Of Friendship 论友谊(5)

  But when all is done, the help of good counsel is that which setteth business straight.  然而能使事业趋于正轨者还数忠言。   And if any man think that he will take counsel, but it shall be by pieces; asking counsel in one business of one man, and in another business of another man; it is well (that is to say, better perhaps than if he asked none at all); but he runneth two dangers: one, that he shall not be faithfully counselled; for it is a rare thing, except it be from a perfect and entire friend, to have counsel given, but such as shall be bowed and crooked to some ends, which he hath that giveth it The other, that he shall have counsel given, hurtful, and unsafe (though with good meaning), and mixed, partly of mischief, and partly of remedy: even as if you would call a physician, that is thought good, for the cure of the disease you complain of, but is unacquainted with your body; and therefore, may put you in way for a present cure, but overthroweth your health in some other kind;and so cure the disease, and kill the patient But a friend that is wholly acquainted with a man\'s estate, will beware by furthering any present business, how he dasheth upon other inconvenience.  又，假如有人想采纳别人底忠告，而愿意零碎采纳，在某一件事上问某一人，在另一件事上问另一人，这样的办法也好（这就是说，总比他全不问人的或者好一点）；可是他冒着两种危险；一是他将得不到忠实的进言；因为所进的言论必须是来自一位完全诚心的朋友的才好，否则鲜有不被歪屈而倾向于进言人之私利者也。另一种危险是他所得的进言，将为一种有害而不安全的言论（虽然用意是好的）一半是招致祸患的而一半是救济或预防祸患的；有如你生病请医，而这位医生是虽被认为善治你所患的病症，却是不熟悉你底体质的；因此他也许会使你目前的疾病可以痊愈而将危害你健康的另一方面；结果是治了病症而杀了病人。一个完全通晓你底事业境遇的朋友则不然，他将小心注意，以免因为推进你目前的某种事业而使你在别的方面突受打击。   And therefore, rest not upon scattered counsel; they will rather distract, and mislead, than seme, and direct After these two noble fruits of frendship (peace in the affections and support of the judgement) followeth the last fruit; which is like the pomegranate full of many kernels; I mean aid and bearing a part in all actions and occasions. Here, the best way to represent to life the manifold use of frendship is to cast and see, how many things there are, which a man cannot do himself; and then it will appear, that it was a sparing speech of the ancients, to say that a friend is another himself: for that a friend is far more than himself.  所以最好不要依靠零零碎碎的忠告；它们扰乱和误引底可能多于安定和指导底可能也。在友谊底这两种高贵的功效（心情上的平和与理智上的扶助）之后还有那最末的一种功效：这种功效有如石榴之多核。这句话的意思就是朋友对于一个人底各种行为，各种需要，都有所帮助，有所参加也。在这一点上，若要把友谊底多种用途很显明生动地表现出来，最好的方法是计算一下，看看一个人有多少事情是不能靠自己去办理的：这样计算一下之后，我们就以看得出古人所谓“朋友者另一己身也”的那句话是一句与事实相较还很不够的话；因为一个朋友比较一个人底己身用处还要大得多。   Men have their time, and die many times in desire of some things, which they principally take to heart; the bestowing of a child, the finishing of a work, or the like. If a man have a true friend, he may rest almost secure, that the care of those things will continue after him. So that a man hath as it were two lives in his desires. 人底生命有限，有许多人在没有达到最大的心愿——如子女底婚事，工作之完成，等——之前就死了。要是一个人有了一位真心的朋友，那末他就大可安心，知道这些事件在他死后还是有人照料的。如此，一个人在完成心愿上简直是有两条性命了。   A man hath a body, and that body is confined to a place; but where friendship is, all offices of life are as it were granted to him, and his deputy. For he may exercise them by his friend. How many things are there, which a man cannot, with any face or comeliness, say or do himself? A man can scarce allege his own merits with modesty, less extol them: a man cannot sometimes brook to supplicate or beg: and a number of the like. But all these things, are graceful in a friend\'s mouth, which are blushing in a man\'s own. So again, a man\'s person hath many proper relations, which he cannot put off. A man cannot speak to his son, but as a father, to his wife, but as a husband; to his enemy, but upon terms: whereas a friend may speak, as the case requires, and not as it sorteth with the person. But to enumerate these things were endless: I have given the rule, where a man cannot fitly play his own part: if he have not a friend, he may quit the stage.