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It is some time since I receiv'd the above letters, but I have been too busy till now to think of complying with the request they contain.
在好久以前我就接到了上面的两封信，但是在这以前我一直没有空来满足信中所提出的要求。
It might, too, be much better done if I were at home among my papers, which would aid my memory, and help to ascertain dates; but my return being uncertain, and having just now a little leisure, I will endeavour to recollect and write what I can; if I live to get home, it may there be corrected and improv'd.
同时，假如我在家里写，手边有我的笔记可以帮助我的记忆，帮助我确定事件的年月，那么，写起来就好多了，但是我的归期不能确定，目前稍稍有点空闲，我想就努力回忆一下，把我所能记忆的写出来吧。假如我能生还故乡，那时我可以加以更正和修改。
Not having any copy here of what is already written, I know not whether an account is given of the means I used to establish the Philadelphia public library, which, from a small beginning, is now become so considerable, though I remember to have come down to near the time of that transaction (1730).
因为手边没有上半部的稿子，我记不清楚我是否已经叙述过我创办费城公共图书馆时所用的办法，这种图书馆开始时规模很小，现在却相当巨大了，虽然我记得我已经讲到靠近创办图书馆的时期（1730年）了。
I will therefore begin here with an account of it, which may be struck out if found to have been already given.
所以这里我将从创办图书馆讲起，假如以后发现已经讲过了，那么就把它删去好了。
At the time I establish'd myself in Pennsylvania, there was not a good bookseller's shop in any of the colonies to the southward of Boston.
我在宾夕法尼亚开业时，在波士顿以南的各殖民地里找不到一家像样的书铺子。
In New York and Philad'a the printers were indeed stationers; they sold only paper, etc., almanacs, ballads, and a few common school-books.
的确，在纽约和费城印刷铺兼营文具商的业务，但是他们只经售纸张之类、历书、民歌和一些普通的课本。
Those who lov'd reading were obliged to send for their books from England; the members of the Junto had each a few.
爱好读书的读者就不得不从英国去订购他们的书籍了。“密社”的社员们各人有几本书。
We had left the alehouse, where we first met, and hired a room to hold our club in.
我们起初在一家啤酒店聚会，后来我们离开了那地方，租了一间开会的房间。
I propos'd that we should all of us bring our books to that room, where they would not only be ready to consult in our conferences, but become a common benefit, each of us being at liberty to borrow such as he wish'd to read at home.
我提议我们大家应当把我们的书籍搬到那间房间里去，这样不但开会时参考方便，而且对大家都有利，各人都可以按照他的兴趣把书借回家去念。
This was accordingly done, and for some time contented us.
我们就这样做了，当时我们也感到满意了。
Finding the advantage of this little collection, I propos'd to render the benefit from books more common, by commencing a public subscription library.
后来看到了这个小小藏书楼的优点，我就主张推广读书的利益，建立一个公共订阅图书馆。
I drew a sketch of the plan and rules that would be necessary, and got a skilful conveyancer, Mr. Charles Brockden, to put the whole in form of articles of agreement to be subscribed, by which each subscriber engag'd to pay a certain sum down for the first purchase of books, and an annual contribution for increasing them.
我起草了一个计划，拟订了一些必要的规程，请一个熟识业务的公证人，查理·勃劳克田先生，把全文写成了订阅合同条款，按照合同每一个订阅户同意为第一批购书先付一笔费用，以后每年付一定数目的会费来添置图书。
So few were the readers at that time in Philadelphia, and the majority of us so poor, that I was not able, with great industry, to find more than fifty persons, mostly young tradesmen, willing to pay down for this purpose forty shillings each, and ten shillings per annum.
在费城那时候读者是寥若晨星，我们又大多数很穷，我东奔西跑也只不过找到了五十个人，多半是年轻的手艺工人，愿意各人为此先付出四十先令，以后每人每年付十先令。
On this little fund we began.
我们就靠了这样微薄的资金开始了。
The books were imported; the library was opened one day in the week for lending to the subscribers, on their promissory notes to pay double the value if not duly returned.
书籍进口了，图书馆每周开放一天，向订阅户办理借阅手续，但是他们得签署凭证，同意假如书籍不能按时归还，就得照价加倍偿还。
The institution soon manifested its utility, was imitated by other towns, and in other provinces.
这种图书馆不久就显出了它的效用，其他州的城镇也起来仿效了。
The libraries were augmented by donations; reading became fashionable; and our people, having no publick amusements to divert their attention from study, became better acquainted with books, and in a few years were observ'd by strangers to be better instructed and more intelligent than people of the same rank generally are in other countries.
这些图书馆获得了私人捐款后也扩大了，读书成为一种风尚。因为我们的人民没有公共娱乐来转移他们对读书的兴趣，所以他们对书籍就比较熟悉，几年以后，照外国观察家的看法，他们的文化水平和他们的智力较之别的国家中同一阶级的一般人民有过之而无不及。
When we were about to sign the above mentioned articles, which were to be binding on us, our heirs, etc., for fifty years, Mr. Brockden, the scrivener, said to us, "You are young men, but it is scarcely probable that any of you will live to see the expiration of the term fix'd in the instrument."
我们准备签署上述的订阅合同了，这合同以五十年为期，对于我们本人和我们的后代等都有拘束力，当时公证人勃劳克田先生对我们说：“你们都是青年人，但是你们当中不大可能会有人能活到本合同期满的日子。”
A number of us, however, are yet living; but the instrument was after a few years rendered null by a charter that incorporated and gave perpetuity to the company.
我们当中有几个迄今还活着，但是那合同过了几年就被一张特许状宣布为无效，同时这个订阅图书馆也改组成为一个永久性的公司了。
