培根散文隨筆集第7章：Of Parents & Children 論父母與子嗣 （中英對(duì)照）
培根散文隨筆集中英對(duì)照，通過閱讀文學(xué)名著學(xué)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(xué)之美，一舉兩得，何樂不為？
7 of parents & children 論父母與子嗣
the joys of parents are secret; and so are their griefs, and fears: they cannot utter the one; nor they will not utter the other. children sweeten labours; but they make misfortunes more bitter they increase the cares of life; but they mitigate the
remembrance of death. the perpetuity by generation is common to beasts; but memory, merit, and noble works, are proper to men: and surely a man shall see the noblest works and foundations have proceeded from childless men; which have sought to express the images of their minds where those of their bodies have failed: so the care of posterity is most in them that have no posterity. they that are the first raisers of then-houses, are most indulgent towards their children; beholding them, as the continuance, not only of their kind, but of their work; and so both children and creatures.
父母底歡欣是秘而不宣的，他們底憂愁與畏懼亦是如此。他們底歡欣他們不能說，他們底憂懼他們也不肯說。子嗣使勞苦變甜，但是也使不幸更苦。他們?cè)黾尤松讘n慮，但是他們減輕關(guān)于死亡的記憶。由生殖而傳種是動(dòng)物同有的；但是名聲、德行與功業(yè)則是人類特有的；而最偉大的事業(yè)是從無后嗣的人來的這種事實(shí)也是確實(shí)可見的；這些人是在他們底軀體底影象無從表現(xiàn)之后努力想表現(xiàn)他們精神底影象的。所以，無后代的人倒是最關(guān)心后代的人了。首先樹立家業(yè)的人們是對(duì)于他們底子嗣最為縱容的；他們把子嗣看做不但是本族底繼嗣，而且也是自己事業(yè)底繼續(xù)；因此，他們對(duì)自己底子嗣與自己所造的事物都是一樣的看法。
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