【它山之玉】纪伯伦[先知]节选 （ZT〕

转载自http://www.oldblog.blogchina.com/article_130383.1360276.html
中国第一纪伯伦网 （WYB’s Collection of Gibran In China)

纪伯伦的散文诗经典《先知》（The Prophet, 1923), 是纪伯伦的巅峰之作，在这部诗集里，纪伯伦以一位来自东方的智者亚墨斯塔法离别前向阿利法斯城送行者“讲说真理”的方式，阐述了他对爱、婚姻、孩子等２６个人生话题的鞭辟入里的认识，语言极其优美，充满深刻的哲理，可谓字字珠玑。据说这部不朽的作品纪伯伦在１９岁时便已用阿文写成初稿，２４岁时用阿文重写，但随之撕毁底稿，２０世纪２０年代初用英文再写，反复修改，１９２３年出版后大获成功。１９２７年，正在美国留学的冰心先生便开始将其译成中文，７０多年来一直畅销不衰，黎巴嫩共和国总统府为此还曾于１９９７年向冰心先生授予了骑士级国家雪松勋章，以表彰她为传播黎巴嫩文化所作的杰出贡献。

(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》——冰心译     （蓝体字加注为另一个译本，作者不详。我很喜欢。〕

2)《论爱 》

于是爱尔美差说：请给我们谈爱。

他举头望着民众，他们一时静默了。他用洪亮的声音说：

当爱向你们召唤的时候，跟随着他，虽然他的路程艰险而陡峻。

当他的翅翼围卷你们的时候，屈服于他，虽然那藏在羽翮中间的剑刃许会伤毁你们。

当他对你们说话的时候，信从他，虽然他的声音也许会把你们的梦魂击碎，如同北风吹荒了林园。

爱虽给你加冠，他也要将你钉在十字架上。他虽栽培你，他也刈剪你。

他虽升到你的最高处，抚惜你在日中颤动的枝叶，

他也要降到你的根下，摇动你的根柢的一切关节，使之归土。

如同一捆稻粟，他把你束聚起来。

他舂打你使你赤裸。

他筛分你使你脱去皮壳。

他磨碾你直至洁白。他揉搓你直至柔韧；

然后他送你到他的圣火上去，使你成为上帝圣筵上的圣饼。

这些都是爱要给你们作的事情，使你知道自己心中的秘密，在这知识中你便成了生命心中的一屑。

假如你在你的疑惧中，只寻求爱的和平与逸乐，

那不如掩盖你的裸露，而躲过爱的筛打，

而走入那没有季候的世界，在那里你将欢笑，却不是尽量的笑悦；你将哭泣，却没有流干了眼泪。

爱除自身外无施与，除自身外无接受。

爱不占有，也不被占有。

因为爱在爱中满足了。

（爱不给什麽，只给他自己。
    他不取什麽，只取他自己。
    爱不占有也不被占有；
    因为爱是自足与爱的。〕
                            
当你爱的时候，你不要说，“上帝在我的心中”，却要说，“我在上帝的心里。”

不要想你能导引爱的路程，因为若是他觉得你配，他就导引你。

爱没有别的愿望，只要成全自己。

但若是你爱，而且需求愿望，就让以下的做你的愿望罢：

溶化了你自己，象溪流般对清夜吟唱着歌曲。

要知道过度温存的痛苦。

让你对爱的了解毁伤了你自己；而且甘愿地喜乐地流血。

清晨醒起，以喜握的心来致谢这爱的又一日；

日中静息，默念爱的浓欢；

晚潮退时，感谢地回家；

然后在睡时祈祷，因为有被爱者在你的心中，有赞美之歌在你的唇上。

(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.

【论婚姻】

爱尔美差又说，夫子，婚姻怎样讲呢？

他回答说：

你们一块儿出世，也要永远合一。

在死的白翼隔绝你们的岁月的时候，他们也要合一。

噫，连在静默地忆想上帝之时，你们也要合一。

不过在你们合一之中，要有间隙。

让天风在你们中间舞荡。

彼此相爱，但不要做成爱的系链：

只让他在你们灵魂的沙岸中间，做一个流动的海。

彼此斟满了杯，却不要在同一杯中啜饮。

彼此递赠着面包，却不要在同一块上取食。

快乐地在一处舞唱，却仍让彼此静独，

连琴上的那些弦子也是单独的，虽然他们在同一的音调中颤动。

（彼此相爱，却不要使爱成为枷锁：
   不如让它象在你俩灵魂之岸间流动的海水。
   站立在一起但不要彼此考得太近：
   因为庙宇的柱子分开矗立，
   橡树和丝衫也不能在彼此的荫影中生长。〕

彼此赠献你们的心，却不要互相保留。

因为只有生命的手，才能把持你们的心。

要站在一处，却不要太密迩：

因为殿里的柱子，也是分立在两旁，

橡树和松柏，也不在彼此的荫中生长。

(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.

【论施与】

于是一个富人说，请给我们谈施与。

他回答说：

你把你的产业给人，那只算给了一点。

当你以身布施的时候，那才是真正的施与。

因为你的财产，岂不是你保留着的恐怕明日或许需要它们的东西么？

但是明日，那只过虑的犬，随着香客上圣城去，却把骨头埋在无痕迹的沙土里，明日能把什么给他呢？

除了需要的本身之外，需要还忧惧什么呢？

当你在井泉充溢的时候愁渴，那你的渴不是更难解么？

有人有许多财产，却只把一小部分给人——他们为求名而施与，那潜藏的欲念，使他们的礼物不完美。

有人只有一点财产，却全部都给人。

这些人相信生命和生命的丰富，他们的宝柜总不空虚。

有人喜乐地施与，那喜乐就是他们的酬报。

有人无痛地施与，那无痛就是他们的洗礼。

也有人施与了，而不觉出施与的无痛，也不寻求快乐，也不有心为善；

他们的施与，如同那边山谷里的桂花，香气在空际浮动。

从这些人的手中，上帝在说话；在他们的眼后，上帝在俯对大地微笑。

为有请求而施与的，固然是好；而未受请求，只因着默喻而施与的，是更好了。

对于乐善好施的人，去寻求需要他帮助的人的快乐，比施与的快乐还大。

有什么东西你必须保留的呢？

必有一天，你的一切都要交付出来；

趁现在施与罢，这施与的时机是你自己的，而不是你的后人的。

你常说：“我要施与，却只要舍给那些配受施与者。”

你果园里的树木，和牧场上的羊群，却不这样说。

（当你的井水充溢时你仍害怕口渴，这渴岂不是不得解的麽？
   然而有任何你要保留的东西吗？
   你所拥有的一切，有一天都得给出；
   因此现在就给吧，这样，给予的机会就属于你，而不是属于你的继承人。
   你常说：“我愿给，但只给那些值得受的人。”
   你果园中的树不这样说，你牧场上的羊群也不如此。〕

 他们为要生存而施与，因为保留就是毁灭。

凡是配接受白日和黑夜的人们，都配接受你施与的一切。

凡配在生命的海洋里啜饮的，都配在你的小泉里舀满他的杯。

还有什么德行比接受的勇气、信心和善意还大呢？

有谁能使人把他们的心怀敞露，把他们的狷傲揭开，使你能看出他们赤裸的价值和无惭的骄傲？

先省察你自己是否配做一个施与者，是否配做一个施与的器皿。

因为实在说，那只是生命给与生命——你以为自己是施主，其实也不过是一个证人。

你接受的人们——你们都是接受者——不要掮起报恩的重担，恐怕你要把轭加在你自己和施者的身上。

不如和施者在礼物上一齐展翅飞腾；

因为过于思量你们的欠负，就是怀疑了那以慈悲的大地为母、以上帝为父的人的仁心。

(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.

【论工作】

于是一个农夫说，请给我们谈工作。

他回答说：

你工作为的是要与大地和大地的精神一同前进。

因为情逸使你成为一个时代的生客，一个生命大队中的落伍者，这大队是庄严的，高傲而服从的，向着无穷前进的。

在你工作的时候，你是一管笛，从你心中吹出时光的微语，变成音乐。

你们谁肯做一根芦管，在万物合唱的时候，你独痴呆无声呢？

你们常听人说，工作是祸殃，劳动是不幸。

我却对你们说，你们工作的时候，你们完成了大地深远的梦之一部，他指示你那梦是从何时开头的。

而在你劳动不息的时候，你确实爱了生命。

在工作里爱了生命，就是通彻了生命最深的秘密。

（当你工作时，你完成了大地最深远的梦的一部分，那是那个梦生成时就已分派给你的。
   你持续的劳动，事实上即是对生命之爱。
   透过劳动去爱生命，也就是与生命最内在的奥秘相亲近。〕

倘然在你的辛苦里，将有身之苦恼和养身之诅咒，写上你的眉间，则我将回答你，只有你眉间的汗，能洗去这些字句。

你们也听见人说，生命是黑暗的。在你疲劳之中，你附和了那疲劳的人所说的话。

我说生命的确是黑暗的，除非是有了激励；

一切的激励都是盲目的，除非是有了知识；

一切的知识都是徒然的，除非是有了工作；

一切的工作都是空虚的，除非是有了爱。

当你仁爱地工作的时候，你便与自己、与人类、与上帝连系为一。

怎样才是仁爱地工作呢？

从你的心中抽丝织成布帛，仿佛你的爱者要来穿此衣裳。

热情地盖造房屋，仿佛你的爱者要住在其中。

温存地播种，欢乐地收刈，仿佛你的爱者要来吃这产物。

这就是用你自己灵魂的气息，来充满你所制造的一切。

要知道一切受福的古人，都在你上头看视着。

我常听见你们仿佛在梦中说：“那在蜡石上表现出他自己灵魂的形象的人，是比耕地的人高贵多了。

那捉住虹霓，传神地画在布帛上的人，是比织履的人强多了。”

我却要说，不在梦中，而在正午清醒的时候，风对大橡树说话的声音，并不比对纤小的草叶所说的更甜柔。

只有那用他的爱心，把风声变成甜柔的歌曲的人，是伟大的。

工作是眼能看见的爱。

倘若你不是欢乐地却厌恶地工作，那还不如撇下工作，坐在大殿的门边，去乞求那些欢乐地工作的人的周济。

倘若你无精打采地烤着面包，你烤成的面包是苦的，只能救半个人的饥饿。

你若是怨重地压榨着葡萄酒，你的怨望，在酒里滴下了毒液。

倘若你能象天使一般地唱，却不爱唱，那你就把人们能听到白天和黑夜的声音的耳朵都塞住了。

(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.

《论哀乐》

于是一个妇人说，请给我们讲欢乐与悲哀。

他回答说：

你的欢乐，就是你的去了面具的悲哀。

连你那涌溢欢乐的井泉，也常是充满了你的眼泪。

不然又怎样呢？

悲哀的创痕在你身上刻的越深，你越能容受更多的欢乐。

你的盛酒的杯，不就是那曾在陶工的窑中燃烧的坯子么？

那感悦你的心神的笛子，不就是曾受尖刀挖刻的木管么？

当你欢乐的时候，深深地内顾你的心中，你就知道只不过是曾使你悲哀的，又在使你欢乐。

当你悲哀的时候，再内顾你的心中，你就看出实在是那曾使你喜悦的，又在使你哭泣。

（悲伤在于心中切割得越深，你变能容纳更多的快乐。
   当你快乐时，深察你的内心吧，
   你将发现，只有那使经悲伤的，正给你快乐。
   当你悲伤时，再洞察你的内心吧，
   你将明白，事实上你正为曾使你快乐的事物哭泣。〕

你们有些人说：“欢乐大于悲哀。”也有人说：“不，悲哀是更大的。”

我却要对你们说，它们是不能分开的。

它们一同来到，当这一个和你同席的时候，要记得那一个正在你床上酣眠。

真的，你是天平般悬在悲哀与欢乐之间。

只有在盘空的时候，你才能静止，持平。

当守库者把你提起来称他的金银的时候，你的哀乐就必需升降了。