[转载]《道德经》英译比读(7)

《道德经》英译比读(7)

 James Legge/许渊冲/赵彦春

天长，地久。天地之所以能长且久者，以其不自生也，故能长生。是以圣人后其身而身先，外其身而身存，非以其无私邪？故能成其私。

James Legge:

Heaven is long-enduring and earth continues long. The reason why heaven and earth are able to endure and continue thus long is because they do not live of, or for, themselves. This is how they are able to continue and endure. Therefore, the sage puts his own person last, and yet it is found in the foremost place; He treats his person as if it were foreign to him, and yet the person is preserved, Is it not because he has no personal and private ends, that therefore such ends are realized?

许渊冲：

 Heaven and earth exist for ever.
The reason why they exist so long
is not that they want to exist;
where there is no want,
to be and not be are one.
Therefore for the sage
the last becomes the first,
the out becomes the in.
As he is selfless,
all becomes his self.

Zhao Yanchun:

The heaven rolls vast; the earth does long last. They roll vast and long last because they do not foster their own life, hence their eternal life.
Therefore, the sage is prominent though recessive, is present while absent. Isn't it true that the self is maintained through selflessness?