加载中…塞缪尔·约翰逊的对话
(2023-12-05 22:43:43)
虚荣心使人生出种种愿望，其中最普通，或者最少受非议的，莫过于希望能以谈话艺术博得他人刮目相看。人或许会有其他才艺但却没有机会施展；即使没有，也不必担心这一缺陷会经常被人发现。但是，除非归隐山林，人只要活在世界上，就难免会因四周亲友的时亲时疏，有时得意，有时气恼，所以，予人快乐的本领也就始终会有用武之地。有些人不论到哪里都能成为众人瞩目的中心,一进门就仿佛欢乐也同时降临，但是一旦离去，大家又会惋惜不已，仿佛北方严寒天气里太阳突然消隐，仿佛想象失去了灵感，欢乐失去了源泉，少有其他人能像他们那样经常受到大家的艳羡。
显而易见，若要谙练这一宝贵艺术的精妙，必须具备某些特殊条件。我们的经验告诉我们，有人虽能通过谈话给人快乐，但是给人快乐的多寡与其道德学问并无相应的此例关系。许多人，若是换在其他场合，你决不会认为他们有什么重要，但是他们却会成为你家餐桌或者聚会的座上嘉宾。有些人，你虽无法尊敬，但却常常情不自禁地欢喜。有些人，你明知他们不学无术，不足以成为良师，而且狡黠多变，亦不足以成为益友，但却依然愿意冒险一试，将他们引为伴侣。
我十分怀疑，如果没有一点容忍性的涵养，是否还能左右逢源，受人欢迎。很少有人乐于在咄咄逼人的傲慢目光下度过他们的时间，因此，凡被争相邀请出席欢乐聚会的人，鲜见有钱有势的显贵人士。诙谐幽默者，如果妙语连珠，迫使拙于言辞的人羞于启口；饱学之士，如果高深莫测，令人难以从中受到教益；批评家，如果对每个谬误都不轻易放过；善于思辨者，如果迫使懒于思考的人不得不思考，迫使漫不经心的人不得不集中注意力，那么，十之八九，虽会受到称颂赞扬，却令人感到畏惧，虽会受到崇敬，却令人退避三舍。
要想使人高兴，就不能为了炫耀自己谈话艺术之精妙，迫使他人只能洗耳恭听，不敢发表自己的一得之见，或者剥夺他人希望，使他们无法贡献自己的一份力量，以达到悦人悦己的目的。如果仅靠想象奇特、话语俏皮、应对敏捷而使人欢笑，
那么，那笑声往往只是拉丁人所说的撒丁人的笑声，脸上虽然强颜欢笑，心里却毫无快乐可言。
因此，若要受到众人普遍欢迎，谈话之道莫过于叙事。凡是腹中装满琐闯轶事、秘事掌故、奇行怪癖的人，极少不受听众偏爱。几乎人人都爱听当代史话，因为几乎人人都与某位名人有着某种或想象的关系，对于声誉日隆的名字都有一种或褒或贬的愿望。虚荣心与好奇心常常携手合作。有人在某个场合只能洗耳恭听，但到另一个场合便有了侃侃而谈的资格。他虽不能理解一系列论点，不能如实传达诙谐幽默的欢快精神，但却自信能将故事细节珍藏于心中，并且庆幸有了这些材料，便可满足自己的愿望，今后再将这些故事奉献给比自己孤陋寡闻的听众。
叙事一般说来不会引起听众的妒忌之心，因为没有人会认为叙事需要任何超越常人的聪明才智。知道一些尚未被市井小民传闻的事实，这样的巧事人人都能碰上；知道这些事实之后再转述给别人听，似乎也无多大困难，人人都会认为自己可以胜任。
但是，要积累足够的材料，补充不断讲述的消耗，却也不是一件容易的事，在某些情况下甚至不可能。因此，试图用这种办法自我陶醉的人，往往只能在初次与人见面时讨得他人欢心，因为没有新的谈资供应，故事经过多次重复便会难以为继。
为此，如果不另谋更为简便易行的办法，就休想赢得好的伴侣的赞赏。但是，除了那些景仰真正才学品德和理性尊严的人之外，人类对于其他人都是宽大为怀。所以，只要能够善解人意便总能赢得善意的回报，只要不遭人妒忌便总能赢得他人喜爱。我们都乐于成为他人讨好的对象，却不甘心赞美他人：我们喜欢别人为博得我们的尊敬而说笑凑趣或者殷勤赐教，但却拒绝接受强行要求我们尊敬的价值或精神。
最能博得别人欢心的人首推那些乐天派，因为他们唯一的愿望就是让人高兴。他们笑声爽朗，嗓音雄浑，每听到值得一笑的笑话便会大声喝采，每遇到值得高兴的事就报之以阵阵掌声。乐天派本身无需博得他人欢笑的资本，也不具备任何领悟能力，他们只需要出现时永远处于兴高采烈状态便已足矣。因为一般说来，人的情绪，或欢快或严肃。均受他人感染，一旦有人作出表率，便会情不自禁效法模仿。
仅次于乐天派的是那些性格随和的人。这些人一般说来并非充满仁爱之心，也无其他崇高品德，其优点仅仅在于反应迟钝，感情麻木。性格随和的人的最大特点在于能够容忍笑话；即使置身于喧哗骚乱、污言秽语之中也能依然端坐，不为所动，不受影响；每个故事，他们都洗耳恭听，不表示任何异议；受到羞辱，他们也甘心忍受，不予反击；不论发生怎样荒诞不经的事情，他们也会紧跟其后，随波逐流。性格随和的人一般最受机智浅薄者的宠爱，是他们练习基本谐谑技巧的理想对象，因为性格随和的人从来不会利用别人的弱点，对于并不高明的嘲讽奚落也不会突然反唇相讥，令人难堪，但在觥筹交错之中却心甘情愿始终充当他人笑料，席散之后则更是洋洋得意，自以为是个重要角色。
生性谦虚的人则只能与更低一级的平庸之辈为伍，他们唯一予人快乐的本领在于永不打断别人。生性谦虚的人只求沉静默听，便心满意足，他的同伴都会真心实意以为他的沉默不是由于木讷寡言，而是乐于静听。
还有许多人，他们无法掌握一般类型的精湛技艺，却也自有一套办法讨人欢喜，凭了这套办法，他们犹如有了通行证，同样可以通行无阻。其中一位，我认识已有十五年，是一家俱乐部的宠儿。这家俱床部每周聚会一次，每逢聚会的夜晚，11点一到，他便准时演唱他最喜欢的那首歌曲，而且一面演唱，一面用手配之以各种姿势，在墙上映出一个巨大身影。另外一位，总是反戴假发套出席一次又一次朋友的聚会，以此博得他们的钟爱。还有一位，每逢新会员入会，他总要想方设法把这位陌生人的鼻子抹黑。除此之外，还有一位靠的是学猫叫，然后又装出一副受到惊吓的模样。再有一位，则是一面学狗叫，一面吆喝酒保将狗赶出去。
上述种种，都是可以增加欢乐气氛的艺术，有时还能建立友谊。对于这些艺术，有人或许会嗤之以鼻，但是只要运用之时并不伤及无辜，务请不必严厉地加以责备；因为我们都永远需要被人喜欢，却并不永远需要受人崇敬。
None of the desires dictated by vanity is more general, or less
blamable, than that of being distinguished for the arts of
conversation. Other accomplishments may be possessed without
opportunity of exerting them, or wanted without danger that the
defect can often be remarked; but as no man can live, otherwise
than in an hermitage, without hourly pleasure or vexation, from the
fondness or neglect of those about him, the faculty of giving
pleasure is of continual use. Few are more frequently envied than
those who have the power of forcing attention wherever they come,
whose entrance is considered as a promise of felicity, and whose
departure is lamented, like the recess of the sun from northern
climates, as a privation of all that enlivens fancy, or inspirits
gaiety.It
is apparent, that to excellence in this valuable art some peculiar
qualifications are necessary; for every one's experience will
inform him, that the pleasure which men are able to give in
conversation, holds no stated proportion to their knowledge or
their virtue. Many find their way to the tables and the parties of
those who never consider them as of the least importance in any
other place; we have all, at one time or other, been content to
love those whom we could not esteem, and been persuaded to try the
dangerous experiment of admitting him for a companion, whom we knew
to be too ignorant for a counsellor, and too treacherous for a
friend.I
question whether some abatement of character is not necessary to
general acceptance. Few spend their time with much satisfaction
under the eye of uncontestable superiority; and therefore, among
those whose presence is courted at assemblies of jollity, there are
seldom found men eminently distinguished for powers or
acquisitions. The wit whose vivacity condemns slower tongues to
silence, the scholar whose knowledge allows no man to fancy that he
instructs him, the critick who suffers no fallacy to pass
undetected, and the reasoner who condemns the idle to thought and
the negligent to attention, are generally praised and feared,
reverenced and avoided.He
that would please must rarely aim at such excellence as depresses
his hearers in their own opinion, or debars them from the hope of
contributing reciprocally to the entertainment of the company.
Merriment, extorted by sallies of imagination, sprightliness of
remark, or quickness of reply, is too often what the Latins call,
the Sardinian laughter, a distortion of the face without gladness
of heart.For
this reason, no style of conversation is more extensively
acceptable than the narrative. He who has stored his memory with
slight anecdotes, private incidents, and personal peculiarities,
seldom fails to find his audience favourable. Almost every man
listens with eagerness to contemporary history; for almost every
man has some real or imaginary connection with a celebrated
character; some desire to advance or oppose a rising name. Vanity
often co-operates with curiosity. He that is a hearer in one place,
qualifies himself to become a speaker in another; for though he
cannot comprehend a series of argument, or transport the volatile
spirit of wit without evaporation, he yet thinks himself able to
treasure up the various incidents of a story, and please his hopes
with the information which he shall give to some inferior
society.Narratives
are for the most part heard without envy, because they are not
supposed to imply any intellectual qualities above the common rate.
To be acquainted with facts not yet echoed by plebeian mouths, may
happen to one man as well as to another; and to relate them when
they are known, has in appearance so little difficulty, that every
one concludes himself equal to the task.But
it is not easy, and in some situations of life not possible, to
accumulate such a stock of materials as may support the expense of
continual narration; and it frequently happens, that they who
attempt this method of ingratiating themselves, please only at the
first interview; and, for want of new supplies of intelligence,
wear out their stories by continual repetition.There
would be, therefore, little hope of obtaining the praise of a good
companion, were it not to be gained by more compendious methods;
but such is the kindness of mankind to all, except those who aspire
to real merit and rational dignity, that every understanding may
find some way to excite benevolence; and whoever is not envied may
learn the art of procuring love. We are willing to be pleased, but
are not willing to admire: we favour the mirth or officiousness
that solicits our regard, but oppose the worth or spirit that
enforces it.The
first place among those that please, because they desire only to
please, is due to the merry fellow, whose laugh is loud, and whose
voice is strong; who is ready to echo every jest with obstreperous
approbation, and countenance every frolick with vociferations of
applause. It is not necessary to a merry fellow to have in himself
any fund of jocularity, or force of conception: it is sufficient
that he always appears in the highest exaltation of gladness, for
the greater part of mankind are gay or serious by infection, and
follow without resistance the attraction of
example.Next
to the merry fellow is the good-natured man such as indolence and
insensibility confer. The characteristick of a good-natured man is
to bear a joke; to sit unmoved and unaffected amidst noise and
turbulence, profaneness and obscenity; to hear every tale without
contradiction; to endure insult without reply; and to follow the
stream of folly, whatever course it shall happen to take. The
good-natured man is commonly the darling of the petty wits, with
whom they exercise themselves in the rudiments of raillery; for he
never takes advantage of failings, nor disconcerts a puny satirist
with unexpected sarcasms; but, while the glass continues to
circulate, contentedly bears the expense of uninterrupted laughter,
and retires rejoicing at his own importance.The
modest man is a companion of a yet lower rank, whose only power of
giving pleasure is not to interrupt it. The modest man satisfies
himself with peaceful silence, which all his companions are candid
enough to consider as proceeding not from inability to speak, but
willingness to hear.Many,
without being able to attain any general character of excellence,
have some single art of entertainment which serves them as a
passport through the world. One I have known for fifteen years the
darling of a weekly club, because every night, precisely at eleven,
he begins his favourite song, and during the vocal performance, by
corresponding motions of his hand, chalks out a giant upon the
wall. Another has endeared himself to a long succession of
acquaintances by sitting among them with his wig reversed; another,
by contriving to smut the nose of any stranger who was to be
initiated in the club; another by purring like a cat, and then
pretending to be frightened; and another by yelping like a hound,
and calling to the drawers to drive out the dog.Such
are the arts by which cheerfulness is promoted, and sometimes
friendship established; arts, which those who despise them should
not rigorously blame, except when they are practised at the expense
of innocence; for it is always necessary to be loved, not always
necessary to be reverenced.
戴着吧！面具！
我们蒙着双目
我们盖着脸
我们戴着面具
我们谈笑谎言
报应啊 人间城府
终要偿还
心哪 支离破碎
在流血
口啊 装腔作势
巧语万变
为什么 我们要聪颖卓越
要智慧超然
要心中有数
所有泪水和伤感
而且 还要 还要啊 面具
戴着面具
彼此看清 读懂 让那所有
一目了然
Ah 主啊 非凡的主 我们那笑容 咳
是哭喊
向主哭啊 心灵苦 向主喊哪
由衷难
Ye 主啊 伟大的主 我们高歌
我们点赞
可脚下脚下这秽土 污浊不堪
一望连绵
梦里 梦里 让这世界
仍在梦里
We wear the
mask
donbar
We
wear the mask that grins and lies
It
hides our cheeks and shades our eyes
This
debt we pay to human guile
With
torn and bleeding hearts we smile
And
mouth with myriad subtleties
Why
should the world be over-wise
In
counting all our tears and sighs
Nay let them only see
us
while
We
wear the mask
We
smile but O great
Christ our cries
To
thee from tortured souls arise
We
sing but oh the clay is
vile
Beneath our feet and long the
mile
But
let the world dream
otherwise
We
wear the mask
《双语对照，的确难找，此文留存，学习思考》
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