But there is one time at night when he must go home, that his friends may sleep; and another time in the morning, when all the world agrees to shut out interruption. These are the moments of which poor Sober trembles at the thought. But the misery of these tiresome intervals, he has many means of alleviating. He has persuaded himself that the manual arts are undeservedly overlooked; he has observed in many trades the effects of close thought, and just ratiocination. From speculation he proceeded to practice, and supplied himself with the tools of a carpenter, with which he mended his coalbox very successfully, and which he still continues to employ, as he finds occasion.
He has attempted at other times the crafts of the shoemaker, tinman, plumber, and potter; in all these arts he has failed, and resolves to qualify himself for them by better information. But his daily amusement is chemistry. He has a small furnace, which he employs in distillation, and which has long been the solace of his life. He draws oils and waters, and essences and spirits, which he knows to be of no use; sits and counts the drops as they come from his retort, and forgets that, whilst a drop is falling, a moment flies away.
Poor Sober! I have often teased him with reproof, and he has often promised reformation; for no man is so much open to conviction as the Idler, but there is none on whom it operates so little. What will be the effect of this paper I know not; perhaps he will read it and laugh, and light the fire in his furnace; but my hope is that he will quit his trifles, and betake himself to rational and useful diligence.
很多德育家指出，骄傲是人类所有恶习中影响力最为广泛的。它的表现形式繁杂多样，隐藏方式也多种多样。就如同天边月儿晶莹透明的面纱，伪装既有光彩之处，又有隐晦之所。虽然遮盖，亦可一眼望穿。
诚然，我无意降低骄傲的危害程度，但不知道闲散是否会成为它的劲敌。
然而，有些人高声赞叹闲散是高雅之事，以“闲散之士”自居，正如布西里斯在剧中自称为“骄傲之士”一样。他们炫耀自己无需做事，感谢命运之神没有给他们安排事情。他们每晚睡觉睡到自然醒，起床活动活动也只是为了更好地入睡。为了延长黑夜的主宰，他们拉起厚厚的双层窗帘，终日不见阳光，除了“告诉他，他们十分憎恶他的光芒”。不断地变换享受的姿势，就是他们所有的劳动。对他们而言，昼夜的分别就在于长沙发、椅子和床的不同。
他们是一群真正的并且公开的闲散女神崇拜者。女神为其编织美丽的罂粟花环，把遗忘水倒入他们的杯中。他们生活在平静的愚蠢状态中，长久没有生命的气息。而死去时，生者只会说，他们停止了呼吸。
然而，不经意间，闲散主宰着多数人的生命。这种恶习仅限于散漫者自身，不会危及他人，因而就不同于欺诈和傲慢。前者危及财产安全，后者在他人的自卑中寻求满足。闲散是一种静默平和，既不会因他人之夸耀而心存妒忌，也不会因抗衡而产生敌意。正因为如此，他们不会遭受责难。
就像傲慢时而藏于谦卑，闲散常掩于紊乱和匆忙。一个人疏于本职工作，自然就可能极力想些其他的事情，从而忘却自己曾经做的蠢事；同时，他会把那些非职责范围内且需勤奋努力之事抛于脑后。这样，他就能随心所欲，恣意而行了。
有些人时刻处于准备状态，致力于事前准备，拟计划，收集材料等。这些人必然受闲散女神某种神秘力量的控制。一味忙于找工具的工匠，是无法有所成就的。一位绘画大师曾对我说，只对铅笔和色彩好奇的人，是不会精于绘画的。
也有另外一些人，他们把散漫看成权宜之计，认为生命会在闲散中碌碌而逝，而生活却不会在沉闷单调中了却。闲散之艺术就在于，用琐事填塞每一天，手头总有一些让人好奇但不伤脑筋的事可做。同时，大脑保持在活动状态，而非劳动状态。
我的老朋友叟博就是一个闲散主义者，他的闲散艺术还卓有成效。他欲望强烈，思维敏锐，同时又热衷闲散，为在两者间寻求平衡，他很少难为自己。然而，欲望和思维的力量之强，令他无法安然入睡。即使如此，他也不会充分利用自身的特质，反倒愈对它们感到厌倦。
与人交谈是叟博的主要兴趣。他能无休止地交谈下去，并总能幻想自己是在教授或学习东西，远离了他人的指指点点。因而对他而言，讲话和聆听都是愉快的。
然而，夜晚友人要休息他便不得不回家；清晨，大家都不想听他聒噪，他也只好缄默。他一想到这些便会颤抖不已。不过，他自有办法来缓解这些无聊时刻带来的痛苦。他常聊以自慰道，手工艺遭受了不应有的忽视。在很多方面，叟博发现了缜密思考，即推理的效应。周密地观察后，他开始购置工匠用具，并成功地修好了自家的煤箱。并且，一有机会，他便继续做。
在其他时候，他还努力学习鞋匠、锡匠、管道工和陶工的技艺。尽管这些都没学成，他还是下定决心用知识武装自己，以胜任这些工艺。化学是他的日常消遣对象。他有个用于蒸馏的小炉子，长久以来，这就是他的抚慰品。他会在这个炉子上提取油、水、香精和烈酒。尽管他明白这些毫无用处，他还是坐下来，细数曲颈瓶里的水滴，忘却了每滴的降落，正意味着每一时刻的逝去。
可怜的叟博！我常用责备的口气取笑他，而他也常保证悔过自新。没有人会如闲散者般承认错误，更没有人真正拿出点儿行动。我不知道这篇文章会带来何种效应，或许叟博看后会付之一笑，然后继续烧炉子。但是，我很希望他能停下琐事，理智勤奋地做些有用之事。
1. It is not_______intention to degrade Pride from this preeminence of mischief,______I know not_______idleness may not maintain a_______doubtful and obstinate competition.
2. These are the_______and open votaries of Idleness, for_______she weaves the garlands of poppies, and into whose cup she pours the waters of oblivion;_______exist in a state of unruffled stupidity, forgetting and forgotten; who have______ceased to live, and at whose death the survivors can_______say, that they have ceased to breathe.
1. 即使如此，他也不会充分利用自身的特质，反倒愈对它们感到厌倦。
2. 尽管这些都没学成，他还是下定决心用知识武装自己，以胜任这些工艺。
3. 尽管他明白这些毫无用处，他还是坐下来，细数曲颈瓶里的水滴，忘却了每滴的降落，意味着每一时刻的逝去。
1. Some are always in a state of preparation.
in a state of：处于……的状态
2. ...when all the world agrees to shut out interruption.
shut out：排除；把……关在外边
