Some, in their discourse, desire rather commendation of wit, in being able to hold all arguments, than of judgment, in discerning what is true; as if it were a praise, to know what might be said, and not, what should be thought. Some have certain common places, and themes, wherein they are good and want variety; which kind of poverty is for the most part tedious, and when it is once perceived, ridiculous. The honorablest part of talk, is to give the occasion; and again to moderate, and pass to somewhat else; for then a man leads the dance. It is good, in discourse and speech of conversation, to vary and intermingle speech of the present occasion, with arguments, tales with reasons, asking of questions, with telling of opinions, and jest with earnest: for it is a dull thing to tire, and, as we say now, to jade, any thing too far. As for jest, there be certain things, which ought to be privileged from it; namely, religion, matters of state, great persons, any man’s present business of importance, and any case that deserveth pity. Yet there be some, that think their wits have been asleep, except they dart out somewhat that is piquant, and to the quick. That is a vein which would be bridled:

Parce, puer, stimulis, et fortius utere loris.

談辭令?

???? 某些人在言談中更欣賞能自圓其說(shuō)的趣言妙語(yǔ)，而不注重可辨明真?zhèn)蔚呐袛嗄芰?，仿佛值得贊賞的應(yīng)該是知其言，而不應(yīng)該是知其所思。某些人熟諳一些老生常談，并善于就此高談闊論而少有發(fā)揮，這種貧乏之辭多半都單調(diào)沉悶，而且一經(jīng)察覺(jué)會(huì)顯得荒唐可笑。善于辭令者德可貴之處只在于能提起話(huà)頭、緩和話(huà)鋒并轉(zhuǎn)移話(huà)題，這種人可謂是交談的指揮。言談話(huà)語(yǔ)最好能有抑揚(yáng)張弛，如在時(shí)事中加以論證，在鋪敘中夾以推理，忽而提問(wèn)忽而酬答，有時(shí)調(diào)侃有時(shí)認(rèn)真，因?yàn)槔嫌靡环N腔調(diào)平鋪直敘會(huì)令人感到乏味，就如人們時(shí)下愛(ài)說(shuō)的“簡(jiǎn)直沒(méi)勁兒”。說(shuō)到調(diào)侃，須注意有些事不可成為調(diào)侃的對(duì)象，如宗教、國(guó)務(wù)、偉人，以及任何人德當(dāng)務(wù)之急和任務(wù)值得同情的病癥；然而有些人以為言辭不刻薄就不足以顯示其風(fēng)趣，這是一種應(yīng)加以制止的傾向，“小伙子喲，請(qǐng)少用鞭子，多拉韁繩?！?/p>

曹明倫 譯

選自楊自伍的英國(guó)散文名篇欣賞