尊敬的读者：
去年你们心怀仁厚地购买了那么多我的历书，这等慈悲的善举大大改善了我的生活处境，我在此致以诚挚的感谢。我妻子现在有了自己的锅，不需再劳烦借用邻居的了，从那时起，我们的生活也渐渐变得富足起来。她还有了一双鞋、两件衬衫和一条崭新的裙子。而我则买了一件二手外套，成色很好，就算穿到镇上去或是和别人打照面也没什么不体面的。这些事情让她的脾气比以往都好了很多，我敢说这一年里，我睡的觉比之前三年的总和还多，还更安稳。因此请接受我衷心的感谢，顺祝健康如意。
在上一册历书的序言部分，我预言我的好友兼同窗，博学多才的泰坦·利兹先生，将卒于1733年10月17日下午3点29分，太阳和水星交汇的时刻。 按他的计算，他能活到当月的26日，并在上午11点钟左右，日食期间逝去。他究竟在哪个时间点去世，或者他是否仍然健在，现在我没法给读者们确切的答案。由于家中有些琐事需要我出面处理，我无法像我希望的那样，在他临终时陪在他的身边，给他最后的拥抱，为他阖上双眼，尽一个朋友的责任为逝者举行葬礼。因此，我无法确定他是死是活。星辰只告诉智者，宇宙和自然界中发生的一切都有因有果，但众所周知，在自然过程中，某些注定发生在某个时间的事，有时会因为上天出于明智善意的理由而推迟或取消。这种天意，靠看星星的方位可预测不出来。总之（我无法不满怀悲伤地说）我的挚友很可能已经不在了。因为就我所知，有一本 1734年的历书以他的名义出版，而书中对我满是污蔑之词，将我斥为一个荒唐的预言家、愚昧无知的人、自负的蹩脚文人、蠢蛋和骗子。利兹先生很有教养，不会使用如此粗俗恶劣的词语，加上他敬重我，我们交情甚好：因此这本册子恐怕只是别有用心的人想借利兹先生的美名和号召力，再多卖上三两年的历书吧。然而，借一位绅士和文人之名，口喷污言秽语，对他的朋友恶言相向，说些连卑鄙下流之徒在醉酒之时都羞于出口的话，实在是对利兹先生罪无可恕的中伤，也是对公众的欺诈。
利兹先生不仅精通他毕生从事的实用科学，还严于律己，待人真诚，言行一致。由于这些和他的其他许多可贵的品质，他对我非常重要。尽管可能与我们两人的预测相悖，他也许仍然在世。倘若知道他仍安然健康地生活着，即使我作为预言家的名声将会受损，使我蒙羞，我还是会感到无上的快乐和满足。亲爱的好心的读者，我是您的穷朋友和奴仆，
R.桑德斯
1733年10月30日要想活得轻松自在，就做自己该做的事，而不是拣喜欢的做。
Would you live with ease, Do what you ought, and not what you please.
宁可脚下打滑，好过舌头打滑。
Better slip with foot than tongue.
要摘玫瑰别怕刺，老婆貌美易惹事。
You cannot pluck roses without fear of thorns, Nor enjoy a fair wife without danger of horns.
如无正义，徒有勇气。
Without justice, courage is weak.
吃多病缠身，药杂病难愈。
Many dishes many diseases, Many medicines few cures.
腐肉多，秃鹰聚。
国法正，人丁旺。
Where carcasses are, eagles will gather,
And where good laws are, much people flock thither.
冷热酸甜，均侵皓齿。
Hot things, sharp things, sweet things, cold things All rot the teeth, and make them look like old things.
乱怪人者傻，瞎拍马者蠢。
Blameall and Praiseall are two blockheads.
不嗜酒，不暴食，不荒淫，不懒惰。
这四样，莫要为，若不听，满身病。
Be temperate in wine, in eating, girls, & sloth;
Or the Gout will seize you and plague you both.
吃得苦中苦，方为人上人。
No man e"er was glorious, who was not laborious.
寐着良心掩盖过错其实很难，承认并纠正错误则简单许多。
What pains our Justice takes his faults to hide,
With half that pains sure he might cure "em quite.
成功勿自骄。
In success be moderate.
请君听贫贱的理查一言：凡事因愤怒而起，必将以羞愧终。
Take this remark from Richard poor and lame,
Whate"er"s begun in anger ends in shame.
傻瓜做事，错上加错。
Fools multiply folly.
美丽和愚蠢，自古常相伴。
Beauty & folly are old companions.收获的希望,能减轻痛苦。
Hope of gain, Lessens pain.
勤则万事易，懒则万事难。
All things are easy to Industry,
All things difficult to Sloth.
驭马要紧贴，驭人应宽松。
If you ride a Horse, sit close and tight,
If you ride a Man, sit easy and light.
一个新事实也是事实，一个旧错误也是错误，但笨人两点都不懂。
A new truth is a truth, an old error is an error, Tho" Clodpate wont allow either.
一犬不可猎两兔。贪多易失。
Don"t think to hunt two hares with one dog.
观星者言，春天最是求偶天。
Astrologers say,
This is a good Day,
To make Love in May.
予人以快乐者，自己会获得快乐。
Who pleasure gives, Shall joy receive.
得病太晚或病愈太快都不是好事。
Be not sick too late, nor well too soon.
无爱的婚姻，必有婚外情。
Where there"s Marriage without Love, there will be Love without Marriage.
律师、传教士和山雀蛋，多是未及孵化的半成品。
Lawyers, Preachers, and Tomtits Eggs, there are more of them hatch"d than come to perfection.
不傻不精，要看得清。
Be neither silly, nor cunning, but wise.
一旦开始和谈，无论碉堡还是处女都抵抗不了多久。
Neither a Fortress nor a Maidenhead will hold out long after they begin to parly.
小杰克，不工作，空手而归没收获。一分耕耘，一分收获。
Jack Little sow"d little, & little he"ll reap.
节省则什么都便宜，挥霍则什么都贵。
All things are cheap to the saving, dear to the wasteful.
劝服别人时要谈利益，不要空讲道理。
Would you persuade, speak of Interest, not of Reason.
有些人因为要学的知识太多而烦恼，
但没人会因学习成长的技巧而烦恼。
Some men grow mad by studying much to know,
But who grows mad by studying good to grow.
快乐不长久，福祸总相依。
Happy"s the Woing, that"s not long a doing.
不要根据地位来评价一个人，而要根据他的品行。
Don"t value a man for the Quality he is of, but for the Qualities he possesses.
亚历山大大帝的战马和它的主人一样流芳千古。鸡犬升天。
Bucephalus the Horse of Alexand hath as lasting fame as his Master.
寒气来袭，必有雨雪；
众人应知，你会明了；
时间流逝，将会揭晓。
Rain or Snow,
To Chili go,
You"ll find it so,
For ought we know.
Time will show.
有的人虽默默无闻，却同最有名的人一样有着伟大的灵魂。
There have been as great Souls unknown to fame as any of the most famous.
善待朋友留住他，善待敌人拉拢他。
Do good to thy Friend to keep him, to thy enemy to gain him.
好人很少惴惴不安，坏人成天心神难宁。
A good Man is seldom uneasy, an ill one never easie.
教你的孩子学会沉默，他也将很快学会说话。
Teach your child to hold his tongue, he"l learn fast enough to speak.
不懂得服从命令的人，也不会施令指挥他人。
He that cannot obey, cannot command.
无知的庄稼汉强过凶残的君主。
An innocent Plowman is more worthy than a vicious Prince.
魅力无用，糊涂难得。
As Charms are nonsence, Nonsence is a Charm.
今天的一只鸡蛋胜过明天的一只母鸡。
An Egg today is better than a Hen tomorrow.
喝水吧，把钱留在荷包里，让胃痛留在酒杯里。
Drink Water, Put the Money in your Pocket, and leave the Drybellyach in the Punchbowl.
有钱之人不必太精打细算，精打细算之人不必太有钱。
He that is rich need not live sparingly, and he that can live sparingly need not be rich.
若要复仇，冷静为先。
If you wou"d be reveng"d of your enemy, govern your self.
奸雄看不起清白的懦夫。
A wicked Hero will turn his back to an innocent coward.
法律像蛛网，蚊蝇无处逃，
大虫破网出，法外乐逍遥。
Laws like to Cobwebs catch small Flies,
Great ones break thro" before your eyes.
怪哉，靠谎言为生的人，却难以欺骗自己。
Strange, that he who lives by Shifts, can seldom shift himself.
伤痛之处易受磨难，骄傲的人常遭冒犯。
As sore places meet most rubs, proud folks meet most affronts.
执法者遵从法律，人民遵从执法者。
The magistrate should obey the Laws, the People should obey the magistrate.
晴天也要带雨衣。未雨绸缪。
When "tis fair be sure take your Great coat with you.
不是他拥有财富，而是财富占有他。
He does not possess Wealth, it possesses him.
情势迫切，无视法律；有些律师以此为名。
Necessity has no Law; I know some Attorneys of the name.
财产继承人和寡妇，若遇洋葱也流泪。
Onions can make ev"n Heirs and Widows weep.
贪婪和快乐从未谋面，它们怎能相互了解。
Avarice and Happiness never saw each other, how then shou"d they become acquainted.
谨慎的荷兰人对节俭有此名言：节省一切能到手的钱。
The thrifty maxim of the wary Dutch,
Is to save all the Money they can touch.
常等天上掉馅饼，挨饥受饿是常事。
He that waits upon Fortune, is never sure of a Dinner.
有学问的愚人比无知的愚人更愚蠢。
A learned blockhead is a greater blockhead than an ignorant one.
娶媳可以挑，嫁女要趁早。
Marry your Son when you will, but your Daughter when you can.
布丽吉特·桑德斯夫人，我的女主人，
为回应去年十二月的诗歌所作：
那个酒多误事的人，
每晚在客栈中彻夜玩乐；
每天不至晌午不愿离床；
永不为挨饿的家庭着想；
仁慈的上帝可以拯救他；
但妻子倒霉有这种丈夫。
By Mrs. Bridget Saunders, my Dutchess, in Answer to the December Verses of last Year.
He that for sake of Drink neglects his Trade,
And spends each Night in Taverns till "tis late,
And rises when the Sun is four hours high,
And ne"er regards his starving Family;
God in his Mercy may do much to save him.
But, woe to the poor Wife, whose Lot it is to have him.
愚者无知，或有一得；智者千虑，必有一失。
He that knows nothing of it, may by chance be a Prophet; while the wisest that is may happen to miss.
如果你想与客人分享喜悦，
自己先得喜悦，至少表面如此。
If you wou"d have Guests merry with your cheer,
Be so your self, or so at least appear.
再会，读者，愿幸福伴您左右。
愿您年年更美好，年年更富足。
Reader, farewel, all Happiness attend thee:
May each NewYear better and richer find thee.
1735年
尊敬的读者：
这是我第三次出现在印刷品里，到目前为止我非常满意，也有理由希望大家都满意。大家是如此友善，对我如此宽厚，如果我不抓住一切机会表达我的感激之情，那未免也太忘恩负义了。俗话说，ingratum si dixeris, omnia dixeris（拉丁文，意为“对忘恩负义者无须多言”因此，作为回应，我恭敬地向大家致以最衷心的感谢。
无论星空是多么美妙，群星运行得多么和谐，但占星师之间是从来没有和平的，他们总像素未谋面的野狗那样对着其他人狂吠不止，像某些人对他们的妻子那样咆哮不休。我已经尽量让自己保持平和，不去得罪别人，我希望情况能一直这样，但还是遭到了已逝的泰坦·利兹的谩骂。泰坦·利兹生前可没这样对我！那假装还活着的泰坦·利兹的“鬼魂”对我乱喷污言秽语，诋毁我的预测，有些话我不得不说，尽管我已经一忍再忍，但仍怒从心来。不管别人如何冒充，他毫无疑问已经死翘翘了。首先，星辰的预测极少落空，只有对于智者例外——因为Sapiens dominabitur astris（拉丁语，意为“智者统御群星”而星星已经预言他将在我预测的时刻去世；第二，他的父亲以前也是名占星师，为了维护占星学——这份他和他父亲共同拥有的技艺的名誉，他也必须在那个时刻准时死去；第三，对于看过他的最后两本历书（1734年和1735年）的人来说，可以明显感觉到不是以他在世时的风格写出来的作品。书中的箴言平庸又干瘪，那些小建议沉闷而了无生趣，只剩插在月头月末的那几句讽刺占星学的诗还有点意思，但那只有死人才写得出来，在世的人成文水平根本无法企及。最后，我要用他写在1734年历书序言里的话来证明他的死亡。ex ore suo condemnatus est（拉丁语，意为“搬起石头砸自己的脚”他说：桑德斯又在他的历书里犯了一个天大的错误，书中说根据我的计算，我能活到1733年10月 26日，这和前一个说法一样完全不属实。如果真如利兹所说，他能活到1733年10月26日不属实而且是个“天大的错误”那他肯定事实上在26日之前就死去了。而如果他在那之前就死了，不管出于什么目的，不管他说了什么相悖的话，他现在肯定已经归西。10月26日之前，他最有可能的死亡时间难道不是我预测的10月17日吗？不过如果有些人会在死后四处晃荡，招惹是非，也许是因为他们有些先天不足，如果不忍痛把他们丢到红海里去，这脾气是很难改掉的，但他们也不能因为这份自由而变本加厉。我知道对于一个思想自由的占星师来说，受束缚是难以忍受的。出于同情心，我的话就不说得太重了。不过，尽管我极不情愿，但如果它（鬼魂）不学着对他活着的朋友好一点，我的耐心不会延续多久。尊敬的读者，我是您忠实的朋友和仆人，
R.桑德斯
1734年10月30日
向前看，否则你将落后。逆水行舟，不进则退。
Look before, or you"ll find yourself behind.
蹩脚的评论家糟蹋最好的书，
因此上帝送来了魔鬼煮的肉。
Bad Commentators spoil the best of books,
So God sends meat (they say) the devil Cooks.
对拍马溜须的人不可掉以轻心。
Approve not of him who commends all you say.
坚持努力工夫深，老鼠也能咬断绳。滴水石穿，绳锯木断。
By diligence and patience, the mouse bit in two the cable.
礼多必有诈。
Full of courtesie, full of craft.
有屋可住，有田能耕，
有妻为伴，已是富翁。
A little House well fill"d, a little Field well till"d, and a little Wife well will"d, are great Riches.
有人善于审时度势，有人埋头闭门造车。
Some are weatherwise, some are otherwise.
给智者敬酒的人更有智慧。--威尔士谚语
Dyrro lynn y ddoeth e fydd ddoethach.
Who gives drink to the wise, he is wiser.
穷人为果腹而奔波，富人为饕餮而散步。
The poor man must walk to get meat for his stomach, the rich man to get a stomach to his meat.
那些走远去结婚的人不是骗子就是被骗。
He that goes far to marry, will either deceive or be deceived.
眼睛不容沙子，牧师不容渎神。
Eyes and Priests, Bear no Jests.
世上从来不缺愚者。
The Family of Fools is ancient.
必需之品从来不易讨价还价。
Necessity never made a good bargain.
高傲者冲锋，卑劣者殿后。
If Pride leads the Van, Beggary brings up the Rear.
头脑不能饱腹，聪明人也饿肚。
There"s many witty men whose brains can"t fill their bellies.
慎问需慎答。
Weighty Questions ask for deliberate Answers.
择友需谨慎，换友要三思。
Be slow in chusing a Friend, slower in changing.
老霍伯最近夜里结了婚，
无需白天，他的娇妻就是明灯。
Old Hob was lately married in the Night,
What needed Day, his fair young Wife is light.
痛苦伤身体，享乐耗头脑。
Pain wastes the Body, Pleasures the Understanding.
狡猾的人去偷马，聪明的人不去招惹它。生人往往会被马攻击。
The cunning man steals a horse, the wise man lets him alone.
爱情诚可贵，金钱价更高。
Nothing but Money,
Is sweeter than Honey.
谦逊让伟人更可敬。
Humility makes great men twice honourable.怀胎的女人和扬帆的船，
是生活中最美好的两样。
A Ship under sail and a bigbellied Woman,
Are the handsomest two things that can be seen common.
看好店铺，才能赚钱。
Keep thy shop, & thy shop will keep thee.
国王的奶酪，在削皮时就浪费掉一半；不过没关系，反正是用人民的牛奶做的。国王不稀罕人民的血汗。
The King"s cheese is half wasted in parings: But no matter, "tis made of the peoples milk.
赠出的物品耀眼，收下的东西晦暗。
What"s given shines,
What"s receiv"d is rusty.
傻瓜的美德在于懒惰和寡言。
Sloth and Silence are a Fool"s Virtues.
有学问的愚人，我见过很多。
天生的聪明人，我见得更多。
Of learned Fools I have seen ten times ten,
Of unlearned wise men I have seen a hundred.
三人若能守秘密，除非两人已死去。
Three may keep a Secret, if two of them are dead.
贫穷时想要的东西只若干，
奢侈时想要的东西有很多，
贪婪时想要的东西是全部。
Poverty wants some things, Luxury many things, Avarice all things.
谎言金鸡独立，摇摇晃晃；
真理两脚站着，稳稳当当。
A Lie stands on 1 leg, Truth on 2.
嘴上报复算不了什么，但失言可能遭大报复。
There"s small Revenge in Words, but Words may be greatly revenged.
（诗人说）英雄所见略同，我说）聪明人跳得高摔得重。智者千虑，必有一失。
Great wits jump (says the Poet) and hit his Head against the Post.
一个人假装拥有的品质永远都比自己本身具有的品质更加可笑。
A man is never so ridiculous by those Qualities that are his own as by those that he affects to have.
为自己好，克己自制。
Deny Self for Self"s sake.
人前少吃节食，背地胡吃海塞。
Tim moderate fare and abstinence much prizes,
In publick, but in private gormandizes.
宁受许多伤，不去伤一人。
It is better to take many Injuries than to give one.
机遇诱惑你，冒险扑过去。
Opportunity is the great Bawd.
睡得早，起得早，健康聪明财路好。
Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy wealthy and wise.
对上级谦恭是本分，对平级谦恭是礼貌，对下级谦恭是高尚。
To be humble to Superiors is Duty, to Equals Courtesy, to Inferiors Nobleness.
演说家来了！看他口若悬河，内涵却寥寥。
Here comes the Orator! with his Flood of Words, and his Drop of Reason.
心态衰老的年轻人，将成为一个年轻的老人。
An old young man, will be a young old man.
大多数人喜欢的，总有人嗤之以鼻。
以彰显自己与众不同，冰雪聪明。
If what most men admire, they would despise,
"Twould look as if mankind were growing wise.
太阳从不后悔付出，也不求回报。
The Sun never repents of the good he does, nor does he ever demand a recompence.
因别人令你失望而愤怒？别忘了你不能孤军作战。
Are you angry that others disappoint you? remember you cannot depend upon yourself.
纠正一个错误胜过找出两次错误；但找出一个错误胜过两次犯错。
One Mendfault is worth two Findfaults, but one Findfault is better than two Makefaults.
读者，愿您健康，富足，幸福。
愿您全年的辛劳得到老天眷顾。
Reader, I wish thee Health, Wealth, Happiness,
And may kind Heaven thy Year"s Industry bless.
