Expectations of Pleasure Frustrated
快乐的期待
Sammuel Johnson/塞缪尔·约翰逊
Pleasure is very seldom found where it is sought.Our brightest blazes of glad-ness are commonly kindled by unexpected sparks.The flowers which scatter their odours ,from time to time,in the paths of life,grow up without culture from seeds scattered by chance.
寻找快乐是一件很难有结果的事。最明亮的火焰通常都是由意外的火花所点燃;生命旅途上不时散发出芬芳的花朵,也是由偶然散落的种子无意中生长起来的。
Nothing is more hopeless than a scheme of merriment .Wits and humourists are brought together from distant quarters by preconcerted invitations;they come,at-tended by their admirers,prepared to laugh and to applaud;they gaze awhile on each other,ashamed to be silent,and afraid to speak;every man is discontented with himself,grows angry with those that give him pain,and resolves that he will contribute nothing to the merriment of such worthless company.Wine inflames the general malignity ,and changes sullenness to petulance ,till at last none can bear any longer the presence of the rest.They retire to vent their indignation in safer places,where they are heard with attention;their importance is restored,they recover their good humour,and gladden the night with wit and jocularity.
快乐的计划总难让人如愿。把一些智者和幽默家从遥远的地方邀请来会聚一堂,他们的到来会得到赞赏者的欢呼与喝彩;但当他们面面相觑时,如果沉默,会觉得惭愧,如果说话,又会有顾虑,如此一来,每个人都会不自在,开始痛恨给自己施加痛苦的人,并最终决定对这种毫无价值的聚会采取冷漠态度。酒能够燃起仇恨之火,也可以把阴郁变为暴躁,直到最后再也无法忍受在座的其他人。他们退到一个更加安全的地方去发泄自己的愤慨,谁知又被留心的人听到了,于是他们的重要性又得以恢复,他们又开始变得幽默,并用充满智慧和诙谐的行为使整个夜晚变得欢快起来。
Merriment is always the effect of a sudden impression.The jest which is expected is already destroyed.The most active imagination will be sometimes torpid,under the frigid influence of melancholy ,and sometimes occasions will be wanting to tempt the mind,however volatile,to sallies and excursions.Nothing was ever said with uncommon felicity,but by the co-operation of chance;and,therefore,wit,as well as valour,must be content to share its honours with fortune.
快乐总是一种瞬时印象的效果,期待中的幽默也随后被破坏。在充满忧郁的冷漠影响下,最活跃的想像力有时也会变得麻木;但在某些特殊场合,又需要诱发仍然不稳定的心情去突破,去驰骋。这时任何巧妙言辞都是多余的,只需要机遇的配合就可以了。因此,才智和勇气必定会满意地与好运共享荣誉。
All other pleasures are equally uncertain;the general remedy of uneasiness is change of place;almost every one has some journey of pleasure in his mind,with which he flatters his expectation.He that travels in theory has no inconvenience;he has shade and sunshine at his disposal,and wherever he alights finds tables of plenty and looks of gaiety.These ideas are indulged till the day of departure arrives,the chaise is called,and the progress of happiness begins.
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