eyearsaftertheworkhad startedonlythelettersAandBwouldhavebeenpublished,andthathewoulddieat theageof78withouthavingquitereachedtheendofhisendeavor,wouldheever havesetoutonsuchalifework? 他是否已经意识到,仁慈地对他隐瞒了终其一生都无法完成这项任务,是上天对他的眷顾?他从来没有低估“大词典”独特的重要性,但是他再三地低估了它最终的总量:超过 16000页——每一页都很大,满页的精确注释——莫里自己就编撰了其中的一半。如果在 100年前(当莫里40岁时同意编撰词典)时,依照天意的声音告诉他,开始工作的九年时间里仅仅可以出版 A和 B,并且他会在78岁时死去,而未能达到他最终的努力目标,他还会着手这项终身事业么? Buttheanswer,ofcourse,isyes. 但是答案,当然是肯定的。 JamesMurraywasborninScotlandin1837,thesonofavillagetailor.Hewent toaparishschool,butheleftat14andheeducatedhimselfwithpertinacity.He lovedknowledgeandhelovedtoimpartit.Hebecameaschoolmaster;helearned ics,aswellastolocal politics.HehadtoleaveScotlandbecauseoftheillnessofhisfirstwife,andhe becameabankclerkinLondon.Bysheerenergyofscholarship,andwithoutbenefit
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