1Dissimulation is but a faint kind of policy, or wisdom; for it asketh a strong wit and a strong heart to know when to tell truth, and to do it; therefore it is the weaker sort of politicians that are the great dissemblers.掩饰只是一种浅薄的政策或智慧；因为要知道何时说真话并付诸行动，需要强大的智慧和勇气；因此，那些较弱的政客才是伟大的伪装者。开篇论点：培根直接表明对掩饰的负面看法。句法结构：分号分隔的复合句，包含因果关系"for..."和结论"therefore..."
2Tacitus saith, "Livia sorted well with the arts of her husband, and dissimulation of her son;" attributing arts or policy to Augustus, and dissimulation to Tiberius:塔西佗说："莉维娅与她丈夫的权术和她儿子的掩饰相得益彰；"将权术或策略归于奥古斯都，将掩饰归于提比略：历史引用：引用罗马历史学家塔西佗对皇室成员的评价。词汇："arts"此处指政治权术，"dissimulation"指掩饰伪装
3and again, when Mucianus encourageth Vespasian to take arms against Vitellius, he saith, "We rise not against the piercing judgment of Augustus, nor the extreme caution or closeness of Tiberius."再次，当穆西亚努斯鼓励韦斯帕芗起兵反对维特利乌斯时，他说："我们起兵反对的不是奥古斯都的敏锐判断，也不是提比略的极端谨慎或隐秘。"历史例证：通过穆西亚努斯的话区分不同统治风格。词汇："piercing judgment"指敏锐判断，"closeness"指隐秘性格
4These properties of arts or policy, and dissimulation or closeness, are indeed habits and faculties several, and to be distinguished;权术或策略的这些特性，与掩饰或隐秘，确实是不同的习惯和能力，应当加以区分；概念区分：培根强调权术与掩饰是不同的能力。词汇："faculties several"指不同的能力
5for if a man have that penetration of judgment as he can discern what things are to be laid open, and what to be secreted, and what to be showed at half-lights, and to whom and when (which indeed are arts of state, and arts of life, as Tacitus well calleth them), to him a habit of dissimulation is a hinderance and a poorness.因为如果一个人有那种判断力，能够辨别什么事情应该公开，什么事情应该保密，什么事情应该半遮半掩，以及对谁和在什么时候（这确实是治国之术和生活艺术，如塔西佗所称），那么掩饰的习惯对他而言是一种阻碍和缺陷。核心观点：真正有判断力的人不需要依赖掩饰。语法：复杂条件句结构，包含多个宾语从句和插入语
6But if a man cannot obtain to that judgment, then it is left to him generally to be close, and a dissembler; for where a man cannot choose or vary in particulars, there it is good to take the safest and wariest way in general, like the going softly by one that cannot well see.但如果一个人无法获得那种判断力，那么他通常只能选择隐秘和掩饰；因为当一个人无法在具体情况下选择或变化时，最好采取最安全最谨慎的通用方式，就像视力不好的人慢慢走路。实用建议：为缺乏判断力的人提供替代方案。比喻：用视力不好的人慢慢走路比喻谨慎行事
7Certainly, the ablest men that ever were, have had all an openness and frankness of dealing, and a name of certainty and veracity: but then they were like horses well managed, for they could tell passing well when to stop or turn;确实，有史以来最有能力的人，都拥有开放和坦率的处事方式，以及可靠和诚实的名声：但他们就像训练有素的马匹，因为他们非常清楚何时停止或转向；正面例证：有能力的人通常坦率而谨慎。比喻：将智者比作训练有素的马匹
8and at such times, when they thought the case indeed required dissimulation, if then they used it, it came to pass that the former opinion spread abroad, of their good faith and clearness of dealing, made them almost invisible.在那些时候，当他们认为情况确实需要掩饰时，如果他们使用了它，那么他们之前传播的好名声和坦诚处事的名声，使他们几乎不被察觉。策略分析：良好声誉可以作为掩饰的掩护。语法：复杂句结构，包含时间状语从句和条件状语从句
掩饰的三个层次
9There be three degrees of this hiding and veiling of a man's self: the first, closeness, reservation, and secrecy; when a man leaveth himself without observation, or without hold to be taken, what he is:隐藏和掩盖一个人自身有三个层次：第一，隐秘、保留和保密；当一个人让自己不被观察，或不让人抓住把柄，了解他的真实情况：分类阐述：培根系统地将掩饰分为三个层次。词汇："closeness"指隐秘，"reservation"指保留
10the second, dissimulation in the negative; when a man lets fall signs and arguments, that he is not that he is:第二，否定性掩饰；当一个人流露出迹象和论据，表明他不是他实际的样子：第二层次：通过否定来掩饰真实情况。词汇："in the negative"指否定形式
11and the third, simulation in the affirmative; when a man industriously and expressly feigns and pretends to be that he is not.第三，肯定性伪装；当一个人勤奋而明确地假装和宣称自己是某种他不是的人。第三层次：主动积极地伪装成另一个人。词汇："simulation"指伪装，"affirmative"指肯定形式
第一层次：保密
12For the first of these, secrecy, it is indeed the virtue of a confessor; and assuredly the secret man heareth many confessions; for who will open himself to a blab or a babbler?对于第一种，保密，这确实是听忏悔者的美德；而且肯定的是，保密的人会听到许多忏悔；因为谁会对一个喋喋不休或唠叨的人敞开心扉？保密的价值：能够保密的人更容易获得他人信任。修辞：反问句强调观点
13But if a man be thought secret, it inviteth discovery, as the more close air sucketh in the more open; and, as in confession, the revealing is not for worldly use, but for the ease of a man's heart, so secret men come to the knowledge of many things in that kind;但如果一个人被认为能保密，它会招致披露，就像越密闭的空气越会吸入开放的空气；而且，就像在忏悔中，透露不是为了世俗用途，而是为了缓解一个人的心灵，因此保密的人会了解到许多这类事情；保密的好处：能够获得更多信息。比喻：用空气流动比喻信息流动
14while men rather discharge their minds than impart their minds. In few words, mysteries are due to secrecy.人们更倾向于宣泄他们的想法而不是分享他们的想法。简而言之，神秘感源于保密。心理观察：人们需要宣泄而非分享。词汇："discharge"指宣泄，"impart"指分享
15Besides (to say truth), nakedness is uncomely, as well in mind as body; and it addeth no small reverence to men's manners and actions, if they be not altogether open.此外（说实话），赤裸是不雅的，无论是思想上还是身体上；如果人们不完全开放，这会为他们的举止和行为增添不少庄重。适度保密的必要性：完全透明会失去庄重感。类比：将思想透明与身体裸露类比
16As for talkers and futile persons, they are commonly vain and credulous withal; for he that talketh what he knoweth, will also talk what he knoweth not;至于喋喋不休和轻浮的人，他们通常既虚荣又轻信；因为谈论他所知道的事情的人，也会谈论他不知道的事情；对多嘴者的批评：多话的人往往不可靠。逻辑：从"谈论已知"推导出"也会谈论未知"
17therefore set it down, that a habit of secrecy is both politic and moral: and in this part it is good that a man's face give his tongue leave to speak; for the discovery of a man's self by the tracts of his countenance, is a great weakness and betraying, by how much it is many times more marked and believed than a man's words.因此可以肯定，保密的习惯既是政治上的也是道德上的：在这方面，最好让一个人的面部表情允许他的舌头说话；因为通过面部表情流露自己是一个巨大的弱点和不忠，因为很多时候它比一个人的话语更被注意和相信。面部表情的重要性：表情比言语更可信。词汇："tracts of his countenance"指面部表情的痕迹
第二层次：掩饰
18For the second, which is dissimulation, it followeth many times upon secrecy by a necessity; so that he that will be secret must be a dissembler in some degree;对于第二种，即掩饰，它很多时候是出于必要性而跟随保密；因此，想要保密的人必须在某种程度上是一个伪装者；掩饰与保密的关系：保密常常需要一定程度的掩饰。逻辑：保密需要导致掩饰必要
19for men are too cunning to suffer a man to keep an indifferent carriage between both, and to be secret, without swaying the balance on either side.因为人们太狡猾，不容许一个人保持中立的态度，并且保密，而不向任何一方倾斜。社会压力：人们迫使他人表明立场。词汇："indifferent carriage"指中立态度
20They will so beset a man with questions, and draw him on, and pick it out of him, that without an absurd silence, he must show an inclination one way;他们会如此用问题困扰一个人，引诱他，并从他那里套出话來，以致于除非荒谬地沉默，他必须显示出一种倾向；人际压力：人们通过提问迫使他人表态。词汇："beset"指困扰，"draw him on"指引诱
21or if he do not, they will gather as much by his silence as by his speech. As for equivocations, or oraculous speeches, they cannot hold out long:或者如果他不这样做，他们会从他的沉默中收集到与从他的言语中一样多的信息。至于模棱两可或神秘的话语，它们不能持久：沉默的含义：沉默本身也传递信息。词汇："equivocations"指模棱两可的话
22so that no man can be secret, except he give himself a little scope of dissimulation, which is, as it were, but the skirts or train of secrecy.因此，没有人能够保密，除非他给自己一点掩饰的空间，这可以说是保密的裙摆或拖尾。掩饰的必要性：保密需要一定程度的掩饰。比喻：将掩饰比作保密的"裙摆"
第三层次：伪装
23But for the third degree, which is simulation and false profession, that I hold more culpable, and less politic, except it be in great and rare matters;但对于第三层次，即伪装和虚假宣称，我认为这更应受谴责，也不太明智，除非是在重大和罕见的事情上；对伪装的批评：培根认为主动伪装通常不可取。词汇："simulation"指主动伪装，"false profession"指虚假宣称
24and, therefore, a general custom of simulation (which is this last degree) is a vice rising either of a natural falseness, or fearfulness, or of a mind that hath some main faults; which because a man must needs disguise, it maketh him practise simulation in other things, lest his hand should be out of use.因此，普遍的伪装习惯（这是最后一种）是一种恶习，源于天生的虚伪，或恐惧，或有某些主要缺陷的心灵；因为一个人必须掩饰这些缺陷，这使他在其他事情上也实践伪装，以免手生疏。伪装的心理根源：出于本性或恐惧而伪装。逻辑：缺陷导致伪装，伪装成为习惯
掩饰与伪装的利弊
25The advantages of simulation and dissimulation are three: first, to lay asleep opposition, and to surprise; for, where a man's intentions are published, it is an alarum to call up all that are against them:伪装和掩饰有三个优点：第一，使反对意见沉睡，并出其不意；因为，当一个人的意图被公开时，就像警报一样会唤醒所有反对者：第一个优点：保密可以避免引起反对。比喻：将公开意图比作"警报"
26the second is, to reserve to a man's self a fair retreat; for if a man engage himself by a manifest declaration, he must go through or take a fall:第二是，为自己保留一个体面的退路；因为如果一个人通过明确的声明承诺自己，他必须坚持到底或失败：第二个优点：保留回旋余地。词汇："fair retreat"指体面的退路
27the third is, the better to discover the mind of another; for to him that opens himself men will hardly show themselves adverse; but will (fair) let him go on, and turn their freedom of speech to freedom of thought;第三是，更好地发现他人的想法；因为对于向自己敞开心扉的人，人们很难表现出敌意；而是会（公平地）让他继续，并将他们的言论自由转化为思想自由；第三个优点：更容易了解他人真实想法。心理观察：人们面对坦诚者更少戒备
28and therefore it is a good shrewd proverb of the Spaniard, "Tell a lie, and find a troth;" as if there were no way of discovery but by simulation.因此西班牙人有一句精明的谚语："说一个谎，发现一个真相；"仿佛除了伪装之外没有其他发现的方式。谚语引用：用西班牙谚语支持观点。词汇："troth"为古语，指真相、事实
29There be also three disadvantages to set it even; the first, that simulation and dissimulation commonly carry with them a show of fearfulness, which, in any business, doth spoil the feathers of round flying up to the mark;也有三个缺点来平衡；第一，伪装和掩饰通常带有恐惧的表现，这在任何事务中都会破坏直接飞向目标的羽毛；第一个缺点：掩饰显得恐惧，影响行动效率。比喻：用飞鸟羽毛比喻行动能力
30the second, that it puzzleth and perplexeth the conceits of many, that, perhaps, would otherwise coöperate with him, and makes a man walk almost alone to his own ends:第二，它使许多可能本来会与他合作的人的想法困惑和混乱，并使一个人几乎独自走向自己的目标：第二个缺点：掩饰会迷惑潜在合作者。词汇："conceits"指想法、观念
31the third, and greatest, is, that it depriveth a man of one of the most principal instruments for action, which is trust and belief.第三，也是最重大的，是它剥夺了一个人行动的最主要工具之一，即信任和信念。第三个缺点：失去他人信任。词汇："trust and belief"指信任和信赖
32The best composition and temperature is, to have openness in fame and opinion, secrecy in habit, dissimulation in seasonable use, and a power to feign if there be no remedy.最好的组合和平衡是：在名声和观点上开放，在习惯上保密，在适时使用掩饰，以及在没有补救办法时伪装的能力。最终建议：平衡开放与保密，适时使用掩饰。词汇："composition and temperature"指组合和平衡