论美貌
Francis Bacon
弗朗西斯•培根
(1561-1626)
VIRTUE is like a rich stone, best plain set; and surely virtue is best, in a body that is comely, though not of
delicate features; and that hath rather dignity of presence, than beauty of aspect. Neither is it almost seen,
that very beautiful persons are otherwise of great virtue; as if nature were rather busy, not to err, than in
labor to produce excellency. And therefore they prove accomplished, but not of great spirit; and study rather
behavior, than virtue.
美德如宝石。宝石者，非素雅之镶嵌不能尽显其光彩，故美德之光彩，非俊雅而非娇艳、非端庄而非仅仅美艳之身躯不能尽显
。然，大美之人中鲜见美德者，仿佛造化忙不择优，为求无过而舍求至美。此何为美人虽有相貌但乏品性，重外表而轻美德也
。
But this holds not always: for Augustus Caesar, Titus Vespasianus, Philip le Belle of France, Edward the Fourth
of England, Alcibiades of Athens, Ismael the Sophy of Persia, were all high and great spirits; and yet the most
beautiful men of their times. In beauty, that of favor, is more than that of color; and that of decent and
gracious motion, more than that of favor. That is the best part of beauty, which a picture cannot express; no,
nor the first sight of the life.
然，此非恒理，奥古斯都•凯撒大帝、提图斯•威斯帕咸努斯大帝、法王菲利普、英王爱德华四世、雅典人阿尔西巴阿底斯、波
斯王伊斯迈耳皆属其时代品性高尚且相貌极美之人。就美而言，自然优于打扮，端庄、优雅胜于自然。此系美中极品，非绘画
所能表达，非一目而能了然。
There is no excellent beauty, that hath not some strangeness in the proportion. A man cannot tell whether
Apelles, or Albert Durer, were the more trifler; whereof the one, would make a personage by geometrical
proportions; the other, by taking the best parts out of divers faces, to make one excellent. Such personages, I
think, would please nobody, but the painter that made them. Not but I think a painter may make a better face
than ever was; but he must do it by a kind of felicity (as a musician that maketh an excellent air in music),
and not by rule.
A man shall see faces, that if you examine them part by part, you shall find never a good; and yet altogether
do well. If it be true that the principal part of beauty is in decent motion, certainly it is no marvel, though
persons in years seem many times more amiable; pulchrorum autumnus pulcher; for no youth can be comely but by
pardon, and considering the youth, as to make up the comeliness.
Beauty is as summer fruits, which are easy to corrupt, and cannot last; and for the most part it makes a
dissolute youth, and an age a little out of countenance; but yet certainly again, if it light well, it maketh
virtue shine, and vices blush.
