When about 16 years of age I happened to meet with a book, written by one Tryon, recommending a vegetable diet. I determined to go into it. My brother, being yet unmarried, did not keep house, but boarded himself and his apprentices in another family. My refusing to eat flesh occasioned an inconveniency, and I was frequently chid for my singularity. I made myself acquainted with Tryon’s manner of preparing some of his dishes, such as boiling potatoes or rice, making hasty pudding, and a few others, and then proposed to my brother, that if he would give me, weekly, half the money he paid for my board, I would board myself. He instantly agreed to it, and I presently found that I could save half what he paid me. This was an additional fund for buying books. But I had another advantage in it. My brother and the rest going from the printing-house to their meals, I remained there alone, and, despatching presently my light repast, which often was no more than a bisket or a slice of bread, a handful of raisins or a tart from the pastry-cook’s, and a glass of water, had the rest of the time till their return for study, in which I made the greater progress, from that greater clearness of head and quicker apprehension which usually attend temperance in eating and drinking.
大概在我十六岁左右的时候，我偶然看到了一个叫屈里昂的人写的一本宣传蔬食的书，我就决心实行蔬食，我哥哥因为尚未结婚，无人主持家务，他和他的学徒们就在另外一家人家包饭，我不吃荤食，引起了麻烦，因此他们常常因我的怪癖而责备我。我学会了一些屈里昂烹调他自己的食品如煮山芋、煮饭、做快速布丁等等的方法，然后向我哥哥提出：假如他愿意把我每周的伙食费的半数给我，我愿意自理伙食，他立刻同意了，不久我就发现我可以从我哥哥给我的伙食费中撙节半数，这就又是一笔买书的钱了。但是这样做还有另外一个便利。当我哥哥和其余的人离开印刷所去吃饭的时候，我独自一人留在所中，我不久就草草地吃完了我的轻便点心，我吃的常常只是一块饼干或是一片面包，一把葡萄干或是从面包铺买来的一块果馅饼和一杯清水。在他们回来以前的这一段时间里我就可以读书了。由于饮食节制常常能使人头脑清醒思想敏捷，所以我的进度比以前更快了。
And now it was that, being on some occasion made asham’d of my ignorance in figures, which I had twice failed in learning when at school, I took Cocker’s book of Arithmetick, and went through the whole by myself with great ease. I also read Seller’s and Shermy’s books of Navigation, and became acquainted with the little geometry they contain; but never proceeded far in that science. And I read about this time Locke On Human Understanding, and the Art of Thinking, by Messrs. du Port Royal.
以前在某事上我因不谙算术而感到羞愧，我在学校时算术曾两次不及格，因此这时候我拿了考克氏的算术书，自己从头到尾很顺利地学习了一遍。我也读了舍勒和斯图美关于航海的书籍，熟悉了这些书里所包含的一点几何学。除了这一点以外，我对几何学从未作过更深入的研究。约在这个时候，我读了洛克的《人类悟性论》和波尔洛亚尔派的先生们所著的《思维术》。
While I was intent on improving my language, I met with an English grammar (I think it was Greenwood’s), at the end of which there were two little sketches of the arts of rhetoric and logic, the latter finishing with a specimen of a dispute in the Socratic method; and soon after I procur’d Xenophon’s Memorable Things of Socrates, wherein there are many instances of the same method. I was charm’d with it, adopted it, dropt my abrupt contradiction and positive argumentation, and put on the humble inquirer and doubter. And being then, from reading Shaftesbury and Collins, become a real doubter in many points of our religious doctrine, I found this method safest for myself and very embarrassing to those against whom I used it; therefore I took a delight in it, practis’d it continually, and grew very artful and expert in drawing people, even of superior knowledge, into concessions, the consequences of which they did not foresee, entangling them in difficulties out of which they could not extricate themselves, and so obtaining victories that neither myself nor my cause always deserved. I continu’d this method some few years, but gradually left it, retaining only the habit of expressing myself in terms of modest diffidence; never using, when I advanced any thing that may possibly be disputed, the words certainly, undoubtedly, or any others that give the air of positiveness to an opinion; but rather say, I conceive or apprehend a thing to be so and so; it appears to me, or I should think it so or so, for such and such reasons; or I imagine it to be so; or it is so, if I am not mistaken. This habit, I believe, has been of great advantage to me when I have had occasion to inculcate my opinions, and persuade men into measures that I have been from time to time engag’d in promoting; and, as the chief ends of conversation are to inform or to be informed, to please or to persuade, I wish well-meaning, sensible men would not lessen their power of doing good by a positive, assuming manner, that seldom fails to disgust, tends to create opposition, and to defeat every one of those purposes for which speech was given to us, to wit, giving or receiving information or pleasure. For, if you would inform, a positive and dogmatical manner in advancing your sentiments may provoke contradiction and prevent a candid attention. If you wish information and improvement from the knowledge of others, and yet at the same time express yourself as firmly fix’d in your present opinions, modest, sensible men, who do not love disputation, will probably leave you undisturbed in the possession of your error. And by such a manner, you can seldom hope to recommend yourself in pleasing your hearers, or to persuade those whose concurrence you desire. Pope says, judiciously:
正当我一心一意地在改进我的文体的时候，我偶然发现了一本英语语法（我想是一本格林乌的语法），在这本书的后面有两篇关于修辞法和逻辑的简短介绍，关于逻辑的那篇在结束时举了一个用苏格拉底对话法进行论辩的实例。此后不久我就买了一部色诺芬的《苏格拉底的重要言行录》。在这本书里有许多这种对话法的实例。我很喜欢这种方法，就采用它，放弃了我那生硬反驳和独断式的立论，却装成一个谦逊的发问和怀疑的人。在当时读了莎夫茨贝利和柯令斯的作品以后，我对于我们的教义的许多地方成为一个真正的怀疑者。我发现用这种方法对我自己是最稳妥的，但却使我的对手十分为难。因此我喜爱这种方法，不断地应用它，逐渐变得十分巧妙和老练，使人们，即使是有学问修养的人，也不得不让步，而这种让步的后果又不是他们所能预知的，这样便引诱他们进入种种他们无法自拔的窘境，而使得我自己和我的论题常常获得非所应得的胜利。这个方法我继续使用了几年之久，但是后来逐渐放弃了它，仅仅保留了用谦逊的口吻表示我个人意见的习惯。当我提出任何可能有争论的意见时，我从不用“一定”、“无疑地”或任何其他表示肯定意见的字眼。相反的，我猜想或料想某事是如此如此，为了什么什么理由，在我看来这件事好像是，或是我想是这么这么。或是说我想象这是这样，或是说：假如我没有弄错的话，这是如此。我相信这个习惯对我非常有益，因为我需要说服人，劝人接受我不时在努力提倡的各种措施。再说，谈话的主要目的无非是教诲人，或是被别人教诲，使人高兴或是说服人，因此我奉劝善良的聪明人，为了不削弱他们行善的能力，切勿采取一种独断式的、自以为是的态度。这种态度总是使人起反感，往往引起别人的反对，因而使语言之所以存在的目的（就是交流思想和增进感情的目的）破坏无遗，因为假如你的目的是在要教诲人，讲话时过分自信的武断态度有时会引起反驳，因而使公正的讨论成为不可能。假如你的目的是要从别人的知识经验中吸取教训和教益，而同时你又坚定不移地表示你的意见，那么谦逊明达的人，由于不爱争辩，很可能会不屑指出你的错误，让你依然故我。同时，用这种态度，你很难希望能使你谈话的对方喜悦，或是赢得别人的赞同。蒲柏说得很好：
Now, is not want of sense (where a man is so unfortunate as to want it) some apology for his want of modesty? and would not the lines stand more justly thus? “Immodest words admit but this defense, That want of modesty is want of sense.”
那么，难道愚蠢（假如人不幸而竟致愚蠢的话）不就是他傲慢的理由吗？这两行诗，假如这样写，不是更合理吗？大言不惭，只有这唯一的理由，那就是：傲慢即是愚蠢。
This, however, I should submit to better judgments.
但是，究竟是否如此，愿高明之士不吝赐教。
“Men should be taught as if you taught them not, And things unknown propos’d as things forgot;” farther recommending to us “To speak, tho’ sure, with seeming diffidence.” And he might have coupled with this line that which he has coupled with another, I think, less properly, “For want of modesty is want of sense.” If you ask, Why less properly? I must repeat the lines, “Immodest words admit of no defense, For want of modesty is want of sense.”
你不应当用教训的口吻去教导人；别人不懂的东西，你应当作为他们遗忘了的东西提出来。他接着又要我们：即使你自己深信无疑，说话的时候也应当外表谦虚。蒲柏在这里很可以接下去用他在其他地方的一行联句与上文结成联句，这一行放在这里我想比在原来的地方更适当些：因为傲慢即是愚蠢。假如你问为什么说这一行诗在原诗里不很合适，那么我只好引原诗了：大言不惭是没有理由的，因为傲慢即是愚蠢。
My brother had, in 1720 or 1721, begun to print a newspaper. It was the second that appeared in America, and was called the New England Courant. The only one before it was the Boston News-Letter. I remember his being dissuaded by some of his friends from the undertaking, as not likely to succeed, one newspaper being, in their udgment, enough for America. At this time (1771) there are not less than five-and-twenty. He went on, however, with the undertaking, and after having worked in composing the types and printing off the sheets, I was employed to carry the papers thro’ the streets to the customers.
在一七二○或一七二一年，我哥哥开始出版报纸了。这是在美洲殖民地出现的第二份报纸，叫做《新英格兰报》。在它以前，在那里唯一的报纸是《波士顿邮报》。我记得我哥哥的朋友中有人认为这计划不易成功，劝他放弃，因为他们认为殖民地里有了一家报纸，已经够了，现在（一七七一年）这里的报纸数字不下二十五家，但是，我哥哥执行了原定的计划，当报纸排好了版，印好以后，就派我到镇上各处把报纸送给订户。
He had some ingenious men among his friends, who amus’d themselves by writing little pieces for this paper, which gain’d it credit and made it more in demand, and these gentlemen often visited us. Hearing their conversations, and their accounts of the approbation their papers were received with, I was excited to try my hand among them; but, being still a boy, and suspecting that my brother would object to printing anything of mine in his paper if he knew it to be mine, I contrived to disguise my hand, and, writing an anonymous paper, I put it in at night under the door of the printing-house. It was found in the morning, and communicated to his writing friends when they call’d in as usual. They read it, commented on it in my hearing, and I had the exquisite pleasure of finding it met with their approbation, and that, in their different guesses at the author, none were named but men of some character among us for learning and ingenuity. I suppose now that I was rather lucky in my judges, and that perhaps they were not really so very good ones as I then esteem’d them.
在他的朋友中有一些很聪明的人，他们替报纸写一些小品文，作为消遣。这些文章使报纸的声誉提高，使它的销路更加推广。这些绅士们常到印刷所来。当我听他们的谈话，听到他们述说他们的报纸是如何地受人欢迎的时候，我跃跃欲试地想写一些东西投到报馆去，但是，因为我还只是一个孩子，同时我猜想：假如我哥哥知道是我的文章，他会反对在他的报上发表的。我就设法改变了我的笔迹，写了一篇隐名的文章。夜间放在印刷所的大门底下。第二天早晨我哥哥看到了，当他的写文章的朋友们照常来访问时，他就把它交给他们。他们读了。我也听见他们的评语。他们赞许这篇文章，当他们猜度它的作者时，他们提到的全是我们中间有学问有智慧的知名之士，这些都使我非凡地高兴。现在想起来我觉得我当时侥幸得到这些人做我的鉴定家，我觉得也许他们并不真正是像我当时想象那样的很有眼力的鉴识家。
Encourag’d, however, by this, I wrote and convey’d in the same way to the press several more papers which were equally approv’d; and I kept my secret till my small fund of sense for such performances was pretty well exhausted and then I discovered it, when I began to be considered a little more by my brother’s acquaintance, and in a manner that did not quite please him, as he thought, probably with reason, that it tended to make me too vain. And, perhaps, this might be one occasion of the differences that we began to have about this time. Though a brother, he considered himself as my master, and me as his apprentice, and accordingly, expected the same services from me as he would from another, while I thought he demean’d me too much in some he requir’d of me, who from a brother expected more indulgence. Our disputes were often brought before our father, and I fancy I was either generally in the right, or else a better pleader, because the judgment was generally in my favor. But my brother was passionate, and had often beaten me, which I took extreamly amiss; and, thinking my apprenticeship very tedious, I was continually wishing for some opportunity of shortening it, which at length offered in a manner unexpected.
尽管如此，在受到了这次鼓励以后，我又写了几篇文章，用同样的方式投递到报馆去，这些文章也同样地获得佳评。我保守这个秘密直到我仅有的一点点写这种文章所必需的常识几乎用尽时，才拆穿了秘密。这时候，我哥哥的朋友们对我稍加重视，但是我哥哥却不喜欢他的朋友重视我，因为他以为，可能他有充分的理由，这样做或许会使我过分地自负。这事可能是我们之间这时正在开始的不和睦的原因之一。尽管他是我的哥哥，他认为他是师父，我是他的学徒，因此他认为我当然也应当像其他学徒一样地替他服务。但是因为我是他的弟弟，我认为他应当对我放纵一些，我觉得他要求我做的某些事过分地降低了我的身份。有时候我们把我们的争执带到父亲跟前。我想若不是在大多数时候我总是在对的一方面，就是我比他能说善辩，因为我父亲的判决一般总是支持我的。但是我哥哥脾气急躁，常常打我，这使我十分生气。我觉得我的学徒生活十分枯燥乏味，因此我不断地盼望有机会缩短我的学徒期限，出乎我意料之外地这种机会终于来临了。我想我哥哥对我的粗暴专横的态度也许是使我在以后一生中对独断专横的权力起强烈反感的原因之一。
During my brother’s confinement, which I resented a good deal, notwithstanding our private differences, I had the management of the paper; and I made bold to give our rulers some rubs in it, which my brother took very kindly, while others began to consider me in an unfavorable light, as a young genius that had a turn for libelling and satyr. My brother’s discharge was accompany’d with an order of the House (a very odd one), that “James Franklin should no longer print the paper called the New England Courant.”
尽管我和我哥哥有意见，我对他的被判徒刑表示十分愤慨。在他拘留期间，我主持了报务。在报上我大胆地对我们的统治者进行了冷嘲热讽，我哥哥倒很喜欢这些文章，但是另外一些人却开始对我有了恶劣的印象，认为我是一个有着诽谤讥刺癖好的天才青年。当我哥哥被释放的时候，州议会发出了一道命令（一道十分奇特的命令），“禁止詹姆士·富兰克林继续出版《新英格兰报》”。
One of the pieces in our newspaper on some political point, which I have now forgotten, gave offense to the Assembly. He was taken up, censur’d, and imprison’d for a month, by the speaker’s warrant, I suppose, because he would not discover his author. I too was taken up and examin’d before the council; but, tho’ I did not give them any satisfaction, they content’d themselves with admonishing me, and dismissed me, considering me, perhaps, as an apprentice, who was bound to keep his master’s secrets.
在我们报上登载的一篇关于某一政治问题的文章（题目我现在记不起来了）触怒了州议会。他们发出了一张议长拘押票，逮捕了我哥哥，控告了他，并且判了他一个月的徒刑，我想这大概是因为他不愿泄露原作者姓名的缘故吧。他们也逮捕了我，在会议上审问了我，但是虽然我的回答没有使他们达到目的，他们仅仅教训了我一番，放我走了，也许是因为他们认为作为一个学徒，我有保守师父秘密的义务吧。
There was a consultation held in our printing-house among his friends, what he should do in this case. Some proposed to evade the order by changing the name of the paper; but my brother, seeing inconveniences in that, it was finally concluded on as a better way, to let it be printed for the future under the name of BENJAMIN FRANKLIN; and to avoid the censure of the Assembly, that might fall on him as still printing it by his apprentice, the contrivance was that my old indenture should be return’d to me, with a full discharge on the back of it, to be shown on occasion, but to secure to him the benefit of my service, I was to sign new indentures for the remainder of the term, which were to be kept private. A very flimsy scheme it was; however, it was immediately executed, and the paper went on accordingly, under my name for several months.
我哥哥的好友们在我们的印刷所里举行了一次会议，商讨在这种情势下他应采取的行动。有人提议改换报纸名称就可逃避法令，但是我哥哥认为这样做有许多麻烦，最后他们决定了一个较好的办法，在将来报纸采用本杰明·富兰克林的名义出版。为了避免州议会可能会非难，说他还是通过他的学徒在出版报纸，他们策划把我旧的师徒合同归还给我，在背上写明一切义务完全解除，在必要时我可以拿出来给人看。但是为了保障他对我的服役的权益起见，我得另外签订一个新的适用于未完的学徒期限的合同，这个合同将不予公开。这实在是一个非常浅薄的计谋，但是我们马上执行了它，这样这个报纸在我的名义下继续了几个月之久。
At length, a fresh difference arising between my brother and me, I took upon me to assert my freedom, presuming that he would not venture to produce the new indentures.
我和我的哥哥之间终于发生了一种新的争执，我就坚决地维护我的自由，认定他不敢拿出新的合同来。
It was not fair in me to take this advantage, and this I therefore reckon one of the first errata of my life; but the unfairness of it weighed little with me, when under the impressions of resentment for the blows his passion too often urged him to bestow upon me, though he was otherwise not an ill-natur’d man: perhaps I was too saucy and provoking.
我这样趁火打劫是不公允的，因此我认为这是我一生中第一个大错。但是因为他的急躁脾气常使他对我拳足交加，而当我因此感到愤恨时，我对这一行动的不正直性无动于衷，但是在平时他倒也不是一个性情暴戾的人，可能我当时太无礼貌，太惹人生气了。
When he found I would leave him, he took care to prevent my getting employment in any other printing-house of the town, by going round and speaking to every master, who accordingly refus’d to give me work. I then thought of going to New York, as the nearest place where there was a printer; and I was rather inclin’d to leave Boston when I reflected that I had already made myself a little obnoxious to the governing party, and, from the arbitrary proceedings of the Assembly in my brother’s case, it was likely I might, if I stay’d, soon bring myself into scrapes; and farther, that my indiscrete disputations about religion began to make me pointed at with horror by good people as an infidel or atheist. I determin’d on the point, but my father now siding with my brother, I was sensible that, if I attempted to go openly, means would be used to prevent me. My friend Collins, therefore, undertook to manage a little for me. He agreed with the captain of a New York sloop for my passage, under the notion of my being a young acquaintance of his, that had got a naughty girl with child, whose friends would compel me to marry her, and therefore I could not appear or come away publicly. So I sold some of my books to raise a little money, was taken on board privately, and as we had a fair wind, in three days I found myself in New York, near 300 miles from home, a boy of but 17, without the least recommendation to, or knowledge of any person in the place, and with very little money in my pocket.
当他知道我将离开他时，他设法使我不能在镇上的任何一家印刷所里找到工作，他走遍各印刷所，关照了每一个老板，因此他们都拒绝给我工作。那时我想到纽约去，因为那里有一家印刷铺，并且离开波士顿距离最近。这时我已经把我自己弄成是当地统治集团的眼中钉，我从州议会处理我哥哥案件时所表现的专横中，想到假如我呆下去，我很可能使自己陷于窘境；同时，由于我对宗教问题的有欠审慎的议论，善男信女们已经把我看作是可怕的异教徒和无神论者了。当我想到这一切时，我倒宁愿离开波士顿了。我既决定了出走，但是因为这时候我父亲偏袒我哥哥，我想假如我明目张胆地离开，他们会设法来阻拦我。因此，我的朋友高令斯就替我想了一个小小的妙计。他跟一只纽约州的帆船的船长讲好了让我搭坐他的船，说我是他的一个年轻友人，由于使一个不正经的女孩子怀了孕，她的朋友们又逼着我娶她，因此我无法公开地出现或上船。这样我卖掉了我一部分的书籍，拼凑了一点钱，悄悄地上了船，因为是顺风，三天后我已经到了纽约，这样一个仅仅十七岁的男孩子，既不认识当地的任何人，也没有一封介绍信，口袋里仅有少量的金钱，到了一个离家几乎三百英里之遥的地方。
My inclinations for the sea were by this time worne out, or I might now have gratify’d them. But, having a trade, and supposing myself a pretty good workman, I offer’d my service to the printer in the place, old Mr. William Bradford, who had been the first printer in Pennsylvania, but removed from thence upon the quarrel of George Keith. He could give me no employment, having little to do, and help enough already; but says he, “My son at Philadelphia has lately lost his principal hand, Aquila Rose, by death; if you go thither, I believe he may employ you.” Philadelphia was a hundred miles further; I set out, however, in a boat for Amboy, leaving my chest and things to follow me round by sea.
我对航海的兴趣这时候已经消失了，不然现在我倒可以满足这个志愿了。但是，由于我学会了一种手艺，并且我自信是一个很好的技术工人，我去找当地的印刷铺老板、年老的威廉·勃拉福，请他收我为伙计。他是宾夕法尼亚的第一个印刷铺老板，在乔治·开夫的争执发生以后乔治·开夫GeorgeKeith（1639？—1716）是英国“教友会”的一个牧师。1684年，他从英国移居美洲，曾在费城当教师，后来在教义上他又与教友会的其他教友发生争执，自己创立了一个教派，叫做“基督教友会”（ChristianQuakers），又叫做“开夫派”（Keithians），此处所提到的争执，不知是否指此。——译者，他就从那里搬到纽约来了。他那里生意不多，人手已经够了，所以他不能雇用我。但是他说：“我在费城的儿子最近失去了他主要的助手阿克拉·罗斯，他病故了。假如你到那里去，我相信他可能雇用你。”费城离纽约有一百英里的路程。但是，我出发了，坐船到安蒲，留下我的箱子和铺盖，以后由海道运来。
In crossing the bay, we met with a squall that tore our rotten sails to pieces, prevented our getting into the Kill and drove us upon Long Island. In our way, a drunken Dutchman, who was a passenger too, fell overboard; when he was sinking, I reached through the water to his shock pate, and drew him up, so that we got him in again. His ducking sobered him a little, and he went to sleep, taking first out of his pocket a book, which he desir’d I would dry for him. It proved to be my old favorite author, Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, in Dutch, finely printed on good paper, with copper cuts, a dress better than I had ever seen it wear in its own language. I have since found that it has been translated into most of the languages of Europe, and suppose it has been more generally read than any other book, except perhaps the Bible.
在横渡海湾时，我们遇到了狂风，把我们破烂的帆撕成碎片，因此我们无法驶入小河，狂风却把我们吹到长岛去了。在途中，一个喝得烂醉的荷兰乘客失足坠入海中，当他正往下沉的时候，我伸手入海抓住了他乱蓬蓬的头发，把他拉了起来，这样我们总算又把他放在船上了。掉入水中以后，他清醒了不少，他先从口袋里拿出一本书来，要我替他去弄干，然后他睡觉去了。我一看原来是我多年来最心爱的作家班扬的《天路历程》，荷兰文版，用上等纸精印，附有铜版插图，它的印刷装订超过我曾经看过的用它本国语印的版本。后来我发现《天路历程》已经译成了欧洲大多数的语言，我想除了《圣经》以外，它比任何其他书籍拥有更广泛的读者。
Honest John was the first that I know of who mix’d narration and dialogue; a method of writing very engaging to the reader, who in the most interesting parts finds himself, as it were, brought into the company and present at the discourse. De Foe in his Cruso, his Moll Flanders, Religious Courtship, Family Instructor, and other pieces, has imitated it with success; and Richardson has done the same, in his Pamela, etc.
据我所知“诚实的约翰”指约翰·班扬（JohnBunyan）。——译者是把对话混进叙述中的第一个人。这种写法很使读者感到兴趣，在最动人的部分，读者宛如身历其境，亲自参加讨论。笛福的《鲁滨逊漂流记》和《摩尔·富兰德尔》、《宗教求爱》、《家庭教师》等都成功地模仿了这种写法。理查孙在他的《帕米拉》等书中也采用了这种方法。
When we drew near the island, we found it was at a place where there could be no landing, there being a great surff on the stony beach. So we dropt anchor, and swung around towards the shore. Some people came down to the water edge and hallow’d to us, as we did to them; but the wind was so high, and the surff so loud, that we could not hear so as to understand each other. There were canoes on the shore, and we made signs, and hallow’d that they should fetch us; but they either did not understand us, or thought it impracticable, so they went away, and night coming on, we had no remedy but to wait till the wind should abate; and, in the meantime, the boatman and I concluded to sleep, if we could; and so crowded into the scuttle, with the Dutchman, who was still wet, and the spray beating over the head of our boat, leak’d thro’ to us, so that we were soon almost as wet as he. In this manner we lay all night, with very little rest; but, the wind abating the next day, we made a shift to reach Amboy before night, having been thirty hours on the water, without victuals, or any drink but a bottle of filthy rum, and the water we sail’d on being salt.
在靠近长岛时，我们发现无法在该地登陆，因为那里的海滩海浪澎湃，乱石丛生。这样，虽然船抛了锚，但是船身向着海岸摇摆着。岸上有人来了，对着我们大声呼喊，我们也向他们呼叫，但是风太大了，浪太响了，我们听不清对方所说的话，因而无法相互表达自己的意思，岸上有划子，我们做了手势，呼喊他们用船来接我们，但是他们或者是不懂我们的意思，或者是认为这事根本做不到，他们就走开了。天黑了，我们除了等着风势减弱以外，别无他法，在这个时候，我和船老板决定去睡一忽儿，假如还睡得着的话。我们就这样跟全身还是湿透的荷兰人一同挤在小小的船舱里。外面浪花打在船头上，漏进舱来打在我们身上，结果是没多时我们身上几乎是跟那个荷兰人一样地湿透了。这样，我们躺了一夜，根本就没有睡着。但是，第二天风渐渐小了，我们努力想要在天黑前到达安蒲，因为我们已经在水上过了三十小时，既无食物，又无饮水，我们只有一瓶混浊的糖酒，外面的海水是咸的。
It rained very hard all the day; I was thoroughly soak’d, and by noon a good deal tired; so I stopt at a poor inn, where I staid all night, beginning now to wish that I had never left home. I cut so miserable a figure, too, that I found, by the questions ask’d me, I was suspected to be some runaway servant, and in danger of being taken up on that suspicion. However, I proceeded the next day, and got in the evening to an inn, within eight or ten miles of Burlington, kept by one Dr. Brown. He entered into conversation with me while I took some refreshment, and, finding I had read a little, became very sociable and friendly. Our acquaintance continu’d as long as he liv’d. He had been, I imagine, an itinerant doctor, for there was no town in England, or country in Europe, of which he could not give a very particular account. He had some letters, and was ingenious, but much of an unbeliever, and wickedly undertook, some years after, to travestie the Bible in doggrel verse, as Cotton had done Virgil. By this means he set many of the facts in a very ridiculous light, and might have hurt weak minds if his work had been published; but it never was.
这一天整天下大雨，我全身湿透了，到了中午我感到很疲劳。所以就在一家小客店里耽搁了一夜，这时我开始有点懊悔当初不该离家出走了。同时我的外表显出十分穷酸，甚至从人家对我的问话中我发现他们疑心我是谁家的一个私逃的仆役，而且很有可能因这种嫌疑而遭逮捕。尽管如此，第二天我还是继续赶路，到了傍晚在离开柏林敦八英里或十英里的地方宿在一个勃朗大夫开的客店里。我一面进食，店主一面跟我搭讪，当他发现了我读过一些书的时候，他显得十分和气和友好了。我们的相识一直继续到他死为止。我猜想他以前是一个走方郎中，因为没有一个英国的或是欧洲大陆国家的城镇，他不能详细地描述的。他有一些学问，人也聪明，但是不大信仰宗教，几年以后他淘气地把《圣经》加以滑稽化，改写成为拙劣的诗体，正像可顿以前改写维吉尔的诗那样。这样他使《圣经》中的许多故事显得十分荒谬，假如他的作品出版的话，可能会使信心浅薄的人受到不良的影响。但是它从未出版。
In the evening I found myself very feverish, and went in to bed; but, having read somewhere that cold water drank plentifully was good for a fever, I follow’d the prescription, sweat plentiful most of the night, my fever left me, and in the morning, crossing the ferry, I proceeded on my journey on foot, having fifty miles to Burlington, where I was told I should find boats that would carry me the rest of the way to Philadelphia.
当天晚上，我发了高烧，上床睡了，但是我记得曾经在什么地方读到过多喝凉水能治疗发烧，所以我就这样做了，出了大半夜的汗，这样烧就退了。第二天上午，过了渡，向着五十英里以外的柏林敦徒步前进，在那里，据说有船可以送我直达费城。
At his house I lay that night, and the next morning reach’d Burlington, but had the mortification to find that the regular boats were gone a little before my coming, and no other expected to go before Tuesday, this being Saturday; wherefore I returned to an old woman in the town, of whom I had bought gingerbread to eat on the water, and ask’d her advice. She invited me to lodge at her house till a passage by water should offer; and being tired with my foot travelling, I accepted the invitation. She understanding I was a printer, would have had me stay at that town and follow my business, being ignorant of the stock necessary to begin with. She was very hospitable, gave me a dinner of ox-cheek with great good will, accepting only a pot of ale in return; and I thought myself fixed till Tuesday should come. However, walking in the evening by the side of the river, a boat came by, which I found was going towards Philadelphia, with several people in her. They took me in, and, as there was no wind, we row’d all the way; and about midnight, not having yet seen the city, some of the company were confident we must have passed it, and would row no farther; the others knew not where we were; so we put toward the shore, got into a creek, landed near an old fence, with the rails of which we made a fire, the night being cold, in October, and there we remained till daylight. Then one of the company knew the place to be Cooper’s Creek, a little above Philadelphia, which we saw as soon as we got out of the creek, and arriv’d there about eight or nine o’clock on the Sunday morning, and landed at the Market-street wharf.
那天夜里我就在他店里宿了一宵，第二天到了柏林敦，但是我很懊丧地发现在我到达以前不久，去费城的定期航船已经开走了。那天是星期六，要等到下星期二才有开往费城的航船。因此我回到城里一个老妇人那里，我曾经向她买了一些准备在船上吃的姜饼，我向她请教应当怎么办。她邀我住在她家，等候船只。因为我徒步旅行得累了，我就接受了她的邀请。当她听到我是一个印刷匠的时候，她就劝我在柏林敦安顿下来，开设一家印刷铺，但是她不了解开设印刷铺是需要资本的。她很殷勤地招待我，她非常善意地请我吃了一顿牛腮肉饭，只肯接受一壶啤酒作为代价。这样我满以为我是确定要等到星期二的了。但是，傍晚在河边散步的时候，来了一只船，后来我发现它是到费城去的，船上载着几个人，他们让我上了船，因为没有风，所以一路上我们划了船，到了午夜左右，因为还看不到费城，有人就确信我们一定已经过了费城，不愿再划下去了。其余的人也不知道我们究竟到了哪里。因此我们向河岸驶去，进入了一条小河浜，在一道旧木栅旁边登了岸，因为夜晚很冷（是十月的天气），我们就用木栅生了火，在那里我们呆到天明。当时船上有一个人认出这地方叫做库柏河，在费城的北面一点。我们一驶出这条河费城就在望了。大约在星期日早晨八九点钟就到达该城，我们在市场街码头上了岸。
I have been the more particular in this description of my journey, and shall be so of my first entry into that city, that you may in your mind compare such unlikely beginnings with the figure I have since made there. I was in my working dress, my best cloaths being to come round by sea. I was dirty from my journey; my pockets were stuff’d out with shirts and stockings, and I knew no soul nor where to look for lodging. I was fatigued with travelling, rowing, and want of rest, I was very hungry; and my whole stock of cash consisted of a Dutch dollar, and about a shilling in copper. The latter I gave the people of the boat for my passage, who at first refus’d it, on account of my rowing; but I insisted on their taking it. A man being sometimes more generous when he has but a little money than when he has plenty, perhaps thro’ fear of being thought to have but little.
我对于我的旅程叙述得特别详细，我的初次进城我也将详细交代，为的是使你在想象中能够把这种不大有希望的开端跟我日后在该城成为要人这一情况作一对比。我穿了工作服，因为我最好的衣服要从海道运来。我风尘仆仆，口袋里装满了衬衫和袜子。我一个熟人也没有，也不知何处去找住宿。我因为旅行、划船和缺乏休息，感到很累了。我又十分饿，但是我的全部现金是一元荷兰币和约值一先令的铜币。我把铜币付给船上的人作为舟金，他们起初不肯收，因为我出力划了船，但是我坚持要他们收下来，因为当一个人只有少量钱财的时候，有时候他反而比他钱多时来得慷慨，也许是由于怕人家把他当做穷酸的缘故吧。
Then I walked up the street, gazing about till near the market-house I met a boy with bread. I had made many a meal on bread, and, inquiring where he got it, I went immediately to the baker’s he directed me to, in Secondstreet, and ask’d for bisket, intending such as we had in Boston; but they, it seems, were not made in Philadelphia. Then I asked for a threepenny loaf, and was told they had none such. So not considering or knowing the difference of money, and the greater cheapness nor the names of his bread, I made him give me three-penny worth of any sort. He gave me, accordingly, three great puffy rolls. I was surpriz’d at the quantity, but took it, and, having no room in my pockets, walk’d off with a roll under each arm, and eating the other. Thus I went up Market-street as far as Fourth-street, passing by the door of Mr. Read, my future wife’s father; when she, standing at the door, saw me, and thought I made, as I certainly did, a most awkward, ridiculous appearance. Then I turned and went down Chestnut-street and part of Walnut-street, eating my roll all the way, and, corning round, found myself again at Market-street wharf, near the boat I came in, to which I went for a draught of the river water; and, being filled with one of my rolls, gave the other two to a woman and her child that came down the river in the boat with us, and were waiting to go farther.
接着我上了街，四处浏览，当我走到市场时，我遇见了一个手拿着面包的男孩子。以前我曾经好几次把面包当饭吃过。我问过他面包是从哪儿买来的以后，我立即跑到他指点给我的在第二街的一家面包铺那里，我要像我们在波士顿买的那种硬面包，但是好像在费城他们不做这种面包。接着我就要三便士一只的面包，他们也说没有，这样，由于我没有考虑到或不知道货币价值的不同，在费城物价较低，我也不知道究竟他铺子里有什么面包，我就请他给我三便士任何种类的面包，于是，他给了我三个又大又肥的面包卷。这个数量使我感到惊异，但是我收了下来。因为我口袋里装不下，我就两胁下各夹着一个，一边走，一边嘴里吃着另外的一个，我就这样沿着市场街走去一直走到第四街，经过后来成为我岳丈的李得先生门口。我未来的爱人这时恰巧站在门口，看见了我，觉得我的样子十分尴尬可笑，事实也真是这样。接着，我转了一个弯，到了板栗街和胡桃街的一段，一路上我仍然吃着面包卷，又转了一个弯以后，发现我又回到了市场街码头，我刚在坐着来的那只船的附近。我跑到码头上去喝了一口河水。我既吃了一个面包卷，肚子已经饱了，就把其余的两个给了跟我们一同从上江坐船来的妇人和她的孩子，她们正等着开船继续前进。
Walking down again toward the river, and, looking in the faces of people, I met a young Quaker man, whose countenance I lik’d, and, accosting him, requested he would tell me where a stranger could get lodging. We were then near the sign of the Three Mariners. “Here,” says he, “is one place that entertains strangers, but it is not a reputable house; if thee wilt walk with me, I’ll show thee a better.” He brought me to the Crooked Billet in Water-street. Here I got a dinner; and, while I was eating it, several sly questions were asked me, as it seemed to be suspected from my youth and appearance, that I might be some runaway.
我又向河边走去，一路上我注视着人们的脸，遇见了一个面色和蔼的年轻的教友会教徒，我就向他招呼，请他告诉我外地人在什么地方可以找到宿店。当时，我们是在“三个海员”的招牌附近。他就说：“这里就有一个招待外地人的宿店，但是它的声誉不好，假使你愿意跟我来，我可以告诉你一所较好的宿店。”他就带我到坐落在水街的“弯曲宿店”，在这里我吃了一顿午餐，在吃饭时，他们问了我一些侦探性的很机灵的问题，因为我的年轻跟我的服装好像使他们猜疑或许我是一个私逃者。
Thus refreshed, I walked again up the street, which by this time had many clean-dressed people in it, who were all walking the same way. I joined them, and thereby was led into the great meeting-house of the Quakers near the market. I sat down among them, and, after looking round awhile and hearing nothing said, being very drowsy thro’ labor and want of rest the preceding night, I fell fast asleep, and continued so till the meeting broke up, when one was kind enough to rouse me. This was, therefore, the first house I was in, or slept in, in Philadelphia.
饭后，我又跑到街上去了。这时街上有许多衣冠楚楚的人都在向着同一个方向走着，我加入了他们的队伍，这样我被带到市场附近的一个巨大的教友会的会所。我在他们中间坐了下来，我四面看了一忽儿，听不见有谁讲话，由于第一天晚上的劳动和缺乏睡眠，我感到十分困倦，接着就睡着了，一直睡到散会时为止。这时，有一个人善意地叫醒了我。因此，这个会所是我在费城踏进过的或是睡眠过的第一所房屋。
After dinner, my sleepiness return’d, and being shown to a bed, I lay down without undressing, and slept till six in the evening, was call’d to supper, went to bed again very early, and slept soundly till next morning. Then I made myself as tidy as I could, and went to Andrew Bradford the printer’s. I found in the shop the old man his father, whom I had seen at New York, and who, travelling on horseback, had got to Philadelphia before me. He introduc’d me to his son, who receiv’d me civilly, gave me a breakfast, but told me he did not at present want a hand, being lately suppli’d with one; but there was another printer in town, lately set up, one Keimer, who, perhaps, might employ me; if not, I should be welcome to lodge at his house, and he would give me a little work to do now and then till fuller business should offer.
午饭后，我又感到困倦了，他们给了我一张床，我就和衣倒下，一直睡到晚上六点钟，他们叫我吃晚饭，当天晚上很早就上了床酣睡到第二天清晨。接着我把我自己尽可能地打扮得整整齐齐到安得鲁·勃拉福的印刷铺去，在铺子里我看见我在纽约见过的那个老人，他的父亲。他是骑了马来的，所以比我先到费城。他把我介绍给他的儿子。他儿子很客气地接待了我，招待我吃了早餐，但是他说他目前不需要助手，因为最近他刚添了一个人。但是城里另外有一家新开的印刷铺，主人叫做凯谋，他或许可以雇用我；假如他不能，我可以暂住在他的店里，他会不时地给我一些零活干，直等到我找到工作为止。
The old gentleman said he would go with me to the new printer; and when we found him, “Neighbor,” says Bradford, “I have brought to see you a young man of your business; perhaps you may want such a one.” He ask’d me a few questions, put a composing stick in my hand to see how I work’d, and then said he would employ me soon, though he had just then nothing for me to do; and, taking old Bradford, whom he had never seen before, to be one of the town’s people that had a good will for him, enter’d into a conversation on his present undertaking and projects; while Bradford, not discovering that he was the other printer’s father, on Keimer’s saying he expected soon to get the greatest part of the business into his own hands, drew him on by artful questions, and starting little doubts, to explain all his views, what interests he reli’d on, and in what manner he intended to proceed. I, who stood by and heard all, saw immediately that one of them was a crafty old sophister, and the other a mere novice. Bradford left me with Keimer, who was greatly surpris’d when I told him who the old man was.
那位老先生说他要和我一同去见那个新印刷铺的老板。当我们找到了凯谋的时候，勃拉福说：“朋友，我带了一个年轻印刷工人来见你，或许你正需要这样一个人。”他问了我一些问题，给我一个排字架看我如何工作，接着他说：虽然他一时还找不到事情给我做，他不久就可以雇用我。他虽然从未见过勃拉福，却把年老的勃拉福当作镇上的一个对他有善意的市民，大谈他目前企业的情况和对未来的展望。勃拉福从未泄露他是城里另外一家印刷铺老板的父亲，听到凯谋说他预期不久可以把城里绝大部分的印刷事务承包下来，他就用一些巧妙的问句和一些小小的怀疑，把对方的全部意图都诱了出来：他靠了谁的势力，他准备如何进行。我站在一旁，听见了他们的全部谈话，立刻看出他们中间有一个是一只狡猾的老狐狸，另一个只是一个新手。勃拉福让我留在凯谋处，自己走了。当凯谋听到我说出勃拉福是谁的时候，他大为惊讶。
Keimer’s printing-house, I found, consisted of an old shatter’d press, and one small, worn-out font of English which he was then using himself, composing an Elegy on Aquila Rose, before mentioned, an ingenious young man, of excellent character, much respected in the town, clerk of the Assembly, and a pretty poet. Keimer made verses too, but very indifferently. He could not be said to write them, for his manner was to compose them in the types directly out of his head. So there being no copy, but one pair of cases, and the Elegy likely to require all the letter, no one could help him. I endeavor’d to put his press (which he had not yet us’d, and of which he understood nothing) into order fit to be work’d with; and, promising to come and print off his Elegy as soon as he should have got it ready, I return’d to Bradford’s, who gave me a little job to do for the present, and there I lodged and dieted, A few days after, Keimer sent for me to print off the Elegy. And now he had got another pair of cases, and a pamphlet to reprint, on which he set me to work.
我发现凯谋的印刷铺里只有一架陈旧破烂的印刷机和一套磨损了的小号英文铅字。这时候他正在用这套铅字排印一首纪念前面已经提过的阿克拉·罗斯的挽歌。罗斯是一个天资敏悟的年轻人，有着高尚的品德，在城里很受人们的器重，是州议会的秘书，也是一个不坏的诗人。凯谋也写诗，但是十分拙劣。实际上你不能说他写诗，因为他做诗的方式是直接把从头脑中的思想排成铅字。这样，因为没有稿子，只有两只活字盘，而挽歌又很可能需用全部的铅字，所以没有人可以帮他的忙。我设法把他的印刷机（该机他尚未用过，他对印刷机是一窍不通的）整理了一下，使它适合于印刷，我答应等他把他的挽歌一排好，我就来印刷。接着，我就回到勃拉福的印刷铺去了。勃拉福暂时给我一点零活干，我就在那里获得住宿和膳食。几天之后，凯谋来叫我去印挽歌。这时，他已经弄到了另外两只活字盘，有一个小册子要重印，他就叫我做这工作。
These two printers I found poorly qualified for their business. Bradford had not been bred to it, and was very illiterate; and Keimer, tho’ something of a scholar, was a mere compositor, knowing nothing of presswork. He had been one of the French prophets, and could act their enthusiastic agitations. At this time he did not profess any particular religion, but something of all on occasion; was very ignorant of the world, and had, as I afterward found, a good deal of the knave in his composition.
我发现这两个印刷工人对他们的业务都不十分高明，勃拉福原来不是学印刷的，而且文化程度很低。凯谋虽然有点学问，但只能排字，不懂印刷。他曾经是法国先知派法国先知派（FrenchProphets）：1706年由法国传入英国，自称能预知未来，能说万国方言，能行奇迹等等。他们宣扬天国即将来临，劝人实行原始共产主义社会。——译者的教友之一，能够装得像他们那样的热烈和激动。这时候他并不表明信仰什么特殊教派的宗教，只是随机应变，各种教派都相信一点。他完全不懂世故，而且后来我发现在他性格里很有点无赖气。
He did not like my lodging at Bradford’s while I work’d with him. He had a house, indeed, but without furniture, so he could not lodge me; but he got me a lodging at Mr. Read’s, before mentioned, who was the owner of his house; and, my chest and clothes being come by this time, I made rather a more respectable appearance in the eyes of Miss Read than I had done when she first happen’d to see me eating my roll in the street.
当我在他这里工作的时候，他不喜欢我住在勃拉福处。他原有一所房子，但是里面没有家具，所以他无法安置我，可是他替我在他的房东，就是上面提过的李得先生处找到了寄宿。这时候我的箱子和衣服已经运来了，在李得小姐的眼里我的样子可比当她第一次碰巧看见我在街上吃面包卷时体面得多了。
I began now to have some acquaintance among the young people of the town, that were lovers of reading, with whom I spent my evenings very pleasantly; and gaining money by my industry and frugality, I lived very agreeably, forgetting Boston as much as I could, and not desiring that any there should know where I resided, except my friend Collins, who was in my secret, and kept it when I wrote to him. At length, an incident happened that sent me back again much sooner than I had intended. I had a brother-in-law, Robert Holmes, master of a sloop that traded between Boston and Delaware. He being at Newcastle, forty miles below Philadelphia, heard there of me, and wrote me a letter mentioning the concern of my friends in Boston at my abrupt departure, assuring me of their good will to me, and that every thing would be accommodated to my mind if I would return, to which he exhorted me very earnestly. I wrote an answer to his letter, thank’d him for his advice, but stated my reasons for quitting Boston fully and in such a light as to convince him I was not so wrong as he had apprehended.
这时我开始认识了城里一些爱好读书的青年人，晚上我很愉快地跟这些人在一起，靠着我的勤俭，我赚了一点钱，生活过得十分舒适。我尽可能地把波士顿忘掉，而且除了高令斯以外，我也不要波士顿的任何人知道我的住处。高令斯是知道我的地址的，当我写信给他时，他保守秘密。最后，发生了一件偶然的事情，使我重新回到那里，比我原定的时间早得多哩。我有一个姐夫劳勃脱·荷麦斯，是一只行商于波士顿和道拉瓦之间的帆船的船主，当他在费城南面四十英里的纽开色时，听到了关于我的消息，他写了一封信给我，提到在我突然出走后，波士顿的亲友们的怀念和忧虑，向我保证他们对我的善意，只要我回去，一切都可以按照我的心愿安排，他十分诚意地劝我回去。我回了他的信，感谢他的劝告，但是我详尽地叙述我离开波士顿的理由，这样使他相信我的出走不是像他以前想象的那样不近情理。
Keimer ran down immediately, thinking it a visit to him; but the governor inquir’d for me, came up, and with a condescension of politeness I had been quite unus’d to, made me many compliments, desired to be acquainted with me, blam’d me kindly for not having made myself known to him when I first came to the place, and would have me away with him to the tavern, where he was going with Colonel French to taste, as he said, some excellent Madeira. I was not a little surprised, and Keimer star’d like a pig poison’d. I went, however, with the governor and Colonel French to a tavern, at the corner of Third-street, and over the Madeira he propos’d my setting up my business, laid before me the probabilities of success, and both he and Colonel French assur’d me I should have their interest and influence in procuring the public business of both governments. On my doubting whether my father would assist me in it, Sir William said he would give me a letter to him, in which he would state the advantages, and he did not doubt of prevailing with him. So it was concluded I should return to Boston in the first vessel, with the governor’s letter recommending me to my father. In the mean time the intention was to be kept a secret, and I went on working with Keimer as usual, the governor sending for me now and then to dine with him, a very great honor I thought it, and conversing with me in the most affable, familiar, and friendly manner imaginable.
凯谋立刻跑下楼去，以为是来访他的客人，但是州长要见我，跑到楼上来，他用了一种我以前不大习惯的谦逊彬彬有礼地向我说了许多客气话，表示愿意与我相识，好意地怪我当我初来费城时为什么不让他知道，同时邀我和他一同到酒馆去，他和富兰契上校原是打算上那里，据他说，去品尝一些上等的白葡萄酒。我是受宠若惊，凯谋却瞪着眼呆若木鸡。但是我陪着州长和富兰契上校到一家在第三街拐角上的酒馆去了，一面喝酒，他一面劝我自己开业，向我指出成功的可能性很大，州长和富兰契上校都向我保证他们要利用他们的势力和影响去招揽军政两方面的公家生意。当我提出不知道我父亲愿意不愿意在这件事上协助我的时候，威廉爵士说他要给我一封写给我父亲的信，在信里他要叙述这一计划的优点，他确信他一定能说服他。事情就这样决定了：我将搭坐下一班的船带着州长向我父亲推荐我的信，回到波士顿去。但在其间我们的计划暂不宣布，我照常在凯谋的印刷铺继续工作，州长不时邀我去吃饭（当时我想这是一种莫大的光荣），同时他用一种想象不到的殷勤、亲密和友好的态度跟我谈话。
Sir William Keith, governor of the province, was then at Newcastle, and Captain Holmes, happening to be in company with him when my letter came to hand, spoke to him of me, and show’d him the letter. The governor read it, and seem’d surpris’d when he was told my age. He said I appear’d a young man of promising parts, and therefore should be encouraged; the printers at Philadelphia were wretched ones; and, if I would set up there, he made no doubt I should succeed; for his part, he would procure me the public business, and do me every other service in his power. This my brother-in-law afterwards told me in Boston, but I knew as yet nothing of it; when, one day, Keimer and I being at work together near the window, we saw the governor and another gentleman (which proved to be Colonel French, of Newcastle), finely dress’d, come directly across the street to our house, and heard them at the door.
宾夕法尼亚的州长威廉·基夫爵士这时在纽开色。当我的信送到时，荷麦斯船主刚巧跟州长在一起，就跟他谈起了我，并把我的信给他看了。州长看了我的信，当他听到我的年龄时，好像感到惊异。他说看来我是一个有前途的有才能的青年，因此应当加以鼓励。他说费城的印刷铺质量十分低劣，假如我在那里开业，他说我一定会发达。在他这一方面他愿意设法替我招揽公家印刷生意，并在任何其他方面尽力帮助我。这是我姐夫以后在波士顿讲给我听的，但在当时我还一无所知。有一天，当我和凯谋一块儿在窗口工作的时候，我们看见州长和另外一位绅士（后来知道他是纽开色的富兰契上校）穿着华丽的衣服，穿过街径向我们的铺子走过来，接着我们听见了叩门声。
About the end of April, 1724, a little vessel offer’d for Boston. I took leave of Keimer as going to see my friends. The governor gave me an ample letter, saying many flattering things of me to my father, and strongly recommending the project of my setting up at Philadelphia as a thing that must make my fortune. We struck on a shoal in going down the bay, and sprung a leak; we had a blustering time at sea, and were oblig’d to pump almost continually, at which I took my turn. We arriv’d safe, however, at Boston in about a fortnight. I had been absent seven months, and my friends had heard nothing of me; for my br. Holmes was not yet return’d, and had not written about me. My unexpected appearance surpriz’d the family; all were, however, very glad to see me, and made me welcome, except my brother. I went to see him at his printing-house. I was better dress’d than ever while in his service, having a genteel new suit from head to foot, a watch, and my pockets lin’d with near five pounds sterling in silver. He receiv’d me not very frankly, look’d me all over, and turn’d to his work again.
约在一七二四年四月底，一只开往波士顿的小船来了，我辞别了凯谋，只说是去访友。州长给我一封厚厚的信，信中向我父亲说了许多恭维我的话，大力地推荐我在费城开业的计划，认为这一事业必然会使我发迹。我们的船在驶入海湾时碰上了沙洲，发生了裂缝，这时候海上波涛汹涌，我们必须几乎继续不停地抽水，我也轮流值班抽水。但是，大约经过了两个星期的时光，我们平安地到达了波士顿。到那时我已经离开波城七个月了，我的亲友们一点也没有听到关于我的消息，因为我姐夫荷麦斯还没有回来，也没有写信提到我。我之意外地出现在他们面前，使得全家惊异，但是大家看到我都很快乐。除了我哥哥外，大家都款待我。我到他的印刷铺里去看他。这时我的衣着比我在他那里当学徒期间的任何时候都考究。我从头到脚穿了一套新的时髦的西装，挂了一只表，口袋里装了差不多五英镑的银币。他勉强地接见了我，把我从头到脚打量了一番，然后又去工作去了。
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