写给儿子的一封信(节选自《富兰克林自传》)

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DEAR SON:

I have ever had pleasure in obtaining any little anecdotes of my ancestors. You may remember the inquiries I made among the remains of my relations when you were with me in England, and the journey I undertook for that purpose.

亲爱的儿子：

对于先辈事迹，我曾努力探求，仍然所知甚少。还记得上次我们的伦敦之旅吗？正是出于寻根问祖这一根本目的。

Imagining it may be equally agreeable to you to know the circumstances of mylife, many of which you are yet unacquainted with, and expecting the enjoyment of a week's uninterrupted leisure in my present country retirement, I sit down to write them for you.

想必对你同样很快乐，因为可以窥测我的整个人生环境，而这些你还不曾熟悉。期望我们那次旅行，你曾感觉愉快度过美国假期。在我致仕之空余，此刻，我正写下感受，寄给你。

To which I have besides some other inducements. Having emerged from the poverty and obscurity in which I was born and bred, to a state of affluence and some degree of reputation in the world, and having gone so far through life wih a considerable share of felicity, the conducing means I made use of, which with the blessing of God so well succeeded , my posterity may lie to know, as they may find some of them suitable to their own situations, and therefore fit to be imitated.

除开英国后裔这一因素，此外，我觉得还有一些其它诱因。别看我现在生活富足，且誉满全球，可我曾经卑微穷苦，生于毫末，长于贫贱。对于我，时日无多，是该分享幸福了。最有价值的意义在于，我利用这些因素，而且幸亏老天保佑，才得以取得一点成功。我的子孙们，可能躺着都知道，因为，他们或许会发现，在他们的环境里，有些人得心应手而游刃有余；因此所有这些，也适宜被模仿学习。

……

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~by 田馥乡~摘录自《富兰克林自传》(y1771)

于己亥年云月廿六亥时许(2019.05.29周三)

修改于己亥年云月廿八子夜十分(2019.05.31周五)

再改于己亥年云月廿八未时(2019.06.01周六)

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