21)On Time時間

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

21)On Time時間

And an astronomer said, Master, what of Time?
有個天文學家說︰大師，關於時間呢？
And he answered:
他回答說︰
You would measure time the measureless and the immeasurable.
你想去測量那量不完又無法量的時間。
You would adjust your conduct
你想按照鐘點和季節調整你的行為，
and even direct the course of your spirit according to hours and seasons.
甚至引導你心靈的方向。
Of time you would make a stream upon whose bank you would sit and watch its flowing.
你想把時間變成一條溪流，好讓你們坐在堤岸上靜觀它的流動。
Yet the timeless in you is aware of life's timelessness,
然而你那內在無時間界限的心靈，意識到生命的無限。
And knows that yesterday is but today's memory and tomorrow is today's dream.
而明白昨日不過是今天的記憶，明日不過是今天的夢境罷了。
And that which sings and contemplates in you
並且知道你們心中所歌唱與沈思的，
is still dwelling within the bounds of that first moment which scattered the stars into space.
仍然居於那把群星撒於太空的最初一剎那間。
Who among you does not feel that his power to love is boundless?
你們當中誰不覺得自己愛人的能力是無限的？
And yet who does not feel that very love,
誰不感覺自己的愛
though boundless, encompassed within the centre of his being,
雖是無限，卻含蘊在他內在的心裡，
and moving not form love thought to love thought,
而無法從這個愛念移到另一個愛念，
nor from love deeds to other love deeds?
也無法從一個愛的行為移到另一個愛的行為。
And is not time even as love is, undivided and paceless?
時間豈不是和愛一樣，是不可分割且不可測量的嗎？
But if in your thought you must measure time into seasons,
如果在你的思惟中，必須把時間衡量為若干季節，
let each season encircle all the other seasons,
就讓每一個季節包含著其它的季節吧﹗
And let today embrace the past with remembrance and the future with longing.
就讓今天以回憶擁抱過去，以熱望去擁抱未來。