第17章 骄傲的劲敌 1（第1页）

第17章骄傲的劲敌（1）

OnIdleness

？塞缪尔·约翰逊SamuelJohnson

Manymoralistshaveremarked，thatPridehasofallhumahewidestdomihegreatestmultiplis，andlieshiduvarietyofdisguises；ofdisguises，which，likethemoon’sveilhtslusteranditsshade，ahtheyhideitfromourselves。

ItisnotmyiodegradePridefromthispreeminenischief，yetIknowheridlenessmaynotmaifulandobstiion。

TherearesomethatprofessIdlesfulldignity，whocallthemselvestheIdle，asBusirisintheplay“callshimselftheProud”；whoboastthattheydonothing，andthaarsthattheyhavenothingtodo；whosleepeverynighttilltheysleepnolonger，ahatexercisemayeosleepagain；whthereignofdarknessbydoubles，ahesunbutto“tellhimhowtheyhatehisbeams”；whosewholelaboristovarytheposturesofindulgendwhosedaydiffersfrhtbutasacouchorchairdiffersfromabed。

&hetrueaariesofIdleness，forwhomsheweavesthegarlandsofpoppies，andintowhosecupshepoursthewatersofoblivioinastateofuupidity，fandfotten；whohaveloolive，andatwhosedeaththesurvivorslysay，thattheyhaveceasedtobreathe。

ButIdleesinmanyliveswhereitised；favicewhiatesimaybeeinjurytoothers；andisthereforenotwatchedlikeFraud，roperty，orlikePride，whiaturallyseeksitsgratifianother’siy。Idlenessisasilentandpeacefulquality，thatherraisesenvybyostentation，norhatredbyopposition；andthereforenobodyisbusytosureordetectit。

AsPridesometimesishiduy，Idleeurbulendhurry。Hethatshisknowndutya，naturallyeoindwithsomethingthatmaybarouttheremembranceofhisownfolly，ahingbutwhatheoughttodowitheagerdiligehemaykeephimselfinhiso>

Somearealwaysinastateofpreparation，opreviousmeasures，fplans，agmaterials，andprovidingforthemainaffair。ThesearelyupowerofIdlehingistobeexpetheworkmaoolsareforevertobesought。Iwasooldbyagreatmaster，thatnomaneverexpainting，whowasemilycuriousaboutpendcolors。

&herstowhomIdleesa，bywhichlifemaybepassedunprofitablyawaywithoutthetediousnessofmanyvathours。Theartis，tofillthedaywithpettybusiohavealwayssomethinginhandwhichmayraisecuriosity，butnotsolidkeepthemindiion，butnotoflabor。

Thisarthasformanyyearsbeenpracticedbymyoldfriehwonderfulsuccess。Soberisamandesiresandquiatiolybalaheloveofease，thattheyulatehimtoanydiffidertaking；theyhave，however，somuchpower，thattheywilloliequiteatrest，andthoughtheydonotmakehimsuffitlyusefultoothers，theymakehimatleastwearyofhimself。

Mr。Sober’schiefpleasureisversation；thereisnoendofhistalkorhisattentioohearisequallypleasiillfaheisteagsomething，ahetimefromhiso