第49章：Of Suitors 论求情者 （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。
49 of suitors 论求情者
many ill matters and projects are undertaken; and private suits do putrefy the public
good. many good matters are undertaken with bad minds; i mean not only corrupt minds, but crafty minds, that intend not performance. some embrace suits, which never mean to deal effectually in them; but if they see there may be life in the matter, by some other mean, they will be content to win a thank, or take a second reward, or at least to make use, in the mean time, of the suitor's hopes.
许多不良的事件及计划都有人担任，所以私人底请托是确使公益腐化的。许多很好的事情是由存坏心眼儿的人担任的，我底意思是不止败坏的心眼儿，也包括狡猾的心眼儿在内，就是那种口头担任而心中并没有实行底意思的心眼儿。有些人答应了替人办某种请托的事，心里却并没有切实去替人办事的意思；但是一旦他们看见这种事情?别人底力量而有希望成功的时候，他们就极想得到那请托者底感谢之心，要使那人相信他们真替他办过事，或者得到一部分的报酬，或者至少在这件事情还没决定的时候利用那请托者底希望。

some take hold of suits only for an occasion, to cross some other, or to make an information, whereof they could not otherwise have apt pretext; without care what become of the suit, when that turn is served: or generally, to make other men's business a kind of entertainment, to bring in their own. nay, some undertake suits with a full purpose, to let them fall; to the end, to gratify the adverse party, or competitor.
有些人接受人家底请托，专为可以借此阻挠另一个人；或者借此为由可以扬某人之恶，到这些事情做到之后，那原来的所请所托之事底成败是他们毫不关心的；或者，就一般言之，这些人之所以答应替别人办某项请托之事不过是利用别人底事以为自己底事作一种过渡的桥梁而已。甚至还有些人答应替人办事，而满心要这事不成，为的是这么一来可以取悦于那人底仇敌或竞争者。
surely, there is, in some sort, a right in every suit: either a right of equity, if it be a suit of controversy; or a right of desert, if it be a suit of petition. if affection lead a man to favour the wrong side in justice, let him rather use his countenance to compound the matter, than to carry it if affection lead a man to favour the less worthy in desert, let him do it without depraving or disabling the better deserver. in suits, which a man doth not well understand, it is good to refer them to some friend of trust and judgement, that may report whethe he may deal in them with honour: but let him choose well his referendaries, for else he may be led by the nose.
无疑地，在每种请托之中总不免有是有非的；如果是为争讼的请托，其中必有曲直之别；如果是图升迁的请托，其中必有才与不才之别。假如一个人因为受了感情底驱使而在诉讼之中偏向不直的一方，那末他最好利用他底影响为两造和解，而不要把事做到尽头。假如一个人因为受了感情底驱使而在仕途中偏向那较为不才的一方，那末他最好不要为了要提拔这不才的一方，遂造作恶言，毁损那较为有才而值得升迁的人。遇到自己不很懂得的请托之事，最好去请教一位忠实而有见识的朋友，这个朋友可以说出来究竟这种请托之事是做得做不得的；但是这种顾问须要审慎选择，否则要受骗的。

suitors are so distasted with delays, and abuses, that plain dealing, in denying to deal in suits at first, and reporting the success barely, and in challenging no more thanks than one hath deserved, is grown not only honourable, but also gracious. in suits of favour, the first coming ought to take little place: so far forth consideration may be had of his trust, that if intelligence of the matter could not otherwise have been had, but by him, advantage be not taken of the note, but the party left to his other means; and, in some sort, recompensed for his discovery. to be ignorant of the value of a suit, is simplicity; as well as to be ignorant of the right thereof, is want of conscience.
有所请托的人受了迟延和欺骗，必深恶痛恨，因此，如果在初次来请求的时候就明白告诉他说你不愿意办这件事，又如果替他办事，在事情进行的时候把实情告诉他而不加粉饰或夸张，在事情成了以后除应得的报酬以外不再需索，这样的举动现在竟不止是正当的而且是很可感激的了。在请求恩遇之中，原先来请求应该是没有什么关系的：有一点关于这人对我们的信任的事，却不可不留意。就是，假若这人告诉了我们一种消息，这种消息除了他我们是无从由别的方法得到的，那末我们就不可白白地利用人家底消息，而应当给他一种报酬，并且给予他自由，让他设法走别的门路去图谋他所求的事情去。不知他人所求的事物底价值者是不智的；一如不知谁应该得到那所求的事物者之为无良。

secrecy in suits is a great mean of obtaining; for voicing them, to be in forwardness, may discourage some kind of suitors; but doth quicken and awake others. but timing of the suit is the principal. timing, i say, not only in respect of the person that should grant it, but in respect of those which are like to cross it let a man, in the choice of his mean, rather choose the fittest mean, man the greatest mean: and rather them, that deal in certain things, than those that are general. the reparation of a denial is sometimes equal to the first grant; if a man show himself neither dejected, nor discontented. imqwsmpetas, utaeqwmferas; is a good rule, where a man haul strength of favour: but otherwise, a man were better rise in his suit; for he that would have ventured at first to have lost the suitor, will not in the conclusion lose both the suitor, and his own former favour. nothing is thought so basic a request, to a great person, as his letter; and yet, if it be not in a good cause, it is so much out of his reputation. there are no worse instruments, than these general contrivers of suits; for they are but a kind of poison and infection to public proceedings.
在请托之中做事机密是成功底一个很好的方法；因为自行声张说某项请托进行得如何如何顺利虽可以挫某种旁的请托者底锐气，但是也会刺激并引起另一种请托者的。但使所请托之事适得其时，那才是主要的。所谓得时者，所取的时间不但是要合乎你所希望的将要准你底请托的人，而且要能使你自己免去他人从中破坏阻挠底危险。在选择替自己办请托之事的人的时候；顶好选用那最适宜于那种事的人而不要倚仗那最有大力量的人，选用那专办某种事的人而不要用那些包揽一切的人。如果一个人初次的请托被拒绝了，而他既不沮丧也不愤懑，那末他下次再有所请的时候其所得的补偿将与初次所请的一样的好。“所请逾量，为的是所获可以适量”是一条好规则，假如一个人是得宠的；否则最好渐渐地提高自己底请求，因为假如一个人初次来向我们有所请求，我们也许会拒绝他的；但是假如他已经从我们得过许多好处，那末以后我们就不大愿意拒绝他，恐怕既失这个人底好感与拥护，又抹杀旧日对他的好处也。通常以为向一位大人物求一封荐书，是最容易不过的请求，然而，假如写这封信底理由是不正当的，则于写信的人底名誉也很有妨碍。再没有比如今这些替人奔走，包揽请托的人更为恶劣的了；因为他们只是一种妨害公务的毒药疫疠而已。