20.Of Custom and Education论习惯与教育-双语名著无障碍阅读丛书——《培根随笔集The Essays of Bacon》

20.Of Custom and Education MEN'S thoughts are much according to their inclination;their discourse and speeches according to their learning and infused opinions;but their deeds are after as they have been accustomed.And therefore,as Machiavel well noteth (though in an evil-favored instance),there is no trusting to the force of nature nor to the bravery of words,except it be corroborate by custom.His instance is,that for the achieving of a desperate conspiracy,a man should not rest upon the fierceness of any man's nature,or his resolute undertakings5;but take such an one as hath had his hands formerly in blood.But Machiavel knew not of a Friar Clement,nor a Ravillac,nor a Jaureguy,nor a Baltazar Gerard;yet his rule holdeth still that nature,nor the engagement of words,are not so forcible as custom. Only superstition is now so well advanced,that men of the first blood are as firm as butchers by occupation;and votary resolution is made equipollent to custom even in matter of blood.In other things the predominancy of custom is everywhere visible;insomuch as a man ·148· 20.论习惯与教育 人们的思想多是依从着他们的愿望的，他们的 ①discourse 谈论和言语多是依从着他们的学问和从外面得来的 /disk3s,disko:s/n.演讲 2bravery boast,ostentation 见解的：但是他们的行为却是随着他们平日的习惯 炫耀 的。所以马基亚委利说得很好（虽然他所论的事是 3 corroborate strengthened 被巩固，被加强 很丑的)，天性的力量和言语的动人，若无习惯的 conspiracy /kan'spirasi/ n阴谋 增援，都是不可靠的。他所论的事情是，为了完成 5 undertaking 一件极险恶的阴谋，一个人不可信任所用的某人之 /And3'teikin/.事业 6Friar Clement,Ravillac. 天性的凶猛或约言的坚决，而应当任用以前曾经亲 Jaureguy.Baltazar Gerard 这几位都是刺客，14-15世 自下过手，手上染过他人的血的人。但是马基亚委 纪时人。Friar Clement行刺 利不知道有一个乞僧克莱门，也不知道有一个哈委 法王亨利三世，Ravillac刺 杀亨利四世，Jaureguy刺荷 亚克，也不知道有一个约尔基，也不知道有一个巴 兰威廉公爵，未成功，后来 尔塔萨尔·杰拉尔；然而他的定律依然是不移的， 公爵被Baltazar Gerard刺死 7 engagement 就是，天性与言语上的允诺要约都不如习惯有力。 in'gcid3m3nt/n.若言 superstition 只有一件，就是现在迷信很盛，以致初次为迷信杀 /sju:p3'sti∫an/.迷信 人的人简直是和职业屠夫一样地不动心：盟誓的决 9 votary based on a vow. 意也被作成与习惯一样地强，甚至在流血的事件中 vowed立下誓言的 equipollent =equally 亦是如此。在迷信以外的事情中习惯之凌驾一切是 powerful同样的强大 ·149· The Essays of Bacon would wonder to hear men profess,protest,engage,give great words,and then do just as they have done before;as if they were dead images,and engines moved only by the wheels of custom.We see also the reign or tyranny2 of custom,what it is.The Indians (I mean the sect of their wise men)lay themselves quietly upon a stack of wood, and so sacrifice themselves by fire.Nay5 the wives strive to be burned with the corpses of their husbands.The lads of Sparta,of ancient time,were wont to be scourged upon the altar of Diana,without so much as queching.I remember,in the beginning of Queen Elizabeth's time of England,an Irish rebel condemned,put up a petition to the deputy that he might be hanged in a withe,and not in an halter; because it had been so used with former rebels.There be monks in Russia,for penance,that will sit a wholenight in a vessel of water, till they be engaged with hard ice.Many examples may be put of the force of custom,both upon mind and body.Therefore,since custom is the principal magistrate of man's life,let men by all means endeavor to obtain good customs.Certainly custom is most perfect when it beginneth in young years:this we call education;which is,in effect, but an early custom.So we see,in languages the tongue is more pliant to all expressions and sounds,the joints are more supple to all feats of activity and motions,in youth than afterwards.For it is true that late learners cannot so well take the ply;except it be in some minds that have not suffered themselves to fix,but have kept themselves open and prepared to receive continual amendment,which is exceeding rare.But if the force of custom simple and separate be great,the force of custom copulate and conjoined and collegiate is far greater.For there example teacheth,company comforteth,emulation quickeneth,glory ·150· 培板随笔集 D profess/pra'fes/t.声称 处处可见的；其势力之强，使得人们于自白、抗 辩、允诺、夸张之后，依然一如既往地做下去，好 像他们是无生命的偶像，和由习惯的轮子来转动着 2 yranny /tirani/m.暴政 的机械似的，这种情形真使人惊讶。 ④sect /sekt/教派 ④stack/stxk/n.堆叠 我们也可以见到习惯的统治或专制，可以看出 5 nay/nei/awd不但如是 它是怎么回事。印度人（我说的是他们的哲人中的 6 lad /laed/n.少年 ⑦wont/w3unt/a习惯 一派)会自己静静地躺在一堆柴上，然后用火自焚 8 scourge/sk3d3/.折磨 Diana黛安娜，罗马神话 以为牺牲。不但如此，那些做妻子的还要争着与丈 中之处女守护神、狩猎女 夫的尸身一同烧死呢。在古时，斯巴达的青年们常 神和月亮女神，相当于希 腊神话中的Artemis 乐于在狄亚那的祭坛上受答刑，一动也不动。我还 )qucching=linching退缩 记得在女王伊丽莎白初年的英国，有一个被判死刑 畏缩 I condemn /kon'dem/粒.判 的爱尔兰叛党曾上呈总督，请求缢死他的时候用薪 刑 里petition/pi'tifan/n.请愿 条而不用绞索，因为以前的叛党都是照例用薪条 B deputy /depjuti/n,代表 的。在俄罗斯有些僧人为赎罪起见，会在水盆里坐 年withe /wi0,wi0/n.枝条 号halter /h2:lta/h.绞索 上一夜，直到他们被坚冰冻住了才算。习惯在人的 penance /pen3ns/L.杆 悔 精神和肉体两方面的力量，例子可以举出很多来。 vessel /vesl/L容器 所以，既然习惯是人生的主宰，人们就应当努力求 magistrate /'mad3istrit. -treit/m.地方法官 得好的习惯。习惯如果是在幼年就起始的，那就是 最完美的习惯，这是一定的，这个我们叫作教育。 教育其实是一种从早年就起始的习惯。所以我们常 pliant/plaint/a易受影 响的 见，在言语上，幼年时代比幼年以后舌头较为柔 join/d3oint/n.接合处 活，能学一切的语法及声音，并且四肢关节也比较 supple'sApl/a柔软的 2 feat /fi:t/n.技艺表演 柔活，适于各种的竞技和运动。因为年长方学的人 告ply /plai/n.偏爱。ake the ply形成习惯 不能像从小就学起的人能屈伸如意，这是真的；除 了有些从未固定自己的心志，反而把心志开放着， copulate /'kopjuleit/r. 并准备好了接受不断的改良的人们，那算是例外， 合 但这种情形是非常之少的。但是假如个人的单独的 collegiate /ka'li:d3iit/a. 学院的 习惯其力量是很大的，那么共有的联合的习惯，其 emulation /emju'leifan/ n竞争 力量就更大得多了。因为在这种地方他人的例子可 ·151· The Essays of Bacon raiseth:so as in such places the force of custom is in his exaltation Certainly the great multiplication of virtues upon human nature resteth upon societies well ordained and disciplined.For commonwealths3 and good governments do nourish virtue grown,but do not much mend the seeds.But the misery is,that the most effectual means are now applied to the ends least to be desired. ·152· 培板随笔集 exaltation at its height 为我之教训，他人的陪伴可为我之援助，争胜之心 处于最高点，极至 ②多multiplication 使我受刺激，光荣使我得意，所以在这种地方习惯 /mAltipli'keifon/.增加 的力量可说是到了最高峰。天性中美德的繁殖是要 commonwealth 仗着秩序井然，纪律良好的社会的；这是无疑的。 /komanwel0W共和国 因为国家与好政府只是滋养已长成的美德，而不甚 帮助美德的种子的。可悲的是，这种最有效的工具 目前正用于实现最不正当的目的呢。 ·153·