13.Of Expense 论消费-双语名著无障碍阅读丛书——《培根随笔集The Essays of Bacon》

13.OfExpense RICHE S are for spending,and spending for honor and good actions.Therefore extraordinary expense must be limited by the worth of the occasion;for voluntary undoing may be as well for a man's country as for the kingdom of heaven.But ordinary expense ought to be limited by a man's estate;and governed with such regard,as it be within his compass②；and not subject to deceit③and abuse④of servants;and ordered to the best show,that the bills may be less than the estimation abroad.Certainly,if a man will keep but of even hand, his ordinary expenses ought to be but to the half of his receipts;and if he think to wax rich,but to the third part.It is no baseness for the greatest to descend and look into their own estate.Some forbear5 it, not upon negligence alone,but doubting to bring themselves into melancholy,in respect they shall find it broken.But wounds cannot be cured without searching.He that cannot look into his own estate at all, had need both choose well those whom he employeth,and change them often;for new are more timorous and less subtle.He that can look ·090· 13.论消费 财富的用处是消费，而消费的目的是为了光荣 或善举。因此特别的消费当以其原因之价值为度； ①voluntary 盖为了国家，和为了天国一样，也可以自甘贫乏 /'volantari; (US)-teri/ a自愿的 的。但是普通的消费则当以一个人的财产为度；并 且要管理得宜，务使消费不要超出收入；并且要勿 ②compass∥kAmpas/n.指 受仆役的欺骗；还得观瞻极佳，务使实付之款比外 南针 ③deceit/di'sit/n欺骗 人的估计为少。无疑地，假如一个人仅仅要出人相 ④abuse=cheating欺骗 当，不至贫乏的话，他日常的支出也应当仅及他的 收入的一半；若是他要变为富有的话，那他的支出 就应当只有收入的三分之一。即便是很大的人物而 躬自检点自己的财产也不算是一件自卑自贱的行 ③forbear/f:be/n.忍耐 为。有些人不肯如此做，其原因不仅是大意，也有 因为恐怕检点的结果发现自己已经破产而生烦恼 ⑥broken bankrupt破产 者。但是如果身体上有了创伤，不检验是不会好 的。完全不会检点自己财产的人务须要用人得当， ⑦timorous /tim3ros/a.胆 还得常常更换他们：因为新用的人比较胆小而计谋 小的 ⑧subtle'SAtl/a.微妙的 少一点。那些不能常常检点自己财产的人应当把出 ·091· The Essays of Bacon into his estate but seldom,it behooveth him to turn all to certainties. A man had need,if he be plentiful in some kind of expense,to be as saving again in some other.As if he be plentiful in diet,to be saving in apparel;if he be plentiful in the hall,to be saving in the stable; and the like.For he that is plentiful in expenses of all kinds will hardly be preserved from decay.In clearing of a man's estate,he may as well hurt himself in being too sudden,as in letting it run on too long.For hasty selling is commonly as disadvantageable as interest.Besides,he that clears at once will relapse;for finding himself out of straits,he will revert to his customs:but he that cleareth by degrees induceth a habit of frugality,and gaineth as well upon his mind as upon his estate. Certainly,who hath a state to repair,may not despise small things; and commonly it is less dishonorable to abridge petty charges,than to stoop to petty gettings.A man ought warily to begin charges which once begun will continue;but in matters that return not he may be more magnificent ·092· 培根随笔集【 入的一切数目都规定了。 一个人如果在某一项上消费多，则他必须要在 别的一项上节省。例如他在吃喝上爱花钱，那么他 ①apparel/'parol/n.衣服 就应当在衣着上节省；要是他在住屋上爱花钱，他 ②stable /steibl n.马厩 就应当在马厩上节省，皆是也。因为那些在每一项 上都花钱很多的人是难免堕入逆境的。一个人在清 ③decay /di'kei/n.衰退 偿债务的时候，如果过于求速，要一举还清，也会 ④hasty /'heisti/a匆匆的 和久欠不还一样地有害。因为急于求售和多欠利息 是一样地不利。再者，一举而还清了债务的人往往 会再次走上借债的道路：因为他一旦忽然发现自己 ⑤revert/ri'vt/粒.恢复 没有了债务的困难，就会故态复萌：但是那一点一 点地还清债务的人借此可以养成一种节俭的习惯， ⑥despise/dis'paiz/.轻视 他的心理和他的财产将同受其益。有财产需要补救 的人是不能轻视小节的，这是一定的；并且，一般 而言，与其卑躬屈节以求小利，还不如减少零星的 magnificent /maeg'nifisnt/ 花费较为得体。一个人的经济担负如果是一起始就 a壮丽的：奢华的 要长久继续下去的，那他就要很小心，不可贸然担 承：但是在那些只有一次没有下次的消费上，则不 妨较为大方一点。 ·093·