英国文学史 Francis Bacon

wisdom without them, and above them, won by observation. Read not to contradict and confute, nor to believe and take for granted, nor to find talk and discourse, but to weigh and consider. 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. Reading maketh a full man, conference a ready man, and writing an exact. 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 more cunning, to seem to know that he doth not.
Histories make men wise, poets, witty; the mathematics, subtle; natural philosophy, deep; moral, grave; logic and rhetoric, able to contend. Abeunt studia in mores. Nay, there is no stond or impediment mores. 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 able to beat sectores. over ma to prove and illustrate another, let him study the lawyer’s cases. So every defect of the mind may have a special receipt.
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. For expert men can execute, and perhaps judge of particulars, one by one; but the general counsels, and the plots and marshaling 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 humor of a scholar. They perfect nature, and are perfected by experience; for natural abilities are like natural plants, that need pruning by study; and studies themselves go give forth directions too much at large, except they be bounded in by experience. Crafty men contemn studies, simple men admire them, and wise men use them, for they teach not their own use; but that is a
Francis Bacon
Bacon was of noble birth, and from an early age was attached to Elizabeth’s court. Elizabeth’ At twelve he went to Cambridge, and after graduating at 16 he took up law. At 17 he was in France in the train of the English ambassador. After his father’s death, father’ Bacon had to work out his own career. At 26, he was elected to Parliament. He did his best to draw the favorable attention of the Queen, but without much success. In the reign of James I, Bacon obtained an important office of state. He was an admirable judge, but in the course of his rising he had made enemies who finally combined to bring against him charges of bribery and the betrayal of justice. Five years after he was banished from London, he died. The remaining years of his life were spent in literary and philosophical work.
《论读书》赏析 论读书》 《论读书》详细讨论了读书的目的和功用， 论读书》 分析了世人对读书的不同态度，介绍了读书 的各种方法。文章写于17世纪，行文简约， 的各种方法。文章写于17世纪，行文简约， 略带古风而又明白畅达。培根采用排比修辞 手法，文中警句叠出，如“ 手法，文中警句叠出，如“读书足以怡情， 足以博采，足以长才，”“读史使人明智， 足以博采，足以长才，”“读史使人明智， 读诗使人灵秀，数学使人周密，科学使人深 刻，伦理使人庄重，逻辑修辞之学使人善辩， 凡有所学，皆成性格，” 凡有所学，皆成性格，”已成为家喻户晓的 名言。作为一名熟谙世故、饶有见识、讲究 实用的哲人和政治家，培根强调读书方法要 得当，不能死读书。他告戒我们：“ 得当，不能死读书。他告戒我们：“用书之 智不在书中，而在书外，全凭观察得之。” 智不在书中，而在书外，全凭观察得之。” 文章充分体现了培根的风格，有一种正襟危 坐、谈经论道之势。他文笔简练，说理准确， 不论以小喻大或以大喻小，都能鞭辟入里， 字里行间闪烁着智慧的光芒。《论读书》 字里行间闪烁着智慧的光芒。《论读书》文 风古雅，紧凑庄重，不失为英语精品之作， 值得读者仔细玩味。
Main works of Bacon
Philosophical works: The Advancement of Learning 学术的进展 The Novum Organum 求学之新器 The De Augmentis 新工具 Literary works: Essays 随笔 Professional works: Maxims of the Law 法律准则 Reading on the Statute of Uses 谈使用法则