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1、Of studies 的分析与译文Of Studies is the most popular of Bacons 58 essays. It analyzes what study chiefly serve for, the different ways adopted by different people to pursue studies, and how studies exert influence over human character. Forceful and persuasive, compact and precise, Of Studies reveals to u
2、s Bacons mature attitude towards learning. Question: what is the main structure of the essay? How Bacon develop his thesis?Structure of the essay:1. the purpose of studies.(theisis 1): the first sentence2. the methods of learning 3. the influence of books on human character; Reading makes a full man
3、, ect. Of studiesStudies serve for delight, for ornament, and for ability. Their chief use for delight, is in privateness and retiring (ie. when you are alone, in your leisure time); for ornament, is in discourse (in discussion with other people); and for ability, is in the judgment, and disposition
4、 (dealing and arrangement) of business. For expert men (experienced or sophisticated men, not the bookish ones) can execute, and perhaps judge of particulars, one by one; but the general counsels (advice, plans of action), and the plots and marshalling of affairs (planning and arrangement of things)
5、, come best, from those that are learned (the sentence means that only by relying on ones experience is far from enough in coping with the world affairs). To spend too much time in studies is sloth （laziness）; to use them too much for ornament, is affectation (pretence, unnatural); to make judgment
6、wholly by their rules, is the humor of a scholar (humor: temperament, bookishness 书呆子气； Note the sentence is arranged in climatic order) . They (studies) perfect (being without defect or blemish) nature, and are perfected by experience: for natural abilities are like natural plants, that need prunin
7、g (树枝等的)修剪 by study; and studies themselves, do give forth directions too much at large (too general, aimless, without focus), 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 (for books keep us infor
8、med but do not tell us how to use knowledge); but that is a wisdom without them (outside them, cannot be found in the books), and above them, won by observation. Read not to contradict and confute (to prove to be wrong or in error; refute decisively; find fault with the author); nor to believe and t
9、ake for granted; nor to find (material or details for) talk and discourse; but to weigh and consider. (ie. do not misrepresent the purpose of reading) 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
10、 to be read, but not curiously (thoroughly or carefully); and some few to be read wholly, and with diligence (with assiduity, persistent application) and attention. Some books also may be read by deputy (by others) and extracts made of them by others; but that would be only in the less important arg
11、uments (plots, subject or topic), and the meaner (low in quality or grade; inferior) sort of books (books of less value or worth); else distilled books are like common distilled waters, flashy (bland, tasteless) things. Reading maketh a full man; conference a ready man; and writing an exact man. (re
12、ading enables you to enjoy a full, meaningful life. discussing and talking with others makes you witty, and writing makes you precise in details.)And therefore, if a man write little, he had need have a great memory; if he confer little, he had need have a present (existed, ready) wit: and if he rea
13、d little, he had need have much cunning (subtle, crafty, sly), to seem to know, that (=that which; what) he doth not. Histories make men wise; poets witty; the mathematics subtle; natural philosophy(science) deep; moral (philosophy,伦理学) grave; logic and rhetoric able to contend. Abeunt studia in mor
14、es. (Latin: studies become ways of life; studies pass into the character. Reading will bear deep marks on your character; your weakness in character can be compensated by gaining knowledge from studies. Note the confidence of Bacon in human knowledge and in human beings, a basic stance of the Renais
15、sance scholars. )Nay there is no stond (block; drawback) or impediment in the wit (obstacle in the mind) Nothat cannot, but may be wrought (worked) out (eliminated) by fit studies; like as diseases of the body, may have appropriate exercises. Bowling is good for the stone and reins(肾脏); shooting for
16、 the lungs and breast; gentle walking for the stomach; riding for the head; and the like. So if a mans 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(medieval theologians, 经院哲学家); for they are cymini sectores (divider of cumin seeds; too meticulous with details). If he be no
