【它山之玉】紀伯倫[先知]節選 （ZT〕

轉載自http://www.oldblog.blogchina.com/article_130383.1360276.html
中國第一紀伯倫網 （WYB’s Collection of Gibran In China)

紀伯倫的散文詩經典《先知》（The Prophet, 1923), 是紀伯倫的巔峰之作，在這部詩集裏，紀伯倫以一位來自東方的智者亞墨斯塔法離別前向阿利法斯城送行者“講說真理”的方式，闡述了他對愛、婚姻、孩子等２６個人生話題的鞭辟入裏的認識，語言極其優美，充滿深刻的哲理，可謂字字珠璣。據說這部不朽的作品紀伯倫在１９歲時便已用阿文寫成初稿，２４歲時用阿文重寫，但隨之撕毀底稿，２０世紀２０年代初用英文再寫，反複修改，１９２３年出版後大獲成功。１９２７年，正在美國留學的冰心先生便開始將其譯成中文，７０多年來一直暢銷不衰，黎巴嫩共和國總統府為此還曾於１９９７年向冰心先生授予了騎士級國家雪鬆勳章，以表彰她為傳播黎巴嫩文化所作的傑出貢獻。

(2)On Love

Then said Almitra, "Speak to us of Love."

And he raised his head and looked upon the people, and there fell a stillness upon them. And with a great voice he said:

When love beckons to you follow him,

Though his ways are hard and steep.

And when his wings enfold you yield to him,

Though the sword hidden among his pinions may wound you.

And when he speaks to you believe in him,

Though his voice may shatter your dreams as the north wind lays waste the garden.

For even as love crowns you so shall he crucify you. Even as he is for your growth so is he for your pruning.

Even as he ascends to your height and caresses your tenderest branches that quiver in the sun,

So shall he descend to your roots and shake them in their clinging to the earth.

Like sheaves of corn he gathers you unto himself.

He threshes you to make you naked.

He sifts you to free you from your husks.

He grinds you to whiteness.

He kneads you until you are pliant;

And then he assigns you to his sacred fire, that you may become sacred bread for God's sacred feast.

All these things shall love do unto you that you may know the secrets of your heart, and in that knowledge become a fragment of Life's heart.

But if in your fear you would seek only love's peace and love's pleasure,

Then it is better for you that you cover your nakedness and pass out of love's threshing-floor,

Into the seasonless world where you shall laugh, but not all of your laughter, and weep, but not all of your tears.

Love gives naught but itself and takes naught but from itself.

Love possesses not nor would it be possessed;

For love is sufficient unto love.

When you love you should not say, "God is in my heart," but rather, I am in the heart of God."

And think not you can direct the course of love, for love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.

Love has no other desire but to fulfil itself.

But if you love and must needs have desires, let these be your desires:

To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night.

To know the pain of too much tenderness.

To be wounded by your own understanding of love;

And to bleed willingly and joyfully.

To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving;

To rest at the noon hour and meditate love's ecstasy;

To return home at eventide with gratitude;

And then to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your heart and a song of praise upon your lips.

 

《先知》——冰心譯     （藍體字加注為另一個譯本，作者不詳。我很喜歡。〕

2)《論愛 》

於是愛爾美差說：請給我們談愛。

他舉頭望著民眾，他們一時靜默了。他用洪亮的聲音說：

當愛向你們召喚的時候，跟隨著他，雖然他的路程艱險而陡峻。

當他的翅翼圍卷你們的時候，屈服於他，雖然那藏在羽翮中間的劍刃許會傷毀你們。

當他對你們說話的時候，信從他，雖然他的聲音也許會把你們的夢魂擊碎，如同北風吹荒了林園。

愛雖給你加冠，他也要將你釘在十字架上。他雖栽培你，他也刈剪你。

他雖升到你的最高處，撫惜你在日中顫動的枝葉，

他也要降到你的根下，搖動你的根柢的一切關節，使之歸土。

如同一捆稻粟，他把你束聚起來。

他舂打你使你赤裸。

他篩分你使你脫去皮殼。

他磨碾你直至潔白。他揉搓你直至柔韌；

然後他送你到他的聖火上去，使你成為上帝聖筵上的聖餅。

這些都是愛要給你們作的事情，使你知道自己心中的秘密，在這知識中你便成了生命心中的一屑。

假如你在你的疑懼中，隻尋求愛的和平與逸樂，

那不如掩蓋你的裸露，而躲過愛的篩打，

而走入那沒有季候的世界，在那裏你將歡笑，卻不是盡量的笑悅；你將哭泣，卻沒有流幹了眼淚。

愛除自身外無施與，除自身外無接受。

愛不占有，也不被占有。

因為愛在愛中滿足了。

（愛不給什麽，隻給他自己。
    他不取什麽，隻取他自己。
    愛不占有也不被占有；
    因為愛是自足與愛的。〕
                            
當你愛的時候，你不要說，“上帝在我的心中”，卻要說，“我在上帝的心裏。”

不要想你能導引愛的路程，因為若是他覺得你配，他就導引你。

愛沒有別的願望，隻要成全自己。

但若是你愛，而且需求願望，就讓以下的做你的願望罷：

溶化了你自己，象溪流般對清夜吟唱著歌曲。

要知道過度溫存的痛苦。

讓你對愛的了解毀傷了你自己；而且甘願地喜樂地流血。

清晨醒起，以喜握的心來致謝這愛的又一日；

日中靜息，默念愛的濃歡；

晚潮退時，感謝地回家；

然後在睡時祈禱，因為有被愛者在你的心中，有讚美之歌在你的唇上。

(3)On Marriage

Then Almitra spoke again and said, "And what of Marriage, master?"

And he answered saying:

You were born together, and together you shall be forevermore.

You shall be together when white wings of death scatter your days.

Aye, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God.

But let there be spaces in your togetherness,

And let the winds of the heavens dance between you.

Love one another but make not a bond of love:

Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.

Fill each other's cup but drink not from one cup.

Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf.

Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone,

Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music.

Give your hearts, but not into each other's keeping.

For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts.

And stand together, yet not too near together:

For the pillars of the temple stand apart,

And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other's shadow.

【論婚姻】

愛爾美差又說，夫子，婚姻怎樣講呢？

他回答說：

你們一塊兒出世，也要永遠合一。

在死的白翼隔絕你們的歲月的時候，他們也要合一。

噫，連在靜默地憶想上帝之時，你們也要合一。

不過在你們合一之中，要有間隙。

讓天風在你們中間舞蕩。

彼此相愛，但不要做成愛的係鏈：

隻讓他在你們靈魂的沙岸中間，做一個流動的海。

彼此斟滿了杯，卻不要在同一杯中啜飲。

彼此遞贈著麵包，卻不要在同一塊上取食。

快樂地在一處舞唱，卻仍讓彼此靜獨，

連琴上的那些弦子也是單獨的，雖然他們在同一的音調中顫動。

（彼此相愛，卻不要使愛成為枷鎖：
   不如讓它象在你倆靈魂之岸間流動的海水。
   站立在一起但不要彼此考得太近：
   因為廟宇的柱子分開矗立，
   橡樹和絲衫也不能在彼此的蔭影中生長。〕

彼此贈獻你們的心，卻不要互相保留。

因為隻有生命的手，才能把持你們的心。

要站在一處，卻不要太密邇：

因為殿裏的柱子，也是分立在兩旁，

橡樹和鬆柏，也不在彼此的蔭中生長。

(5)On Giving

Then said a rich man, "Speak to us of Giving."
And he answered:

You give but little when you give of your possessions.

It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.

For what are your possessions but things you keep and guard for fear you may need them tomorrow?

And tomorrow, what shall tomorrow bring to the overprudent dog burying bones in the trackless sand as he follows the pilgrims to the holy city?

And what is fear of need but need itself?

Is not dread of thirst when your well is full, thirst that is unquenchable?

There are those who give little of the much which they have - and they give it for recognition and their hidden desire makes their gifts unwholesome.

And there are those who have little and give it all.

These are the believers in life and the bounty of life, and their coffer is never empty.

There are those who give with joy, and that joy is their reward.

And there are those who give with pain, and that pain is their baptism.

And there are those who give and know not pain in giving, nor do they seek joy, nor give with mindfulness of virtue;

They give as in yonder valley the myrtle breathes its fragrance into space.

Through the hands of such as these God speaks, and from behind their eyes He smiles upon the earth.

It is well to give when asked, but it is better to give unasked, through understanding;

And to the open-handed the search for one who shall receive is joy greater than giving

And is there aught you would withhold?

All you have shall some day be given;

Therefore give now, that the season of giving may be yours and not your inheritors'.

You often say, "I would give, but only to the deserving."

The trees in your orchard say not so, nor the flocks in your pasture.

They give that they may live, for to withhold is to perish.

Surely he who is worthy to receive his days and his nights is worthy of all else from you.

And he who has deserved to drink from the ocean of life deserves to fill his cup from your little stream.

And what desert greater shall there be than that which lies in the courage and the confidence, nay the charity, of receiving?

And who are you that men should rend their bosom and unveil their pride, that you may see their worth naked and their pride unabashed?

See first that you yourself deserve to be a giver, and an instrument of giving.

For in truth it is life that gives unto life - while you, who deem yourself a giver, are but a witness.

And you receivers - and you are all receivers - assume no weight of gratitude, lest you lay a yoke upon yourself and upon him who gives.

Rather rise together with the giver on his gifts as on wings;

For to be overmindful of your debt, is to doubt his generosity who has the free-hearted earth for mother, and God for father.

【論施與】

於是一個富人說，請給我們談施與。

他回答說：

你把你的產業給人，那隻算給了一點。

當你以身布施的時候，那才是真正的施與。

因為你的財產，豈不是你保留著的恐怕明日或許需要它們的東西麽？

但是明日，那隻過慮的犬，隨著香客上聖城去，卻把骨頭埋在無痕跡的沙土裏，明日能把什麽給他呢？

除了需要的本身之外，需要還憂懼什麽呢？

當你在井泉充溢的時候愁渴，那你的渴不是更難解麽？

有人有許多財產，卻隻把一小部分給人——他們為求名而施與，那潛藏的欲念，使他們的禮物不完美。

有人隻有一點財產，卻全部都給人。

這些人相信生命和生命的豐富，他們的寶櫃總不空虛。

有人喜樂地施與，那喜樂就是他們的酬報。

有人無痛地施與，那無痛就是他們的洗禮。

也有人施與了，而不覺出施與的無痛，也不尋求快樂，也不有心為善；

他們的施與，如同那邊山穀裏的桂花，香氣在空際浮動。

從這些人的手中，上帝在說話；在他們的眼後，上帝在俯對大地微笑。

為有請求而施與的，固然是好；而未受請求，隻因著默喻而施與的，是更好了。

對於樂善好施的人，去尋求需要他幫助的人的快樂，比施與的快樂還大。

有什麽東西你必須保留的呢？

必有一天，你的一切都要交付出來；

趁現在施與罷，這施與的時機是你自己的，而不是你的後人的。

你常說：“我要施與，卻隻要舍給那些配受施與者。”

你果園裏的樹木，和牧場上的羊群，卻不這樣說。

（當你的井水充溢時你仍害怕口渴，這渴豈不是不得解的麽？
   然而有任何你要保留的東西嗎？
   你所擁有的一切，有一天都得給出；
   因此現在就給吧，這樣，給予的機會就屬於你，而不是屬於你的繼承人。
   你常說：“我願給，但隻給那些值得受的人。”
   你果園中的樹不這樣說，你牧場上的羊群也不如此。〕

 他們為要生存而施與，因為保留就是毀滅。

凡是配接受白日和黑夜的人們，都配接受你施與的一切。

凡配在生命的海洋裏啜飲的，都配在你的小泉裏舀滿他的杯。

還有什麽德行比接受的勇氣、信心和善意還大呢？

有誰能使人把他們的心懷敞露，把他們的狷傲揭開，使你能看出他們赤裸的價值和無慚的驕傲？

先省察你自己是否配做一個施與者，是否配做一個施與的器皿。

因為實在說，那隻是生命給與生命——你以為自己是施主，其實也不過是一個證人。

你接受的人們——你們都是接受者——不要掮起報恩的重擔，恐怕你要把軛加在你自己和施者的身上。

不如和施者在禮物上一齊展翅飛騰；

因為過於思量你們的欠負，就是懷疑了那以慈悲的大地為母、以上帝為父的人的仁心。

(7)On Work

Then a ploughman said, "Speak to us of Work."

And he answered, saying:

You work that you may keep pace with the earth and the soul of the earth.

For to be idle is to become a stranger unto the seasons, and to step out of life's procession, that marches in majesty and proud submission towards the infinite.

When you work you are a flute through whose heart the whispering of the hours turns to music.

Which of you would be a reed, dumb and silent, when all else sings together in unison?
Always you have been told that work is a curse and labour a misfortune.

But I say to you that when you work you fulfil a part of earth's furthest dream, assigned to you when that dream was born,

And in keeping yourself with labour you are in truth loving life,

And to love life through labour is to be intimate with life's inmost secret.

But if you in your pain call birth an affliction and the support of the flesh a curse written upon your brow, then I answer that naught but the sweat of your brow shall wash away that which is written.

You have been told also life is darkness, and in your weariness you echo what was said by the weary.

And I say that life is indeed darkness save when there is urge,

And all urge is blind save when there is knowledge,

And all knowledge is vain save when there is work,

And all work is empty save when there is love;

And when you work with love you bind yourself to yourself, and to one another, and to God.

And what is it to work with love?

It is to weave the cloth with threads drawn from your heart, even as if your beloved were to wear that cloth.

It is to build a house with affection, even as if your beloved were to dwell in that house.

It is to sow seeds with tenderness and reap the harvest with joy, even as if your beloved were to eat the fruit.

It is to charge all things you fashion with a breath of your own spirit,

And to know that all the blessed dead are standing about you and watching.

Often have I heard you say, as if speaking in sleep, "he who works in marble, and finds the shape of his own soul in the stone, is a nobler than he who ploughs the soil.

And he who seizes the rainbow to lay it on a cloth in the likeness of man, is more than he who makes the sandals for our feet."

But I say, not in sleep but in the over-wakefulness of noontide, that the wind speaks not more sweetly to the giant oaks than to the least of all the blades of grass;

And he alone is great who turns the voice of the wind into a song made sweeter by his own loving.

Work is love made visible.

And if you cannot work with love but only with distaste, it is better that you should leave your work and sit at the gate of the temple and take alms of those who work with joy.

For if you bake bread with indifference, you bake a bitter bread that feeds but half man's hunger.

And if you grudge the crushing of the grapes, your grudge distils a poison in the wine.

And if you sing though as angels, and love not the singing, you muffle man's ears to the voices of the day and the voices of the night.

【論工作】

於是一個農夫說，請給我們談工作。

他回答說：

你工作為的是要與大地和大地的精神一同前進。

因為情逸使你成為一個時代的生客，一個生命大隊中的落伍者，這大隊是莊嚴的，高傲而服從的，向著無窮前進的。

在你工作的時候，你是一管笛，從你心中吹出時光的微語，變成音樂。

你們誰肯做一根蘆管，在萬物合唱的時候，你獨癡呆無聲呢？

你們常聽人說，工作是禍殃，勞動是不幸。

我卻對你們說，你們工作的時候，你們完成了大地深遠的夢之一部，他指示你那夢是從何時開頭的。

而在你勞動不息的時候，你確實愛了生命。

在工作裏愛了生命，就是通徹了生命最深的秘密。

（當你工作時，你完成了大地最深遠的夢的一部分，那是那個夢生成時就已分派給你的。
   你持續的勞動，事實上即是對生命之愛。
   透過勞動去愛生命，也就是與生命最內在的奧秘相親近。〕

倘然在你的辛苦裏，將有身之苦惱和養身之詛咒，寫上你的眉間，則我將回答你，隻有你眉間的汗，能洗去這些字句。

你們也聽見人說，生命是黑暗的。在你疲勞之中，你附和了那疲勞的人所說的話。

我說生命的確是黑暗的，除非是有了激勵；

一切的激勵都是盲目的，除非是有了知識；

一切的知識都是徒然的，除非是有了工作；

一切的工作都是空虛的，除非是有了愛。

當你仁愛地工作的時候，你便與自己、與人類、與上帝連係為一。

怎樣才是仁愛地工作呢？

從你的心中抽絲織成布帛，仿佛你的愛者要來穿此衣裳。

熱情地蓋造房屋，仿佛你的愛者要住在其中。

溫存地播種，歡樂地收刈，仿佛你的愛者要來吃這產物。

這就是用你自己靈魂的氣息，來充滿你所製造的一切。

要知道一切受福的古人，都在你上頭看視著。

我常聽見你們仿佛在夢中說：“那在蠟石上表現出他自己靈魂的形象的人，是比耕地的人高貴多了。

那捉住虹霓，傳神地畫在布帛上的人，是比織履的人強多了。”

我卻要說，不在夢中，而在正午清醒的時候，風對大橡樹說話的聲音，並不比對纖小的草葉所說的更甜柔。

隻有那用他的愛心，把風聲變成甜柔的歌曲的人，是偉大的。

工作是眼能看見的愛。

倘若你不是歡樂地卻厭惡地工作，那還不如撇下工作，坐在大殿的門邊，去乞求那些歡樂地工作的人的周濟。

倘若你無精打采地烤著麵包，你烤成的麵包是苦的，隻能救半個人的饑餓。

你若是怨重地壓榨著葡萄酒，你的怨望，在酒裏滴下了毒液。

倘若你能象天使一般地唱，卻不愛唱，那你就把人們能聽到白天和黑夜的聲音的耳朵都塞住了。

(8)On Joy & Sorrow

Then a woman said, "Speak to us of Joy and Sorrow."

And he answered:

Your joy is your sorrow unmasked.

And the selfsame well from which your laughter rises was oftentimes filled with your tears.

And how else can it be?

The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain.

Is not the cup that hold your wine the very cup that was burned in the potter's oven?

And is not the lute that soothes your spirit, the very wood that was hollowed with knives?

When you are joyous, look deep into your heart and you shall find it is only that which has given you sorrow that is giving you joy.

When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.

Some of you say, "Joy is greater than sorrow," and others say, "Nay, sorrow is the greater."

But I say unto you, they are inseparable.

Together they come, and when one sits alone with you at your board, remember that the other is asleep upon your bed.

Verily you are suspended like scales between your sorrow and your joy.

Only when you are empty are you at standstill and balanced.

When the treasure-keeper lifts you to weigh his gold and his silver, needs must your joy or your sorrow rise or fall.

《論哀樂》

於是一個婦人說，請給我們講歡樂與悲哀。

他回答說：

你的歡樂，就是你的去了麵具的悲哀。

連你那湧溢歡樂的井泉，也常是充滿了你的眼淚。

不然又怎樣呢？

悲哀的創痕在你身上刻的越深，你越能容受更多的歡樂。

你的盛酒的杯，不就是那曾在陶工的窯中燃燒的坯子麽？

那感悅你的心神的笛子，不就是曾受尖刀挖刻的木管麽？

當你歡樂的時候，深深地內顧你的心中，你就知道隻不過是曾使你悲哀的，又在使你歡樂。

當你悲哀的時候，再內顧你的心中，你就看出實在是那曾使你喜悅的，又在使你哭泣。

（悲傷在於心中切割得越深，你變能容納更多的快樂。
   當你快樂時，深察你的內心吧，
   你將發現，隻有那使經悲傷的，正給你快樂。
   當你悲傷時，再洞察你的內心吧，
   你將明白，事實上你正為曾使你快樂的事物哭泣。〕

你們有些人說：“歡樂大於悲哀。”也有人說：“不，悲哀是更大的。”

我卻要對你們說，它們是不能分開的。

它們一同來到，當這一個和你同席的時候，要記得那一個正在你床上酣眠。

真的，你是天平般懸在悲哀與歡樂之間。

隻有在盤空的時候，你才能靜止，持平。

當守庫者把你提起來稱他的金銀的時候，你的哀樂就必需升降了。