第12章　约瑟夫•艾迪生

12.1　复习笔记

I. Joseph Addison (1672-1719) (约瑟夫·艾迪生)

1．Life (生平)

Joseph Addison, the son of a scholarly clergyman, was educated at Charterhouse School and then at Oxford University, both with Steele, his fast friend. Addison was the stronger character, the better student, the more quiet and resourceful. At Oxford, Addison soon became known as a writer of verses. His great interest in and talent for political writing won him patronage from several statesmen to travel on the Continent while studying French and politics of European states. Four years later, he returned and rose to fame by writing a poem celebrating the English Duke of Marlborough. Soon he became a member of Parliament and later was sent to Ireland as Secretary of State. When he died, all England mourned for him and a great funeral was held by night in Westminster Abbey.

约瑟夫·艾迪生出身于一个牧师家庭，父亲博学多识。他在查特豪斯学校和牛津大学接受教育，这两个时期都和挚友斯蒂尔一起度过。与斯蒂尔相比，艾迪生更刚强、学习更出色、更内敛和足智多谋。在牛津期间，艾迪生很快就以写诗出名。他对政治写作极感兴趣也很有天赋，因此赢得了一些政治家的资助，游历欧洲大陆，学习法语并熟悉欧洲国家的政治。四年后他回国，因一首赞扬马尔堡公爵的诗声名鹊起。不久他便成了议员，后来又去爱尔兰做国务大臣。他死后，举国哀悼，夜晚人们在威斯敏斯特教堂举行了盛大的葬礼。

2．Literary Achievements (文学成就)

Addison’s chief contribution to literature lies in his essays written for The Tatler and The Spectator. He collaborated with Steele in publishing The Spectator from 1711 to 1712. The essays published in The Spectator dealt with the customs, manners, morals, literature and other current topics of the time. Steele and Addison preached moderation, reason, self-control, civility, refinement and good taste, all which the newly ruling bourgeoisie needed urgently while establishing its social order.

主要文学贡献是他为《闲谈者》和《旁观者》写的文章。1711—1712年，他和斯蒂尔合办《旁观者》。《旁观者》发表的文章与风俗、世态、道德、文学及其他时下流行话题有关。在文章中，斯蒂尔和艾迪生宣传节制、理性、自我约束、文明、文雅和高品位，这些品质都是发展中的资产阶级建立社会秩序亟需的。

3．Writing Style (写作风格)

Addison’s familiar and elegant prose remained for over a century the model for most writers. Dr. Johnson regarded his prose as “the model of the middle style; on grave subjects not formal, on light occasions not groveling; pure without scrupulosity, and exact without apparent elaboration, always equable, and always easy, without glowing words or printed sentences.”

艾迪生平易近人、高雅洗练的散文是一个多世纪以来大部分作家写作的典范。约翰逊博士称他的散文是“中庸风格的典范，讨论严肃的话题不正式，轻松的时候又不卑躬屈膝，纯粹而无顾虑，精确又无匠气，总是那么平和从容，毫无华丽辞藻和刻板教条。

Ⅱ.Richard Steele (1672-1729) (理查德·斯蒂尔)

1．Life (生平)

Richard Steele was born in Dublin, in the same year as Addison, and was educated at the same school and university as Addison. At Oxford, Steele dropped his college work, ran away and joined the army. After returning from the wars, he tried his hand at a few plays and a book. In 1709, he started a paper called The Tatler, which contained news, gossip, stories of everyday life, and jokes on all sorts of people. Two years later, he discontinued it and started another paper named The Spectator, combining the daily paper with the familiar essays to offer entertainment and enlightenment.

理查德·斯蒂尔生于都柏林，和艾迪生同龄，并和他在同一所学校上学。在牛津期间，斯蒂尔丢掉学业，参军入伍。从战场上回来，他试着写了些剧本和一本书。1709年，斯蒂尔创办了《闲谈者》报，内容包括新闻、小道消息、日常故事和各种人的玩笑。两年后，《闲谈着》停刊，他又创办了《旁观者》，将日报和亲近人心的随笔结合，旨在娱乐和教化读者。

2．Analysis of Major Character in The Spectator《旁观者》主要人物分析

The essays of The Spectator presented the character and doings of Sir Roger, a country gentleman of old-fashioned manners, is simple-minded, kind-hearted, and somewhat pompous. His foibles, which were described with a gentle humor, made a setting for his virtues of simplicity, honesty and piety which pointed an example to the world of fashion.

《旁观者》中的随笔展现了罗杰爵士这个人物及其行为。罗杰爵士是因循守旧的老乡绅，单纯善良，爱摆架子。文章笔调幽默地描写了他的小缺点，衬托出了他单纯、诚实、虔诚的美德，为上流社会树立了榜样。