作者：泰戈爾

譯者：水石山房主人（仗劍書生）

31

譯文：

“囚徒，告訴我，是誰將你捆綁？”

“是我的主人，”囚徒說，“我以為我的財富和權力勝過世上任何人，我將國王的錢財聚斂在我自己的寶庫。睡意襲來，我在主人床上睡去，醒來便發現我在自己的寶庫里成了囚徒。”

“囚徒，告訴我，是誰鍛造了這堅不可摧的鎖鏈？”

“是我，”囚徒說，“是我精心鍛造的。我以為我不可戰勝的權力能掌控世界，擁有不受侵犯的自由。我日夜不停，以烈火和酷擊鍛造鎖鏈。工作完成時，這鎖鏈渾然一體堅不可摧，我發現它已將我牢牢鎖住。”

原文：

`Prisoner, tell me, who was it that bound you?'

`It was my master,' said the prisoner. `I thought I could outdo everybody in the world in wealth and power, and I amassed in my own treasure-house the money due to my king. When sleep overcame me I lay upon the bed that was for my lord, and on waking up I found I was a prisoner in my own treasure-house.'

`Prisoner, tell me, who was it that wrought this unbreakable chain?'

`It was I,' said the prisoner, `who forged this chain very carefully. I thought my invincible power would hold the world captive leavingme in a freedom undisturbed. Thus night and day I worked at the chain with huge fires and cruel hard strokes. When at last the work was done and the links were complete and unbreakable, I found that it held me in its grip.'