Song of Wisdom

 

智慧之歌

 

Mu Dan

 

穆旦

 

I have reached illusion's end

 

我已走到了幻想底尽头，

 

In this grove of falling leaves ,

 

这是一片落叶飘零的树林，

 

Each leaf a signal of past joy ,

 

每一片叶子标记着一种欢喜，

 

Drifting sere within my heart.

 

现在都枯黄地堆积在内心。

 

Some were loves of youthful days?

 

有一种欢喜是青春的爱情，

 

Blazing meteors in a distant sky ,

 

那是遥远天边的灿烂的流星，

 

Extinguished , vanished without trace ,

 

有的不知去向，永远消逝了，

 

Or dropped before me , stiff and cold as ice .

 

有的落在脚前，冰冷而僵硬。

 

Some were boisterous friendships ,

 

另一种欢喜是喧腾的友谊，

 

Fullblown blossoms , innocend of coming fall .

 

茂盛的花不知道还有秋季，

 

Society dammed the pulsing blood ,

 

社会的格局代替了血的沸腾，

 

Life cast molten passion in reality's shell .

 

生活的冷风把热情铸为实际。

 

Another joy , the spell of high ideals ,

 

另一种欢喜是迷人的理想，

 

Drew me through many a twisting mile of thorn .

 

它使我在荆棘之途走得够远，

 

To suffer for ideals is no pain ;

 

为理想而痛苦并不可怕，

 

But oh ,to see them mocked and scorned !

 

可怕的是看它终于成笑谈。

 

Now nothing remains but remorse?

 

只有痛苦还在，它是日常生活

 

Daily punishment for past pride .

 

每天在惩罚自己过去的傲慢，

 

When the glory of the sky stands condemned,

 

那绚烂的天空都受到谴责，

 

In this wasteland, what colour survive ?

 

还有什么彩色留在这片荒原？

 

There is one tree that stands alone intact ,

 

但惟有一棵智慧之树不凋，

 

It thrives , I know , on my suffering's lifeblood .

 

我知道它以我的苦汁为营养，

 

Its greenshade mocks me ruthlessly !

 

它的碧绿是对我无情的嘲弄，

 

O wisdom tree ! I curse your every growing bud.

 

我诅咒它每一片叶的滋长。