培根散文隨筆美文：Of Nobility 論貴族

培根散文隨筆集中英對照，通過閱讀文學(xué)名著學(xué)語言，是掌握英語的絕佳方法。既可接觸原汁原味的英語，又能享受文學(xué)之美，一舉兩得，何樂不為?

　　14 Of Nobility 論貴族

　　We will speak of nobility, first as a portion of an estate; then as a condition of particular persons. A monarchy, where there is no nobility at all, is ever a pure and absolute tyranny; as that of the Turks. For nobility attempers sovereignty, and draws the eyes of me people somewhat aside from the line royal. But for democracies, they need it not; and they are commonly more quiet, and less subject to sedition, then where there are stirps of nobles. For men\'s eyes are upon the business, and not upon the persons: or if upon the persons, it is for the business\' sake, as fittest, and not for flags and pedigree.

　　關(guān)于貴族，我們將先以之為國家中的一個階級，再以之為個人底一種品質(zhì)而論之。一個完全沒有貴族的君主國總是一個純粹而極端的專制國;如土耳其是也。因為貴族是調(diào)劑君權(quán)的，貴族把人民底眼光引開，使其多少離開皇室。但是說到民主國家，它們是不需要貴族的;并且它們比較有貴族巨室的國家，通常是較為平靜，不易有叛亂的。因為在民主國中，人們底眼光是在事業(yè)上而不在個人上的;或者，即令眼光是在個人身上，也是為了事業(yè)的原故，要問某人之適當(dāng)與否，而不是為了標(biāo)幟與血統(tǒng)的。

　　We see the Switzers last well, notwithstanding their diversity of religion, and of cantons. For utility is their bond, and not respects. The united provinces of the Low Countries, in their government, excel: for where there is an equality, the consultations are more indifferent, and the payments and tributes more cheerful. A great and potent nobility addeth majesty to a monarch, but diminisheth power, and putteth life and spirit into the people, but presseth their fortune. It is well, when nobles are not too great for sovereignty, nor for justice; and yet maintained in that height, as the insolence of inferiors may be broken upon them, before it come on too fast upon the majesty of kings.

　　我們看得到瑞士人底國家很能持久，雖然他們國中有很多宗教派別，而且行政區(qū)也不一致：這就因為維系他們的是實利而不是對在位者個人的崇仰也。荷蘭合眾國政治很優(yōu)良;因為在有平權(quán)的地方，政治上的集議是比較重事而不重人的，并且人民對于納稅輸款也是較為樂意的，一個巨大有力的貴族階級增加君王底威嚴(yán)，可是減少了他底權(quán)力;使人民更有生氣，更為活潑，可是壓抑了他們底福利。最好，貴族不要高出君權(quán)或國法之上，同時卻要被保持在一種高位上，使下民想犯上的時候，那種桀鶩之氣，必得在過速地達(dá)到人君底威嚴(yán)以前，先與貴族沖撞，如水擊石而分散其勢力然。

　　A numerous nobility causeth poverty and inconvenience in a state: for it is a surcharge of expense; and besides, it being of necessity, that many of the nobility fall in time to be weak in fortune, it maketh a kind of disproportion, between honour and means.

　　貴族人數(shù)眾多則國貧而多艱;因為這是一種過度的消費(fèi);并且，貴族中人有許多在經(jīng)過相當(dāng)時間后必然變?yōu)樨毞?，結(jié)果在尊榮與財富之間將造成一種不相侔的情形。

　　As for nobility in particular persons; it is a reverend thing, to see an ancient castle or building not in decay; or to see a fair timber tree, sound and perfect: how much more, to behold anancient noble family, which hath stood against me waves and weathers of time.

　　至于個人之身為貴族者——我們看見一座古壘或建筑物依然完好，或者一棵好樹堅實而完美的時候，總覺得那是一種令人生敬的景象。如斯，要是見到一個曾經(jīng)度過時間底風(fēng)浪的古老貴族之家，其可敬之甚較上述者又當(dāng)多出若干。

　　For new nobility is but the act of power, but ancient nobility is the act of time. Those that are first raised to nobility are commonly more virtuous, but less

　　innocent, than their descendants: for there is rarely any rising, but by a co-mixture, of good and evil arts. But it is reason the memory of their virtues remain to their posterity; and their faults die with themselves.

　　因為新的貴族不過是權(quán)力所致，而老的貴族則是時間所致也。頭一個升到貴族階級的那些人多是比他們底后人富于才力而不如其純潔的;因為很少有能夠騰達(dá)而在手段中不是善惡交混的。但是這些人留給后代的記憶中只有長處，而他們底短處，則與身俱滅，這也是合理的。

　　Nobility of birth commonly abateth industry: and he that is not industrious envieth him that is. Besides, noble persons cannot go much higher, and he that standeth at a stay, when others rise, can hardly avoid motions of envy. On the other side, nobility extinguished! the passive envy, from others towards them;

　　because they are in possession of honour. Certainly kings, that have able men of their nobility, shall find ease in employing them; and a better slide into their business: for people naturally bend to them, as born in some sort to command.

　　生為貴族則多半輕視勞作;而自己不勤勞的人是要嫉妒勤勞的人的。再者，貴族中人不能再升到多高的地位去了;而那自己停留在某種地位而目睹他人上升的人是難免嫉妒之念的。在另一方面，貴族身分能消滅別人對他們的那種消極的嫉妒;因為貴族中人好象生來就應(yīng)享某種榮華富貴似的。無疑地，為人君者，在他們底貴族中若有人材而能用之，則他們將得到安適，并且國事底進(jìn)行也要得到順利;因為人民會自自然然地服從他們，以為他們是生來就有權(quán)發(fā)號施令的。