先知

（冰心 译）

On Love

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

And he raised his head and looked upon the people, and there fell a stillness1 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 enfold2 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 crucify3 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 bredad 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 fulfill itself.

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

To melt and be like a running4 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.

热词天地

1.stillness ['stɪlnəs] n． 静止；沉静

2.enfold[ɪn'fəʊld] vt． 拥抱；包裹；折叠；围绕

3.crucify['kru:sɪfaɪ] vt． 折磨；十字架上钉死；克制

4.running['rʌnɪŋ] n． 运转；赛跑；流出adj． 连续的；流动的；跑着的；运转着的

lay waste 损毁；荒废

sacred fire 圣火；真挚的爱；天才

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做的事情，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，却不是尽量地笑悦；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。

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吧：

溶化了你自己，像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，以喜蜺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。

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 the white wings of death scatter your days.

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

But let there be spaces in your togetherness1,

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.

热词天地

1.togetherness [tə'geðənəs] n． 相聚，家庭聚会；团结精神；归属感

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，你们也要合一。

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，

连琴上的那些弦也是单独的，虽然他们在同一的音调中颤动。

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。

On Children

And a woman who held a babe against her bosom said, "Speak to us of Children."

And he said:

Your children are not your children.

They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.

They come through you but not from you,

And though they are with you, yet they belong not to you.

You may give them your love but not your thoughts.

For they have their own thoughts.

You may house their bodies but not their souls,

For their souls dwell1 in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.

You may strive2 to be like them, but seek not to make them like you.

For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.

You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth3.

The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite, and He bends you with His might4 that His arrows may go swift and far.

Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;

For even as He loves the arrow that flies, so He loves also the bow that is stable.

热词天地

1.dwell[dwel] vi． 居住；存在于；细想某事

2.strive[straɪv] vi． 努力；奋斗；抗争

3.forth[fɔ:θ] adv． 向前，向外

4.might [maɪt] n． 力量；威力；势力

held a babe against her bosom 怀里抱着孩子

belong (not) to（不）属于

孩子

于是一个怀中抱着孩子的妇人说：“请给我们谈孩子。”

他说：

你们的孩子，都不是你们的孩子。

乃是“生命”为自己所渴望的儿女。

他们是凭借你们而来，却不是从你们而来，

他们虽和你们同在，却不属于你们。

你们可以给他们以爱，却不可给他们以思想。

因为他们有自己的思想。

你们可以荫庇他们的身体，却不能荫庇他们的灵魂。

因为他们的灵魂，是住在“明日”的宅中，那是你们在梦中也不能想见的。

你们可以努力去模仿他们，却不能使他们来像你们。

因为生命是不倒行的，也不与“昨日”一同停留。

你们是弓，你们的孩子是从弦上发出的生命的箭矢。

那射者在无穷之中看定了目标，也用神力将你们引满，使他的箭矢迅速而遥远地射了出去。

让你们在射者手中的“弯曲”，成为喜乐罢；

因为他爱那飞出的箭，也爱那静止的弓。

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 over-prudent dog burying bones in the trackless1 sand as he follows the pilgrims to the holy city?

And what is fear of need but need itself?

Is not dread2 of thirst when your well is full, the 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 bounty3 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 baptism4.

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 freehearted earth for mother, and God for father.

热词天地

1.trackless['træklɪs] adj． 无足迹的，无路的，不在轨道上行驶的

2. dread [dred] n． 恐惧，畏惧；令人恐惧的事物

3. bounty ['baʊntɪ] n. （由政府提供的）奖金，赏金；慷慨，大方；赠物，赠金

4. baptism ['bæptɪzəm] n. （基督教的）洗礼；严峻考验

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。

有人痛苦地施与，那痛苦就是他们的洗礼。

也有人施与了，而不觉出施与的痛苦，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。

因请求而施与的，固然是好，而未受请求，只因默喻而施与的，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。

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，那只是生命给予生命——你以为自己是施主，其实也不过是一个证人。

你们这些接受者——你们都是接受者——不要负起报恩的重担，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。

On Friendship

And a youth said, "Speak to us of Friendship."

And he answered, saying:

Your friend is your needs answered.

He is your field which you sow with love and reap with thanksgiving.

And he is your board1 and your fireside.

For you come to him with your hunger, and you seek him for peace.

When your friend speaks his mind you fear not the "nay" in your own mind, nor do you withhold the "ay."

And when he is silent your heart ceases not to listen to his heart;

For without words, in friendship, all thoughts, all desires, all expectations are born and shared, with joy that is unacclaimed2.

When you part from your friend, you grieve not;

For that which you love most in him may be clearer in his absence,

as3 the mountain to the climber is clearer from the plain.

And let there be no purpose in friendship save the deepening of the spirit.

For love that seeks aught4 the disclosure of its own mystery is not love but a net cast forth: and only the unprofitable is caught.

And let your best be for your friend.

If he must know the ebb of your tide, let him know its flood also.

For what is your friend that you should seek him with hours to kill?

Seek him always with hours to live.

For it is his to fill your need, but not your emptiness.

And in the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, and sharing of pleasures.

For in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed.

热词天地

1.board [bɔ:d] n． 董事会；木板；甲板；膳食

2.acclaim[ə'kleɪm] vt． 称赞；赞扬；向……欢呼；向……喝彩

3.as[əz] conj． 因为；随着；虽然；依照；当……时 prep． 如同；以……的身份

4.aught [ɔ:t] n． 任何事物（等于anything）；无物

part from 向……告别

友谊

于是一个青年说：“请给我们谈友谊。”

他回答说：

你的朋友是你的有回答的需求。

他是你用爱播种、用感谢收获的田地。

他是你的饮食，也是你的火炉。

因为你饥渴地奔向他，你向他寻求平安。

当你的朋友向你倾吐胸臆的时候，你不要怕说出心中的“否”，也不要瞒住你心中的“可”。

当他静默的时候，你的心仍要倾听他的心；

因为在友谊里，不用言语，一切的思想，一切的愿望，一切的希冀，都在无声的欢乐中发生而共享了。

当你与朋友别离的时候，不要忧伤；

因为你感到他的最可爱之点，当他不在时愈见清晰，正如登山者从平原上望山峰，也加倍地分明。

愿除了寻求心灵的加深之外，友谊没有别的目的。

因为那只寻求着要泄露自身的神秘的爱，不算是爱，只算是一个撒下的网，只网住一些无益的东西。

让你的最美好的事物，都给你的朋友。

假如他必须知道你潮水的退落，也让他知道你潮水的高涨。

你找他只为消磨光阴的人，还能算是你的朋友么？

你要在生长的时间中去找他。

因为他的时间是满足你的需要，不是填满你的空腹。

在友谊的温柔中，要有欢笑和共同的喜悦。

因为在那微末事物的甘露中，你的心能找到他的清晓而焕发了精神。

On Beauty

And a poet said, "Speak to us of Beauty."

And he answered:

Where shall you seek beauty, and how shall you find her unless she herself be your way and your guide?

And how shall you speak of her except she be the weaver of your speech?

The aggrieved1 and the injured say, "Beauty is kind and gentle.

Like a young mother half-shy of her own glory she walks among us."

And the passionate say, "Nay, beauty is a thing of might and dread.

Like the tempest2 he shakes the earth beneath us and the sky above us."

The tired and the weary say, "Beauty is of soft whisperings. She speaks in our spirit.

Her voice yields to our silences like a faint light that quivers in fear of the shadow."

But the restless say, "We have heard her shouting among the mountains,

And with her cries came the sound of hoofs, and the beating of wings and the roaring of lions."

At night the watchmen of the city say, "Beauty shall rise with the dawn from the east."

And at noontide the toilers and the wayfarers say, "We have seen her leaning over the earth from the windows of the sunset."

In winter say the snow-bound, "She shall come with the spring leaping upon the hills."

And in the summer heat the reapers say, "We have seen her dancing with the autumn leaves, and we saw a drift of snow in her hair."

All these things have you said of beauty.

Yet in truth you spoke not of her but of needs unsatisfied,

And beauty is not a need but an ecstasy3.

It is not a mouth thirsting nor an empty hand stretched forth,

But rather a heart enflamed and a soul enchanted.

It is not the image you would see nor the song you would hear,

But rather an image you see though you close your eyes and a song you hear though you shut your ears.

It is not the sap within the furrowed bark, nor a wing attached to a claw,

But rather a garden for ever in bloom and a flock of angels for ever in flight.

People of Orphalese, beauty is life when life unveils her holy face.

But you are life and you are the veil4.

Beauty is eternity5 gazing at itself in a mirror.

But you are eternity and you are the mirror.

热词天地

1.aggrieved[ə'gri:vd] adj． 受委屈的，愤愤不平的；权利受到不法侵害的

2.tempest ['tempɪst] n． 暴风雨；骚动；动乱

3.ecstasy ['ekstəsɪ] n． 狂喜；入迷；忘形

4.veil[veɪl] n． 面纱；面罩 vt． 以面纱遮掩 vi． 蒙上面纱；出现轻度灰雾

5.eternity [ɪ'tɜ:nətɪ] n． 来世，来生；不朽；永世

美

于是一个诗人说：“请给我们谈美。”

他回答说：

你们到处追求美，除了她自己做了你的道路，引导着你之外，你如何能找到她呢？

除了她做了你的言语的编造者之外，你如何能谈论她呢？

冤抑的、受伤的人说：“美是仁爱的，柔和的，

如同一位年轻的母亲，在她自己的光荣中半含着羞涩，在我们中间行走。”

热情的人说：“不，美是一种全能的可畏的东西，

暴风似地，撼摇了上天下地。”

疲乏的、忧苦的人说：“美是温柔的微语，在我们心灵中说话。

她的声音传达到我们的寂静中，如同微晕的光，在阴影的恐惧中颤动。”

烦躁的人却说：“我们听见她在万山中叫号，

与她的呼声俱来的，有兽蹄之声，振翼之音，与狮子之吼。”

在夜里守城的人说：“美要与晓暾从东方一同升起。”

在日中的时候，工人和旅客说：“我们曾见她凭倚在落日的窗户上俯视大地。”

在冬日，阻雪的人说：“她要和春天一同来临，跳跃于山峰之上。”

在夏日的炎热里，刈者说：“我们曾看见她与秋叶一同跳舞，我们也看见她的发中有一堆白雪。”

这些都是他们关于美的谈说。

实际上，你却不是谈她，只是谈着你那未曾满足的需要，

美不是一种需要，只是一种欢乐。

她不是干渴的口，也不是伸出的空虚的手，

却是发焰的心，陶醉的灵魂。

她不是那你能看到的形象，能听到的歌声，

却是你虽闭目时也能看见的形象，虽掩耳时也能听见的歌声。

她不是犁痕下树皮中的液汁，也不是在兽爪间垂死的禽鸟，

却是一座永远开花的花园，一群永远飞翔的天使。

阿法利斯的民众呵，在生命揭露圣洁的面容的时候的美，就是生命。

但你就是生命，你也是面纱。

美是永生揽镜自照。

但你就是永生，你也是镜子。