第22章：Of Cunning 论狡猾（中英对照）

培根散文随笔集中英对照，通过阅读文学名著学语言，是掌握英语的绝佳方法。既可接触原汁原味的英语，又能享受文学之美，一举两得，何乐不为？
22 of cunning 论狡猾
we take cunning for a sinister or crooked wisdom. and certainly, there is great difference, between a cunning man, and a wise man; not only in point of honesty, but in point of ability. there be that can pack the cards, and yet cannot play well; so there are some, that are good in canvasses, and factions, that are otherwise weak men.
我认为狡猾就是一种阴险邪恶的聪明。一个狡猾人与一个聪明人之间，确有一种很大的差异，这差异不但是在诚实上，而且是在才能上的。有些人会配牌，可是打得并不好；类此，有的人在营求结党上很能干，而在别的方面则是无能之辈

again, it is one thing to understand persons, and another thing to understand matters; for many are perfect in men's humours, that are not greatly capable of the real part of business; which is the constitution of one that hath studied men, more than books. such men are fitter for practice, than for counsel; and they are good but in their own alley: turn them to new men, and they have lost their aim; so as the old rule, to know a fool from a wise man; nutte ambos nudos ad ignotos .et videbis', doth scarce hold for them. and because these cunning men are like haberdashers of small wares, it is
not amiss to set forth their shop.
又，懂得人底性格习惯是一事而明白事理又是一事；因为有许多揣摩别人底脾气揣摩得十分周到的人在真正办事上却并不怎么能干；一个对于人底研究比对于书底研究为多的人底性质，就是如此。这样的人较适于阴谋而不适于议论；而且他们惟有在他们熟悉的方面是好的；让他们转而对付新的人物，他们就不怎么有把握了，因此向来那条辨别智愚的准则——“把他们两个都赤裸裸地派到生人前去，你就可以看得出了”——对于他们是不很适用的。再者，因为这些狡猾的人好象小贩一样，所以我们不妨把他们底商品列举出来。

it is a point of cunning to wait upon him, with whom you speak, with your eye; as the jesuits give it in precept: for there be many wise men, that have secret hearts, and transparent countenances. yet this would be done with a demure abasing of your eye sometimes, as the jesuits also do use.
狡猾之术，其一是在与人谈话的时候要用你底眼睛伺察那个人；就如同耶稣会员底训练中所教的一样：因为世上有许多聪明人他们是有隐秘的心而显露的脸的。然而这种伺察做起来有时需要恭顺地自敛其目，耶稣会中人底作法也是如此
another is, that when you have anything to obtain of present dispatch, you entertain and amuse the party, with whom you deal, with some other discourse; that he be not too much awake, to make objections. i knew a counsellor and secretary, that never came to queen elizabeth of england, with bills to sign, but he would always first put her into some discourse of estate, that she mought the less mind the bills.
还有一术是，当你有紧急的请求，需要当时办理的时候，你要用别的言语娱乐你与之交涉的那人，使他不至于过于清醒，对于你底所求加以反对。我知道有一位职掌议事和秘书的官员，他来请求伊利萨白女王批准任何文件的时候，没一次不先引诱女王，使她谈论国事的。他底用意是这样一来，她就不很关心那些文件了。

the like surprise may be made, by moving things, when the party is in haste, and cannot stay to consider advisedly of that is moved.
同样的出人不意的举动就是当某人迫不及待，不能停下来仔细考虑所提的事件的时候，向他提议某事。
if a man would cross a business, that he doubts some other would handsomely and effectually move, let him pretend to wish it well, and move it himself, in such sort, as may foil it
一个人假如要阻挠一种他恐怕别人将要漂亮有效地提出的事件的话，顶好他装出很赞同这件事的样子而自己把它提出，但是他提出的方式却是要与目的相反，正足以防止这事底通过
the breaking off, in the midst of that one was about to say, as if he took himself up, breeds a greater appetite in him, with whom you confer, to know more.
正欲有言而突然中止，一如忽然制止自己似的，这足以使那与你交谈的人兴趣增加，更想知道你所说的事情。

and because it works better, when anything seemeth to be gotten from you by question, than if you offer it of yourself, you may lay a bait for a question, by showing another visage and countenance than you are wont; to the end, to give occasion, for the party to ask, what the matter is of the change? as nehemias did; and i had not before that time been sad before the king.
当人家以为某种话是从你那里问出来的，而不是你自己乐意告诉的时候，这种话是比较有效的。因此，你可以为他人底问题设下钓饵，其方法就是装出一副与常日不同的脸色，为的好使别人有机会问你这改变底原因安在；就如同尼希米之所为：“我素来在王面前没有愁容”。
in things, that arc tender and unpleasing, it is good to break the ice by some whose words are of less weight, and to reserve the more weighty voice to come in, as by chance, so that he may be asked the question upon the other's speech.
在难言与不快的事件上，最好是让那言语没有什么大价值的人先开口，然后再让那说话有力量的人装作偶然进来的样子，如此可使君上关于别人所说的事件向他发问

as narcissus did, in relating to claudius the marriage of messalina and silius. in things, that a man would not be seen in himself; it is a point of cunning, to borrow the name of the world; as to say; the world says, or. there is a speech abroad.
例如那西撒司要向克劳底亚斯报告梅沙利娜和西利亚斯底结婚事件时就是如此做的。在有些事件上若果有一个人不愿意把自己搅在里边的话，一种狡猾的办法就是借用世人底名义；譬如说“人家都说……”或“外面有一种传说……”是也。
i knew one, that when he wrote a letter, he would put that which was most material, in the post-script, as if it had been a by-matter.i knew another, that when he came to have speech, he would pass over that that he intended most, and go forth, and come back again, and speak of it, as of a thing that he had almost forgot
我知道有一个人在他写信的时候，他总要把最要紧的事情写在附言里头，好象那是一件附带的事一样。我还认得一个人，在他说话的时候，总要略过他心中最想说的话而先说开去，再说转来，说到他想说的事情就好象是一件他差不多忘了的事一样。

some procure themselves to be surprised, at such times as it is like, the party that they work upon, will suddenly come upon them; and to be found with a letter in their hand, or doing somewhat which they are not accustomed; to the end, they may be apposed of those things, which of themselves they are desirous to utter. it is a point of cunning, to let fall those words, in a man's own name, which he would have another man learn, and use, and thereupon take advantage. i knew two, that were competitors, for the secretary's place, in queen elizabeth's time, and yet kept good quarter between themselves: and would confer, one with another, upon the business;
and the one of them said, that to be a secretary, in the declination of a monarchy, was a ticklish thing, and that he did not affect it: the other, straight caught up those words, and discoursed with divers of his friends, that he had no reason to desire to be secretary, in the declination of a monarchy. the first man took hold of it, and found means, it was told the queen; who hearing of a declination of a monarchy, took it so ill, as she would never after hear of the other's suit
有些人想对某人施行某种计谋，他们就在这人会出来的时候，故意装出惊惶，好象那人是不意而来的样子；并且故意手里拿一封信或者作某种他们不常作的事；为的是那人好问他们，然后他们就可以把自己心里想说的话说出来。狡猾又有一术，就是自己说出某种话来，这种话是要别的一个人学会而应用的，然后再借此为由，陷害其人。我知道有两个人在女王伊利萨白之世争取部长底位置，然而他们依然交好；并且常常互相商量这事；其中的一个就说在王权衰落的时代作一个部长是一件不很容易的事，所以他并不怎么想这个位置。那另外的一个立刻就学会了这些话，并且同他底许多朋友谈论，说他在王权衰落的今日没有想做部长底理由。那头一个人抓住了这句话，设法使女王听见；女王一听“王权衰落”之语，大为不悦，从那次以后她再也不肯听那另一个人底请求了。

there is a cunning, which we in england call the turning of the cat in the pan; which is, when that which a man says to another, he lays it, as if another had said it to him. and to say truth, it is not easy, when such a matter passed between two, to make it appear, from which of them it first moved and began.
有一种狡猾，我们在英国叫做“锅里翻猫”的，那就是，甲对乙所说的话，甲却赖成是乙对他说的。老实说，象这样的事若在两人之间发生，而我们要发现是原先提出来的，是不容易的。
it is a way that some men have, to glance and dart at others, by justifying themselves, by negatives; as to say, this do not: as tigellinus did towards burrus; se non diversas spes, sed incolumitatem imperatoris simplidter spectare.
有些人有一种法子，就是以否认的口吻自解，从而影射他人；如同说“我是不干这个的”。例如梯盖利纳斯对布?斯之所为一样，他说：“他并无二心，而惟以皇帝底安全为念”。

some have in readiness so many tales and stories, as there is nothing they would insinuate but they can wrap it into a tale; which serveth both to keep themselves more in guard, and to make others carry it, with more pleasure.
有的人常备有许多故事，所以无论他们要暗示什么事，他们都能把它用一个故事包裹起来；这种办法既可以保护自己，又可以使别人乐于传播你底话。
it is a good point of cunning, for a man to shape the answer he would have, in his own words, and propositions; for it makes the other party stick the less.
把自己要得到的答复先用自己底话语说出一个大概来，是狡猾底上策之一；因为这样就可使交谈的人少为难些
it is strange, how long some men will lie in wait, to speak somewhat they desire to say; and how far about they will fetch; and how many other matters they will beat over, to come near it it is a thing of great patience, but yet of much use.
有些人在想说某种话的以前，其等待之久，迂回之远，所谈的别事之多，是可异的。这是一种很需要耐心的办法，然而用处也不小。

a sudden, bold, and unexpected question, doth many times surprise a man, and lay him open. like to him, that having changed his name, and walking in paul's, another suddenly came behind him, and called him by his true name, whereat straightways he looked back.
一个突然的，大胆的，出其不意的问题的确常常能够使人猛吃一惊，并且使他坦露他心中的事。这就好象有人改了名姓在圣保罗教堂走来走去，而另外的一个人突然来到他底背后用他底真名姓呼唤他，那时他马上就要回头去看，一样。
but these small wares, and petty points of cunning, are infinite: and it were a good deed to make a list of them: for that nothing doth more hurt in a state, than that cunning men pass for wise.
狡猾底这些零星货物与小术是无穷的，而把它们列举出来也是一件好事，盖一国之中再没有比狡猾冒充明智之为害更烈者也。

but certainly, some there are, that know the resorts and falls of business, that cannot sink into the main of it: like a house, that hath convenient stairs, and entries, but never a fair room. therefore, you shall see them find out pretty looses in the conclusion, but are no ways able to examine, or debate matters.
但是，世间确有些人，他们懂得事务底起因与终结，而不能够深入其中心，就好象一所房子有很方便的楼梯和门户，而没有一间好屋子一样。所以你可以看见他们在事件底决议中找出许多可以取巧规避的漏洞来而完全不能审察或辩论事务。
and yet commonly they take advantage of their inability, and would be thought wits of direction. some build rather upon the abusing of others, and (as we now say) putting tricks upon them, than upon soundness of their own proceedings. but solomon saith; prudens advertit ad gressus suos:stultus divertit ad dolos.
然而他们通常却利用他们底短处，要令人相信他们是能够发号施令，善于替人作决断而不善于与人讨论的人。有些人作事底基本是在欺骗他人和（如我们现在所谓）在他人身上玩花样，而不在乎他们自己处理事务之坚实可靠的。然而所罗门有言，“智者自慎其步骤：愚者转向欺骗他人”。