第26章：Of Seeming Wise 论伪智（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？
26 of seeming wise 论伪智
it hath been an opinion, that the french are wiser than they seem;and the spaniards seem wiser than they are. but howsoever it be between nations, certainly it is so between man and man. for as the apostle saith of godliness; having a show of godliness, but denying the power thereof; so certainly, there are in points of wisdom, and sufficiency, that do nothing or little, very solemnly; magno conatu nugas.
从来有一种意见，以为法国人实际比外表聪明，西班牙人外表比实际聪明。但是不论两国之间的情形是否如此，人与人之间的情形却实是如此的。圣保罗关于敬虔有言：“有敬虔的外貌，却背了敬虔的实意”。同此，世间尽有人在聪明能力上没有什么作为或所为甚少，而外貌是很庄严的：“以大力作细事”。

it is a ridiculous thing, and fit for a satire, to persons of judgement, to see what shifts these formalists have, and what prospectives, to make superficies to seem body, that hath depth and bulk. some are so close and reserved, as they will not show their wares, but by a dark light: and seem always to keep back somewhat: and when they know within themselves, they speak of that they do not well know, would nevertheless seem to others, to know of that which they may not well speak.
这些徒务形式的人有什么手腕并利用甚么样的法术和机械，以使虚浮的表面竟如有深度有体积之实体，在一个有识见的人看来，真是一件可笑而堪人讽刺文章的事。有些人是很隐秘的，隐秘得好象他们底货物非在暗处不拿出来给人看似的；他们并且好象常常心里有话而不肯明言似的；并且在他们心里明白所说的事自己并不甚知道的时候，他们却要装模作样，要让人家以为他们知道许多不能明说的事情。

some help themselves with countenance, and gesture, and are wise by signs; as cicero saith of piso, that when he answered him, he fetched one of his brows up to his forehead, and bent the other down to his chin: respondes,ahero ad fronton sublato, altero ad mention depresso supercilio, cnudelitatem tibi non placere
有些人借助于面容手势，他们底聪明是靠着姿势的；就和西塞罗说皮索的话一样，当皮索与西塞罗答话的时候，他把一条眉毛耸到前额上，把另一条眉毛弯到下巴上去了；“你答道——你底一条眉毛耸到前额，另一条眉毛弯到下颏——你不是爱残酷的人”。
some think to bear it, by speaking a great word, and being peremptory; and go on, and take by admittance that which they cannot make good. some, whatsoever is beyond their recall, will seem to despise or make light of it, as impertinent, or curious; and so would have their ignorance seem judgement. some are never without a difference, and commonly by amusing men with a
subtlety, blanch the matter; of whom a. gellius saith; hominem delirum, qui verborum minutiis rerum frangit pondera. of which kind also, plato in his protagoras bringeth in prodicus, in scorn, and maketh him make a speech, that consisted! of distinctions from the beginning to the end. generally, such men in all deliberations find ease to be of the negative side, and affect a credit, to object and foretell difficulties: for when propositions are denied, there is an end of them; but if they be allowed, it requireth a new work: which false point of wisdom is the bane of business.
有些人以为用伟大的字眼儿，说话不容异议，并且继续下去，把自己不能证实的话视为无问题地真确，就可以成为智者。有些人对于任何他们所不懂的事物都装出瞧不起的样子，或者认为是无聊或离奇而蔑视之；为的是这样他们底愚昧就可冒充识见了。有些人总是有不同的见解的，他们通常往往以一种巧辩娱人，借此离开了本题；关于这种人盖利亚斯有言，“一个疯子，一个用字句上的穿凿而破坏大事的人”。关于这一种人，柏拉图在他底《普罗塔高拉斯》一篇中，曾引入普罗第喀斯一人，以为嘲笑之资。柏拉图使他说了一篇话，这一篇话从头到尾全是分别异同之辞。一般言之，这样的人在议论中，总是喜欢站在否定的一方面，并且希冀以能反对及预示艰难得名；因为各种提案一经否决就算完了，但是如果它们一被通过，那就需要新的工作了；这种的假聪明乃治事之大害也。

to conclude, there is no decaying merchant, or inward beggar, hath so many tricks, to uphold the credit of their wealth, as these empty persons have, to maintain the credit of their sufficiency. seeming wise men may make shift to get opinion: but let no man choose them for employment; for certainly, you were better take for business a man somewhat absurd than over formal.
总之，没有一个生意萧条的商人或倾家荡产的浪子，为了支持他们底财名，能象这种虚伪的人之为了保持他们底才名而有一般多的诡计也。假聪明的人也许可以设法得到名声；但是谁也顶好不要任用他们；因为，无疑地，为了治事，即令任用一个有点荒唐的人，也比用一个过重外表的人强也。