我曾七次鄙视自己的灵魂

《沙与沫》 [美]纪伯伦

我曾七次鄙视自己的灵魂：
第一次，当我看到她本可进取却故作谦让
第二次，当我看到她在瘸子面前跛行
第三次，当她在难易之间选择了容易
第四次，当她犯了错，却借由他人也会犯错来宽慰自己
第五次，当她因软弱而隐忍，却标榜自己坚韧
第六次，当她鄙夷一张丑恶的嘴脸，却不知那正是自己的面具之一
第七次，当她吟唱颂歌，并自诩为美德

Seven times I have despised my soul:
The first time when I saw her being meek that she might attain height.
The second time when I saw her limping before the crippled.
The third time when she was given to choose between the hard and the easy, and she chose the easy.
The fourth time when she committed a wrong, and comforted herself that others also commit wrong.
The fifth time when she forbode for weakness, and attributed her patience to strength.
The sixth time when she despised the ugliness of a face, and knew not that it was one of her own masks.
And the seventh time when she sang a song of praise, and deemed it a virtue.