第4章
1.Thou hast made me endless，such is thy pleasure.This frail vessel thou emptiest again and again，and fillest it ever with fresh life.
This little flute of a reed thou hast carried over hills and dales，and hast breathed through it melodies eternally new.
At the immortal touch of thy hands my little heart loses its limits in joy and gives birth to utterance ineffable.
Thy infinite gifts come to me only on these very small hands of mine.Ages pass，and still thou pourest，and still there is room to fill.
你使我轮回无尽，这是你的乐趣
你反复清空这脆弱的灵魂之杯，
又不断注入新生。
你携着这小小芦笛翻山越谷，
呼吸之间，赋予它永新的乐曲。
每当获得你双手不朽的抚触，
我的小心灵便迷失于大欢喜，
生出妙不可言的明悟。
你无尽的赠礼只抵达我稚弱的双手。
历经几世几劫，你继续倾注，
而我的掌中还有空余。
2.
When thou commandest me to sing it seems that my heart would break with pride；and I look to thy face，and tears come to my eyes.
All that is harsh and dissonant in my life melts into one sweet harmony-and my adoration spreads wings like a glad bird on its flight across the sea.
I know thou takest pleasure in my singing.I know that only as a singer I come before thy presence.
I touch by the edge of the far-spreading wing of my song thy feet which I could never aspire to reach.
Drunk with the joy of singing I forget myself and call thee friend who art my lord.
当你召唤我献唱，
我的心几乎因骄傲胀裂；
我仰视你的仪容，
不觉热泪盈眶。
我生命中的苦难与不适，融汇成甜美交响
我的膜拜一如越洋的飞鸟，欢快地舒展翅膀。
我知道你欣悦我的颂唱。
我知道，只有作为歌者，我才能接近尊颜。
我用颂歌极展的翅梢，触碰到你的双足，
此前我绝不敢有此热望。
迷醉于歌声的欢悦中，我将自己遗忘；
我称你为“我友”，虽然你本是我王。
3.
I know not how thou singest，my master！I ever listen in silent amazement.
The light of thy music illumines the world.The life breath of thy music runs from sky to sky.The holy stream of thy music breaks through all stony obstacles and rushes on.
My heart longs to join in thy song，but vainly struggles for a voice.I would speak，but speech breaks not into song，and I cry out baffled.Ah，thou hast made my heart captive in the endless meshes of thy music，my master！
我不知你如何吟唱，我主！
我总在沉默与惊奇中聆听。
你音乐的光明烛照尘世。
你音乐的气息遍入诸天。
你音乐的圣流破除一切岩石的屏障，
继续流淌。
我的心渴望与你同歌，
却徒劳不能出声。
我想说话却语不成调，
我欲呼喊却暗哑无言。
唉，你已使我的心，
成为你无边的音乐罗网的俘虏，我主！
4.Life of my life，I shall ever try to keep my body pure，knowing that thy living touch is upon all my limbs.
I shall ever try to keep all untruths out from my thoughts，knowing that thou art that truth which has kindled the light of reason in my mind.
I shall ever try to drive all evils away from my heart and keep my love in flower，knowing that thou hast thy seat in the inmost shrine of my heart.
And it shall be my endeavour to reveal thee in my actions，knowing it is thy power gives me strength to act.
我生命的生命！
既然你鲜活的抚触遍及我身，
我必永远保持躯体纯洁。
既然你是那点燃我脑中理性火苗的真理，
我必永远摒除思想中的谎言。
既然你在我心深处享有圣位，
我应永远从心中驱逐一切邪念。
既然你的神威赐予我行动的力量，
我必竭力在行为中彰显你的神迹。
5.I ask for a moment‘s indulgence to sit by thy side.The works that I have in hand I will finish afterwards.
Away from the sight of thy face my heart knows no rest nor respite，and my work becomes an endless toil in a shoreless sea of toil.
Today the summer has come at my window with its sighs and murmurs；and the bees are plying their minstrelsy at the court of the flowering grove.
Now it is time to sit quite，face to face with thee，and to sing dedication of live in this silent and overflowing leisure.
请赐我于你身侧暂坐的恩惠，
手边的事稍后完成。
不见天颜，我的心觉不出舒适安闲，
劳作成为无涯海中的无尽苦役。
而今夏日带着低叹密语来到我的窗前，
蜂群在花木庭苑中往复游吟，
此时合当与你睹面相对，寂然燕坐，
在这静谧无边的闲暇中颂唱生命赞歌。
6.
Pluck this little flower and take it，delay not！I fear lest it droop and drop into the dust.
I may not find a place in thy garland，but honour it with a touch of pain from thy hand and pluck it.I fear lest the day end before I am aware，and the time of offering go by.
Though its colour be not deep and its smell be faint，use this flower in thy service and pluck it while there is time.
摘走这朵小花，请勿迟疑，
我怕它零落成泥。
它未必匹配你的花冠，
但还请你，撷取它，
用你亲手抚触带来的苦痛，
赐它以殊荣。
我怕意识不到流光尽逝，
错失献祭时机。
纵非色艳香浓，仍可取用，
花朵堪摘直须摘。
7.My song has put off her adornments.She has no pride of dress and decoration.Ornaments would mar our union；they would come between thee and me；their jingling would drown thy whispers.
My poet’s vanity dies in shame before thy sight.O master poet，I have sat down at thy feet.Only let me make my life simple and straight，like a flute of reed for thee to fill with music.
我的歌洗尽铅华，
毫无衣饰的骄慢。
虚饰有损于我们的结合；
它们会置身你我之间；
它们的叮当声会盖过你的私语。
我那诗人的虚荣，
在你的仪容前羞惭致死。
噢诗匠，我已坐到你的脚前，
只让我的生命朴实正直，
一如你倾注音乐的芦笛。
8.The child who is decked with prince‘s robes and who has jewelled chains round his neck loses all pleasure in his play；his dress hampers him at every step.
In fear that it may be frayed，or stained with dust he keeps himself from the world，and is afraid even to move.
Mother，it is no gain，thy bondage of finery，if it keeps one shut off from the healthful dust of the earth，if it rob one of the right of entrance to the great fair of common human life.
身着王子袍服、颈悬珠链的孩子，
在游戏中快乐尽失；
他的盛装妨碍他的每一步。
担心它的破损，或被尘土所污，
他回避整个世界，甚至不敢行动一步。
母亲，如果你华服的牵绊，
令人与大地健康的尘土隔绝；
如果它剥夺了加入凡俗生活中盛大集会的权利，那将毫无益处。
9.O Fool，try to carry thyself upon thy own shoulders！O beggar，to come beg at thy own door！
Leave all thy burdens on his hands who can bear all，and never look behind in regret.
Thy desire at once puts out the light from the lamp it touches with its breath.It is unholy-take not thy gifts through its unclean hands.Accept only what is offered by sacred love.
噢傻子，把自己扛在肩上试试！
噢乞丐，看能否到你自家门口乞食！
把你所有的负担放到能担当一切的人手中，
永远不要歉然回顾。
倘若你的欲望气息碰到灯，
瞬间就会扑灭它的火。
欲望是不圣洁的不要从它那不洁的手中收取你的礼物。
只接受神圣的爱之献祭。
10.Here is thy footstool and there rest thy feet where live the poorest，and lowliest，and lost.
When I try to bow to thee，my obeisance cannot reach down to the depth where thy feet rest among the poorest，and lowliest，and lost.
Pride can never approach to where thou walkest in the clothes of the humble among the poorest，and lowliest，and lost.
My heart can never find its way to where thou keepest company with the companionless among the poorest，the lowliest，and the lost.
这是你的脚凳，
你在最贫贱者和迷途者中驻足。
当我想要向你鞠躬，
我的敬意无从抵达你驻足的深处，
在那最贫贱和迷途的人群中。
你衣衫褴褛，行走于最贫贱者和迷途者之间，
骄傲永远无法抵达那里。
你在最贫贱和迷途的人群中，
与形影相吊的人为伍，
我的心，永远无法找到通往那里的路。