《牧羊少年奇幻之旅》 89 炼金术士和男孩讨论翡翠板

"What was written on the Emerald Tablet?" the boy wanted to know.

“翡翠板上写的是什么？”男孩很想知道。

The alchemist began to draw in the sand, and completed his drawing in less than five minutes.

炼金术士开始在沙地上画起来，画了接近五分钟。

As he drew, the boy thought of the old king, and the plaza¹ where they had met that day; it seemed as if it had taken place years and years ago.

在他画的过程中，男孩回想起老撒冷王和那天他们相遇的广场，这件事似乎已经过去很久很久了。

"This is what was written on the Emerald Tablet," said the alchemist, when he had finished.

“这就是写在翡翠板上的东西。”炼金术士写完之后说。

The boy tried to read what was written in the sand.

男孩试着读写在沙子上的东西。

"It's a code," said the boy, a bit disappointed. "It looks like what I saw in the Englishman's books."

“这是一种密码。”男孩说，他有些失望，“跟英国人书上的东西很像。”

"No," the alchemist answered. "It's like the flight of those two hawks²; it can't be understood by reason alone.

“不对。”炼金术士反驳说，“这就像鹰的飞翔，不能简单地用理智去解释。

The Emerald Tablet is a direct passage to the Soul of the World.

翡翠板是通往世界之魂的直接途径。

"The wise men understood that this natural world is only an image and a copy of paradise.

“人间只不过是天堂的映像和复制品。

The existence of this world is simply a guarantee that there exists a world that is perfect.

世界存在本身，只是证明还存在着一个比它更完美的世界。

God created the world so that, through its visible objects, men could understand his spiritual teachings and the marvels³ of his wisdom.

上帝创造世界，是为了让人们通过可见的事物理解他的教诲，以及他智慧的神奇之处。

That's what I mean by action."

我把这称之为行动。”

"Should I understand the Emerald Tablet?" the boy asked.

“我应该理解翡翠板的内容吗？”男孩问。

"Perhaps, if you were in a laboratory of alchemy, this would be the right time to study the best way to understand the Emerald Tablet.

“也许吧。假如你正在一间炼金术实验室里，现在就是你研究的最佳时机，你将会找到理解翡翠板的最好方法。

But you are in the desert. So immerse yourself in it.

然而此刻你在沙漠里，因此你要潜心于沙漠之中。

The desert will give you an understanding of the world; in fact, anything on the face of the earth will do that.

沙漠和世上其他东西一样，可以用来理解世界。

You don't even have to understand the desert: all you have to do is contemplate⁴ a simple grain of sand, and you will see in it all the marvels of creation."

你甚至不必理解沙漠，只要观察普通的沙粒就行，从中你可以看到天地万物的神奇之处。”

"How do I immerse myself in the desert?"

“怎样才能潜心于沙漠之中呢？”

"Listen to your heart. It knows all things, because it came from the Soul of the World, and it will one day return there."

“倾听你的心声。心了解所有事物，因为心来自世界之魂，并且总有一天会返回那里。”

1 plaza   

n.广场，市场

参考例句：

• They designated the new shopping centre York Plaza.他们给这个新购物中心定名为约克购物中心。
• The plaza is teeming with undercover policemen.这个广场上布满了便衣警察。

2 hawks   

鹰( hawk的名词复数 )； 鹰派人物，主战派人物

参考例句：

• Two hawks were hover ing overhead. 两只鹰在头顶盘旋。
• Both hawks and doves have expanded their conditions for ending the war. 鹰派和鸽派都充分阐明了各自的停战条件。

3 marvels   

n.奇迹( marvel的名词复数 )；令人惊奇的事物（或事例）；不平凡的成果；成就v.惊奇，对…感到惊奇( marvel的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The doctor's treatment has worked marvels : the patient has recovered completely. 该医生妙手回春，病人已完全康复。 来自辞典例句
• Nevertheless he revels in a catalogue of marvels. 可他还是兴致勃勃地罗列了一堆怪诞不经的事物。 来自辞典例句

4 contemplate   

vt.盘算，计议；周密考虑；注视，凝视

参考例句：

• The possibility of war is too horrifying to contemplate.战争的可能性太可怕了，真不堪细想。
• The consequences would be too ghastly to contemplate.后果不堪设想。