《智慧书·第四辑·一五一至二百》第15则
Wage War Honourably. You may be obliged to wage war, but not to use poisoned arrows. Every one must needs act as he is, not as others would make him to be. Gallantry in the battle of life wins all men's praise: one should fight so as to conquer, not alone by force but by the way it is used. A mean victory brings no glory, but rather disgrace. Honour always has the upper hand. An honourable man never uses forbidden weapons, such as using a friendship that's ended for the purposes of a hatred just begun: a confidence must never be used for a vengeance. The slightest taint of treason tarnishes the good name. In men of honour the smallest trace of meanness repels: the noble and the ignoble should be miles apart. Be able to boast that if gallantry, generosity, and fidelity were lost in the world men would be able to find them again in your own breast.
注释摘要
葛拉西安这一则的标题和正文合起来是一句完整的判断：哪怕非战不可，也要打一场体面的仗，不能使用毒箭。这里的“毒箭”当然是个比喻，指一切不正当、不光采的手段。标题里的 honourably 和正文反复出现的 honour、gallantry、mean、disgrace、noble 形成一个道德词汇群，这个词汇群在十七世纪西班牙宫廷－军事贵族文化里有非常确切的含…