于是一个学者说,请你讲讲谈话。

他回答说:

在你不安于你的思想的时候,你就说话。

在你不能再在你心的孤寂中生活的时候,你就要在你的唇上生活,而声音是一种消遣,一种娱乐。

在你许多的谈话里,思想半受残害。

思想是天空中的鸟,在语言的笼里,也许会展翅,却不会飞翔。

你们中间有许多人,因为怕静,就去找多话的人。

在独居的寂静里,会在他们眼中呈现出他们赤裸的自己,他们就想逃避。

也有些说话的人,并没有知识和考虑,却要启示一种他们自己所不明白的真理。

也有些人的心里隐存着真理,他们却不用言语来诉说。

在这些人的胸怀中,心灵居住在有韵调的寂静里。

当你在道旁或市场遇见你朋友的时候,让你的心灵,运用你的嘴唇,指引你的舌头。让你声音里的声音,对他耳朵的耳朵说话:

因为他的灵魂要噙住你心中的真理。

如同酒光被忘却,酒杯也不存留,而酒味却永远被纪念。

20

On Talking

And then a scholar said, "Speak of Talking." And he answered, saying:

You talk when you cease to be at peace with your thoughts;

And when you can no longer dwell in the solitude of your heart you live in your lips, and sound is a diversion and a pastime.

And in much of your talking, thinking is half murdered.

For thought is a bird of space, that in a cage of words many indeed unfold its wings but cannot fly.

There are those among you who seek the talkative through fear of being alone.

The silence of aloneness reveals to their eyes their naked selves and they would escape.

And there are those who talk, and without knowledge or forethought reveal a truth which they themselves do not understand.

And there are those who have the truth within them, but they tell it not in words.

In the bosom of such as these the spirit dwells in rhythmic silence.

When you meet your friend on the roadside or in the market place, let the spirit in you move your lips and direct your tongue.

Let the voice within your voice speak to the car of his ear;

For his soul will keep the truth of your heart as the taste of the wine is remembered.

When the colour is forgotten and the vessel is no more.