友誼

by Kahlil Gibran紀伯倫

1923

一位年輕人說：告訴我們和友誼有關的事。

他回答說：

你的朋友是你的需求的回應，

他是那一片讓你以愛心播種，而以感恩收穫的園地；

他是你的床榻，也是你的爐邊，

因為你餓了就到他那裡，你要安慰就去找他。

當你的朋友表達他的意見時，你不會害怕意見不同，也不會吝於讚同；

當他沉默時，你也不會就聽不到他的心聲；

因為在友誼之中，所有的心思、意念、期盼都是高高興興的生而分享，不用言語，不須要求。

當你離開你的朋友時，你不會悲傷；

因著他的不在身邊，或許你會更清楚，對他的最愛何在，正如登山者從平地可以更清楚地看那高山。

除了心靈的深化以外，在友誼裡面不要有任何目的；

若非只是批露它自身無法說明的神秘，追求所有任何東西的愛都不是愛，只是憑空撒網：撈到的都是沒用的東西。

把你的最好的給你的朋友，

假若他必須知道你的低潮，你也得讓他分享你的高潮；

什麼樣的朋友是你在要死前尋求的？

總得在活著時去找；

因為他的所有，只能補充你的需要，而不是你的虛空。

最後，讓歡笑和喜樂的分享存留在友誼的甜蜜中，

因為在點點滴滴的瑣事裡，心靈會找到它清新的早晨。

AND a youth said, Speak to us of Friendship.

And he answered, saying:

Your friend is your needs answered.

He is your field which you sow with love and reap with thanksgiving.

And he is your board and your fireside.

For you come to him with your hunger, and you seek him for peace.

When your friend speaks his mind you fear not the “nay” in your own mind, nor do you with hold the “aye.”

And when he is silent your heart ceases not to listen to his heart;

For without words, in friendship, all thoughts, all desires, all expectations are born and shared, with joy that is unclaimed.

When you part from your friend, you grieve not;

For that which you love most in him may be clearer in his absence, as the mountain to the climber is clearer from the plain.

And let there be no purpose in friendship save the deepening of the spirit.

For love that seeks aught but the disclosure of its own mystery is not love but a net cast forth: and only the unprofitable is caught.

And let your best be for your friend.

If he must know the ebb of your tide, let him know its flood also.

For what is your friend that you should seek him with hours to kill?

Seek him always with hours to live.

For it is his to fill your need, but not your emptiness.

And in the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, and sharing of pleasures.

For in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed.

** The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran紀伯倫

** Bill Lin 譯