人生的写照 

　　萨缪尔·约翰逊(1709～1784)，这位值得纪念的人出生于英国斯塔福德郡的里奇菲尔德。他的父亲经营图书和文具。1728年，他进入牛津的彭布鲁克学院，但是贫穷迫使他念完第三年就退学了。1736年，他结婚后不久，他就开设了一所私人学校，但是只收到了3个学生，其中的一个叫大卫·盖瑞克，后来成为了著名的演员。1737年，他搬到了伦敦，他余生的大部分时间都在这里度过。在他无数的文学作品中最著名的是他的《词典》，那是第一部真正用英语编就的字典。诗歌《人类欲望的虚幻》《漫游者》《拉塞靳斯》《英国诗人的生活》以及他编写的《莎士比全集》也是很有名的作品。1762年，他被授予300英镑的年金。

　　从外形上，约翰逊体态笨重，举止笨拙；从仪态上，他为人粗鄙，傲慢；但是他的学识和能力让很多显赫的人都争相和他交往。

　　奥巴代亚，阿比尼西那的儿子，一大清早就离开了旅店，开始了他穿越印度斯坦平原的旅程。良好的睡眠使他感到神清气爽、精力旺盛，他觉察到生机勃勃的希望，被渴望所激励，他轻快地穿过河谷，看到山峰渐渐显现在自己面前。

　　当他一路行进的时候，他听到了这个乐园里鸟儿悦耳的晨歌。一阵阵柔和的晨风迎面吹来，时不时地还会有露珠从散发着清香的果树上滑落到他的身上。他有时会注视那高耸的橡树——仿若君王般矗立在山丘上；有时候他会闻到迎春花的香气，那是春天的长女。他的感官得到了享受和满足，而他的心情是那样无忧无虑。

　　他继续他的行程，直到太阳升到他的头顶，越来越高的温度让他感到体力的消逝。所以他停下来审视四周，以期找到一条更怡人的道路。他看到在他的右手边，有一个树林似乎在以它的荫凉向他发出邀请。他走进去，发现那儿又凉快又青翠，让人不忍离去。但是他没有忘记他此行的目的，他找到了一条路旁开满鲜花的小路，看起来似乎和大路通往同一方向。通过这令人愉快的体验，他找到了折中乐趣和职责的方法，既能享受勤奋的成果，又不用忍受太多的劳苦。

　　于是，他又热情不减地继续向前行进。只是偶尔，那因为炎热而躲在树阴下的小鸟的歌声会诱使他停下脚步；有时候，他也会摘下河岸两边的小花或树枝上的果实来自娱自乐。最后那绿色小道沿着地势开始慢慢下降，在山丘和灌木丛中蜿蜒而去，一路上只见清泉生凉，水瀑呜咽。

　　奥巴代亚在这里停留了一会儿，考虑离开那通常走的熟悉的大路是否安全，但想到现在正是酷热淫威最盛的时候，平原上也满是灰尖和坑洼，他决定还是沿着新路走。他想这路应该只是根据地形的变化转一些弯，最终它还是要和大路会合的。

　　就这样平息他的忧虑之后，奥巴代亚又重新上路了，尽管他怀疑自己可能没有走对路。这种隐隐的担忧使他不错过任何一个新鲜事物，并且想方设法让自己感到安慰和开心。他倾听每一个回声，攀登每一座山丘来观赏景色，他碰到每一个小瀑布都会折过去看一眼，他发现一条潺潺流动的小河穿过树林，仿若有无数的曲折，浇灌着一处广袤的区域，就很高兴的沿着河道一路走去。

　　欢乐的时光很快不知不觉地过去了，他这样七转八弯地走下来，弄得他自己也记不清走过的路了，更不知道下一步应该去向哪里。他困惑而忧愁地站在那里，因为害怕走错路而不敢再向前行，但是他清醒地意识到不能再闲逛了。正当他犹豫不决，非常苦恼的时候，天空上开始布满乌云，白昼从他眼前消失，头顶突然袭来一阵暴风雨。

　　他面临的危险让他对他愚蠢的行为进行了一次快速而痛苦的检讨。他现在明白了为什么贪图安逸会导致幸福的丧失。他为自己的娇气和急躁感到悲痛，是它们促使他在那个树林中寻找庇佑，他也鄙视自己为了小小的好奇心就在琐碎的事物上纠缠不清。当他在这样反省的时候，天色变得更暗了，一声响雷打断了他的沉思。

　　他现在决定去做一件他力所能及的事：按照原路返回，同时找找看有没有从树林通向平原的出口。他拜倒在大地上，将自己的生命托付给大自然的主宰。他爬起身的时候心中充满自信和宁静。他把他的刀紧紧地握在手中，因为荒野里的野兽已经出动了，到处都是充满了愤怒和恐惧，蹂躏和死亡的含糊的吼叫。所有在黑暗和孤独中产生的恐惧包围着他。狂风在林间呼啸，洪流从山顶滚滚而下。

　　就这样，带着无助和沮丧，他在荒野中穿行，不知道自己在走向何方，也不知道他是在走向安全之地，还是在走向毁灭。最终，不是恐惧，而是疲劳征服了他。他的呼吸开始变得短促，膝盖开始颤抖。就在他将要倒下，想要屈服于命运的时候，他看到，一点蜡烛的微光透过荆棘闪现。他向那点光亮走去，发现那来自于一个隐士的小屋。他谦卑地叫门，得以被允许进到屋中。那位老人在他面前放下本是为自己准备的食物，奥巴代亚带着感激之情，狼吞虎咽地吃完了。

　　用餐一结束，隐士问道：“告诉我，是什么机缘让你来到这里，我在这荒郊野林住了二十年了，还从来没有见过有人经过。”奥巴代亚详细讲述了他旅途中的遭遇，没有任何的隐瞒和掩饰。

　　“孩子，”那位隐士说道，“让今天的错误、愚蠢、危险和侥幸，都深深地镌刻在你的心中。记住，我的孩子，人的一生就像是一天的旅行。我们早上起来的时候精力旺盛，充满期望，就像是在我们年轻的时候。我们带着信念和希望出发，那时我们是欢乐而勤奋的，我们会在笔直通向崇高目标的大道上虔诚地行进。但是过了一段时间，我们就会热情消退，努力设法想要减轻一点我们的职责，期望着能够更轻松地到达我们的目的地。

　　“然后我们变得松懈了，我们决意不再为远处的罪恶行径而担忧，我们觉得自己能洁身自好，在世事茫茫中保持不变，开始冒险靠近我们以前决心点滴不沾的东西。这样我们就走进了安逸的树荫里，开始在安全的阴凉处歇息。就是在这里，我们的心被软化麻痹了，渐渐失去了警觉性，然后很自然地就会问：是不是非要继续前进，难道我们就不能稍稍把目光落在欢乐的乐园一会儿吗？我们小心翼翼、犹豫不决地接近那个乐园。我们走进去，但是依然感到胆怯和发抖。我们总是希望我们能在不偏离美德之路的前提下穿越这个乐园，时不时的，我们也会见到那条美德之路在我们面前出现，而且我们会对自己说：总有一天我们会回到那条路上去的。

　　“但是诱惑接踵而至，一次的屈服就为第二次打下了基础。我们适时地失去了天真的快乐，只会用感官的享受慰藉我们不安的心灵。逐渐地，我们忘却了我们的天性，放弃了我们唯一可以理智地追求的目标。我们事务缠身，花天酒地，徘徊在反复无常的迷宫中，一直到年迈时的黑暗开始侵蚀我们，疾病和忧虑让我们步履维艰。然后我们回首一生，会感到惊恐、悲痛和悔恨。我们会希望，尽管通常是徒劳的希望，我们从来不曾放弃美德之路。

　　“真正幸福的人，我的孩子，是那些能吸取教训，却从不绝望的人；是那些尽管明白光阴已经逝去，青春也已不在，却依然坚持努力的人；是那些相信悔过总不至于绝望，真诚的努力总能得到帮助的人；是那些从以上的这些获取力量和勇气，在危险和困难中披荆斩棘的人。去吧，我的孩子，去休息吧。当早晨的铃声又响起的时候，你就可以开始你新的旅程和人生。”

　　A Picture of Human Life

　　Samuel Johnson (b. 1709, d. 1784). This remarkable man was born in Lichfield, Staffordshire, England. He was the son of a bookseller and stationer. He entered Pembroke College, Oxford, in 1728; but his poverty compelled him to leave at the end of three years. Soon after his marriage, in 1736, he opened a private school, but obtained only three pupils, one of whom was David Garrick, afterwards a celebrated actor. In 1737, he removed to London, where he resided most of the rest of his life. The most noted of his numerous literary works are his "Dictionary," the first one of the English language worthy of mention, "The Vanity of Human Wishes," a poem, "The Rambler," "Rasselas," "The Lives of the English Poets," and his edition of Shakespeare. An annual pension of 300 pounds was granted him in 1762.

　　In person, Johnson was heavy and awkward; in manner, boorish and overbearing; but his learning and his great powers caused his company to be sought by many eminent men。

　　Obidah, the son of Abnesina, left the caravansary early in the morning, and pursued his journey through the plains of Hindostan. He was fresh and vigorous with rest; he was animated with hope; he was incited by desire; he walked swiftly forward over the valleys, and saw the hills gradually rising before him。

　　As he passed along, his ears were delighted with the morning song of the bird of paradise; he was fanned by the last flutters of the sinking breeze, and sprinkled with dew by groves of spices; he sometimes contemplated towering height of the oak, monarch of the hills; and sometimes caught the gentle fragrance of the primrose, eldest daughter of the spring; all his senses were gratified, and all care was banished from his heart。

　　Thus he went on, till the sun approached his meridian, and the increasing heat preyed upon his strength; he then looked round about him for some more commodious path. He saw, on his right hand, a grove that seemed to wave its shades as a sign of invitation; he entered it, and found the coolness and verdure irresistibly pleasant. He did not, however, forget whither he was traveling, but found a narrow way, bordered with flowers, which appeared to have the same direction with the main road, and was pleased, that, by this happy experiment, he had found means to unite pleasure with business, and to gain the rewards of diligence without suffering its fatigues。

　　He, therefore, still continued to walk for a time, without the least remission of his ardor, except that he was sometimes tempted to stop by the music of the birds, which the heat had assembled in the shade, and sometimes amused himself with picking the flowers that covered the banks on each side, or the fruits that hung upon the branches. At last, the green path began to decline from its first tendency, and to wind among the hills and thickets, cooled with fountains, and murmuring with waterfalls。

　　Here Obidah paused for a time, and began to consider whether it was longer safe to forsake the known and common track; but, remembering that the heat was now in its greatest violence, and that the plain was dusty and uneven, he resolved to pursue the new path, which he supposed only to make a few meanders, in compliance with the garieties of the ground, and to end at last in the common road。

　　Having thus calmed his solicitude, he renewed his pace, though he suspected he was not gaining ground. This uneasiness of his mind inclined him to lay hold on every new object, and give way to every sensation that might soothe or divert him. He listened to every echo, he mounted every hill for a fresh prospect, he turned aside to every cascade, and pleased himself with tracing the course of a gentle river that rolled among the trees, and watered a large region, with innumerable circumvolutions。

　　In these amusements, the hours passed away uncounted; his deviations had perplexed his memory, and he knew not toward what point to travel. He stood pensive and confused, afraid to go forward lest he should go wrong, yet conscious that the time of loitering was now past. While he was thus tortured with uncertainty, the sky was overspread with clouds, the day vanished from before him, and a sudden tempest gathered round his head。

　　He was now roused by his danger to a quick and painful remembrance of his folly; he now saw how happiness is lost when ease is consulted; he lamented the unmanly impatience that prompted him to seek shelter in the grove, and despised the petty curiosity that led him on from trifle to trifle. While he was thus reflecting, the air grew blacker and a clap of thunder broke his meditation。

　　He now resolved to do what remained yet in his power; to tread back the ground which he had passed, and try to find some issue where the wood might open into the plain. He prostrated himself upon the ground, and commended his life to the Lord of nature. He rose with confidence and tranquillity, and pressed on with his saber in his hand; for the beasts of the desert were in motion, and on every hand were heard the mingled howls of rage, and fear, and ravage, and expiration; all the horrors of darkness and solitude surrounded him; the winds roared in the woods, and the torrents tumbled from the hills。

　　Thus, forlorn and distressed, he wandered through the wild without knowing whither he was going or whether he was every moment drawing nearer to safety or to destruction. At length, not fear but labor began to overcome him; his breath grew short, and his knees trembled, and he was on the point of lying down, in resignation to his fate, when he beheld, through the brambles, the glimmer of a taper. He advanced toward the light, and finding that it proceeded from the cottage of a hermit, he called humbly at the door, and obtained admission. The old man set before him such provisions as he had collected for himself, on which Obidah fed with eagerness and gratitude。

　　When the repast was over, "Tell me," said the hermit, "by what chance thou hast been brought hither; I have been now twenty years an inhabitant of this wilderness, in which I never saw a man before." Obidah then related the occurrences of his journey, without any concealment or palliation。

　　"Son," said the hermit, "let the errors and follies, the dangers and escapes, of this day, sink deep into your heart. Remember, my son, that human life is the journey of a day. We rise in the morning of youth, full of vigor, and full of expectation; we set forward with spirit and hope, with gayety and with diligence, and travel on awhile in the straight road of piety toward the mansions of rest. In a short time we remit our fervor, and endeavor to find some mitigation of our duty, and some more easy means of obtaining the same end。

　　"We then relax our vigor, and resolve no longer to be terrified with crimes at a distance, but rely upon our own constancy, and venture to approach what we resolve never to touch. We thus enter the bowers of ease, and repose in the shades of security. Here the heart softens, and vigilance subsides; we are then willing to inquire whether another advance can not be made, and whether we may not at least turn our eyes upon the gardens of pleasure. We approach them with scruple and hesitation; we enter them, but enter timorous and trembling, and always hope to pass through them without losing the road of virtue, which we for a while keep in our sight, and to which we propose to return。

　　"But temptation succeeds temptation, and one compliance prepares us for another; we, in time, lose the happiness of innocence, and solace our disquiet with sensual gratifications. By degrees we let fall the remembrance of our original intention, and quit the only adequate object of rational desire. We entangle ourselves in business, immerge ourselves in luxury, and rove through the labyrinth of inconstancy till the darkness of old age begins to invade us, and disease and anxiety obstruct our way. We then look back upon our lives with horror, with sorrow, and with repentance; and wish, but too often vainly wish, that we had not forsaken the paths of virtue. "Happy are they, my son, who shall learn, from thy example, not to despair, but shall remember that though the day is past, and their strength is wasted, there yet remains one effort to be made; that reformation is never hopeless, nor sincere endeavors ever unassisted; that the wanderer may at length return after all his errors; and that he who implores strength and courage from above, shall find danger and difficulty give way before him. Go now, my son, to thy repose; and when the morning calls again to toil, begin anew thy journey and thy life."