評論
打印
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 the 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.
最后，近親、同事、與同養之人，最容易在平輩騰達的時候嫉妒他們。因為這些騰達的人們可說是以他們底幸福顯出了同輩底不良；指責了他們。并且這些騰達的人們入同輩底記憶之中較繁，同樣地，惹他們底注意也較強；而嫉妒之心是由言談及名聲而倍增的。該隱對他兄弟亞伯的嫉妒是很卑劣，很兇惡的，因為當亞伯底供品被上帝看中的時候當場并沒有人旁觀。以上就是關于最易嫉人的人的話。
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 saltum.
貴胄在升顯的時候不甚受嫉。因為那好象是他們本著家世而應得的權利。并且他們貴顯了也不見得是在他們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熱得多的。為了同一的原故，那些逐漸升高的人們較之那些突然騰達，一躍而躋于貴顯之列的人們是少受人嫉妒的。
Those that have joined with their honor great travels, cares, or perils, are less subject to envy. For men think that they earn their honors 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 greataess, 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 lightsand pre-eminences of their places. For by that means, there be so many screens between him and envy.
那些把他們底榮耀與重大的勞苦、憂慮、或危險連在一處的人們是少受嫉妒的。因為人們認為這些人底榮耀是得來不易的，并且有時還可憐他們，而憐憫永遠是治療嫉妒的。因此你可以看到那較為深沉莊重的政界中人，在他們底崇高的地位中總是自嗟自嘆，說他們度著何等不樂的生活，唱著一套“我們何等受苦”的歌曲。并不是他們感覺如此，而是要減少嫉妒心底鋒铓。但是這種嗟嘆所指的要是別人給他們加上的負擔才行，不可指自己招來的事業。因為再沒有比無必要而野心地專攪事業之更增人嫉妒者也。又，一個大人物若能使所有居下位者保持所有的權利和充分的身分，那就沒有比這個更能消滅嫉妒的了。因為借著這種手段，在他與嫉妒之間可說是有了好幾重障隔也。
Above all, those are most subject to envy, which carry the greatness of their fortunes, in an insolent and proud manner; being never well, but while they are showing how great they are, either by outward pomp, or by triumphing over all opposition or competition; whereas wise men will rather do sacrifice to envy, in suffering themselves sometimes of purpose to be crossed, and overborne in things that do not much concern them. Notwithstanding, so much is true, that the carriage of greatness, in a plain and open manner (so it be without arrogancy and vain glory) doth draw less envy, than if it be in a more crafty and cunning fashion. For in that course, a man doth but disavow fortune; and seemeth to be conscious of his own want in worth; and doth but teach others, to envy him.
最甚者，有些人用一種傲慢不恭的態度來處他們底大富貴，他們是最受嫉妒的。這些人總要表示自己底偉大——或以外表的煊赫，或以克服一切的反對與競爭——才覺得滿意；而有智之人則寧可給嫉妒貢獻點什么，有時在自己不甚關切的事件中故意讓人阻撓或壓倒。然而這又是真的，就是在若以一種樸素坦白的態度來處尊榮（只要是不帶驕矜與虛榮），比用一種較為多詐而狡猾的態度要少受人嫉妒。因為在后一種舉止里，一個人簡直是表明他不配享受那種幸福并且還好象明白自己之無價值似的；由此他竟是教導別人來嫉妒自己了。
Lastly, to conclude this part; as we said in the beginning, that the act of envy had somewhat in it of witchcraft, so there is no other cure of envy, but the cure of witchcraft; and that is, to remove the lot (as they call it) and to lay it upon another. For which purpose, the wiser sort of great persons, bring in ever upon the stage somebody upon whom to derive the envy, that would come upon themselves; sometimes upon ministers and servants; sometimes upon colleagues and associates; and the like; and for that turn there are never wanting, some persons of violent and undertaking natures, who, so they may have power and business, will take it at any cost.
最后結束這一段的話：我們在起始既說嫉妒的行為，內中有點巫術的性質，那末要治嫉妒，除了治巫術的方法再沒有別的方法；那就是除去那“妖氣”（人們所謂的）而使之落于別人身上。為了這種目的，有些比較明哲多智的大人物，總要把某一個旁人，叫他登臺露面，好教那本要落到自己身上的嫉妒心轉到那些人身上去，有時這嫉妒落到屬員或仆役身上；有時落到同事或同僚身上；諸如此類：而為了這種事情，永不會缺乏一些天性莽撞而好事的人的。這些人只要能得到權力和職務，什么代價也肯出的。
