培根散文随笔美文：Of Adversity 论困厄论作伪与掩饰
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?
5 Of Adversity 论困厄
It was an high speech of Seneca (after the manner of the Stoics) that the good things which belong to prosperity are to be wished; but the good things that belong to adversity are to be admired. Bona rerum secudarum optabilia; adversarum mirabilia.
“幸运底好处是应当希望的;但是厄运底好处是应当惊奇叹赏的”，这是塞奈喀仿画廊派的高论。
Certainly if miracles be the command over nature, they appear most in adversity. It is yet a higher speech of his than the other (much too high for a heathen): It is true greatness to have in one the fragility of a man and the security of a God. Vere magnum habere fragilitaterm hominis securitatem da. This would have done better in poesy; where transcendencies are more allowed. And the poets indeed, have been busy with it; for it is, in effect, the thing which is figured in that strange fiction of the ancient poets, which seemeth not to be without mystery; nay, and to have some approach to the state of a Christian: that Hercules when he went to unbind Prometheus (by whom human nature is represented) sailed the length of the great ocean in an earthen pot or pitcher: lively describing Christian resolution; that saileth, in the frail barque of the flesh, through the waves of the world.
无疑地，如果奇迹底意思是“超越自然”，那么奇迹多是在厄运中出现的。塞氏还有一句比这更高的话(这话由一个异教徒说出，几乎是太高了)：“一个人有凡人底脆弱而又有神仙底自在无忧，那就是真正的伟大”。这句话如果是一句诗，也许更好一点，因为在诗里头，高夸的说法，好象是更为可许似的。诗人们也真的常说这句话，因为这句话实际就是古诗人常述的那个奇谈中所表现的——而这个奇谈又似乎非无深义的;不特如此，它所描写的还很有点接近基督徒底情形呢——那就是当赫扣力斯去解放普罗密修斯的时候(普罗密修斯是象征人性的)他坐在一个瓦盆或瓦罐里渡过了大海。基督徒以血肉之躯的轻舟渡过世间底波涛的决心，这故事很生动地描写出来了。
But to speak in a mean.The virtue of prosperity is temperance; the virtue of adversity is fortitude:which in morals is the more heroical virtue. Prosperity is the blessing of the Old Testament; adversity is the blessing of the New; which carrieth the greater benediction, and the clearer revelation of God's favour. Yet, even in the Old Testament, if you listen to David's harp, you shall hear as many hearselike airs, as carols: and the pencil of the Holy Ghost hath laboured more, in describing the afflictions of Job, than the felicities of Solomon. Prosperity is not without many fears and distastes; and adversity is not without comforts and hopes. We see in needlework, and embroideries, it is more pleasing to have a lively work upon a sad and solemn ground, than to have a dark and melancholy work, upon a lightsome ground: judge therefore, of the pleasure of the heart, by the pleasure of the eye. Certainly, virtue is like precious odours, most fragrant when they are incensed, or crushed: for prosperity doth best discover vice; but adversity doth best discover virtue.
但是用平凡的话来说，幸运所生的德性是节制，厄运所生的德性是坚忍;在伦理上讲起来，后者是更为伟大的一种德性。幸运是《旧约》中的福祉;厄运是《新约》中的福祉;而厄运所带来的福祉更大，所诏示的上帝底恩惠更为明显。然而即在《旧约》之中，如谛听大卫底琴音，就一定可以听见与欢颂一般多的哀歌;并且圣灵的画笔在形容约伯底苦难上比在形容所罗门底幸福上致力得多了。幸运并非没有许多的恐惧与烦恼;厄运也并非没有许多的安慰与希望。 在针工与刺绣中， 我们常见，若在一片阴沉的底子上安排一种漂亮的花样， 比在一片浅色的底子上安排一种暗郁的花样悦目得多; 从这眼中的乐趣上推断心中的乐趣罢。 无疑地， 美德如名香，经燃烧或压榨而其香愈烈，盖幸运最能显露恶德而厄运最能显露美德也。