old creditors to an entertainment, at which he thank’d them for the easy composition they had favored him with, and, when they expected nothing but the treat, every man at the first remove found under his plate an order on a banker for the full amount of the unpaid remainder with interest.
我要记载这个好人性格中的一个特点。他过去曾经在不列斯多经商，但是亏了本，欠了许多人债，无力还清，只好赔偿了一部分债款了事，以后他到美洲去了。在那里，他专心一意地经商，在几年之内竟积蓄了一笔巨大财产。跟我同船回到了英国以后，他请了他旧日的债主来吃饭，感谢他们过去对他债款的宽大处理，这时候客人们只以为他款待他们，别无期待，但是当他们一移动碗盘时，发现在各人的盘子下面放着一张支票，除了全部未付清的余数外，还有利息。
I now took leave of printing, as I thought, for ever, and was daily employed in my new business, going about with Mr. Denham among the tradesmen to purchase various articles, and seeing them pack’d up, doing errands, calling upon workmen to dispatch, etc.; and, when all was on board, I had a few days’ leisure. On one of these days, I was, to my surprise, sent for by a great man I knew only by name, a Sir William Wyndham, and I waited upon him. He had heard by some means or other of my swimming from Chelsea to Blackfriar’s, and of my teaching Wygate and another young man to swim in a few hours. He had two sons, about to set out on their travels; he wish’d to have them first taught swimming, and proposed to gratify me handsomely if I would teach them. They were not yet come to town, and my stay was uncertain, so I could not undertake it; but, from this incident, I thought it likely that, if I were to remain in England and open a swimming-school, I might get a good deal of money; and it struck me so strongly, that, had the overture been sooner made me, probably I should not so soon have returned to America. After many years, you and I had something of more importance to do with one of these sons of Sir William Wyndham, become Earl of Egremont, which I shall mention in its place.
这时我就离开了印刷业，当时我还以为是永远离开哩！我每日从事于新的工作，随着田纳先生到商店里去买各种商品，监督包装，出外办事，催促工匠完工等等，当一切都送上船以后，我就有几天空闲时间。就在这样空闲的一天，出乎我意料之外，我接到一位显要人物的召唤，一个威廉·温特摩爵士，我以前只知其名，从未见过。我去拜访了。他不知怎样听说我曾经从夏尔西泅到勃莱克佛里雅的地方，曾经在几小时内教会了华盖特和另外一个年轻人游泳。他有两个儿子，即将到远方旅行去，他要他们首先学会游泳，提议假如我同意教他们的话，他愿出重金酬劳我。这时候他的两个儿子不在伦敦，我在伦敦能逗留多久也不能断定，因此我不能答应下来。但是从这件事我想到：假如我留在英国开办一个游泳训练班的话，我可能赚一笔大钱。这一印象是如此的深刻，假如他的提议早来几天的话，也许我不会那么早就回到美洲来。多年以后，我曾经跟威廉·温特摩爵士两个儿子中的一个接洽过更重大的事情。那时他已是爱葛雷孟伯爵，这事我以后在适当的地方还要提到。
My friend Ralph had kept me poor; he owed me about twenty-seven pounds, which I was now never likely to receive; a great sum out of my small earnings! I lov’d him, notwithstanding, for he had many amiable qualities. I had by no means improv’d my fortune; but I had picked up some very ingenious acquaintance, whose conversation was of great advantage to me; and I had read considerably.
我的朋友雷夫使我贫穷，他欠了我大约二十七镑，现在我毫无希望收回这笔欠款了。在我微薄的收入中，这是多么大的一笔款项呀！尽管如此，我还是爱他，因为他有许多讨人喜欢的地方，虽然我并不能因他而致富。在伦敦我结识了一些聪明的朋友，跟他们交谈使我得益不少。同时我也阅读了不少书籍。
Thus I spent about eighteen months in London; most part of the time I work’d hard at my business, and spent but little upon myself except in seeing plays and in books.
这样我在伦敦度过了约一年半的时光。大多数的时候我辛勤地在我的本行工作，除了看戏买书以外，我自奉甚俭。
We sail’d from Gravesend on the 23d of July, 1726. For the incidents of the voyage, I refer you to my journal, where you will find them all minutely related. Perhaps the most important part of that journal is the plan to be found in it, which I formed at sea, for regulating my future conduct in life. It is the more remarkable, as being formed when I was so young, and yet being pretty faithfully adhered to quite thro’ to old age.
我们在一七二六年七月二十三日从克莱武生启程，你要知道航程中发生的事件，请看我的日记，在那里我都详细地记载了。在那日记里所能找到的最重要的部分或许是那个关于指导我未来一生行动的方案，这是我在海上时规划的。当我作出这个方案时，我还那么年轻，而一生中直到晚年我是非常忠实地坚守这个方案，因此它更是显得值得注意了。
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