培根是英国文艺复兴时期博学多才的散文家、哲学家、实验科学的先驱，留有58篇散文传世。培根下笔，时而洋洋洒洒，时而十分简约，潇洒飘逸，有大将风度，口吻十分自信、认真。论断分明，又不失诗人奔驰的想象。不时用上一句拉丁文，使他的文章多了一份书卷气，带上一点古香古色。培根的散文以准确、清楚、条理分明著称，加上他擅长写出饱含人生的经验和智慧的名言警句，形成了培根散文的独特风格，使其能经久不衰。
《谈读书》可以说是培根散文的一个缩影。其实，《谈读书》整篇文章就是一个大警句，因此要翻译这篇文章确实不易。我们认为，翻译培根这篇散文，重要的是要译出培根散文之简约的风格，译出他那种自信的口吻、格言般的警句。在这方面，王佐良先生作的最好，他用半文半白的文体，十分精湛地再现了培根散文的风格，可谓尽善尽美。
王佐良的译文好似一座高高的山峰，令后来者难以翻越。后来者无论怎么努力也无法逃出王译的影子，也就只好绕道而行，结果到头来，译出的东西几乎成了王译的解释或延伸，原文的简约和精辟不见了踪影。
Bacon was a Renaissance of the Renaissance philosopher, essayist and pioneers of experimental science, 58 prose handed down. Bacon, sometimes running, sometimes very simple, natural and elegant demeanour, tone, has very confident and earnest. Judge, and do not break poet's imagination. Sometimes use a Latin, make him a many articles, take a scroll spirit peculiar guxianggu color. Bacon's prose with accurate and clear, clear, and he is full of life is to write the words experience and wisdom, forming a millipede bacon's unique style, which can be enduring.
"Reading" is an epitome of bacon. Actually, "read" the whole article is a big one, so to translate this article does not easily. We believe that this prose translation bacon, it is important to translate bacon's contracted style, out of his confidence, the motto of expression. In this respect, the best WangZuoLiang sir, he is very exquisite, BanWenBanBai style in the style of bacon is perfect.
WangZuoLiang translation is a high mountain to climb, newcomers. No matter how hard who cannot escape WangYi shadow, also had to roundabout paths, result in translation, the thing has become almost WangYi explanation or extension of contracted and insightful disappeared.