the autobiography of ben franklin(本富兰克林自传)-第4章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
song； on the taking of Teach （or Blackbeard） the pirate。 They were
wretched stuff； in the Grub…street…ballad style； and when they were printed
he sent me about the town to sell them。 The first sold wonderfully； the
event being recent； having made a great noise。 This flattered my vanity；
but my father discouraged me by ridiculing my performances； and telling
me verse…makers were generally beggars。 So I escaped being a poet； most
probably a very bad one； but as prose writing bad been of great use to me
in the course of my life； and was a principal means of my advancement； I
shall tell you how； in such a situation； I acquired what little ability I have
in that way。
There was another bookish lad in the town； John Collins by name；
with whom I was intimately acquainted。 We sometimes disputed； and very
fond we were of argument； and very desirous of confuting one another；
which disputatious turn； by the way； is apt to become a very bad habit；
making people often extremely disagreeable in company by the
contradiction that is necessary to bring it into practice； and thence； besides
souring and spoiling the conversation； is productive of disgusts and；
perhaps enmities where you may have occasion for friendship。 I had
caught it by reading my father's books of dispute about religion。 Persons
14
… Page 15…
THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
of good sense； I have since observed； seldom fall into it； except lawyers；
university men； and men of all sorts that have been bred at Edinborough。
A question was once； somehow or other； started between Collins and
me； of the propriety of educating the female sex in learning； and their
abilities for study。 He was of opinion that it was improper； and that they
were naturally unequal to it。 I took the contrary side； perhaps a little for
dispute's sake。 He was naturally more eloquent； had a ready plenty of
words； and sometimes； as I thought； bore me down more by his fluency
than by the strength of his reasons。 As we parted without settling the point；
and were not to see one another again for some time； I sat down to put my
arguments in writing； which I copied fair and sent to him。 He answered；
and I replied。 Three or four letters of a side had passed； when my father
happened to find my papers and read them。 Without entering into the
discussion； he took occasion to talk to me about the manner of my writing；
observed that； though I had the advantage of my antagonist in correct
spelling and pointing （which I ow'd to the printing…house）； I fell far short
in elegance of expression； in method and in perspicuity； of which he
convinced me by several instances。 I saw the justice of his remark； and
thence grew more attentive to the manner in writing； and determined to
endeavor at improvement。
About this time I met with an odd volume of the Spectator。 It was the
third。 I had never before seen any of them。 I bought it； read it over and
over； and was much delighted with it。 I thought the writing excellent； and
wished； if possible； to imitate it。 With this view I took some of the papers；
and； making short hints of the sentiment in each sentence； laid them by a
few days； and then； without looking at the book； try'd to compleat the
papers again； by expressing each hinted sentiment at length； and as fully as
it had been expressed before； in any suitable words that should come to
hand。 Then I compared my Spectator with the original； discovered some of
my faults； and corrected them。 But I found I wanted a stock of words； or a
readiness in recollecting and using them； which I thought I should have
acquired before that time if I had gone on making verses； since the
continual occasion for words of the same import； but of different length； to
suit the measure； or of different sound for the rhyme； would have laid me
15
… Page 16…
THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
under a constant necessity of searching for variety； and also have tended to
fix that variety in my mind； and make me master of it。 Therefore I took
some of the tales and turned them into verse； and； after a time； when I had
pretty well forgotten the prose； turned them back again。 I also sometimes
jumbled my collections of hints into confusion； and after some weeks
endeavored to reduce them into the best order； before I began to form the
full sentences and compleat the paper。 This was to teach me method in the
arrangement of thoughts。 By comparing my work afterwards with the
original； I discovered many faults and amended them； but I sometimes had
the pleasure of fancying that； in certain particulars of small import； I had
been lucky enough to improve the method or the language； and this
encouraged me to think I might possibly in time come to be a tolerable
English writer； of which I was extremely ambitious。 My time for these
exercises and for reading was at night； after work or before it began in the
morning； or on Sundays； when I contrived to be in the printing…house
alone； evading as much as I could the common attendance on public
worship which my father used to exact on me when I was under his care；
and which indeed I still thought a duty； though I could not； as it seemed to
me； afford time to practise it。
When about 16 years of age I happened to meet with a book； written
by one Tryon； recommending a vegetable diet。 I determined to go into it。
My brother； being yet unmarried； did not keep house； but boarded himself
and his apprentices in another family。 My refusing to eat flesh occasioned
an inconveniency； and I was frequently chid for my singularity。 I made
myself acquainted with Tryon's manner of preparing some of his dishes；
such as boiling potatoes or rice； making hasty pudding； and a few others；
and then proposed to my brother； that if he would give me； weekly； half
the money he paid for my board； I would board myself。 He instantly
agreed to it； and I presently found that I could save half what he paid me。
This was an additional fund for buying books。 But I had another advantage
in it。 My brother and the rest going from the printing…house to their meals；
I remained there alone； and； despatching presently my light repast； which
often was no more than a bisket or a slice of bread； a handful of raisins or
a tart from the pastry…cook's； and a glass of water； had the rest of the time
16
… Page 17…
THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
till their return for study； in which I made the greater progress； from that
greater clearness of head and quicker apprehension which usually attend
temperance in eating and drinking。
And now it was that； being on some occasion made asham'd of my
ignorance in figures； which I had twice failed in learning when at school； I
took Cocker's book of Arithmetick； and went through the whole by myself
with great ease。 I also read Seller's and Shermy's books of Navigation； and
became acquainted with the little geometry they contain； but never
proceeded far in that science。 And I read about this time Locke On Human
Understanding； and the Art of Thinking； by Messrs。 du Port Royal。
While I was intent on improving my language； I met with an English
grammar （I think it was Greenwood's）； at the end of which there were two
little sketches of the arts of rhetoric and logic； the latter finishing with a
specimen of a dispute in the Socratic method； and soon after I procur'd
Xenophon's Memorable Things of Socrates； wherein there are many
instances of the same method。 I was charm'd with it； adopted it； dropt my
abrupt contradiction and positive argumentation； and put on the humble
inquirer and doubter。 And being then； from reading Shaftesbury and
Collins； become a real doubter in many points of our religious doctrine； I
found this method safest for myself and very embarrassing to those against
whom I used it； therefore I took a delight in it； practis'd it continually； and
grew very artful and expert in drawing people； even of superior knowledge；
into concessions； the consequences of which they did not foresee；
entangling them in difficulties out of which they could not extricate
themselves； and so obtaining victories that neither myself nor my cause
always deserved。 I continu'd this method some few years； but gradually
left it； retaining only the habit of expressing myself in terms of modest
diffidence； never using； when I advanced any thing that may possibly be
disputed； the words certainly； undoubtedly； or any others that give the air
of positiveness to an opinion； but rather say； I conceive or apprehend a
thing to be so and so； it appears to me； or I should think it so or so； for
such and such reasons； or I imagine it to be so； or it is so； if I am not
mistaken。 This habit； I believe； has been of great advantage to me when I
have had occasion to inculcate my opinions； and persuade men into
17
… Page 18…
THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
measures that I have been from time to time engag'd in promoting； and； as
the chief ends of conversation are to inform or to be informed； to please or
to persuade； I wish well…meaning； sensible men would not lessen their
power of doing good by a positive； assuming manner； that seldom fails to
disgust； tends to create opposition； and to defeat every one of those
purposes for which speech was given to us； to wit； giving or receiving
information or pleasure。 For； if you would inform； a positive and
dogmatical manner in advancing your sen
