11.Of Innovations论革新-双语名著无障碍阅读丛书——《培根随笔集The Essays of Bacon》

11.Of Innovations AS the births of living creatures at first are ill-shapen,so are all innovations2,which are the births of time.Yet notwithstanding3,as those that first bring honor into their family are commonly more worthy than most that succeed,so the first precedent (if it be good)is seldom attaineds by imitation.For ill,to man's nature as it stands perverted, hath a natural motion,strongest in continuance;but good,as a forced motion,strongest at first.Surely every medicine is an innovation;and he that will not apply new remedies must expect new evils;for time is the greatest innovator;and if time of course alter things to the worse, and wisdom and counsel shall not alter them to the better,what shall be the end?It is true,that what is settled by custom,though it be not good,yet at least it is fit;and those things which have long gone together are as it were confederate within themselves:whereas new things piece not so well;but though they help by their utility,yet they trouble by their inconformity Besides,they are like strangers;more admired and less favored.All this is true,if time stood still;which ·068· 11.论革新 ①ill-shapen难看的，畸型 一切刚出生的动物都不好看，一切革新也是如 的，形状怪异的：shapen, 常用于复合词中，意为有 此，革新者时间之幼儿也。虽如此，有如初创家业 形状的 者总比后嗣为强，最初的先例（如果是好的）也是 2 innovation /inau'veifan/ 创新 不常易以模仿及之的。因为在尚未归正的人心上， 3 notwithstanding /notwio standig/awd.虽然 “恶”是有一种自然的动力的，这种动力在继续中 ④succeed此处的意思是 “继…之后：接替” 最强；而“善”所有的却是一种勉强的动力，那动 ⑤attain/'tein/.达到 力在起始时最强。每一种药无疑地都是一种新创之 perverted /pa:vatid/a. 正当的，邪恶的 事；不愿用新药的人就得预备着害新病：盖时间乃 7 of course by its course 是最大的革新家也。并且，假如时间会自然地使事 物颓败，而智谋与言论又不能使其改良，其结局将 不堪设想了。习俗之所立，虽不优良，不失为适合 时世，这是真的：又长期并行的举动好像是互有关 联的，而新的事物则与旧者不甚契合；它们虽有 用，可是因为与旧的事物不融洽，所以会引起纠 8 confederate /kon'fedorit a同盟的 纷。再者，新的事物好像异邦人，很受人艳羡，可 ⑨utility/ju:'tiliti/n.效用 是不大得人欢心。这些话当然都对，假如时间是停 inconformity /,inkan'fb:miti/n.不一致 留不动的：可是时间是动转不停的，所以，固执旧 ·069· The Essays of Bacon contrariwise moveth so round,that a froward?retention of custom is as turbulent3 a thing as an innovation;and they that reverence too much old times are but a scorn to the new.It were good therefore that men in their innovations would follow the example of time itself;which indeed innovateth greatly,but quietly,by degrees scarce to be perceived.For otherwise,whatsoever is new is unlooked for;and ever it mends some,and pairs5 other;and he that is holpen takes it for a fortune,and thanks the time;and he that is hurt,for a wrong,and imputeth it to the author.It is good also not to try experiments in states,except the necessity be urgent,or the utility evident;and well to beware that it be the reformation that draweth on the change,and not the desire of change that pretendeth the reformation.And lastly,that the novelty,though it be not rejected,yet be held for a suspect;and, as the Scripture saith,that we make a stand upon the ancient way,and then look about us,and discover what is the straight and right way,and so to walk in it. ·070· 培板随笔集 ①contrariwise 习，其足以致乱与革新之举无异：而过于尊崇古昔 kontrariwaiz/ad.反之 ②froward=stubborn固执 者将为今世所僇笑也。因此，人们在更革之中最好 的 3turbulent /'ta:bjulant/a. 能学时间的榜样。时间确常大事更革，但是它是以 狂暴的 ④scom/sk3n/n.轻蔑 安详出之的，并且其来也渐，几乎是不为人所觉察 的。如不然者，凡是新的事物都将被认为出乎意料 的事物：有所改进就必有所损坏。得益的人将以之 5pmir=impair损害 holpen【古】hep的过去 为幸运，归功于时间：受损的人则将以此为怨仇， 分词 而归罪于行革新之事的人了。还有，除非是极为必 ⑦imputeth=imputes归罪 要而且显然有益的时候，最好不要在国家中试行新 于，归咎于 政：并且应当注意，须是改革的必要引起变更而不 是喜新厌故的心理矫饰出改革的必要来。并且，最 8 reformation /ref'meifan/n.改革 后，应当注意者，革新的举动虽不一定要拒绝，却 应当把它认为是一种嫌疑犯，不可率尔置信；并 reject/ri'd3ekt/u,拒绝 且，如《圣经》上所说，我们应当立足于古道然后 瞻顾四周，见有正直的大道，然后行于其上。 ·071·