弗朗西斯·培根是英國(guó)文藝復(fù)興時(shí)期最重要的散文家、哲學(xué)家。他不但在文學(xué)、哲學(xué)上多有建樹(shù)，在自然科學(xué)領(lǐng)域里，也取得了重大成就。他的第一部重要著作《隨筆》最初發(fā)表于1597年，以后又逐年增補(bǔ)。該書(shū)文筆言簡(jiǎn)意賅、智睿奪目，它包含許多洞察秋毫的經(jīng)驗(yàn)之談，其中不僅論及政治而且還探討許多人生哲理。下面學(xué)習(xí)啦小編為大家?guī)?lái)培根經(jīng)典散文隨筆閱讀，希望大家喜歡!

　　培根經(jīng)典散文隨筆閱讀：論幸運(yùn)

　　It cannot be denied, but outward accidents conduce much to fortune, favour, opportunity, death of others, occasion fitting virtue. But chiefly, tile mould of a man's fortune is in his own hands.(Faber quisque fortunae suae; saith the poet )

　　一方面，幸運(yùn)與偶然性有關(guān)一例如長(zhǎng)相漂亮、機(jī)緣湊巧等;但另一方面，人之能否幸運(yùn)又決定于自身。正如古代詩(shī)人所說(shuō)：“人是自身幸福的設(shè)計(jì)師。

　　And the most frequent of external causes is, that the folly of one man is the fortune of another. For no man prospers so suddenly, as by others' errors. Serpens nisi serpenterm comederit non fit draco. Overt and apparent virtues bring forth praise; but there be secret and hidden virtues, that bring forth fortune; certain deliveries of a man's self, which have no name. The Spanish name, desemboltura, partly expresseth them: when there be not stonds, nor resdveness in a man's nature; but that the wheels of his mind keep way with the wheels of his fortune. For so Livy (after he had described Cato Major, in these words; in ilh viro, tanturn robur corporis et animi fiit, ut quocwique loco natus esset ,fortunarus sibi facturs videretur) falleth upon that, that he had versatile ingenium Therefore, if a man look sharply, and attentively, he shall see fortune: for though she be blind, yet she is not invisible.

　　有的時(shí)候，一個(gè)人的愚蠢恰是另一個(gè)人的幸運(yùn)，一方的錯(cuò)誤恰好促成了另一方的成功。正如諺語(yǔ)所說(shuō)：“蛇吃蛇，能成龍。”炫耀于外表的才干徒然令人贊羨，而深藏未露的才干則能帶來(lái)幸運(yùn)。這需要一種難以言傳的自制力。西班牙人把這叫做“潛能”。一個(gè)人具有優(yōu)良的素質(zhì)，能在必要時(shí)發(fā)揮這種素質(zhì)從而推動(dòng)幸運(yùn)的車輪轉(zhuǎn)動(dòng)，這就叫“潛能”。歷史學(xué)家李維曾這樣形容老加圖說(shuō)：“他的精神與體力都是那樣優(yōu)美博大，因此無(wú)論他出身于什么家庭，都一定可以為自己開(kāi)辟出一條道路。”因?yàn)榧訄D具有多方面的才能。這話說(shuō)明，只要對(duì)一個(gè)人深入觀察，是可以發(fā)現(xiàn)對(duì)他是否可以期望幸運(yùn)的。因?yàn)樾疫\(yùn)之神雖然是盲目的，卻并非無(wú)形的。

　　The way of fortune is like the Milken Way in the sky; which is a meeting or knot of a number of small stars; not seen asunder, but giving light together. So are there a number of little, and scarce discerned virtues, or rather faculties and customs, that make men fortunate.

　　幸運(yùn)的機(jī)會(huì)好像銀河，他們作為個(gè)體是不顯眼的，但作為整體卻光輝燦爛。同樣，一個(gè)人若具備許多細(xì)小的優(yōu)良素質(zhì)，最終都可能成為帶來(lái)幸運(yùn)的機(jī)會(huì)。

　　The Italians note some of them, such as a man would little think. When they speak of one that cannot do amiss, they will throw in, into his other conditions, that he hath poco di motto. And certainly, there be not two more fortunate properties; than to have a little of the fool; and not too much of the honest. Therefore, extreme lovers of their country, or masters, were never fortunate, neither can they be. For when a man placeth his thoughts without himself, he goeth not his own way. An hasty fortune maketh an enterpriser, and remover (the French hath it better, entrepreneur, or remuamt), but the exercised fortune maketh the able man. Fortune is to be honoured, and respected, and it be but for her daughters, Confidence, and Reputation. For those two felicity hreedeth: the first within a man's self; the latter, in others towards him.

　　意大利人在談?wù)摼鞯娜藭r(shí)，除了夸贊他別的優(yōu)點(diǎn)，有時(shí)會(huì)說(shuō)表面上帶一點(diǎn)“傻氣”。是的，有一點(diǎn)傻氣，但并不是呆氣，再?zèng)]有比這對(duì)人的更幸運(yùn)的了。然而迷信愚妄的人是不會(huì)幸運(yùn)的。他們把思考權(quán)交付給了他人，就不會(huì)走自己的路了。意外的幸運(yùn)會(huì)使人冒失、狂妄，然而經(jīng)過(guò)磨練的幸運(yùn)卻使人成為偉器。幸運(yùn)是令人尊敬的，至少這是為了他的兩個(gè)女兒一一位叫自信，位叫名譽(yù)。他們都是幸運(yùn)所產(chǎn)生的。前者產(chǎn)生于人良身的心中，后者產(chǎn)生于他人的心中。

　　All wise men, to decline me envy of their own virtues, use to ascribe them to providence and fortune; for so they may the better assume them: and besides, it is greatness in a man, to be the care of me higher powers. So Caesar said to me pilot in the tempest, Caesarem portas, etfortunam ene. So Sulla chose the name of Felix, and not of Magnus. And it hath been noted, that those that ascribe openly too much to their own wisdom, and policy, end unfortunate. It is written, that

　　古代的智者，為避免招人嫉恨，很少對(duì)自己的幸運(yùn)進(jìn)行夸耀，他們把一切歸功于“神”。事實(shí)上，也只有偉大人物才能得到神的護(hù)佑。凱撒對(duì)大風(fēng)浪中的水手說(shuō)：“鎮(zhèn)靜，有凱撒坐在你的船上!”而蘇拉則不敢自稱為“偉大”，只稱自己為“有幸的”。從歷史可以看到，凡把成功完全歸于自己的人，常常得到不幸的終局。

　　Timotheus the Athenian, after he had, in the account he gave to the state of his government, often interlaced this speech, 'and in mis fortune had no part', never prospered in anything he undertook afterwards. Certainly, mere be, whose fortunes are like Homer's verses, that have a slide, and easiness, more than the verses of other poets: as Plutarch sailh of Timoleon's fortune, in respect of that of Agesilaus, or Epaminondas. And that this should be, no doubt it is much in a man's self.

　　例如，雅典人泰摩索斯總把他在政治上的成就說(shuō)成：“這決非幸運(yùn)所賜，而是因?yàn)楸救烁呙鳌?rdquo;結(jié)果他以后再做什么事卻很少成功了。世間確有一些人，他們的幸運(yùn)，流暢得有如荷馬的詩(shī)句。例如普魯塔克就曾把泰摩列昂的好運(yùn)氣與阿蓋西勞斯和埃帕米農(nóng)達(dá)的運(yùn)氣相對(duì)比但這種幸運(yùn)成功的果實(shí)，最終也還要到他們的德性中去找原因呵!

　　培根經(jīng)典散文隨筆閱讀：論放債

　　Many have made witty invectives against usury. They say, that it is pity, the devil should have God's part, which is the tithe. That the usurer is me greatest Sabbath breaker, because his plough goeth every Sunday. That the userer is the drone, that Virgil speaketh of: ignavum fucos pecus a praesepibus arcent.

　　許多人都曾經(jīng)說(shuō)過(guò)巧妙的罵放債的話。他們說(shuō)，人類應(yīng)給上帝的貢獻(xiàn)是每人底收入底十分之一，而現(xiàn)在這上帝應(yīng)得的一部竟被魔鬼占了，真是一件可悲的事。又說(shuō)，放債的人乃是最大的破壞安息日的人，因?yàn)樗桌绨沂敲總€(gè)安息日都在工作的。又說(shuō)放債的人就是委吉爾所說(shuō)的雄蜂。

　　That the usurer breaketh the first law that was made for mankind, after the fall; which was, in sudore vultus tui comedes panem tuum; not, in sudore vultus aliem. That usurers should have orange-tawny bonnets, because they do Judaise. That it is against nature, for money to beget money; and the like. I say this only, that usury is a concessum propter duritiem cads', for since there must be borrowing and lending, and men are so hard of heart as they will not lend freely, usury must be permitted. Some others have made suspicious and cunning propositions of banks, discovery of men's estates, and other inventions. But few have spoken of usury usefully. It is good to set before us the incommodides, and commodities of usury; that the good may be either weighed out, or culled out; and warily to provide, that while we make forth to that which is better, we meet not with that which is worse.

　　他們把那些雄蜂(一群偷懶的東西)從蜂房中驅(qū)逐出去了。又說(shuō)放債的人把人類自失樂(lè)園以后的第一條法律破壞了。這第一條法律就是“你將汗流滿面然后得食”，而放債的人卻是“借他人面上的汗而得食”的。又說(shuō)放債的人應(yīng)該戴姜黃色的帽子，因?yàn)樗麄兪亲兞霜q太人了。又說(shuō)錢生錢是有悖天道的，諸如此類。我只有這句話可說(shuō)，就是，放債是“因?yàn)槿诵奶捕济缮系墼试S的一種事”。因?yàn)榧热唤枧c貸是免不了的，而且人底心腸是硬得不肯白借錢給人的，那么放債的事情便非準(zhǔn)許不可了。又有些人也曾經(jīng)關(guān)于銀行及財(cái)產(chǎn)呈報(bào)和其他的辦法作過(guò)多疑而巧妙的建議，但是很少有關(guān)于放債這件事說(shuō)過(guò)有用的話的。把放債的利與害列舉在我們眼前，以便我們酌量采擇其利，并且小心辦理，庶幾我們?cè)谧呦蚋牧贾镜臅r(shí)候不要遇見(jiàn)比現(xiàn)在更壞的事情，這是好的。

　　The discommodities of usury are: first, that it makes fewer merchants. For were it not for this lazy trade of usury, money would not lie still, but would, in great part, be employed upon merchandising; which is the vena porta of wealth in a state. The second, that it makes poor merchants. For as a fanner cannot husband his ground so well, if he sit at a great rent; so the merchant cannot drive his trade so well, if he sit at great usury. The third is incident to the other two; and that is, the decay of customs of kings or states, which ebb or flow with merchandising. The fourth, that it bringeth the treasure of a realm or state into a few hands. For the usurer being at certainties, and others at uncertainties, at the end of the game; most of the money will be in the box; and ever a state flourisheth, when wealth is more equally spread. The fifth, that it beats down the price of land: for the employment of money is chiefly, either merchandising, or purchasing; and usury waylays both. The sixth, that it dolh dull and damp all industries, improvements, and new inventions, wherein money would be stirring, if it were not for this slug. The last, that it is the cancer and ruin of many men's estates; which in process of time breeds a public poverty.

　　放債底害處：第一它使商人底數(shù)目減少。因?yàn)橐菦](méi)有放債這種懶惰生意，金錢是不會(huì)靜止不動(dòng)的，反之，大部分的金錢將被用在商業(yè)上，而商業(yè)乃是國(guó)家底財(cái)富底“門靜脈”。第二，放債使商人性質(zhì)變劣。因?yàn)椋粋€(gè)農(nóng)人，假如他住在一個(gè)租價(jià)很大的田地上他就不能夠好好地經(jīng)營(yíng)他底地土;類此，假如一個(gè)商人不得不靠高利貸的話，他就不能好好地進(jìn)行他底生意。第三件害處是附屬于上述的兩件害處的，就是帝王或國(guó)家底稅收之減少，稅收原是隨著貿(mào)易漲落的。第四件害處是放債把一國(guó)底財(cái)富都聚在少數(shù)人之手。因?yàn)榉艂娜耸悄玫梅€(wěn)的，而別的生意人是不能拿得穩(wěn)的，所以到這場(chǎng)戲快結(jié)束的時(shí)候大多數(shù)的錢都進(jìn)了放債為生的人底箱子了。然而一個(gè)國(guó)家總是在財(cái)富分配得最為平均的時(shí)候最為興盛的。第五件害處是放債之舉把土地的價(jià)值打低了;因?yàn)榻疱X底用處，主要是在做生意或購(gòu)置田產(chǎn)，而放債卻把這兩種事業(yè)都路劫了。第六件害處是，放債把一切的工業(yè)、改良、和新的發(fā)明都挫折，壓抑了，因?yàn)榧偃鐩](méi)有放債這種事業(yè)阻撓的話，在上述的種種事業(yè)中自會(huì)有金錢活動(dòng)的。最末的一件害處是，放債是蠹害許多人底財(cái)產(chǎn)的東西，而這種行為經(jīng)過(guò)了相當(dāng)時(shí)間之后是會(huì)引起一種共同的貧乏的。

　　On the other side, the commodities of usury are. First, that howsoever usury in some respect hindereth merchandising, yet in some other it advanceth it: for it is certain, that the greatest part of trade is driven by young merchants, upon borrowing at interest: so as if the usurer either call in, or keep back his money, there will ensue presently a great stand of trade. The second is, that were it not for this easy borrowing upon interest, men's necessities would draw upon them a most sudden undoing; in that they would be forced to sell their means (be it lands or goods) far under foot; and so, whereas duty doth but gnaw upon them, bad markets would swallow them quite up.

　　在另一方面，放債底益處是，第一，無(wú)論放債之舉在某種情形是多么阻撓商業(yè)的，然而在別的方面它卻是助長(zhǎng)商業(yè)的;因?yàn)樯虡I(yè)底最大部分是由年輕的商人靠著借有利息的債而經(jīng)營(yíng)的，這是無(wú)疑的。如果放債的人把他底錢收回或者不放出去，馬上就會(huì)發(fā)生商業(yè)上的大停滯。第二件益處是，要沒(méi)有這樣容易的用利息借債的辦法，人們底需要將使他們驟然陷于沒(méi)落;因?yàn)樗麄儗⒉坏貌槐黄榷u掉他們賴以為生的資產(chǎn)(無(wú)論是田產(chǎn)或貨物)而且賣得價(jià)值遠(yuǎn)不及這些資產(chǎn)底真正價(jià)值。所以，放債的行為固然是蠹蝕這些人，但是若沒(méi)有放債的行為，則壞的市面將把他們整個(gè)吞噬了。

　　As for mortgaging, or pawning, it will lime mend the matter, for either men will not take pawns without use; or if they do, they will look precisely for the forfeiture. I remember a cruel moneyed man, in the country, that would say; the devil take this usury, it keeps us from forfeitures of mortgages and bonds. The third and last is; that it is a vanity to conceive that there would be ordinary borrowing without profit; and it is impossible to conceive the number ofinconveniencies that will ensue, if borrowing be cramped.

　　至于抵押或典當(dāng)之舉，那也是無(wú)補(bǔ)于事的：因?yàn)椋皇侨藗儾豢蠠o(wú)利息地收受抵押和典當(dāng);就是，如果他們肯這樣做，他們必定會(huì)眼睛專注在沒(méi)收那些資產(chǎn)上面的。記得有一位鄉(xiāng)下的狠心富翁，他常說(shuō)，“鬼把這種放債的舉動(dòng)拿去才好，它使得我們不能夠沒(méi)收抵押的產(chǎn)業(yè)和證券”。第三而第末的益處是，設(shè)想能有不帶利息的一般借貸乃是虛妄的;并且，如果借貸之事一受拘束，將發(fā)生的不便之處其數(shù)目之多是不能想象的。

　　Therefore, to speak of the abolishing of usury is idle. All states have ever had it, in one kind or rate, or other. So as that opinion must be sent to Utopia.

　　因此要廢止放債業(yè)的話是空話。所有的國(guó)家都有過(guò)這種生意的，不過(guò)種類與利率的不同罷了。所以這種意見(jiàn)只好送到烏托邦里去了。

　　To speak now, of the reformation and reiglement of usury; how the discommodities of it may be best avoided, and the commodities retained. It appears by the balance of commodities and discommodities of usury, two things are to be reconciled. The one, that the tooth of usury be grinded, that it bite not too much: the other, that there be left open a means, to invite moneyed men to lend to the merchants, for the continuing and quickening of trade. This cannot be done, except you introduce two several sorts of usury; a less, and a greater. For if you reduce usury to one low rate, it will ease the common borrower, but the merchant will be to seek for money. And it is to be noted that the trade of merchandise, being the most lucrative, may bear usury at a good rate; other contracts not so.

　　現(xiàn)在且一談改良并管理放債業(yè)之道;如何可以避免它底害處而保持它底益處。從放債業(yè)底利害相權(quán)看來(lái)，有兩件事是應(yīng)當(dāng)調(diào)和的。一件是，放債業(yè)底牙齒應(yīng)當(dāng)磨得鈍一點(diǎn)，使它不至于咬人咬得太厲害;另一件是，應(yīng)當(dāng)留一個(gè)門戶，可以鼓勵(lì)有錢的人放債給商家，以便商業(yè)能夠繼續(xù)并活動(dòng)。這件事情除非你創(chuàng)立兩種大小不同的放債，是辦不到的。因?yàn)?，假如你把放債業(yè)全減到一個(gè)低利率上去，這種辦法對(duì)一般的借債者將要容易一點(diǎn)而商人將不容易找到錢了。并且我們也應(yīng)當(dāng)注意，商品交易的事業(yè)，因?yàn)楂@利最厚，所以能擔(dān)負(fù)高利貸，而別的事業(yè)則不如此。

　　To serve both intentions, the way would be briefly thus. That there be two rates of usury, the one free, and general for all; the other under licence only, to certain persons, and in certain places of merchandising. First therefore, let usury, in general, be reduced to five in the hundred; and let that rate be proclaimed to be free and current; and let the state shut itself out, to take any penalty for the same.

　　要把上述的兩種目的都達(dá)到，其方法略如下。要有兩種利率;一種是自由而且公開(kāi)的;另一種是受統(tǒng)治的，唯有某種人并且在某種商業(yè)地域才可以得到允許的。因此第一，應(yīng)當(dāng)使普通放債底利率減到百分之五;這種利率應(yīng)當(dāng)公布為自由的通行的利率;并且國(guó)家應(yīng)當(dāng)擔(dān)承對(duì)于這種的利率不加以罪。

　　This will preserve borrowing from any general stop or dryness. This will ease infinite borrowers in the country. This will, in good part, raise the price of land, because land purchased at sixteen years purchase will yield six in the hundred, and somewhat more, whereas this rate of interest yields but five. This, by like reason, will encourage and edge industrious and profitable improvements; because many will rather venture in that kind, than take five in the hundred, especially having been used to greater profit Secondly, let there be certain persons licensed to lend, to known merchants, upon usury at a higher rate; and let it be with the cautions following.

　　這個(gè)辦法可使借貸之舉免于停止或枯竭，也可以便利國(guó)內(nèi)無(wú)數(shù)的借款人。并且，這個(gè)辦法，在大體上，將提高田地底價(jià)值，因?yàn)橐允杲磺遒I款為期買來(lái)的地一年之中可以產(chǎn)生百分之六或稍高的利息，而這種放債底利率則只能產(chǎn)生百分之五的利息也。以同樣的理由，這種辦法也將鼓勵(lì)并激刺工業(yè)和有益的改良，因?yàn)樵S多人將寧愿投資于這些事業(yè)而不愿收百分之五的利益，尤其是收慣了較高的利息的人更要如此。第二，應(yīng)該讓一部分人得到允許，可以用較高的利率放債給知名的商人;這種事并且還得有如下的預(yù)防。

　　Let the rate be, even with the merchant himself, somewhat more easy, than that he used formerly to pay: for, by that means, all borrowers shall have some ease by this reformation, be he merchant, or whosoever. Let it be no rank or common stock, but every man be master of his own money: not that I altogether mislike banks, but they will hardly be brooked, in regard of certain suspicions. Let me state be answered, some small matter, for the licence, and the rest left to the lender: for if the abatement be but small, it will no whit discourage the lender. For he, for example, that took before ten or nine in the hundred, will sooner descend to eight in the hundred, than give over his trade of usury, and go from certain gains, to gains of hazard.

　　這種利率，即在那些商人底方面，也應(yīng)該比他從前慣付的利率較為輕一點(diǎn);因?yàn)橛蛇@種方法，所有的借款人都可以得到一點(diǎn)便利，無(wú)論他是商人或是任何人。放債的人不可是銀行或公司，而每個(gè)人都應(yīng)當(dāng)是他自己底錢底主人。這并不是我完全憎惡銀行，而是因?yàn)樗麄優(yōu)榱四撤N嫌疑的原故是很難受一般人底信任的。國(guó)家為了所發(fā)的允許證應(yīng)當(dāng)使放債人負(fù)責(zé)繳納一筆小捐稅，其余的利益則應(yīng)當(dāng)歸之于放債的人;因?yàn)榧偃邕@種捐稅底數(shù)目很小的話，它是決不會(huì)使放債的人灰心的。舉例來(lái)說(shuō)，那原先收百分之十或百分之九的利息的人是寧可降到百分之八而不肯放棄他底放債事業(yè)，撇下拿得穩(wěn)的利益跑去求冒險(xiǎn)的利益的。

　　Let these licenced lenders be in number indefinite, but restrained to certain principal cities and towns of merchandising: for then they will be hardly able to colour other men's monies in the country: so as the licence of nine will not suck away the current rate of five: for no man will send his monies far off, nor put them into unknown hands.

　　這些持有允許證的放債者其數(shù)目可以不必限定，不過(guò)他們營(yíng)業(yè)的地點(diǎn)卻應(yīng)當(dāng)限于某幾個(gè)商業(yè)的城市;因?yàn)檫@樣他們就不能掩飾國(guó)中他人底錢財(cái)：持有特許證可以放百分之九的利率的債的人就不會(huì)把那一般流行的百分之五的利率的錢吸收盡了;因?yàn)闆](méi)有人肯把錢放到遠(yuǎn)處，或放在不相識(shí)的人底手里的。

　　If it be objected that this doth, in a sort, authorise usury, which before was, in some places, but permissive: the answer is; mat it is better to mitigate usury by declaration, than to suffer it to rage by connivance.

　　如果有人反對(duì)說(shuō)，以前放債的事業(yè)不過(guò)是在某種地方受容忍，而我底辦法差不多要使它成為合法的營(yíng)業(yè)了;我的答語(yǔ)是用公開(kāi)承認(rèn)的辦法補(bǔ)救放債底害處比默認(rèn)其存在而使它橫行的好一點(diǎn)。