《智慧书·第三辑·一〇一至一五〇》第2则
Be able to stomach big slices of Luck. In the body of wisdom not the least important organ is a big stomach, for great capacity implies great parts. Big bits of luck do not embarrass one who can digest still bigger ones. What is a surfeit for one may be hunger for another. Many are troubled as it were with weak digestion, owing to their small capacity being neither born nor trained for great employment. Their actions turn sour, and the humours that arise from their undeserved honours turn their head and they incur great risks in high place: they do not find their proper place, for luck finds no proper place in them. A man of talent therefore should show that he has more room for even greater enterprises, and above all avoid showing signs of a little heart.
注释摘要
这则格言从标题到正文都在玩弄一个身体隐喻，而英文译本恰好保留了这个隐喻的力道：stomach 既是“胃”也是“忍受、消化”，整个推理建立在这一词的双关之上。在蕯拉西安的概念主义文风里，这种把生理过程直接当作精神能力来讲的手法不是修辞装饰，而是论证本身——他真就认为，承受好运需要的器官不是头脑或者意志，而是胃。 英文里出现了 humours，这个词在十七世纪…