雙語詩歌翻譯|《中庸·二十六》

《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(shí)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(shí)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·二十六

故至誠無息，不息則久。久則征，征則悠遠(yuǎn)，悠遠(yuǎn)則博厚，博厚則高明。博厚所以載物也，高明所以覆物也，悠久所以成物也。博厚配地，高明配天，悠久無疆。如此者，不見而章，不動(dòng)而變，無為而成。
天地之道，可一言而盡也：“其為物不貳，則其生物不測?！碧斓刂溃翰┮?，厚也，高也，明也，悠也，久也。今夫天，斯昭昭之多，及其無窮也，日月星辰系焉，萬物覆焉。今夫地，一撮土之多，及其廣厚，載華岳而不重，振河海而不泄，萬物載焉。今夫山，一卷石之多，及其廣大，草木生之，禽獸居之，寶藏興焉。今夫水，一勺之多，及其不測，黿鼉蛟龍魚鱉生焉，貨財(cái)殖焉。
詩云：“維天之命，於穆不已?！鄙w曰天之所以為天也?！办逗醪伙@？文王之德之純?！鄙w曰文王之所以為文也，純亦不已。

XXVI

Thus absolute truth is indestructible. Being indestructible, it is eternal. Being eternal, it is self-existent. Being self-existent, it is infinite. Being infinite, it is vast and deep. Being vast and deep, it is transcendental and intelligent. It is because it is vast and deep that it contains all existence. It is because it is transcendental and intelligent that it embraces all existence. It is because it is infinite and eternal that it fills all existence. In vastness and depth it is like the Earth. In transcendental intelligence it is like Heaven. Infinite and eternal, it is Infinitude itself.
Such being the nature of absolute truth, it manifests itself without being evident; it produces effects without action; it accomplishes its ends without being conscious.
The principle in the course and operation of nature may be summed up in one word: it exists for its own sake without any double or ulterior motive. Hence the way in which it produces things is unfathomable.
Nature is vast, deep, high, intelligent, infinite and eternal. The heaven appearing before us is only this bright, shining spot; but, when taken in its immeasurable extent, the sun, moon, stars and constellations are suspended in it, and all things are embraced under it. The earth, appearing before us, is but a handful of soil; but, taken in all its breadth and depth, it sustains mighty Himalayas without feeling their weight; rivers and seas dash against it without causing it to leak. The mountain appearing before us is only a mass of rock; but taken in all the vastness of its size, grass and vegetation grow upon it, birds and beasts dwell on it and treasures of precious stones are found in it. The water appearing before us is but a ladleful of liquid; but taken in all its unfathomable depths, the largest crustaceans, fishes and reptiles are produced in them, and all useful products abound in them.

In the Book of Songs it is said:
The ordinance of God,
How inscrutable it is and goes on for ever.

That is to say, this is the attribute of God. It is again said:
How excellent it is,
The moral perfection of King Wen.

That is to say, this is the characteristic of the nobleness of the Emperor Wen. Moral perfection also never dies.