英語名篇誦讀菁華 1-09 Of Avarice 2 論貪婪

The best excuse that can be made for avarice is , that is generally prevails in old men , or in men of cold tempers ,where all the other affections are extinct ; and the mind being incapable of remaining without some passion or pursuit ,at last finds out this monstrously absurd one ,which suits the coldness and inactivity of its temper . at the same time ,it seems very extraordinary ,that so frosty ,spirtless a passion should be able to carry us further than all the warmth of youth and pleasure .but if we look more narrowly into the matter ,we shall find ,that this very circumstance renders the explication of the case more easy .when the??temper is warm and full of vigour , it naturally shoots out more esay .when the temper is warm and full of vigour , it naturally shoots out ore ways than one and produces inferior passion to counterbalance , in some degree ,its predominant inclination .it is impossble for a person of that temper. However ,bent o any pursuit , to be deprived of all sense of shame ,or all regard to sentiments of mankind . his friends must have some influence over him ; and other considerations ate apt to have some influence over the avaricious man ,being ,from the coldness of his temper ,without regard to reputation ,to friendship ,or to pleasure ,should be carried so far by his prevailing inclination ,and should display his passion in such surprising instances.

為貪婪找到的最好的注解就是，在年老之人中，或在冷酷之人中是其盛行之所，這兩種人除了貪婪之外，其他情感無跡可尋；熱情和追求在其思想中蕩然無存，終究而言，貪婪是極其荒謬的，冷酷、不活躍是它的標(biāo)簽。然而，令人驚奇的是情感的冷酷，無精打采比洋溢青春的熱情和愉悅更能左右我們。但是如果仔細(xì)的審視，我們會(huì)發(fā)覺，正是這樣的情況使得對(duì)事情的解釋變的容易了。平常之時(shí)，平和的情緒駐留你我之身，而情緒熱情，充滿活力時(shí)，自然地會(huì)比冷漠時(shí)冒出更多的想法來，但也會(huì)過猶不及。對(duì)于這樣的一種人，不顧廉恥，缺乏情感，而醉心于什么追求上，簡(jiǎn)直不可能。他的朋友們一定會(huì)影響到他；其他的事情也會(huì)找上門。也一切在一定程度上圈住了他。但是，貪婪之人，恰由于冷酷，不吝名聲，友誼，還有愉悅，被貪婪左右著，欲陷欲深，用一種令人瞠目的方式表演著,也就不難理解了。