The Holy Longing by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

姑且將此首英譯詩當成"英國文學"......
它與梁永安先生在老年之書頁323-24 的翻譯
在分段上和意思上有所不同...... (梁先生的是第2首)

The Holy Longing

Tell a wise person, or else keep silent,
because the mass man will mock it right away.
I praise what is truly alive,
what longs to be burned to death.

In the calm water of the love-nights,
where you were begotten, where you have begotten,
a strange feeling comes over you,
when you see the silent candle burning.

Now you are no longer caught in the obsession with darkness,
and a desire for higher love-making sweeps you upward.

Distance does not make you falter.
Now, arriving in magic, flying,
and finally, insane for the light,
you are the butterfly and you are gone.
And so long as you haven’t experienced this: to die and so to grow,
you are only a troubled guest on the dark earth.

• The Holy Longing
  by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
• Translated from the German by Robert Bly
• Poetry at Amazon.com

****http://www.wind-of-change.co.uk/GoethetheHolyLonging.htm

The Holy Longing

by Goethe

Tell a wise person, or else keep silent,

Because the massman will mock it right away.

I praise what is truly alive,

What longs to be burned to death.

Where you were begotten, where you have begotten,

In the calm water of love nights,

A strange feeling comes over you

When you see the silent candle burning.

Now you are no longer caught

In the obsession with darkness,

And a desire for higher lovemaking

Sweeps you forward.

Distance does not make you falter

Now, arriving in magic, flying

And finally insane for the light,

You are the butterfly, and you are gone.

And so long as you haven't experienced this:

To die, and so to grow,

You are only a troubled guest

On the dark earth.

note. Goethe does not mince his words in the last verse

The Moth

The Whole point of Light

The point along the way

That guides the moth unto it's death --

And life in Thee.

It's wings are spread, it flutters by

In confusion sweet

It turns away in darkest fear

And turns again in fright.

And so without choice it seems

It is drawn unto My Light

Ever closer, ever still, the centre of the flame.

Then all at once a sizzle and a snap

And low --

The moth is but part of the flame

That liveth in it's heart.

Now it flies in silent (k)night

But --still --within this world!

Human Beings

To Be or not to Be?

Therein the answer lies -----

The question is -- Which? --

You choose!

But in choosing, --- think of Being ---

Not just human --- being!

It is useful to ponder the question-- which? -- which gives forth to the Soul the answer presented in the first line.