培根《論養生》散文英譯漢佳作賞析

　　Of Regiment of Health

　　論養生

　　There is a wisdom in this, beyond the rules of physic: a man's own observation, what he finds good of, and what he finds hurt of, is the best physic to preserve health.

　　養生有道，非醫學底規律所能盡。一個人自己的觀察，他對于何者有益何者有害于自己的知識，乃是最好的保健藥品。

　　But it is a safer conclusion to say; this agreeth not well with me, therefore I will not continue it; than this; I fmd no offence of this, therefore I may use it. For strength of nature in youth passeth over many excesses, which are owing a man till his age. Discern of the coming on of years, and think not, to do the same things still; for age will not be defied.

　　但是在下斷語的時候，如果說：“這個與我底身體不合，因此我要戒它”，比說：“這個好象于我沒有什么害處，因此我要用它”較為安全得多。因為少壯時代底天賦的強力可以忍受許多縱欲的行為，而這些行為是等于記在賬上，到了老年的時候，是要還的。留心你底年歲底增加，不要永遠想做同一的事情，因為年歲是不受蔑視的。

　　Beware of sudden change in any great point of diet, and if necessity enforce it, fit the rest to it. For it is a secret, both in nature, and state; that it is safer to change many things, than one. Examine thy customs, of diet, sleep, exercise, apparel, and the like; and try in anything thou shall judge hurtful, to discontinue it by little and little; but so, as if thou doest fmd any inconvenience by the change, thou come back to it again: for it is hard to distinguish, that which is generally held good, and wholesome, from that, which is good particularly, and fit for thine own body.

　　在飲食底重要部分上不可驟然變更，如果不得已而變更的話，則別的部分也須要變更，以便配合得宜。因為在自然的事體和國家的事務上都有一種秘訣，就是變一事不如變多事的安全。把你平日飲食、睡眠、運動、衣服、等等的習慣自省一下，并且把其中你認為有害的習慣試行逐漸戒絕，但是其辦法應當這樣，如果你由這種變更而感覺不適的時候，就應當回到原來的習慣去；因為把一般認為有益衛生的習慣和于個人有益，于你自己底身體適合的習慣分別起來是不容易的。

　　To be free minded, and cheerfully disposed, at hours of meat, and of sleep, and of exercise, is one of the best precepts of long lasting. As for the passions and studies of the mind; avoid envy; anxious fears; anger fretting inwards; subtle and knotty inquisitions; joys, and exhilarations in excess; sadness not communicated.

　　在吃飯、睡覺、運動的時候，心中坦然，精神愉快，乃是長壽底最好秘訣之一。至于心中的情感及思想，則應避嫉妒，焦慮，壓在心里的怒氣，奧秘難解的研究，過度的歡樂，暗藏的悲哀。

　　Entertain hopes; mirth rather than joy; variety of delights, rather than surfeit of them; wonder, and admiration, and therefore novelties; studies that fill the mind with splendid and illustrious objects, as histories, fables, and contemplations of nature. If you fly physic in health altogether, it will be too strange for your body, when you shall need it If you make it too familiar, it will work no extraordinary effect, when sickness cometh. I commend rather some diet, for certain seasons, than frequent use of physic, except it be grown into a custom.

　　應當長存著的是希望，愉快，而非狂歡；變換不同的樂事，而非過饜的樂事；好奇與仰慕，以保有新鮮的情趣；以光輝燦爛的事物充滿人心的學問，如歷史、寓言、自然研究皆是也。如果你在健康的時候完全摒棄醫藥，則到了你需要它的時候將感覺醫藥對于你底身體過于生疏不慣。如果你平日過于慣用醫藥，則疾病來時，醫藥將不生奇效。竊以為與其常服藥餌，不如按季節變更食物，除非服藥已經成了一種習慣。

　　For those diets alter the body more, and trouble it less. Despise no new accident in your body, but ask opinion of it In sickness, respect health principally; and in health, action.

　　因為那些不同的食物是可以變更體氣而不擾亂它的。對于身體上任何新的癥候都不可小視，須要向人求教。

　　For those that put their bodies to endure in health, may in most sickness, which are not very sharp, be cured only with diet, and tendering.

　　在病中，主要的是注意健康；在健康的時候，主要的是注意活動。因為那平日使自己底身體習于勞動的人在大多數不很厲害的疾病中只要節飲食，多調養，就可以好了。

　　Celsus could never have spoken it as a physician, had he not been a wise man withal, when he giveth it, for one of the great precepts of health and lasting, that a man do vary, and interchange contraries; but with an inclination to the more benign extreme: use fasting, and full eating, but rather full eating; watching and sleep, but rather sleep;sitting, and exercise, but rather exercise; and the like.

　　塞爾撒斯教人養生長壽之道，最要的一端就是一個人應當把各種相反的習慣都變換著練習練習，但是在輕重之間卻應當稍重那有益于人的一端；禁食與飽食都應當練習，但是寧可稍重飽食；警醒與睡眠都應當練習，但是寧可偏尚睡眼；安坐與運動都應當練習，但是寧可著重運動；諸如此類。

　　So shall nature be cherished, and yet taught masteries. Physicians are some of them so pleasing, and conformable to the humour of the patient, as they press not the true cure of the disease; and some other are so regular, in proceeding according to art, for the disease, as they respect not sufficiently the condition of the patient Take one of a middle temper, or if it may not be found in one man, combine two of either sort: and forget not to call, as well the best acquainted with your body, as the best reputed of for his faculty.

　　塞爾撒斯要不是一位醫生而兼哲人的話，專以醫生底身分他是永不會說出這種話來的。如他所說的辦法，將使天生的體質既可以得滋養又可以增力量也。醫生之中有些是對于病人底脾氣很縱容遷就的，以致不能迅收治療之效；又有些人則是照治病底學理行事，十分謹嚴，以致對于病者底實情不充分注重。選擇醫生的時候頂好請一位性情適中的；或者，如果一個人沒有這樣的性情的時候，則在兩種人里各取其一而調和之。又在請醫生的時候，固然要請那出名的好醫生，也不可忘了請那個最熟悉你底體格的醫生也。