培根散文-论婚姻(3)

Chaste women are often proud and froward, as presuming upon the merit of their chastity. It is one of the best bonds, both of chastity and obedience, in the wife, if she think her husband wise; which she will never do, if she find him jealous. Wives are young men`s mistresses; companions for middle age; and old men`s nurses. So as a man may have a quarrel to marry, when he will.
But yet he was reputed one of the wise men, that made answer to the question, when a man should marry, - A young man not yet, an elder man not at all. It is often seen that bad husbands, have very good wives; whether it be, that it raiseth the price of their husband`s kindness, when it comes; or that the wives take a pride in their patience. But this never fails, if the bad husbands were of their own choosing, against their friends consent; for then they will be sure to make good their own folly. 成了家的人，可以说对命运之神付出了抵押品。

因为家庭难免拖累事业，而无论这种事业的性质如何。所以是能为公众献身人，应当是不被家室所累的人。因为只有这种人，才能够把他的全部爱情和财产，都奉献给唯一的情人——公众。而那种有家室的人，恐怕宁愿把最好的东西留给自己的后代。
有的人在结婚后仍然愿意过独身生活。因为他们不喜欢家庭，把妻子儿女看作经济上的累赘。还有一些富人甚至以无子嗣为自豪。也许他们是担心，一旦有了子女就瓜分现有的财产吧。有一种人过独身生活是为了保持自由，以避免受约束于对家庭承担的义务和责任。但这种人，可能会认为腰带和鞋带，也难免是一种束缚呢！
实际上，独身者也许可以成为最好的朋友，最好的主人，最好的仆人，但很难成为最好的公民。因为他们随时可以迁逃，所以差不多一切流窜犯都是无家者。
作为献身宗教的 ，是有理由保持独身的。否则他们的慈悲就先布施于家人而不是供奉于上帝了。作为法官与 师，是否独身关系并不大。因为只要他们身边有一个坏的幕僚，其进谗言的能力就足以抵上五个妻子。作为军人，有家室则是好事，这正可以在战场上激发他 们的责任感和勇气。这一点可以从土耳其的事例中得到反证——那里的风俗不重视婚姻和家庭，结果他们士兵的斗志很差。