弗朗西斯·培根是英國文藝復(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，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)。該書文筆言簡意賅、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。下面小編為大家?guī)砼喔?jīng)典哲理散文閱讀，希望大家喜歡!

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(gè)階級(jí)，再以之為個(gè)人底一種品質(zhì)而論之。一個(gè)完全沒有貴族的君主國總是一個(gè)純粹而極端的專制國;如土耳其是也。因?yàn)橘F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?yàn)樵诿裰鲊?，人們底眼光是在事業(yè)上而不在個(gè)人上的;或者，即令眼光是在個(gè)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?yàn)榫S系他們的是實(shí)利而不是對(duì)在位者個(gè)人的崇仰也。荷蘭合眾國政治很優(yōu)良;因?yàn)樵谟衅綑?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(duì)于納稅輸款也是較為樂意的，一個(gè)巨大有力的貴族階級(jí)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(shí)卻要被保持在一種高位上，使下民想犯上的時(shí)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(shì)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?yàn)檫@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(shí)間后必然變?yōu)樨毞?，結(jié)果在尊榮與財(cái)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(gè)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(jiān)實(shí)而完美的時(shí)候，總覺得那是一種令人生敬的景象。如斯，要是見到一個(gè)曾經(jīng)度過時(shí)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?yàn)樾碌馁F族不過是權(quán)力所致，而老的貴族則是時(shí)間所致也。頭一個(gè)升到貴族階級(jí)的那些人多是比他們底后人富于才力而不如其純潔的;因?yàn)楹苌儆心軌蝌v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(duì)他們的那種消極的嫉妒;因?yàn)橘F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?yàn)槿嗣駮?huì)自自然然地服從他們，以為他們是生來就有權(quán)發(fā)號(hào)施令的。

It is a miserable state of mind, to have few things to desire, and many things to fear: and yet that commonly is the case of kings; who being at the highest, want matter of desire, which makes their minds more languishing; and have many representations of perils and shadows, which makes their minds the less clear.

所欲者甚少而所畏者甚多，這種心理是一種痛苦可憐的心理;然而為帝王者其情形多是如此。他們因?yàn)樽鹳F已極，所以沒有什么可希冀的，這就使得他們底精神萎靡不振;同時(shí)他們又有許多關(guān)于危難暗禍的想象，這又使他們底心智不寧了

And this is one reason also of that effect, which the scripture speaketh of; that the king's heart is inscrutable. For multitude of jealousies, and lack of some predominant desire, that should marshal and put in order all the rest, maketh any man's heart hard to find, or sound. Hence it comes likewise, that princes, many times, make themselves desires, and set their hearts upon toys: sometimes upon a building; sometimes upon erecting of an order, sometimes upon the advancing of a person; sometimes upon obtaining excellency in some art, or feat of the hand; as Nero for playing on the harp, Domitian for certainty of the hand with the arrow, Commodus for playing at fence, Caracalla for driving chariots, and the like. This seemeth incredible unto those that know not the principle; that the mind of man is more cheered, and refreshed, by profiting in small things, than by standing at a stay in great We see also that kings, that have been fortunate conquerors in their first years; it being not possible for them to go forward infinitely, but that they must have some check or arrest in their fortunes; turn in their latter years to be superstitious and melancholy: as did Alexander the Great;Dioclesian; and in our memory, Charles the Fifth; and others: for he that is used go forward, and findeth a stop, falleth out of his own favour, and is not the thing he was.

這也就是《圣經(jīng)》中所謂“君心難測(cè)”的那種情形底原因之一。因?yàn)槲芳啥喽硕鴽]有一宗主要的欲望可以指揮并約束其余的欲望，這種心理會(huì)使得任何人底心都是難以測(cè)度也。因此有許多君王常為自己造欲望，并專心于細(xì)事;這些細(xì)事有時(shí)是一座建筑，有時(shí)是建立一個(gè)教宗，有時(shí)是擢升一人，有時(shí)是要專精一藝或一技，如尼羅之于琴，道密先之于射，可謨達(dá)斯之于劍，卡剌卡拉之于御，以及類此者皆是也。這對(duì)于那些不知道下列的原理的人好象是不可思議的，那原理就是人底心理樂于在小事上得益，而不樂于在大事上滯留。我們也常見那些在早年曾為幸運(yùn)的勝利者的帝王，因?yàn)樗麄儾荒苡肋h(yuǎn)進(jìn)取，而在幸運(yùn)中不得不受限制的原故，在晚年變?yōu)槊孕哦夜褮g;例如亞歷山大大帝，代奧克里賢;還有我們都記得的查理第五，以及其他的君王之所為是也。因?yàn)槟且幌驊T于進(jìn)取的人，在后來碰了釘子的時(shí)節(jié)，不免要自輕自賤，非復(fù)故我的。

To speak now of the true temper of empire: it is a thing rare, and hard to keep: for both temper and distemper consist of contraries. But it is one thing to mingle contraries, another to interchange them. The answer of Apollonius to Vespasian is full of excellent instruction;

現(xiàn)在且說王權(quán)底真氣質(zhì);那是很不容易保持的;因?yàn)檎娴臍赓|(zhì)和失調(diào)的氣質(zhì)二者都是由矛盾沖突之物所成者也。然而攙和相反的事物為一事，交換相反的事物又為一事。阿波郎尼亞斯答外斯帕顯的話是滿含最好的教訓(xùn)的。

Vespasian asked him; What was Nero's overthrow? He answered;Nero could touch and tune the harp well; but in government, sometimes he used to wind the pins too high, sometimes to let them down too low. And certain it is, that nothing destroyeth authority so much, as the unequal and untimely interchange of power pressed too far, and relaxed too much.

外斯帕顯問他：“招致尼羅底顛覆者是什么”?他答道：“尼羅善于調(diào)弦弄琴;可是在政治上，他把軸栓有時(shí)擰得太緊，有時(shí)放得太松了”。無疑地，忽然大施威迫，忽然過度松弛，這種不平衡不合時(shí)的政策之變換，再?zèng)]有比它更能破壞威權(quán)的了。

This is true; that the wisdom of all these latter times in princes' affairs, is rather fine deliveries, and shiftings of dangers and mischiefs, when they are near, than solid and grounded courses to keep them aloof. But this is but to try masteries with fortune: and let men beware, how they neglect, and suffer matter of trouble to be prepared: for no man can forbid the spark, nor tell whence it may come.

近代的講人君之事者，其智多在巧避與轉(zhuǎn)移臨近的危難，而不在堅(jiān)固合理的，使人君超然危難之上的常軌，這是真的。但是這種辦法簡直是與幸運(yùn)之神爭短長了。人們也應(yīng)當(dāng)小心，不可忽視或容忍變亂底資料之漸積，因?yàn)闆]有人能防止那星星之火，也沒有人能夠看出這火星子將從何方來也。

The difficulties in princes' business are many and great; but the greatest difficulty, is often in their own mind. For it is common with princes (saith Tacitus) to will contradictories. Sunt plerumque.'region voluntates vehementes et inter se contrariae. For it is the solecism of power, to think to command the end, and yet not to endure the mean.

人君事業(yè)中的艱難是多而且大的;然而其最大的艱難卻常是在他們自己心里的。因?yàn)?如泰西塔斯所說)作帝王的人而有矛盾的欲望乃是常事也：“君王們底欲望多是強(qiáng)烈而又自相矛盾的”。蓋權(quán)勢(shì)底自然弱點(diǎn)就是想要達(dá)到某種目的而卻不肯忍受那必需的手段也。

Kings have to deal with their neighbours; their wives; their children; their prelates or clergy; their nobles; their second-nobles or gentlemen; their merchants; their commons; and their men of war, and from all these arise dangers, if care and circumspection be not used.

為帝王者必須應(yīng)付其鄰國，后妃，子女，高級(jí)僧侶或教士，貴族，第二流的貴族或紳士，商人，平民，兵士;從所有的這些方面都可以興起危難，假如他不小心謹(jǐn)慎的話。

First for their neighbours; there can no general rule be given (the occasions are so variable), save one; which ever holdeth; which is, that princes do keep due sentinel, that none of their neighbours do overgrow so (by increase of territory, by embracing of trade, by approaches, or the like), as they become more able to annoy them, than they were. And this is, generally, the work of standing councils to foresee, and to hinder it During that triumvirate of kings. King Henry Vffl of England, Francis I, King of France, and Charles V, Emperor, there was such a watch kept, that none of the three could win a palm of ground, but the other two would straightways balance it, either by confederation, or, if need were, by a war: and would not, in any wise, take up peace at interest And the like was done by that league (which, Guicciardine saith, was the security of Italy) made between Ferdinando King of Naples; Lorenzius Medices, and Ludovicus Sforza, potentates, the one of Florence, the other of Milan.

先說他們底鄰國。關(guān)于這點(diǎn)除了一條永遠(yuǎn)可靠的定理外別無普遍的定理可說，因?yàn)榍閯?shì)是十分易于變化的。那一條永遠(yuǎn)可靠的定理就是為人君者應(yīng)當(dāng)監(jiān)視不懈，毋使任何鄰國(或以領(lǐng)土之?dāng)U張，或由商業(yè)之吸引，或用外交的手腕，以及類此的種種)強(qiáng)大到比以先更能為患于本國的程度。要預(yù)料并防止這種情形是政府中某項(xiàng)永久機(jī)關(guān)底工作。在從前三大君主——就是英王亨利第八，法王法蘭西斯第一，皇帝查理第五——為歐洲領(lǐng)袖的時(shí)候，他們?nèi)恢姓l不能得尺寸之土，若果有一位得著了尺寸之土，其余的兩位立刻就要把那種情形糾正過來，其方法或以聯(lián)盟，或以戰(zhàn)爭(如果必要的話)，并且無論如何決不貪一時(shí)之利而與之講和，其互相監(jiān)視之嚴(yán)有如此者。又奈波爾斯王飛迭南，勞倫斯·麥地奇與盧道維喀斯·斯福爾察(二人都是霸君，一個(gè)是佛羅倫斯底，一個(gè)是米蘭底)之間的那個(gè)聯(lián)盟(即貴恰底尼所謂意大利之保障者)其所為亦與此相同。

Neither is the opinion of some of the schoolmen to be received; that a war cannot justly be made, but upon a precedent injury, or provocation. For there is no question, but a just fear of an imminent danger, though there be no blow given, is a lawful cause of a war.

還有經(jīng)院學(xué)派中某種學(xué)者底意見，以為無已成的傷害或挑釁的原因而作戰(zhàn)，不能算是堂堂正正之師，這種意見是要不得的。因?yàn)閿橙穗m尚未給我們以打擊，但是我們有充分的理由恐懼臨近的禍患，這也算是戰(zhàn)爭底正當(dāng)原因，這是沒有問題的。

For their wives; there are cruel examples of them. Livia is enfamed for the poisoning of her husband: Roxolana, Solyman's wife, was the destruction of that renowned prince. Sultan Mustapha; and otherwise troubled his house, and succession: Edward the Second of England his queen had the principal hand, in the deposing and murder of her husband.

至于后妃，她們之中是有殘酷的例子的。里維亞因?yàn)槎竞φ煞蚨鴲好?羅克撒拉那，梭利滿底王后，就是殺害那位出名的王子蘇丹穆斯塔發(fā)的人，并且在別的方面也曾攪亂其家庭及嗣續(xù);英王愛德華第二底王后在廢除并殺害她底丈夫之舉中是主要人物。

This kind of danger is then to be feared, chiefly, when the wives have plots for the raising of their own children; or else that they be adulteresses.

因此，最當(dāng)防范這種危險(xiǎn)的時(shí)候，就是當(dāng)那為后妃者為了要扶立自己底所生而有陰謀的時(shí)候，否則就是當(dāng)她們有外遇的時(shí)候。

For their children: the tragedies, likewise, of dangers from them, have been many.

至于子嗣，同樣地，由他們而來的危難其所致的不幸也是很多的。

And generally, the entering of fathers into suspicion of their children, hath been ever unfortunate. The destruction of Mustapha (that we named before) was so fatal to Solyman's line, as the succession of the Turks, from Solyman, until this day, is suspected to be untrue, and of strange blood; for mat Selymus the Second was thought to be supposititious. The destruction of Crispus, a young prince of rare towardness, by Constantinus the Great, his father, was in like manner fatal to his house; for both Constantinus, and Constance, his sons, died violent deaths; and Constantius, his other son, did little better; who died, indeed, of sickness, but after that Julianus had taken arms against him. The destruction of Demetrius, son to Philip the Second, of Macedonia, turned upon the father, who died of repentance. And many like examples there are: but few, or none, where the fathers had good by such distrust; except it were, where me sons were up in open arms against them; as was Selymus the First against Baiazet: and the three sons of Henry the Second, King of England.

一般地說來，父親對(duì)兒子生疑忌之心者總是不幸的。穆斯塔發(fā)之死(上面已經(jīng)說到的)對(duì)梭利滿王室是一種致命傷，因?yàn)橥炼渫跏易运罄麧M以至今日的王位繼承都有不正之嫌疑，恐是外來的血統(tǒng);因?yàn)槿R斯第二被人認(rèn)為是私生子也?？巳鹚古了?一位非常溫順的青年王子)之見殺于康士坦丁努斯大帝，也同樣地是他那個(gè)王室底致命傷;因?yàn)榭凳刻苟∨沟變蓚€(gè)兒子，康士坦丁努斯和康士坦斯，都死于非命;他底另外的一個(gè)兒子，康士坦洽斯，結(jié)局也不見佳;他雖然確是病死的，但是他也是在玖利安努斯起兵之后死的。馬其頓王腓力普第二底王子德米垂亞斯之死報(bào)在他父親身上，因?yàn)樗腔诤薅赖?。類此的例子很多，但是為父親的因這種猜疑之心而得到益處的例子卻是很少或沒有;唯有在做兒子的公然舉兵反叛的時(shí)候，那可算是例外，如塞利馬斯第一之征巴亞塞提，和英王亨利第二之三子是也。

For their prelates; when they are proud and great, there is also danger from them: as it was, in the times of Anselmus, and Thomas Becket, Archbishops of Canterbury; who with their croziers, did almost try it, with the king's sword; and yet they had to deal with stout and haughty kings; William Rufus, Henry the First, and Henry the Second. The danger is not from that state, but where it hath a dependence of foreign authority; or where the churchmen come in, and are elected, not by the collation of the king, or particular patrons, but by the people.

至于高級(jí)僧侶，在他們驕縱有勢(shì)的時(shí)候，也可以由他們發(fā)生危險(xiǎn)的，如安塞爾馬斯和坎特白雷大主教湯瑪斯·拜開提底時(shí)代尤是也。這兩個(gè)人幾乎以他們底圭杖與帝王底刀劍相爭，而奇者，他們所與之抗衡者竟是堅(jiān)強(qiáng)驕傲的君主，即威廉·魯夫斯，亨利第一與亨利第二是也。這種危險(xiǎn)并非來自僧侶階級(jí)底本身，而是當(dāng)他們倚仗國外的勢(shì)力的時(shí)候才有的，或者在僧侶們進(jìn)來及被選的時(shí)候，不受職于君主或任何個(gè)人而是由民眾選出的，在這種時(shí)候，才有危險(xiǎn)的。

For their nobles; to keep them at a distance, it is not amiss; but to depress them, may make a king more absolute, but less safe; and less able to perform anything that he desires. I have noted it, in my history of King Henry the Seventh of England, who depressed his nobility; whereupon, it came to pass that his times were full of difficulties, and troubles; for the nobility, though they continued loyal unto him, yet did they not cooperate with him in his business. So that in effect, he was fain to do all things, himself.

至于貴族，對(duì)他們稍為疏遠(yuǎn)也不為過;可是壓抑他們，也許可以使為帝王者君權(quán)更專，但是不甚安全，并且不容易把他心中所欲的事做到。在拙著《英王亨利第七本紀(jì)》中常見及此點(diǎn)，即亨利第七是壓抑貴族的，因此他底時(shí)代乃是充滿著艱難與禍亂的;因?yàn)槟切┵F族，雖然仍舊忠于亨利，然而卻沒有在他底事業(yè)上與他合作。因此他就不得不自己來辦一切的事了。

For their second nobles; there is not much danger from them, being a body dispersed. They may sometimes discourse high, but that doth little hurt: besides, they are a counterpoise to the higher nobility, that they grow not too potent: and lastly, being the most immediate in authority, with the common people, they do best temper popular commotions.

至于那第二流的貴族，他們是沒有什么危險(xiǎn)性的，因?yàn)樗麄兪且粋€(gè)散漫的團(tuán)體。他們有時(shí)候也許放言高論，但是那是沒有什么大害的;并且，他們是高級(jí)貴族底一種平衡力，使之不能增長得過于強(qiáng)大的;最后，他們因?yàn)槭亲钆c一般人民接近的掌權(quán)者，所以他們也是最能緩和民亂的。

For their merchants; they are venaporta; and if they flourish not, a kingdom may have good limbs, but will have empty veins, and nourish lime. Taxes, and imposts upon them, do seldom good to the king's revenue; for that that he wins in the hundred, he loseth in the shire; the particular rates being increased, but the total bulk of trading rather decreased.

至于商人，他們可算是“門靜脈”;要是他們不繁榮，那末一個(gè)國家也許有好的四肢，但是其血管將是空的，其營養(yǎng)將甚為貧乏。加之于他們的賦稅很少能于人君底收入有益的，因?yàn)樗谛√幍脕淼脑诖筇幨チ?，那就是各?xiàng)稅率固然增加，而商業(yè)底總額則減削也。

For their commons; there is little danger from them, except it be, where they have great and potent heads; or where you meddle with the point of religion; or their customs, or means of life.

至于平民，除非他們有偉大，多能的領(lǐng)袖，或者你對(duì)于宗教問題，或他們底風(fēng)俗，或他們底生計(jì)加以干涉的時(shí)候，他們是沒有什么危險(xiǎn)性的。

For their men of war, it is a dangerous state, where they live and remain in a body, and are used to donatives; whereof we see examples in the Janissaries, and Pretorian bands of Rome: but trainings of men, and arming them in several places, and under several commanders, and without donatives, are things of defence, and no danger.

至于軍人，當(dāng)他們?cè)谝黄疬^著團(tuán)體生活，并且習(xí)于賞賜的時(shí)候，他們是一個(gè)危險(xiǎn)階級(jí)。如此的例子我們可于土耳其之親衛(wèi)兵與羅馬之護(hù)衛(wèi)軍見之;但是訓(xùn)練一部分人，并分級(jí)予以武裝，由好幾個(gè)將帥統(tǒng)領(lǐng)，并且不加賞賜，則是自衛(wèi)的舉措而不含危險(xiǎn)也。

Princes are like to heavenly bodies, which cause good or evil times;and which have much veneration, but no rest All precepts concerming kings, are in effect comprehended in those two remembrances: memento quod es homo', and memento quod es deus, or vice da', the one bridleth their power, and the other their will.

為人君者有如天上的星宿，能致福亦能致禍，受很多的尊敬但是沒有休息。一切關(guān)于帝王的箴言，實(shí)際是包含在這兩句銘語里的;“記住你是個(gè)人”和“記住你是個(gè)神或者神底代表”。頭一句話約束他們底權(quán)力，后一句話控制他們底意志。

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