Of Studies （英汉对照）Francis Bacon王佐良先生译文

 Studies serve for delight1, for ornament2, and for ability3. 

读书足以怡情，足以博彩，足以长才。

Their chief4 use for delight, is in privateness5 and retiring6;

其怡情也，最见于独处幽居之时；

for ornament, is in discourse; 

其傅彩也，最见于高谈阔论之中；

and for ability, is in the judgment7, and disposition8 of business. 

其长才也，最见于处世判事之际。

For expert9 men can execute10, and perhaps11 judge of particulars12, one by one; 

练达之士虽能分别处理细事或一一判别枝节，

but the general13 counsels14, and the plots15 and marshalling16 of affairs17, come best, from those that are learned. 

然纵观统筹、全局策划，则舍好学深思者莫属。

To spend too much time in studies is sloth; 

读书费时过多易惰，

to use them too much for ornament, is affectation18; 

文采藻饰太盛则矫，

to make judgment wholly19 by their rules, is the humor of a scholar20. 

全凭条文断事乃学究故态。

They perfect nature, and are perfected by experience: 

读书补天然之不足，经验又补读书之不足，

for natural abilities are like natural plants, that need pruning21, by study; 

盖天生才干犹如自然花草，读书然后知如何修剪移接；

and studies themselves, do give forth directions22 too much at large, except they be bounded23 in by experience. 

而书中所示，如不以经验范之，则又大而无当。

Crafty1 men contemn2 studies, simple men admire3 them, and wise men4 use them; 

有一技之长者鄙读书，无知者羡读书，唯明智之士用读书，

for they teach not their own use; but that is a wisdom5 without them, and above them, won by observation6. 

然书并不以用处告人，用书之智不在书中，而在书外，全凭观察得之。

Read not to contradict7 and confute8; nor to believe and take for granted9; nor to find talk and discourse; but to weigh10 and consider.

读书时不可存心诘难作者，不可尽信书上所言，亦不可只为寻章摘句，而应推敲细思。

Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed11, and some few to be chewed12 and digested13; 

书有可浅尝者，有可吞食者，少数则须咀嚼消化。

that is, some books are to be read only in parts; others to be read, but not curiously14; and some few to be read wholly, and with diligence15 and attention. 

换言之，有只须读其部分者，有只须大体涉猎者，少数则须全读，读时须全神贯注，孜孜不倦。

Some books also may be read by deputy16, and extracts17 made of them by others; but that would be only in the less important arguments18, and the meaner sort of books, else distilled19 books are like common distilled waters, flashy20 things. 

书亦可请人代读，取其所作摘要，但只限题材较次或价值不高者，否则书经提炼犹如水经蒸馏、淡而无味矣。

 Reading make a full man; conference21 a ready man; and writing an exact22 man. 

读书使人充实，讨论使人机智，笔记使人准确。

And therefore, if a man write little, he had need have a great memory; 

因此不常作笔记者须记忆特强，

if he confer23 little, he had need have a present24 wit25;

不常讨论者须天生聪颖，

and if he read little, he had need have much cunning1, to seem to know, that he doth2 not. 

不常读书者须欺世有术，始能无知而显有知。

Histories make men wise; poets witty; the mathematics3 subtitle4; natural philosophy5 deep; moral6 grave7; logic8 and rhetoric9 able to contend. Abeunt studia in mores.10[Studies pass into and influence manners]

读史使人明智，读诗使人灵秀，数学使人周密，科学使人深刻，伦理学使人庄重，逻辑修辞之学使人善辩：凡有所学，皆成性格。

Nay, there is no stand or impediment11 in the wit, but may be wrought out by fit studies; like as diseases of the body, may have appropriate12 exercises. 

人之才智但有滞碍，无不可读适当之书使之顺畅，一如身体百病，皆可借相宜之运动除之。

Bowling is good for the stone and reins13; shooting for the lungs14 and breast; gentle walking for the stomach; riding for the head; and the like. 

滚球利睾肾，射箭利胸肺，慢步利肠胃，骑术利头脑，诸如此类。

So if a man's wit be wandering15, let him study the mathematics16; for in demonstrations17, if his wit be called away never so little, he must begin again. 

如智力不集中，可令读数学，盖演题须全神贯注，稍有分散即须重演；

If his wit be not apt to distinguish18 or find differences, let him study the Schoolmen; for they are Cymini sectors19. [splitters of hairs]

如不能辨异，可令读经院哲学，盖是辈皆吹毛求疵之人；

If he be not apt to beat over matters, and to call up one thing to prove and illustrate20 another, let him study the lawyers' cases21. 

如不善求同，不善以一物阐证另一物，可令读律师之案卷。

So every defect22 of the mind, may have a special receipt23.

如此头脑中凡有缺陷，皆有特药可医。

Of - Studies - （英汉对照）