论美 中英文对照.docxVIP

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论美中英文对照

OfBeauty

ByFrancisBacon

Virtueislikearichstone,bestplainset;andsurelyvirtueisbest,inabodythatiscomely,thoughnotofdelicatefeatures;andthathathratherdignityofpresence,thanbeautyofaspect.

Neitherisitalmostseen,thatverybeautifulpersonsareotherwiseofgreatvirtue;asifnaturewereratherbusy,nottoerr,thaninlabortoproduceexcellency.Andthereforetheyproveaccomplished,butnotofgreatspitit;andstudyratherbehavior,thanvirtue.Butthisholdsnotalways;forAugustusCaesar,TitusVespasianus,PhilipleBelleofFrance,EdwardtheFourthofEngland,AlcibiadesofAthensIsmaeltheSophyofPersia,wereallhighandgreatspirits;andyetthemostbeautifulmenoftheirtimes.Inbeauty,thatoffavor,ismorethanthatofcolor;andthatofdecentandgraciousmotion,morethanthatoffavor.

Thatisthebestpartofbeauty,whichapicturecannotexpress;no,northefirstsightofthelife.Thereisnoexcellentbeauty,thatbathnotsomestrangenessintheproportion.AmancannottellwhetherApelles,orAlbertDurer,werethemorettifler,whereoftheone,wouldmakeapersonagebygeometricaproportions;theother,bytakingthebestpartsoutofdiversfaces,tomakeoneexcellent.Suchpersonages,Ithink,wouldpleasenobod,butthepainterthatmadethem.

NotbutIthinkapaintermaymakeabetterfacethaneverwas;buthemustdoitbyakindoffelicity(asamusicianthatmakethanexcellentairinmusic),andnotbyrule.Amanshallseefaces,thatifyouexaminethempartbypart,youshallfindneveragood;andyetaltogetherdowell.

Ifitbetuuethattheprincipalpartofbeautyisindecentmotion,certainlyitisnomarvel,thoughpersonsinyearsseemmanytimesmoreamiable;pulchrorumautumnuspulcher;fornoyouthcanbecomelybutbypardon,andconsideringtheyouth,astomakeupthecomeliness.

Beautyisassummerfrui