18.Of Riches论财富-双语名著无障碍阅读丛书——《培根随笔集The Essays of Bacon》

18.OfRiches 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 hindereth the march;yea,and the care of it sometimes loseth or disturbeth the victory.Of great riches there is no real use,except it be in the distribution④；the rest is but conceit⑤.So saith Solomon⑥，Where much is,there are many to consume it;and what hath the owner but the sight of it with his eyes?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 rarities⑨？And what works of ostentation are undertaken⑩，because there might seem to be some use of great riches?But then you will say, they may be of use o buy men out of dangers or troubles.As Solomon saith,Riches are as a stronghold,in the imagination of the rich man.But ·132· 18.论对富 baggage/bacgid3/n.行 对于财富我叫不出更好的名字来，只能把它叫 染 ②impedimenta累赘，包状 作“德能的行李”。罗马话里的字眼更好一 impedimenta(障碍物、辎重、行李)。因为财富之 于德能正如辎重之于军队。辎重是不可无，也不可 ③disturb/dis'tab/影.扰乱L 抛弃于后的，但是它阻碍行军；并且，有时候因为 ④distribution 顾虑辎重而失却或扰乱胜利。巨大的财富并没有什 /distri bju:fan/n.分发 么真实的用处，它只有一种用处，就是施众，其余 ⑤conceit /kon'si:t/n.自负 @Solomon/sl3man/所 的全不过是幻想而已。所以所罗门说：“大富之所 罗门（男子名）所罗门 (古以色列国王大卫之 在，必有许多人消耗之，而它的主人除了能用眼晴 子，以智慧著称： 看它以外，还有什么享受呢？”一个人的财富达到 ⑦custody照管，保管 ⑧donative /daunativ/n.捐 了某种限度之后，便为个人的享受所不能及，他可 赠物 ⑨aity珍品，珍贵物品 以储藏这种财富，他可以分配并赠送它；或者因此 00 ostentation /osten'teifon/ 几虚饰 而出名；但是于他本人，这些财富是没有实在的用 undertake /Anda'teik/v. 处的。不见世人对于小小的石头或稀有之物予以多 从事 大的虚价么？又不见世人担任多少为虚荣的工作， 为的好让巨大的财富似乎有用么？但是你也许说， 这种财富可以买通关节，使人出于危险或困难。如 ·133· The Essays of Bacon this 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 Cicerosaith well of Rabirius Posthumus,In studio rei amplificande apparebat,non avaritice proedam,sed instrumentum bonitati quceri [In secking to increase his estate it was apparent that he sought not a prey for avarice to feed on,but an instrument for goodness to work with].Harken also to Solomon,and beware of hasty gathering of riches;Qui festinat ad divitias,non erit insons He that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent]. The poets feign⑦，that when Plutus⑧(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 labor 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.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 the 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 5,it multiplieth riches exceedingly.I knew a ·134· 培根随笔集 所罗门说的：“在富人的想象中，财富有如一座坚 城。”这话却是说得极妙，因为这在想象中是如此， 在事实上则未必然也。因为“多财”所卖之人的确 ①mayest/估/may的第二 人称单数现在时（仅与 是多于买活的人也。不要追求炫耀的财富，仅寻求 hou连用) ②soberly /'sauboli/ad.清 你可以用正当手段得来，庄重地使用、愉快地施 醒地 与、安然地遗留的那种财富。然而也不要有一种遁 contempt /kan'tempt/n. 轻视 世的或乞僧式的对财富的轻视。应当善为分别，如 ④Cicero西塞罗（前106- 西塞罗关于拉比瑞亚斯·波斯丢玛斯之言是也。 前43年)，古罗马政治 家、雄辩家，著作家 “他对财富的追求，显得他所求者并不是为满足贪 ③Rabirius Posthumus波斯 丢玛斯，罗马贵族 婪，而是要得到一种为善的工具。”还应当听从所 ⑥harken=hearken倾听 罗门之言，不可急于敛财致富；“欲急速致富者将 不免于不义”。 诗人们的寓言说，当普路托斯（就是财神）为 朱庇特（天帝）所派遣的时候，他步履蹒跚，行走 feign /fein/.假装 ⑧Plutus[希神]普路托 迟缓；但是当普路托（阁罗）派遣他的时候，他就 斯，财神 跑得很快。这个寓言的意思就是，用善良的方法和 正当的工作得来的财富是来得很慢的：但是由别人 的死亡而来的财富（如遗产、承继等）则是骤然落 在身上的。但是若把普路托当作魔鬼，这个寓言也 ⑨mought/估/may的过去 用得上。因为当财富是从魔鬼那里来的时候（如由 式 )devil /'devl/n.魔鬼 诈欺、压迫和其他不正当的手段而来的财富是也)， 他们是来得很快的。致富之术很多，而其中大多数 是卑污的。吝啬是其中最好的一种，然而也不能算 parsimony俭省 纯洁无罪；因为吝啬使人不肯施舍救贫。改良土地 innocent /inasnt/a无罪 的 是最自然的致富术，因为这些产物是我们大家的母 B withhold /wio'hauld/v 扣留 亲一大地—的赏赐，但是用这种方法发财是很 charity/'t∫eriti/n慈善 慢的。然而若是有钱的人肯屈就农牧矿产之事，则 其财富的倍增是非常厉害的。我从前认得一位英国 husbandry /hAzbandri/ n畜牧业 的贵族，他的钱财是时人中最多的；他是一位大草 ·135· The Essays of Bacon 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 fiches.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 5 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 [in the sweat of another man's face];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.The fortune in being the first in an invention or in a ·136· 培根随笔集 ①audits=revenues收入 原主人、大牧场主人、大森林主人、大煤矿主人、 大铅矿主人、大铁矿主人和许多其他类此的产物的 主人。因为这个缘故，土地之于这位贵族直如一片 大海，因为它给他的进款是源源而来，永不枯竭 2 perpetual /pa'petjual/a. 也。 永恒的 有人说，他自己发小财的时候很难，致大富的 时候很容易，这话是很真的，因为一个人如果已经 富有到可以坐待市场好转，并且做成常人无钱办理 的交易，又能与年轻一点的人在商业上合作的时 ③bargain /ba:ginl/n交易 候，他的财富是非大增不可的。 由普通的各种生意和职业得来的财富是诚实 的，其增加的主要原因有二，一是勤勉，二是在交 易上正直公平的好名誉。用奸诈的手腕做成的生意 diligence /'dilid3ans/n. 其所获的利益是令人生疑的：如乘人之急需而抬高 勤奋 价格，贿赂某人的仆役和亲幸，用诡计使别的较为 ⑤wait upon=watch for留 公道的商人无从与之接近，而你得以与之做成生 意，监视 意，诸如此类，都是奸诈卑劣的。至于那断断论 6broke=deal in brokerage 通过经纪人做生意 价，购买贱货，而目的不在自己保有这种货物，却 在重售予他人的事情，乃是榨取现在的售者与以后 ⑦chapmen=traders商人 ⑧chop /tJop/.剁碎 的购者双方的。合股的生意，如果所托的人选择得 当，是很能致富的。放高利债乃是获利的最可靠的 方法之一，虽然它是最坏的方法之一：因为这种方 法，可说是使放债的人借他人的汗流满面而果自己 ⑨usy高利贷利息 之腹的；不但如此，这种人并且是在安息日耕田 的。然而放高利债虽是很靠得住的致富术，这种方 法也不无缺陷；因为介绍人和中人之流常常为了自 己的利益会替信用不佳的人夸其财富的。在某种发 scrivener /'skrivna/n. 理人 明或特权上占有优先权，这种幸运有时能使人奇 value=represent as sound 代表…说话 富，如加那利群岛之第一个糖业家是也。因此，如 ·137· The Essays of Bacon 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 judgment 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 oftentimes break and come to poverty:it is good therefore to guard adventures with certainties,that may uphold losses. Monopolies③，and coemption of④wares for re-sale,where they are not restrained,are great means to enrich 5;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 humors,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 tamquam indagine capi [he took testaments and wardships as with a net]),it is yet worse;by how much men submit themselves to meaner persons than in service.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 pennywise; 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 stablished in years and judgment.Likewise glorious gifts and foundations are like sacrifices without salt;and but the painted ·138· 培根随笔集 ①privilege'privilid3/n特 果一个人能作真正的论理学家，就是，既有发明之 权 才，又有判断之能力，他是可以成大富的；尤其是 在好的时代为然。专靠固定的收入的人是不容易致 富的；把一切财产都搁在经济冒险上的人往往会倾 家荡产的；因此最好能有以某种固定的收入为冒险 事业的防卫，以便如有损失，可有相当的支持。垄 ②poverty /povati/n.贫穷 断与囤积居奇如没有束缚，是很好的致富之术，尤 3 monopoly /ma'nopali/n. 其是做这种事的人若能知道某种货物将要有广大的 垄断 需求因而预为购存的时候为然。由服务而得来的财 ④coemption of=buying p全买，囤积 富，虽然来路最为高尚，然而这种财富假如是由谄 ⑤enrich /in'ritf.使富足 谀逢迎以及其他的奴颜婢膝行为而得来的，则可算 beforchand /bi'fo:haend/ ad预先 是一种最卑劣的财富了。至于图谋遗嘱及遗产监理 though it be of the best rise though it have a 权之事（如塔西佗关于塞内加的话：“无子嗣者和 certain dignity,拉丁语，意 他们的遗产都被他捉住，如入网中”)，则较上述之 为“虽然有一定的尊严" 8 testament /'testamant/n. 事更为卑劣；因为在这种情形里，人们所卑躬屈节 圣约 ⑨executorship 以奉承的人乃是卑贱之流，不如在服务中所奉承的 ig'zekjutafip/n.遗嘱执 人乃是王公贵人也。 行人的职责 国wardship:n.监护 不要相信那些表面上蔑视财富的人；他们蔑视 财富的缘故是他们对财富的绝望；若是他们有了 ⑩despair/dis'pea/n绝望 财，再没有比这般人更爱财的了。不要爱惜小钱； 钱财是有翅膀的，有时它自己会飞去，有时你必须 放它出去飞，好招引更多的钱财来。人们通常把钱 财或留给亲属，或留给公家；在两方面都以适中的 数目为收效最好。给子嗣留一分大家业而他于年龄 B kindred"kindrid/n.家族 和识见上都不坚固的话，则这分家业无异于一种鸟 饵，是诱致一切的鸷鸟使之环聚于你的子嗣之旁以 图捕噬的东西。类此，为虚荣而赠予的捐款、基金 B glorious=showy, 等，有如没有盐的祭品；并且不过是“施与”之粉 boastful,炫耀的，夸握的 刷过的坟墓，不久就会从内部腐败起来。因此，不 ·139· The Essays of Bacon 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. ·140· 培根随笔集 ①sepulchre=sepulcher坟 要以数量为你赠予的标准，而应当使之适度。再 墓 ②putrefy /pju:trifai/.使 者，也不可把捐款于慈善事业的事情拖延到死后； 腐烂 因为，假如把这件事正当地考虑一下，则可以看得 出这样做的人其实是在慷他人之慨，所花的乃是别 ③iberal /'libaral/a不拘泥 的 人的钱而不是自己的钱也。 141·