雙語詩歌翻譯|《道德經(jīng)·第四十一章》

上士聽了道的理論，努力去實行；中士聽了道的理論，將信將疑；下士聽了道的理論，哈哈大笑。不被嘲笑，那就不足以成其為道了。因此古時立言的人說過這樣的話：光明的道好似暗昧；前進的道好似后退；平坦的道好似崎嶇；崇高的德好似峽谷；廣大的德好像不足；剛健的德好似怠惰；質(zhì)樸而純真好像混濁未開。最潔白的東西，反而含有污垢；最方正的東西，反而沒有棱角；最大的聲響，反而聽來無聲無息；最大的形象，反而沒有形狀。道幽隱而沒有名稱，無名無聲。只有“道”，才能使萬物善始善終。

第四十一章

上士聞道，勤而行之；中士聞道，若存若亡；下士聞道，大笑之。不笑不足以為道。故建言有之：明道若昧，道若若退，夷道若類，上德若谷，大白若辱，廣德若不足，建德若偷，質(zhì)真若渝。大方無隅，大器晚成，大音希聲，大象無形。道隱無名。夫唯道。善貸且成。

Chapter 41

When the man of highest capacities hears Tao
He does his best to put it into practice.
When the man of middling capacity hears Tao
He is in two minds about it.
When the man of low capacity hears Tao
He laughs loudly at it.
If he did not laugh, it would not be worth the name of Tao.
Therefore the proverb has it:
‘The way(Tao) out into the light often looks dark,
The way that goes ahead often looks as if it went back.’
The way that is least hilly often looks as if it went up and down,
The ‘power’ that is rally loftiest looks like an abyss,
What is sheerest white looks blurred.
The ‘power’ that is most sufficing looks inadequate,
The ‘power’ that stands firmest looks flimsy.
What is in its natural, pure state looks faded;
The largest square has no corners,
The greatest vessel takes the longest to finish,(Metaphorical meaning. ‘The greatest capacities develop latest’.)
Great music has the faintest(‘most rarified.’) notes,
The Great Form is without shape.
For Tao is hidden and nameless.
Yet Tao is hidden and nameless.
Yet Tao alone supports(a commercial metaphor. Literally ‘backs financially’.) all things and brings them to fulfillment.