颂诗译选
升轮
当上帝造人之初,
有一只福杯在祂旁边;
祂说:让我们尽量的倾注给他;
让世界的丰盛散布周边,
成为两间的系连。
这样,祂赐下能力;
随后是美,又加才智,荣耀,欢喜。
当几乎要倾尽时,上帝稍事停息,
看到祂唯一的至宝
余存,安息在杯底。
祂说,如果我连
这珍宝也赐给我所造的,
他就会舍我而崇拜恩赐,
安息於自然,而非自然的主宰,
这样,二者将同归丧失。
让他得着其余的,
得着那些,也怨叹而无安息;
使他富而不足,且有困疲,至少
如果仁慈不能引他,困疲
会举起他到我怀里。
(升轮:或名滑车,吊桿;余存,安息,均为rest。)
The Pulley
When God at first made man,
Having a glass of blessings standing by,
“Let us” (said he) “pour on him all we can:
Let the world’s riches, which dispersed lie,
Contract into a span.”
So strength first made a way;
Then beauty flow’d, then wisdom, honour, pleasure:
When almost all was out, God made a stay,
Perceiving that alone of all his treasure
Rest in the bottom lay.
“For if I should” (said he)
“Bestow this jewel also on my creature,
He would adore my gifts instead of me,
And rest in Nature, not the God of Nature:
So both should losers be.”
“Yet let him keep the rest,
But keep them with repining restlessness;
Let him be rich and weary, that at least,
If goodness lead him not, yet weariness
May toss him to my breast.”
George Herbert, 1593-1633
English religious poet