富兰克林进费城'

Benjamin Franklin，1706 1790，was born in Boston.He received little schooling，but being apprenticed to his brother，a printer，he acquired a taste for reading and study.In 1723，he went to Philadelphia，where he followed his chosen calling，and in time became the publisher of the “Pennsylvania Gazette”and the celebrated “Poor Richard's Almanac.”

As a philosopher Franklin was rendered famous by his discovery of the identity of lightning with electricity.His career in public affairs may be briefly summarized as follows: In 1736 he was made Clerk of the Provincial Assembly；in 1737，deputy postmaster at Philadelphia；and in 1753，Postmaster general for British America.He was twice in England as the agent of certain colonies.After signing the Declaration of Independence，he was sent as Minister Plenipotentiary to France in 1776.On his return，in 1785，he was made “President of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania，”holding the office three years.He was also one of the framers of the Constitution of the United States.

As a writer Franklin commenced his career when only twelve years old by composing two ballads，which，however，he condemned as “wretched stuff.”Franklin's letters and papers on electricity，afterwards enlarged by essays on various philosophical subjects，have been translated into Latin，French，Italian，and German.The most noted of his works，and the one from which the following extract is taken，is his “Autobiography.”This book is “one of the half dozen most widely popular books ever printed，”and has been published in nearly every written language.Franklin founded the American Philosophical Society，and established an institution which has since grown into the University of Pennsylvania.His life is a noble example of the results of industry and perseverance，and his death was the occasion of public mourning.

Walking in the evening by the side of the river，a boat came by，which I found was going towards Philadelphia，with several people in her.They took me in，and，as there was no wind，we rowed all the way；and about midnight，not having yet seen the city，some of the company were confident we must have passed it，and would row no farther；the others knew not where we were；so we put toward the shore，got into a creek，landed near an old fence，with the rails of which we made a fire，the night being cold，in October，and there we remained till daylight.

Then one of the company knew the place to be Cooper's Creek，a little above Philadelphia，which we saw as soon as we got out of the creek，and arrived there about eight or nine o'clock on the Sunday morning，and landed at the Market Street wharf.

I have been the more particular in this description of my journey，and shall be so of my first entry into that city，that you may in your mind compare such unlikely beginnings with the figure I have since made there.

I was in my working dress，my best clothes being to come round by sea.I was dirty from my journey；my pockets were stuffed out with shirts and stockings，and I knew no soul nor where to look for lodging.I was fatigued with traveling，rowing，and want of rest；I was very hungry；and my whole stock of cash consisted of a Dutch dollar，and about a shilling in copper.The latter I gave the people of the boat for my passage，who at first refused it on account of my rowing；but I insisted on their taking it，—a man being sometimes more generous when he has but a little money than when he has plenty，perhaps through fear of being thought to have but little.

Then I walked up the street gazing about，till，near the market house，I met a boy with bread.I had made many a meal on bread，and，inquiring where he got it，I went immediately to the baker's he directed me to，in Second Street，and asked for biscuit，intending such as we had in Boston: but they，it seems，were not made in Philadelphia.Then I asked for a threepenny loaf，and was told they had none such.So not considering or knowing the difference of money，and the greater cheapness nor the names of his bread，I bade him give three-penny worth of any sort.He gave me，accordingly，three great puffy rolls.I was surprised at the quantity，but took it，and，having no room in my pockets，walked off with a roll under each arm，and eating the other.

Thus I went up Market Street as far as Fourth Street，passing by the door of Mr.Read，my future wife's father: when she，standing at the door，saw me，and thought I made，as I certainly did，a most awkward，ridiculous appearance.Then I turned and went down Chestnut Street and part of Walnut Street，eating my roll all the way，and，coming round，found myself again at Market Street wharf，near the boat I came in，to which I went for a draught of the river water；and，being filled with one of my rolls，gave the other two to a woman and her child that came down the river in the boat with us，and were waiting to go farther.

Thus refreshed，I walked again up the street，which by this time had many clean-dressed people in it，who were all walking the same way.I joined them，and thereby was led into the great meetinghouse of the Quakers，near the market.I sat down among them，and，after looking round awhile and hearing nothing said，being very drowsy through labor and want of rest the preceding night，I fell fast asleep，and continued so till the meeting broke up，when one was kind enough to rouse me.This was，therefore，the first house I was in，or slept in，in Philadelphia.

Walking down again toward the river，and looking in the faces of people，I met a young Quaker man，whose countenance I liked，and，accosting him，requested he would tell me where a stranger could get lodging.We were then near the sign of the Three Mariners.“Here，”says he，“is one place that entertains strangers，but it is not a reputable house；if thee wilt walk with me，I'll show thee a better.”He brought me to the Crooked Billet，in Water Street.Here I got a dinner；and，while I was eating it，several sly questions were asked me，as it seemed to be suspected from my youth and appearance that I might be some runaway.After dinner my sleepiness returned，and，being shown to a bed，I lay down without undressing，and slept till six in the evening；was called to supper，went to bed again very early，and slept soundly till next morning.

译文　TRANSLATION

本杰明·富兰克林（1706—1790），出生于波士顿。富兰克林没有受过多少正规教育，但在给哥哥做学徒学习印刷时，他养成了读书的嗜好。1723年，他到了费城，在那里遵循业已选定的使命，适时出版了《费城报》及著名的《穷理查的年鉴》。

身为哲人，富兰克林因证明“闪电中带有电能”而著称。而他的公共生涯可以简述为：1736年，富兰克林当选为宾夕法尼亚州议会秘书。1737年，任费城副邮务长。1753年，不列颠美洲邮务总长。他两度作为美洲殖民地的代表赴英谈判。签署《独立宣言》后，1776年，他作为全权特使出使法国。1785年，回国后，他当选为“宾夕法尼亚联邦总统”，任期三年。他是美国宪法的主要制定者之一。

身为作家，富兰克林十二岁就开始了创作生涯，尽管他将当时写的两首叙事谣曲贬为“涂鸦之作”。富兰克林的信札和论述电及各种哲学议题的论文已译成拉丁文、法文、意大利文和德文。他最著名的作品是《自传》，该书被誉为“业已出版的六本最受欢迎的书籍之一”，几乎所有语言都有这部书的译本。富兰克林创建了美国哲学学会，是宾夕法尼亚大学的奠基人。他的一生在勤奋不懈与持之以恒上为世人树立了光辉的榜样。他去世的日期则成为公共哀悼日。本文选自他的《自传》。

那天傍晚，我正在河边漫步，一艘船恰好经过，我发现它是开往费城的，船上已经有了几个人。于是，我也搭上了那条船。没有风，我们只好一路摇着桨；可将近半夜了，费城却连影子也没看到。同伴中一些人认为我们一定划过头了，不应再继续向前；而另一些人则根本说不清我们当时所在的方位；这样我们只好向岸边划。进入一条小溪后，在一道破旧的篱笆边上了岸。十月的夜晚是很冷的，我们用那些篱笆点起篝火，在那儿挨到了天亮。

这时，一个同伴认出我们当时所在的地方是库珀河，而只消驶出这条河，就可以看见费城了。后来，我们在星期天上午八九点钟到达了费城，上岸的地点在市场街码头。

迄今，我描述旅程都很具体，而对自己第一次进费城时的情形尤愿细加勾描，目的是让读者诸君在心中将这些匪夷所思的开端与我日后的作为做一比较。

当时，我最好的服装都还在海运途中，所以穿的是平素工作时穿的衣服。风尘仆仆；口袋里满是衬衫和袜子，一眼望去，没有一个认识的人，也不知道能去哪儿歇歇脚。一路行来，划船和缺少休息使我又累又饿。可我身上的现金只有一元荷兰币和一先令铜板。而那些铜板又让我给了船主作旅费，起初，船主因我帮忙划船而不肯要，但我坚持要他们收下——有时，人在口袋里没有几文钱的当口却比腰缠万贯时出手豪爽，也许怕别人觉得自己穷吧。

随后，我沿着街边走边四外看，不觉到了市场跟前。在那儿，我遇到一个拿着面包的男孩。之前，我已经有过很多次吃片面包就权当一餐饭的经历，所以问罢他从哪儿买的面包，就沿着他指点的方向径直朝面包房所在的二道街走去。我像在波士顿时一样要了块饼干，不过，费城似乎不做这种食品。我只好要一条三便士的长条面包，却还是被告知没有。于是我索性不去考虑和理会价格的差异以及面包的不同名称，而只请他给我价值三便士的食物。结果，他给了我三个大面包圈。虽然对三便士竟能买到如此多的面包感到惊奇，我还是接了过来。由于口袋里放不下了，我就把其中两个夹在两腋下，另一个则拿在手中边走边吃。

就这样，来到市场四道街，路过我未来岳父里德先生门前，而我未来的妻子那天恰好站在那儿，她看到我的样子，以为我是在搞怪，不禁失笑。我转身沿着栗子街和胡桃街一段向下走，边走边吃面包圈，不知不觉又来到了市场街码头，来到了我所乘的船旁边，我喝了口河水解渴。一个面包圈肚子已填满了，我就把剩下的两个给了一位妇女和她的孩子，她们和我同船，但是还要去更远的地方。

如是一个来回，我已恢复了精力，就又朝市场街走去。这时，街上已经有很多衣着整洁的人了。我加入到他们的行列，随着他们走到了贵格教派的一个会所，就在市场街旁边。我坐在他们当中，向四外看了一下，没什么人说话，周围静悄悄的。晨祷令人昏昏欲睡加之昨晚没怎么休息，我竟不经意地睡着了，一直睡到晨祷结束，一位教友好心把我叫醒。贵格教派的那个会所，是我在费城进过或者说睡过的第一个房间。

我又走向河边，边走边打量着人们的脸。这时，遇到了一个神情端谨的年轻人，就走过去跟他打听费城供外来人住宿的地方。当时，我们站在一个写着“三个海员”字样的市招附近，他说：“这就是供外地人住宿的地方，不过，它不是一家体面的客栈。你要是愿意和我一起走，我带你去一家好些的。”他把我带到了位于水街旁边的“邪僻兵舍”。我在那儿吃了午餐。用餐期间，店家看我年纪轻轻、邋里邋遢就试探地问了我几个问题，似在怀疑我是什么逃亡者。吃完饭，我的困意又来了。店家把我引到床边，我和衣躺下，一直睡到晚上六点；店家来叫我用晚餐，饭后，我早早地回到床上，一觉睡到第二天早晨。