培根散文隨筆集第51章:Of Faction 論黨派(中英對照)
培根散文隨筆集中英對照,通過閱讀文學名著學語言,是掌握英語的絕佳方法。既可接觸原汁原味的英語,又能享受文學之美,一舉兩得,何樂不為?
對于喜歡閱讀名著的讀者,這是一個最好的時代,因為有成千上萬的書可以選擇;這又是一個不好的時代,因為在浩繁的卷帙中,很難找到適合自己的好書。而培根的散文隨筆,濃縮的不僅僅是文學,還是智慧。相信對閱讀和寫作都有很好的幫助。
51 Of Faction 論黨派
Many have an opinion not wise, that for a prince to govern his estate, or for a great
person to govern his proceedings, according to the respect of factions, is a principal part of policy: whereas contrariwise, the chiefest wisdom is, either in ordering those things which are general, and wherein men of several factions do nevertheless agree; or in dealing with correspondence to particular persons, one by one.
有許多人有一種不智的意見,就是人君治國,要人治事,其政策之大要,在乎照顧各黨各派底利益與愿望;然而道理與此相反,最要的大智乃在如何善為規(guī)劃有關(guān)大眾的、使人們雖有黨派之別而不能不一致贊同的事務,否則就在如何與私人個別地用適當?shù)氖滞筮M行交涉。
But I say not, that the consideration of factions is to be neglected. Mean men, in their rising, must adhere; but great men, that have strength in themselves, were better to maintain themselves indifferent, and neutral.
但是我并不是說黨派是可以忽視的。出身低賤的人,在他們往上升底過程中,是非有所依附不可的;但是貴顯而本身有力量的人,最好是保持一種無偏無黨的、中立的態(tài)度。
Yet even in beginners, to adhere so moderately, as he be a man of the one faction, which is most passable with the other, commonly giveth best way. The lower and weaker faction is the firmer in conjunction: and it is often seen, that a few that are stiff, do tire out a greater number that are more moderate. When one of the factions is extinguished, the remaining subdivided!: as the faction, between Lucullus and the rest of the nobles of the Senate (which they called Optimates) held out a while, against the faction of Pompey and Caesar: but when the senate's authority was ruled down, Caesar and Pompey soon after brake.
然而即在初入仕途的人,雖不免有所依附,最好是依附得很溫和,要使自己成為本黨本派中最能愜他黨他派之意者,如此他底升遷之路大概是最為順利的。較為低微力小的黨派是團結(jié)最堅的,我們常見有些堅強不撓的少數(shù)人和較為和緩的多數(shù)人相持而終于把那些多數(shù)人折服了。黨派之中的一黨一派倒了的時候,那剩下的另一黨或派就要自行分裂的。例如盧庫拉斯和羅馬參議會中的其他貴族底那一黨(就是他們叫做“貴族黨”的)曾與龐拜和愷撒相持一時,但是參議會底威權(quán)被打倒了之后,不久,愷撒和龐拜就分裂了。
The faction or party of Antonius, and Octavianus Caesar, against Brutus and Cassius, held out likewise for a time: but when Brutus and Cassius were overthrown, then soon after Antonius and Octavianus brake and subdivided. These examples are of wars, but the same holdeth in private factions. And therefore, those that are seconds in factions do many times, when the faction subdivided!, prove principals: but many times also, they prove ciphers and cashiered: for many a man's strength is in opposition; and when that faileth, he groweth out of use. It is commonly seen, that men once placed, take in with the contrary faction to that by which they enter, thinking belike that they have the first sure; and now are ready for a new purchase.
和布魯塔斯與拉西亞斯反對的安東尼和奧克塔威亞努斯底那一黨或派也曾一度團結(jié)起來,與敵人相持,但是布魯塔斯和拉西亞斯顛覆之后不久,安東尼和奧克塔威亞努斯就分裂了。這些例子是屬于戰(zhàn)爭方面的,但是在私人底黨爭之中也是一樣的。因此,有許多次要的黨員往往在本黨分裂的時候成為主要的人物;但是他們也往往成為虛數(shù)而被棄置;因為許多人底力量是在斗爭上的;一旦所與爭的對方消滅了,這些人也就沒有用處了。常見許多已遂所欲的人們與自己借以進身的本黨底反對黨聯(lián)絡一氣:這些人底意思也許以為那頭一個黨派是已經(jīng)抓穩(wěn)了的,而現(xiàn)在是收買一個新黨的時候了。
The traitor in faction lightly goeth away with it; for when matters have stuck long in balancing, the winning of some one man casteth them, and he getteth all the thanks. The even carriage between two factions proceedeth not always of moderation, but of a trueness to a man's self, with end to make use of both. Certainly in Italy, they hold it a little suspect in Popes, when they have often in their mouth, padre oommne: and take it to be a sign of one, that meaneth to refer all to the greatness of his own house. Kings had need beware how they side themselves, and make themselves as of a faction or party: for leagues within the state are ever pernicious to monarchies; for they raise an obligation, paramount to obligation of sovereignty, and make the king tanquam wws ex nobis: as was to be seen in the league of France.
叛黨的人常易于成功,因為當事件相持,久而不決的時候,要能得到一個人底力量就可以決勝負,而這個人也就把一切的感激酬報都得去了。在兩黨之間守中立不一定永遠是由于態(tài)度溫和的原故,有時也是出于自利,為的是好利用雙方,以達自己底目的。在意大利,當教皇們嘴里常說“眾人之父”這幾個字的時候,人們對這些教皇總是有點懷疑,認為由此可以看出來他們有意在一切事上都以自己底家族底尊榮為前題。為帝王者務須小心,不可偏向一方,以致儼然變成某黨某派的黨徒;國內(nèi)的黨派總是于王權(quán)不利的;因為這些黨派常向黨員要求一種義務,這種義務簡直和人民對君主所負的義務差不多,并使君主成為“我輩之一”,如法蘭西底“神圣同盟”中所可見者是也。
When factions are carried too high, and too violently, it is a sign of weakness in princes; and much to the prejudice, both of their authority, and business. The motions of factions, under kings, ought to be like the motions (as the astronomers speak) of the inferior orbs; which may have their proper motions, but yet still, are quietly carried by the higher motion of primum mobile.
黨派之爭過高過烈的時候,就足見人君之軟弱:這種情形并且是很于他們底威權(quán)和事業(yè)不利的。在人君之下的黨派底動轉(zhuǎn)就應當如天文家所說的下級行星底動轉(zhuǎn)一樣,這些行星雖可以有自己底“私動”,然而仍應當安靜地受第九重天底更高的動律底支配也。
本文地址:http://www.hengchuai.cn/writing/essay/9440.html