雙語詩歌翻譯|《中庸·二十九》

《中庸》是中國儒家經(jīng)典之一，原是《禮記》第三十一篇，相傳為戰(zhàn)國時期孔伋（子思）所作。其內(nèi)容肯定“中庸”是道德行為的最高標(biāo)準(zhǔn)，把“誠”看成是世界的本體，認(rèn)為“至誠”則達(dá)到人生的最高境界，并提出“博學(xué)之，審問之，慎思之，明辨之，篤行之”的學(xué)習(xí)過程和認(rèn)識方法。宋代從《禮記》中抽出，與《大學(xué)》《論語》《孟子》合為“四書”。宋元以后，成為學(xué)校官定的教科書和科舉考試的必讀書，對中國古代教育產(chǎn)生了極大的影響。

中庸·二十九

王天下有三重焉，其寡過矣乎！上焉者，雖善無征，無征不信，不信民弗從。下焉者，雖善不尊，不尊不信，不信民弗從。故君子之道，本諸身，征諸庶民，考諸三王而不繆，建諸天地而不悖，質(zhì)諸鬼神而無疑，百世以俟圣人而不惑。質(zhì)諸鬼神而無疑，知天也；百世以俟圣人而不惑，知人也。是故，君子動而世為天下道，行而世為天下法，言而世為天下則；遠(yuǎn)之則有望，近之則不厭。詩曰：“在彼無惡，在此無射；庶幾夙夜，以永終譽(yù)。”君子未有不如此，而蚤有譽(yù)于天下者也。

XXIX

To attain to the sovereignty of the world, there are three important things necessary; they may perhaps he summed up in one: blamelessness of life.
However excellent a system of moral truths appealing to supernatural authority may be, it is not verifiable by experience; what is not verifiable by experience, cannot command credence; and what cannot command credence, the people will never obey. However excellent a system of moral truths appealing merely to worldly authority may be, it does not command respect; what does not command respect, cannot command credence; and what cannot command credence, the people will never obey.
Therefore every system of moral laws must be based upon the man's own consciousness. It must be verified by the common experience of men. Examined into by comparing it with the teachings of acknowledged great and wise men of the past, there must be no divergence. Applying it to the operations and processes of nature in the physical universe, there must be no contradiction. Confronted with the spiritual powers of the universe a man must be able to maintain it without any doubt. He must be prepared to wait, a hundred generations after him, for the coming of a man of perfect divine nature to confirm it without any misgiving. The fact that he is able to confront the spiritual powers of the universe without any doubt, shows that he understands the will of God. The fact that he is prepared to wait, a hundred generations after him, for the man of perfect divine nature without any misgiving, shows that he understands the nature of man.
Wherefore it is that it is true of the really great moral man that every act of his life becomes an example for generations; every thing he does, becomes a statute for generations; and every word he utters, becomes a law for generations. Those who are far away and do not know him look up to him, while those who are near and know him do not reject him.

In the Book of Songs it is said:
"There they found no fault in him;
Here they ever welcome him;
Thus from day to day and night to night,
They will perpetuate his praise!"

Thus a moral man unless he realises this description of a man, can never obtain at once recognition of his moral qualities throughout the world.