論美

Virtue1 is like a rich stone, best plain set; and surely virtue is best, in a body that is comely2, though not of delicate features; and that hath rather dignity of presence, than beauty of aspect. Neither is it almost seen, that very beautiful persons are otherwise of great virtue; as if nature were rather busy, not to err3, than in labor4 to produce excellency. And therefore they prove accomplished5, but not of great spirit; and study rather behavior, than virtue. But this holds not always: for Augustus Caesar, Titus Vespasianus, Philip le Belle6 of France, Edward the Fourth of England, Alcibiades of Athens, Ismael the Sophy of Persia, were all high and great spirits; and yet the most beautiful men of their times. In beauty, that of favor, is more than that of color; and that of decent and gracious（親切的，高尚的） motion, more than that of favor. That is the best part of beauty, which a picture cannot express; no, nor the first sight of the life. There is no excellent beauty, that hath not some strangeness in the proportion. A man cannot tell whether Apelles, or Albert Durer, were the more trifler; whereof（關于什么） the one, would make a personage by geometrical proportions; the other, by taking the best parts out of pers7 faces, to make one excellent. Such personages, I think, would please nobody, but the painter that made them. Not but I think a painter may make a better face than ever was; but he must do it by a kind of felicity（幸福，快樂） , and not by rule. A man shall see faces, that if you examine them part by part, you shall find never a good; and yet altogether do well. If it be true that the principal part of beauty is in decent motion, certainly it is no marvel8, though persons in years seem many times more amiable9（親切的）; pulchrorum autumnus pulcher; for no youth can be comely but by pardon, and considering the youth, as to make up the comeliness10. Beauty is as summer fruits,) which are easy to corrupt11, and cannot last; and for the most part it makes a dissolute youth, and an age a little out of countenance12; but yet certainly again, if it light well, it maketh virtue shine,and vices13 blush.