颂诗译选

化石成金

凌风 译

教导我，我主我王，
在所有的事上看见你，
不论我为了何事忙，
所作都是为了你。

不是像粗野的动物，
反应动作本然；
但仍使你预先宣言，
终究能使其完全。

人对着镜子观看，
他会定睛在其上，
若他愿看透另一面，
他就能看见天堂。

凡事可与你同作，
无事可算为不屑，
如果存心“为主作”，
无不化为光明清洁。

仆人持守这原则
可化杂务为圣工：
清扫房间，无殊宣讲圣经，
使房间和行动都纯淨。

这是那有名的石头
能把一切变为金；
因神所作並所有的
不能減损所言半分。

　　　　乔治．赫伯特，英国诗人。

注：据传说，古时的术士能炼成“昇化石”（Elixir），也称为“The philosopher's stone”，能点石成金，又能使人长生不老。诗人以“有名的石头”喻圣徒事奉观念的转变。

The Elixir

Teach Me, my God and King,
In all things Thee to see,
And that I do in anything,
To do it as for Thee.

Not rudely as a beast,
To run into an action;
But still to make thee prepossest,
And give it his perfection.

A man that looks on glass,
On it may stay his eye,
Or, if he pleaseth, through it pass,
And then the heav'n espy.

All may of Thee partake:
Nothing can be so mean,
Which with his tincture, "For Thy sake,"
Will not grow bright and clean.

A servant with this clause
Makes drugery divine:
Who sweeps a room, as for thy laws,
Makes that and th' action fine.

This is the famous stone
That turneth all to gold;
For that which God doth touch and own
Cannot for less be told.

George Herbert, 1593-1633
English religious poet