My new translation

The following please find my translation of a classic English Letter into classic Chinese. Comments are welcome!

Francis Bacon From The Tower of London Pleads for Mercy with King James I

弗朗西斯.培根伦敦塔上英王詹姆斯一世求特赦表

Translator: Dawen Meng (Shanghai University of Finance and Economics)

敬祈陛下圣安,

臣今苦境，忝望无盼，唯取慰于忆君往昔荷恩，常得赐垂青以效微躬之愿，匪属幸甚。仆常言道：「吾等臣仆，犹木桶水池，但效汲留之劳尔，而陛下乃源头也。享荣十九载，何其幸哉？身羁缧绁，尤慰臣心类此者，盖臣之所犯与陛下无尺寸之涉也。

负斧缧囚，尤深信圣聪之不蔽，陛下于臣，必明察秋毫，洞若观火也。苟适主上之意，臣之微命足矣，复何求焉。臣过蒙拔擢，宠命优渥，忝列中枢，位登宰辅。臣常侍御前，与陛下抵肩而坐，优宠弗加。臣刻御容于金箔，然感恩之心，坚逾金石。凡十九载，未尝见责于陛下，幸莫大焉。往事皆灭，胡为复言？特表臣之堕也。

臣非如是也，系狱一岁又半，须臾不敢忘陛下之仁恕也。况陛下安忍宠爱若臣者久处抑郁耶？臣骄泰奢侈，绝缨见肘，室无余资，先考之遗几殆尽矣。臣深信奇迹且至，圣恩不远。陛下昔日以圣手粉饰点缀臣于勋簿，今必不忍见臣裂名毁身，除名官籍。

彼苍何慈，惠我无疆 明证订保，祸福不弃。臣之得鱼而忘荃者数矣，希天不罪臣，假陛下虔诚仁慈之心，救臣于水火。臣不胜犬马怖惧之情，乞陛下容臣得竭志虑：垂援囹圄，悯臣拮据，使臣得负书囊而少衣食之虞，潜心治学而无斗米之折。祈天佑吾皇，福如山海！

老仆牛马走弗朗西斯.培根再拜！

May it please your most excellent Majesty,

In the midst of my misery, which is rather assuaged by remembrance than by hope, my chiefest worldly comfort is to think, That . . . I was evermore so happy as to have my poor services graciously accepted by your Majesty .

For as I have often said to your Majesty, I was towards you but as a bucket, and a cistern; to draw forth and conserve; whereas yourself was the fountain。

Unto this comfort of nineteen years' prosperity, there succeeded a comfort even in my greatest adversity, somewhat of the same nature; which is, That in those offences wherewith I was charged, there was not any one that had special relation to you Majesty.

I have an assured belief that there is in your Majesty's own princely thoughts a great deal of serenity and clearness towards me your Majesty's now prostrate and cast down servant.

And indeed, if it may please your Majesty, this theme of my misery is so plentiful, as it need not be coupled with any thing else.

I have been somebody by your Majesty's singular and undeserved favour: even the prime officer of your kingdom.

Your Majesty's arm hath been over mine in council, when you presided at the table; so near I was: I have borne your Majesty's image in metal; much more in heart; I was never in nineteen years' service chidden by your Majesty.

But why should I speak of these things which are now vanished? but only the better to express my downfall.

For not it is thus with me: I am a year and a half old in misery: though I must ever acknowledge your Majesty's grace and mercy, for I do not think it possible, that any one that you once loved should be totally miserable. Mine own means, through mine own improvidence, are poor and weak, little better than my father left me.

I have (most gracious Sovereign) faith enough for a miracle, and much more for a grace, that your Majesty will not suffer your poor creature to be utterly defaced, nor blot the name quite out of your book, upon which your sacred hand hath been so oft for new ornaments and additions.

Unto this degree of compassion, I hope God above (of whose mercies towards me, both in my prosperity and my adversity, I have had great testimonies and pledges, though mine own manifold and wretched unthankfulness might have averted them) will dispose your princely heart, already prepared to all piety. . . . I most humbly beseech your Majesty to give me leave to conclude with those words which Necessity speaketh: Help me (dear sovereign lord and master) and pity me so far, as I that have borne a bag be not now in my age forced in effect to bear a wallet; nor I that desire to live to study, may not study to live. . . . God of heaven ever bless, preserve, and prosper your Majesty.

Your Majesty's poor ancient servant and beadsman.