司空图的《二十四诗品》作为中国古代文论史上的一部经典之作,采用四言诗的形式写成,言简义丰。《自然》篇在《二十四诗品》中居于第十篇,它所展示出的"自然"境界,是中国古代文人创作所追求的最高境界,它以老庄哲学为基础,倡导道法自然,反对人工的雕琢和刻意的营造。

司空图·《二十四诗品·自然》

俯拾即是，不取诸邻。

俱道适往，着手成春。

如逢花开，如瞻岁新。

真与不夺，强得易贫。

幽人空山，过雨采苹。

薄言情悟，悠悠天韵。

The Natural

Stoop, and there it is:

Seek it not right and left.

All roads lead thither,--

One touch and you have spring!（1）

As though coming upon opening flowers,

As though gazing upon the new year,

Verily I will not snatch it,

Forced, it will dwindle away.

I will be like the hermit on the hill,

Like duckweed gathered on the stream,（2）

And when emotions crowd upon me,

I will leave them to the harmonies of heaven.

（1）. Alluding to the art of the painter.

（2）. A creature of chance, following the doctrine of Inaction.

（Herbert A. Giles 译）

更多精品翻译素材，敬请关注可可英语。