Samuel Johnson - Snobbery 汉译

For growing names the weekly scribbler lies,<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

To growing wealth the dedicator flies,

From every room descends the painted face,

That hung the bright palladium of the Place,

And smoked in kitchens, or in auctions sold,

To better features yields the frame of gold;

For now no more we trace in every line

Heroic worth, benevolence divine:

The form distorted justifies the fall,

And Detestation rids the indignant wall.  

势利

萨缪尔·约翰孙

报刊人都为雀起的名声撒谎，

献书人趋附兴隆的钱财去捧场，

哪一个房间挂了地方的大台柱，

哪一个房间就有画像给撵出，

送厨房去熏烟或者送拍卖场卖掉，

把一副金框子留给了更好的面貌；

现在我们不再从一纹一线，

认出来英明的身价、圣明的慈善：

别扭的相道证明了活该倒台；

深恶痛绝它，解除了墙壁的愤慨。

（卞之琳 译）