第37章：Of Masques & Triumphs 论宫剧与盛会（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？
对于喜欢阅读名著的读者，这是一个最好的时代，因为有成千上万的书可以选择；这又是一个不好的时代，因为在浩繁的卷帙中，很难找到适合自己的好书。而培根的散文随笔，浓缩的不仅仅是文学，还是智慧。相信对阅读和写作都有很好的帮助。
37 of masques & triumphs 论宫剧与盛会
these dungs are but toys, to come amongst such serious observations. but yet, since princes will have such things, it is better they should be graced with elegancy, than daubed with cost dancing to song, is a thing of great state, and pleasure. i understand it, that the song be in choir, placed aloft, and accompanied with some broken music; and the ditty fitted to the device. acting in song, especially in dialogues, hath an extreme good grace: i say acting, not dancing (for that is a mean and vulgar thing), and the voices of the dialogue would be strong and manly (a bass, and a tenor; no treble) and the ditty high and tragical; not nice or dainty. several choirs, placed one over against another, and taking the voice by catches, anthem-wise, give great pleasure.
与如上的各种严肃的论说相比，宫剧这一类的东西不过是玩意儿而已。然而，为君主者既然非要这些东西不可，那么这些东西就应当有优雅之美而无浪费之虚饰。依歌而舞是很有气概，很有乐趣的一种举动。我底意思是说，歌须要成队，队须要居于高处，并且要有弦乐伴奏；歌词也须适合剧情。连唱带做，尤其在对话之中，是极端的优美的。不过我所说的是做戏而不是跳舞（因为那是一种卑下凡俗的举动），对话底声音也应当强健有丈夫气（要一个低音和一个高音，不要最高音），歌词应当高雅悲壮而不应当过于细致绮丽。好几个歌咏队，位置于相对的地方，并且此停彼起地接着歌唱，如唱圣诗一般，是很能使人快乐的。

turning dances into figure is a childish curiosity. and generally, let it be noted, that those things which i here set down, are such as do naturally take the sense, and not respect petty wonderments. it is true, the alterations of scenes, so it be quietly, and without noise, are things of great beauty, and pleasure: for they feed and relieve the eye, before it be full of the same object. let the scenes abound with light, specially coloured and varied: and let the masquers, or any other, that are to come down from the scene, have some motions upon the scene itself, before their coming down: for it draws the eye strangely, and makes it with great pleasure, to desire to see that it cannot perfectly discern.
变化跳舞使成各种的形式者乃是一种幼稚的玩艺儿。又，一般言之，我这里所说的乃是为人所自然爱好的事物，而是不顾那些小巧的伎俩的，这是应请大家注意的。剧景底变换，只要是做得安静无哗，确是很美而且很能引起兴趣的东西，因为这些变换是滋养眼目，使之免于长久注视一物之劳的。剧景应当明亮，染有特殊的而且多样的颜色；并且剧中的演员，或任何要从台上下来的人，最好在下来之前，先在台上做些动作；因为这种动作特别能吸引人底眼目，使它乐于盼望能看见适才未能十分看清楚的事物。

let the songs be loud, and cheerful, and not chirpings, or pulings. let the music likewise be sharp, and loud, and well placed. the colours that show best by candlelight are; white, carnation, and a kind of seawater-green; and oes, or spangs, as they are of no great cost, so they are of most glory.
歌声应当嘹亮欢畅而不应当啁啾断续。同样，音乐也应当准确响亮，并且安排得宜。在烛光之下显得最漂亮的颜色是白色，粉红色和一种海水绿。亮色的圆点与金之属，既不甚费钱，也最为灿烂。
as for rich embroidery, it is lost, and not discerned. let the suits of the masquers be graceful, and such as become the person, when the vizors are off: not after examples of known attires; turks, soldiers, mariners, and the like. let antimasques not be long; they have been commonly of fools, satyrs, baboons, wild-men, antics, beasts, sprites, witches, ethiopes, pigmies, turquets, nymphs, rustics, cupids, statues moving, and the like.
至于富丽的刺绣，则在烛光之下是隐而不彰的。演员底服装应当优美，并且应当在演员除下面具之后合乎他们底身材。这些服装还应当异乎常见的样式，当如土耳其装、军装、水手装之类。剧中的“反插”不应当太长；这些“反插”底题材向来多是关于傻子、羊怪、狒狒、野人、怪物、野兽、小鬼、巫婆、黑人、侏儒、小土耳其人、山泽之女神、乡下人、小爱神、偶像变活人等等的。

as for angels, it is not comical enough, to put them in anti-masques; and any thing that is hideous, as devils, giants, is on the other side as unfit. but chiefly, let the music of them be recreative, and with some strange changes. some sweet odours, suddenly coming forth, without any drops falling, are, in such a company, as there is steam and heat, things of great pleasure and refreshment. double masques, one of men, another of ladies, addeth state and variety. but all is nothing, except the room be kept clear and neat. for justs, and tourneys, and barriers; the glories of them are chiefly in the chariots, wherein the challengers make their entry; especially if they be drawn with strange beasts; as lions, bears, camels, and the like:
or in the devices of their entrance; or in the bravery of their liveries; or in the goodly furniture of their horses, and armour. but enough of these toys.
至于安琪儿们，若把他们放在“反插”里是不够滑稽的。在另一方面，凡是丑恶可恨的东西，如魔鬼、巨灵之类，也是不妥当的。但是主要地，要使这些“反插”剧中的音乐能够娱人而且有新奇的变化才好。在有水汽热气的人群中如果忽来几阵香风而不见任何水珠下坠的话，那是很使人生愉快新鲜之感的东西。双重的宫剧，一组男的，一组女的，能添加庄严与新颖。但是演奏的房屋如不保持干净整齐，则一切都是等于没有的。至于比武竞勇的种种游戏，他们底光辉灿烂之处主要是在挑战者入场时所坐的战车上，尤其于这些战车是用奇兽牵曳的时候为然；如狮子、熊罴、骆驼之类是也；这种光辉也有仗着入场时的排场的，也有倚靠服装之绚烂的；也有借他们底马匹底装饰及甲胄之鲜明的。但是关于这些玩物我们说得已经够了。