培根散文随笔集第14章：Of Nobility 论贵族（中英对照）
培根散文随笔集中英对照，通过阅读文学名著学语言，是掌握英语的绝佳方法。既可接触原汁原味的英语，又能享受文学之美，一举两得，何乐不为？
14 of nobility 论贵族
we will speak of nobility, first as a portion of an estate; then as a condition of particular persons. a monarchy, where there is no nobility at all, is ever a pure and absolute tyranny; as that of the turks. for nobility attempers sovereignty, and draws the eyes of me people somewhat aside from the line royal. but for democracies, they need it not; and they are commonly more quiet, and less subject to sedition, then where there are stirps of nobles. for men's eyes are upon the business, and not upon the persons: or if upon the persons, it is for the business' sake, as fittest, and not for flags and pedigree.
关于贵族，我们将先以之为国家中的一个阶级，再以之为个人底一种品质而论之。一个完全没有贵族的君主国总是一个纯粹而极端的专制国；如土耳其是也。因为贵族是调剂君权的，贵族把人民底眼光引开，使其多少离开皇室。但是说到民主国家，它们是不需要贵族的；并且它们比较有贵族巨室的国家，通常是较为平静，不易有叛乱的。因为在民主国中，人们底眼光是在事业上而不在个人上的；或者，即令眼光是在个人身上，也是为了事业的原故，要问某人之适当与否，而不是为了标帜与血统的。
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