培根散文隨筆美文：Of GreatPlace論高位

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

　　11 Of GreatPlace 論高位

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僕役：君主或國家底僕役;名聲底僕役;事業底僕役。所以他們是沒有自由的，既沒有個人底自由，也沒有行動底自由，也沒有時間底自由。要尋求權力而去掉自由，或尋求凌駕他人的權力而失卻統治自己的權力，這一種慾望是一種可異的慾望。

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，其經過是很艱難的，但是人們卻要吃許多苦以取得更大的痛苦;要升到高位上，其經過有時是卑污的;然而人們卻藉着卑污的手段達到尊嚴的地位。在高位上居留是很不穩的，其退步或是復亡，或者至少是聲名暗晦，——那是一件很可悲的事。“當你到了今日之我非復昔日之我的時候，就沒有再要活下去的理由了”。真的，人們在願意退休的時候是不能退的，並且在應該退休的時候是不肯退的。反之，人們都不耐退休底生活，甚至於在老病之中，需要隱居的時候亦復如此;就好象有些城裏的老頭兒一樣，總要坐在街門口，雖然這種辦法使人家看不起老年。無疑地，居高位的人們得要借他人底意見才能以爲自己是幸福的;因爲若是他們依着自己底所感來判斷，則他們不會發現自己是幸福的。但是假如他們自己想一想別人對他們作何感想，並且想到別的人如何願意作他們;那末他們就好象是由外面的談論而快樂了，同時在內心中也許正是相反。因爲這些人是首先發現他們自己底憂患的人，雖然他們是最後纔看出自己底過失的人。

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.

無疑地，居高位的人們對自我是陌生人，並且在事務匆忙之中，他們是沒有時間來照管自己底身體或精神上的健康的。“如果一個人在死的時候，別人過於知道他，而自己不知道自己，那麼死亡之降臨可真是一樁大禍了”。在高位之中有爲善與爲惡的自由;而後者乃是一種可詛咒的自由：因爲談到作惡最好是不願意，其次就是不能夠。但是能有做好事的權力那纔是真正的而且合法的希望之所繫。

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 precepts. And after a time, set before thee thine own example; and examine thy self strictly, whether thou didst not best at first Neglect not also the examples of those that have carried themselves ill in the same place: not to set off thy self, by taxing their memory; but to direct thy self, what to avoid. Reform therefore, without bravery, or scandal, of former times, and persons; but yet set it down to thyself, as well to create good precedents, as to follow them.

因爲好意，雖然上帝接受，然而對於世人，要是不實行出來，則不過如好夢一般而已;而要行好事就非有權有位，有一種居高臨下之勢不可。功與德乃人類行動之目的，而感覺到自己已經有了這兩樣纔是令人自足的成就。因爲，如果一個人能夠參預上帝底劇場，那麼他也可以參加上帝底安息了。“於是上帝轉身看他手造的一切，看見它們都是很好的”，此後就是安息日了。在執行你底職務的時候，在你面前要有最好的模範;因爲模仿就等於是一套箴言。以後，過了些時候，可把你自己底模範放在面前，並且嚴格地自檢，是否你從前做得好而現在是退步了。也不要忽視從前那些在同樣的位置而不稱其職的人底例子;這並非是要用詆譭前人底名聲的方法來顯出你自己底好處，而是要指導你自己，當以何者爲戒的意思。因此，你應當不帶着欺凌毀污前代或前人的意味而改革以往的不善，而同時也要給自己立規矩，不但要仿效，並且還要創立好的先例。

Reduce things to the first institution, and observe wherein, and how, they have degenerate; but yet ask counsel of both times; of the ancient time, what is best; and of the latter time, what is fittest Seek to make thy course regular; that men may know beforehand what they may expect: but be not too positive, and peremptory; and express thyself well, when thou digresses! from thy rule. Preserve the right of thy place; but stir not questions of jurisdiction: and rather assume thy right in silence and de facto, than voice it with claims and challenges. Preserve likewise, the rights of inferior places; and think it more honour to direct in chief, than to be busy in all. Embrace and invite helps, and advices, touching the execution of thy place; and do not drive away such as bring thee information, as meddlers; but accept of them in good part.

你須要把事物追究到最早的起源，並且考察它們因何並且如何變爲退化的，但是仍要向古今兩個時代都去求教;向古時要問何者是最良好的;向現時要問何者是最適當的。你須要努力把你底行事之道做得很有規律，前後一致，如此他人可以知道他們可以預期什麼;但是也不要過於一定或確鑿;並且在你違背那常規的時候要把自己所以如此的緣由解釋得清清楚楚。保持你自己底地位應享的權利，但是不要引起法律上關於此點的爭論：寧可靜靜地在事實上享這種權利，而不要用要索和強爭的手段去公開吵鬧。同樣，保持下屬底權利;並且以居首指揮爲榮，而不要以參預一切爲榮。在執行職務上歡迎並邀請幫助和忠告，不要把帶消息給你的人認爲是好管閒事者而逐之使去;反之，要好好地接待他們。

The vices of authority are chiefly four: delays; corruption; roughness; and facility. For delays; give easy access; keep times appointed; go through with that which is in hand; and interlace not business, but of necessity. For corruption; do not only bind thine own hands, or thy servants' hands, from taking; but bind the hands of suitors also from offering. For integrity used doth the one; but integrity professed, and with a manifest detestation of bribery, doth the other. And avoid not only the fault, but the suspicion. Whosoever is found variable, and changeth manifestly, without manifest cause, giveth suspicion of corruption.

高位底過惡主要的有四種;遲延、貪污、粗暴與易欺。關於遲延，應使人易於得見，守約定之時間，當前之事應即作完，並勿以不必要之事攙雜其間。關於貪污，不僅要約束自己底手和僕役底手，毋使接納賄賂，並當約束有所請求的人們底手，毋使呈獻賄賂。因爲一個人自己實行的節操是約束自己和僕役的，而宣揚出去的節操，再加上公開的對賄賂的厭恨，則是約束他人的。又應避者，不但是納賄之事實，而且是納賄之嫌疑。一個人要是被人認爲反覆無常，或者無明顯的原故而公開地變更了，就要招致貪污之嫌疑的。

Therefore, always, when thou changes! thine opinion, or course, profess it plainly, and declare it, together with the reasons that move thee to change; and do not think to steal it A servant, or a favourite, if he be inward, and no other apparent cause of esteem, is commonly thought but a by-way, to close corruption. For roughness; it is a needless cause of discontent: severity hreedeth fear, but roughness hreedeth hate. Even reproofs from authority ought to be grave, and not taunting. As for facility; it is worse then bribery. For bribes come but now and then; but if importunity or idle respects lead a man, he shall never be without As Solomon saith; to respect persons is not good; for such a man will transgress for a peace of bread.

因此，無論何時，當你變更你底主意或行事之道的時候，把這件事公開地承認了，並把這件事和使你變更的理由宣之於衆，不要想偷偷摸摸地做了。一個僕人或寵幸，假如他僅僅是與你親暱而沒有顯然的可稱之處，就要被人認爲是暗行貪污的一條門路的。至於粗暴，那是一種不必要的招怨之道。嚴厲生畏，但是粗暴生恨，即在公事上的譴責也應當莊重而不應當侮辱嘲弄。至於易欺，那是比受賄還壞的。因爲賄賂不過是偶爾而來的，但是假如屢請和無理由的顧念可以打動一個人，那末這個人就永不會沒有這種情面事了。如所羅門所言：“看情面是不好的;因爲這樣的人是會爲了一塊麪包而枉法的”。

It is most true, that was anciently spoken; A place sheweth the man: and it showeth some to the better, and some to the worse: omnium consensu, capax imperii, nisi imperasset; saith Tacitus of Galba: but of Vespasian he saith; solus imperantium Vespasianus mutatus in melius. Though the one was meant of sufficiency, the other of manners, and affection. It is an assured sign of a worthy and generous spirit, whom honour amends. For honour is, or should be, the place of virtue: and as in nature things move violently to their place, and calmly in their place: so virtue in ambition is violent, in authority settled and calm.

古語說得極是：“地位顯出爲人”。地位顯出有些人底長處，也顯出有些人底短處。“假如他從來沒有做過皇帝，公意也要說他是適於做皇帝的。”這是泰西塔斯說嘉爾巴的話。關於外斯帕顯他卻說：“外斯帕顯是唯一因爲有了權力而人格增進的皇帝”——雖然前一句話是關於統治底能力的，而後一句是關於儀容及感情的。一個人因有權位而人格增進，這是他底人格高尚而寬宏大量底確證。因爲權位是，或者應當是，德能之所在;並且，如在自然界一樣，事物向它們底位置動的時候，其動甚烈，而在它們底地位中動的時候其動甚和緩，所以德能在努力上達的時候是猛烈的，而在當權的時候是安穩平和的。

All rising to great place is by a winding stair: and if there be factions, it is good to side a man's self, whilst he is in the rising; and to balance himself, when he is placed. Use me memory of thy predecessor fairly, and tenderly; for if thou dost not, it is a debt will sure be paid, when thou art gone. If thou have colleagues, respect them, and rather call them, when they look not for it, than exclude them, when they have reason to look to be called. Be not too sensible, or too remembering, of my place in conversation and private answers to suitors; but let it rather be said; When he sits in place, he is another man.

一切上躋高位的行動都是象登一條迂曲的樓梯一樣;若遇有派別的時候，一個人最好是在上升的時候加入某派而在已騰達之時保守中立。對待前人底遺名當公平而愛護，因爲假如你不這樣做，那麼這就不啻是一種債務，將來你去位的時候人家一定要償還你的。如果你有同僚的話，尊重他們，並且寧可在他們並不想望被召的時候召請他們，而不要在他們有理由希冀被召的時候拒見他們。在談話和私下答覆請求者的時候不要過於自覺或過於記得你底地位;反之，最好讓人家說，“他在執行職務的時候是另一個人”。