A Little Great Man (Ⅱ) 小小的大人物(二)

奥利弗·哥尔德斯密斯(Oliver Goldsmith)

I have visited many countries, and have been in cities without number, yet never did I enter a town which could not produce ten or twelve of those little great men; all fancying themselves known to the rest of the world, and complimenting each other upon their extensive reputation. It is amusing enough when two of those domestic prodigies of learning mount the stage of ceremony, and give and take praise from each other. I have been present when a German doctor, for having pronounced a panegyric upon a certain monk, was thought the most ingenious man in the world; till the monk soon after divided this reputation by returning the compliment; by which means they both marched off with universal applause.

The same degree of undeserved adulation that attends our great man while living, often also follows him to the tomb. It frequently happens that one of his little admirers sits down big with the important subject, and is delivered of the history of his life and writings. This may properly be called the revolutions of a life between the fireside and the easy-chair. In this we learn, the year in which he was born, at what an early age he gave symptoms of uncommon genius and application, together with some of his smart sayings, collected by his aunt and mother, while yet but a boy. The next book introduces him to the University, where we are informed of his amazing progress in learning, his excellent skill in darning stockings, and his new invention for papering books to save the covers. He next makes his appearance in the republic of letters, and publishes his folio. Now the colossus is reared, his works are eagerly bought up by all the purchasers of scarce books. The learned societies invite him to become a member; he disputes against some foreigner with a long Latin name, conquers in the controversy, is complimented by several authors of gravity and importance, is excessively fond of egg-sauce with his pig, becomes president of a literary club, and dies in the meridian of his glory. Happy they, who thus have some little faithful attendant, who never forsakes them, but prepares to wrangle and to praise against every opposer; at once ready to increase their pride while living, and their character when dead. For you and I, my friend, who have no humble admirer thus to attend us, we, who neither are, nor ever will be great men, and who do not much care whether we are great men or no, at least let us strive to be honest men, and to have common sense.

- compliment [ˈkɒmplɪment] v. 恭维

- panegyric [ˌpænɪˈdʒɪrɪk] n. 颂词

- ingenious [ɪnˈdʒiːnjəs] a. 足智多谋的

- adulation [ˌædjʊˈleɪʃn] n. 谄媚，拍马屁

- meridian [məˈrɪdɪən] n. 顶点，极点

我游历过许多国家，到过的城市不计其数，但从未见过哪座城市不出产十到十二名那些小小的大人物；他们都想象自己在世界上无所不知，无人不晓，互相称颂彼此远扬的名声。当两个这样的饱学土产奇才登台亮相、相互吹捧时，那真是够逗趣的。我曾经亲历过这么一个场景：一位德国医生对某位和尚大加称颂，被认为是世界上最足智多谋的人，过了一会儿，那和尚又对那医生赞美有加，两人皆大欢喜，在满场喝彩声中昂首阔步而去。

有生之年小小大人物所得的不相符的吹牛拍马往往会伴随他本人进入坟墓。常常是这样，他的一个钦羡者正襟危坐，认真探讨他的一生这个重要专题，讲述他的生平和著作的历史。这可以恰如其分地称作一个生命在壁炉和安乐椅之间的循环，从中我们知道，他生于何年，在何等小小年纪便显露出非凡天资和勤奋有为的征兆，由他的姨妈和母亲收集的他还是幼童时的奇言妙语。下一本书写到他进了大学，从中我们得知他的学业突飞猛进，他织补长筒袜的精湛技艺，还有他用纸包书来保护封面的新发明。接着但见他在文坛上崭露头角，出版了他的对开本。如此，这个巨人被树起来了，他的书纷纷出版，一时洛阳纸贵。学术社团邀请他入会；他用一个长长的拉丁文名字同外国人辩论，在争辩中大获全胜，受到了数位重量级作家的赞美；他非常喜欢吃乳猪肉蘸鸡蛋沙司，当上了一个文学俱乐部的主席，在声名如日中天时谢世。幸福啊，这些人，他们就这样拥有某个微不足道的忠实的侍奉者，不离不弃，时刻准备着同任何反对者论战，捍卫大人物的声名；活着时，把他们吹捧得不可一世，死后，又美言抬高他们的品格。对你我来说，我的朋友，我们没有低三下四的钦羡者给我们吹牛拍马，我们永远也成不了大人物，也不在乎当不当大人物，起码我们要努力做诚实的人，要有常识。

奥利弗·戈德史密斯（Oliver Goldsmith，1728年11月10日－1774年4月4日）是一位爱尔兰出生的英国作家、剧作家和诗人。他以其文学作品在18世纪英国文学史上占有重要地位。

戈德史密斯最著名的作品之一是《康斯坦丁堡的牧师》（The Vicar of Wakefield），这部小说于1766年出版，被视为英国文学史上的经典之一。这部小说描绘了一个善良的牧师和他家人的生活，作品温暖而幽默，对当时社会的道德和伦理问题进行了深刻的探讨。

此外，戈德史密斯还写过著名的戏剧作品，如《好莱坞村的罗伯特》，并且他的诗歌作品也备受赞誉。他的作品以其幽默、温情和对人性的洞察而闻名，对英国文学产生了深远影响。