李唐
隨後至
火與冰 （漢譯）
有的說世界將在火中滅亡，
有的說世界將在冰裏滅亡。
憑我對欲望的品嚐，
我讚同偏向火的那方。
倘若世界又得毀於另一方，
想必足夠的恨
就冰的毀滅性來講
也絕對強
且足夠浪。
Fire and Ice
By Robert Frost
Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I've tasted of desire
I hold with those who favour fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.
The poet uses fire and ice as a metaphor for hatred and desire. If you replace the words fire and ice with hatred and desire, it would help you better understand the poet’s mind: which one is stronger in this world – desire or hatred, hence he holds with those who favor hatred would ruin the world. The philosophy behind it is that fire and ice contradicts each other and if fire destroys ice and ice destroys fire, it would suffice.
Think about what’s going on in our present world: the quarrels and escalating conflicts between Iran and Israel all derive from their desires and hatred.
