卷二·第二章　论各气候带居民的特性

The demarcation of national characteristics is established in part by entire parallels and angles, through their position relative to the ecliptic and the sun. For while the region which we inhabit is in one of the northern quarters, the people who live under the more southern parallels, that is, those from the equator to the summer tropic, since they have the sun over their heads and are burned by it, have black skins and thick, woolly hair, are contracted in form and shrunken in stature, are sanguine of nature, and in habits are for the most part savage because their homes are continually oppressed by the heat; we call them by the general name Ethiopians.

民族特性的划分，部分是由整条纬圈与方位、依其相对于黄道与太阳的位置而确定的。我们所居住的地区位于北方的一个象限之中；而住在较南的纬圈之下的人，即从赤道到夏至回归线之间的人，因为太阳在他们头顶上，受它炙烤，所以皮肤黝黑，头发浓密而卷曲如羊毛，体形紧缩，身量矮小，天性多血，习性大多野蛮，因为他们的居处不断受炎热所苦；我们用一个总名称他们为埃塞俄比亚人。

Not only do we see them in this condition, but we likewise observe that their climate and the animals and plants of their region plainly give evidence of this baking by the sun.

我们不只看到他们是这样，也同样看到他们的气候以及当地的动植物，都清楚显出这种被太阳烤炙的迹象。

Those who live under the more northern parallels, those, I mean, who have the Bears over their heads, since they are far removed from the zodiac and the heat of the sun, are therefore cooled; but because they have a richer share of moisture, which is most nourishing and is not there exhausted by heat, they are white in complexion, straight-haired, tall and well-nourished, and somewhat cold by nature; these too are savage in their habits because their dwelling-places are continually cold. The wintry character of their climate, the size of their plants, and the wildness of their animals are in accord with these qualities. We call these men, too, by a general name, Scythians.

住在较北的纬圈之下的人，我是说头顶上是两熊星座的人，因为远离黄道与太阳的热，所以受冷；但因为他们得到较丰富的湿气——湿气最能滋养，在那里又不被热耗干——所以肤色白皙，头发直，身材高大，营养充足，本性略偏于冷；他们的习性也野蛮，因为居处不断寒冷。他们气候的冬日性质、植物的高大、动物的野性，都与这些性质相合。我们也用一个总名称这些人为斯基泰人。

The inhabitants of the region between the summer tropic and the Bears, however, since the sun is neither directly over their heads nor far distant at its noon-day transits, share in the equable temperature of the air, which varies, to be sure, but has no violent changes from heat to cold. They are therefore medium in colouring, of moderate stature, in nature equable, live close together, and are civilized in their habits.

至于夏至回归线与两熊之间地区的居民，因为正午经过时太阳既不在他们头顶正上方，也不远离，所以享有均衡的空气温度；这温度固然有变化，却没有由热到冷的剧变。因此他们肤色中等，身量适中，本性均衡，聚居在一起，习性开化。

The southernmost of them are in general more shrewd and inventive, and better versed in the knowledge of things divine because their zenith is close to the zodiac and to the planets revolving about it. Through this affinity the men themselves are characterized by an activity of the soul which is sagacious, investigative, and fitted for pursuing the sciences specifically called mathematical. Of them, again, the eastern group are more masculine, vigorous of soul, and frank in all things, because one would reasonably assume that the orient partakes of the nature of the sun.

他们之中最南的一群，一般更为精明、善于发明，也更通晓神圣之事，因为他们的天顶靠近黄道，也靠近绕黄道运行的诸行星。由于这种亲近，这些人本身便具有一种灵魂的活动：睿智、好探究，适于钻研那些特称为数理之学的学问。他们之中，东边的一群又更阳刚、灵魂刚健、凡事坦白，因为按理可以认为，东方分有太阳的本性。

This region therefore is diurnal, masculine, and right-handed, even as we observe that among the animals too their right-hand parts are better fitted for strength and vigour. Those to the west are more feminine, softer of soul, and secretive, because this region, again, is lunar, for it is always in the west that the moon emerges and makes its appearance after conjunction. For this reason it appears to be a nocturnal clime, feminine, and, in contrast with the orient, left-handed.

因此这一地区是昼性的、阳性的、属右手的，正如我们看到动物身上也是右边的部分更适于用力、更有劲。西边的人更阴柔，灵魂较软弱，凡事多隐藏，因为这一地区又是属月亮的——月亮在会合之后，总是在西方出现、露面。因此它看来是一个夜性的、阴性的气候带，与东方相对，属左手。

And now in each of these general regions certain special conditions of character and customs naturally ensue. For as likewise, in the case of the climate, even within the regions that in general are reckoned as hot, cold, or temperate, certain localities and countries have special peculiarities of excess or deficiency by reason of their situation, height, lowness, or adjacency; and again, as some peoples are more inclined to horsemanship because theirs is a plain country, or to seamanship because they live close to the sea, so also would one discover special traits in each arising from the natural familiarity of their particular climes with the stars in the signs of the zodiac.

而在这些大区域的每一个之中，自然又会产生某些特殊的性格与习俗。正如在气候方面，即使在一般算作热、冷或温和的地区之内，某些地方和国家也因其位置、地势高低或相邻关系，而有过或不及的特殊之处；又如有些民族因为住在平原而较倾向骑术，或因为近海而较倾向航海；同样，人们也会发现每一地各有特殊的特质，出于其特定气候带与黄道星座中诸星的自然亲缘。

These traits, too, would be found generally present, but not in every individual. We must, then, deal with the subject summarily, in so far as it might be of use for the purpose of particular investigations.

这些特质也只会大体上见到，而不会见于每一个人。所以我们必须扼要地处理这个题目，以对具体的探究有用为限。