Of Ambition 论野心

　　Ambition is like choler; which is an humour, that maketh men active, earnest, full of alacrity, and stirring, if it be not stopped. But if it be stopped, and cannot have his way, it becometh adust, and thereby malign and venomous.

　　野心有如胆汁，它是一种令人积极、认真、敏速、好动的体液——假如它不受到阻止的话，但是假如它受了阻止，不能自由发展的时候，它就要变为焦燥，从而成为恶毒的了。

　　So ambitious men, if they find the way open for their rising, and still get forward, they are rather busy than dangerous; but if they be checked in their desires, they become secretly discontent, and look upon men and matters, with an evil eye; and are best pleased, when things go backward; which is the worst property, in a servant of a prince or state.

　　类此，有野心的人，如果他们觉得升迁有路，并且自己常在前进的话，他们与其说是危险，不如说是忙碌的;但是如果他们底欲望受了阻挠，他们就要变为心怀怨愤，看人看事都用一付凶眼。并且在主上底诸事受挫折的时候最为高兴;这在一位帝王底或一个共和国底臣仆方面乃是最恶劣的品性。

　　Therefore it is good for princes, if they use ambitious men, to handle it so, as they be still progressive, and not retrograde: which because it cannot be without inconvenience, it is good not to use such natures at all. For if they rise not with their service, they will take order to make their service fall with them.

　　因此，为君主者，如果用有野心的人，须要调度得使他们常在前进而不后退，方为有益;这种办法既不能没有不便之处，因此最好不要用有这种天性的人。因为如果他们本身与他们所从事的职务不同时并进的话，他们定将设法使他们底职务与己身一同堕落的。

　　But since we have said, it were good not to use men of ambitious natures, except it be upon necessity, it is fit we speak in what cases they are of necessity.

　　可是，我们既已说过，顶好是不用天性中有野心的人，除非不得已，那么我们就应该说一说，在什么样的情形中，这样的人是不得不用的。

　　Of ambitions, it is less harmful, the ambition to prevail in great things, than that other, to appear in everything; for that breeds confusion, and mars business. But yet, it is less danger to have an ambitious man stirring in business, than great in dependencies. He that seeketh to be eminent amongst able men, hath a great task; but that is ever good for the public. But he that plots to be the only figure amongst ciphers, is the decay of an whole age.

　　说到各种的野心，其目的专要在大事上出风头的那种野心比那要事事显身手的那种野心为害较小;因为后者滋生混乱，扰害事务也。然而使一个有野心的人忙于事务，比使他拥有广大的从众是危险较少的。那要在能干的人们之中出风头的人是给自己出难题作的，但是那总是于公众有利的。但是那图谋想在一切的零号中为唯一的数目字的人，则是一世人底毁灭者。

　　Honour hath three things in it: the vantage ground to do good: the approach to kings, and principal persons: and the raising of a man's own fortunes. He that hath the best of these intentions, when he aspireth, is an honest man: and that prince that can discern of these intentions in another that aspireth, is a wise prince.

　　崇爵高位，其中有三事;有为善底好机会;能接近帝王与要人;能提高一个人自己底富贵。一个人在希冀之中，若其居心是上述三种中最上的，那么他就是一个诚实君子;而那能在有所希冀的人底心里看出他有这种居心的君王，乃是贤主。

　　Generally, let princes and states choose such ministers, as are more sensible of duty, than of rising; and such as love business rather upon conscience, than upon bravery: and let them discern a busy nature, from a willing mind.

　　一般言之，帝王和共和国最好在选择大臣的时候，选用那些责任之感敏于升擢之感，为良心而爱作事而非为显扬而爱作事的人们;他们并且还应当把喜事的天性与愿意服务的心性辨别出来。

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（责任编辑：何莹莹）