第48章：Of Followers & Friends 论随从和朋友 （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。
48 of followers & friends 论随从和朋友
costly followers are not to be liked; lest while a man maketh his train longer, he
make his wings shorter. i reckon to be costly, not them alone, which charge the purse, but which are wearisome and importune in suits. ordinary followers ought to challenge no higher conditions, than countenance, recommendation, and protection from wrongs.
代价过高的从者是不可以喜欢的，怕的是一个人把自己底裙裾弄得很长而把羽翼削短了。所谓代价过高的从者不仅是那些消费钱财的人，那些渎请屡求而不知厌的人也算在内。普通一般的从者其所求于主人者不应当超出主人底善意相待，善言先容，以及保护安全，使不受欺凌。

factious followers are worse to be liked, which follow not upon affection to him,
with whom they range themselves, but upon discontentment conceived against some other: whereupon commonly ensueth that ill intelligence, that we many times see between great personages. likewise glorious followers, who make themselves as trumpets, of the commendation of those they follow, are full of inconvenience; for they taint business through want of secrecy; and they export honour from a man, and make him a return in envy.
为主人者更不可喜欢那些好党同伐异的从者，因为这些人之来归并不是因为爱你，而是因为对于别人心怀不忿，所以我们常见的大人物之间的那些误会多半是由此而来的。类此，好夸张的从者，那些到处张扬主人底名声的人，也是有很多的不利的；他们泄露机密，破坏事业，并且减少主人底美名，反使他失去一般人底欢心。

there is a kind of followers likewise, which are dangerous, being indeed espials; which enquire the secrets of the house, and bear tales of them to others.
还有一种也是很险恶的从者，这般人实际上是一种侦探；他们常常探询主人家中的事务并且把这些事务报告给别人。
yet such men, many times, are in great favour; for they are officious, and commonly exchange tales. the following by certain estates of men, answerable to that which a great person himself professeth (as of soldiers to him that hath been employed in me wars, and the like), hath ever been a thing civil, and well taken even in monarchies; so it be without too much pomp or popularity. but the most honourable kind of following, is to be followed as one that apprehendeth, to advance virtue and desert, in all sorts of persons.
然而这种人往往很受宠幸，因为他们是很殷勤的，而且多半是愿意交换故事的。一位大人物如果有与他自己所从事的事业有相符的身分的从者（例如，一位曾经战事的人而有许多武人为其从者，这一类的事），那是向来被认为合适的事，即在君主国中，也是不受什么猜忌的；只要不过于声势煊赫或过于得一般人民底爱戴就是了。但是那最高尚的一种随从，就是因为主人被人认为是一个懂得如何使各种人都能进德展才的人因而随从着的。

and yet, where there is no eminent odds in sufficiency, it is better to take with me more passable, than with the more able. and besides, to speak truth, in base times, active men are of more use, than virtuous. it is true that in government, it is good to use men of one rank equally: for to countenance some extraordinarily, is to make them insolent, and the rest discontent; because they may claim a due. but contrariwise in favour, to use men with much difference and election, is good; for it makelh the persons preferred more thankful, and the rest more officious; because all is of favour. it is good discretion, not to make too much of any man, at the first; because one cannot hold out that proportion.
然而，遇到在才德上没有什么出众的人的时候，任用比较平凡的人是比任用比较有才的人好一点的。可是，说真话，在卑污的时代中，有才干的人是比有德之人较为有用的。在政治常务上用人应求其资格一般者，这是真的；因为，如有破格用人之举，则被用的人不免嚣张，而其余的人也要怨愤；因为他们以相同的资格可以希冀一种相同的待遇也。反之，在宠幸一方面，则由不同的地位经选择而用人是可以的；因为这种办法可使被用之人感恩更深，而其余的人更为殷勤，因为升迁之望全在得宠也。对于任何人，在起初的时候不要过于重视，这是一种很妥当的办法，因为如果一起头就对某人非常重视，则以后对他的待遇将难以为继也。

to be governed (as we call it) by one, is not safe: for it shows softness, and gives a freedom to scandal and disreputation: for those that would not censure, or speak ill of a man immediately, will talk more boldly of those that are so great with them, and thereby wound their honour. yet to be distracted with many is worse; for it makes men to be of the last impression, and full of change. to take advice of some few friends is ever honourable; for lookers-on, many times, see more than gamesters; and the vale best discovered! the hill. there is little friendship in the world, and least of all between equals, which was wont to be magnified. that that is, is between superior and inferior, whose fortunes may comprehend, the one the other.
只受一个人底“支配”（如我们通常所谓）是不安全的；因为这种情形表现你底软弱，而使丑闻恶名易于传播；因为那些在主人面前不能谏诤或进言的人在主人背后将更乐于批评那些得宠的人，这样一来主人底荣誉也要受损失了。然而受多人底影响是更坏的；因为这种情形使为主人者听从最后的一个进言者底话，而自己毫无定见，多所变更。采纳少数友朋底忠告永远是名誉的；因为旁观者常比当局者看得清楚，而峡谷更可以显高山也。古人喜夸的那种友谊，世间是很少的，尤其在地位平等之人之间更少。世间所有的友谊都是在上位者与下属之间的，因为这二者底荣辱休戚是包括在一起的。