双语诗歌翻译|罗隐·《英雄之言》

《英雄之言》是唐代文学家罗隐的一篇散文，出自《谗书》。这篇文章所批评的是借“救民涂炭”口号而窃取政权的帝王们的本性，短短二百来字，以简捷警策取胜，代表了晚唐犀利激拗的文风。

罗隐 《英雄之言》

物之所以有韬晦者，防乎盗也。故人亦然。

夫盗亦人也，冠履焉，衣服焉；其所以异者，退逊之心，正廉之节，不常其性耳。

视玉帛而取之者，则曰，牵于寒饿；视家国而取之者，则曰，救彼涂炭。牵我寒饿者，无得而言矣；救彼涂炭者，则宜以百姓心为我心，而西刘则曰：“居宜如是！”楚籍则曰：“可取而代！”意彼未必无退逊之心、正廉之节，盖以视其靡曼骄崇，然后生其谋耳。

为英雄者犹若是，况常人乎？是以峻宇逸游，不为人所窥者，鲜也。

On the Words of Great Men
Luo Yin

Sometimes things may have an insignificant appearance in order toprevent them from being despoiled. So it is with people.

Now a robber is also ahuman being; he wears hats and clothes. He is distinguishable only by anunstable character as regards personal morals.

When one steals valuables, onemay make the excuse that cold and hunger leave no alternative; when one takesover a state, one might argue that its people must be rescued from oppression.We need not bother about the former excuse; as for the latter a concern for thepeople is essential. But Liu Bang’s only words were, “This is the way in whicha great man should live.” And Xiang Yu said, “We can take his power from him.”I do not suppose that they lacked a sense of modesty and moral scruples, butbecause they witnessed the luxury and exalted status of the emperor theystarted to have such ideas.

So seldom are grand palaces and splendid trappings not coveted byothers, that great men as well as ordinary people behave in this way.