第28章：Of Expense 论消费（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？
28 of expense 论消费
riches are for spending; and spending for honour and good actions. therefore extraordinary expense must be limited by the worth of the occasion: for voluntary undoing may be as well for a man's country as for the kingdom of heaven. but ordinary expense ought to be limited by a man's estate; and governed with such regard, as it be within his compass; and not subject to deceit and abuse of servants; and ordered to the best show, that the bills may be less than the estimation abroad.
财富底用处是消费，而消费底目的是为了光荣或善举。因此特别的消费当以其原因之价值为度；盖为了国家，和为了天国一样，也可以自甘贫乏的。但是普通的消费则当以一个人底财产为度；并且要管理得宜，务使消费不要超出收入；并且要勿受仆役底欺骗；还得观瞻极佳，务使实付之款比外人底估计为少。

certainly, if a man will keep but of even hand, his ordinary expenses ought to be but to the half of his receipts; and if he think to wax rich, but to the third part.
无疑地，假如一个人仅仅要出入相当，不至贫乏的话，他日常的支出也应当仅及他底收入底一半；若是他要变为富有的话，那他底支出就应当只有收入底三分之一。
it is no baseness, for the greatest, to descend and look into their own estate. some forbear it, not upon negligence alone, but doubting to bring themselves into melancholy, in respect they shall find it broken. but wounds cannot be cured without searching. he that cannot look into his own estate at all, had need both choose well, those whom he employeth, and change them often: for new are more timorous, and less subtle. he that can look into his estate but seldom, it behoveth him to turn all to certainties. a man had need, if he be plentiful in some kind of expense, to be as saving again, in some other. as if he be plentiful in diet, to be saving in apparel: if he be plentiful in the hall, to be saving in the stable: and the like. for he that is plentiful in expenses of all kinds, will hardly be preserved from decay. in clearing of a man's estate, he may as well hurt himself in being too sudden, as in letting it run on too long. for hasty selling is commonly as disadvantageable as interest
即是很大的人物而躬自检点自己底财产也不算是一件自卑自贱的行为。有些人不肯如此做，其原因不仅是大意，也有因为恐怕检点底结果发现自己已经破产而生烦恼者。但是如果身体上有了创伤，不检验是不会好的。那完全不会检点自己底财产的人务须要用人得当，还得常常换他们；因为新用的人比较胆小而计谋少一点。那不能常常检点他底财产的人应当把出入底一切数目都规定了。一个人如果在某一项上消费多，则他必须要在别的一项上节省。例如他在吃喝上爱花钱，那末他就应当在衣着上节省；要是他在住屋上爱花钱，他就应当在马厩上节省，皆是也。因为那在每一项上都是花钱很多的人是难免堕入逆境的。一个人在清偿债务的时候，如果过于求速，一举还清，也会和久欠不还一样地有害的。因为急于求售和多欠利息是一样地不利也

besides, he that clears at once, will relapse; for finding himself out of straits, he will revert to his customs: but he that cleareth by degrees, induceth a habit of frugality, and gained as well upon his mind, as upon his estate.
再者，一举而还清了债务的人是会又走入借债的路上去的：因为他一旦忽然发现自己没有债务底困难的时候，就会故态复萌的：但那一点一点地还清债务的人借此可以学会一种节俭的习惯，他底心理和他底财产将同受其益。
certainly, who hath a state to repair, may not despise small things: and commonly, it is less dishonourable to abridge petty charges than to stoop to petty gettings. a man ought warily to begin charges, which once begun will continue: but in matters that return not, he may be more magnificent.
有财产需要补救的人是不能轻视小节的，这是一定的；并且，就一般而言，与其卑躬屈节以求小利还不如减少零星的花费较为得体。一个人底经济担负如果是一起始就要长久继续下去的，那他就要很小心，不可冒然担承：但是在那些只有一次没有下次的消费上，则不妨较为大方一点。