經(jīng)典英語散文:論旅行(培根)

TRAVEL, in the younger sort, is a part of education, in the elder, a part of experience. He that travelleth into a country, before he hath some entrance into the language, goeth to school, and not to travel. That young men travel under some tutor, or grave servant, I allow well; so that he be such a one that hath the language, and hath been in the country before; whereby he may be able to tell them what things are worthy to be seen, in the country where they go; what acquaintances they are to seek; what exercises, or discipline, the place yieldeth. For else, young men shall go hooded, and look abroad little. It is a strange thing, that in sea voyages, where there is nothing to be seen, but sky and sea, men should make diaries; but in land-travel, wherein so much is to be observed, for the most part they omit it; as if chance were fitter to be registered, than observation. Let diaries, therefore, be brought in use. The things to be seen and observed are: the courts of princes, especially when they give audience to ambassadors; the courts of justice, while they sit and hear causes; and so of consistories ecclesiastic; the churches and monasteries, with the monuments which are therein extant; the walls and fortifications of cities, and towns, and so the heavens and harbors; antiquities and ruins; libraries; colleges, disputations, and lectures, where any are; shipping and navies; houses and gardens of state and pleasure, near great cities; armories; arsenals; magazines; exchanges; burses; warehouses; exercises of horsemanship, fencing, training of soldiers, and the like; comedies, such whereunto the better sort of persons do resort; treasuries of jewels and robes; cabinets and rarities; and, to conclude, whatsoever is memorable, in the places where they go. After all which, the tutors, or servants, ought to make diligent inquiry. As for triumphs, masks, feasts, weddings, funerals, capital executions, and such shows, men need not to be put in mind of them; yet are they not to be neglected. If you will have a young man to put his travel into a little room, and in short time to gather much, this you must do. First, as was said, he must have some entrance into the language before he goeth. Then he must have such a servant, or tutor, as knoweth the country, as was likewise said. Let him carry with him also, some card or book, describing the country where he travelleth; which will be a good key to his inquiry. Let him keep also a diary. Let him not stay long, in one city or town; more or less as the place deserveth, but not long; nay, when he stayeth in one city or town, let him change his lodging from one end and part of the town, to another; which is a great adamant of acquaintance. Let him sequester himself, from the company of his countrymen, and diet in such places, where there is good company of the nation where he travelleth. Let him, upon his removes from one place to another, procure recommendation to some person of quality, residing in the place whither he removeth; that he may use his favor, in those things he desireth to see or know. Thus he may abridge his travel, with much profit. As for the acquaintance, which is to be sought in travel; that which is most of all profitable, is acquaintance with the secretaries and employed men of ambassadors: for so in travelling in one country, he shall suck the experience of many. Let him also see, and visit, eminent persons in all kinds, which are of great name abroad; that he may be able to tell, how the life agreeth with the fame. For quarrels, they are with care and discretion to be avoided. They are commonly for mistresses, healths, place, and words. And let a man beware, how he keepeth company with choleric and quarrelsome persons; for they will engage him into their own quarrels. When a traveller returneth home, let him not leave the countries, where he hath travelled, altogether behind him; but maintain a correspondence by letters, with those of his acquaintance ,which are of most worth. And let his travel appear rather in his discourse, than his apparel or gesture; and in his discourse, let him be rather advised in his answers, than forward to tell stories; and let it appear that he doth not change his country manners, for those of foreign parts; but only prick in some flowers, of that he hath learned abroad, into the customs of his own country.

遠(yuǎn)游于年少者乃教育之一部分，于年長者則為經(jīng)驗(yàn)之一部分。未習(xí)一國之語言而去該國，那與其說是去旅游，不如說是去求學(xué)。余贊成年少者游異邦須有一私家教師或老成持重的仆人隨行，但隨行者須通該邦語言并去過該邦，這樣他便可告知主人在所去國度有何事當(dāng)看，有何人當(dāng)交，有何等運(yùn)動(dòng)可習(xí)，或有何等學(xué)問可得，不然年少者將猶如霧中看花，雖遠(yuǎn)游他邦但所見甚少。遠(yuǎn)游者有一怪習(xí)，當(dāng)其航行于大誨，除水天之外別無他景可看之時(shí)，他們往往會大寫日記，但當(dāng)其漫游于大陸，有諸多景象可觀之時(shí)，他們卻往往疏于著墨，仿佛偶然之所見比刻意之觀察更適于記載似的。所以寫日記得養(yǎng)成習(xí)慣。遠(yuǎn)游者在所游國度應(yīng)觀其是家宮廷，尤其當(dāng)遇到君王們接見各國使節(jié)的時(shí)候;應(yīng)觀其訟庭法院，尤其當(dāng)遇到法官開庭審案之時(shí);還應(yīng)觀各派教會舉行的宗教會議;觀各教堂寺院及其中的歷史古跡;現(xiàn)各城鎮(zhèn)之墻垣及堡壘要塞;觀碼頭和海港、遺跡和廢墟;現(xiàn)書樓和學(xué)校以及偶遇的答辯和演講;現(xiàn)該國的航運(yùn)船舶和海軍艦隊(duì);觀都市近郊壯美的建筑和花園;觀軍械庫、大倉房、交易所和基金會;觀馬術(shù)、擊劍、兵訓(xùn)及諸如此類的操演;觀當(dāng)?shù)厣狭魅耸口呏趄\的戲劇;觀珠寶服飾和各類珍奇標(biāo)本。一言以蔽之，應(yīng)觀看所到之處一切值得記憶的風(fēng)光名勝和禮儀習(xí)俗，反正打探上述去處應(yīng)是隨行的那名私家教師或貼身隨從的事。至于慶祝大典、化裝舞會、瓊筵盛宴、婚禮葬禮以及行刑等熱鬧場面，游者倒不必過分注意，但也不應(yīng)視而不見。若要讓一名年少者在短期內(nèi)游一小國且要受益甚多，那就必須讓他做到以下幾點(diǎn);首先他必須如前文所述在動(dòng)身前已略知該國語言;其次他必須有一名上文所說的那種熟悉該國的私家教師或隨從;其三他得帶若干介紹該國的書籍地圖以資隨時(shí)查閱釋疑;他還必須堅(jiān)持天天寫日記;他不可在一城一鎮(zhèn)久居，時(shí)間長短可視地方而定，但不宜太久;當(dāng)居于某城某鎮(zhèn)時(shí)，他須在該城不同地域變換位處，以便吸引更多人相識;他得使自己不與本國同胞交往，而且應(yīng)在可結(jié)交當(dāng)?shù)嘏笥训牡胤接貌?當(dāng)從一地遷往另一地時(shí)，他須設(shè)法獲得寫給另一地某位上流人物的推薦信，以便在他想見識或了解某些事時(shí)可得到那人的幫助。只要做到上述各點(diǎn)，他就能在短期游歷中受益良多。至于在旅行中當(dāng)與何等人相交相識，余以為最值得結(jié)識者莫過于各國使節(jié)的秘書雇員之類，這樣在一國旅行者亦可獲得游多國之體驗(yàn)。游人在所游之地亦應(yīng)去拜望各類名揚(yáng)天下的卓越人物，如此便有可能看出那些大活人在多大程度上與其名聲相符。旅行中務(wù)必謹(jǐn)言慎行以免引起爭吵，須知引發(fā)爭吵的事由多是為情人、飲酒、座次或出言不遜。游人與易怒好爭者結(jié)伴時(shí)尤須當(dāng)心，因?yàn)楹笳呖赡馨延稳艘渤哆M(jìn)他們自己的爭吵。遠(yuǎn)游者歸國返鄉(xiāng)后，不可將曾游歷過的國家拋到九霄云外，而應(yīng)該與那些新結(jié)識且值得結(jié)識的友人保持通信。他還須注意，與其讓自己的遠(yuǎn)游經(jīng)歷反映在衣著或舉止上，不如讓其反映在言談之中;但在談及自己的旅行時(shí)，最好是謹(jǐn)慎答問，別急于津津樂道。他還須注意，勿顯得因游過異國他邦就改變了自己本國的某些習(xí)慣，而應(yīng)該讓人覺得自己是把在國外學(xué)到的某些最好的東西融進(jìn)了本國的習(xí)俗。