|
|
|
培根双语散文欣赏： 论高位 |
|
|
|
培根散文欣赏： 论高位(中英文对照)
Of GreatPlace
Men in great place, are thrice servants: servants of the sovereign or state; servants of fame; and servants of business. So as they have no freedom; neither in their persons; nor in their actions; nor in their times. It is a strange desire, to seek power, and to lose liberty; or to seek power over others, and to lose power over a man\'s self.
居高位的人是三重的仆役：君主或国家底仆役;名声底仆役;事业底仆役。所以他们是没有自由的，既没有个人底自由，也没有行动底自由，也没有时间底自由。要寻求权力而去掉自由，或寻求凌驾他人的权力而失却统治自己的权力，这一种欲望是一种可异的欲望。
The rising unto place is laborious; and by pains men come to greater pains;and it is sometimes base; and by indignities, men come to dignities. The standing is slippery, and the regress is either a downfall, or at least an eclipse, which is a melancholy thing. Cum non sis, qui fueris, non esse,cur\"velis vivere. Nay, retire men cannot, when they would; neither will they, when it were reason: but are impatient of privateness,even in age, and sickness, which require the shadow: like old townsmen, that will be still sitting at their street door, though thereby they offer age to scorn. Certainly great persons had need to borrow other men\'s opinions, to think themselves happy; for if they judge by their own feeling, they cannot find it: but if they think with themselves, what other men think of them, and that other men would fain be as they are, then they are happy, as it were by report; when perhaps they find the contrary within. For they are the first that find their own griefs; though they be the last that find their own faults.
要升到高位上，其经过是很艰难的，但是人们却要吃许多苦以取得更大的痛苦;要升到高位上，其经过有时是卑污的;然而人们却借着卑污的手段达到尊严的地位。在高位上居留是很不稳的，其退步或是复亡，或者至少是声名暗晦，——那是一件很可悲的事。“当你到了今日之我非复昔日之我的时候，就没有再要活下去的理由了”。真的，人们在愿意退休的时候是不能退的，并且在应该退休的时候是不肯退的。反之，人们都不耐退休底生活，甚至于在老病之中，需要隐居的时候亦复如此;就好象有些城里的老头儿一样，总要坐在街门口，虽然这种办法使人家看不起老年。无疑地，居高位的人们得要借他人底意见才能以为自己是幸福的;因为若是他们依着自己底所感来判断，则他们不会发现自己是幸福的。但是假如他们自己想一想别人对他们作何感想，并且想到别的人如何愿意作他们;那末他们就好象是由外面的谈论而快乐了，同时在内心中也许正是相反。因为这些人是首先发现他们自己底忧患的人，虽然他们是最后才看出自己底过失的人。
Certainly, men in great fortunes are strangers to themselves, and while they are in the pulse of business, they have no time to tend their health, either of body, or mind. Illi mars gravis incubat, qui notus nimis omnibus, ignotus moritur sibi. In place, there is licence to do good, and evil; whereof the latter is a curse; for in evil, the best condition is, not to will; the second, not to can. But power to do good, is the true and lawful end of aspiring.
无疑地，居高位的人们对自我是陌生人，并且在事务匆忙之中，他们是没有时间来照管自己底身体或精神上的健康的。“如果一个人在死的时候，别人过于知道他，而自己不知道自己，那么死亡之降临可真是一桩大祸了”。在高位之中有为善与为恶的自由;而后者乃是一种可诅咒的自由：因为谈到作恶最好是不愿意，其次就是不能够。但是能有做好事的权力那才是真正的而且合法的希望之所系。
For good thoughts (though God accept them), yet towards men, are little better then good dreams; except they be put in act; and that cannot be without power, and place; as the vantage, and commanding ground. Merit, and good works, is the end of man\'s motion; and conscience of the same is the accomplishment of man\'s rest For if a man can be partaker of God\'s theatre, he shall likewise be partaker of God\'s rest Et conversus Deus, ut aspiceret opera quae fecerunt manus suae, vidit quod omnia essent bona nimis; and then the Sabbath. In the discharge of thy place, set before thee the best examples; for imitation is a globe of precep |
|
|
|
 相关博客新闻： |
|
|
