of simulation & dissimulation 論作偽與掩飾

dissimulation is but a faint kind of policy, or wisdom; for it asketh a strong wit, and a strong heart, to know when to tell truth, and to do it therefore it is me weaker sort of politics, that are the great dissemblers.

掩飾不過是策略或智謀中較弱的一種，因為要知道何時當說真話，何時當行真事需要強壯的腦筋和心胸也。因此政治家之中較弱的一流方是善于掩飾者。

tacitus saith; livia sorted well, with the arts of her husband, and dissimulation of her son: attributing arts or policy to augustus, and dissimulation to tiberius. and again, when lucianus encourageth vespasian, to take arms against vitellius, he saith; we rise not, against the piercing judgment of augustus, nor the extreme caution or closeness of tiberius. these properties of arts or policy, and dissimulation or closeness, are indeed habits and faculties, several, and to be distinguished. for if a man have that penetration of judgment, as he can discern, what things are to be laid open, and what to be secreted, and what to be showed at half lights, and to whom, and when (which indeed are arts of state, and arts of life, as tacitus well calleth mem), to him, a habit of dissimulation is a hindrance, and a poorness. but if a man cannot obtain to that judgment, then it is left to him, generally, to be close, and a dissembler. for where a man cannot choose, or vary in particulars, there it is good to take the safest and wariest way in general; like the going softly by one that cannot well see. certainly the ablest men that ever were, have had all an openness, and frankness of dealing; and a name of certainty, and veracity; but then they were like horses, well managed; for they could tell passing well when to stop, or turn: and at such times, when they thought the case indeed required dissimulation, if then they used it, it came to pass, that me former opinion, spread abroad of their good faith, and clearness of dealing, made them almost invisible.

泰西塔斯說：“里維亞同她丈夫底智略和她兒子底虛偽都很融洽”就是說奧古斯塔斯有智略而泰比瑞阿斯善掩飾的意思。又當繆西阿奴斯勸外斯帕顯舉兵攻委泰立阿斯的時候，他說：“我們現在起事，所與為敵者既不是奧古斯塔斯底洞察的判斷力，也不是泰比瑞阿斯底極端審慎或隱密”這些特質——權謀或策略與掩飾或隱密——確是不同的習慣與能力，并且是應當辨別的。因為假如一個人有那種明察的能力，能夠看得出某事應當公開，某事應當隱秘，某事應當在半明半暗之中微露，并且看得出這事底或隱或顯應當是對何人，在何時(這些正即是泰西塔斯所謂的治國與處世的要術)，那末在他這樣的一個人，一種掩飾的習慣是一種阻撓，一個弱點。但是假如一個人達不到那種明察的能力，那末他就不得不常趨隱秘，并且為一個掩飾者了。因為一個人在不能隨機應變有所選擇的時候，自以取那一般地最安全最謹慎的途徑為佳;就好象目力不濟的人走路是輕而且慢一樣。無疑地，從來最有能力的人都是有坦白直爽的行為，信實不欺的名譽的;可是他們是象訓練得很好的馬一樣，因為他們極能懂得何時當止，何時當轉，并且在他們以為某事真需要掩飾的時候，如果他們果然掩飾了，以往流傳各處的關于他們底信實和正直坦白的見解也使他們差不多不至為人所疑的。