17.Of Discourse论辞令-双语名著无障碍阅读丛书——《培根随笔集The Essays of Bacon》

17.Of Discourse SOME in their discourse desire rather commendation of wit,in being able to hold all arguments,than of judgment,in discerning what is true;as if it were a praise to know what might be said,and not what should be thought.Some have certain commonplaces and themes wherein they are good,and want variety;which kind of poverty is for the most part tedious③，and when it is once perceived,ridiculous④. The honorablest part of talk is to give the occasion;and again to moderate and pass to somewhat else;for then a man leads the dance. It is good,in discourse and speech of conversation,to vary and intermingle speech of the present occasion with arguments,tales with reasons,asking of questions with telling of opinions,and jest with eamest:for it is a dull thing to tire,and,as we say now,to jade, any thing too far.As for jest,there be certain things which ought to be privileged from it;namely,religion,matters of state,great persons, any man's present business of importance,and any case that deserveth pity.Yet there be some that think their wits have been asleep,except ·126· 17.论辞令 ①discourse 有些人在他们的谈论中喜欢以反复善辩见称为 /dis'kos,diskors/n演 讲 有才，却不甚注意以能辨真伪而见称为有识；好像 discerning /di's3:nin/v. 知道应当说什么而不知道应当如何思想是一件可称 鉴别 赞的事情似的。有些人善于谈论某种平常习见的题 目，可是缺乏变化；这种贫乏大半令人生厌，而一 ③tedious /ti:dias/a沉闷 旦被人发见，则是可笑的。辞令中最可贵者是引起 的 ridiculous /ri'dikjulos/a 他人的话头的话；以及能节制自己的言语并转移到 荒澤的 别的题目上去的那种话；如果能这样，那么这说话 ③moderate'modorat/.使 节制 的人就可算是舞蹈中的领舞者了。在言谈之中，最 好是有所变化。在当前的所谈之中参以辩驳，在叙 事中夹以议论，发问中杂以发抒己见，诙谐中和以 庄语，因为一个人若是总在谈论一个题目，如今语 jade=tire with overdiving 使过于疲劳 所谓“鞭策过度”，则将使人厌倦也。至于诙谐的 话，则有几种话题应当避免，不可涉及者，如宗 ⑦privilege'privilid3/.给 教、国事、要人、任何人目前的要务，以及任何值 与…特权 得怜悯的事情皆是也。然而有些人却一定要锋锐辛 辣，伤人之心，以为不如此则他们的机智就迟钝 ·127· The Essays of Bacon they dart out somewhat that is piquant,and to the quick.That is a vein which would be bridled -Parce,puer,stimulis,et fortius utere loris. [Spare,boy,the whip and tighter hold the reins.And generally, men ought to find the difference between saltness and bitterness. Certainly,he that hath a satirical vein,as he maketh others afraid of his wit,so he had need be afraid of others'memory.He that questioneth much shall learn much,and content much;but especially if he apply his questions to the skill of the persons whom he asketh;for he shall give them occasion to please themselves in speaking,and himself shall continually gather knowledge.But let his questions not be troublesome;for that is fit for a poser.And let him be sure to leave other men their turns to speak.Nay,if there be any that would reign and take up all the time,let him find means to take them off,and to bring others on;as musicians use to do with those that dance too long galliards5.If you dissemble sometimes your knowledge of that you are thought to know,you shall be thought another time to know that you know not.Speech of a man's self ought to be seldom,and well chosen.I knew one was wont to say in scorn,He must needs be a wise man,he speaks so much of himself:and there is but one case wherein a man may commend himself with good grace;and that is in commending virtue in another;especially if it be such a virtue whereunto himself pretendeth.Speech of touch towards others should be sparingly used;for discourse ought to be as a field,without coming home to any man.I knew two noblemen,of the west part of England,whereof the one was given to scoff,but kept ever royal cheer in his house;the other would ask of those that had been at the ·128· 培根随笔集 ①dart/da:t/.投射 了；这是一种应当制止的脾气： ②piquant /pi:kant/a辛辣 的 童子，少使刺棒，多拉缰绳， ③bridle/'braidl/.马勒 即此之谓也。一般言之，人们应当辨别出来诙 谐与尖刻的不同。那喜欢讽刺，使别人怕他的语锋 的人，将不能不因此而怕那人的记忆，这是一定 的。多问的人将多闻，而且多得人的欢心，尤其是 如果他能使他的问题适合于被问者的长技的时候； 因为这样他就可以使他们乐于说话，而他自己则可 以继续地得到知识也。但是他的问题却不可烦琐惹 厌；因为那就成了审问者的问题了。一个人还应当 注意，务使他人有说话的机会。不但如此，如果有 人要霸占一切说话的时间，就应当设法把这种人移 ④poser=examiner审问者 开而使别的人开言，就好像乐师们看见有人跳“欢 乐舞”跳得过久的时候的所为一样。假如别人认为 你知道的事情而你假作不知的话，则以后你所真不 知道的事情，人家也会以为你是知道的。关于自己 ⑤galliard'gaeljad/n.<古> 的话应该少说，而且应当谨慎择言。我认得一个 轻快的三拍子舞蹈 ⑥dissemble/i'sembl/.掩 人，当他说及他所看不起的某人的时候，常说“他 饰 一定是个智者，因为他关于自已有那么多的话说。” 一个人称扬自己而不显丑态的唯一的时候，就在他 ⑦5corm/skon/n轻蔑 称扬别人的长处的时候，尤其是在所说的长处是与 8 wherein /(h)wear'in/int. 他自己可说是有的那种长处同属一类的时候。伤及 在其中 他人的话应当少说，因为谈论应当像一片广田，人 可以在里面东西行走；而不应当像一条大道，直达 touch=personal,touching 某家的门口。我知道有两位贵族，都是英国西部的 as0 re spot触到他人痛处 sparingly /spearinli/ad. 人；其中的一位喜欢菲薄他人，但是在家中宴客的 节俭地 时候却总是肴馔极丰的；另外的一位常常问那些曾 scoff/skof/款.嘲笑 经与宴的人，“老实告诉我，在他的席上没人受他 的嘲弄或玩笑么”？对这个问题那作过客的人就答 ·129· The Essays of Bacon other's table,Tell truly was there never a flout or dry blowgiven?To which the guest would answer,Such and such a thing passed.The lord would say,I thought he would mar a good dinner.Discretion of speech is more than eloquence;and to speak agreeably to him with whom we deal,is more than to speak in good words or in good order.A good continued speech,without a good speech of interlocution,shows slowness:and a good reply or second speech,without a good settled speech,showeth shallowness and weakness.As we see in beasts,that those that are weakest in the course are yet nimblest in the turn;as it is betwixt 5 the greyhound and the hare.To use too many circumstances ere one come to the matter,is wearisome;to use none at all,is blunt. ·130· 培根随笔集 D dry blow scornful jest 道：“有某事某事在席上发生了。”于是这位贵族 轻蔑的笑，嘲笑 就说：“我早就料到他一定会把一桌好筵席弄坏 discretion /dis'krefan/n. 的。”慎言胜于雄辩，用适当的话跟我们与之交涉 慎重 eloquence /'elakwans/n. 的人谈话是比我们言辞优美，条理井然还要紧的。 雄辩 interlocution hinto(:)lau' 一个人若会说一篇滔滔不绝的言辞，而不善于问 kju:fan//n.对话，交谈 答，则显得他的说话迟滞；若善于应答而不能作持 久而有始有终的言辞，则显得其人的言语之浅薄无 力。这就如我们在动物界所见的一样，最不善走者 却最敏于转身，如猎犬与野兔间之分别是也。在说 ⑤betwixt/bi'twikst/ad.在 到正题以前叙述许许多多的枝节话是可厌的；若全 其间 然不顾枝节，则又太率直了。 6 wearisome /wiarisAm/a. 使疲倦的 ·131·