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1、SamuelJohnson'slettertoLordChesterfieldToTheRightHonorableTheEarlOfChesterfield7thFebruary,1755.MyLord,Ihavebeenlatelyinformed,bytheproprietorofTheWorld,thattwopapers,inwhichmyDictionaryisrecommendedtothepublic,werewrittenbyyourlordship.Tobesodistinguishedisanhonorwhich,beingverylittleaccustom
2、edtofavorsfromthegreat,Iknownotwellhowtoreceive,orinwhattermstoacknowledge.When,uponsomeslightencouragement,Ifirstvisitedyourlordship,Iwasoverpowered,liketherestofmankind,bytheenchantmentofyouraddress,andcouldnotforbeartowishthatImightboastmyselfLevainqueurduvainqueurdelaterre;—thatImightobtai
3、nthatregardforwhichIsawtheworldcontending;butIfoundmyattendancesolittleencouraged,thatneitherpridenormodestywouldsuffermetocontinueit.WhenIhadonceaddressedyourLordshipinpublic,Ihadexhaustedalltheartofpleasingwhicharetiredanduncourtlyscholarcanpossess.IhaddoneallthatIcould;andnomaniswellpleased
4、tohavehisallneglected,beiteversolittle.Sevenyears,mylord,havenowpassed,sinceIwaitedinyouroutwardrooms,orwasrepulsedfromyourdoor;duringwhichtimeIhavebeenpushingonmyworkthroughdifficulties,ofwhichitisuselesstocomplain,andhavebroughtit,atlast,tothevergeofpublication,withoutoneactofassistance,onew
5、ordofencouragement,oronesmileoffavor.SuchtreatmentIdidnotexpect,forIneverhadapatronbefore.TheshepherdinVirgilgrewatlastacquaintedwithLove,andfoundhimanativeoftherocks.Isnotapatronsmylord,onewholookswithunconcernonamanstrugglingforlifeinthewater,and,whenhehasreachedground,encumbershimwithhelp?T
6、henoticewhichyouhavebeenpleasedtotakeofmylabors,haditbeenearly,hadbeenkind;butithasbeendelayedtillIamindifferent,andcannotenjoyit:tillIamsolitary,andcannotimpartit; tillIamknown,anddonotwantit.Ihopeitisnoverycynicalasperitynottoconfessobligationswherenobenefithasbeenreceived,ortobeunwillingtha
7、tthepublicshouldconsidermeasowingthattoapatron,whichprovidencehasenabledmetodoformyself.Havingcarriedonmyworkthusfarwithsolittleobligationtoanyfavoreroflearning,IshallnotbedisappointedthoughIshouldconcludeit,iflessbepossible,withless;fo
