培根散文美文阅读欣赏：论作伪与掩饰

 　　of simulation & dissimulation¹ 论作伪与掩饰

　　dissimulation is but a faint kind of policy, or wisdom; for it asketh a strong wit, and a strong heart, to know when to tell truth, and to do it therefore it is me weaker sort of politics, that are the great dissemblers.

　　掩饰不过是策略或智谋中较弱的一种，因为要知道何时当说真话，何时当行真事需要强壮的脑筋和心胸也。因此政治家之中较弱的一流方是善于掩饰者。

　　tacitus saith; livia sorted well, with the arts of her husband, and dissimulation of her son: attributing arts or policy to augustus, and dissimulation to tiberius. and again, when lucianus encourageth vespasian, to take arms against vitellius, he saith; we rise not, against the piercing judgment² of augustus, nor the extreme caution or closeness of tiberius. these properties of arts or policy, and dissimulation or closeness, are indeed habits and faculties³, several, and to be distinguished⁴. for if a man have that penetration⁵ of judgment, as he can discern, what things are to be laid open, and what to be secreted⁶, and what to be showed at half lights, and to whom, and when (which indeed are arts of state, and arts of life, as tacitus well calleth mem), to him, a habit of dissimulation is a hindrance⁷, and a poorness. but if a man cannot obtain to that judgment, then it is left to him, generally, to be close, and a dissembler. for where a man cannot choose, or vary in particulars, there it is good to take the safest and wariest⁸ way in general; like the going softly by one that cannot well see. certainly the ablest men that ever were, have had all an openness, and frankness of dealing⁹; and a name of certainty, and veracity¹⁰; but then they were like horses, well managed; for they could tell passing well when to stop, or turn: and at such times, when they thought the case indeed required dissimulation, if then they used it, it came to pass, that me former opinion, spread abroad of their good faith, and clearness of dealing, made them almost invisible.

　　泰西塔斯说：“里维亚同她丈夫底智略和她儿子底虚伪都很融洽”就是说奥古斯塔斯有智略而泰比瑞阿斯善掩饰的意思。又当缪西阿奴斯劝外斯帕显举兵攻委泰立阿斯的时候，他说：“我们现在起事，所与为敌者既不是奥古斯塔斯底洞察的判断力，也不是泰比瑞阿斯底极端审慎或隐密”这些特质——权谋或策略与掩饰或隐密——确是不同的习惯与能力，并且是应当辨别的。因为假如一个人有那种明察的能力，能够看得出某事应当公开，某事应当隐秘，某事应当在半明半暗之中微露，并且看得出这事底或隐或显应当是对何人，在何时(这些正即是泰西塔斯所谓的治国与处世的要术)，那末在他这样的一个人，一种掩饰的习惯是一种阻挠，一个弱点。但是假如一个人达不到那种明察的能力，那末他就不得不常趋隐秘，并且为一个掩饰者了。因为一个人在不能随机应变有所选择的时候，自以取那一般地最安全最谨慎的途径为佳;就好象目力不济的人走路是轻而且慢一样。无疑地，从来最有能力的人都是有坦白直爽的行为，信实不欺的名誉的;可是他们是象训练得很好的马一样，因为他们极能懂得何时当止，何时当转，并且在他们以为某事真需要掩饰的时候，如果他们果然掩饰了，以往流传各处的关于他们底信实和正直坦白的见解也使他们差不多不至为人所疑的。

1 dissimulation   

n.掩饰，虚伪，装糊涂

参考例句：

• A habit of dissimulation is a hindrance, and a poorness to him. 在他这样的一个人，一种掩饰的习惯是一种阻挠，一个弱点。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Still we have our limits beyond which we call dissimulation treachery. 不过我们仍然有自己的限度，超过这个界限，就是虚伪与背信弃义。 来自辞典例句

2 judgment   

n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见

参考例句：

• The chairman flatters himself on his judgment of people.主席自认为他审视人比别人高明。
• He's a man of excellent judgment.他眼力过人。

3 faculties   

n.能力( faculty的名词复数 )；全体教职员；技巧；院

参考例句：

• Although he's ninety, his mental faculties remain unimpaired. 他虽年届九旬，但头脑仍然清晰。
• All your faculties have come into play in your work. 在你的工作中，你的全部才能已起到了作用。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 distinguished   

adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的

参考例句：

• Elephants are distinguished from other animals by their long noses.大象以其长长的鼻子显示出与其他动物的不同。
• A banquet was given in honor of the distinguished guests.宴会是为了向贵宾们致敬而举行的。

5 penetration   

n.穿透，穿人，渗透

参考例句：

• He is a man of penetration.他是一个富有洞察力的人。
• Our aim is to achieve greater market penetration.我们的目标是进一步打入市场。

6 secreted   

v.（尤指动物或植物器官）分泌( secrete的过去式和过去分词 )；隐匿，隐藏

参考例句：

• Insulin is secreted by the pancreas. 胰岛素是胰腺分泌的。
• He secreted his winnings in a drawer. 他把赢来的钱藏在抽届里。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 hindrance   

n.妨碍，障碍

参考例句：

• Now they can construct tunnel systems without hindrance.现在他们可以顺利地建造隧道系统了。
• The heavy baggage was a great hindrance to me.那件行李成了我的大累赘。

8 wariest   

谨慎的，小心翼翼的( wary的最高级 )

参考例句：

• The wariest men are apt to be a little dulled by routine. 最谨慎的人对于例行公事，也难免疏忽。

9 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

10 veracity   

n.诚实

参考例句：

• I can testify to this man's veracity and good character.我可以作证，此人诚实可靠品德良好。
• There is no reason to doubt the veracity of the evidence.没有理由怀疑证据的真实性。