颂诗译选

真理

凌风 译

真理的本身就是试验真实，
　　不需要有別的试金石；
纯淨胜过最精的精金，
　　沒有谁能炼得如此精纯。

真理是爱的生命和光，
　　是永远照耀的太阳，
是那特殊恩典的精义，
　　爱和信心是它的解释。

它是言语的保障，
　　流露出那么甘美的芳香，
它给予信心以力量
　　腳下践踏一切的虛妄。

Truth

Truth is the trial of itself,
　　And needs no other touch;
And purer than the purest gold,
　　Refine it ne'er so much.

It is the life and light of love,
　　The sun that ever shineth,
And spirit of that special grace,
　　That faith and love defineth.

It is the warrant of the word,
　　That yields a scent so sweet,
As gives a power to faith to tread
　　All falsehood under feet.

Ben Jonson, 1572-1637
English poet & playwright