培根：论司法(中英文)

汁原味的英语，又能享受文学之美，一举两得，何乐不为？

这是一个最好的时代，

因为有成千上万的书可以选择；

这又是一

个不好的时代，

因为在浩繁的卷帙中，很难找到适合自己的好书。

而培根的散文随笔，

浓缩

的不仅仅是文学，还是智慧。相信对阅读和写作都有很好的 帮助。

Of judicature

论司法

|

论法官

JUDGES ought to remember that their office is jus dicere, and not jus dare; to

interpret law, and not to make law, or give law.

法官们必须记住，他们的职权是解释法 律而不是制造法律或立法。

Else will it be like the authority, claimed by the Church of Rome, which under

pretext of exposition of Scripture, does not stick to add and alter; and to pronounce

that which they do not find; and by show of antiquity, to introduce novelty.

如若不然，它将如罗马教会所要求的权力一样；

罗马教会不仅假解释《圣经》之名，任意

增添与改动，而且借复古之名，标新 立异，宣传《圣经》中找不出来的东西。

Judges ought to be more learned than witty, more reverend than plausible,and

more advised than confident.

法官应当学问多于机智，严肃多于贫嘴，虚心多于自信。

Above all things, integrity is their portion and proper virtue.

尊严是他们的本分与美德——这是最最重要的。

Cursed (says the law) is he that removes the landmark.

“移动界石者应该受到诅咒”（犹太律说）。

The mislayer of a mere-stone is to blame.

放错界石的人要受到谴责。

But it is the unjust judge that is the capital remover of landmarks when he defines

amiss of lands and property.

而不公正的法官 ，当他对田地与财产做出错误判决时，就是主要的移动界石者。

One foul sentence does more hurt than many foul examples.

一个不公正的判决比多个不正当的案例为害更大。

For these do but corrupt the stream, the other corrupts the fountain.

因为这些坏东 西只是弄脏水流，而不公正的、肮脏的判决则败坏水源。

So with Solomon, Fons turbatus, et vena corrupta, est justus cadens in causa sua

coram adversario. The office of judges may have reference unto the parties that use,

unto the advocates that plead, unto the clerks and ministers of justice underneath

them, and to the sovereign or state above them.

因此所罗门说，

“正义者在邪恶者面 前败诉，如同浑浊之泉，把井水弄浊”

（拉丁文）。法

官的职权 可能跟诉讼者，

与辩护者，

跟自己下属的司法官吏，

生关系。

First, for the causes or parties that sue.

第一，先说诉讼的双方。

There be (says the Scripture) that turn judgment into wormwood; and surely there

be also that turn it into vinegar; for injustice makes it bitter, and delays make it sour.

“有人把审判变为苦艾”

（《圣经》这样说）；确 实也有人把审判变为酸醋；因为不公正使

审判变苦，而迟延使审判变酸。

The principal duty of a judge is to suppress force and fraud; whereof force is the

more pernicious, when it is open, and fraud, when it is close and disguised.

法官的

主要职责是压制暴力与诈骗；暴力公开时更加恶毒，诈骗秘密时更加险恶。

Add thereto contentious suits, which ought to be spewed out, as the surfeit of

courts.

再加上那些好讼者 的案件，这种案件应当作为阻塞法庭的东西加以唾弃。

A judge ought to prepare his way to a just sentence, as God uses to prepare his way,

by raising valleys and taking down hills: so when there appeares on either side an

high hand, violent prosecution, cunning advantages taken, combination, power,

great counsel, then is the virtue of a judge seen, to make inequality equal; that he

may plant his judgment as upon an even ground.

法官应当为公平的判决开辟道路，像上帝开辟道路那样，填高谷地，削低山峰：所以，当诉

讼两方的任何一方出现以势压人、实行暴力、投机取巧、狼狈为奸、动用权力、大施阴谋等

Qui fortiter emungit, elicit sanguinem; and where the wine-press is hard wrought,

it yields a harsh wine that tastes of the grape-stone.

“扭鼻子必出血”；榨葡萄 汁的

机器若圧力过猛，那就会生产出带葡萄核干涩味的葡萄酒。

Judges must beware of hard constructions and strained inferences; for there is no

worse torture than the torture of laws.

法官必须留神，不可对 法律条文牵强附会，随意推论；因为没有比法律的折磨更恶的折磨

了。

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Specially in case of laws penal, they ought to have care that what was meant for

terror be not turned into rigor; and that they bring not upon the people, that

shower whereof the Scripture speaks, Pluet super eos laqueos; for penal laws

pressed, are a shower of snares upon the people.

尤其在刑法案件中，法官应当注意 ，

不要让意在防止恐怖的法律变成虐待人民的刑律。

他们不可把

《圣经》

上所说的那种“网罗

之雨”（ 拉丁文）带给人民；因为刑法过于严厉，就是下在人民身上的网罗之雨。

Therefore let penal laws, if they have been sleepers of long, or if they be grown

unfit for the present time, be by wise judges confined in the execution: Judicis

officium est, ut res, ita tempora rerum, etc.

所以，刑法中若有久已不用或不适 于当前的条例，聪明的法官就应当限制其施行：“法官

的职责，不仅在于审察某案的事实 ，还要审察其时候及环境，等等”。

In causes of life and death, judges ought (as far as the law permits) in justice to

remember mercy; and to cast a severe eye upon the example, but a merciful eye

upon the person.

在有关人命的案件中，法 官应当

（在法律容许的范围内）

在公平的条件下想到仁慈；以严 厉

的眼光对事，而以仁慈的眼光对人。

（

causes

与

causes

同义，又见本段开头。译者注）

Secondly, for the advocates and counsel that plead.

第二，关于律师与辩护顾问。