卡裏·紀伯倫/Kahlil Gibran
Then said a rich man, Speak to us of Giving.
And he answered:
You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.
For what are your possessions but things you keep and guard for fear you may need them tomorrow? And tomorrow, what shall tomorrow bring to the over-prudent dog burying bones in the trackless sand as he follows the pilgrims to the holy city?
And what is fear of need but need itself? Is not dread of thirst when your well is full, the thirst that is unquenchable?
There are those who give little of the much which they have—and they give it for recognition and their hidden desire makes their gifts unwholesome. And there are those who have little and give it all. These are the believers in life and the bounty of life, and their coffer is never empty.
There are those who give with joy, and that joy is their reward. And there are those who give with pain, and that pain is their baptism. And there are those who give and know not pain in giving, nor do they seek joy, nor give with mindfulness of virtue; they give as in yonder valley the myrtle breathes its fragrance into space.
Through the hands of such as these God speaks, and from behind their eyes He smiles upon the earth.
It is well to give when asked, but it is better to give unasked, through understanding; And to the open-handed the search for one who shall receive is joy greater than giving.
And is there aught you would withhold?
All you have shall some day be given; therefore give now, that the season of giving may be yours and not your inheritors.
You often say, "I would give, but only to the deserving." The trees in yours orchard say not so, nor the flocks in your pasture. They give that they may live, for to withhold is to perish.
Surely he who is worthy to receive his days and his nights is worthy of all else from you.
And he who has deserved to drink from the ocean of life deserves to fill his cup from your little stream.
And what desert greater shall there be than that which lies in the courage and the confidence, nay the charity, of receiving?
And who are you that men should rend their bosom and unveil their pride, that you may see their worth naked and their pride unabashed? See first that you yourself deserve to be a giver, and an instrument of giving.
For in truth it is life that gives unto life—while you, who deem yourself a giver, are but a witness.
And you receivers—and you are all receivers—assume no weight of gratitude, lest you lay a yoke upon yourself and upon him who gives.
Rather rise together with the giver on his gifts as on wings; for to be overmindful of your debt, is to doubt his generosity who has the freehearted earth for mother, and God for father.
一位富人接下來說，請你給我們講講施與吧。
於是，他回答：
你們隻是拿出自己的財產，那麽你們的施與微不足道；若你們奉獻自己，那才是真正的施與。
你們守護囤積的財產，隻是因為明天可能會需要嗎？而明天，如果一條狗在跟隨著朝聖者前往聖城的途中，過度謹慎地將骨頭埋在找不到回頭路的沙子裏，那麽明天將會給它帶來什麽呢？
除了欲望本身，還有什麽可懼怕的呢？當井水充盈時，你對幹渴的畏懼還是無法擺脫的嗎？
有些人隻捐贈自己財產的九牛一毛——他們不過是為得到認可，然而他們隱藏的私欲使他們的禮物無益於身心；也有些人，擁有甚少，卻全部捐獻，他們相信生命本身就足夠豐裕，他們的保險箱從不會空著。
有些人歡快地施與，這歡快便是他們的報酬；有些人痛苦地施與，這痛苦便是他們的洗禮。有些人，施與時並不覺得痛苦，也不是為了尋求快樂或凸顯美德。他們施與，猶如山穀那邊的桂花，在空氣中散發出淡淡的馨香。
上帝借助這些人之手傳道，借由他們之眸對大地微笑。
在他人要求時奉上施與的確不錯，但在別人未開口時能體貼地施與，這就更好了。對於慷慨大方之人，倘能找到樂於接受者，要比施與本身更為快樂。
你還想保留什麽呢？
總有一天，你擁有的一切都將施與他人。所以現在就施與吧，把施與的機會留給自己，而不是你的後來人。
你們常說：“我隻贈給值得贈的人。”你們果園中的樹木和草地上的羊群就不會這樣說。因為施與，它們才得以生存，而拒絕給予則會招致滅亡。
一個值得被神授予白日與黑夜的人，當然能夠從你們這裏獲得其他一切；一個值得啜飲生命之泉的人，當然也能從你們的溪流裏斟滿杯盞。
有什麽能超越接受的勇氣、信心，甚至慈悲的美德嗎？
你是誰？值得人們敞開胸懷，移開自尊的麵紗，好讓你看到他們**裸的價值和他們無愧的尊嚴？先審視一下自己是否有資格成為一個施與者—— 一件施與的容器。
事實上，因為這是生命對生命的施與——至於你，自視為施與者，不過是一個見證人罷了。
至於你們這些受施者——你們全都是受施者——不要背上感激的重負，否則就是給自己和施與者套上枷鎖。
不如和施與者及其饋贈一同展翅飛翔，因為對債務耿耿於懷，就是懷疑那寬厚的以大地為母、以上帝為父的施與者的慷慨。
W 詞匯筆記
recognition[?rek?ɡ?in??n]n.讚譽；承認；公認；識別
例 She received recognition for her many achievements.
她的許多成就得到了認可。
unwholesome[??n?h?uls?m]adj.不健康的
例 He is an unwholesome pallor.
他是一種不健康的蒼白。
inheritor[in?herit?]n.繼承人；後繼者
例 He claimed that he's the only legal inheitor.
他聲稱自己是唯一合法的繼承人。
assume[??sju?m]vt.假定；設想；采取；呈現
例 He's not such a fool as you assumed him to be.
他並非你所以為的那樣愚蠢。
S 小試身手
有些人歡快地施與，這歡快便是他們的報酬。
譯___________________________________________
上帝借助這些人之手傳道，借由他們之眸對大地微笑。
譯___________________________________________
總有一天，你擁有的一切都將施與他人。
譯___________________________________________
P 短語家族
……you keep and guard for fear you may need them tomorrow?
for fear：生怕；以免
造___________________________________________
Is not dread of thirst when your well is full, the thirst that is unquenchable?
dread of：畏懼；恐懼
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