培根經典隨筆散文
弗朗西斯·培根是英國文藝復興時期最重要的散文家、哲學家。他不但在文學、哲學上多有建樹，在自然科學領域裏，也取得了重大成就。他的第一部重要著作《隨筆》最初發表於1597年，以後又逐年增補。該書文筆言簡意賅、智睿奪目，它包含許多洞察秋毫的經驗之談，其中不僅論及政治而且還探討許多人生哲理。下面本站小編爲大家帶來培根經典隨筆散文，希望大家喜歡!
培根經典隨筆散文：論財富
I cannot call riches better than the baggage of virtue. The Roman word is better, impedimenta. For as the baggage is to an army, so is riches to virtue. It cannot be spared, nor left behind, but it hindreth the march; yea, and the care of it, sometimes, loseth or disturbed! the victory: of great riches, there is no real use, except it be in the distribution; the rest is but conceit So saith SoloMon; Where much is, there are many to consume it; and what hath the owner, but the sight of it with his eyes?
對於財富我叫不出更好的名字來，只能把它叫做“德能底行李”。羅馬話裏的字眼更好——impedimenta(障物、輜重、行李)。因爲財富之於德能正如輜重之於軍隊。輜重是不可無，也不可拋棄於後的，但是它阻礙行軍;並且，有時候因爲顧慮輜重而失卻或擾亂勝利。巨大的財富並沒有什麼真實的用處，它只有一種用處，就是施衆，其餘的全不過是幻想而已。所以所羅門說：“大富之所在，必有許多人消耗之，而它底主人除了能用眼睛看它以外，還有什麼享受呢?”
The personal fruition in any man, cannot reach to feel great riches: there is a custody of them; or a power of dole and donative of them; or a fame of them; but no solid use to the owner. Do you not see, what feigned prices are set upon little stones, and rarities? And what works of ostentation are undertaken, because there might seem to be some use of great riches? But then you will say, they may be of use, to buy men out of dangers or troubles.
一個人底財富達到了某種限度之後，便爲個人底享受所不能及，他可以儲藏這種財富，他可以分配並贈送它;或者因此而出名;但是於他本人，這些財富是沒有實在的用處的。不見世人對於小小的石頭或希有之物予以多大的虛價麼?又不見世人擔任多少爲虛榮的工作，爲的好讓巨大的財富似乎有用麼?但是你也許說，這種財富可以買通關節，使人出於危險或困難。
As Solomon saith; Riches are as a strong hold, in the imagination of the rich man. But BUS is excellently expressed, that it is in imagination, and not always in fact For certainly great riches have sold more men, than they have bought out. Seek not proud riches, but such as thou mayest get justly, use soberly, distribute cheerfully, and leave contentedly. Yet have no abstract nor friarly contempt of them. But distinguish, as Cicero saith well of Rabirius Postumus; in studio rei amplificandae apparebat non avaritiae praedam, sed instumenturn bonitati, quaeri. Hearken also to Solomon, and beware of hasty gathering of riches: qidfestinat ad divitias, non erit insons.
如所羅門說的：“在富人底想象中，財富有如一座堅城”。這話卻是說得極妙，因爲這在想象中是如此，在事實上則未必然也。因爲“多財”所賣之人的確是多於買活的人也。不要追求炫耀的財富，僅尋求你可以用正當手段得來，莊重地使用、愉快地施與、安然地遺留的那種財富。然而也不要有一種遁世的或乞僧式的對財富的輕視。應當善爲分別，如西塞羅關於拉比瑞亞斯·波斯丟瑪斯之言是也。“他對財富底追求，顯得他所求者並不是爲滿足貪婪，而是要得到一種爲善的工具”。還應當聽從所羅門之言，不可急於斂財致富;“欲急速致富者將不免於不義”。
The poets feign that when Plutus (which is riches) is sent from Jupiter, he limps, and goes slowly; but when he is sent from Pluto, he runs, and is swift of foot. Meaning, that riches gotten by good means, and just labour, pace slowly; but when they come by the death of others (as by the course of inheritance, testaments, and the like), they come tumbling upon a man. But it mought be applied likewise to Pluto, taking him for the devil. For when riches come from the devil (as by fraud, and oppression, and unjust means), they come upon speed. The ways to enrich are many, and most of them foul.
詩人們底寓言說，當普盧塔斯(就是財神)爲久闢特(天帝)所派遣的時候，他步武蹣跚，行走遲緩;但是當普盧陶(閻羅)派遣他的時候，他就跑得很快。這個寓言底意思就是，用善良的方法和正當的工作得來的財富是來得很慢的;但是由別人底死亡而來的財富(如遺產，承繼等)則是驟然落在身上的。但是若把普盧陶當做魔鬼，這個寓言也用得上。因爲當財富是從魔鬼那裏來的時候(如由詐欺、壓迫和其他不正當的手段而來的財富是也)，他們是來得很快的。致富之術很多，而其中大多數是卑污的。
Parsimony is one of the best, and yet is not innocent: for it withholdeth men from works of liberality, and charity. The improvement of the ground, is me most natural obtaining of riches; for it is our great mother's blessing, the earth's; but it is slow. And yet, where men of great wealth do stoop to husbandry, it muldplieth riches exceedingly. I knew a nobleman in England, that had the greatest audits of any man in my time: a great grazier, a great sheep-master, a great timber man, a great collier, a great corn-master, a great lead-man, and so of iron, and a number of the like points of husbandry. So as the earth seemed a sea to him, in respect of the perpetual importation. It was truly observed by one, that himself came very hardly to a little riches, and very easily to great riches. For when a man's stock is come to that, that he can expect the prime of markets, and overcome those bargains, which for their greatness are few men's money, and be partner in the industries of younger men, he cannot but increase mainly. The gains of ordinary trades and vocations are honest; and furthered by two things, chiefly: by diligence; and by a good name, for good and fair dealing. But the gains of bargains are of a more doubtful nature; when men shall wait upon others' necessity, broke by servants and instruments to draw them on, put off others cunningly that would be better chapmen, and the like practices, which are crafty and naught As for the chopping of bargains, when a man buys not to hold, but to sell over again, that commonly grindeth double, both upon the seller and upon the buyer. Sharings do greatly enrich, if the hands be well chosen, that are trusted. Usury is the certainest means of gain, though one of the worst; as that, whereby a man doth eat his bread; in sudore vultus alieni: and besides, doth plough upon Sundays. But yet, certain though it be, it hath flaws; for that the scriveners and brokers do value unsound men, to serve their own turn.
吝嗇是其中最好的一種，然而也不能算純潔無罪;因爲吝嗇底手段使人不肯施捨救貧。發展地中的產物是最自然的致富術，因爲這些產物是我們大家底母親——大地——底賞賜，但是用這種方法發財是很慢的。然而若是有錢的人肯屈就農牧礦產之事，則其財富底倍增是非常厲害的。我從前認得一位英國底貴族，他底錢財是時人中最多的;他是一位大草原主人，大牧場主人，大森林主人，大煤礦主人，大鉛礦主人，大鐵礦主人和許多其他類此的產物底主人。因爲這個原故，土地之於這位貴族直如一片大海，因爲它給他的進款是源源而來，永不枯竭也。有人說，他自己致小富的時候很難，致大富的時候很容易，這話是很真的，因爲一個人如果已經富有到可以坐待市場好轉，並且作成常人無錢辦理的交易，又能與年輕一點的人底事業合作的時候，他底財富是非大增不可的。由普通的各種生意和職業得來的財富是誠實的，其增加底主要原因有二，一是勤勉，二是在交易上正直公平的好名譽。那用奸詐的手腕作成的生意其所獲的利益卻是比較可疑的：如乘人之急需而擡高價格，賄賂某人底僕役和親倖，用詭計使別的較爲公道的商人無從與之接近，而你得以與之作成生意，諸如此類，都是奸詐卑劣的。至於那齗齗論價，購買賤貨，而目的不在自己保有這種貨物，卻在重售於他人的事情，乃是榨取現在的售者與以後的購者雙方的。合股的生意，如果所託的人選擇得當，是很能致富的。放高利債乃是獲利底最可靠的方法之一，雖然它是最壞的方法之一：因爲這種方法，可說是使放債的人借他人底汗流滿面而果自己之腹的;不但如此，這種人並且是在安息日耕田的。然而放高利債雖是很靠得住的致富術，這種方法也不無缺陷;因爲介紹人和中人之流常常爲了自己底利益會替信用不佳的人誇其財富的。
The fortune, in being the first in an invention, or in a privilege, doth cause sometimes a wonderful overgrowth in riches; as it was with the first sugar man, in the Canaries: therefore, if a man can play the true logician, to have as well judgement as invention, he may do great matters; especially if the times be fit He that resteth upon gains certain, shall hardly grow to great riches: and he that puts all upon adventures, doth often times break, and come to poverty: it is good therefore, to guard adventures with certainties, that may uphold losses. Monopolies, and coemption of wares for resale, where they are not restrained, are great means to enrich; especially if the party have intelligence what things are like to come into request, and so store himself beforehand. Riches gotten by service, though it be of the best rise, yet when they are gotten by flattery, feeding humours, and other servile conditions, they may be placed amongst the worst. As for fishing for testaments and executorships (as Tacitus saith of Seneca; testamenta et orbos, tanquam indagine capi) it is yet worse; by how much men submit themselves to meaner persons than in service.
在某種發明或特權上佔有優先權，這種幸運有時能使人奇富，如加那利羣島之第一個糖業家是也。因此，如果一個人能作真正的論理學家，就是，既有發明之才，又有判斷之能力，他是可以成大富的;尤其是在好的時代爲然。專靠固定的收入的人是不容易致富的;把一切財產都擱在經濟冒險上的人往往會傾家蕩產的;因此最好能有以某種固定的收入爲冒險事業底防衛，以便如有損失，可有相當的支持。專利與獨家承售某貨之事如沒有束縛，是很好的致富之術，尤其是做這種事的人若能知道某種貨物將要有廣大的需求因而預爲購存的時候爲然。由服務而得來的財富，雖然來路最爲高尚，然而這種財富假如是由諂諛逢迎以及其他的奴婢行爲而得來的，則可算是一種最卑劣的財富了。至於圖謀遺囑及遺產監理權之事(如泰西塔斯關於塞奈喀的話：“無子嗣者和他們底遺產都被他捉住，如入網中”)。則較上述之事更爲卑劣;因爲在這種情形裏，人們所卑躬屈節以奉承的人乃是卑賤之流，不如在服務中所奉承的人乃是王公貴人也。
Believe not much them, that seem to despise riches: for they despise them, that despair of them; and none worse, when they come to them. Be not penny-wise; riches have wings, and sometimes they fly away of themselves, sometimes they must be set flying to bring in more. Men leave their riches, either to their kindred; or to the public: and moderate portions prosper best in both. A great state left to an heir, is as a lure to all the birds of prey round about, to seize on him, if he be not the better established in years and judgement Likewise glorious gifts and foundations are like sacrifices without salt; and but the painted sepulchres of alms, which soon will putrefy, and corrupt inwardly. Therefore, measure not thine advancements by quantity, but frame them by measure; and defer not charities till death: for certainly, if a man weigh it rightly, he that doth so, is rather liberal of another man's, than of his own.
不要相信那些表面上蔑視財富的人;他們蔑視財富的原故是因爲他們對財富絕望;若是他們有了財的時候，再沒有比這般人愛財的了。不要愛惜小錢;錢財是有翅膀的，有時它自己會飛去，有時你必須放它出去飛，好招引更多的錢財來。人們通常把錢財或留給親屬，或留給公家;在兩方面都以適中的數目爲收效最好。給子嗣留一分大家業而如果他於年齡和識見上都不堅固的話，則這分家業無異於一種鳥餌，是誘致一切的鷙鳥使之環聚於你底子嗣之旁以圖捕噬的東西。類此，爲虛榮而贈與的捐款，基金等，有如沒有鹽的祭品;並且不過是“施與”之粉刷過的墳墓，不久就會從內部腐敗起來的。因此，不要以數量爲你底贈與底標準，而應當使之適度。再者，也不可把捐款於慈善事業的事情延遲到死後;因爲，假如把這件事正當地考慮一下，則可以看得出這樣做的人實是慷他人之慨，所花的乃是別人底錢而不是自己底錢也。
培根經典隨筆散文：論預言
I mean not to speak of divine prophecies; nor of heathen oracles; nor of natural
predictions; but only of prophecies, that have been of certain memory, and from hidden causes. Saith the Pythonissa to Saul; Tomorrow thou and thy son shall be with me Homer hath these verses: at domus Aeneae cunctis dominabitur oris, et nati natorum, et qui nascentur ab illis: a prophecy, as it seems, of the Roman Empire. Seneca the tragedian hath these verses: venient annis secula seris, quibus Oceanus vincula rerum laxet, et ingens pateat tellus, Tiphysque novos detegat orbes; nec sit terris ultima Thule: a prophecy of the discovery of America. The daughter of Polycrates dreamed that Jupiter bathed her father, and Apollo anointed him: and it came to pass, that he was crucified in an open place, where the sun made his body run with sweat, and the rain washed it. Philip of Macedon dreamed, he sealed up his wife's belly: whereby he did expound it, that his wife should be barren: but Aristander the soothsayer told him, his wife was with child, because men do not use to seal vessels that are empty.
此處所欲論說者既不是神靈底啓示，也不是異教底讖語，也不是天然底朕兆，而僅僅是關於有憑有據，而所言之事其緣由不明的預言。女巫對掃羅說：“明日你和你衆子必與我在一處了”。荷馬有如下的詩句：
然而伊尼埃斯一族將統治各處的海岸，他底子與孫，以及他子孫底子孫。
好象是關於羅馬帝國的一個預言。悲劇作家塞奈喀有這麼幾句詩：
——後世將有一時
海洋將解開天然的束縛，
有一片大陸將開放呈露，
蒂夫思將發現新的世界，
土勒將不再爲地極之國：
這好象是關於美洲之發現的一種預言。波利克拉特斯底女兒夢見久闢特替他父親洗浴，阿波羅給他塗膏油，其後波利克拉特斯果於露天下被釘於十字架上，在那裏太陽使他遍體流汗，雨露洗他底身子。馬其頓王腓力普夢見他把他妻子底肚子封了起來，醒後自己解釋，以爲他底妻子將不能生育;但是預言者阿利斯坦德卻對他說他底妻子是懷孕了，因爲一般人對於空着的瓶缶之類是不會封塞的。
A phantasm that appeared to M. Brutus in his tent said to him; Philippis iterum me videbis. Tiberius said to Galba: tu quoque, Galba, degustabis imperium. In Vespasian's time, there went a prophecy in the East; that those that should come forth of Judea, should reign over the world: which though it may be was meant of our saviour, yet Tacitus expounds it of Vespasian. Domidan dreamed, the night before he was slain, that a golden head was growing out of the nape of his neck: and indeed, the succession that followed him, for many years, made golden times. Henry the Sixth of England, said of Henry the Seventh, when he was a lad, and gave him water. This is the lad, that shall enjoy the crown, for which we strive.
曾在馬喀斯·布魯塔斯的帳中出現的一個鬼影對他說道：“你在腓利比又要遇見我的”。泰比瑞亞斯對加爾巴曾說：“加爾巴，你也會嘗着帝國底滋味的。”在外斯帕顯底時代在東方流傳着一種預言，說是從久地亞出來的人君，將統治全世界。這個預言雖然也許是爲救主耶穌而發的，泰西塔斯卻以爲是指外斯帕顯的。道密先在被殺之前一夜，夢見從自己底頸項上長出了一顆金的頭顱;果然他底承繼者造就了多年的黃金時代。英王亨利第六當亨利第七方爲幼童，給他進水的時候，對人說：“這孩子就是將來要享受我們現在所爭的王冠的人。”
When I was in France, I heard from one Dr Pena, that the Queen Mother, who was given to curious arts, caused the King her husband's nativity to be calculated under a false name; and the astrologer gave a judgement, that he should be killed in a duel; at which the Queen laughed, thinking her husband to be above challenges and duels: but he was slain, upon a course at tilt, the splinters of the staff of Mongomery going in at his beaver. The trivial prophecy, which I heard, when I was a child, and Queen Elizabeth was in the flower of her years, was; When hempe is spun, England's done. Whereby, it was generally conceived, that after the princes had reigned, which had the principal letters of that word hempe (which were Henry, Edward, Mary, Philip, and Elizabeth), England should come to utter confusion: which, thanks be to God, is verified only in the change of the name: for that the King's style is now no more of England, but of Britain. There was also another prophecy, before the year of 1688, which I do not well understand:
從前我在法國的時候曾從一位闢納醫生那裏聽來一個故事，他說法國底太后(她是很信法術的)曾把先王(她底丈夫)底生辰用了一個假名字，拿去叫人推算;那術士論斷說，這人將於決鬥中被殺。王后聽了這句話大笑，以爲他底丈夫是不會有人向之挑戰或要求決鬥的。但是他後來竟於馬上比槍的遊戲中被殺，因爲芒高末瑞底槍頭破裂處的木刺誤入其半面甲內也。我在年幼的時候，正是伊利薩白女王春秋鼎盛的時候，那時我聽過一個很普遍的預言，它說：麻織成線啦，英國就“幹”啦。(When hempe is sponne，England is donne.)這個預言底意思大家多以爲是這樣的，把英國君主底名字底頭一個字母排列起來，就成了hempe這個字，等到這幾位君主(就是Henry，Edward，Mary，Philip，和Elizabeth)底朝廷完了之後，英國便要大亂。這種情形，感謝上帝底恩典，並沒有實現，僅僅在英國底國名上算是證實了而已;因爲當今主上底尊號不復是英格蘭王而是不列顛王了。在1588年以前，也有個預言，這個預言底意思我不很明白。
There shall be seen upon a day, Between the baugh, and the may, The black fleet of Norway. When that that is come and gone, England build houses of lime and stone For after wars shall you have none.
有一天將要看見
在報與邁之間
挪威底黑色艦隊。
等這個去了之後，
英國啊，用石頭與石灰築房吧，
因爲以後的戰爭是不會有的。
It was generally conceived, to be meant of the Spanish fleet, that came in 1688. For that the King of Spain's surname, as they say, is Norway. The prediction of Regiomontanus; octogesimus octavus marabilis annus; was thought likewise accomplished, in the sending of that great fleet, being the greatest in strength, though not in number, of all that ever swam upon the sea.
這個預言底意思大家都以爲是指1588年來的西班牙大艦隊的，因爲據說西班牙王底姓乃是挪威。君王山人底預言：88年，一個奇異的年頭。人家也以爲是驗於西班牙艦隊之出發，這個艦隊，雖不能說是海上軍艦之艦數最大者，卻是力量最強者。
As for Cleon's dream, I think it was a jest It was, that he was devoured of a long dragon; and it was expounded of a maker of sausages, that troubled him exceedingly. There are numbers of the like kind; especially if you include dreams, and predictions of astrology. But I have set down these few only of certain credit, for example. My judgement is, that they ought all to be despised; and ought to serve, but for winter talk by the fireside. Though when I say despised, I mean it as for belief: for otherwise, the spreading or publishing of them is in no sort to be despised. For they have done much mischief: and I see many severe laws made to suppress them. That, that hath given them grace, and some credit, consisteth in three things. First, that men mark, when they hit, and never mark, when they miss: as they do, generally, also of dreams. The second is, that probable conjectures, or obscure traditions, many times turn themselves into prophecies: while the nature of man, which coveteth divination, thinks it no peril to foretell that, which indeed they do but collect. As that of Seneca's verse. For so much was then subject to demonstration, that the globe of the earth had great parts beyond the Atlantic; which mought be probably conceived, not to be all sea: and adding thereto the tradition in Plato's Timaeus, and his Atlanticus, it mought encourage one, to turn it to a prediction. The third, and last (which is the great one) is, that almost all of them, being infinite in number, have been impostures, and by idle and crafty brains, merely contrived and feigned, after the event past.
至於克利昂底夢，我以爲那是個笑話。這個夢就是他被一條龍吞噬了，據人解釋，那龍就是一個作臘腸的，那人曾經很和克利昂搗過亂。象這樣的事不止一件，假如你把夢兆和星命學底預言包括在內的話，其數目將更多。我只把幾個有憑有據的舉出來爲例而已。我底意思是，這些東西都應當受輕視;僅僅應當爲冬夜向火時談天底資料。可是我說“輕視”的時候我底意思是關於信仰底方面的;因爲，在別的方面，散佈這種東西的行爲是決不可輕視的。因爲這一類的事情曾釀成許多禍害;並且我看見各國曾立了許多嚴厲的法律以禁止它們。其所以使這類東西流傳衆口，甚至得到信仰者，有三種原因。第一是人們只注意這種預言中的時候而不注意它們不中的時候;這和人們對於夢的態度是一樣的。第二是約略的推測或恍惚的古語常常會變爲預言;而人類喜歡預測將來的天性使他們以爲把實際上他們所推測的事情作爲預告是一種沒有什麼危險的舉動。塞奈喀底詩句就是如此。因爲在當時已經顯然可見地球在大西洋之西還有很大的地方，這些地方不一定是一片汪洋。在這種理論之上再加上柏拉圖底《蒂邁亞斯》與《阿蒂闌蒂苦斯》兩篇中的傳說，就可以鼓勵人，使人把這種說法改成一種預言了。第三及最末的(也就是最大的)理由是差不多所有這些無數的預言，都是假話，是完全被遊蕩狡猾之徒在事後捏造，僞製出來的。
