雙語智慧書·緘默是謹慎的表現(xiàn)

222．緘默是謹慎的表現(xiàn)
　　緘默是謹慎的表現(xiàn)。舌頭如同野獸，一旦松手，就再難縛住。它是心靈的脈搏，智者以此來判斷心靈是否健康：憑此脈搏，細心的觀察者能夠感知心靈的每次跳動。最應沉默之人卻最不沉默，這是最糟糕的事。智者會讓自己盡量避免煩惱和尷尬，表現(xiàn)出純熟的自制力。他十分審慎，像雙面門神堅紐斯(1)一樣不偏不倚，像百眼巨人阿各斯(2)一樣時刻保持警惕。當然，莫墨斯(3)還不如讓人在手上長眼睛，而不是在胸口開窗戶。


222．Reserve is proof of prudence
　Reserve is proof of prudence. The tongue is a wild beast: once let loose it is difficult to chain. It is the pulse of the soul by which wise men judge of its health: by this pulse a careful observer feels every movement of the heart. The worst is that he who should be most reserved is the least. The sage saves himself from worries and embarrassments, and shows his mastery over himself. He goes his way carefully, a Janus for impartiality, an Argus for watchfulness. Truly Momus had better placed the eyes in the hand than the window in the breast.
　　
(1) 羅馬神話中的門神，有兩個面孔，朝著相反的方向。
(2) 見箴言第83條注(1)。
(3) 希臘神話中的挑剔和嘲弄之神。