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Original |
Legge's
Translation |
Susuki's
Translation |
Goddard's
Translation |
| 1 |
絕學無憂。唯之與阿，相去幾何？善之與惡，相去若何？ |
When we renounce learning we have no troubles.
The (ready) 'yes,' and (flattering) 'yea;'--
Small is the difference they display.
But mark their issues, good and ill;--
What space the gulf between shall fill? |
Abandon learnedness, and you have no vexation. The "yes" compared with the "yea," how little do they differ! But the good compared with the bad, how much
do they differ!
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Avoid learning if you would have no anxiety. The "yes" and the "yea" differ very little, but the contrast between good and evil is very great. |
| 2 |
人之所畏，不可
不畏。荒兮其未央哉！ |
What all men fear is indeed to be feared; but how wide and without end
is the range of questions (asking to be discussed)!
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If what the people dread cannot be made dreadless, there will be desolation,
alas! and verily, there will be no end of it.
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That which is not feared by the people is not worth fearing. But, oh, the difference,
the desolation, the vastness, between ignorance and
the limitless expression of the Dao. |
| 3 |
眾人熙熙，如享太牢，如登春台。我獨泊兮其未兆
，如嬰兒之未孩。 兮，若無所歸。眾人皆有餘，而我獨若遺。我愚人
之心也哉！沌沌兮。 |
The multitude of men look satisfied and pleased; as if enjoying a full banquet,
as if mounted on a tower in spring. I alone seem
listless and still, my desires having as yet given no indication of their presence.
I am like an infant which has not yet smiled. I look
dejected and forlorn, as if I had no home to go to. The multitude of men all
have enough and to spare. I alone seem to have lost everything. My mind is
that of a stupid man; I am in a state of chaos.
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The multitudes of men are happy, so happy, as though celebrating a great feast.
They are as though in springtime ascending a tower.
I alone remain quiet, alas! like one that has not
yet received an omen. I am like unto a babe that
does not yet smile. Forlorn am I, O
so forlorn! It appears that I have no place whither
I may return home. The multitude of
men all have plenty and I alone appear empty. Alas!
I am a man whose heart is foolish.
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(The balance of this sonnet is devoted to showing the difference between the
careless state of the common people and his own vision
of the Tao. It is one of the most pathetic expressions
of human loneliness, from lack of appreciation, ever
written. It is omitted here that it might serve for
the closing sonnet and valedictory.)
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| 4 |
俗人昭昭，我獨昏昏。俗人察察，我獨悶悶。澹兮其
若海，飉兮若無止。眾人皆有以，我獨頑且鄙。我獨異於人，而貴食母。 |
Ordinary men look bright and intelligent, while I alone seem to be benighted.
They look full of discrimination, while I alone am
dull and confused. I seem to be carried about as on
the sea, drifting as if I had nowhere to rest. All
men have their spheres of action, while I alone seem
dull and incapable, like a rude borderer. (Thus) I
alone am different from other men, but I value the
nursing-mother (the Dao). |
Ignorant am I, O, so ignorant! Common people are bright, so bright, I alone
am dull.Common people are
smart, so smart, I alone am confused, so confused.
Desolate am I, alas! like the sea. Adrift, alas!
like one who has
no place where to stay. The multitude of
men all possess usefulness. I alone am awkward and
a rustic too. I alone differ from others, but I prize
seeking sustenance from our mother.
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