弗朗西斯·培根（Francis Bacon，1561一1626年）
Of Studies《论读书》（也译作《谈读书》），是培根关于读书求知，探索真理的著名作品。1653年发表，收于《培根随笔》一书中。
《培根随笔》为英国随笔文学的开山之作，以其简洁的语言、优美的文笔、透彻的说理、迭出的警句，在世界文学史上占据了非常重要的地位。
中文译本来自已故北京外国语大学王佐良教授，其以深厚的中英语言文化底蕴和文学修养近乎完美地诠释并再现了原作的风采，实现了与原文在“形”和“神”上的传递，堪称“信达雅”的典范！
Of Studies
Studies serve for delight, for ornament, and for ability. Their chief use for delight, is in privateness, and retiring; for ornament, is in discourse; and for ability, is in the judgment, and disposition of business.
读书足以怡情，足以傅彩，足以长才。其怡情也，最见于独处幽居之时；其傅彩也，最见于高谈阔论之中；其长才也，最见于处 世判事之际。
For expert men can execute, and perhaps judge of particulars, one by one; but the general counsels, and the plots and marshalling of affairs, come best from those that are learned. To spend too much time in studies, is sloth; to use them too much for ornament, is affectation; to make judgment wholly by their rules, is the humour of a scholar.
练达之士虽能分别处理细事或一一判别枝节，然纵观统筹，全局策划，则舍好学深思者莫属。读书费时过多易惰，文采藻饰太盛则矫，全凭条文断事乃学究故态。
They perfect nature, and are perfected by experience—for natural abilities are like natural plants, that need pruning by study; and studies themselves do give forth directions too much at large, except they be bounded in by experience.
读书补天然之不足，经验又补读书之不足，盖天生才干犹如自然花草，读书然后知如何修剪移接，而书中所示，如不以经验范之，则又大而无当。
Crafty men contemn studies, simple men admire them, and wise men use them; for they teach not their own use; but that is a wisdom without them, and above them, won by observation.
有一技之长者鄙读书，无知者羡读书，唯明智之士用读书，然书并不以用处告人，用书之智不在书中，而在书外，全凭观察得之。
Read not to contradict and confute; nor to believe and take for granted; nor to find talk and discourse; but to weigh and consider.
读书时不可存心诘难读者，不可尽信书上所言，亦不可只为寻章摘句，而应推敲细思。
Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested; that is, some books are to be read only in parts; others to be read, but not curiously; and some few to be read wholly, and with diligence and attention. Some books also may be read by deputy, and extracts made of them by others; but that would be only in the less important arguments, and the meaner sort of books; else distilled books are, like common distilled waters, flashy things.
书有可浅尝者，有可吞食者，少数则须咀嚼消化。换言之，有只需读其部分者，有只须大体涉猎者，少数则须全读，读时须全神贯注，孜孜不倦。书亦可请人代读，取其所作摘要，但只限题材较次或价值不高者，否则书经提炼犹如水经蒸馏，淡而无味。
Reading maketh a full man; conference a ready man; and writing an exact man. And therefore, if a man write little, he had need have a great memory; if he confer little, he had need have a present wit; and if he read little, he had need have much cunning, to seem to know that he doth not.
读书使人充实，讨论使人机智，笔记使人准确。因此不常做笔记者须记忆力特强，不常讨论者须天生聪颖，不常读书者须欺世有术，始能无知而显有知。
Histories make men wise; poets witty; the mathematics subtile; natural philosophy deep; moral grave; logic and rhetoric able to contend. Abeunt studia in morse.
读史使人明智，读诗使人灵秀，数学使人周密，科学使人深刻，伦理学使人庄重，逻辑修辞之学使人善辩；凡有所学，皆成性格。
Nay there is no stand or impediment in the wit, but may be wrought out by fit studies: like as diseases of the body may have appropriate exercises. Bowling is good for the stone and reins; shooting for the lungs and breast; gentle walking for the stomach ; riding for the head; and the like. So if a man's wit be wandering, let him study the mathematics; for in demonstrations, if his wit be called away never so little, he must begin again. If his wit be not apt to distinguish or find differences, let him study the Schoolmen, for they are cymini sectores. If he be not apt to beat over matters, and to call up one thing to prove and illustrate another, let him study the lawyers' cases. So every defect of the mind may have a special receipt.
人之才智但有滞碍，无不可读适当之书使之顺畅，一如身体百病，皆可借相宜之运动除之。滚球利睾肾，射箭利胸肺，慢步利肠胃，骑术利头脑，诸如此类。如智力不集中，可令读数学，盖演题需全神贯注，稍有分散即须重演；如不能辩异，可令读经院哲学，盖是辈皆吹毛求疵之人；如不善求同，不善以一物阐证另一物，可令读律师之案卷。如此头脑中凡有缺陷，皆有特效可医。
The Essays《培根随笔》
内容简介：
The Essays《培根随笔》是弗兰西斯·培根创作的随笔集，世界经典的三部散文作品之一。这本随笔集收录了一些议论性质的短文，涉及到政治、经济、宗教、爱情、婚姻、友谊、艺术、教育、伦理等方方面面，其中的《论读书》、 《论真理》、《论嫉妒》、 《论死亡》写得语言简洁文笔优美，说理透彻，警句迭出，蕴含着培根的思想精华，是他的著名篇章，也是培根文学方面的代表作。
作为一名学识渊博且通晓人情世故的哲学家和思想家，培根对他谈及的问题均有发人深省的独到之见。从《培根随笔》的“论真理”、“论死亡”、“论人的天性”等篇章中，可以看到一个热爱哲学的培根。从“论高官”、“论王权”、“论野心”等篇章中，可以看到一个热衷于政治，深谙官场运作的培根。从“论爱情”、“论友情”、“论婚姻与独身”等篇章中，可以看到一个富有生活情趣的培根。
Sir Francis Bacon is considered to have been one of the greatest minds to have ever lived. These essays consist of various subjects, giving us a great overview of his thoughts on all facets of life. He did three main releases ofThe Essays, this edition being a copy of the last one from 1625, when he was in his sixties, containing the most entries.
图书目录：
PRINCIPLE DATES IN BACON’S LIFE培根大事记
INTRODUCTION简介
A NOTE OF THE TEXT AND ANNOTATION文本注释
FURTHRE READING延伸阅读
The Essays散文集
THE TABLE表格
1.Of Truth论真理
2.Of Death论死亡
3.Of Unity in Religion论宗教一统
4.Of Revenge论复仇
5.Of Adversity论逆境
6.Of Simulation and Dissimulation论伪装与掩饰
7.Of Parents and Children论父母与子女
8.Of Marriage and Single Life论结婚与独身
9.Of Envy论嫉妒
10.Of Love论爱情
11.Of Great Place论高位
12.Of Boldness论勇
13.Of Goodness and Goodness of Nature论善与性善
14.Of Nobility论贵族
15.Of Seditions and Troubles论谋叛与变乱
16.Of Atheism论无神论
17.Of Superstition论迷信
18.Of Travel论游历
19.Of Empire论王权
20.Of Counsels论忠告
21.Of Delays论拖延
22.Of Cunning论狡猾
23.Of Wisdom for a Man's Self论自谋
24.Of Innovations论创新
25.Of Dispatch论效率
26.Of Seeming Wise论外表的聪明
27.Of Friendship论友谊
28.Of Expense论消费
29.Of the True Greatness of Kingdoms and Estates论国家的真正强大之处
30.Of Regimen of Health论yangsheng
31.Of Suspicion论猜疑
32.Of Discourse论言谈
33.Of Plantations论殖民
34.Of Riches论财富
35.Of Prophecies论预言
36.Of Ambition论野心
37.Of Masques and Triumphs论假面具与狂欢
38.Of Nature in Men论人的天性
39.Of Custom and Education论习惯与教育
40.Of Fortune论幸运
41.Of Usury论高利贷
42.Of Youth and Age论青年与老年
43.Of Beauty说美
44.Of Deformity论残疾
45.Of Building论建筑
46.Of Gardens说花园
47.Of Negotiating论谈判
48.Of Followers and Friends论随从和朋友
49.Of Suitors论求情者
50.Of Studies论读书
51.Of Faction论党派
52.Of Ceremonies and Respects论礼仪与尊重
53.Of Praise论赞扬
54.Of Vain Glory论虚荣
55.Of Honour and Reputation论荣誉与名声
56.Of Judicature论法官
57.Of Anger论愤怒
58.Of Vicissitude of Things论世事变迁
APPENDICES:附录
The Essays: Fragments, Versions and Parallels散文：分段，版本及平行
1. Writing the Essays散文写作
2. Counsels for the Prince给君主的劝告
3. The Wisdom of the Ancients先人的智慧
4. Idols of the Mind精神偶像
5. A Poetical Essay诗意散文
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