自由之旅的驿站

邦霍华被公认为廿世纪最有前途的神学家之一，但他不是一位纯理念的学者。他在狱中极有限的条件下，以生命传扬光明之道。本文要介绍的这首诗〈自由之旅的驿站〉写于他就义前几个月。当时纳粹战败，急于处理一批关押着的政治犯，就在联军解放前几天，盖世太保的头子希姆莱亲自下令，将邦霍华处以吊刑。他时年卅九岁。仓促中连向未婚妻和家人道别的机会也没有。但这首诗却表达了他对自由的向望和对死亡的无畏。

人类自堕落以来，便在层层次次、方方面面受到罪的挟制：或摆脱不了肉身欲望的　牵制，或屡败于血气骄妄之下，或心智上辨别不清，或胆小怕事裹足不前，等等。但无论何人，因着神赐下的印记，都有一颗渴望摆脱束缚，作自己主人的心，都有一个愿天下好人一生平安的愿望。那么，这首诗便是邦霍华对这一人生追求的探讨后的结论：人要于诸事中自制律己，要大胆敢为，要勇于承担苦难，不要畏惧死亡。死亡是短暂人生的中继站，信心坚定的人们必要转上通往真正自由的列车，在天国里瞻仰永恒的荣美。

这首诗一共分为四段：律己、敢为、苦难、死亡。Frank Clarke英译，笔者根据自己的感受重新分行。

律己 (Discipline)

If you set out to seek freedom, then learn

above all things to govern

your soul and your senses, for fear

that your passions and longing may lead you away

from the path you should follow. 　Chaste

be your mind and your body, and both in subjection,

obediently, steadfastly, seeking

the aim set before them;

only through discipline

may a man learn to be free.

如果执着地寻索自由

就当于尘事纷扰之中

把握心灵和感受

唯恐激情与渴望

令你中途迷失方向

让圣洁，常驻身心

让谦卑，伴随不懈的追求

皆因必先律己

方后得自由

敢为(Action)

Daring to do what is right, not

what fancy may tell you,

valiantly grasping occasions, not

cravenly doubting --- freedom

comes only through deeds, not

through thoughts taking wing.

Faint not nor fear, but go

out to the storm and the action,

trusting in God

whose commandment you faithfully follow;

freedom, exultant will

welcome your spirit with joy.

敢于去做正确之事

勿为偏好所左右

有抓住时机的胆识

无懦夫般的迟疑

自由，本贯穿于行动

而非翩翩思绪

不胆怯，不畏惧

暴风骤雨的情势

正是信靠神和 的律之时

自由，必托起你的灵

使之充满喜乐

苦难 (Suffering)

A change has come indeed. Your hands,

so strong and active, are bound;

in helplessness now you see

your action is ended;

you sigh in relief; your cause

committing to stronger hands; so now

you may rest contented. Only

for one blissful moment could you

draw near to touch freedom; then,

that it might be perfected in glory,

you gave it to God.

事态急转直下

你有力的双手被缠缚

无奈何一切似已告终

你叹息无悔，你的事业

已交托在你神的手里

苦难时欣慰的一瞬　

你已靠近自由

然为使其在荣美中成全

你又将它交与神

死亡 (Death)

Come now, thou greatest of feasts

on the journey to freedom eternal;

death, cast aside

all the burdensome chains, and demolish

the walls of our temporal body,

the walls of our souls that are blinded,

so that at last we may see

that which here remains hidden. Freedom,

how long we have sought thee

in discipline, action, and suffering; dying,

we now may behold thee

revealed in the Lord.

来吧！死亡，终极自由之旅上的盛宴

你将沈重的枷锁松卸

将必逝的身躯拆毁

令蒙蔽的灵魂苏醒

终在最后一刻，我们瞥见

那常隐藏的永恒

自由啊

曾为你衣带渐宽

历经律己，敢为和苦难

却于生命将尽之际

得以瞻仰你的真容□

作者来自中国，现在美国北加州工作。