2. Shirin and Farhad
2. 席琳與法爾哈德

Love is never tempted by wealth and grandeur. Shirin, the daughter of a poor man, but rich in her ideal, was kidnapped and taken to the Shah of Faras, who instantly became enamored of her, and gave great rewards to those who had brought her. But, to his great disappointment, he found that Shirin was unresponsive to his love, and her ideal was too great to allow her to be tempted by the wealth and grandeur of the Shah. He did everything to please her and to make her willing to marry him, but every effort had the contrary effect.

愛從不受財富與權勢所誘惑。席琳（Shirin）是一個窮人的女兒，心中的理想卻十分崇高。她遭人綁架，被帶到法拉斯的沙阿（Shah of Faras）面前。沙阿一見她便深深迷戀，並重賞那些將她帶來的人。然而，令他極為失望的是，席琳對他的愛毫無回應；她心中的理想太高，不可能受到沙阿的財富與權勢誘惑。他想盡辦法討她歡心，希望她願意嫁給自己，但每一次努力都帶來相反的結果。

When Shirin saw that there was no hope anywhere of rescue from the palace, which to her was a cage, and the importunity of the Shah and his servants wore out her patience so much that she was obliged to consent to their offer, she did so on one condition, which was that a canal should be made as a memorial of the occasion. This was, of course, a pretext for putting off the marriage, for the cutting of a canal was the work of years. The Shah was so much fascinated by her youth and beauty that he seized upon even the smallest sign of yielding, and at once gave command to the engineers and architects of the court to begin work on a canal without a moment’s delay, and to accomplish it as soon as possible, sparing no expense or labor. Thousands of workmen were soon engaged in this, and the work went on night and day unceasingly, under the watchful eye of the king himself and his servants.

席琳眼見已無望從這座對她而言如同牢籠的宮殿中獲救，而沙阿和僕從們不斷糾纏，使她的耐心消磨殆盡，最後不得不答應他們的要求。不過，她提出了一個條件：必須開鑿一條運河，作為這樁婚事的紀念。這當然只是她用來拖延婚期的藉口，因為開鑿一條運河需要多年的時間。沙阿被她的青春與美貌深深迷住，只要看見一絲讓步的跡象便牢牢抓住，立刻命令宮廷中的工程師與建築師不得有片刻耽擱，立即開始開鑿運河，並且不惜一切金錢與人力，務求儘快完成。很快便有數千名工人投入工程，在國王本人及其僕從的監督之下，晝夜不停地工作。

The nearer the work came to being accomplished, the stronger grew the hope of the king, and he, with great pleasure, requested Shirin to go and look at her canal. She, with despondent mind, went to see the canal, fearing that it would soon be finished and she would have to yield to the wishes of the Shah, which she regarded as worse than death. While she was walking, looking at the work going on where thousands of workmen were busy night and day, to her great surprise a workman came up, won entirely by her beauty and charm, and fearlessly exclaimed, “O Shirin, I love you.”

工程越接近完成，國王的希望便越發高漲。他滿心歡喜地請席琳前去看看她的運河。席琳卻懷著沮喪的心情前往，深怕運河很快就會完工，到時她便不得不屈從沙阿的意願；而在她看來，那比死亡更加可怕。她一面走著，一面看著數千名工人晝夜不停地忙碌。就在這時，出乎她意料之外，一名工人走上前來，完全被她的美麗與魅力所征服，毫無畏懼地喊道：「啊，席琳，我愛妳。」

“Love overlooks the difference of position of the lover and the beloved, and the height that the lover has to climb.”

「愛不在意愛者與摯愛者之間地位的差距，也不在意愛者必須攀登多高。」

It was that voice of love and that word of devotion that Shirin was looking for, and had not found until then. Shirin replied, “Do you love me? Then break these mountains, and cut a pathway through them.”

這正是席琳一直在尋找、卻直到此刻才聽見的愛之聲與奉獻之語。席琳回答：「你愛我嗎？那麼就劈開這些山，在山中鑿出一條道路。」

“Gold has a test to go through.”

「黃金也必須經過考驗。」

Farhad said at once, “Most willingly. Yes, Shirin, whatever you please.”

法爾哈德（Farhad）立刻回答：「我非常願意。是的，席琳，只要是妳所希望的，我都願意。」

“There is nothing too hard for the lover to do for the beloved.”

「為了摯愛者，沒有任何事對愛者而言太過艱難。」

Farhad set out on his journey whole-heartedly, not wondering why he should cut a path, nor reasoning how this great work might be accomplished. He did not stop to think how long it would take to finish, nor had he any misgiving that his efforts might ever be in vain; he went to those mountains in the wilderness and began to break the rocks with his pickaxe. He repeated the name of Shirin at every stroke he gave. The strokes of Farhad wrought a miracle. Instead of one stroke it was as if a hundred strokes fell at a time.

法爾哈德全心全意地踏上了這段旅程。他沒有問自己為什麼要鑿出這條路，也沒有盤算如此浩大的工程究竟要如何完成。他不曾停下來思考需要多久才能完成，也從未懷疑自己的努力是否可能徒勞無功。他走進荒野的群山，拿起鶴嘴鋤開始劈鑿岩石。每落下一鋤，他便呼喚一次席琳的名字。法爾哈德的每一擊都創造了奇蹟；明明只落下一擊，卻彷彿同時有一百擊落在岩石之上。

“Man’s power is the strength of his body, but love’s power is the might of God.”

「人的力量來自身體的強健，而愛的力量則是神的威能。」

No sooner was the work begun than it neared completion. Work that would have taken years with many workers engaged on it was accomplished in days.

工程才剛開始不久，竟已接近完成。原本需要許多工人耗費數年才能完成的工作，他只用了幾天便做到了。

Shirin had refused the Shah since she had seen Farhad, saying, “There is another lover who is undergoing a test, and until I know the outcome of his trial I think it better to keep from marriage.”

自從見過法爾哈德之後，席琳便拒絕了沙阿。她說：「現在有另一位愛者正在接受考驗。在我知道他的考驗結果以前，我認為還是不要談婚事比較好。」

The king’s spies had been watching Farhad from afar, and they immediately sent a report that Farhad had completed his work before the canal was finished. The Shah was very much alarmed, thinking that Farhad would most probably win Shirin’s love, and that after his having done all this for her, Shirin would not be his. When he told this to his confidants one among them said, “Sire, you are the king, Farhad is a workman. What comparison between heaven and earth? I will go, if it be the pleasure of your Majesty, and will finish him in a moment.” “Oh, no,” said the Shah, “Shirin will see the stain of his blood on me, and will turn her back on me for ever.” One among the king’s servants said, “It is not difficult for me, my Lord, to bring the life of Farhad to an end without shedding a single drop of blood.” “That is much better”, said the Shah.

國王派出的密探一直在遠處監視法爾哈德。他們立刻回報，說法爾哈德竟然在運河完工以前就完成了自己的工程。沙阿十分驚慌，心想法爾哈德很可能會贏得席琳的愛；既然他已為她做到這般地步，席琳恐怕再也不會屬於自己了。他把這件事告訴親信，其中一人說：「陛下，您是國王，法爾哈德不過是一名工人。天地之間怎能相比？若陛下允許，我這就去，一轉眼便能解決他。」沙阿說：「不，不行。席琳會從我身上看見他的血跡，從此永遠背棄我。」國王的一名僕從說：「主人，要結束法爾哈德的性命，而不流一滴血，對我來說並不困難。」「那就好多了。」沙阿說。

The servant went to Farhad, who had very nearly finished his work, with great hope of a glance from Shirin.

那名僕從來到法爾哈德面前。此時他的工程已幾乎完成，心中滿懷著希望，只盼能得到席琳的一眼眷顧。

“The lover’s happiness is in the pleasure of the beloved.”

「愛者的幸福，就在摯愛者的喜悅之中。」

This servant of the Shah said, “O Farhad, alas, all in vain! O, that rival of the moon, your beloved Shirin, has passed away by a sudden death.” Farhad said in the greatest bewilderment, “What? Is my Shirin dead?” “Yes,” the servant said, “O Farhad, alas, Shirin is dead.” Farhad heaved a deep sigh, and fell to the ground. “Shirin” was the last word that his lips uttered, and made a way for his life to pass away.

沙阿的僕從說：「啊，法爾哈德，可惜啊，一切都白費了！那位可與月亮爭輝的人，你所愛的席琳，已經突然去世了。」法爾哈德震驚萬分地說：「什麼？我的席琳死了嗎？」「是的，」那僕從說，「法爾哈德啊，可惜，席琳已經死了。」法爾哈德深深嘆了一口氣，倒在地上。「席琳」是他雙唇吐出的最後一個名字，而他的生命也隨之離去了。

Shirin heard from her well-wishers that Farhad had done marvels, that he had cut the path through the mountains, repeating the name “Shirin” with his every stroke, and finished the work that might have taken a whole life in the shortest time. Shirin, the chords of whose heart had already been struck by Farhad, and through whose soul the love of Farhad had pierced, had not the patience to rest one moment, and she set out for the mountains at the first opportunity she could find.

席琳從關心她的人口中得知，法爾哈德完成了不可思議的壯舉：他劈開群山鑿出道路，每落下一擊便呼喚一次「席琳」的名字，並在極短的時間裡完成了原本可能要耗費一生的工程。席琳的心弦早已被法爾哈德撥動，他的愛也已穿透她的靈魂。她再也無法多等片刻，一找到機會便立刻動身前往山中。

“The higher powers separate two hearts that come together.”

「更高的力量使兩顆相聚的心分離。」

Shirin, who had the great fortune of having a lover like Farhad, had not the fortune to see him any more. To her greatest grief and disappointment, Shirin found the body of Farhad lying by the side of the wonderful work he had done for her. The spies of the Shah came near to assure her of his death, hoping that now that Farhad was no more she might fix her mind on the crown of the Shah. They said, “This is poor Farhad. Alas, he is dead.”

席琳有幸得到法爾哈德這樣一位愛者，卻再也沒有福分見到他。令她無比悲痛與失望的是，她發現法爾哈德的身體就躺在那項為她完成的奇蹟般工程旁。沙阿的密探走近，讓她確信法爾哈德真的已經死去，心裡盼望既然法爾哈德已不在人世，她或許會把心意轉向沙阿的王冠。他們說：「這就是可憐的法爾哈德。唉，他死了。」

Shirin heard from the blowing of the wind, from the running of the water, from rocks, from trees, the voice of Farhad, calling, “Shirin, Shirin.” The whole atmosphere of the place held her soul with the magnetism of love that Farhad had created all around. She fell down, struck by the great loss that her loving heart could no longer sustain, crying, “Farhad, I am coming too, to be with you.”

席琳從吹拂的風中、流動的水中、岩石與樹木之間，都聽見法爾哈德的聲音呼喚著：「席琳，席琳。」法爾哈德的愛在四周形成了一股磁力，整個地方的氣息都牢牢牽住了她的靈魂。這巨大的失落已超過她充滿愛的心所能承受，她倒了下來，喊道：「法爾哈德，我也來了，我要和你在一起。」

“The fate of the lover is a great disappointment in the sight of the world, but it is the greatest satisfaction in the eyes of the wise.”

「在世人眼中，愛者的命運是極大的失望；然而在智者眼中，那卻是最大的圓滿。」

Those people whose qualities harmonize, like each other. It may be the bodily qualities that harmonize, or the mental qualities, or the qualities of the soul. The physical fascination lasts least, the emotional fascination lasts longer, and the spiritual fascination lasts for ever.

彼此特質和諧的人，自然會互相喜愛。這種和諧可能存在於身體的特質，也可能存在於頭腦的特質，或靈魂的特質。身體上的吸引最不持久，情感上的吸引維持得更久，而靈性上的吸引則恆久不滅。

Love little expressed kindles another heart, love more expressed haunts it, but when it is too much expressed it repels the object of love.

愛若稍加表達，會點燃另一顆心；表達得更多，便會縈繞於那顆心中；但若表達過度，反而會使所愛的對象退卻。

Contact makes people friends, though neither the contact of mortals nor friendship is everlasting. Being together, sitting together, eating together, breathing the same air, bring hearts closer. Two burning coals close together in time make one fire; the flames unite them. When the two hands are joined, an electric current goes from one hand to the other. This is the reason for the custom of shaking hands, that the flame in the two people may meet. This is why people have a tendency to clasp their hands, fold their arms and cross their legs when sitting or lying, for it comforts them. This is the reason of the affinity existing between those of the same nation or race.

接觸使人成為朋友，然而人與人之間的接觸以及友誼，都不是永恆的。共同生活、坐在一起、一起吃飯、呼吸同樣的空氣，都會使彼此的心更加靠近。兩塊燃燒的煤放在一起，久而久之便成為同一團火；火焰使它們合而為一。當兩隻手相握時，一股電流會從一隻手傳向另一隻手。這就是握手習俗背後的原因，使兩個人身上的火焰得以相遇。也因此，人坐著或躺著時，往往自然地將雙手交握、雙臂交疊或雙腿交叉，因為這會帶來一種舒適感。同一民族或族群的人彼此之間會自然產生親近感，也是同樣的道理。

Love has a tendency to produce the qualities, even the likeness, of the object of love in the lover. Often we see that friends, husband and wife, lovers, the murshid and mureed, in time grow to look alike. The portraits of the different Shaikhs of Khandan-i Chisht all look as if they had been molded in the same mold. A person who goes away from his own country, and lives a long time in another country, becomes familiar with that country, likes it, and sometimes does not want to go back to his own land, because love is produced in him by association.

愛有一種傾向，會使愛者逐漸生出所愛對象的特質，甚至連外貌也變得相似。我們常會看到，朋友、夫妻、愛人，以及穆希德（murshid）與門徒（mureed），隨著時間經過，逐漸變得彼此相像。契斯提傳承（Khandan-i Chisht）不同謝赫（Shaikhs）的肖像，看起來就彷彿都是從同一個模子塑造出來的。一個人離開自己的國家，在另一個國家長久生活，漸漸熟悉那裡、喜愛那裡，有時甚至不願再回到自己的故鄉，因為長久的相處已在他心中生出了愛。

Meeting is the kindling of love, and separation is the blazing of love. As far as is the object of love from the reach of the lover, so wide a scope is there for the expansion of love. Therefore the love for the unattainable object has every possibility of developing, whereas when the object of love is within reach this is often a check upon love. If separation lasts a short time it increases love, but if it lasts very long the love dies. If the meeting is for a short time it kindles love, but it is hard to keep up the flame; and if the association lasts a long time, love is not so much stimulated, but it takes root, to grow and flourish and to last long. In the absence of the beloved hope is the oil which keeps the flame of love burning. Presence and absence in turn keep the fire of love blazing. Too much association chokes the fire of love, and in absence too long continued its flame dies from lack of oil.

相聚點燃愛，分離則使愛燃燒得更加旺盛。所愛的對象離愛者越遙遠，愛便有越廣闊的空間可以擴展。因此，對不可企及之人的愛具有充分發展的可能；反之，當所愛之人近在眼前時，往往反而會限制愛的發展。短暫的分離會增長愛，但分離若持續太久，愛也會消逝。短暫的相聚會點燃愛，卻不容易讓火焰持續；長久相處時，愛受到的刺激雖然較少，卻會扎下根來，逐漸成長、繁盛，並且維持得更久。摯愛者不在身邊時，希望就是使愛之火繼續燃燒的油。相聚與分離交替出現，使愛火保持旺盛；相處過度會使愛火窒息，而分離過久，火焰也會因缺少油而熄滅。

We may spend a year in a town, and we may know people there and like them very much, and they may like us very much, so that the love increases and we think, “If we could only spend all our life there!” When we go away it is hard to leave them. Then we go away, and our friends send letters and we answer, first every day, then every week, then every month, until the correspondence is reduced to a Christmas card or New Year’s greetings; for we grow apart by the fact that we have much less to do with them and much more to do with those who may now surround us. If we go back to the same place after five or six years we first find that the climate is strange to us, and then that neither are the streets and houses familiar nor is there that warmth in the friends that there was. If a person is ignorant he blames the friends; if he understands he will blame himself too. It is growing together that increases love and being separated that has the tendency to decrease it, and so it is with our attachment to places also.

我們可能在一座城鎮住上一年，認識那裡的人，非常喜歡他們，而他們也十分喜歡我們。愛於是逐漸增長，使我們心想：「如果能一輩子都住在這裡該有多好！」等到要離開時，便很難與他們分別。可是離去之後，朋友寄信給我們，我們也回信；起初每天通信，後來變成每週一次，再來每月一次，最後只剩下一張聖誕卡或一句新年祝福。這是因為我們與他們的往來越來越少，而與如今身邊的人往來得越來越多，彼此也就漸漸疏遠了。五、六年後，如果我們再回到原來的地方，首先可能覺得那裡的氣候已經陌生，接著發現街道與房屋也不再熟悉，朋友之間也失去了從前那份溫暖。不了解這一道理的人會責怪朋友；真正理解的人，也會反省自己。共同成長會使愛增加，彼此分離則有使愛減弱的傾向；我們對地方的依戀也是如此。

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