于是一位城中的长老说，请给我们谈善恶。

他回答说：

我能谈你们的善性，却不能谈你们的恶性。

因为，什么是“恶”，不只是“善”被他自身的饥渴所困苦么？

的确，在“善”饥饿的时候，他肯向黑洞中览食，渴的时候，他也肯喝死水。

当你与自己合一的时候便是“善”。

当你不与自己合一的时候，却也不是“恶”。

因为一个隔断的院宇，不是贼窝，只不过是个隔断的院宇。

一只船失了舵，许会在礁岛间无目的地飘荡而却不至于沉到海底。

当你努力要牺牲自己的时候便是“善”。

当你想法自利的时候，却也不是“恶”。

因为当你设法自利的时候，你不过是土里的树根，在大地的胸怀中啜吸。

果实自然不能对树根说：“你要像我，丰满成熟，永远贡献出你最丰满的一部分。”

因为，在果实，贡献是必需的，正如吸收是树根所必需的一样。

当你在言谈中完全清醒的时候，你是“善”的。

当你在睡梦中，舌头无意识地摆动的时候，却也不是“恶”。

连那失错的言语，有时也能激动柔弱的舌头。

当你勇敢地走向目标的时候，你是“善”的。

你颠顿而行，却也不是“恶”。

连那些跛者，也不倒行。

但你们这些勇健而迅速的人，要警醒，不要在跛者面前颠顿，还自以为仁慈。

在无数的事上，你是“善”的；在你不善的时候，你也不是“恶”的。

你只是流连，荒亡。

可怜那麋鹿不能教给龟鳖快跑。

在你冀求你的“大我”的时候，便隐存着你的善性：

这种冀求是你们每人心中都有的。

但是对于有的人，这种冀求是奔越归海的急湍，挟带着山野的神秘与林木的讴歌。在其他的人，是在转弯曲折中迷途的缓流的溪水，在归海的路上滞留。

但是不要让那些冀求深的人，对冀求浅的人说：“你为什么这般迟钝？”

因为那真善的人，不问赤裸的人：“你的衣服在那里？”也不问那无家的人：“你的房子怎样了？”

22

on good & evil

and one of the elders of the city said, "speak to us of good and evil."

and he answered:

of the good in you i can speak, but not of the evil.

for what is evil but good tortured by its own hunger and thirst?

verily when good is hungry it seeks food even in dark caves, and when it thirsts, it drinks even of dead waters.

you are good when you are one with yourself.

yet when you are not one with yourself you are not evil.

for a divided house is not a den of thieves; it is only a divided house.

and a ship without rudder may wander aimlessly among perilous isles yet sink not to the bottom.

you are good when you strive to give of yourself.

yet you are not evil when you seek gain for yourself.

for when you strive for gain you are but a root that clings to the earth and sucks at her breast.

surely the fruit cannot say to the root, "be like me, ripe and full and ever giving of your abundance."

for to the fruit giving is a need, as receiving is a need to the root.

you are good when you are fully awake in your speech,

yet you are not evil when you sleep while your tongue staggers without purpose.

and even stumbling speech may strengthen a weak tongue.

you are good when you walk to your goal firmly and with bold steps.

yet you are not evil when you go thither limping.

even those who limp go not backward.

but you who are strong and swift, see that you do not limp before the lame, deeming it kindness.

you are good in countless ways, and you are not evil when you are not good,

you are only loitering and sluggard.

pity that the stags cannot teach swiftness to the turtles.

in your longing for your giant self lies your goodness: and that longing is in all of you.

but in some of you that longing is a torrent rushing with might to the sea, carrying the secrets of the hillsides and the songs of the forest.

and in others it is a flat stream that loses itself in angles and bends and lingers before it reaches the shore.

but let not him who longs much say to him who longs little, "wherefore are you slow and halting?"

for the truly good ask not the naked, "where is your garment?" nor the houseless, "what has befallen your house?"