Part 1
（1771年，寫於都懷伏特鎮，聖阿薩夫主教家）
親愛的孩子：
我一直對收集祖上的各種奇聞軼事相當感興趣，樂此不彼。我就曾經為了這個目的而四出旅行，你可能還記得，當我們在英國的時候，我就經常向我們家族中的老人們詢問、調查有關這個方麵的情況。我覺得，同樣，你們中的一些人可能也很想知道我的生活情況（就好比我渴望知道我的先人的生活一樣），因為這其中的很多事情你們是並不清楚的。正好，我現在有一個星期的休假時間，預計在這一個星期的鄉村假期裏是沒有什麼東西會來打擾我的。
（Twyford, at the Bishop of St. Asaph''s, 1771）
DEAR SON,
I have ever had pleasure in obtaining aes of my aors. You may remember the inquiries I made among the remains of my relations ith me in England, and the jourook for that purpose. Imagining it may be equally agreeable to some of you to kany life, many of which you are yet uh, ahe e of a week''s ued leisure iry retirement, I sit dowhem for you.
因而，我可以坐下來把我的生活情況原原本本地告訴你。其實，寫這些東西，我還有另外一個目的。我出身貧賤，後來才在這個世界上獲得了財富和榮譽，為世人所稱道。上帝保佑，我至今一帆風順，萬事如意。我的處世之道如此成功，我的後世子孫也許想知道它們，並且找到些和他們的境況相適應的立身之術，然後模仿它們。
當我回望、審視這種幸福的時候，我有時候禁不住會想，如果上帝再給我一次機會的話，我會毫不猶豫地重新度過我的此生，一切從頭開始。我隻要求像作家那樣，在修訂版本的時候可以改正初版的某些錯誤，把某些不幸的事情變得稍微順利些。但是，要是我的這些要求都不被接受的話，我仍然願意接受上帝的恩賜，按照我原來的樣子重新活過一次。事實上既然這種重來是不可能的，那麼最接近這種重演的好像隻有回憶了。為了讓這種回憶盡可能地保持久遠，就隻好把它用筆記下來了。
在這裏我將順著老年人常有的偏好，來談談他們自己，談談他們過去的所作所為。我這樣做，將不會使那些尊敬老人的人感到厭煩，他們往往處於尊敬老人的考慮而被迫聽我們嘮叨。而將之寫下來，他們可以看也可以不看。最後，我還是自己承認吧，就算我死不承認也沒有人會相信，那就是，寫這個自傳可以極大地滿足我的虛榮心。實際上，我經常聽到或在書上看到，在人們說完“我可以毫不誇張地說”之類的開場白之後，緊接著的就是一堆自吹自擂的話，而絲毫不覺得臉紅。絕大多數人厭惡別人的虛榮，但卻不管自己有多麼虛榮。但是，無論我在什麼地方碰到虛榮，我都會給它一個正確的位子。因為我覺得，這樣做，對虛榮的人來說是有好處的，對其周圍受其影響的人來說也不無益處。因此，在很多情況下，一個人在感謝生活給他帶來的種種便利和舒適之外，然後感謝上帝恩賜於他的虛榮心也是很正常的。
現在，我真的要說感謝上帝，我由衷地感激它在以往的日子裏給予的幸福，正是它指引我前進，並取得了成功。雖然這些並不一定在我的預測範圍之內，但是深信它們會使我實現渴望，同樣的蒼天之善仍舊指引著我，使我持續擁有這樣的幸福，或者是能夠使我容忍他人都會經曆的那些致命的困苦。我未來要麵臨的幸福、甚至是痛苦，全能的上帝全都知曉，並且都在它的掌握之中。
To which I have besides some other is. Havihe poverty and obs which I was boro a state of affluene degree of reputation in the world, and havihrough life with a siderable share of felicity, the eans I made use of, which with the blessing of God so well succeeded, my posterity may like to know, as they may fihem suitable to their own situations, a to be imitated.
That feli I refle it, has iimes to say, that were it offered to my choice, I should have o a repetition of the same life from its beginning, only askiages authors have iio some faults of the first. So I might, besides g the faults, e sinister ats a for others more favorable. But though this were denied, I should still accept the offer. Since such a repetition is ed, the hing most like living one''s life aio be a re of that life, a re as durable as possible by putting it d.
Hereby, too, I shall iion so natural io be talking of themselves and their own past ad I shall ihout beio others, whh respeight ceive themselves obliged to give me a hearihis may be read or not as any one pleases. And, lastly（I may as well fess it, sinial of it will be believed by nobody）, perhaps I shall a good deal gratify my own vanity. Indeed, I scarce ever heard or saw the introductory words, "Without vanity I may say," ede vain thiely followed. Most people dislike vanity iever share they have of it themselves; but I give it fair quarter wherever I meet with it, beihat it is often productive of good to the possessor, a are withiion; and therefore, in ma would her absurd if a mahank God for his vanity amoher forts of life.
And hanking God, I desire with all humility to aowledge that I owe the mentioned happiness of my past life to His kind providence, which lead me to the means I used ahem success. My belief of this io hope, though I must hat the same goodness will still be exere, in g that happiness, me to bear a fatal reverse, eriehers have dohe y future fortune being known to Him only i is to bless to us even our afflis.
我一位伯父的手記曾經落在我的手上，他也有收集家族奇聞軼事的癖好。這部手記使我了解到我們祖上的一些詳細情況。從這部手記可以看出，我們家族在洛斯安普敦教區的埃克敦村至少住了不下於300年之久。究竟在這之前有多少年，我這個伯父自己也不知道了。（也許可以從他們采用“富蘭克林”這個詞作為他們的姓開始。“富蘭克林”在這之前，是一個平民階層的名稱。當時英國各地都在使用姓氏。）那個時候，他們擁有30畝的自由地，附帶著以打鐵為副業。一直到我伯父這一代為止，打鐵的副業都沒有斷過。家裏的老大總是被培養來接替這個打鐵的生意。作為一個慣例，伯父和我父親在他們長子的職業安排上也服從這樣一個規矩。當我在埃克敦查閱相關記錄時，我發現了我們祖先從1555年開始的出生、婚姻、喪葬情況。在這之前，就沒有任何記錄了，因為那個時候教區還沒有開始建立記錄製度。通過那份記錄我得知我是前五代人中最年幼兒子的兒子。
我的祖父托馬斯，他生於1598年，他一直住在埃克敦村，直到他老得不能再做生意為止。然後他就和他兒子約翰——一個染工一起住在牛津郡班伯裏。那個時候，我父親就在給約翰當學徒。我祖父一直生活在那裏直到死亡並安葬在那裏。1758那一年，我們見到了他的墓碑。他的長子托馬斯仍然住在埃克敦，他死後將房屋和土地都留給了他惟一的女兒。他的女兒和女婿（威靈堡一個叫費希爾的人）又把它們賣給了現在的主人伊斯特德先生。我祖父有四個兒子，他們是托馬斯，約翰，本傑明，約塞亞。我手邊沒有資料，我將把我記得的盡量給你寫下來。如果資料在我離開期間沒有丟失的話，你就會在其中發現更多的細節。
托馬斯在他父親的培養下學打鐵，但是由於他天性聰慧，當地教區的大紳士帕爾默先生就不斷鼓勵他去學習。後來他成為了一名合格的書記員，成為地方上相當有影響的人物。他是他自己村莊，也是洛斯安普敦鎮以及該郡所有公益事業的推動者。他得到了人們的注意也得到了哈利法克斯勳爵的獎賞。托馬斯於陰曆1702年1月6日去世，四年後的那天是我出生的日子。我曾記得愛克頓的老人們向我們講述他的生平和他的性格的時候，你被強烈地震動了。因為你覺得那些東西很像你知道的我。你說，“如果他死在你出生的那一天，人們可能會認為你是他轉世投胎呢！”
The notes one of my uncles（who had the same kind of curiosity iing family aes）oo my hands, furh several particulars relating to our aors. From these hat the family had lived in the same village, Eorthamptohree hundred years, and how muger he k（perhaps from the time when the name of Franklin, that before was the name of an order of people, was assumed by them as a surhers took surnames all dom）, on a freehold of about thirty acres, aided by the smith''s business, whitihe family till his time, the eldest son being always bred to that business; a whid my father followed as to their eldest sons. Whehe registers at E, I found an at of their births, marriages and burials from the year 1555 in that parish at any time preg. By that register I perceived that I was the you so seions back.
My grahomas, who was born in 1598, lived at E till he grew too old to follow business lo to live with his son Joh Banbury, in Oxfordshire, with whom my father served aiceship. There my grandfather died and lies buried. We saw his gravestone in 1758. His eldest son Thomas lived i Ed left it with the land to his only child, a daughter, who, with her husband, one Fisher, of Wellingbh, sold it to Mr. Isted, now lord of the manrandfather had four sons that grew up, viz.: Thomas, John, Benjamin and Josiah. I will give you what at I , at this distany papers, and if these are not lost in my absenong them find maiculars.
Thomas was bred a smith uher; but, being ingenious, and enced in learning（as all my brothers were）by an Esquire Palmer, then the prileman in that parish, he qualified himself for the business of ser; besiderable may; was a chief mover of all public-spirited uakings for the ty or town of Northampton, and his own village, of whistaed of him; and muotid patrohe then Lord Halifax. He died in 1702, January 6, old style, just four years to a day before I was bor we received of his life and charae old people at Eember, struethiraordinary, from its similarity to what you knew of mine. "Had he died on the same day," you said, "o have suppration."
約翰被培養成了一名洗染工，我覺得是染羊毛的。本傑明被培養成為了染絲綢的，他是在倫敦學的手藝。他是一個很機靈的人。我記得很清楚，當我童年的時候，他來到波士頓我父親住的地方和我們一起住了些個年頭。我一直活到很大的年紀。他的孫子塞繆爾·富蘭克林現在住在波士頓。他死後留下了兩卷4開大的書本，裏麵是他自己寫的一些詩，包括他寫給他朋友和親戚的一些即興短詩。下麵是他給我的一首詩，就是一個樣本。
致和我同名的人（基於一份好戰的報告）1710年7月7號
本，相信我，戰爭是一個危險的交易，
劍鍛造好以後也就意味著毀壞。
它讓許多人失敗而不是成功；
它讓許多人貧窮，少數人富裕，更少數人變的富有智慧；
它讓村鎮衰敗，田野血跡斑斑；
它鼓勵懶惰，保護傲慢。
美麗的城市，現在河水泛濫，
明天就會被戰爭的稀缺和悲傷填充，
還有破敗的國家，罪惡，殘肢，傷疤，
這些都是戰爭造成的荒涼。
他還創造了自己的速記法，並且把它教給了我。不過，由於我從來沒有練習過，所以我就忘記了。我的名字是跟著他起的，因為我父親和他有種特別的感情。他非常虔誠，隻要有好的布道者來布道他都會去，並且用他自己的速記法把內容記下來，最終，他記了好幾卷筆記。他還經常參加政治活動，當然，就其身份來說，他過分地關心政治了，他參加的政治活動太多了。我在倫敦的時候，他有份收藏品落在了我的手裏，裏麵全是從1641年到1771年所有和公共事務有關的重要的小冊子。從編號來看，很多小冊子遺失了，但還是有8冊對開本的和20冊4開本的、8開本的。一位認識我的舊書商人碰到這些書就買了下來送給我。好像大概在50年前，我叔叔來美國的時候把它們忘在了那裏。在書邊上還有很多他記的筆記。
John was bred a dyer, I believe of woolens. Benjamin was bred a silk dyer, serving aiceship at London. He was an ingenious man. I remember him well, for when I was a boy he y father in Boston, ahe house with us some years. He lived te. His grandson, Samuel Franklin, o behind him two quarto volumes, MS., of his owry, g of little oal pieces addressed to his frieions, of which the followio me, is a spe.
To my Namesake upo of his Inartial Affairs, July 7th, 1710
Believe me, Ben, war is a darade.
The sword has marred as well as made;
By it do many fall, not many rise—
Makes many poor, few rid fewer wise;
Fills towns with ruih blood, beside
''Tis sloth''s maihe shield of Pride.
Fair cities, rich today iy flow,
War fills with want tomorrooe.
Ruies, vibs, and scars
Are the effects of desolating wars.
He had formed a short-hand of his own, which he taught me, but, ising it, I have not it. I was his uhere being a particular affe between him and my father. He ious, a great attender of sermo preachers, which he took down in his short-hand, and had with him mahem. He was also much of a politiuch, perhaps, for his statioely into my hands, in Londoion he had made of all the principal pamphlets, relating to public affairs, from 1641 to 1717; many of the v as appears by the there still remai volumes in folio, ay-four in quarto and in octavo. A dealer in old books met with them, and knowing me by my sometimes buying of him, he brought them to me. It seems my u have left them here, wheo America, which was about fifty years sihere are many of his he margins.
我們這個卑微的家族很早就參加了宗教改革運動（開始信奉新教）。在整個瑪麗女王統治時期，我們家族成員都是新教徒，也正因為他們狂熱地反對天主教會而處於巨大的麻煩之中。他們有一本英文的聖經。為了保護它，他們把它藏了起來。他們把書打開，下麵纏上帶子，綁在折凳的後麵。當我曾祖父給家人念聖經的時候，他就把折凳打開放在自己的膝頭上，在帶子下麵一頁一頁地翻讀。每當這個時候，祖父都會叫一個小孩在門口望風，要是他看到宗教裁判所的使者來的話就可以知會大家，好讓曾祖父有足夠的時間把折凳反過來放好，那本聖經就又像原來那樣藏好了。這件奇聞軼事是我從本傑明叔叔那裏聽來的。我們全家族都是英國國教教徒，一直到查裏二世王朝覆滅的時候。那時候，一些不信奉國教的而被驅逐的人在洛斯安普敦秘密集會，本傑明叔叔和喬賽亞都終生追隨著他們，家裏的其他人則繼續留在國教裏麵。
我的父親喬賽亞很早就結婚了。大概在1682年的時候，他帶著他的妻子和三個孩子來到了新英格蘭。那個時候，非國教徒的集會是法律所禁止的，並常常受到騷擾。這就促使我父親認識的一些有思想的人想到新大陸去。父親也被勸說和他們一道去那裏。他們希望在那裏能夠有宗教自由。在那裏，他的妻子又給他生了四個孩子，他的第二個妻子又給他生了十個孩子，共十七個子女。我還記得有一次，我們十三個人圍坐在一張桌子旁邊的情形。現在，我們都長大成人結婚了。我是其中最小的一個兒子，出生在波士頓；我在所有的孩子中排行倒數第二。
我的母親是我父親的第二個妻子，她的名字叫阿拜雅·福爾傑，她是彼得·福爾傑的女兒。彼得·福爾傑是最早到新英格蘭定居的移民之一，如果我沒有記錯的話，科頓·馬瑟在他的那部有關宗教史的《美洲基督大事記》曾稱讚他是位善良且博學的英國人。我還聽說外祖父寫過多種即興短詩，但其中隻有一首付印，我在很多年前讀過這首詩。那首詩寫於1675年，采用了當時民間流行的詩體，是寫給當地政府有關人士的。
This obscure family of ours was early iion, and ued Protestants thrn of Queen Mary, wheimes irouble on at aihey had got an English Bible, and to d secure it, it en es uhin the cover of a joint-stool. Whe-gra to his family, he turool upourhe leaves theapes. Ohe stood at the dive notice if he saarit, who was ahe spiritual that case the stool was turned doohe Bible remained der it as before. This ae I had from my uhe family ued all of the Churgland till about the end of Charles the Sed''s reign, whehe mi had been outed for nonity holdiiptonshire, Benjamin and Josiah adhered to them, and so ued all their lives: the rest of the family remaihe Episcopal Church.
Josiah, my father, married young, and carried his wife with three into New England, about 1682. The tig been forbidden by law, aurbed, indue siderable men of his aove to that try, and he revailed aher, where they expejoy their mion with freedom. By the same wife he had four more born there, and by a sed wife ten more, ieen; of which I remember thirteen sitti his table, who all grew up to be men and women, and married; I was the you so child but two, and was born in Boston, New England.
My mother, the sed wife, was Abiah Fhter er, o settlers of New England, of whom hoioon Mather in his church history of that try, entitled Magnalia Christi Ameria, as ''a glishman," if I remember the whtly. I have heard that he wrote sundry small oal pieces, but ohem rinted, whiow many years si was written in 1675, in the home-spu time and people, ahose thehe goverhere.
他代表浸禮會、教友派及其他受迫害的教派，他頌揚良心自由。他認為我們所遭受的印第安人戰爭和其它災害是迫害教徒的結果，是上帝對這種重罪的嚴判和重懲，以規勸政府取消那些嚴酷的法令。在我看來，整個詩篇都充滿了正直坦誠和豪邁的氣概。盡管我忘記了前兩節，但我記得最後六節。文章的主要意思是說他的責難都是出於善意，所以他不想隱晦自己的名字。
他說，
因為我從心底憎惡，
做一個匿名誹謗的人。
我住在修彭城，
我絕無惡意，
我把名字留存在這裏。
您真誠的朋友：彼得·福爾傑。
我的兄長們都在不同的行業學習。我8歲的時候被送到文法學校學習，這是因為父親想要我致力於教會事業，當做是父親這麼多兒子的什一稅。我很早就開始學習（應該是非常早，在我印象中我沒有不識字的時期），父親所有的朋友都說我將來一定能成為大學者，這些讓父親更堅信了他的意圖。本傑明叔叔也讚同我讀書，並提議把他全部的布道速記材料給我。如果我能學他的速記的話，我想這些都可以作為我未來的資本。我在文法學校學習還不到一年，但在這一段時期內我已經從班級裏的中等生一躍成為優等生。然後父親要我升到二年級，這樣我年底就可以升入三年級。
It was in favor of liberty of behalf of the Baptists, Quakers, aaries that had beei the Indian wars, aresses that had befallery, to that perse, as so mas of God to punish so heinous an offeihose uncharitable laws. The eared to me as written with a good deal of deness and mahe six g lihough I have fottewo first of the stanza; but the purport of them was, that his sures prood-will, and, therefore, he would be khor.
Because to be a libeller（says he）
I hate it with my heart;
From Sherburo I dwell
My here;
Without offense your real friend,
It is Peter Folgier.
My elder brothers preo different trades. I ut to the grammar-school at eight years of age, my father io devote me, as the tithe of his sons, to the service of the Church. My early readio read（which must have been very early, as I do not remember when I ot read）, and the opinion of all his friends, that I should ly make a good sced him in this purpose of his. My uoo, approved of it, ao give me all his short-hand volumes of sermons, I suppose as a stock to set up with, if I would learn his character. I ued, however, at the grammar-sot quite h in that time I had risen gradually from the middle of the class of that year to be the head of it, and farther was removed i class above it, io go with that i the end of the year.
但是，同時，父親考慮到我以後上大學的費用，這樣大的一個家庭，父親沒有辦法供養我上大學，並且許多受過高等教育的人活得並不富裕，這是父親當著我的麵對他的朋友說的。所以，父親改變了他的看法，讓我從文法學校退學，而把我送到一所讀寫和算術的學校去讀書。這所學校是當時一個著名的叫做喬治·布郎納的先生開辦的。總的說來，他辦學還是不錯的，他用的是最溫和的最鼓舞人心的教學方法。在他的教導下，我不久就能寫一手漂亮的字，但算術卻不及格，並且一直沒有進步。10歲那年我被父親帶回了家，做父親生意上的幫手，製作蠟燭和肥皂，父親在這個方麵並沒有受過訓練，但是當父親到達新英格蘭的時候，他發現漂染的活根本沒有生意，無法維持全家人的生計，所以我就幫著做些剪燭芯、灌燭模、照看店麵、跑腿送貨諸如此類的事。
我不喜歡這個行當，我對航海有著強烈的向往。不過父親說他反對我的想法。但由於生活在海邊，我對海很熟悉，我很早就學會了遊泳和劃船。我經常是個領導者，尤其當我們遇到什麼麻煩的時候。我有的時候也會讓孩子們陷入窘鏡。在這裏我就舉個事例吧，盡管我當時那樣做是不對的，但也顯示出了我早期突出的公共精神。
那個地方是個鹽堿灘，就在磨房旁邊。我們經常在漲潮的時候站在灘邊釣魚。由於經常被踩踏，鹽堿灘變成了爛泥潭。所以我提議在爛泥潭那裏建一個小碼頭以便我們立足。我領著大家在附近不遠的地方，看到了一大堆別人用來建新房子的石頭，這就是我們想要的。因此，當晚上工人們都走了的時候，我組織了一幫玩伴像一群螞蟻那樣工作起來，因為有的時候一塊石頭要兩三個人才能搬動。我們把這些石頭搬來做成了我們自己的碼頭。第二天早上，工人們看到石頭不見了很吃驚，後來他們發現我們用他們的石頭來修碼頭了。我們的碼頭被拆除了並受到他們的指責。我們中的一些人還受到了他們父親的處罰。盡管我不斷強調這項工作的好處，但它也使我確信靠不誠實得到的東西是不會有任何用處的。
But my father, iime, from a view of the expense of a college edu, whig se a family he ot well afford, and the mean living maed were afterwards able to obtaihat be gave to his friends iered his first irammar-sd seo a sch a by a then famous man, Mr. Gee Brownell, very suc his profession generally, and that by mild, enethods. Under him I acquired fair writiy soon, but I failed iid made . At ten years old I was takeo assist my father in his business, which was that of a tallow-dler and sope-boiler; a busi bred to, but had assumed on his arrival in New England, and on finding his dying trade would not maintain his family, being i. Agly, I loyed in g wick for the dles, filling the dipping mold and the molds for dles, attending the shop, going of errac.
I disliked the trade, and had a strong in for the sea, but my father declared against it; h er, I was mud about it, learo swim well, and to mas; and when in a boat or oe with other boys, I was oo govern, espe any case of diffid upon other os I was generally a leader among the boys, aimes led them into scrapes, of which I will mea shorojeg public spirit, tho'' ly ducted.
There was a salt-marsh that bou of the mill-pond, on the edge of which, at high water, we used to stand to fish for minnows. By much trampling, we had made it a mere quagmire. My proposal was to build a wharff there fit for us to stand upon, and I showed my rades a large heap of stones, whitended for a he marsh, and which would very well suit our purply, in the evehe wone, I assembled a number of my play-felloith them diligently like so maimes two or three to a stht them all away and built our little wharff. The m the workmen were surprised at missiones, which were found in our wharff. Inquiry was made after the removers; we were disd plained of; several of us were corrected by our fathers; and though I pleaded the usefulhe work, mine e that nothing was useful whiot ho.
我想可能你也想知道有關我父親的事情吧。他身體相當好，中等身材，體格很強壯。他天資聰慧，善於繪畫，音樂很好，嗓音洪亮動聽。他經常在工作結束或者一天結束的時候坐下來，拉著小提琴，自個兒唱歌，非常好聽。我父親在使用機械上也很在行，他很擅長擺弄其他工匠的工具。但他最大的長處在於他深刻的理解能力和對重大事情的判斷力，無論是公事還是私人小事。不過，他從沒有吃過公家飯，因為他有一大家人要撫養，這些都離不開他的生意。但我清楚地記得，經常有些頭麵人物來拜訪父親，詢問父親對鎮上事情或者教區事情的意見。他的意見得到了人們極大的尊重，他還經常被邀請做爭執雙方的裁決人。
他經常喜歡邀請思維敏銳的朋友或者鄰居來家裏圍著桌子談話，並且總是談些充滿智慧和有用的話題。因為這有益於孩子們的思維發展。通過這種方式，我們知道了生活裏什麼是好的，什麼是善良的，什麼是公正的，什麼是謹慎。我們基本上不會注意飯桌上吃的東西，比如花樣多少，流行與否，麵粉的好壞，是否合胃口等。我就是在這樣不注意小節的環境下成長的，因此，我對飯桌前吃的什麼是非常淡漠的。直到今天為止，如果在吃飯以後的幾小時有人問我吃了什麼，我基本上是回答不上來的。這些習慣對我的旅行是十分便利的，但我的朋友們卻因長期講究飲食，在旅行的時候因飲食得不到滿足而非常不高興。