培根散文隨筆集第29章：Of the True Greatness of Kingdoms & Estates 論邦國底真正偉大之處（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？
29 of the true greatness of kingdoms & estates 論邦國底真正偉大之處
the speech of themistocles the athenian, which was haughty and arrogant, in taking so much to himself, had been a grave and wise observation and censure, applied at large to others. desired at a feast to touch a lute, he said; he could not fiddle, but yet he could make a small town, a great city. these words (holpen a little with a metaphor) may express two differing abilities, in those mat deal in business of estate. for if a true survey be taken, of counsellors and statesmen, there may be found (though rarely) those which can make a small state great and yet cannot fiddle: as on the other side, there will be found a great many, that can fiddle very cunningly, but yet are so far from being able to make a small state great as their gift lieth the other way; to bring a great and flourishing estate to ruin and decay. and certainly, those degenerate arts and shifts, whereby many counsellor and governors gain both favour with their masters, and estimation with the vulgar, deserve no better name then fiddling; being things rather pleasing for the time, and graceful to themselves only, than tending to the weal and advancement of the state which they serve.
雅典人塞密斯陶克立斯在某次宴會上有人想請他彈琵琶。他說他不會弄琴可是會把一個小城弄成一座大邦。這句話因為過于歸功自己，所以是驕傲不遜；但是如果一般地用在別人身上，則可算是很莊肅賢明的評論。這句話（再用譬喻底說法引申一下）就可以把從事國政者之中兩種不同的才能表現出來。因為，如果把議事和執政的各官真正地觀察一下，其中也許可以發見（雖然這是很稀有的）幾個能使小國變為大邦，而不能弄琴的人；同時，在另一方面，卻可以發現許多巧于弄琴可是不但不能使小國變為大邦，而且是有相反的天才的人，他們是能把一個偉大而興盛的國家帶到衰敗凋零的地步的。并且，那些墮落的技巧智能，許多公卿大夫借之以邀寵于主上釣名于流俗者，確是除了“弄琴”之名，不值得更好的名稱的：因為這些技巧智能不過是一時歡樂之資，在會者本人雖可借以炫耀，而于他們所事的國家之幸福與進步，則無所裨益也。
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