[美文分享]培根散文随笔集第9章：Of Envy 论嫉妒 （中英对照）

there be none of the affections, which have been noted to fascinate or bewitch, but love, and envy. they both have vehement wishes; they frame themselves readily into imaginations, and suggestions; and they come easily into toe eye; especially upon toe presence of toe objects; which are toe points that conduce to fascination, if any such thing there be.
人底各种情欲之中，没有一种可以看出是迷人或魔人的——除了恋爱与嫉妒。这两者都有很强烈的愿望，它们很容易造出意象和观念；并且很容易进入眼中，尤其是当对象在场的时候，这些都是导致蛊惑之处——假设有蛊惑这种事的话。

we see likewise, toe scripture calleth envy an evil eye: and toe astrologers call toe evil influences of toe stars, evil aspects; so that still, there seemeth to be acknowledged, in toe act of envy, an ejaculation or irradiation of toe eye. nay, some have been so curious as to note, toat toe times, when toe stroke, or percussion of an envious eye doth most hurt, are when toe party envied is beheld in glory, or triumph; for toat sets an edge upon envy; and besides, at such times, toe spirit of toe person envied do come forth most into toe outward parts, and so meet toe blow. but leaving these curiosities (though not unworthy, to be thought on, in fit place), we will handle, what persons are apt to envy others; what persons are most subject to be envied themselves; and, what is toe difference between public and private envy.
类此，我们看见《圣经》中把嫉妒叫做“凶眼”；而占星家把星宿底恶影响叫做“恶容”；所以好象总有人承认嫉妒的行为中是有一种眼力底投射或放光似的。不但如此，还有些人好奇之甚，竟说嫉妒底眼目其打击伤人最烈的时候是那受嫉的人正在显耀荣华，受人注视的时候；因为这种情形使嫉妒之心更为锐利也。再者，在这种时候，那受嫉的人底精神多出现于外表上，因而他就受到那种打击了。我们现在先不理这些奥妙之点（虽然在适当之处它们并非不值得思索的），且谈何种人最易嫉人；何种人最易受嫉；以及公妒与私妒有何分别。

a man toat hath no virtue in himself, ever envieth virtue in others. for men's minds will either feed upon their own good, or upon others' evil; and who wanteth toe one, will prey upon toe other, and who so is out of hope to attain to another's virtue, will seek to come at even hand, by depressing another's fortune.
无德之人常嫉他人之有德。因为人底心思若不以自己底好处为食，就要以他人底坏处为食的；并且缺乏这二者之一的人一定是要猎取其二的。又任何人若是没有达到他人底美德的希望，他一定要设法压抑这另一人底幸福以求与之得平的。


 

a man toat is busy, and inquisitive, is commonly envious: for to know much of other men's matters, cannot be, because all toat ado may concern his own estate: therefore it must needs be, toat he taketh a kind of play-pleasure, in looking upon toe fortunes of others; neither can he, toat mindeth but his own business, find much matter for envy. for envy is a gadding passion, and walketh the streets, and doth not keep home; non est curiosus, quin idem malevolus.
多事好问之人每善嫉。因为所以要知道如许关于他人之事的原因决不会是因为这许多劳碌是有关于自己底利害的；因此，其原由一定是因为他在观察别人底祸福上得到一种观剧式的乐趣了。并且一个专务己业的人也不会找着许多嫉妒底缘由来的。因为嫉妒是一种游荡的情欲，在大街上徘徊而不肯居家，所谓“未有好管闲事而不心怀恶意者也”

men of noble birth are noted to be envious towards new men, when they rise. for the distance is altered; and it is like a deceit of the eye, that when others come on, they think themselves go back.
贵族中人对新进之人当其腾达之时常露嫉妒之情。因为两者之间的距离改变了；好象一种视觉上的错觉一样，别人往前来而自己以为自身是后退了。

deformed persons, and eunuchs, and old men, and bastards, are envious: for he that cannot possibly mend his own case, will do what he can to impair another's; except these defects light upon a very brave and heroical nature; which thinketh to make his natural wants, part of his honour: in that it should be said, that an eunuch, or a lame man, did such great matters; affecting the honour of a miracle; as it was in narses the eunuch, and agesilaus, and tamberlanes, that were lame men.
残疾之人、宦官、老人与私生子均善妒。因为无法补救自己底情形的人一定要竭力损坏别人底情形的，除非这些缺陷落在一种甚为勇敢和伟大的天性上，那种天性是要以他底天生的缺陷为其荣耀之一部的；他们要人家说一个宦官或一个跛子竟作了这样的大事；这种事情底荣耀直有如一件奇迹底荣耀了；例如宦官拿尔西斯和跛人阿盖西劳斯及帖木儿是也。

the same is the case of men that rise after calamities, and misfortunes; for they are, as men fallen out with the times; and think other men's harms a redemption of their own sufferings. they that desire to excel in too many matters, out of levity and vain glory, are ever envious; for they cannot want work; it being impossible, but many, in some one of those things, should surpass them. which was the character of hadrian the emperor, that mortally envied poets, and painters, and artificers, in works wherein he had a vein to excel.
同此，经过大祸与不幸而再起的人也富于嫉妒心，因为这些人与那些不合时宜的人一样，他们以为别人受到的损害等于自己底痛苦之赔偿也。因为浮躁与虚荣而想在过多的事业中出人头地的人总是嫉妒心盛的。因为在那些事业中的某项上，断不能没有多人可以胜过他们的；既如此他们就不缺乏嫉妒底缘由了。这就是埃追安皇帝底特性；他非常妒恨诗人、画家与巧匠；在这些人底事业中皇帝本人是有点过人之才的。

lastly, near kinsfolk, and fellows in office, and those that have been bred together, are more apt to envy their equals, when they are raised. for it doth upbraid unto them their own fortunes; and pointeth at them, and cometh oftener into their remembrance, and incurreth likewise more into the note of others: and envy ever redoubled! from speech and fame. cain's envy was the more vile and malignant, towards his brother abel, because, when his sacrifice was better accepted, there was nobody to look on. thus much for those that are apt to envy.
最后，近亲、同事、与同养之人，最容易在平辈腾达的时候嫉妒他们。因为这些腾达的人们可说是以他们底幸福显出了同辈底不良；指责了他们。并且这些腾达的人们入同辈底记忆之中较繁，同样地，惹他们底注意也较强；而嫉妒之心是由言谈及名声而倍增的。该隐对他兄弟亚伯的嫉妒是很卑劣，很凶恶的，因为当亚伯底供品被上帝看中的时候当场并没有人旁观。以上就是关于最易嫉人的人的话。

concerning those that are more or less subject to envy: first, persons of eminent virtue, when they are advanced, are less envied. for their fortune seemeth but due unto them; and no man envieth me payment of a debt, but rewards and liberality rather. again, envy is ever joined with the comparing of a man's self; and where there is no comparison, no envy; and therefore kings are not envied but by kings. nevertheless, it is to be noted, that unworthy persons are most envied at their first coming in, and afterwards overcome it better; whereas contrariwise, persons of worth and merit are most envied when their fortune continueth long. for by that time, though their virtue be the same, yet it hath not the same lustre; for fresh men grow up, that darken it.
现在且一谈那些多少受人嫉妒的人。第一，德行高的人们，其德愈增则受人嫉妒之机会愈减。因为他们底幸福看来是他们应得的；没有人嫉妒债务之得偿，所嫉者多是报酬过当之赏赐也。又嫉妒总是与人我底比较俱来的；没有比较的地方就没有嫉妒；因此帝王除了受帝王底嫉妒外不受他人底嫉妒。然而应当注意的是微末之人在初升贵显的时候最受嫉妒，到后来较能克服之：反之，有功有业的人在福祉绵延之时最受嫉妒。因为到了那个时节虽然他们底德行仍旧，但其光辉却不如昔了；因为有新的人物起来把那些德行投入暗处了。


 

 

persons of noble blood are less envied in their rising: for it seemeth but right,
done to their birth. besides, there seemeth not much added to their fortune; and envy is as the sunbeams, that beat hotter upon a bank or steep rising ground than upon a flat. and for the same reason, those that are advanced by degrees are less envied than those that are advanced suddenly, and per salturn.
贵胄在升显的时候不甚受嫉。因为那好象是他们本着家世而应得的权利。并且他们贵显了也不见得是在他们底幸福上添加了多少；而嫉妒心有如日光，它射在危岸或埈坂上是比射在平地上要热得多的。为了同一的原故，那些逐渐升高的人们较之那些突然腾达，一跃而跻于贵显之列的人们是少受人嫉妒的。
those that have joined with their honour, great travels, cares, or perils, are less subject to envy. for men think, that they earn their honours hardly, and pity them sometimes; and pity ever healeth envy: wherefore, you shall observe that the more deep and sober sort of politic persons, in their greatness, are ever bemoaning themselves, what a life they lead; chanting a quanta patimur. not that they feel it so, but only to abate the edge of envy. but this is to be understood, of business that is laid upon men, and not such as they call unto themselves. for nothing increaseth envy more, than an unnecessary and ambitious engrossing of business. and nothing doth extinguish envy more, than for a great person to preserve all other inferior officers, in their full rights, and pre-eminence of their places. for by that means, there be so many screens between him and envy.
那些把他们底荣耀与重大的劳苦、忧虑、或危险连在一处的人们是少受嫉妒的。因为人们认为这些人底荣耀是得来不易的，并且有时还可怜他们，而怜悯永远是治疗嫉妒的。因此你可以看到那较为深沉庄重的政界中人，在他们底崇高的地位中总是自嗟自叹，说他们度着何等不乐的生活，唱着一套“我们何等受苦”的歌曲。并不是他们感觉如此，而是要减少嫉妒心底锋铓。但是这种嗟叹所指的要是别人给他们加上的负担才行，不可指自己招来的事业。因为再没有比无必要而野心地专搅事业之更增人嫉妒者也。又，一个大人物若能使所有居下位者保持所有的权利和充分的身分，那就没有比这个更能消灭嫉妒的了。因为借着这种手段，在他与嫉妒之间可说是有了好几重障隔也。