13)On Laws法律

The Prophet(先知)
Kahlil Gibran(哈利勒‧紀伯倫)

13)On Laws法律

Then a lawyer said, But what of our Laws, master?
接著一位律師說︰那我們的法律又如何呢？大師。
And he answered:
他回答說︰
You delight in laying down laws,
你們喜歡製訂法律，
Yet you delight more in breaking them.
卻更樂於去破壞它們。
Like children playing by the ocean who build sand-towers with constancy
就像海邊玩耍的孩子們，耐心的堆造沙塔，
and then destroy them with laughter.
而後又在嘻笑之中毀掉它們。
But while you build your sand-towers
但當你堆造沙塔時，
the ocean brings more sand to the shore,
海水將更多的沙帶到岸上來。
And when you destroy them, the ocean laughs with you.
而當你們毀掉沙塔時，海與你一同歡笑。
Verily the ocean laughs always with the innocent.
確實，海永遠與天真無邪的人一同歡笑。
But what of those to whom life is not an ocean, and man-made laws are not sand-towers,
但對於那些認為生命不是海洋，人為的法律不是沙塔的人，又是如何呢？
But to whom life is a rock,
對於那些認為生命就像是岩石，
and the law a chisel with which they would carve it in their own likeness?
法律是他們想在那塊岩石上刻出自己形象的鑿子，這又該如何？
What of the cripple who hates dancers?
對於那些怨恨舞者的殘障者又如何？
What of the ox who loves his yoke and deems the elk and deer of the forest stray and vagrant things?
對於那些喜愛自己的軛，並把林間糜鹿視為迷途者的牛而言，又該如何？
What of the old serpent who cannot shed his skin,
對於那些不能蛻出自己的皮，
and calls all others naked and shameless?
因而稱所有生物為赤裸無恥的老蛇，又該如何？
And of him who comes early to the wedding-feast,
對於那些提早赴喜宴，
and when over-fed and tired goes his way
等到酒醉飯飽疲倦而歸的人，
saying that all feasts are violation and all feasters law breakers?
卻說宴會是違法，所有赴宴的人都是犯法的人，又該如何？
What shall I say of these save that they too stand in the sunlight,
對這些人我能怎麼說呢？只有說他們雖站立在陽光下，
but with their backs to the sun?
卻只願意背對著太陽。
They see only their shadows, and their shadows are their laws.
他們只看到自己的影子，而他們的影子就是他們的法律。
And what is the sun to them but a caster of shadows?
太陽對他們而言，豈不就是陰影的投射者嗎？
And what is it to acknowledge the laws
什麼叫承認法律？
but to stoop down and trace their shadows upon the earth?
豈不就是伏身去屈就於自己地上的影子嗎？
But you who walk facing the sun,
但朝著太陽而行的人啊﹗
what images drawn on the earth can hold you?
地上的任何陰影能拘束你們嗎？
You who travel with the wind,
你們是御風而行的人，
what weather-vane shall direct your course?
還有什麼風標能指示你們的方向呢？
What man's law shall bind you
什麼樣的人訂的法律能束縛你？
if you break your yoke but upon no man's prison door?
如果你只打碎自己的軛，而不打開他人的監獄門上的鎖。
What laws shall you fear if you dance but stumble against no man's iron chains?
如果你舞蹈而不絆觸別人的鐵鐐，還懼怕什麼法律？
And who is he that shall bring you to judgement if you tear off your garment yet leave it in no man's path?
如果你撕下你的衣服，而不把它丟棄在他人的走道上，還有誰會審判你？
People of Orphalese, you can muffle the drum,
奧非裡斯城的人們，你們可以壓低鼓聲，
and you can loosen the strings of the lyre,
你們可以松掉七弦琴上的琴弦，
but who shall command the skylark not to sing?
但誰能命令雲雀噤聲不唱呢？