小吉丁

What we call the beginning is often the end

And to make an end is to make a beginning.

The end is where we start from. And every phrase

And sentence that is right （where every word is at home，

Taking its place to support the others，

The word neither 1）diffident nor 2）ostentatious，

An easy commerce of the old and the new，

The common word exact without 3）vulgarity，

The formal word precise but not 4）pedantic，

The complete 5）consort dancing together）

Every phrase and every sentence is an end and a beginning，

Every poem an 6）epitaph. And any action

Is a step to the block， to the fire， down the sea’s throat

Or to an 7）illegible stone： and that is where we start.

We die with the dying：

See， they depart， and we go with them.

We are born with the dead：

See， they return， and bring us with them.

The moment of the rose and the moment of the 8）yew-tree

Are of equal duration. A people without history

Is not redeemed from time， for history is a pattern

Of timeless moments. So， while the light fails

On a winter’s afternoon， in a 9）secluded chapel

History is now and England.

With the drawing of this Love and the voice of this Calling

We shall not cease from exploration

And the end of all our exploring

Will be to arrive where we started

And know the place for the first time.

Through the unknown， unremembered gate

When the last of earth left to discover

Is that which was the beginning；

At the source of the longest river

The voice of the hidden waterfall

And the children in the apple-tree

Not known， because not looked for

But heard， half-heard， in the stillness

Between two waves of the sea.

Quick now， here， now， always—

A condition of complete simplicity

（Costing not less than everything）

And all shall be well and

All manner of thing shall be well

When the tongues of flame are in-folded

Into the crowned knot of fire

And the fire and the rose are one.

我們所稱的開始往往就是結束

而宣告結束也就是著手開始。

終點即是我們出發的地方。每個短語

和每個句子只要安排妥帖（每個詞都各得其所，

處其位，予其他詞以支持，

文字既不怯懦也不賣弄，

新舊之間交流輕松，

普通的文字精確而不粗鄙，

規范的文字準確而不迂腐，

所有字句一同歡舞）

那么每個短語每個句子都是一個結束和一個開始，

每一首詩都是一篇墓志銘。而任何一個行動

都是一步，走向斷頭臺，走向烈火，走下大海之喉

或是走向一塊模糊的石碑：而這就是我們出發的地方。

我們與瀕死之人同亡：

瞧，他們離去了，我們與他們同行。

我們與死者同生：

瞧，他們回來了，攜我們而來。

玫瑰飄香和紫杉扶疏的時令

所經歷的時間一樣短長。一個沒有歷史的民族

不能從時間里得到救贖，因為歷史

是無數永恒瞬間的存在形式。所以，當一個冬日的下午

天色漸漸暗淡的時候，在一座隱僻的教堂里

歷史就是此刻和英格蘭。

由于這種愛和召喚聲的吸引

我們不會停止探索

而我們一切探索的終點

將是到達我們出發的地方

并且是生平第一遭知道這地方。

穿過那未知、無法憶起的大門

留待我們去發現的世界終極

就是那個我們曾經的起點；

在最長的河流的源頭

深藏的瀑布之聲

蘋果樹上的孩童

都不為人所知，因為無人找尋

只是聽到，隱約聽到，

在大海兩次潮汐之間的寂靜里。

倏忽易逝的現在，這里，現在，永遠——

一種極其簡單的狀態

（卻要付出一切）