《智慧书·第三辑·一〇一至一五〇》第25则
Do not be a Black List. It is a sign of having a tarnished name to concern oneself with the ill-fame of others. Some wish to hide their own stains with those of others, or at least wash them away: or they seek consolation therein —'tis the consolation of fools. They must have bad breath who form the sewers of scandal for the whole town. The more one grubs about in such matters, the more one befouls oneself. There are few without stain somewhere or other, but it is of little known people that the failings are little known. Be careful then to avoid being a registrar of faults. That is to be an abominable thing, a man that lives without a heart.
注释摘要
这一则的核心比喻是一个名单：专门记录他人过失与丑闻的清单。标题“Do not be a Black List”与正文末句“avoid being a registrar of faults”首尾相扣：葛拉西安劝人不要充当一部活着的他人罪过登记册。这里面有一个西班牙概念主义修辞的典型压缩——“black list”既是名单，也是“被抹黑的人”，暗示一个专门收…