I have been lately informed, by the proprietor of The World(2), that two Papers, in which my Dictionary is recommended to the Public(3), were written by your Lordship. To be so distinguished, is an honour(4), which, being very little accustomed to(5) favours from the Great(6), I know not well how to receive, or in what termsto acknowledge(7).When, upon some slight encouragement(8), I first visited your Lordship, I was overpowered, like the rest of Mankind(9), hy the enchantment of your address; and could not forbear(10) to wish that I might boast myself Levainqueur du vainqueur de la terre(11)— that I might obtain that regard for which I saw the world(12) contending; but I found my attendance(13) so little encouraged, that neither pride nor modesty would suffer(14) me to continue it. (15)
When I had once addressed your Lordship in public, I had exhausted all the art of pleasing which a retired and uncourtly scholar(16) can possess. I had done all that I could; and no Man is well pleased to have his all(17) neglected, be it ever so little.
Seven years, My Lord, have now past,since I waited in your outward Rooms, or was repulsed from your Door(18); during which time I have been pushing on my work through difficulties, of which it is useless to complain(19), and have brought it, at last, to the verge of Puhlication, without one Act of assistance, one word of encouragement, or one smile of favour(20). Such treatment I did not expect, for I never had a Patron before.
The Shepherd in Virgil grew at last acquainted with Love, and found him a Native of the Rocks(21). Is not a Patron, My Lord, one who looks with unconcern on a Man struggling for Life in the water, and, when he has reached ground, encumbers him with help?(22) The notice which you have been pleased to take of my Labours,(23) had it been early, (24) had been kind; but it has been delayed till I am indifferent, and cannot enjoy it; till I am solitary,(25) and cannot impart it; till I am known, and do not want it(26)? I hope it is no very cynical asperity(27) not to confess obligations(28) where no benefit has been received,or to be unwilling that the Public should consider me as owing that to a Patron, which Providence has enabled me to do for myself.(29)
Having carried on my work thus far with solittle obligation to any Favourer of Learning,(30) I shall not be disappointed though I should comclude it(31), if less be possible, with less; or I have been long wakened from that Dream of hope, in which I once boasted myself with so much exultation(32)? My Lord, Your Lordship’s Most Humble, Most Obedient Servant,
(1) My Lord，文言表现不宜过实，故译成“大人阁下”，稍见婉致；白话宜更实在些，不妨译作“伯爵大人”或“爵爷”之类。
(2) The World，可译《世界》或《世界报》，1753-1756在伦敦发行，颇有影响。由爱德华·莫尔（Edward Moore）主编。
(3) is recommended to the Public，已向公众推荐。由于“扬善举荐”或“举荐溢美”之类的用语，已经暗示是向公众推荐的，加之前面已知文章是登在报纸上，当然是给公众看的，所以to the Public就略去不译了。注意：文中一些字母故意大写（例如Papers，Public），以示作者对某种含义的强调，这是当时的写作文风。
(4) To be so distinguished, is an honour，亦可译作：“推重如此，可谓荣耀有加。”或“受到如此的赏识，深感荣幸。”
(11) Levainqueur du vainqueur de la terre 法语， 意为“conqueror of the conqueror of the earth．”此句来自法国古典派文艺理论家布瓦洛的作品L’ Art Poetique (《诗艺》)。引用外文虽是那时候英国文人的嗜好，但此处采用引用法实可窥见约翰逊踌躇满志又欲盖弥彰的心态。 故翻译时宜以洋味或古味出之。此句在白话文中仍用文言译法“吾乃征服天下者之征服者也”，其意在此。
(12) the world，提喻，意为“世人”，或更准确点，指那些试图收名定价于切斯菲尔德大人的文人学者。
(13) attendance，暗指“侍立、逢迎”。
(14) suffer，容许。
(15) 此句语序有所更动。continue据上下文活译为“周旋”。
(16) a retired and uncourt]y scholar，不尚交际、逢迎的书生。
(17) all，意为all that he did。
(18) was repulsed from your Door，见拒门外。
(19) Of which it is useless to complain，抱怨曾遭受的这些困难是没有什么用了。此句插在这里，在英文中像是随手着一笔，没有什么牵强处。但译成汉语，则会觉得突兀、牵强，文气蹇涩。处理的办法是将它挪到全句后面，起补充文意的作用。
(20) without one Act Of assistance, one word of encouragement, or one smile of favour,这三个短语的排比用法甚有威力。译文通过重复“无……相”这种句法，造成一种回环往复的效果，以传达原作的气势。三个短语相连，前二个短语尾字皆用仄声，最后一个短语尾字宜用平声压住。
(21) a Native of the Rocks，岩穴土人，草野之夫。典出古罗马诗人维吉尔（Virgil, 70 BC-19 BC） 的《牧歌》（Eclogue, 第VIII章，第43行）：“我现在终于知道爱神这男孩是什么样的人，\知道他出生在特迈罗斯或罗多彼山脉的岩穴蛮荒之地，\或大地的边沿地带加拉曼特斯——\他和我们非故非亲，血统上毫无联系。”约翰逊显然将切斯菲尔德比作是出生在岩穴蛮荒之地的爱神，认为他徒具虚名，实际上既无文明血统，也像岩石一样冰冷无情。他根本无法赏识约翰逊的才学。
(32) in which I once boasted myself with so much exultation，我曾在梦中得意非凡地自诩是……。“曾几何时”是以once为依据、同时根据全文的表意趋势做了增强语势的处理后译出的。 文言译法更加了“堪笑”一词，实由体味全文所漾溢着的一种大功告成后、睥睨王侯的气概而增。注意此种增词译法不可滥用，只有在最紧要处不损文意的前提下才可以偶尔使用。