anthem(圣歌)-第14章
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And now we look upon the earth and sky。 This spread of naked rock
and peaks and moonlight is like a world ready to be born； a world that
waits。 It seems to us it asks a sign from us； a spark； a first commandment。
We cannot know what word we are to give； nor what great deed this earth
expects to witness。 We know it waits。 It seems to say it has great gifts to
lay before us； but it wishes a greater gift for us。 We are to speak。 We are
to give its goal； its highest meaning to all this glowing space of rock and
sky。
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We look ahead； we beg our heart for guidance in answering this call no
voice has spoken； yet we have heard。 We look upon our hands。 We see
the dust of centuries； the dust which hid the great secrets and perhaps great
evils。 And yet it stirs no fear within our heart； but only silent reverence and
pity。
May knowledge come to us！ What is the secret our heart has
understood and yet will not reveal to us； although it seems to beat as if it
were endeavoring to tell it？
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PART ELEVEN
I am。 I think。 I will。
My hands 。 。 。 My spirit 。 。 。 My sky 。 。 。 My forest 。 。 。 This earth of
mine。 。 。 。 What must I say besides？ These are the words。 This is the
answer。
I stand here on the summit of the mountain。 I lift my head and I spread
my arms。 This； my body and spirit； this is the end of the quest。 I wished
to know the meaning of things。 I am the meaning。 I wished to find a
warrant for being。 I need no warrant for being； and no word of sanction
upon my being。 I am the warrant and the sanction。
It is my eyes which see； and the sight of my eyes grants beauty to the
earth。 It is my ears which hear； and the hearing of my ears gives its song
to the world。 It is my mind which thinks； and the judgement of my mind
is the only searchlight that can find the truth。 It is my will which chooses；
and the choice of my will is the only edict I must respect。
Many words have been granted me； and some are wise； and some are
false； but only three are holy： 〃I will it！〃
Whatever road I take； the guiding star is within me； the guiding star
and the loadstone which point the way。 They point in but one direction。
They point to me。
I know not if this earth on which I stand is the core of the universe or
if it is but a speck of dust lost in eternity。 I know not and I care not。 For
I know what happiness is possible to me on earth。 And my happiness
needs no higher aim to vindicate it。 My happiness is not the means to any
end。 It is the end。 It is its own goal。 It is its own purpose。
Neither am I the means to any end others may wish to accomplish。 I
am not a tool for their use。 I am not a servant of their needs。 I am not a
bandage for their wounds。 I am not a sacrifice on their altars。
I am a man。 This miracle of me is mine to own and keep； and mine
to guard； and mine to use； and mine to kneel before！
I do not surrender my treasures； nor do I share them。 The fortune of
my spirit is not to be blown into coins of brass and flung to the winds as
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alms for the poor of the spirit。 I guard my treasures： my thought； my will；
my freedom。 And the greatest of these is freedom。
I owe nothing to my brothers； nor do I gather debts from them。 I ask
none to live for me； nor do I live for any others。 I covet no man's soul； nor
is my soul theirs to covet。
I am neither foe nor friend to my brothers； but such as each of them
shall deserve of me。 And to earn my love； my brothers must do more
than to have been born。 I do not grant my love without reason； nor to any
chance passer…by who may wish to claim it。 I honor men with my love。
But honor is a thing to be earned。
I shall choose friends among men； but neither slaves nor masters。
And I shall choose only such as please me； and them I shall love and
respect； but neither command nor obey。 And we shall join our hands
when we wish； or walk alone when we so desire。 For in the temple of his
spirit； each man is alone。 Let each man keep his temple untouched and
undefiled。 Then let him join hands with others if he wishes； but only
beyond his holy threshold。
For the word 〃We〃 must never be spoken； save by one's choice and as
a second thought。 This word must never be placed first within man's soul；
else it becomes a monster； the root of all the evils on earth； the root of
man's torture by men； and of an unspeakable lie。
The word 〃We〃 is as lime poured over men； which sets and hardens to
stone； and crushes all beneath it； and that which is white and that which is
black are lost equally in the grey of it。 It is the word by which the
depraved steal the virtue of the good； by which the weak steal the might of
the strong； by which the fools steal the wisdom of the sages。
What is my joy if all hands； even the unclean； can reach into it？
What is my wisdom； if even the fools can dictate to me？ What is my
freedom； if all creatures； even the botched and the impotent； are my
masters？ What is my life； if I am but to bow； to agree and to obey？
But I am done with this creed of corruption。
I am done with the monster of 〃We；〃 the word of serfdom； of plunder；
of misery； falsehood and shame。
And now I see the face of god； and I raise this god over the earth； this
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god whom men have sought since men came into being； this god who will
grant them joy and peace and pride。
This god； this one word：
〃I。〃
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PART TWELVE
It was when I read the first of the books I found in my house that I saw
the word 〃I。〃 And when I understood this word； the book fell from my
hands； and I wept； I who had never known tears。 I wept in deliverance
and in pity for all mankind。
I understood the blessed thing which I had called my curse。 I
understood why the best in me had been my sins and my transgressions；
and why I had never felt guilt in my sins。 I understood that centuries of
chains and lashes will not kill the spirit of man nor the sense of truth
within him。
I read many books for many days。 Then I called the Golden One； and
I told her what I had read and what I had learned。 She looked at me and
the first words she spoke were：
〃I love you。〃
Then I said：
〃My dearest one； it is not proper for men to be without names。 There
was a time when each man had a name of his own to distinguish him from
all other men。 So let us choose our names。 I have read of a man who
lived many thousands of years ago； and of all the names in these books；
his is the one I wish to bear。 H
