谈死亡 纪伯伦 （英诗中译）On Death—— Kahlil Gibran

一月二日是姨的忌日，每年这个日子的前后都会想着她，想着这阴阳两隔，想着生死，在心里和她说说话，给我们一个共度的时光。

曾翻译过纪伯伦的散文诗集《先知》（《The Prophet》）中的几首，昨天想起他的这首《谈死亡》，开始阅读体会。无论是黎巴嫩诗人，还是老庄哲学都把生死看成一体，看成一个事物的两面。庄子说“死生，命也，其有夜旦之常”；纪伯伦说“For life and death are one, even as the river and the sea are one.”“生死是一回事，就像河与海一样”。古今中外、先贤哲人皆做如是说，这个思想接受起来，会感到与亲人的永诀不再是那么绝望。

姨，亲爱的姨，我闭目凝神，希望能感受到你来自那个世界的大音希声……

《谈死亡》  纪伯伦

On Death——  Kahlil Gibran 

翻译  叶子  2015年1月3日

You would know the secret of death.

吾起了然意，死生有玄机。

But how shall you find it unless you seek it in the heart of life?

长寻不得与，潜幽窥真玑。

The owl whose night-bound eyes are blind unto the day cannot unveil the mystery of light.

鸱鸮夜行健，夙寐惧日晖。

If you would indeed behold the spirit of death, open your heart wide unto the body of life.

欲彻逐灵魄，但使开心扉。

For life and death are one, even as the river and the sea are one.

江流汇沧海， 生死两相依。

In the depth of your hopes and desires lies your silent knowledge of the beyond;

希冀善吾生，安息善吾归。

And like seeds dreaming beneath the snow your heart dreams of spring.

雪润麦种呓，梦裁我春衣。

Trust the dreams, for in them is hidden the gate to eternity.

尽信梦非梦，永恒入帘闱。

Your fear of death is but the trembling of the shepherd when he stands before the king whose hand is to be laid upon him in honour.

世人患空寂，牧人慑王威。

Is the shepherd not joyful beneath his trembling, that he shall wear the mark of the king?

Yet is he not more mindful of his trembling?

喜忧总参半，幻化愿无违。

For what is it to die but to stand naked in the wind and to melt into the sun?

玉体和风立，负暄融日飞。

And what is it to cease breathing, but to free the breath from its restless tides, that it may rise and expand and seek God unencumbered?

潮汐夜复昼，劳作吟式微。

奄去腾化日，极乐沐天辉。

Only when you drink from the river of silence shall you indeed sing.

天河水澹澹，大音曲成希。

And when you have reached the mountain top, then you shall begin to climb.

遍览众山小，天梯悬宫畿。

And when the earth shall claim your limbs, then shall you truly dance.

天人合一处，起舞若英蜚。