第33章：Of Plantations 论殖民地（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？
33 of plantations 论殖民地
plantations are amongst ancient, primitive, and heroical works. when the world was young, it begat more children; but now it is old, it begets fewer: for i may jusuy account new plantations, to be the children of former kingdoms. i like a plantation in a pure soil; that is, where people are not displanted, to the end to plant in others.
殖民地是古昔的，初民的，英雄的工作之一。当世界还在年少的时候，它生了许多的子女；但是它现在老了，所生的子女也就少了，因为我不妨说新的殖民地乃是旧有的国家底子女也。我以为一个殖民地最好是在一片处女地上；那就是说，在那个地方殖起民来，无须乎因为要培植新者因而拔除旧者。

for else, it is rather an extirpation, then a plantation. planting of countries, is like planting of woeds; for you must make account, to lose almost twenty years' profit, and expect your recompense in the end. for the principal thing, that hath been the destruction of most plantations, hath been the base and hasty drawing of profit, in the first years. it is true, speedy profit is not to be neglected, as far as may stand with the good of the plantation, but no further. it is a shameful and unblessed thing, to take the scum of people, and wicked condemned men, to be the people with whom you plant: and not only so, but it spoileth the plantation; for they will ever live like rogues, and not fall to work, but be la2y, and do mischief, and spend victuals, and be quickly weary, and then certify over to their country, to the discredit of the plantation.
因为否则不算是殖民，倒成了灭民了。培植一个新国家有如造林：必须先打算好了预备折本二十年，到末了再获利。大多数的殖民地之所以毁灭，其主要的原因就是在殖民事业之初年底卑污而且欲速的取利。当然，如果迅速的利润能与殖民地底利益相符，那自然是不可忽视的，但应以此为限，不可多求。把本国人中的废物败类，以及作奸犯科之徒搜集起来作为移殖新土的人民乃是一件可耻而不祥的事；不但如此，这种办法还会破坏殖民地的；因为这些人将永远过其败类底生活，不务正业而游惰作乱，消耗食粮，并且很快地就生厌倦，于是就会给故土写信败坏殖民地底名誉。

the people wherewith you plant, ought to be gardeners, ploughmen, labourers, smiths, carpenters, joiners, fishermen, fowlers, with some few apothecaries, surgeons, cooks, and bakers. in a country of plantation, first look about, what kind of victual the country yields of itself, to hand: as chestnuts, walnuts, pineapples, olives, dates, plums, cherries, wild honey, and the like: and make use of them. then consider, what victual or esculent things there are, which grow speedily, and within the year, as parsnips, carrots, turnips, onions, radish, artichokes of jerusalem, maize and the like. for wheat, barley and oats, they ask too much labour: but with peas and beans, you may begin; both because they ask less labour, and because they serve for meat, as well as for bread. and of rice likewise cometh a great increase, and it is a kind of meat above all, there ought to be brought store of biscuit, oat-meal, flower, meal, and the like, in the beginning, till bread may be had.
用作移民的人民当是园丁、耕者、工人、铁匠、木匠、细木匠、渔夫、猎鸟者，以及少数的药剂师、外科医生、厨师、面包师。在欲殖民的国土中，第一先要各处考察，看那个地方天然野生的有何食物，如栗子、胡桃、波罗蜜、橄榄、枣、李、樱桃、野蜂蜜之类，并且利用这些东西。然后再看那个地方有什么食物可以迅速生长，在一年以内可以成熟者，如防风草、胡萝卜、芜菁、洋葱、莱菔、菊芋、玉蜀黍等等是也。至于小麦、大麦、燕麦、它们需要的劳力太多；但是你却不妨先种点豌豆，大豆，一则因为它们所需的劳力较少，再则因为它们既可以制面包，也可以当菜吃。类此，稻米底收获是很大的，并且它也是一种的菜。尤要者，应当在殖民之始带多量的饼干、燕麦粉、面粉等等到殖民地去，直到能得到面包为止。

for beasts, or birds, take chiefly such as are least subject to diseases, and multiply fastest: as swine, goats, cocks, hens, turkeys, geese, house-doves, and the like. the victual in plantations ought to be expended, almost as in a besieged town; that is, with certain allowance. and let the main part of the ground employed to gardens or corn, be to a common stock; and to be laid in, and stored up, and then delivered out in proportion; besides some spots of ground, that any particular person will manure, for his own private.
至于家畜家禽之类，主要地应当带那些不易生病而蕃殖最速的去；如猪、山羊、雄鸡、雌鸡，火鸡、鹅、家鸽以及这一类的生物是也。殖民地底食物之消耗，应当和一个被围的城里一样；就是说，每人应有规定的消耗量。那作为园圃或麦田的土地，其最大的部分应当为输入公仓之用；所收的农产物应当先储藏在这些公仓里，然后按固定的数量分配：此外却还应当有些田地，可以让任何私人为自己而耕种。

consider likewise, what commodities the soil, where the plantation is, doth naturally yield, that they may some way help to defray the charge of the plantation: so it be not, as was said, to the untimely prejudice of the main business; as it hath fared with tobacco in virginia. wood commonly aboundeth but too much; and therefore, timber is fit to be one. if there be iron ore, and streams whereupon to set the mills; iron is a brave commodity, where wood aboundeth. making a bay salt, if the climate be proper for it, would be put in experience. growing silk likewise, if any be, is a likely commodity. pitch and tar, where store of firs and pines are, will not fail. so drugs, and sweet woods, where they are, cannot but yield great profit soap ashes likewise, and other things that may be thought of. but moil not too much under ground: for the hope of mines is very uncertain, and useth to make the planters lazy in other things. for government let it be in the hands of one, assisted with some counsel: and let them have commission to exercise martial laws, with some limitation.
同样，也应当留心殖民地底土壤适于出产何种物品，好让这些物品可以在某方面稍为减轻殖民地底担负（只要，如以上所说，不因为时机未熟的缘故而为害于首要的事业就行了），如委吉尼亚底烟叶是也。在许多地方森林是只会多而不会少的，因此木材也可算是上述的物产之一。如果有铁矿底矿苗，并且还有河流，可以令人在河边上设起磨来的话，那末在森林多的地方铁就是一种可贵的产物了。在气候适宜的地方，煮盐是应当试办的。类此，苧麻之属，如果有之，也是一种可贵的物品。在富有松杉的地方，沥青和焦油是不会缺乏的。同样地，药材，香木这一类的东西，只要出得多，一定是可获大利的。可用做肥皂的碱灰，以及其他可以发现的物品，也都是可以借之得利的。但是不可过于注重矿产；因为关于矿产的希望是很不可靠的，而且常使移民在别的方面成为懒惰。至于统治之事，最好使一人掌权，而由若干议事官辅佐之：并且最好让他们有施行有限度的戒严法令之权。

and above all, let men make that profit of being in the wilderness, as they have god always, and his service before their eyes. let not the government of the plantation depend upon too many counsellors, and undertakers, in the country that planteth, but upon a temperate number, and let those be rather noblemen, and gentlemen, than merchants: for they look ever to the present gain. let there be freedoms from custom, till the plantation be of strength: and not only freedom from custom, but freedom to carry their commodities, where they may make their best of them, except there be some special cause of caution. cram not in people, by sending too fast company after company; but rather hearken how they waste, and send supplies proportionably; but so, as the number may live well in the plantation, and not by surcharge be in penury. it hath been a great endangering to the health of some plantations, that they have built along the sea, and rivers, in marsh and unwholesome grounds.
尤要者，让人们受益于居于荒野的心理，而心目中永远保持着敬上帝和为上帝服务的观念。殖民地底政府不可依靠过多的居留在母国的议事官和司长，委员之流，这些人底人数应该适中才好；而且这些人顶好是贵族，绅士，而不是商人，因为商人总是重目前之利的。直至殖民地根深蒂固以前，最好不要以关税来束缚它；不但要不受关税底束缚，还要使殖民地底人有把他们底物产运到可以获利最丰的地方去底自由——除非是有特殊理由应当防止这种情形。不要太快地一批又一批地送移民到殖民地去，以致有人满之患。反之，应该留意殖民地底人口之减少而按比例补充之；但是务要使殖民地底人可以安居乐业，而不可使他们因为人数过多而陷于贫乏。有些殖民地，因为建筑在海滨河岸，沮洳不良之地的原故，其居民底健康曾大受危害。

therefore, though you begin there, to avoid carriage, and other like discommodities, yet build still rather upwards, from the streams, than along. it concerneth likewise the health of the plantation, that they have good store of salt with them, that they may use it in their victuals, when it shall be necessary. if you plant, where savages are, do not only entertain them with trifles, and gingles; but use them justly, and graciously, with sufficient guard nevertheless: and do not win their favour, by helping them to invade their enemies, but for their defence it is not amiss: and send oft of them, over to the country that plants, that they may see a better condition then their own, and commend it when they return.
因此，虽然在起初你无妨在上述的那种地方建筑，以避运输上及其他的不便，但是此后为长久计，应当往河岸之上的高处建筑，而不可沿河建筑。殖民地的人并且还应当存储多量的食盐以便于必要时腌藏食物，毋使腐败，这也是与他们底健康有关的。如果你在有野蛮人的地方殖民，不要仅仅以不值钱的零碎物件或玩具得他们底欢心，应当以公道与恩惠待他们，而同时妥为防备；也不可帮助他们攻袭他们底敌人以取悦于他们，惟在他们受敌人攻击的时候帮他们自卫，那是不错的：此外还应当常常在他们之中选派若干送到殖民底本国去观光，好让他们可以看见比他们自己底生活情形好的生活情形，并且在回来的时候称扬这种情形。

when the plantation grows to strength, then it is time to plant with women, as well as with men; that the plantation may spread into generations, and not be ever pieced from without. it is the sinfullest thing in the world, to forsake or destitute a plantation, once in forwardness: for besides the dishonour, it is the guiltiness of blood of many commiserable persons.
殖民地底力量增强之后，就可以不但移殖男子，妇女也可以去了；这样那殖民地就可以世代蕃衍下去而不至于永远由外面补充了。在一个殖民地已经有进展的时候而弃绝之乃是世界上最大的罪恶，因为这不仅是一种耻辱，而且是一种残杀了许多可怜人的杀人罪也。