5月11日

隱身衣
楊絳 ( 1911~ )

英美人把社會比作蛇阱(snakepit)。阱裡壓
壓擠擠的蛇，一條條都拚命鑽出腦袋，探出身
子，把別的蛇排擠開，你上我下，你死我活，
不斷地掙扎鬥爭。鑽出頭，就好比大海裡坐在
浪尖兒上的跳珠飛沫，迎日月之光而生輝，
可說是大丈夫得志了。人生短促，浪尖兒上的一
剎那，也可作一生成就的標誌，足以自豪。

然而，有人企求飛上高枝，有人寧願「曳尾
塗中」。人各有志，不能相強。

我愛讀東坡「萬人如海一身藏」之句，也企
慕莊子所謂「陸沉」。社會可以比作「蛇阱」，
但「蛇阱」之上，天空還有飛鳥;「蛇阱」之旁，
池沼裡也有游魚。古往今來，自有人避開「蛇
阱」而「藏身」或「陸沉」，消失於眾人之中，
如水珠包孕於海水之內，如細小的野花隱藏在
草叢裡，安閒舒適，得其所哉。一個人不想攀
高就不怕下跌，也不用傾軋排擠，可以保其天
真，成其自然，潛心一志完成自己能做的事。

世態人情，比明月清風更饒有滋味，可作書
讀，可當戲看。唯有身處卑微的人，最有機緣
看到世態人情的真相，而不是面對觀眾的藝術表演。

──選自《遇見散文二十世紀名家經典100》

May 11

The Cloak of Invisibility
Yang Jiang (1911 - )

English translation: Miao Guang

Britons and Americans use the metaphor of
a snake pit to describe society. In this pit, there
are snakes fighting to stick their heads out,
pushing each other away to make themselves
seen and to emerge on top of each other. They
fight to stay alive, constantly struggling and
competing. Sticking out one's head is like being
one of the bubbles sitting atop the ocean waves,
coming face to face with the glorious sun and
moonlight. Life is short; that very instant on the
top of the wave could become an emblem of a
lifetime's achievement for one to be proud of.
Nevertheless, while there are those who aim for
the top, there are also others who choose to lay
low in the mud and go quietly about life. People
have different goals, and nothing undesired
should be forced on anyone.

I love Su Dongpo's “a single man hidden in
the ocean of people,” and also find Zhuangzi’s
“drowning on dry land” admirable. While
society can be compared to a snake pit, there
still exists flying birds above, and a pond of
swimming fish beside it. From the past to the
present, there have always been people who
avoid the snake pit by going into hiding or
“drowning on dry land.”

To disappear in the crowd like beads of water
hidden in the ocean, or small flowers hidden
inside the bush, all safe and sound, peaceful and
carefree. One who does not aim high will not
have to worry about falling, nor does he need to
fight for power or eliminate others. Instead, he
stays genuine and natural, and focuses solely on
what he wants to do.

The happenings of this world are much
more interesting than the bright moon and cool
breeze; you can either read it like a book, or
watch it like a show. Those in the most humble
and lowest positions have the best view of this
world in its truest form instead of a rehearsed
performance prepared for an audience.

── from Yujian Sanwen Ershi Shiji Mingjia Jingdian 100
(Selection of 100 Classic Proses from the 21st Century)