On Joy and Sorrow

On Joy and Sorrow
Kahlil Gibran

Your joy is your sorrow unmasked.
And the selfsame well from which your laughter rises was oftentimes filled with your tears.
And how else can it be?
The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain.
Is not the cup that holds your wine the very cup that was burned in the potter's oven?
And is not the lute that soothes your spirit, the very wood that was hollowed with knives?
When you are joyous, look deep into your heart and you shall find it is only that which has given you sorrow that is giving you joy.
When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.

Some of you say, "Joy is greater thar sorrow," and others say, "Nay, sorrow is the greater."
But I say unto you, they are inseparable.
Together they come, and when one sits, alone with you at your board, remember that the other is asleep upon your bed.

Verily you are suspended like scales between your sorrow and your joy.
Only when you are empty are you at standstill and balanced.
When the treasure-keeper lifts you to weigh his gold and his silver, needs must your joy or your sorrow rise or fall.


歡樂與憂傷

你們的歡樂是無法掩飾的憂傷。
你歡笑的泉眼常常也飽含淚水。
除此之外，又當如何？
鐫刻在你們身上的憂傷愈深，你們能盛裝的歡樂愈多。
斟滿了美酒的杯盞，難道不是曾在陶工爐火中鍛造的杯盞嗎？
撫平了心弦的詩琴，難道不是曾在木匠利刃下雕琢的木材嗎？
當你們快樂時，審視自己的內心，
你們會發現曾經的憂傷如今卻讓你們快樂。
當你們憂傷時，再次審視自己的內心，
你們會發現曾經的快樂如今卻讓你們流淚。

你們中有些人說：「歡樂勝於憂傷。」
另一些人則說：「不，憂傷更偉大。」
但我要說，它們是相輔相成的。
它們一同降臨，當其中一個獨自與你同坐時，
記住另一個正在你的床上安歇。

的確，你們就像在憂傷與歡樂之間搖擺不定的天平。
只有當你們徹底空虛時，你們才能平衡穩定。
把你浮沉不定的快樂和悲傷都留給，
那用你來稱量金銀的守財奴吧。

（譯者：徐漢林教授）