培根散文隨筆集第7章：Of Parents & Children 論父母與子嗣 （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？
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。他們增加人生底憂慮，但是他們減輕關于死亡的記憶。由生殖而傳種是動物同有的；但是名聲、德行與功業則是人類特有的；而最偉大的事業是從無后嗣的人來的這種事實也是確實可見的；這些人是在他們底軀體底影象無從表現之后努力想表現他們精神底影象的。所以，無后代的人倒是最關心后代的人了。首先樹立家業的人們是對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，而且也是自己事業底繼續；因此，他們對自己底子嗣與自己所造的事物都是一樣的看法。
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