雙語詩歌翻譯|《中庸·二十七》

《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·二十七

大哉！圣人之道！洋洋乎，發(fā)育萬物，峻極于天。優(yōu)優(yōu)大哉！禮儀三百，威儀三千，待其人而后行。故曰：“茍不至德，至道不凝焉。”故君子尊德性而道問學(xué)，致廣大而盡精微，極高明而道中庸。溫故而知新，敦厚以崇禮。是故，居上不驕，為下不倍。國有道，其言足以興；國無道，其默足以容。詩曰：“既明且哲，以保其身”，其此之謂與！

XXVII

Oh! How great is the divine moral law in man. Vast and illimitable, it gives birth and life to all created things. It towers high up to the very heavens. How wonderful and great it is! All the institutions of human society and civilization—laws, customs and usages—have their origin there. All these institutions wait for the man before they can be put into practice. Hence it is said: Unless there be highest moral power, the highest moral law cannot be realised.
Wherefore the moral man, while honouring the greatness and power of his moral nature, yet does not neglect inquiry and pursuit of knowledge. While widening the extent of his knowledge, he yet seeks to attain utmost accuracy in the minutest details. While seeking to understand the highest things, he yet lives a plain, ordinary life in accordance with the moral order. Going over what he has already acquired, he keeps adding to it new knowledge. Earnest and simple, he respects and obeys the laws and usages of social life.
Therefore, when in a position of authority, he is not proud; in a subordinate position, he is not insubordinate. When there is moral social order in the country, what he speaks will be of benefit to the nation; and when there is no moral social order in the country, his silence will ensure forbearance for himself. In the Book of Songs it is said:
"With wisdom and good sense,
He guards his life from harm."
That is the description of the moral man.