为你读英语美文 · 第434期 

主播：罗斌

《我与地坛》五 节选

作者：史铁生，翻译：罗斌

谁又能把这世界想个明白呢？世上的很多事是不堪说的。你可以抱怨上帝何以要降诸多苦难给这人间，你也可以为消灭种种苦难而奋斗，并为此享有崇高与骄傲，但只要你再多想一步你就会坠入深深的迷茫了：

Who can actually comprehend the world?Many things in the world are unspeakable.You can complain about why God sent so many sufferings to the human world, or you can fight to wipe out suffering and then enjoy dignity and pride, but if you think further, you will fall into profound confusion. 

假如世界上没有了苦难，世界还能够存在么？

要是没有愚钝，机智还有什么光荣呢？

要是没了丑陋，漂亮又怎么维系自己的幸运？

要是没有了恶劣和卑下，善良与高尚又将如何界定自己又如何成为美德呢？

要是没有了残疾，健全会否因其司空见惯而变得腻烦和乏味呢？

If there were no suffering, would the world still exist?

If there were no foolishness, would there be glory for wit?

If there were no ugliness, how would beauty maintain one's luck?

If there were no vileness and baseness, how would kindness and nobleness be defined as virtue?

If there were no disability, would soundness become boring because it is so common?

我常梦想着在人间彻底消灭残疾，但可以相信，那时将由患病者代替残疾人去承担同样的苦难。如果能够把疾病也全数消灭，那么这份苦难又将由（比如说）像貌丑陋的人去承担了。就算我们连丑陋，连愚昧和卑鄙和一切我们所不喜欢的事物和行为，也都可以统统消灭掉，所有的人都一味健康、漂亮、聪慧、高尚，结果会怎样呢？ 怕是人间的剧目就全要收场了，一个失去差别的世界将是一条死水，是一块没有感觉 没有肥力的沙漠。 

I often dream of eradicating disability from human world, but I believe that it will be the sick who will bear the same sufferings, instead of the disabled.If disease could be eliminated too, the suffering would be borne by, let’s say, ugly people.If we could wipe out ugliness, stupidity, baseness, and all the things and behaviors that we dislike, what would happen if all people were healthy, beautiful, intelligent and noble?A world without difference would be like backwater, a desert without feeling and fertility.

看来差别永远是要有的。看来就只好接受苦难——人类的全部剧目需要它，存在的本身需要它。看来上帝又一次对了。

It seems that difference should be always there.Suffering, it seems, must be accepted –all dramas of human needs it, and existence itself needs it. It seems like, God is right again.

于是就有一个最令人绝望的结论等在这里：由谁去充任那些苦难的角色？又有谁去体现这世间的幸福，骄傲和快乐？只好听凭偶然，是没有道理好讲的。

And here lies the most desperate conclusion of all: who would take the role of suffering?Who would embody happiness, pride and joy?Just leave it to coincidence without any reason.

就命运而言，休论公道。

So far as fate is concerned, do not mention justice.

那么，一切不幸命运的救赎之路在哪里呢？设若智慧的悟性可以引领我们去找到救赎之路，难道所有的人都能够获得这样的智慧和悟性吗？

Then, where is the salvation of all misfortune?If wisdom and comprehension can lead us to salvation, can all people acquire such wisdom and comprehension?

我常以为是丑女造就了美人。我常以为是愚氓举出了智者。我常以为是懦夫衬照了英雄。我常以为是众生度化了佛祖。

I’ve been thinking it is the ugly who makes the beauty.

I’ve been thinking it is the fool who serves as a foil to the wise.

I’ve been thinking it is the coward who raises the hero up.

I’ve been thinking it is mortal beings who deify Buddha.