名篇背诵：Of Avarice (Ⅰ) 论贪婪(一)

Of Avarice (Ⅰ) 论贪婪(一)

亚伯拉罕·考利(Abraham Cowley)

There are two sorts of avarice : the one is but of a bastard kind, and that is, the rapacious appetite of gain; not for its own sake, but for the pleasure of refunding it immediately through all the channels of pride and luxury; the other is the true kind, and properly so called, which is a restless and unsatiable desire of riches, not for any farther end or use, but only to hoard, and preserve, and perpetually increase them. The covetous man, of the first kind, is like a greedy ostrich, which devours any metal; but it is with an intent to feed upon it, and in effect it makes a shift to digest and excern it. The second is like the foolish chough, which loves to steal money only to hide it. The first does much harm to mankind; and a little good too, to some few; the second does good to none; no, not to himself. The first can make no excuse to God, or angels, or rational men, for his actions; the second can give no reason or colour, not to the devil himself, for what he does; he is a slave to Mammon , without wages. The first makes a shift to be beloved, and envied, too, by some people; the second is the universal object of hatred and contempt.

- avarice [ˈævərɪs] n. 贪婪，贪心

- bastard [ˈbæstəd] a. 劣质的，假的

- rapacious [rəˈpeɪʃəs] a. 贪婪的，强取的

- unsatiable [ʌnˈseɪʃɪəbl] a. 贪求无厌的

- covetous [ˈkʌvɪtəs] a. 贪求的，垂涎的

- Mammon [ˈmæmən] n. 财神，贪欲之神

有两种贪婪：一种只是属于不够标准的贪婪，那就是出于高傲、奢华的目的，贪得无厌，满足自己无穷尽的欲望。另一种是标准的贪婪，这么说名副其实，因为这是一种无休止的、贪得无厌的对财富的欲望，不是为了进一步的目的或用途，而只是为了囤积，为了保存，为了持久地增加财富。第一种爱财的人，就像是一只贪食的鸵鸟，吞金噬银积攒钱财，但他的意图是要靠钱财生存，而事实上也尽力把钱财消化掉，排泄掉。第二种人则像愚蠢的红嘴山鸦，它喜欢偷钱而目的只是为了把它藏起来。第一种人对人类造成很大危害，而对少数人还能带来一些好处；而第二种人对任何人都没有好处；不，对他们自己也没有好处。上帝、天使、通情达理的人一概不宽恕前者；后者的行为就连魔鬼也不会为其求情说理，因为他是个不拿工资的守财奴。前者会受到有些人的喜爱，也会招人妒忌；后者则招致广泛的唾弃、仇视。

亚伯拉罕·考利(1618—1667)，英国诗人，十岁时就显露出诗才，著有田园诗剧《情迷》(Love's Riddle ，1638)，喜剧《卫士》(The Guardian， 1638)，《情妇》(The Mistress ，1647)等。诗作题材广泛，想象力丰富，诗体灿烂，富有音乐感。他的散文风格朴素、优雅。