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  3. He that hath wife and children hath given hostages to fortune: for they are impediments to great enterprises, either of virtue o

He that hath wife and children hath given hostages to fortune: for they are impediments to great enterprises, either of virtue o

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问题     He that hath wife and children hath given hostages to fortune: for they are impediments to great enterprises, either of virtue or mischief. Certainly the best works, and of greatest merit for the public, have proceeded from the unmarried or childless men, which both in affection and means have married and endowed the public. Yet it were great reason that those that have children should have greatest care of future times, unto which they know they must transmit their dearest pledges. Some there are who, though they lead a single life, yet their thoughts do end with themselves, and account future impertinences. Nay, there are some other that account wife and children but as bills of charges. Nay more, there are some foolish rich covetous men that take a pride in having no children, because they may be thought so much the richer. For perhaps they have heard some talk: "Such a one is a great rich man." and another except to it. "yea, but he hath a great charge of children" : as if it were an abatement to his riches. But the most ordinary cause of a single life is liberty, especially in certain self-pleasing and humorous minds, which are so sensible of every restraint, as they will go near to think their girdles and garters to be bonds, and shackles.
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答案 夫人之有妻儿也丕啻已向命运典质，从此难成大事，无论善恶。兴大业，立大功，往往系未婚无儿者所为，彼辈似已与公众结亲，故爱情产业并以付之。按理而论，有子女者应对未来岁月最为关切，因已将至亲骨肉托付之矣。独身者往往思虑仅及己身，以为未来与己无关。有人则视妻儿为负债。更有贪而愚者，以无儿女为荣，以为如此更可夸其富足。此辈或曾闻人议论，一云此人为大富，另一则云否也，其人有多子负担，其财必损。然独身之原因，最常见者为喜自由，尤其自娱任性之人不耐任何束缚，身上褡带亦视为桎梏。
解析     《论婚姻和单身》(Of Marriage and Single Life)是培根(Francis Bacon)著名作品之一，作为一篇论说文，其观点明确，叙述条理清晰。培根认为：男大当婚，女大当嫁，家庭和孩子能使人具有责任感，充满爱心。在论证过程中，培根将婚姻与单身进行分析比较，一一列举单身的不足，在此基础上阐述自己的看法，令人信服。文章不乏精当之论，如妻子就丈夫而言，是“年轻人的主人。中年人的伴侣，老年人的保姆”，这是作者对生活长时间的观察和思考后才得出的结论。培根的基本观点是婚姻无论对个人还是社会都不是坏事。女人即使嫁给了坏男人，婚姻也给妻子提供了改正她们的错误的机会。培根论说文的语言明白晓畅，修身处世的箴言体现了他崇尚实用的理念。
1．  “He that hath wife and children hath given hostages to fortune”：这是培根的名言．译为：  “那些有家室的人，无疑是把自己和命运做了抵押。”“give hostages to fortune”原意指“给了命运以人质”，这里引申为“和命运做了抵押”。
2．  impediments to great enterprises：  “enterprise”is eagerness to do sth．new and clever， despite any risks．(进取心，冒险精神，也可以为事业，事业心)；整个词组译为“成就伟大事业的障碍”。
3．  either of virtue or mischief：这里的“virtue”是指“wife’s virtue”，“mischief”是指 “children’s mischief”。妻子的美德与孩子的调皮与否，即可合译为“婚姻和孩子无论好坏”。
4．the best works：是后文“proceed”的宾语，我们将之译为动词词组“成就大事”。
5．  of greatest merit：  “merit”原意是“the quality of being good and deserving praise，优点，价值”，这里和“the best works”一样是“proceed”的宾语，  “发生或开始价值”并不通顺，因此我们将它意译为“做出一番轰轰烈烈业绩”。
6．  in affection and means：  “in affection”即为“在情感上”，但是较为难处理的是“in means”的翻译，如若不知道mean复数形式的意思是“财产的话”就会误译，译成“以……的方法”，这里可以译成“在财产上”。
7．  married and endowed the public：这里“endow”(赋予)是“married”的强调，所以不用译出。
8．  “Yet it were great reason that…”：虚拟语气，表明作者的假设，猜测。译为“但还是有充足的理由来说……”。
9．  “unto which they know they must transmit their dearest pledges．”：这里需要注意，“which”指代的是前文的“children”，全句的意思是“他们知道他们必须传承最贵重的保证给孩子”，这样的翻译不通顺，因此我们这里可以意译为：  “他们知道孩子是未来的延续”，这样更符合中文的表达方式。
10．some there are who：有些人。
11．  “though they lead a single life．yet their thoughts do end with themselves”：  “though”一般会翻译成“尽管”，但是这里为丫全文的意思，我们需要将它译成“既然”。全句译为“既然他们过着单身生活，也就只会考虑自己”。
12．account future impertinences：  “impertinence”原意是“无理，鲁莽”，这里如若译成“认为未来鲁莽无理”非常不通顺没有意义，所以我们需要先吃透作者的意思来进行意译。前文既然已说明单身的人事不关已的行为，那这里我们就可以将它意译成“认为未来是与己无干的事情”。
13．nay：不仅如此。
14．  “there are some other that account wife and children but as bills of charges．”：这里 “but”起强调作用，译为“竟然”。全句译为“更有人竟把妻子和孩子看作自己要付的账单。”“bills of charges”：费川账单．．
15．covetous：贪婪的，贪求的，渴望的。
16．because they may be thought so much the richer．：译为“他们相信孩子会更富”。这里“be thought so much”的“so much”指前文的“having no baby”。
17．such a one is a great rich man：译为“那个人很富有”。
18．a great charge of children：  “charge”原意是“费用，电荷”，这里就直接译为“有一大堆孩子”。
19．abatement：to become less strong，减弱，减少。
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