法律

于是一个律师说，但是，我们的法律怎么样呢，夫子？

他回答说：你们喜欢立法，

却也更喜欢犯法。

如同那在海滨游戏的孩子，勤恳地建造了沙塔，然后又嬉笑地将它毁坏。

但是当你们建造沙塔的时候，海洋又送许多的沙土上来，

到你们毁坏那沙塔的时候，海洋又与你们一同哄笑。

真的，海洋常和天真的人一同哄笑。

可是对于那班不以生命为海洋，不以人造的法律为沙塔的人又当如何？

对于那以生命为岩石，以法律为可以随意刻雕的凿子的人，又当如何？

对于那憎恶跳舞者的跛人又当如何？

对于那喜爱羁轭，却以小牛和林中的麋鹿为流离颠沛的人，又当如何？

对于自己不能蜕脱，却把一切蛇豸称为赤裸无耻的老蛇的人，又当如何？

对于那早赴婚筵，饱倦归来，却说“一切筵席都是违法，那些设筵的人都是犯法者”的人又当如何？

对于这些人，除了说他们是站在日中以背向阳之外，我能说什么呢？

他们只看见自己的影子。他们的影子，就是他们的法律。

太阳对于他们，不只是一个射影者么？

承认法律，不就是佝偻着在地上寻迹阴影么？

你们只向着阳光行走的人，地上哪种的映影能捉住你们呢？

你们这乘风遨游的人，哪种的风信旗能指示你们的路程呢？

如果你们不在任何人的囚室门前敲碎你们的镣铐，那种人造的法律能束缚你们么？

如果你们跳舞，却不撞击任何人的铁链，你们还怕什么法律呢？

如果你们撕脱你们的衣囊，却不丢弃在任何人的道上，有谁能把你带去受审呢？

阿法利斯的民众呵，你们纵能闷住鼓音，松了琴弦，但有谁能禁止云雀不高唱？

On Laws

Then a lawyer said, "But what of our Laws, master?"

And he answered:

You delight in laying down laws,

Yet you delight more in breaking them.

Like children playing by the ocean who build sand-towers with constancy and then destroy them with laughter.

But while you build your sand-towers the ocean brings more sand to the shore,

And when you destroy them, the ocean laughs with you.

Verily the ocean laughs always with the innocent.

But what of those to whom life is not an ocean, and man-made laws are not sand-towers,

But to whom life is a rock, and the law a chisel with which they would carve it in their own likeness?

What of the cripple who hates dancers?

What of the ox who loves his yoke and deems the elk and deer of the forest stray and vagrant things?

What of the old serpent who cannot shed his skin, and calls all others naked and shameless?

And of him who comes early to the wedding-feast, and when over-fed and tired goes his way saying that all feasts are violation and all feasters law-breakers?

What shall I say of these save that they too stand in the sunlight, but with their backs to the sun?

They see only their shadows, and their shadows are their laws.

And what is the sun to them but a caster of shadows?

And what is it to acknowledge the laws but to stoop down and trace their shadows upon the earth?

But you who walk facing the sun, what images drawn on the earth can hold you?

You who travel with the wind, what weathervane shall direct your course?

What man's law shall bind you if you break your yoke but upon no man's prison door?

What laws shall you fear if you dance but stumble against no man's iron chains?

And who is he that shall bring you to judgment if you tear off your garment yet leave it in no man's path?

People of Orphalese, you can muffle the drum, and you can loosen the strings of the lyre, but who shall command the skylark not to sing?